Document feeder

A document feeder of the invention is formed of a sheet feeding tray for receiving sheets or documents thereon; a feeding device for feeding the sheets on the sheet feeding tray in order; and a feeding roller for feeding the sheets transferred from the feeding device in a sheet feeding direction and having at least one space extending in a direction perpendicular to the sheet feeding direction. The document feeder further includes at least first and second separating devices. The first separating device is formed of a frictional member having a frictional coefficient relative to a sheet greater than that between the sheets. The first separating device contacts the feeding roller and permits one sheet to pass therebetween. The second separating device is formed of an elastic member and has at least one tongue piece with a forward end. The forward end is located in the space of the feeding roller for separating the sheets between the forward end and the feeding roller. Therefore, when the sheets are separated, a back surface of the sheet is not smudged. Also, a misfeed or a double feed of the sheets does not take place, and separation of the sheets can be smoothly carried out.