the feed roll 197 is arranged in alignment with that side of the slide 194 which contacts the guide 193 the stack table 187 is so oriented with respect to the feed roll 197 that its upper side supporting the sheet stack 182 is at least approximately aligned with a tangent plane of the feed roll 197 this alignment causes the lowermost single sheet of the sheet stack 182 be guided straight from the stack table 187 onto the periphery of the feed roll 197 provided the setting of the end stop of the slide 194 is correct the latter will retain all the sheets above the lowermost one until that single sheet has been singulated forwardly by the feed roll 197 in order to enhance the singulating action of the feed roll 197 the latter has on its circumference a rubber rim 198 of increased surface coarseness the feed roll 197 is guided on its two extremities in the side walls 184 of the frame 183 it receives its drive through a timing belt 199 from an electric motor 200 which is preferably a gear motor as can be seen in fig1 the stack feeder 181 is arranged so close to the guide table 176 of the cutting unit 160 that the single sheets which are drawn from the sheet stack 182 by the feed roll 197 reach the guide table 176 very quickly after only a short intermediate travel distance the upper side of the guide table 176 thus serves as a guide surface for the movement.