Abstract: A feeding mechanism for flat flexible items is provided having a hopper for receiving a stack of the items, a rotatable cylindrical member positioned to engage a lowermost item of the stack with an outer circumferential surface thereof, a motor for rotationally driving the cylindrical member, a source of vacuum connected to the cylindrical member, at least one vacuum port extending through the outer surface of the cylindrical member which communicates with the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the port, a high friction surface at the outer surface adjacent to the vacuum port, at least one belt carried on the cylindrical member so as not to protrude above the outer surface through a portion of the circumference, the belt also being captured on a pulley member such that the belt extends away from the cylindrical member on a side opposite the portion, at least one pressing roller for pressing against the outer surface of the cylindrical member at the portion.