Sheet feeding and separating apparatus adapted to separate a single sheet from a stack of sheets and forward the separate sheet away from the stack for subsequent processing. The apparatus includes a feed belt disposed adjacent the stack for contact with the top sheet to separate the sheet therefrom. A retard shoe is spring biased into engagement with the feed belt. Actuation of the feed belt and engagement of the retard shoe with the sheets provide a rotating and locking relation with the mounting member of the retard shoe thereby preventing passage of multiple sheets by the feed belt but allowing the fed sheet to be pulled from the apparatus by a low value of pull force.