Sheet supplying apparatus

A sheet supplying apparatus, comprising:

• sheet supporting means for supporting a sheet and shiftable between a supply position and a waiting position;
• supply means for feeding out the sheet from said sheet supporting means at said supply position;
• shifting means for shifting said sheet supporting means between said supply position and said waiting position in accordance with the feeding of the sheet by said supply means;
• and
• resistance applying means for applying resistance against the shifting movement when said sheet supporting means is shifted from said waiting position to said supply position.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
• sheet supporting means for supporting the sheet and shiftable between a supply position and a waiting position;
• supply means for feeding out the sheet from said sheet supporting means at said supply position toward said image forming means;
• biasing means for biasing said sheet supporting means from said waiting position toward said supply position;
• shifting means for shifting said sheet supporting means from said supply position to said waiting position in opposition to a biasing force of said biasing means;
• and
• regulating means for regulating the shifting of said sheet supporting means with a force weaker than the biasing force of said biasing means, when said sheet supporting means is shifted from said waiting position to said supply position by said biasing means.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
• sheet supporting means for supporting the sheet and shiftable between a supply position and a waiting position;
• supply means for feeding out the sheet from said sheet supporting means at said supply position toward said image forming means;
• shifting means for shifting said sheet supporting means between said supply position and said waiting position in accordance with the feeding of the sheet by said supply means;
• and
• resistance applying means for applying resistance against the shifting movement when said sheet supporting means is shifted from said waiting position to said supply position.