Abstract: A printing media position sensing device provides sheet medium position status information for synchronizing media transfer operations in a hard copy machine using a sheet feeder system. When a sheet is picked and transferred from a stack in a replaceable cartridge, refillable tray, or the like, to the input registration and feed mechanism of the hard copy machine, a detector senses the further exit motion of the picked sheet, thus providing an indication that the input registration and feed mechanism has taken control of the sheet. A signal indicative of this condition is used to release the sheet pick and transfer mechanism associated with the stack so that the sheet is free to leave the stack uninhibited. The exit sensor automatically resets for the next cycle.