JP2000309433A - Sheet feeder, and device and method for detecting the number of sheets - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately grasp the number of loaded sheets, in a sheet feeder feeding the sheet loaded in a cassette or the like to an image forming device. SOLUTION: A lift up amount, in the case that all sheets 101 loaded on a bottom plate 107 of a cassette 102 are brought up to a pickup position for feeding by a pickup roller 103, is detected, the partial number of the loaded sheets 101 is calculated to be based on an image data obtained by a CCD sensor 109 photographing an image of side surface of the sheet 101, so as to calculate the total number of the loaded sheets 101 based on the calculated partial number of the loaded sheets 101 and the lift up amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet feeding apparatus for feeding a sheet to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet as a recording medium, a sheet number detecting apparatus, and a sheet number detecting method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sheet feeding device has a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a sheet and a rough sheet loading number based on a lift-up amount when the loaded sheet is lifted up to a pickup position. It is configured to figure out.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional sheet feeding apparatus, the presence or absence of a sheet is detected or the approximate number of sheets to be stacked (in approximately 25% steps) is grasped. However, there were the following problems.

In an apparatus capable of stacking 2,000 sheets, the time when the number of stacked sheets becomes the remaining few and the time when the number of stacked sheets is 25% or less (about 500 sheets) are regarded as the same, However, there is a problem that it is not possible to accurately grasp the state in which the number of remaining sheets is few.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is intended to accurately grasp the number of all sheets and to accurately grasp the number of stacked sheets when the number of remaining sheets becomes small. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sheet feeding device, a sheet number detecting device, and a sheet number detecting method which can perform the sheet feeding.

[0006]

A sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet number detecting apparatus and a sheet number detecting method according to the present invention are configured as follows.

(1) In a sheet feeding apparatus, a sheet stacking means for stacking sheets, a pickup means for feeding the sheets, and a lift for lifting the whole sheets stacked on the stacking means to a predetermined pickup position Up means, a lift-up amount detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount at the time of lift-up, and an imaging device for capturing an image of a side surface of the sheet, and based on image data obtained by the imaging device, A partial sheet number calculating means for calculating the partial sheet number of sheets, and a total number calculating means for calculating the total sheet number of the sheets based on the calculated partial sheet number and the lift-up amount are provided. .

(2) In the sheet feeding apparatus of the above (1), the image pickup device picks up an image of a lower side surface of the stacked sheets.

(3) In the sheet feeding apparatus according to (1) or (2), the image pickup device is a CCD sensor, and the partial sheet number calculating means calculates the partial stacked number of sheets within the pixel range of the CCD sensor. I did it.

(4) The sheet feeding device according to any one of (1) to (3), further including a light source for illuminating a side surface of the sheet.

(5) The sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (4) has a display means for displaying the calculated number of stacked sheets.

(6) The sheet feeding apparatus according to any one of the above (1) to (5), further comprising a sheet number data transmitting means for transmitting the number-of-stacked-sheets calculation data to a terminal device connected to the sheet feeding apparatus main body. I made it.

(7) In any one of (1) to (6) above, image data transmission for transmitting image data obtained by the image pickup device to a terminal device connected to the main body of the sheet feeding apparatus. Means.

(8) In the sheet number detecting device, lift-up amount detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount when the entire stacked sheets are lifted to a predetermined pickup position for feeding, and An imaging element for capturing an image of the side surface; a partial number calculating means for calculating a partial loading number of sheets based on image data obtained by the imaging element; a partial loading number of the calculated sheets and the lift-up Total sheet number calculating means for calculating the total number of stacked sheets based on the amount.

(9) In the sheet number detecting apparatus of the above (8), the lower side surface of the stacked sheets is imaged by the image sensor.

(10) In the sheet number detecting apparatus according to (8) or (9), the image pickup device is a CCD sensor, and the partial number calculating means calculates a partial stacked number of sheets within the pixel range of the CCD sensor. I did it.

(11) In the sheet number detecting device according to any one of the above (8) to (10), a light source for illuminating a side surface of the sheet is provided.

(12) In any one of the sheet number detecting devices (8) to (11), a display means for displaying the calculated number of stacked sheets is provided.

