Sheet feeding apparatus and recording apparatus

A recording apparatus for effecting recording on a sheet material using a recording head, comprising:

• a head carrying portion for carrying the recording head;
• sheet material stacking means for stacking sheet materials;
• a feeding roller for feeding the sheet material stacked on said sheet material stacking means,
• a separation roller, driven by said feeding roller, for separating a sheet material from the sheet materials;
• a separation roller holder for rotatably holding said separation roller, said separation roller holder being movable by rotation thereof between a position in which said separation roller is contacted to said feeding roller and a position in which said separation roller is away from said feeding roller;
• and
• returning means for returning a sheet material or sheet materials other than the sheet material separated out by said separation roller to said sheet material stacking means, the returning occurring as the sheet separated out by said separation roller passes between said feeding roller and said separation roller,
• wherein said returning means starts its operation in a condition where said feeding roller and said separation roller are in contact with each other, and after a start of the operation of said returning means, said separation roller is moved away from said feeding roller.