FR2790572A1 - METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR AUTOMATIC AND HIGH-THROUGHPUT STACKING OF CARDS WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention proposes a method and an installation for unstacking rectangular flat objects, in particular cards (C), made of rigid or semi-rigid material stacked vertically on top of each other in at least one stack, during which the procedure is the unitary gripping, in particular by suction, of a last card from the stack, then this card (C) to be unstacked is passed vertically between at least one pair of parallel horizontal needles (30) arranged respectively facing two areas (32) facing the gripping face (14) of the card adjacent to two parallel and opposite edges (10) of the card by elastically deforming the latter to cause temporary bending of the card to be unstacked around a bending axis (L) substantially horizontal parallel to the needles (30), characterized in that the card to be unstacked (C) is passed between two horizontal needles (30degre parallel to the axis (L) of longer card length for provoq Use a temporary bending of the card by elastic bending of the card (C) around this axis (L).

Description

1 2790572

  The present invention relates to a method and an installation for unstacking rectangular flat objects,

including cards.

  The invention relates more particularly to a method and installation for unstacking rectangular plastic cards, rigid or semi-rigid, which allow to take a io by one and at a high rate of cards previously stacked

  vertically on top of each other in at least one stack.

  Such cards are, for example, the bodies of plastic material of integrated circuit cards, also called smart cards, which are stacked at the end of their manufacturing stage by known methods such as lamination and die cutting.

desired rectangular shape.

  High-speed production in large series of smart cards uses fully automated installations in which the support, then the card, pass successively in front of different stations between each of which it is transferred

  automatically, in particular by a conveyor type device.

  For the reliability of the manufacturing process of smart cards, it is imperative that the supports succeed each other individually and in a unitary manner along the chain of

manufacturing.

  The plastic supports previously stacked in large quantities are difficult to separate from each other, in particular due to the contact forces existing between the various cards as well as due to the electricity problems

static.

2 2790572

  In order to unstack, it has already been proposed to separate the last card from a stack, whether it is the last upper card or the last lower card, by sliding it parallel to its plane by exerting a pushing force on one of its four lateral edges. Such a method is not satisfactory because it causes scratches of the unstacked card by the immediately adjacent card along which the slide is dragged.

unstacked card.

  In order to avoid scratching the cards, it has already been proposed to take each card to be unstacked by a suction system, generally comprising a large central suction cup and four small lateral suction cups, then to pass it vertically through a set. pairs of opposite needles which are oriented parallel to the width of the card, i.e.

  is parallel to the small edges of the map.

  By passing between multiple needles geometrically arranged for this purpose, it is possible to avoid simultaneously taking two cards which are passed simultaneously through a first pair of needles, each pair of needles causing the card to bend or bend when passing this one. Such a method and the corresponding installation are not entirely satisfactory insofar as they do not make it possible to perform the unstacking operation at a high rate and insofar as "glued" cards, for example by the phenomenon

  static electricity, are not reliably separated.

  In addition, the passage with bending of each card between several sets of pairs of needles increasingly close together can cause scratches and damage the internal structure of the plastic material which is repeatedly subjected to

  bending and bending stresses.

3 2790572

  In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention provides a method for unstacking rectangular flat objects, in particular cards, of rigid or semi-rigid material stacked vertically on top of each other in at least one stack, during which proceeds to the unitary gripping, in particular by aspiration, of a last card of the stack, then a tractive force is applied to this card in a generally vertical direction, characterized in that an air jet is sent laterally under pressure at right of at least one lateral edge of the last card of the stack to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent According to other characteristics of the invention - a jet of pressurized air is sent laterally at the right of at least one lateral edge of the last card of the stack to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent; - the jet of pressurized air is sent prior to the passage of the card to be unstacked between the needles; - the jet of pressurized air is sent during the passage, with deformation, of the card to be unstacked between the needles; - the jet of pressurized air is sent to the right of two parallel and opposite edges of the card to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent; - the jet of pressurized air is sent to the right of at least one short edge of the card to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent; - a temporary bending of the card to be unstacked is caused by elastically deforming it; - the card to be unstacked is passed vertically between at least one pair of parallel horizontal needles arranged respectively opposite two zones facing the gripping face of the card adjacent to two parallel and opposite edges of the card by elastically deforming the latter

