Abstract: A bottom sheet feed system employs a slated feed surface having a pair of apertures therein for receiving a respective agitator wheel. The agitator wheel is constructed of a plurality of freely rotating rollers spaced in a circle around a central axis of the agitator wheel. Downstream of the agitator wheels a nip is provided formed of a stationary retard surface and a feed wheel. As the agitator wheels rotate, they jostle bottommost sheets of the stack of sheets and cause these sheets to fan along the stationary retard surface which is preferably curved above the feed surface. With the system of the invention reliable operation is achieved in combination with high feed rates. Top loading of the stack of sheets during operation is facilitated since major upper portions of the stack of sheets abut against a perpendicular surface while only the bottommost sheets are fanned along the stationary retard surface curved portion.