Paper feeding device and image forming apparatus with curl correction

A paper feeding device, comprising:

• a loading member in which a plurality of sheets can be loaded and stacked,
• a curl detection section for detecting a state of curling of the sheet,
• a central bending section being disposed at a central area in the loading member in a sheet transport direction and being configured to upwardly raise a central area in the sheet transport direction of the sheets stacked in the loading member, wherein the central bending section is provided with a rotational shaft and a plurality of cam members that protrude through the loading member, the rotational shaft being oriented in a direction orthogonal to sheet transport direction so as to support the plurality of cam members, and the plurality of cam members are positioned along an axial direction of the rotational shaft extending across a region corresponding to at least a portion of the stacked sheets, and
• a central bending drive section for driving the central bending section,
• wherein in the case where it has been determined that a sheet is curled based on a state of curling of the sheet detected by the curl detection section, the central area of the sheets stacked in the loading member is upwardly raised due to an operation of the central bending section by the central bending drive section.