Friction retard feeder

A sheet feeding system, comprising:

• a feed roll configured to drive a first sheet of a stack of sheets in a process direction;
• a retard system configured to prevent one or more second sheets from being driven in the process direction;
• a trailing edge retention arm configured to automatically and selectively retain one or more second sheets in the stack by applying a force to a trailing portion of at least one second sheet, wherein the trailing edge retention arm is actuated based on first data provided by at least one of a plurality of sensors to automatically and selectively retain the one or more second sheets;
• and
• a separating system for automatically and selectively separating the feed roll and the retard system, wherein the separating system is actuated based on second data provided by at least one of the plurality of sensors to automatically and selectively separate the feed roll and the retard system;
• a nudger roll configured to move the first sheet from the stack of sheets in the process direction, wherein the nudger roll is configured to be actuated, based on third data provided by at least one of the plurality of sensors, after a previous sheet has passed through the feed roll and the retard system,
• wherein the nudger roll and at least one of the trailing edge retention arm and the separating system have a common actuator.