PATH SWITCHING DEVICE, AND SHEET PROCESSING DEVICE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a path switching device for reducing a jam when a sheet is distributed from a carrying-in path to a branch path and for preventing increase of an occupied area caused by configuring the branch path to be a gentle inclination.SOLUTION: A path switching device A4 for distributing a sheet conveyed from a carrying-in path (conveying path) R0 to any one of multiple branch paths at a branch part BR includes: a switching guide 50 disposed at the branch part BR so that an inclination angle is changeable for distributing the sheet to the any one of the multiple branch paths by changing the inclination angle; and a control unit for controlling movement of the switching guide 50 to change the inclination angle. When distributing the sheet to a first branch path R1 that crosses the carrying-in path R0 at a first branch angle , the control unit determines that a tip of the sheet comes in contact with the switching guide 50 being in an inclined state, and then drives the switching guide 50 and increases the inclination angle to make it approach the first branch angle .