A sheet feed device for image forming equipment and capable of feeding sheets one by one from a stack by separating them. The device has a flat plate including a dielectric portion which is capable of making surface-to-surface content with the top of the stack, a unit for moving the plate in a reciprocating motion, a unit for moving the plate into and out of contact with the stack, and a unit for applying a voltage to the plate to cause it to exert an electrostatic adhering force.