A sheet feed mechanism is provided. In a sheet feed mechanism, a first sheet feeding device includes a first sheet feed roller and a first pressure contact roller that can be in pressure contact with the first sheet feed roller. The sheet feed mechanism further includes a recording sheet, which can be conveyed downstream by the rotation of the first sheet feed roller while being held in pressure contact between the first sheet feed roller and the first pressure contact roller. The first pressure contact roller is connected to a pressure contact release mechanism that can release the pressure contact of the first pressure contact roller with the first sheet feed roller. The pressure contact release mechanism is provided near the center in an axial direction of the first pressure contact roller.