Device for separating blanks

A device for continuing separation of blanks for book cover material, envelopes for brochures and similar bendable sheets from associated stacked sheets which comprises:

• a magazine dimensioned and configured for holding an associated first stack of sheets, said magazine including a first conveyor belt on which the associated first stack of sheets rests in normal operation of the device;
• said device including means for feeding the lowest sheet from the first stack of sheets in the magazine in a timed fashion, said means for feeding including a non-skid surface on said conveyor belt and a plurality of openings in said conveyor belt, said means for feeding including means for sucking air through said plurality of openings in said conveyor belt, and said means for feeding also including means for grasping the lowest sheet in the first stack of sheets and removing the lowest sheet from the first stack of sheets;
• said means for grasping including a suction element and means for creating an air cushion between the lowest sheet in the first stack of sheets and the remainder of the first stack of sheets, said means for creating an air cushion including an air blower, said means for grasping the lowest sheet including means for supporting said first stack of sheets proximate to an edge of said first stack of sheets on both sides of an open space;
• said device further including means for conveying individual sheets from the first stack of sheets away from said means for grasping.