The top panel (15) of the stack is gripped at one edge by a suction pad (8) at the end of a support arm fitted to a sleeve (4) which moves up and down an inclined guide. The sleeve is also pivot mounted by a lower transverse axis (5) with the top of the sleeve supported between two sprung supports (7). As the top panel is lifted the sprung supports cause the grip to angle the panel and allow air to enter between it and the next panel of the stack. The suction grip is held between vertical springs at the end of a horizontal support arm. The distance between the suction pad and the horizontal pivot (5) for the sleeve is several times the diameter of the suction pad. No servo force is required to shake the panel free from the stack.