(13) In the sheet number detecting device according to any one of the above (8) to (12), a sheet number data transmitting means for transmitting the number-of-stacked-sheets calculation data to a terminal device connected to the main body of the sheet number detecting device. I made it.

(14) In the sheet number detecting device according to any one of the above (8) to (13), image data transmission for transmitting image data obtained by the image pickup device to a terminal connected to the main body of the sheet number detecting device. Means.

(15) In the method for detecting the number of sheets, the lift-up amount when the entire stacked sheets are lifted to a predetermined pickup position for feeding is detected by lift-up amount detecting means, and A partial loading number of the sheets is calculated based on image data obtained by an imaging device that captures an image of a side surface, and a total loading number of the sheets is calculated based on the calculated partial loading number of sheets and the lift-up amount. Was calculated.

[0022]

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a sheet feeding apparatus main body, and 101 denotes an image forming apparatus. Sheets stacked for feeding to an apparatus or the like are denoted by a cassette 102 for stacking the sheets 101, and details thereof are not shown, but can be pulled out in the front direction in FIG. Reference numeral 103 denotes a pickup roller that is driven in a vertical direction to feed one of the uppermost sheets of the stacked sheets 101 and that feeds the sheets by rotating.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a stepping motor (hereinafter, referred to as a lift-up motor) for lifting up the stacked sheets 101, and the rotation shaft thereof is a pulley 105.
Is connected to the wire 106 via a wire, and the mechanism is configured to take up the wire 106 by driving. Wire 1
Reference numeral 06 is connected to the bottom plate 107 of the cassette 102 on which the sheets 101 are stacked, and the sheets 106 stacked together with the bottom plate 107 by winding the wire 106.
And can be lifted upwards.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a partition plate that can be installed in accordance with the size of the sheet 101, and is fitted in the installation position processed on the bottom plate 107. Reference numeral 109 denotes a CCD sensor which is an image sensor which is disposed on the bottom plate 107 and acquires the state of the side surface of the loaded sheet 101 as an image. Reference numeral 110 denotes a light source which is turned on when an image is acquired (a plurality of LEDs are arranged side by side). It is. The light source 110 is a CCD sensor 109
It is turned on when an image is acquired by using an LED, and is turned on to accumulate electric charges in the CCD 109, and may be anything other than an LED, and can emit a sufficient amount of light to accumulate electric charges in the CCD 109. I just need.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a pair of feeding rollers for feeding the sheet 101 sent out by the pickup roller 103 upward, and reference numerals 112 to 114 denote conveying roller pairs. 1
15 feeds the sheet 101, and the sheet feeding device main body 10
This is a mechanism of a transport path to the image forming apparatus main body 116 installed at the top of the image forming apparatus 0.

Reference numeral 117 denotes a lift-up position detecting sensor for detecting whether or not the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets 101 has been lifted to a position where it can be picked up.
Reference numeral 18 denotes a sheet presence / absence detection sensor. 119 is sheet 1
01 is a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a cassette on which the cassette 102 is loaded. When the cassette 102 is pulled out to the front position in FIG.
This is to detect the absence of a cassette.

FIG. 2 shows the CCD sensor 109 and the light source 1 shown in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement positional relationship between a sheet 10 and stacked sheets 101. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 117 denotes a lift-up position detection sensor. The height from the bottom plate 107 to the pickup position is shown as H, and the lift-up amount of the sheet 101 is shown as Lf.

FIG. 3 shows the CCD sensor 109 and the bottom plate 1 of FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows the positional relationship of 07. In FIG. 3, 3
00 is one pixel arranged on one line. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a method of obtaining an image output using a CCD sensor in which pixels are arranged on a plurality of lines may be used. 107a indicates the position of the uppermost surface of the bottom plate 107. Here, the height (width) of all pixels is Hp, and the bottom plate 10
The height at which the side surface portion 7 blocks the pixels of the CCD sensor 109 is shown as Hb. Note that the height (width) of one pixel is Hmin (not shown). Further, the total number of pixels is set to n + 1.

