Patent ID: 7048492

Claim:
A method of picking up stacks of blanks, said stacks being arranged in at least one layer on a separating sheet which has a peripheral portion projecting outwards of the periphery of the layer of stacks; the method comprising a pickup step wherein said stacks are picked up successively by a pickup member, which is pressed onto said separating sheet in a position facing a said stack for removal, and is then slid in a given pickup direction, and in contact with said separating sheet, beneath said stack for removing only the stack without the separating sheet; and a supporting and blocking step wherein said separating sheet is stiffened both crosswise to its plane and in said pickup direction while the pickup member is inserted between the stack and the separating sheet; wherein during said supporting and blocking step and while the pickup member is inserted between the stack and the separating sheet, said peripheral portion of the separating sheet is supported and retained from underneath by a bottom supporting member.