Patent ID: 8235614

Claim:
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming portion configured to form an image on a surface of a sheet having a leading end and a trailing end opposite the leading end; a feeding device configured to feed the sheet in a sheet feeding direction and to output the sheet through an output opening positioned in the image forming apparatus and downstream from the feeding device in the sheet feeding direction; an output direction regulating device configured to guide the sheet in an output direction as the sheet is output through the output opening; a sheet receiving portion positioned downstream of the output opening in the sheet feeding direction; and an engagement portion positioned in a portion of a sheet output path downstream from the output opening and upstream from the sheet receiving portion in the sheet feeding direction and configured to selectively move between at least a first position and a second position, wherein when the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet when the sheet reaches the engagement portion, and when the engagement portion is in the second position, the engagement portion does not engage the sheet when the sheet reaches the engagement portion, wherein when the engagement portion is in the first position, the engagement portion is configured to engage the leading end of the sheet before the trailing end passes the feeding device, and the sheet receiving portion is configured to receive the sheet after the engagement portion engages the leading end of the sheet, and wherein the engagement portion is configured to alter an orientation of the sheet, such that the trailing end of the sheet is positioned further downstream in the sheet feeding direction than the leading end of the sheet when the sheet receiving portion receives the sheet.