Patent ID: 8628076

Claim:
A sheet feeding device configured to feed sheets, the sheet feeding device comprising: an elevating tray configured to be movable up and down and to support sheets; an air blowing unit configured to blow air onto sheets supported on the elevating tray to float the sheets; a suction and conveyance mechanism configured to suction and convey a topmost sheet of the sheets floated by air blown by the air blowing unit; and a sheet surface detection mechanism configured to detect an upper surface of the topmost sheet of the sheets supported on the elevating tray, wherein the sheet surface detection mechanism includes a sensor unit arranged on a upstream side of the suction and conveyance mechanism in a sheet conveyance direction, a sensor lever configured to turn the sensor unit ON/OFF, and a detection unit having one end connected to the sensor lever and another end that extends toward a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, and wherein the detection unit includes, on a downstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, a protruding member that protrudes in a downward direction and that is capable of contacting the topmost sheet supported on the elevating tray.