Document imaging apparatus with leading edge engagement for improved performance

An apparatus for processing documents, comprising:

• a feeder configured to feed a plurality of documents one at the time wherein the feeder is configured to singulate the documents to serially feed the documents forwardly toward a document transport;
• and
• a sorter configured to sort the documents into one or more output bins, comprising a document transport configured to convey the documents at a first speed and a discharge transport configured to convey the documents away from the document transport and toward a first bin of the one or more output bins and to selectively increase the speed of the documents to a second speed and then decrease the speed of the documents to a third speed that is lower than the first or second speeds, wherein the discharge transport relays the documents to the first bin of the one or more output bins at the third speed.