A sheet deceleration apparatus for reducing the speed of a sheet of material moving along a travel path at a first speed, the apparatus comprising: a first rotatable roller being rotatable about a first axis, the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the travel path and the first roller being positioned on one side of the travel path; a second rotatable roller being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the travel path and the second roller being positioned on the other side of the travel path and spaced from the first roller so that the sheet of material can pass between the first and second rollers (26, 28); at least one of the first and second rollers (26, 28) being moveable relative to and toward the other of the first and second rollers (26, 28) to nip the sheet between the first and second rollers (26, 28) during at least a portion of the travel of the sheet past the first and second rollers (26, 28) to reduce the speed of the sheet; an overhead vacuum conveyor along the travel path subsequent the first and second rollers (26, 28); characterised by further comprising a third rotatable roller along the travel path subsequent the first and second rollers (26, 28) to push the sheet of material away from the overhead vacuum conveyor; wherein the third roller is moveable between a retracted position in which the third roller is sufficiently spaced from the sheet of material so as to not push the sheet away from the overhead vacuum conveyor and an extended position in which the third roller is moved toward, and in contact with, the sheet of material so as to push the sheet away from the overhead vacuum conveyor; and wherein the third roller extends to push the sheet of material away from the overhead vacuum conveyor at substantially the same time as the first and second rollers (26, 28) operate to nip the sheet of material to reduce the speed of the sheet. a first rotatable roller being rotatable about a first axis, the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the travel path and the first roller being positioned on one side of the travel path; a second rotatable roller being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the travel path and the second roller being positioned on the other side of the travel path and spaced from the first roller so that the sheet of material can pass between the first and second rollers (26, 28); at least one of the first and second rollers (26, 28) being moveable relative to and toward the other of the first and second rollers (26, 28) to nip the sheet between the first and second rollers (26, 28) during at least a portion of the travel of the sheet past the first and second rollers (26, 28) to reduce the speed of the sheet; an overhead vacuum conveyor along the travel path subsequent the first and second rollers (26, 28); characterised by further comprising a third rotatable roller along the travel path subsequent the first and second rollers (26, 28) to push the sheet of material away from the overhead vacuum conveyor; wherein the third roller is moveable between a retracted position in which the third roller is sufficiently spaced from the sheet of material so as to not push the sheet away from the overhead vacuum conveyor and an extended position in which the third roller is moved toward, and in contact with, the sheet of material so as to push the sheet away from the overhead vacuum conveyor; and wherein the third roller extends to push the sheet of material away from the overhead vacuum conveyor at substantially the same time as the first and second rollers (26, 28) operate to nip the sheet of material to reduce the speed of the sheet.