Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

• a casing;
• a sheet stacking unit configured to accommodate a stack of sheets, said stacking unit is movable relative to said casing to open and close said casing;
• a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheet from said sheet stacking unit;
• a link unit rotatably supported by said casing, said link unit being provided with an engaging portion slidably engaged with said sheet stacking unit;
• a spring configured to urge said link unit relative to said casing in a closing direction,
• wherein said sheet stacking unit is rotatable between a closing position for closing said casing, a first opening position for opening said casing by a predetermined angle, and a second opening position for opening said casing by an angle larger than the predetermined angle, and said sheet stacking unit including,
• a first guide configured to guide said engaging portion when said sheet stacking unit is opened from the closing position to the first opening position, and
• a second guide configured to guide said engaging portion when said sheet stacking unit is opened from the first position to the second position, said second guide branching from said first guide,
• wherein said first guide includes,
• a first portion configured to guide said engaging portion to said branch portion when said sheet stacking unit rotates from the closing position to the first opening position,
• a first supporting portion configured to support said engaging portion when said sheet stacking unit is in the first opening position, said first supporting portion extending from said branch portion in a direction different from a direction in which said second guide extends, and
• a second portion configured to guide said engaging portion between said branch portion and said first supporting portion,
• wherein said second guide includes a second supporting portion configured to support said engaging portion when said sheet stacking unit is in the second opening position and configured to guide said engaging portion between said branch portion and said second supporting portion,
• wherein said engaging portion is guided from said second guide to said first portion of said first guide by said sheet stacking unit being closed from the second opening position, and said engaging portion is guided from said first portion of said first guide to said second portion by way of said branch portion by said sheet stacking unit being opened from the closed state.