Sheet feeding device

A sheet feeding device comprising:

• a stacking plate for stacking sheets thereon, the stacking plate being supported, movably up and down, inside the sheet feeding device;
• a moving mechanism for moving the stacking plate up and down;
• a pick-up device for sending a top one of sheets stacked on the stacking plate, out in a sheet feeding direction from a sheet feeding position set within a predetermined level range;
• a detection plate mounted above the sheet feeding position and below a top inner surface of the sheet feeding device with a lower surface of the detection plate facing an object to be placed on the stacking plate, the detection plate being supported, movably up and down, at three or more support portions provided at predetermined locations in an upper surface of the detection plate;
• a detecting device for detecting upward and downward displacement of the detection plate, the detecting device being positioned above the detection plate and, when seen in a plan view, within an area bounded by the support portions;
• and
• a control section for controlling operation of the moving mechanism according to detection result of the detecting device.