Sheet folding apparatus

A sheet folding apparatus for performing folding processing on a sheet from a carry-in portion and transferring the sheet to a carrying-out portion, comprising:

• a first transport path for guiding the sheet from the carry-in portion to the carrying-out portion without performing the folding processing;
• a second transport path branching off from the first transport path and disposed to cross the first transport path, for performing the folding processing on the sheet from the carry-in portion and guiding the sheet to the carrying-out portion;
• a carry-in roller disposed in the carry-in portion of the first transport path;
• a carrying-out roller disposed in the carrying-out portion of the first transport path;
• folding rollers disposed in folding positions of the second transport path to fold the sheet;
• a driving motor for driving the carry-in roller, the carrying-out roller, and the folding rollers;
• and
• control means for controlling the driving motor,
• wherein one of the folding rollers is disposed so that at least part of a periphery faces the first transport path in between the carry-in roller and the carrying-out roller,
• the first transport path is provided with a pinch roller capable of coming into press-contact with and separating from the periphery of the one of the folding rollers, and a guide cover for covering the periphery of the one of the folding rollers facing the first transport path,
• the guide cover is configured to be able to shift to positions between an actuation position for covering so that the sheet that is carried in the first transport path does not contact the periphery of the one of the folding rollers and a non-actuation position in which the sheet engages with the periphery of the one of the folding rollers, and
• the control means controls the guide cover to shift to the actuation position with the pinch roller separated from the periphery of the one of the rollers.