A feeding device including a cassette removably mounted in the main body of a copying machine to which the feeding device is adapted, a pivotal paper holding plate which is disposed within the cassette and capable of being raised, a lift member for raising the pivotal paper holding plate to an inclined dispensing position, disposed under the pivotal paper holding plate so as to pivot on a vertical plane, a rotary lift-up member for allowing the lift member to pivot thereon, the lift member being secured to the rotary lift-up member, a driving device for transmitting a driving force to the rotary lift-up member, a coupling device interposed in the driving device, for effecting and suspending the transmission of the driving force for rotating the rotary lift-up member, wherein when the cassette is taken out from the main body, the lift member pivots downward due to its own weight, thereby releasing the pivotal paper holding plate from its raised condition. With such an arrangement, even if the cassette is taken out from the main body when the pivotal paper holding plate is in its raised condition, the paper feeding end of the pivotal paper holding plate can be prevented from touching with the paper feed mechanism disposed within the main body, thereby avoiding damage to the contacted parts.
A sheet feeding apparatus, having detachable and attachable sheet trays, a linkage mechanism between the sheet feeding apparatus and the sheet tray, and that can attach the sheet tray to the sheet feeding apparatus with a reduced force.
