Abstract: A high speed rotational support is provided by a floating shaft having a circumferentially extending flange and which is disposed between two opposed rotating shafts each of which engage an opposite end of the floating shaft and one of which moves into direct engagement with a piece which is supported on the flange.

Abstract: A sheet separating device for separating flexible disc-shaped sheet materials forming a stack. The sheet materials such as floppy discs have holes in the center thereof in register with each other to define a single hole in the stack. The sheet separating device of the invention includes an outer member having a chamber therewithin and an inner member provided in the chamber. The outer member has a contact surface in facing relation to the stack. The chamber within the outer member has an opening in the contact surface through which the inner member also faces the stack. The chamber is communicated with a vacuum source. The opening and the inner member have diameters larger than the holes in the discs. When the vacuum source operates, the inner edge of the floppy discs is drawn up by suction force from a gap defined by the outer member and inner member until the drawn edge of the floppy disc is blocked by the inner member. As a result, the disc is sucked to the device and separated from the stack.