Path switcher, and medium-transporting device and medium-processing apparatus including the same

A path switcher provided at a point of branching of a transport path along which a medium is to be transported and where the transport path branches out into a first branch path and a second branch path that are to be switched between by the path switcher, the path switcher comprising:

• means for switching the transport path, the means for switching comprising:
• a first arm that is swingable at the point of branching of the transport path, the first arm being a flat plate extending in a width direction of the medium, and the width direction intersecting a direction of transport of the medium;
• and
• a second arm connected to a distal end of the first arm with an aid of a motion-allowing part, the second arm being a stick and being one of a plurality of second arms arranged in a form of comb teeth at predetermined intervals in the width direction of the medium,
• wherein the means for switching is configured to close one of the first branch path and the second branch path while opening another of the first branch path and the second branch path;
• means for elastically retaining the first arm and the second arm in a predetermined positional relationship, the means for elastically retaining being provided around the motion-allowing part;
• and
• means for rotatably coming into contact with the medium, the means for rotatably coming being provided at a distal end of the second arm.