To stop a variety of sheets and prevent problems generated by colliding sheets, a front stopping device that receives sheets being delivered along a horizontal transport route on a hopper unit and stops the movement in the transport direction includes a plate-shaped buffering member that is brought into direct contact with the front part of a sheet; and supporting members that support the upper end and lower end of the buffering member. The buffering member is formed of a flexible material to absorb the kinetic energy of the sheet by being elastically deformed in a concave surface shape when receiving the front part of the sheet, and the buffering member is supported by being inclined upward or downward by the supporting members such that a restoring force of pushing back the front part of the sheet due to the restoration of the elastic deformation includes a vertical component.