Patent ID: 6913177

Claim:
A blanking method for blanking a plate-like blankable sheet which has been cut in several blanks that are maintained together with the sheet by a plurality of nicks, the method comprising: positioning the previously cut blanks above openings defined in a lower blanking device tool such that the blanks would fit through the openings; activating suction in suction devices of punches above each of the blanks such that the suction devices would hold the blanks to the punches; gripping the blanks by the suction devices of the punches; while gripping the blanks, moving the punches of an upper blanking tool toward the openings in the lower tool for the punches to break the nicks between the blanks to separate the blanks from the sheet, and controlling the blanks being separated from the sheet by keeping suction in the suction devices during the rupturing of the nicks; after rupturing of the nicks with the punches in the openings, changing air pressure at the suction devices to release the blanks from the suction devices so that the blanks might fall on a pile; then moving the upper tool up out of the openings.