PURPOSE: To provide a compact sorting device for copying sheets or the like having a simple arrangement, by providing such an arrangement that the receiving, gripping and conveyance of sheets and discharge of sheets into a designated tray are all carried out only one roller shaft and a motor.

CONSTITUTION: When sheets are inserted between rollers 13 through 16 secured to a roller shaft 7 and a sheet retainer 10, the roller section becomes heavy and friction force increases. Accordingly, tension F applied to a belt 19 increases so that the weight equilibrium with a load section 26 is unbalanced, causing an arm 17 to rotate counerclockwise about a shaft 21, and therefore, a system from a motor 25 to the roller section 11 is moved upward along a guide column 3 by being guided by rollers 4 through 6. Further, when the system is stopped at a position opposing a designated tray 2 by means of a positioning mechanism, the sheets are discharged by means of the rollers 13 through 16 which are rotated through the intermediary of belts 20, 19. Thereafter, the motor 25 is reversed so that tension exerted to the belt 19 is reversed to lower the system. Thus, the arrangement becomes compact so that the number or necessary parts may be reduced.