A surface discriminating device for a recording material includes a probe
having a fixed first end portion and a second end portion capable of
contacting with the recording material, the probe being adapted to contact
with and move relative to the recording material to thereby scan the
recording material, and a piezoelectric element provided between the first
end portion and the second end portion of the probe. The surface of the
recording material is discriminated by the output from the piezoelectric
element during the scanning of the recording material by the probe, the
probe having a bent portion on the second end portion side.
