Separation method and device

A method for separating flat parcels from a stack of parcels, comprising:

• operating a drawing element by moving, in a start-and-stop fashion, the drawing element in a conveying direction so that a surface of the drawing element comes into contact with a first parcel of the stacked parcels;
• generating a stacking pressure with a stack support element in a direction toward the surface of the drawing element so that a force is exerted on the first parcel in the direction of the drawing element, and the surface of the drawing element is in frictional contact with the first parcel;
• pressing a parcel-side surface of an aspiration element against the stack of parcels for moving the parcel stack away from the surface of the drawing element when the drawing element is not in motion;
• retracting the aspiration element when the drawing element is in motion so that the parcel-side surface of the aspiration element is essentially in a plane of the surface of the drawing element which contacts the first parcel in the stack;
• increasing the force exerted on the first parcel in the direction of the surface of the drawing element to increase the frictional contact between the surface of the drawing element and the first parcel by generating a vacuum on a side of the drawing element using the aspiration element;
• and
• conveying the first parcel with the drawing element through a passage gap defined between the drawing element and a guide wall provided for the stacked parcels.