Abstract: An apparatus and method for feeding and separating a plurality of items from a random accumulation of the items. The apparatus comprises a first hopper for holding the plurality of items in the random accumulation; a hopper conveyor to discharge items from the first hopper in a first group; a first transfer that receives the items in the first group; a second hopper that receives the items from the first transfer; a metering conveyor that meters the items from the second hopper into a second group; a second transfer that receives the items from the metering conveyor; and a plurality of sequential separating conveyors that receive the second group of items and separates the items. The method includes the steps of controllably feeding the items from the random accumulation in a first grouping; metering the items from into a second grouping; and feeding the items through a series of conveyors to separate the items and orient the items to a predetermined position at discharge.