Paper feeder for an image forming apparatus

A paper feeder which is provided for an image forming apparatus having image forming means for forming an image on a sheet and feeds sheets to the image farming means, the paper feeder comprising:

• a multiple number of paper feed cassettes arranged abreast at approximately the same level in the sheet feed direction, the paper feed cassettes being formed into a unibody structure so that they can be pulled out altogether from the a feeder body;
• and
• a feed oath defined by a pair of upper and lower guide plates formed over the feed cassettes excepting the one located on the most upstream side with respect to the sheet feed direction, for conveying sheets supplied from the paper feed cassettes located on the upstream side of each cassette,
• wherein the feed path has a gap and is adapted to make the gap wider in response to the paper cassettes being pulled out, so as to allow a sheet stuck therein to be removed therefrom.