A sheet conveying device includes a belt arranged to carry sheets from an upstream end to a downstream end of a transport path, the belt having an array of perforations; and an array of suction nozzles arranged below the belt for sucking-in ambient air through the perforations of the belt. At least one blow nozzle is arranged at the downstream end of the transport path for blowing out a gas through the perforations of the belt. The downstream end of the transport path is defined by a deflection roller. A plurality of blow nozzles are formed by circumferential grooves in the peripheral surface of the deflection roller.