PURPOSE: To shorten the time required for processing all documents by processing two or more documents placed on a document placing part so that the second and subsequent documents are fed from a waiting position the instant that the first one is ejected from an exposing part.

CONSTITUTION: When a roller 7 comes into press-contact with the documents on the placing part 1 an electromagnetic clutch and a motor drive rollers 7 to 15 in the direction of an arrow, and the first document is fed. During a period when the leading edge of the second one does not reach a position in which it receives the carrying force of a belt 11 and when the leading edge of the first one does not reach a position in which it abuts on a stopper 13 after the leading edge of the second one passes through a detecting means 10, the clutch is turned off, and the leading edge of the second one is awaited in a position in which the detecting means 10 and the belt 11 take the document. At the end of scanning and exposure, the clutch and the motor are again turned on. The first one is ejected to a tray 16, while the waiting second one is fed to the belt 11. When the trailing edge of the second one is out of the roller 7, the third one is fed from the placing part. Since the second and subsequent ones are fed from the waiting position the instant that the previous one is ejected, document processing is sped up.