Single head device for removing alternate articles from a stack of the articles

A method of removing the uppermost item from a stack of thin, planar, flexible, alternating green ceramic cards and interleaved paper sheets separating said cards, said method comprising:

• providing a stack of alternating green ceramic cards and sheets of paper,
• moving means that supports a plurality of pins and a plurality of individual suction cups from a first rest position to a second pick-up position above said stack, said plurality of suction cups extending from a lower side of said support means and spaced apart at distances sufficient to lift the uppermost article from the stack when a lifting force is supplied to said cups, said plurality of pins also extending from the lower side of said support means and located between said suction cups,
• applying a lifting force to the plurality of suction cups when said support means is in said second position, and while said plurality of pins engage a paper sheet that is the uppermost item in said stack without penetrating the paper sheet,
• said lifting force being effective to lift and pucker portions of said uppermost sheet while said pins hold portions of the sheet between said suction cups and adjacent the edges of sheet against the next uppermost ceramic card,
• moving said support means and paper sheet from said second position to a drop location,
• releasing said lifting force from said cups when said support means is at said drop location.
• returning said support means to the pickup position,
• applying a lifting force to the plurality of suction cups while the pins extend through slots provided in the edges of the uppermost ceramic card and engage the edges of the next paper sheet,
• lifting the ceramic card without bending the same,
• moving said support means and card from the second position to a second drop location, and
• releasing said lifting force when the support means is at said second drop location.