Patent ID: 7677547

Claim:
An apparatus for individually separating flat items from stacks, comprising: a holder for holding at least two stacks of flat items, a first one of the stacks having an outer item in a first separating position and a second one of the stacks having an outer item in a second separating position, the first and second separating positions being situated at opposite ends of the holder; a first separating structure for individually separating topmost flat items from the first one of the stacks at the first separating position; a second separating structure located lower than the first separating structure, including a platform for supporting the second stack, and arranged for individually separating lowermost flat items from the second one of the stacks at the second separating position; and a single urging member at least partially positioned between the two separating structures and constituting a platform for supporting the first stack in the holder and for urging the first stack in the holder between the urging member and the first separating position towards the first separating position.