Sheet conveying apparatus

A sheet conveying apparatus comprising:

• a first conveying portion in which a band-shaped sheet including a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface is conveyed with the first surface facing downward;
• a turning portion located downstream of the first conveying portion and configured to flip the sheet with the first surface facing inward such that the second surface is located below the first surface;
• and
• a second conveying portion located downstream of the turning portion and configured to convey the sheet with the second surface facing downward, wherein
• the first conveying portion includes an air nozzle that ejects air toward the first surface of the sheet, and the sheet being allowed to float by the ejected air,
• the turning portion includes a convex curve along which the sheet is flipped,
• the convex curve includes a first air ejection portion and a second air ejection portion, the first air ejection portion being located in an upstream end region of the convex curve and configured to eject air toward the first surface of the sheet, the second air ejection portion being located downstream of the upstream end region of the convex curve and configured to eject air toward the first surface of the sheet, and
• the first air ejection portion ejects air to generate flotation larger than that of the second air ejection portion, wherein
• the first air ejection portion includes a slit disposed in the convex curve and extending in a width direction of the sheet, and
• the second air ejection portion includes a plurality of air ejection holes disposed in the convex curve, and
• a width of the slit in a conveyance direction of the sheet is larger in a center portion of the slit than in an end portion of the slit in the width direction.