DOCUMENT FEED DEVICE

A document feed device is disclosed which utilizes intermittently operated endless drive belts to transport a document sheet from an entry guide to an exposure zone and from there to an exit hopper where the drive belts are tensioned over the trailing and leading edges of the work station to provide concentrated drive forces at those points and where the leading edge is slightly elevated from the plane of the work station to provide a region of force relief immediately after passing the leading edge. The document is moved into engagement with the drive belt by picker roll mechanism which controls initiation of feed and is accelerated away from the work station by an accelerator roll arrangement which drives the document at a speed faster than it is normally fed to make room for the next document. Alignment is accomplished by an alignment guide having fingers inter-digitated with the plurality of feed belts and providing a positive stop against which the document is lightly urged by the feed belts. The feed belt/work station surface arrangement is such as to provide an increasing urging force in the direction of feed.