A paper feed mechanism includes: a paper storage to store sheets of paper; an air blowing unit disposed on each of both sides of the paper storage in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction corresponding to a paper conveyance direction, in which the air blowing unit blows air to a side end of each of the sheets of paper in the paper storage to float one or some of the sheets of paper in the paper storage; and a paper conveyance unit disposed above the paper storage, in which the paper conveyance unit holds, by suction, an uppermost sheet of paper among the floated sheets of paper, and conveys the uppermost sheet of paper. An air blowing position of the air blowing unit is changeable in the first direction according to information about the sheets of paper.