A paper pickup mechanism is used with a pickup tape and includes a frame, a release roller, a receive roller and a sponge. The release roller and the receive roller are rotatably mounted in the frame and apart parallel to each other. The sponge is mounted at a bottom of the frame and parallel to the release roller and the receive roller. The sponge is located at a level position below that of the release roller and the receive roller. The pickup tape is mounted to the release roller. The free end of the pickup tape rounds the bottom face of the sponge and is mounted to the receive roller. The stick face of the pickup tape against the sponge is exposed outward and opposite to the sponge.