Sheet feeding apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus

An image reading apparatus comprising:

• an image reading portion configured to read an image on a sheet;
• and
• a sheet feeding apparatus configured to feed the sheet toward the image reading portion,
• the sheet feeding apparatus including:
• (1) a stacking portion on which the sheet is stacked,
• (2) a feeder configured to feed the sheet stacked on the stacking portion,
• (3) a conveyer configured to convey the sheet fed by the feeder,
• (4) a separating unit comprising a separating roller that forms a nip portion with the conveyer and that separates the sheet conveyed by the conveyer in the nip portion,
• (5) a holder configured to hold the separating unit,
• (6) a driving motor configured to move the stacking portion from (a) a first position at which the sheet stacked on the stacking portion is separated from the feeder to (b) a second position at which the sheet stacked on the stacking portion abuts on the feeder, and
• (7) a separation cover that is movable between (a) a third position to cover at least a portion of the separating unit and to guide the sheet to the nip portion and (b) a fourth position to expose the portion of the separating unit, the separation cover being configured to move from the fourth position to the third position interlocked with movement of the stacking portion from the first position to the second position,
• wherein the separating unit is configured to be detachable from the holder in a state where the separation cover is placed in the fourth position.

A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

• a stacking portion on which a sheet is stacked;
• a feeding roller configured to feed the sheet stacked on the stacking portion;
• a conveying roller configured to convey the sheet fed by the feeding roller;
• a separating roller that forms a nip portion with the conveying roller and that separates the sheet conveyed by the conveying roller in the nip portion;
• a holder configured to hold the separating roller;
• a driving motor configured to move the stacking portion from (a) a first position at which the sheet stacked on the stacking portion is separated from the feeding roller to (b) a second position at which the sheet stacked on the stacking portion abuts on the feeding roller;
• and
• a separation cover that is movable between (a) a third position to cover at least a portion of the separating roller and to guide the sheet to the nip portion and (b) a fourth position to expose the portion of the separating roller, the separation cover being configured to move from the fourth position to the third position interlocked with movement of the stacking portion from the first position to the second position,
• wherein the separating roller is configured to be detachable from the holder in a state where the separation cover is placed in the fourth position.