Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus incorporating same

A sheet feeding device configured to feed a sheet from a sheet roll, the sheet feeding device comprising:

• a sensor configured to detect a step at a leading end of the sheet roll;
• a roller disposed at a position different from a position of the sensor in a circumferential direction of the sheet roll;
• a support supporting the sensor and the roller to bring the sensor and the roller into contact with a surface of the sheet roll;
• circuitry configured to acquire a sensor signal from the sensor;
• and
• a spool insertable through a sheet tube of the sheet roll to rotate the sheet roll in conjunction with rotation of the spool, wherein
• the support being pivotable within a range in which the sensor does not contact the spool, and
• the circuitry is further configured to:
• detect an inclination of the sensor signal when the leading end of the sheet roll passes by the sensor;
• determine, when detecting the inclination at an nth rotation of the sheet roll or the spool, whether the inclination is detected again at an (n+1)th rotation of the sheet roll or the spool, where n is an integer of one or more;
• and
• determine that the leading end of the sheet roll is present when continuously detecting the inclination for a number of rotations of the sheet roll or the spool.