A card feeding apparatus realizes random and selective feeding of cards of different types or kinds. This apparatus includes a card supplying device, a card holding and feeding device, and a controller. The card holding and feeding device includes a table set having tables on which cards from the card supplying device are held, a table set supporting structure (e.g., a frame), a table set moving device (e.g., a lifting mechanism), and a card conveying device that conveys cards held on the tables. In response to a card feeding signal, the table set supporting structure is temporarily stopped using the table set moving device such that a target table designated from the tables by the said signal is located at the card conveying position, and the card holding and feeding device is activated, thereby feeding a card on the target table by the card conveying device.

User labor relating to determining on an alignment condition is reduced and a stable conveying operation is realized by aligning a sheet bundle also when a sheet bundle is added. A sheet bundle composed of multiple sheet materials is placed on a loading platform. An encoder pulse unit detects the amount of the sheet bundle placed on the loading platform based on the opening amount of a pressure plate. A control unit determines on an alignment condition according to the amount of the sheet bundle. Rotating members align the sheet bundle in accordance with the alignment condition. When it is determined that another sheet bundle has been added to the loading platform, the control unit updates the alignment condition according to the total amount of the other sheet bundle and the sheet bundle remaining on the loading platform.

A transport unit transports a transport medium after the transport medium is newly placed as an uppermost medium in a state in which one or a plurality of placed media are already placed in a processing tray. At this state, at least one of the placed media placed on the processing tray is pressed by a pressing unit at a pressing position. After the transport unit is separated away from the transport medium, the pressing unit can move from the pressing position to a retraction position.

A transport unit transports a transport medium after the transport medium is newly placed as an uppermost medium in a state in which one or a plurality of placed media are already placed in a processing tray. At this state, at least one of the placed media placed on the processing tray is pressed by a pressing unit at a pressing position. After the transport unit is separated away from the transport medium, the pressing unit can move from the pressing position to a retraction position.