SEPARATION OF SHEET METAL ELEMENTS FROM A STACK

A method of separating at least one sheet metal element from the lower end of a stack (4) of apertured sheet metal elements, the separation comprising utilizing in motion phases two tool parts (1, 2), the method comprising: (a) a first motion phase, wherein sheet metal elements become sufficiently shifted by translation and/or rotation relative to one another at a separation plane of the stack that those elements do not inter-engage at their apertures; and (b) a second motion phase, wherein below the plane, the shifted sheet metal element(s) is(are) lowered from the plane, this lowering being such that in a third motion phase, those lowered element(s) will become completely separated from the rest of the stack by being further shifted sideways; wherein in the method: (i) sheet metal elements to be separated are gravitationally lowerable; and (ii) sheet metal element(s) remaining in the stack during the second motion phase is(are) held by support provided at the bottom surface of the remaining stack.