Abstract: A sheet feeder comprises a support adapted to hold a stack of sheets, and a straight guide rail extending from the stack parallel to a transport direction and defining a transport path extending in this direction. A generally cylindrical sheet-lifting roller is provided above the support and is vertically engageable with the topmost sheet of the stack, this lifting roller being centered on and rotatable about an axis inclined to the transport direction and rail. This lifting roller can be rotated about the respective axis while in contact with the topmost sheet of the stack for displacing the topmost sheet in the transport direction and toward the rail. Feed rollers downstream of the lift roller are rotated to advance a sheet engaged thereby along the transport path in the transport direction.