Patent ID: 7007942

Claim:
An apparatus for lifting, separating and transporting a top panel from a stack of panels, comprising: a. a housing having an underside with a conveyor positioned adjacent thereto, said conveyor allowing a suction force therethrough, b. a vacuum source connected to said housing and applying a suction force across said conveyor, c. said housing further comprising at least two intake chambers and defining at least one suction aperture above said conveyer, wherein each of said intake chambers operatively connects at least one said suction aperture to said vacuum source thereby defining an intake passage for the flow of air between said vacuum source and said suction aperture, d. said intake chambers further comprising an intake valve operatively connected to said housing, and positioned between said vacuum source and said suction aperture, wherein the opening and shutting of said intake valve creates a sequential application of said suction force from said suction aperture along a length of said conveyor, e. a lift bed for supporting a stack of panels, whereby said lift bed is positioned below said conveyor and said housing, and is capable of being positioned within sufficient proximity to said suction aperture so that said sequential suction force lifts a top panel from a stack of panels, and f. a frame for supporting said housing and said conveyor above said lift bed.