A feeder for documents or other sheet materials, comprising: an inlet; an outlet; a feed path extending between the inlet and the outlet; a feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37) for moving a document or other material along the feed path; a secondary system comprising: a supply system (33,34) for moving a document or other material from the inlet to the feed path, a bidirectional feed path section extending from a portion of the feed path, a bidirectional drive system for moving a document or other material along the bidirectional feed path section and a bidirectional feed path access control system for controlling access to the bidirectional feed path section; and a drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170); the feeder being characterized in that: the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) includes a single motor for driving the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37), the supply system (33, 34) the bidirectional drive system, and for controlling the bidirectional feed path access system; the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) is configured to rotate feed rollers (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D) included in the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37) in a first direction irrespective of a rotational direction of the motor such that in at least some instances operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the secondary system comprising the supply system, the bidirectional drive system and the bidirectional feed path access control system. an inlet; an outlet; a feed path extending between the inlet and the outlet; a feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37) for moving a document or other material along the feed path; a secondary system comprising: a supply system (33,34) for moving a document or other material from the inlet to the feed path, a supply system (33,34) for moving a document or other material from the inlet to the feed path, a bidirectional feed path section extending from a portion of the feed path, a bidirectional drive system for moving a document or other material along the bidirectional feed path section and a bidirectional feed path access control system for controlling access to the bidirectional feed path section; and a drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170); the feeder being characterized in that: the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) includes a single motor for driving the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37), the supply system (33, 34) the bidirectional drive system, and for controlling the bidirectional feed path access system; the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) is configured to rotate feed rollers (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D) included in the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37) in a first direction irrespective of a rotational direction of the motor such that in at least some instances operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the secondary system comprising the supply system, the bidirectional drive system and the bidirectional feed path access control system. the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) includes a single motor for driving the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37), the supply system (33, 34) the bidirectional drive system, and for controlling the bidirectional feed path access system; the drive system (67,70,110,120,150,170) is configured to rotate feed rollers (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D) included in the feed system (35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 37) in a first direction irrespective of a rotational direction of the motor such that in at least some instances operation of the feed system is independent of operation of the secondary system comprising the supply system, the bidirectional drive system and the bidirectional feed path access control system.