FIG. 4 shows a stacked sheet 101 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of image data obtained by a CCD sensor 109 in a state of a side surface of FIG. 4, the vertical axis represents the output voltage of the image from the CCD sensor 109, and the horizontal axis represents the pixel number. (Number). In FIG. 0 to L are image outputs of the bottom plate portion. L + 1 to M are the first sheet, pixel No. M + 1 to N represent the second sheet.
Here, each of the stacked sheets 101 is distinguished from the minimum value of the image output by the presence of the minimum value at a predetermined level 400 or less. The image data in the present embodiment is obtained by averaging image outputs obtained by a plurality of readings for each pixel and removing noise.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a control unit for controlling each mechanism in the present embodiment. 50
Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU that controls each mechanism of the feeding device;
a is a ROM in which software for performing various controls is recorded; 501b is a RAM as a memory area used when executing the software of the ROM 501a;
This is a RAM used as a memory area used when storing or processing image data from the D sensor 109. The RAM 501b is used as a memory area used by various counters used when executing software.

Reference numeral 501c denotes a CCD from the CCD sensor 109;
An A / D converter for A / D converting image data input to the CPU 501 via the sensor control circuit 502. Reference numeral 501d denotes a plurality of timers for controlling various timings, which are controlled by software written in the ROM 501a. However, in the present embodiment, the ROM 501a, the RAM 501b, the A / D converter 501
c, the timer 501d is provided in the CPU 501 and is configured as a single chip. However, the timer 501d may be provided outside the CPU 501 and connected thereto.

Reference numeral 503 denotes a motor drive circuit for controlling a motor group 504, which is an actuator of each drive portion of the sheet feeding device. A light source control circuit 505 controls lighting of the light source 110. 506 is a sheet feeding apparatus main body 100
A solenoid / clutch control circuit 507 which is a solenoid / clutch drive circuit using a solenoid and a clutch (not shown) for switching the drive portion of the solenoid. A sensor input circuit 508 detects inputs from various sensors.
A sensor group (the sensors 117 to 119 in FIG. 1) 509 is connected.

Reference numeral 510 denotes an external interface (I / O) between the sheet feeding apparatus main body 100 and the image forming apparatus main body 106.
F), and the image forming apparatus main body 116 is
2 via a communication cable 511. It is assumed that the terminal device 512 can instruct the image forming apparatus main body 116 to form an image and can receive the status of the image forming apparatus main body 116 and the sheet feeding apparatus main body 100 as various data.

In the above configuration, the cassette 102 constitutes sheet stacking means for stacking sheets serving as a medium during image formation in the vertical direction, and is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. Stepping motor 104, pulley 105, wire 10
6. The bottom plate 107 constitutes a lift-up means for performing an operation of lifting the entire stacked sheets to a position where the sheet can be picked up, and when the lift-up position detection sensor 117 serving as a lift-up detection means detects that the pick-up position has been reached, The lift-up operation is stopped by an instruction from the CPU 501.

The pickup roller 103 constitutes a pickup means for sending out the sheet 101 at a position where the sheet 101 can be picked up. The pickup roller 103 moves to the uppermost surface of the sheet 101 and drives the pickup roller 103 to send out the sheet 101.

The CPU 501 constitutes a lift-up amount detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount by a counter in the CPU 501 based on signals from the sensor group 509 and the sensor input circuit 508, and detects an upward moving amount. The sheet feeding roller pair 111 constitutes a sheet conveying unit that conveys the picked up sheet 101.

The CPU 501 is a CCD 10 which is an image pickup device for acquiring an image of a side surface of a stacked sheet.
9, a partial sheet number calculating means for calculating the number of sheets that can be counted in all the pixels of the CCD sensor based on the image data obtained by causing the light source 110 to emit light and receive light, It constitutes a total number calculating means for calculating the integrated number of sheets.

An external interface unit 510 is a sheet data transmission unit for transmitting the integrated sheet number data calculated by the sheet feeding device to a terminal device 512 connected to the user in order to notify the user via a communication cable 511 and a sheet stacking state. Is transmitted to the terminal device 512 via the communication cable 511 in order to notify the user as image data obtained by the CCD sensor 109.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a series of processes for calculating the number of stacked sheets according to the present embodiment. The process starts in step S100, and lifts the sheets stacked in step S101 to the pickup position. In step S102, an image of the side surface of the stacked sheets 101 is acquired, and in step S103, the number of stacked sheets is calculated. In step S104, the calculation of the number of stacked sheets is completed.

