Sheet processing device, image forming apparatus, and sheet processing method

A sheet processing device comprising:

• a punch processor housed within walls of the sheet processing device and located along a paper conveying path formed by rollers, the punch processor being configured to perform punch-processing on a conveyed sheet member;
• a punch-scrap storage box housed within walls of the sheet processing device and located directly below the punch processor, the punch-scrap storage box being configured to store punch scraps produced by the punch-processing and dropped from the punch processor;
• an air-sucker housed within walls of the sheet processing device and located above the punch-scrap storage box, the air sucker being configured to convey the punch scraps produced by the punch processor;
• and
• an air inducing duct fixed at a first end to the air-sucker and at a second end to an opening on a top surface of the punch-scrap storage box, wherein the second end is larger than the first end and the air sucker and the air inducing duct are configured to distribute the punch scraps throughout the punch-scrap storage box thereby preventing heaping of the punch scraps at a scrap dropping point located under the punch processor.