A4 2790572

  to cause temporary bending of the card to be unstacked around a substantially horizontal bending axis parallel to the needles; - The card to be unstacked is passed between two horizontal needles parallel to the axis of greatest length of the card to cause temporary bending of the card by elastic bending of the card around this axis; - we take the last lower card from the stack to unstack it. The invention also proposes an installation for unstacking cards, and in particular for implementing the method according to the invention. To this end, the invention proposes an installation for unstacking rectangular flat objects, in particular cards, made of rigid or semi-rigid material stacked vertically on top of each other in at least one stack, of the type comprising means for gripping, in particular by aspiration, of a last card of the stack and of the separation means of the stacked cards, to guarantee the unstacking of the stacked cards, characterized in that said card separation means comprise air blowing means under pressure which are arranged to send laterally a jet of pressurized air at the right of at least one lateral edge of the last card of the stack to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent According to other characteristics of the installation - the means for blowing pressurized air send a jet of pressurized air in line with two parallel and opposite edges of the card to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent ; the means for blowing pressurized air send a jet of pressurized air in line with at least one edge of short length of the card to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent

2790572

  - It comprises a control unit which controls the means for blowing pressurized air to trigger the sending of a jet of pressurized air prior to the passage of the card to be unstacked between the needles; - It comprises a control unit which controls the means for blowing pressurized air to trigger the sending of a jet of pressurized air during the passage, with deformation, of the card to be unstacked between the needles; it comprises a unstacking head which is mounted movable 1o vertically between a position for gripping the unstacking card and a position for removing the unstacked card and which comprises at least one suction gripping member, in particular a suction cup, for the card to unstack which is capable of cooperating with the gripping face opposite the card to be unstacked; - the unstacking head is carried by a control jack - the unstacking head comprises at least two gripping members by suction which are aligned longitudinally along the bending axis of the card to be unstacked; The control unit controls the means for blowing air under pressure as a function of the vertical position of the unstacking head; - The installation comprises a control unit which controls each gripping member by suction as a function of the vertical position of the unstacking head, in particular with a view to gradually releasing the card which has just been unstacked; The control unit comprises an arrangement of a window 88 of a tubular column 74, of a block 74 and of a connection 84 of pipe 86, said arrangement being capable of causing a gradual venting of the window 88 while the fitting 84 is still facing the latter, in order to release

  gradually the card which has just been unstacked.

6 2790572

  - Said separation means comprise at least one pair of parallel horizontal needles which are respectively arranged opposite two zones facing the gripping face of the card adjacent to two parallel and opposite edges of the card and which elastically deform the latter during its passage between the needles to cause temporary bending of the card around a substantially horizontal bending axis parallel to the needles; - The needles are parallel to the longest axis of the card to be unstacked to cause temporary bending of the card by elastic bending of the card around this axis; - It comprises at least one charger which receives the stack of cards to be unstacked and comprising at least two vertical guide walls for the edges of the long lengths of the cards, and each of the two needles is arranged along one of these guide walls; - the last card to be unstacked is the last lower card in the stack which rests vertically in abutment on the two needles by the zones opposite its lower face adjacent to its

  two opposite edges (10) of great length.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the following detailed description for the

  understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1A is a schematic view, in section through the vertical plane AA of FIG. 1B, which represents certain elements of the unstacking installation according to the invention and on which the unstacking head is illustrated during the rise;

  - Figure lB is a sectional view along the vertical plane B-

  B of Figure 1A; - Figures 2A and 2B are views similar to those of Figures 1A and 1B in which the unstacking head is in position

7 2790572

  high in contact with the last card to be unstacked for gripping; - Figures 3A and 3B are views similar to those of Figures 2A and 2B on which the unstacking head is being lowered to unstack the last card; - Figures 4A and 4B are views similar to those of Figures 3A and 3B illustrating the unstacking head during its descent phase in order to deposit the unstacked card on a transfer device; - Figure 5 is an exploded perspective diagram illustrating two cards and the two bending needles arranged according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a simplified view, in partial section along line 6-6 of Figure 7, which shows the detailed structure of the installation according to the invention and more particularly of one of its unstacking units; - Figure 7 is a side view along arrow F7 of Figure 6 with certain parts illustrated in section by vertical planes; and

  - Figure 8 is a partial sectional view along line 8-

8 of Figure 7.

