PURPOSE: To perform stable conveyance by releasing the sheet feed pressure of a friction pad when a transfer sheet is conveyed to a conveyance roller pair during conveyance of a transfer sheet in a state to be nipped between a feed roller and a friction pad.

CONSTITUTION: Transfer sheets, not shown, laminated in a cassette 3 are separated one by one from a topmost layer and fed by a feed roller 8. The transfer sheet is fed in a state to be nipped between a feed roller 45 and a friction pad 46, and guided through a passage 49, comprising guides 47 and 48, toward a pair of rollers 50 and 51. When arrival of the transfer sheet is detected by a sensor 52 located right before a pair of the rollers 50 and 51, a friction pad 46 is rotated clockwise around a pin 63 by means of a command from a CPU, not shown to release press against the transfer sheet. This constitution performs stable conveyance of the transfer sheets and carries out excellent transfer.