Punching device, paper processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus

A punching device, comprising:

• a punching unit that punches a hole in a sheet of paper;
• a container that receives a chad of paper generated upon punching by the punching unit;
• a dispersing member that is provided within the container and that is configured to disperse the chad of paper;
• and
• a guide member configured to guide the chad of paper, that is generated upon punching by the punching unit, into the container to the dispersing member, wherein the guiding member includes a pair of plate-form members that extend into an opening in the guiding member such that a plane that extends along a guide surface of a first of the pair of plate-form members and extends from a free end of the first plate-form member intersects with a side face of a second of the pair of plate-form members.