A device for cyclic modification of the distribution of a pile of sheets comprises a housing with a window, a drawer which can be slid in and out of the housing, and means for withdrawing a sheet from a pile placed in the housing and transferring it to the other side of the pile during each cyclic movement of the drawer. When the drawer is fully inserted in the housing, the pile is pressed against the window by a compression device which comprises rails supported on leaf springs. Functional elements such as anchorage extensions, sheet limit stops, locking catches, spacing ribs and forward feed teeth are molded on the rails.