By performing a series of processes in steps S100 to S104 when picking up and feeding the sheet 101, the latest number of stacked sheets can always be obtained. Alternatively, the number of sheets to be stacked can be calculated when the sheet 101 is newly set in the cassette 102, and the number of sheets to be stacked can be changed while subtracting one by one each time the sheet 101 is fed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing operation at the time of lifting the seat according to the present embodiment. Step S20
0, and it is determined from the output of the lift-up position detection sensor 117 whether the sheet 101 stacked in step S201 has been lifted up to the pickup position. If the uppermost surface of the sheet 101 has reached the lift-up position, the process proceeds to step S208 without performing other processing.
Cassette 1 for loading sheets 101 in step S202
It is determined from the output of the cassette presence / absence detection sensor 119 whether 02 is set in the sheet feeding apparatus main body 100, and if it is not set, the process waits until it is set.

In step S203, it is determined from the output of the sheet presence / absence detection sensor 118 whether or not the sheet 101 is loaded on the cassette 102. If the sheet 101 is not set, the process returns to step S202. Step S204
Then, the counter for counting the lift-up amount (Lf) is cleared, and in step S205, the lift-up motor 1
04 is driven to perform a lift-up operation. Step S20
The drive amount at the time of lift-up at 6 is the lift-up amount (Lf)
To be incremented.

If the lift-up motor 104 is a stepping motor, the number of steps during driving is incremented to calculate the lift-up amount (Lf). Step S2
At 07, it is determined from the output of the lift-up position detection sensor 117 whether the sheet 101 has been lifted to the pickup position. If the sheet 101 has not reached the pickup position, the process returns to step S205. In step S208, the lift-up process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing operation when acquiring image data of the side surface of the sheet 101 according to the present embodiment. The process starts at step S300, and starts at step S301.
To read the image data and clear the counter. In step S302, the light source 110 when the image data is accumulated by the CCD sensor 109 is turned on. In step S303, the exposure time of the CCD sensor 109 for reading the image is determined by the timer 50.
Set / start using one of 1d.

In step S304, the image data from the CCD sensor 109 is accumulated, and in step S305, it is determined whether or not the exposure time has passed the time set in step S303. If the exposure time has not elapsed, step S30
Return to 4. In step S305, the CCD sensor 109
The counter of the clock for outputting the accumulated image data is cleared, and the output of the clock and the increment of the counter are performed in step S307.

In step S308, the CCD sensor 10
A / D conversion is performed on the image data (analog voltage) for one pixel read from step S9, and the obtained digital amount is calculated in step S
At 309, the data is stored in the RAM 501b. Step S310
It is determined from the counter whether a predetermined number of clocks for reading image data from the CCD sensor 109 have been output,
If reading has not been performed for the data of all pixels, the process returns to step S307.

In step S311, the image data reading counter is incremented. In step S312, it is determined whether image data has been read from the CCD sensor 109 a predetermined number of times.
Return to 303. In step S313, the CCD sensor 1
At 09, the light source 110 turned on to obtain an image is turned off. In step S314, a series of processing ends.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation of calculating the number of stacked sheets after acquiring the image data according to the present embodiment.
It starts in step S400, and R in step S401.
The image data stored in the AM 501b is corrected (smoothed). The correction is performed by a method of obtaining an average of the image data acquired a plurality of times or by using a noise filter.

In step S402, the index for searching for the minimum value of the image data is cleared, and in step S4
03, the image data P (i-1), P (i), P
(I + 1) are compared, and it is determined in step S404 whether P (i) is a minimum value equal to or less than a predetermined level 400. If it is the minimum value, the image data index value (pixel No.) of the minimum value is stored in the RAM 501b in step S405,
If it is not the minimum value, do not save. In step S406, the index i is incremented to be set to the index of the next pixel, and in step S407, it is determined whether the search processing for all pixels has been completed. If not, the process returns to step S403.

