Workpiece feeder for a cutting metal-working machine or the like

A workpiece feeder used with a cutting metal working machine for feeding individual workpieces to the processing main shaft of said cutting metal working machine one after another subject to a predetermined time interval, said workpiece feeder comprising:

• a frame base, said frame base comprising a sloping feed table sloping in one direction at a top side, said sloping feed table having a front side at the lowest point thereof, and a feed groove located on the lowest front side of said sloping table;
• a conveyer disposed adjacent to said feed groove, said conveyer comprising a front transmission wheel, a rear transmission wheel, and endless conveyer belt mounted on said front transmission wheel and said rear transmission wheel and coupled to said feed groove;
• a control box;
• a power drive controlled by said control box to move individual workpieces from said sloping feed table to said feed groove one after another subject to said predetermined time interval, and to rotate said conveyer;
• at least one striking block fixedly fastened to said endless belt and adapted to force individual workpieces out of said feed groove one after another to the processing main shaft of said cutting metal-working machine for processing;
• and
• sensor means disposed at one side of said front transmission wheel in the path of said at least one striking box, and adapted to detect the movement of said at least one striking block and to output a signal to said control box for causing said control box to drive said power drive to move one individual workpiece out of said sloping feed table to said feed groove upon detection of the presence of one of said at least one striking block.