Patent ID: 8615183

Claim:
A sheet conveying apparatus has an attracting and conveying portion which attracts and conveys a sheet, the attracting and conveying portion comprising: a conveying belt portion which attracts the sheet to a sheet conveying surface by negative air pressure and conveys the sheet in a sheet conveying direction; a plurality of inlet holes which is provided on the sheet conveying surface of the conveying belt and forms an attracting area which attracts the sheet to the sheet conveying surface by negative air pressure, and the attracting area is set on an inner side of a range in a width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction for a minimum size sheet which can be conveyed by the attracting and conveying portion; and a cleaning member which contacts and cleans the sheet conveying surface of the conveying belt portion, and is arranged outside of the attracting areas in the width direction orthogonal to the sheet conveying direction.