A machine for unstacking mattresses, mattress cores, or foam panels, the machine characterized in that, the machine comprises: a belt mechanism (110, 120, 121, 130) having a conveyor belt, a first drive mechanism for driving the conveyor belt, a second drive mechanism (120, 121) for shifting the conveyor belt between a forwarded position and a retracted position, and a third drive mechanism for adjusting a height position of the conveyor belt; a gripper mechanism (150, 160) having a gripper with needles, and a fourth drive mechanism for moving the gripper between different height positions; and a controller (200; 500), the controller (200; 500) being configured to: - control the gripper mechanism (150, 160) to grip an end portion of an uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel of a stack by the needles and lift the end of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, - control the second drive mechanism (120, 121) and the third drive mechanism to position a forward end of the conveyor belt below the lifted end portion of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, and - control the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism (120, 121) to operate in a coordinated manner by shifting the conveyor belt towards the forwarded position while at the same time driving the conveyor belt in a backwards direction to draw the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel onto the conveyor belt. a belt mechanism (110, 120, 121, 130) having a conveyor belt, a first drive mechanism for driving the conveyor belt, a second drive mechanism (120, 121) for shifting the conveyor belt between a forwarded position and a retracted position, and a third drive mechanism for adjusting a height position of the conveyor belt; a gripper mechanism (150, 160) having a gripper with needles, and a fourth drive mechanism for moving the gripper between different height positions; and a controller (200; 500), the controller (200; 500) being configured to: - control the gripper mechanism (150, 160) to grip an end portion of an uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel of a stack by the needles and lift the end of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, - control the second drive mechanism (120, 121) and the third drive mechanism to position a forward end of the conveyor belt below the lifted end portion of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, and - control the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism (120, 121) to operate in a coordinated manner by shifting the conveyor belt towards the forwarded position while at the same time driving the conveyor belt in a backwards direction to draw the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel onto the conveyor belt. - control the gripper mechanism (150, 160) to grip an end portion of an uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel of a stack by the needles and lift the end of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, - control the second drive mechanism (120, 121) and the third drive mechanism to position a forward end of the conveyor belt below the lifted end portion of the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel, and - control the first drive mechanism and the second drive mechanism (120, 121) to operate in a coordinated manner by shifting the conveyor belt towards the forwarded position while at the same time driving the conveyor belt in a backwards direction to draw the uppermost mattress, mattress core, or foam panel onto the conveyor belt.