Sheet conveying apparatus, image reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus

An image reading apparatus comprising:

• a sheet conveying apparatus having:
• a transmitting mechanism configured to transmit driving force input from a driving source, wherein the transmitting mechanism includes a spring clutch and an electromagnetic clutch, wherein the electromagnetic clutch is capable of taking an engagement state transmitting the driving force and a disengagement state disconnecting the driving force,
• a pivotally movable configured to be pivotally moved by the driving force transmitted through the transmitting mechanism,
• a supporting portion configured to support a first sheet,
• a feeding member supported by the pivotally movable and configured to feed the first sheet supported by the supporting portion,
• a regulating portion configured to regulate the pivotally movable from pivoting upward a predetermined position, and
• a control portion configured to control to input a signal, having a first level and a second level, varying the state of the electromagnetic clutch to the electromagnetic clutch,
• wherein, in a case in which rotation in a first direction is inputted to the transmitting mechanism, the transmitting mechanism transmits the driving force to the pivotally movable so as to rotate the pivotally movable in a direction in which the feeding member comes into contact with the first sheet supported by the supporting portion,
• wherein, in a case in which rotation in a second direction is inputted to the transmitting mechanism, the transmitting mechanism transmits the driving force to the pivotally movable so as to rotate the pivotally movable in a direction in which the feeding member moves away from the first sheet supported by the supporting portion and moves toward the predetermined position,
• wherein, in a case in which the rotation in the second direction is inputted to the transmitting mechanism and the pivotally movable is regulated from pivoting by the regulating portion at the predetermined position, a spring clutch idles by a slackness of a spring, and
• wherein, after the pivotally movable reaches the predetermined position by inputting the rotation in the second direction to the transmitting mechanism, the control portion controls to input the signal to the transmitting mechanism such that the state of the electromagnetic clutch changes the engagement state to the disengagement state through an intermediary state having a length of time gradually varying the length of time where the signal of the first level is inputted into the electromagnetic clutch;
• and
• an image reading portion configured to read an information of an image from the first sheet fed by the feeding member.