Sheet feeding apparatus

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising:

• a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit;
• a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being rotatably supported about an axis crossing with the sheet passage, and opening the sheet passage by rotation thereof;
• a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit;
• a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means;
• and
• supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second member is rotatable.

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet processing means, comprising:

• a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit;
• a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means, said first sheet passage including a first guiding member and a second guiding member, said second guiding member being movable to a position for opening said sheet passage;
• a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit;
• a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means;
• supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position in which said second guiding member is not rotatable and a second position in which said second guiding member is rotatable;
• and
• urging means for urging said second guiding member to a position for forming the first sheet passage when said first unit is at the first position.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
• a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit;
• a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to said image forming means;
• a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit;
• a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the image forming means;
• and
• supporting means for supporting said first unit to said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first sheet passage guides the sheet from said first feeding means and a second position wherein at least one of said first sheet passage and said second sheet passage are exposed.

A sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to a sheet receiving means, comprising:

• a first unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a first feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said first unit;
• a first sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said first feeding means to the processing means;
• a second unit having stacking means for stacking sheets;
• a second feeding means for feeding the sheet from said stacking means of said second unit;
• a second sheet passage for guiding the sheet from said second feeding means to the processing means;
• and
• supporting means for supporting said first unit on said second unit for movement between a first position wherein said first passage is capable of guiding the sheet and a second position wherein said first passage is incapable of guiding the sheet.