Conveyor section having a fan for dust removal

A conveying apparatus configured to transport sheets along a transport path in a first direction from an input end to a discharge end, the conveying apparatus comprising:

• a first conveyor having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a first side and a second side extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, the first conveyor comprising a first plurality of contact elements,
• a second conveyor having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a first side and a second side extending from the upstream end of the second conveyor to the downstream end of the second conveyor, the second conveyor comprising a second plurality of contact elements, the second plurality of contact elements facing the first plurality of contact elements and defining with the first plurality of contact elements a sheet transport path between the first conveyor and the second conveyor,
• an air duct having an opening spaced from and facing the first conveyor;
• and
• a fan in fluid communication with the air duct, the fan being configured to draw air through the opening into the air duct and discharge the air out an exhaust vent.

A conveying apparatus configured to transport sheets along a transport path in a first direction from an input end to a discharge end, the conveying apparatus comprising:

• a frame having a first side and a second side and a front end and a rear end;
• an upper conveyor mounted in the frame and having an upstream end at the frame front end, a downstream end at the frame rear end, and a first side and a second side extending from the upstream end to the downstream end, the first conveyor comprising a plurality of belts, each belt of the plurality of belts having a first end located in a middle of the upper conveyor and a second end, the second ends of a first set of the plurality of belts being located at the upstream end of the upper conveyor and the second ends of a second set of the plurality of belts being located at the downstream end of the upper conveyor;
• a lower conveyor mounted in the frame and having an upstream end at the frame front end, a downstream end at the frame rear end, and a first side and a second side extending from the upstream end of the second conveyor to the downstream end of the second conveyor, the second conveyor comprising a plurality of wheels supported on a plurality of rods extending from the first side of the frame to the second side of the frame, the plurality of wheels being spaced from the plurality of belts to define a sheet transport path between the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor,
• an air duct mounted on the frame above the upper conveyor, the air duct having an opening above the upper conveyor;
• a housing supported by the frame, the housing substantially enclosing the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor and being connected to the air duct;
• and
• a fan in fluid communication with the air duct, the fan being configured to draw air through the opening into the air duct and discharge the air out an exhaust vent.