Image forming apparatus including external sheet feed tray with sheet feeder

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an apparatus body including a side surface portion with an opening;
• a cartridge detachably attached to the apparatus body;
• an opening/closing member configured to be moved with respect to the apparatus body between a closed position and an opened position, the closed position being a position in which the opening/closing member covers the opening of the side surface portion, and the opened position being a position in which the opening is exposed and the cartridge is allowed to be attached to and detached from the apparatus body through the opening;
• a sheet stacking portion;
• a pickup roller configured to feed a sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion toward the apparatus body;
• and
• a lifting member rotatably supporting the pickup roller and configured to lift and lower the pickup roller so that the pickup roller is brought into contact with and is separated from the sheet on the sheet stacking portion in a state where the opening/closing member is in the closed position,
• wherein the lifting member is configured to move downward in conjunction with a movement of the opening/closing member from the closed position to the opened position so that the cartridge is attached to and detached from the apparatus body through a space above the lifting member in a state where the opening/closing member is in the opened position, and
• wherein, in the state where the opening/closing member is in the closed position, the lifting member is configured to pivot between a lower position and an upper position, the lower position being a position in which the pickup roller is brought into contact with the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, and the upper position being a position in which the pickup roller is separated upward from the sheet stacked on the sheet stacking portion, and
• wherein, in the state where the opening/closing member is in the opened position, the lifting member is positioned at a further lower position than the lower position.