Paper sheet transporting device and image forming apparatus using the same

A paper sheet transporting device comprising:

• a transport belt including an endless belt that is wound around and rotates on support rolls and in which plural air holes are formed, the transport belt sucking a paper sheet onto an outer peripheral surface of that belt and transporting the paper sheet through a constant section;
• a suction duct that is disposed in a state where it exists at least in an inside space surrounded by an inner peripheral surface of the transport belt, the suction duct being equipped with a suction surface portion in which plural suction openings that face and open to the inner peripheral surface of the transport belt passing a paper sheet suction section are formed at intervals in an rotating axial direction of the transport belt and an air duct portion that is connected to an inner surface side of the suction surface portion and allows air taken in from the suction openings to pass through;
• and
• an air suction device that is connected via a connecting duct to the air duct portion of the suction duct and sucks air,
• wherein in the air duct portion of the suction duct, a suction confluence opening that collects the air that is sucked and allows the air to pass through is disposed in a position included in a region where the suction openings whose suction force is relatively the highest of the plural suction openings exist and which position is away from the inner surface side of the suction surface portion, with the air duct portion being formed in a shape where the opening cross-sectional area of that air duct becomes relatively narrower away from the suction confluence opening in the rotating axial direction of the transport belt.