Sheet conveying apparatus

A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:

• a first conveying member configured to convey a sheet in a predetermined conveying direction;
• an endless conveying belt provided downstream relative to the first conveying member in the conveying direction, the belt having a conveying surface extending in the conveying direction and conveying, in the conveying direction, the sheet passed from the first conveying member;
• a plurality of balls arranged in the conveying direction so as to face the conveying surface and configured to be rotatable in any direction while nipping the sheet with the conveying surface;
• a second conveying member provided downstream relative to the conveying belt in the conveying direction and configured to convey the sheet passed from the conveying belt;
• and
• a take-out port provided on one side relative to the conveying belt in a sheet width direction crossing the conveying direction and through which a sheet stopped on the conveying belt is taken out, wherein
• when a sheet is stopped in a state of being spanned by the conveying belt and the first conveying member, or by the conveying belt and the second conveying member, the first and second conveying members and the conveying belt are operated such that the sheet is located at a position where it is nipped only by the conveying belt and the balls so as to allow the sheet to be taken out through the take-out port.