Splitting apparatus and splitting method

A splitting apparatus that splits a plate material along a split target line, the splitting apparatus comprising:

• a lower mold configured to allow placement of the plate material on the lower mold and arranged on a first side of the split target line of the plate material;
• an upper blade configured to be raised or lowered with respect to the lower mold, the upper blade including a body portion and a blade portion extending from the body portion, the body portion having a lower surface and the blade portion having an inner surface extending perpendicular to the lower surface of the body portion, a bite amount defined by a distance between the lower surface of the body portion and an opposite end of the inner surface of the blade portion, the bite amount being equal to or less than a thickness of the plate material;
• and
• a support member arranged on a second side of the split target line of the plate material,
• wherein when the upper blade is lowered toward the plate material supported by the lower mold and the support member, the blade portion of the upper blade forms a cut on the split target line of the plate material, a crack is formed in the plate material in conjunction with formation of the cut, and the plate material splits along the split target line.