Panel feeder

A panel feeder comprising a vacuum case provided at its front end with a vacuum suction opening and supported for reciprocal movement relative to a block of panels arranged substantially vertically side by side, reciprocating means coupled to the case to bring the suction opening toward or away from the panel block, a slanting panel support plate extending obliquely upward, the vacuum case being slidable in parallel to the support plate, the support plate being formed in its upper portion with a panel discharge opening immediately in front of the retracted position of the vacuum case, blocking members disposed above the discharge opening to impede the panel by contact therewith, and panel block pushing means disposed on a lower portion of the slanting support plate to push the panel block to the advanced position of the vacuum case, the vacuum case having a closure slidably engaging a stationary cover, the stationary cover having an inlet connected to a duct in communication with vacuum means, the closure being formed with an air aperture always in communication with the inlet of the stationary cover over the range of reciprocal movement of the vacuum case so as to maintain a vacuum within the vacuum case and to cause the vacuum suction opening to perform a vacuum sucking action, whereby the panels are fed one by one to an apparatus subsequent to the feeder.