Medium transport device and medium processing apparatus using the same

A medium transport device comprising:

• a first transport unit that is provided in a first transport path, and nips and transports a medium by a pair of rotating bodies;
• a second transport unit that is provided in a second transport path different from the first transport path, and nips and transports the medium by a pair of rotating bodies;
• a first rotation drive unit having a drive source that rotationally drives the pair of rotating bodies of the first transport unit;
• a second rotation drive unit having a drive source that rotationally drives the pair of rotating bodies of the second transport unit;
• and
• a pressure contact force adjustment unit having a variable unit that is provided in at least one of the first transport unit or the second transport unit, and adjusts a pressure contact force of the pair of rotating bodies, wherein the variable unit comprises a roller,
• wherein when one of the first transport unit or the second transport unit nips and transports the medium, the pressure contact force adjustment unit adjusts the pressure contact force of the one transport unit that nips and transports the medium by utilizing the drive source of one of the first rotation drive unit or the second rotation drive unit that provides no driving force for transporting the medium to the first transport unit or the second transport unit.