Sheet handling device and images forming apparatus using the device

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a sheet handling device;
• image forming means for forming an image on a sheet;
• and
• main body ejection means for ejecting sheets having thereon images formed by said image forming means,
• wherein said sheet handling device comprises:
• ejection means for ejecting sheets;
• a stacking surface having a stopper portion for supporting the ends of the sheets, on which the sheets ejected by said ejection means are stacked;
• a rotatable feeding member that moves the sheets in a sheet-feeding direction toward said stopper portion of said stacking surface;
• aligning means for aligning the sheets on said stacking surface by moving the sheets in the direction orthogonal to the sheet-feeding direction;
• shift means for moving said rotatable feeding member between an acting position and a retracted position;
• and
• control means that projects said rotatable feeding member to the acting position and that retracts said rotatable feeding member to the retracted position,
• wherein said rotatable feeding member is retracted to the retracted position during an aligning operation by said aligning means, and
• wherein said rotatable feeding member, when in the acting position, acts on the surface of the sheets on said stacking surface and, when in the retracted position, reduces the force acting on the surface of the sheets on said stacking surface or separates from the surface of the sheets on said stacking surface.