PURPOSE: To provide a paper feeder which can be applied to various qualities of papers and by which a stain on a paper sheet can be prevented.

CONSTITUTION: When taking-in operation is started, a high friction member 134c is brought into contact with a document (paper sheet) P, and the document P is taken in, and a feed finger (member) 161 is push-pressed to the document P, and taking-in of the document P on and after the next one is prevented. After the taking-in operation is started, when a feed belt (rotary body) 134 rotates attendantly, a low friction member 134d comes into contact with the document P, and prevents a stain on the document P, and raises the feed finger (member) 161 up to a prescribed position, and a claw part 161a of the feed finger 161 restrains bending of the document P, and prevents buckling of the document P.