A first conveyance part conveys a sheet. A detection unit detects a leading edge of the sheet conveyed by the first conveyance part. A second conveyance part is provided downstream of the detection unit in a conveyance direction of the sheet, and conveys the sheet. A measurement unit measures a conveyance time of the sheet from when conveyance of the sheet by the first conveyance part is started until the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the detection unit. An estimation unit estimates a remaining lifetime of the second conveyance part based on the conveyance time measured by the measurement unit.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet loader, a loader elevating device, a sheet presence detector to detect a sheet on the sheet loader, and circuitry configured to determine whether the bundle of sheets is loaded on the sheet loader based on a detection result of the sheet presence detector and to control movement of the loader elevating device. The circuitry is configured to cause the loader elevating device to lift the sheet loader to a second position in response to a detection result of the sheet presence detector indicating absence of the sheet on the sheet loader at a first position and not to determine absence of the sheet when the circuitry causes the loader elevating device to lower the sheet loader from the second position to the first position after the circuitry causes the loader elevating device to lift the sheet loader to the second position.

A sheet conveying device includes a sheet loader, a loader elevating device, a sheet presence detector to detect a sheet on the sheet loader, and circuitry configured to determine whether the bundle of sheets is loaded on the sheet loader based on a detection result of the sheet presence detector and to control movement of the loader elevating device. The circuitry is configured to cause the loader elevating device to lift the sheet loader to a second position in response to a detection result of the sheet presence detector indicating absence of the sheet on the sheet loader at a first position and not to determine absence of the sheet when the circuitry causes the loader elevating device to lower the sheet loader from the second position to the first position after the circuitry causes the loader elevating device to lift the sheet loader to the second position.

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet taking away determination system comprises a first detection device configured to detect a sheet discharged to a discharge port; a second detection device configured to detect a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range of the second detection device; and a controller configured to determine that the sheet is taken away if the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device.

In accordance with an embodiment, a sheet taking away determination system comprises a first detection device configured to detect a sheet discharged to a discharge port; a second detection device configured to detect a terminal device positioned within a communication enabled range of the second detection device; and a controller configured to determine that the sheet is taken away if the second detection device detects the terminal device and a quantity of the sheets is less than that of the sheets before detection after the sheet is detected by the first detection device.

The present invention aims at avoiding a stacking failure of sheets on a discharge tray. A conveyance mechanism (51) conveys a sheet along a conveyance path (500), and further discharges the sheet from a discharge port (500a) of the conveyance path (500). A discharge tray (56) is disposed below the discharge port (500a) on a downstream side of a discharge direction of the sheet, and receives the sheet discharged from the discharge port (500a). A blower (58) is disposed above the discharge tray (56) or above the discharge port (500a), and blows air downwardly onto the sheet on the discharge tray (56).

The present invention aims at avoiding a stacking failure of sheets on a discharge tray. A conveyance mechanism (51) conveys a sheet along a conveyance path (500), and further discharges the sheet from a discharge port (500a) of the conveyance path (500). A discharge tray (56) is disposed below the discharge port (500a) on a downstream side of a discharge direction of the sheet, and receives the sheet discharged from the discharge port (500a). A blower (58) is disposed above the discharge tray (56) or above the discharge port (500a), and blows air downwardly onto the sheet on the discharge tray (56).

An image forming apparatus includes a tray; a casing having a first outlet, a second outlet above the first outlet, a first path, and a second path; a stack lever; a drive source; and a controller. The second path communicates with the second outlet such that a sheet conveyed along the second path is partially discharged from the second outlet and is reversed along the second path. The first outlet communicates with the first path such that the sheet conveyed along the first path is discharged from the first outlet onto the tray. The stack lever is movable between a first position where the stack lever presses a sheet on the tray and a second position higher than the first position. The controller is configured to control the drive source such that, when the sheet is discharged from the second outlet, the stack lever is at the second position.

An image forming apparatus includes a tray; a casing having a first outlet, a second outlet above the first outlet, a first path, and a second path; a stack lever; a drive source; and a controller. The second path communicates with the second outlet such that a sheet conveyed along the second path is partially discharged from the second outlet and is reversed along the second path. The first outlet communicates with the first path such that the sheet conveyed along the first path is discharged from the first outlet onto the tray. The stack lever is movable between a first position where the stack lever presses a sheet on the tray and a second position higher than the first position. The controller is configured to control the drive source such that, when the sheet is discharged from the second outlet, the stack lever is at the second position.

A recording material processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a detecting unit, a stapling unit, an instructing unit, a control unit, a switching unit, and a notifying unit. The detecting unit detects recording material placed in the processing tray. The stapling unit executes a stapling process for the recording material placed in the processing tray. The instructing unit outputs a stapling process execution instruction. Upon receipt of the execution instruction in a state in which the detecting unit has detected a recording material inserted in the processing tray from an outside of a main body of a main body apparatus, the control unit cause the stapling process to be executed. The switching unit switches a position of the stapling unit among a plurality of positions. The notifying unit provides notification of a placement position of the recording material in the processing tray corresponding to each of the plurality of positions.