Sheet separating device and image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet separating device

A sheet separating device comprising:

• a stacker configured to stack a plurality of sheets;
• a pickup member configured to convey the plurality of sheets one by one from the stacker;
• an air supplier including an air outlet, at a downstream side of the stacker in a sheet conveyance direction in which a sheet is conveyed from the plurality of sheets on the stacker, the air supplier being configured to blow air toward a downstream end of the plurality of sheets in the sheet conveyance direction;
• a sheet floating restraint configured to restrict floating of a part of the plurality of sheets separated by air blown from the air outlet, the sheet floating restraint being replaceable with another sheet floating restraint, the sheet floating restraint and said another sheet floating restraint having respective shapes different from each other;
• and
• a control panel including a display configured to provide a visual notification requesting a user change the sheet floating restraint to the said another sheet floating restraint in response to a determination, based on change information, that the another sheet floating restraint provides superior restriction of the floating of the part of the plurality of sheets.