PURPOSE: To securely separate sheets of paper from each other without damaging them, by providing brush-like members in such prescribed positions that the edge of the lifted sheet of paper comes into contact with the members.

CONSTITUTION: Claws 1 provided with brushes 50 for preventing the conveyance of overlapped sheets of paper are secured on a fitting plate 2, which can be rotated within a prescribed range around shafts 5 attached to secured members. The plate 2 is in such a position that the locus of the front edge of the uppermost sheet of paper on a rest plate 30 intersects parts of the brushes 50 when the uppermost sheet is lifted by a paper pull-up unit 10. The plate 2 can be moved by turning on a solenoid 9, to such a position that the locus of the lifted sheet does not intersect the brushes 50.