A pallet feeder feeds pallets individually to a production line that assembles a product on each pallet and tests the product. The pallet feeder may be used for a versatile production system employing a production line for producing different kinds of products. The pallet feeder comprises:

a lateral alignment means (435) for laterally aligning a pallet with respect to a conveying direction of the pallet (401);
a longitudinal alignment/hold means (424) for longitudinally aligning and holding the pallet (401);
a feeding means for individually feeding the pallet (401) to the start of the production line;
a vertical drive means (423) for vertically moving the lateral alignment means, longitudinal alignment/hold means, and feeding means; and
a control means for driving said vertical drive means in a downward direction, holding the top pallet stacked beside the pallet feeder with the longitudinal alignment/hold means (424), driving said vertical drive means in an upward direction, laterally aligning the pallet (401) with said lateral alignment means, pushing the pallet (401) toward the production line with said feeding means, releasing the pallet (401) from said longitudinal alignment/hold means (424) onto the production line, retracting said feeding means, and repeating these operations.