Sheet feeding apparatus and image recording apparatus

A sheet feeding apparatus comprising:

• a first sheet holding portion which holds a sheet;
• a feed path which guides the sheet supplied from the first sheet holding portion;
• a driving source which can rotate in two opposite directions;
• a feeder roller which is disposed in the feed path and rotated by a driving torque of the driving source;
• a first pickup roller which can rotate in contact with the sheet held in the first sheet holding portion;
• a switchable transmission mechanism which is disposed between the first pickup roller and the driving source, and is switchable at least between a first state for transmitting to the first pickup roller a rotation of the driving source in a forward direction, and a second state for not transmitting a rotation of the driving source to the first pickup roller, the forward direction in which the driving source is rotated in the first state being a direction opposite to a direction in which the driving source is rotated to rotate the feeder roller in a sheet feed direction which is a direction to feed the sheet, the switchable transmission mechanism includes:
• a first transmission assembly which is disposed between the first pickup roller and the driving source, and transmits the rotation of the driving source in the forward direction to the first pickup roller, and
• a drive switching mechanism which is switchable at least between a first state for transmitting the driving torque of the driving source to the first transmission assembly, and a second state for not transmitting the driving torque of the driving source to the first transmission assembly, the first state and the second state of the drive switching mechanism respectively corresponding to the first state and the second state of the switchable transmission mechanism;
• and
• a control portion which (i) rotates the driving source in the forward direction to rotate the first pickup roller in a sheet supply direction which is a direction to supply the sheet and to rotate the feeder roller in a direction opposite to the sheet feed direction, and switches the switchable transmission mechanism to the first state, when the sheet is supplied from the first sheet holding portion, and (ii) rotates the driving source in the direction opposite to the forward direction, and switches the switchable transmission mechanism to the second state, when the sheet is fed by the feeder roller;
• a second sheet holding portion which is another sheet holding portion other than the first sheet holding portion, and which holds a sheet;
• a second pickup roller which is another pickup roller other than the first pickup roller, and which is rotatable in contact with the sheet held in the second sheet holding portion;
• a second transmission assembly which is another transmission assembly other than the first transmission assembly, which is disposed between the second pickup roller and the drive switching mechanism, and which transmits at least the rotation of the driving source in the forward direction to the second pickup roller;
• and
• the drive switching mechanism transmitting the rotation of the driving source to the second transmission assembly, when the drive switching mechanism is placed in the second state.