The picking roller successively picks a plurality of sheets of paper stacked on the shooter from the bottom of the paper stack. The gate extends substantially perpendicular to a paper transport direction and forms a predetermined clearance between the picking roller. The separation pad is disposed in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the picking roller and adapted to draw inside a single sheet of paper. The picking arm is driven to move to an upper position when sheets of paper are placed on the shooter, and to a lower position when the sheets of paper are fed in order to press the sheets of paper placed on the shooter toward the outer circumferential surface of the picking roller. The paper guide is disposed above the picking roller and has an opening and a bridge portion. The bridge portion extends across the opening and is fitted in a circumferential groove formed in an axially center portion of the picking roller.