Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with same

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a sheet conveying apparatus for conveying a sheet;
• and
• an image forming unit for forming an image on the sheet;
• wherein the sheet conveying apparatus includes:
• a casing with an internal space;
• a sheet placing portion which is arranged in the internal space and on which a sheet is to be placed;
• a sheet feeding unit which is arranged in the internal space to face the sheet and includes a sheet feeding member having a rotational drive system for conveying the sheet in a predetermined direction by being driven and rotated, the rotational drive system having a first rotary shaft extending in a direction intersecting with mounting and removing directions of the sheet feeding unit;
• a driving unit which is arranged in the internal space and coupled to the rotational drive system of the sheet feeding member and transmits a rotational drive force to the sheet feeding member, the driving unit including a drive shaft extending coaxially with the first rotary shaft while facing the first rotary shaft when the sheet feeding unit is mounted to the internal space;
• an opening which is formed in the casing and exposes the sheet feeding unit to the outside of the casing;
• a cover which is openably and closably arranged on the casing to cover the opening and exposes the sheet feeding unit in an open state;
• and
• a drive switching unit which uncouples the driving unit and the sheet feeding member in association with a switching movement of the cover from a closed state to the open state, the drive switching unit uncouples the driving unit and the rotational drive system of the sheet feeding member by uncoupling the first rotary shaft and the drive shaft in an axial direction of the first rotary shaft;
• wherein the sheet feeding unit is mountable into and removable from the internal space through the opening in the open state of the cover.