Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for counting flexible sheets contained in a stack, such as a pile of banknotes.The apparatus is of the type which has a rotary sheet removing assembly including a number of suction organs to which vacuum is applied in sequence and which contact the side face of a free end of a stack of notes to deflect each note from its initial position and count it.Normally after the machine has stopped and is to be restarted the rotary assembly is moved backwards until one of the suction organs is in the appropriate place to move the next sheet. This presents problems when handling soft or warm sheets.The invention involves rotating the rotary sheet removing assembly slowly in a forward, i.e. running direction, prior to the commencement of the sheet counting operation until each organ is effectively positioned in line with the face of a stack.In the drawing (FIG.