Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus has a forwarding device for successively forwarding a plurality of sheets accommodated in a state of stacked layer one by one. The forwarding device is movable between a sheet forwarding position where the forwarding device is brought in contact with the leading end of a sheet for forwarding the sheet and a retracted position where the forwarding device is separated away from the sheet. The apparatus includes a transport device for receiving a sheet forwarded by the forwarding device and transporting the sheet in a predetermined direction of transport.