Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus

A sheet feeding apparatus configured to blow air against an end surface of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking unit so as to float the sheet and to suction and feed the floated sheet, the sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

• a suction duct disposed above the sheet stacking unit;
• a negative pressure generating unit configured to generate a negative pressure in the suction duct;
• a sheet conveyance unit configured to suction a sheet thereto by utilizing the negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating unit and to convey the suctioned sheet;
• a communicating opening provided in the suction duct and adapted to communicate with an exterior;
• a cover configured to open and close the communicating opening according to a magnitude of the negative pressure in the suction duct;
• a detecting unit configured to detect that the cover has closed the communicating opening;
• and
• a control unit configured to start an operation of the sheet conveyance unit based on the detecting unit detecting that the cover has closed the communicating opening.