In step S408, the minimum index value Min (pixel N) stored in the RAM 501b
o. ) Is cleared. Step S40
In step 9, the difference (number of pixels) between the minimum value index value Min (j) and Min (j + 1) stored in the RAM 501b is calculated, and it is determined whether the number of pixels calculated in step S410 is within a predetermined sheet thickness range. If it is not within the range, it is not regarded as one sheet.

In step S411, step S410
The minimum value index value Min determined to be within the range
The number of pixels between (j) and Min (j + 1) is stored in the RAM 501b.
To save. In step S412, the index k of the pixel number difference data is incremented. Step S4
In step 13, the index j of the minimum value index value Min is incremented, and it is determined in step S414 whether the number of pixels has been calculated for all the minimum value index values Min. If calculation has not been completed, the process returns to step S409.

In step S415, k + 1 is calculated based on the index k of the pixel number difference data.
9 is stored in the RAM 501b as the number of sheets in the entire pixel area. In step S416, the total number St of sheets stacked on the sheet 101 is increased by the lift-up amount Lf, the height H from the pickup position to the bottom plate 107, the total pixel height Hp, and the bottom plate 1 in steps S200 to S208.
The calculation is performed on the basis of the height Hb at which the side surface portion 07 blocks the pixels of the CCD sensor 109. In step S417, the processing for setting the number of stacked sheets is completed.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of various data shown in the flowchart of FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1000 denotes image data of each pixel corrected in step S401, which is distinguished by the index i, and 0 is a pixel arranged in the direction of the bottom plate 107 of the sheet stacking means.
A minimum value index data 1001 stores the index i of the 1000 pixel data P (i) stored in step S405, and is distinguished by the index j. Reference numeral 1002 denotes pixel number difference data stored in step S411, which is distinguished by an index k.

According to this embodiment, the number of stacked sheets can be determined.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus of the present embodiment. The control configuration of this embodiment is different from the configuration of the first embodiment in that the panel control circuit 1
100 and a display panel unit (display means) 1101 are added. The display panel unit 1101 may be any one using an LCD or any other device as long as it can display numerical values. In addition, the number of stacked sheets (data) St is transmitted from the CPU 501 to the panel control circuit 1100, and is displayed on the display panel unit 1101.

By displaying the number of stacked sheets on the display panel unit 1101, the user of the sheet feeding apparatus and the image forming apparatus can always grasp the number of stacked sheets without pulling out the cassette 102.

The number of sheets loaded (data) St is transmitted to the terminal device 512 via the external interface (I / F) unit 510 and the image forming apparatus main body 116, and the terminal device 5
By displaying on the display 12, the user can grasp the number of stacked sheets without moving to the vicinity of the sheet feeding apparatus and the image forming apparatus.

Further, the image data 10 in the sheet loaded state
00 to the terminal device 512 via the external interface (I / F) unit 510 and the image forming apparatus main body 116,
By performing the display as shown in FIG. 12 on the terminal device 512, it is possible to grasp the number of stacked sheets particularly when the remaining number becomes small.

As described above, in this embodiment, the number of stacked sheets can be accurately grasped, and the number of sheets when the remaining amount becomes small can be grasped.

Further, by visually displaying the number of stacked sheets on the display panel of the sheet feeder, the user can remove the cassette and check the number of stacked sheets. Only when it is determined, the cassette may be pulled out to supply the sheets.

By displaying the number of stacked sheets on the terminal device, the user can grasp the number of stacked sheets without moving to the vicinity of the sheet feeding apparatus.

Further, by displaying an image of the sheet stacking state on the terminal device, the user can grasp the number of sheets stacked without moving to the vicinity of the sheet feeding apparatus.
The remaining amount of the sheet can be visually grasped.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The number of stacked sheets can be accurately grasped, and the number of sheets when the remaining amount becomes small can be accurately grasped.

Further, since the display means for displaying the total number of sheets is provided, there is an effect that, for example, the user does not have to take out the cassette and check the number of stacked sheets. It is only necessary to pull out the cassette and replenish the sheets only when it is done.

