Sheet-like medium alignment apparatus

To ensure that the leading edge of the sheet ejected onto a tray does not push and move loaded sheets in advance, loaded sheets are retained at position (II) by a retaining roller. A roller (returning roller in this case) for applying external force to a sheet S ejected onto the tray and moving the sheet toward a end face for alignment is displaced to a different position in the direction of ejection "a", thereby firmly gripping the trailing edge of the sheet S ejected on the tray