Further, since the apparatus has a number data transmitting means for transmitting the calculated integrated number data to the terminal device, the number of stacked sheets is displayed on the terminal device.
Even if the user does not move to the vicinity of the sheet feeding device, the number of stacked sheets can be grasped, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Further, since the apparatus has image data transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by the image pickup device to the terminal device, the image of the sheet stacking state is displayed on the terminal device so that the user can feed the sheet. It is possible to grasp the number of stacked sheets without moving to the vicinity of the feeding device, and similarly to the above, there is an effect that the remaining amount of sheets can be visually grasped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus according to first and second embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the CCD sensors, light sources, and sheets of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a positional relationship between a CCD sensor and a bottom plate of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing image data from the CCD sensors of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the sheet feeding apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a basic processing operation when calculating the number of stacked sheets according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing operation at the time of lifting a seat according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing operation when acquiring image data according to the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing sheet stacking amount setting processing operation after image data acquisition in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a sheet feeding apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of displaying the number of stacked sheets according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 sheet feeding device main body 101 sheet 102 cassette (sheet stacking means) 103 pickup roller (pickup means) 104 stepping motor (lift-up means) 105 pulley (lift-up means) 106 wire (lift-up means) 107 bottom plate (lift-up means) ) 109 CCD sensor (imaging element) 110 Light source 501 CPU (lift-up amount detecting means, partial loading number calculating means, total number calculating means) 510 External interface section (number-of-sheets number-of-sheets means, image data transmitting section) 1101 Display panel section ( Display means)

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A sheet stacking means for stacking sheets, a pickup means for feeding the sheets, a lift-up means for lifting the whole sheets stacked on the stacking means to a predetermined pickup position, A lift-up amount detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount of the sheet, and an image pickup device for picking up an image of a side surface of the sheet, and calculating the number of partially loaded sheets based on image data obtained by the image pickup device. And a total sheet number calculating means for calculating the total number of the sheets based on the calculated number of the partially stacked sheets and the lift-up amount. 2. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device takes an image of a lower side surface of the stacked sheets. 3. The sheet feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup device is a CCD sensor, and the partial sheet number calculating means calculates a partial stacked number of sheets within a pixel range of the CCD sensor. . 4. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light source for illuminating a side surface of the sheet. 5. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit for displaying the calculated number of stacked sheets. 6. The sheet feeding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet number data transmitting means for transmitting the loaded sheet number calculation data to a terminal device connected to the sheet feeding apparatus main body. 7. An image data transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by an image pickup device to a terminal device connected to a sheet feeding apparatus main body.
7. The sheet feeding device according to any one of claims 6 to 6. 8. A lift-up amount detecting means for detecting a lift-up amount when the entire stacked sheet is lifted to a predetermined pick-up position for feeding, and an image pickup device for picking up an image of a side surface of the sheet. An element, a partial sheet number calculating unit that calculates a partial stacked number of sheets based on image data obtained by the imaging element, and a sheet number based on the calculated partial stacked number of sheets and the lift-up amount. A sheet number detecting device, comprising: a total number of sheets calculating means for calculating a total number of sheets to be stacked. 9. The sheet number detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an image of a lower side surface of the stacked sheets is taken by an image pickup device. 10. The sheet number detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the image pickup device is a CCD sensor, and the partial sheet number calculating means calculates a partial stacked number of sheets within a pixel range of the CCD sensor. . 11. The sheet number detecting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a light source for illuminating a side surface of the sheet. 12. The sheet number detecting device according to claim 8, further comprising display means for displaying the calculated number of stacked sheets. 13. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a number data transmitting means for transmitting the number-of-stacked-sheets calculation data to a terminal connected to the main body of the sheet number detecting apparatus.
2. The sheet number detecting device according to any one of 2. 14. The sheet according to claim 8, further comprising image data transmitting means for transmitting image data obtained by the image pickup device to a terminal device connected to the sheet number detecting device main body. Number detection device. 15. A lift-up amount detection unit detects a lift-up amount when the entire stacked sheets are lifted to a predetermined pickup position for performing feeding, and
A partial stacking number of the sheet is calculated based on image data obtained by an image sensor that captures an image of a side surface of the sheet, and the partial stacking number of the sheet is calculated based on the calculated partial stacking number and the lift-up amount. A sheet number detection method, wherein a total number of stacked sheets is calculated.