  There is shown schematically in Figure 5 two cards C each of which is for example a body of plastic material

  for the production of a smart card.

  According to a known and standardized design, each card C is in the form of a rectangular plate with rounded angles which is delimited by two parallel and opposite longitudinal edges of great length 10, by two parallel and opposite lateral edges 12 of shorter length , and by two large parallel and opposite faces lower 14 and upper 16.

8 2790572

  The cards to be unstacked are initially in the form of a stack of card C which are superimposed vertically on each other and which are placed in a feeder 20 (FIG. 1A) of shape complementary to that of the cards and which comprises in particular vertical walls, or wall elements, to hold the stack of cards and guide them

  vertically as you unstack.

  The feeder 20 thus comprises at least two vertical and opposite elements 22 which extend opposite the short edges 120 of the cards and two vertical and opposite elements 24, perpendicular to the elements 22, which extend opposite the long edges 10 of the cards. cards C. In the context of the example of the installation method in accordance with the teachings of the invention described and shown in i5 with reference to FIGS. 1A - 4B, the cards are unstacked from the last lower card in the stack Cards

C loaded in charger 20.

  In the vicinity of the lower edge 26 of the walls 22 and 24, the feeder 20, which is open vertically downwards, comprises along the internal faces of the walls 24 inclined slopes 28 making it possible to center the last cards transversely

bottom of the stack.

  Below each slope 28 is arranged and fixed a

needle 30.

  Alternatively each needle can be rotated around

its axis.

  The two needles 30 extend horizontally in the same plane and each is parallel to the longitudinal axis L (see FIG. 5) of the card C, that is to say that they are

  parallel to the long edges 10 of the card.

9 2790572

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the last card of the stack therefore rests by its lower face 14 on the needles 30, more precisely this card rests on the needles by two longitudinal zones 32 opposite opposite the edges 10. In the example illustrated in the figures, the vertical walls 22 adjacent to the edges 12 comprise means for blowing pressurized air which are here represented schematically in the form of nozzles 34 each of which opens io horizontally at right lateral edges 12 of the last two cards of the stack, that is to say substantially in the horizontal plane intermediate between the last two cards stacked, as

can see it in the figures.

  To take each last lower card successively from the stack, a gripping and unstacking head 36 is provided, capable of moving vertically in the two

direction along the axis V of the figures.

  The unstacking head 36 comprises an upper horizontal plate 38 in the form of a plate which carries on its upper face two suction cups 40, each of which is connected, in known manner, to a suction control circuit for taking the last by suction or suction cup lower card of the stack, the lower face 14 of which constitutes here the face gripped by the suction cups 40. The vacuum control means is preferably arranged in the vicinity of the stack of cards to be unstacked, which makes it possible to

  easily control the pressure losses of the vacuum lines.

  In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each unstacking head 36 has two suction cups 40 which are arranged aligned on the plate 38 generally along the longitudinal axis L of the cards to be unstacked so, as can be seen in the figure

2790572

  on which the traces 42 of the suction cups on the lower face 14 have been shown, take each card C in its central part to apply to it a downward traction force situated generally in the vertical plane passing through the median longitudinal axis L of each card. To apply this tensile force, each unstacking head 36 is mounted movable vertically in both directions

  by a jack device 66 which will be described later.

  FIGS. 1A to 4B show diagrammatically pipes 41 connecting the suction cups 40 to means

controlled suction.

  The method according to the invention will now be described,

  in particular with reference to FIGS. 1A to 5.

  Starting from the position shown diagrammatically i5 in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the control unit (not shown in the figures) of the unstacking installation causes the unstacking head 36 to rise until its suction cups 40 come into contact with the lower face 14 of the last lower card to be unstacked, this movement being able to be carried out with an overtravel

  reduced for example between 0 and 1 mm.

  The installation then causes the card to be gripped by aspiration by the two large suction cups 40, but without at this moment causing deformation of the card as can be seen in

Figures 2A and 2B.

  As soon as the unstacking and gripping head reaches its high position illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the installation automatically causes the blowing of pressurized air by the nozzles 34, exactly between the last two lower cards of the stack,

  especially by causing a pressure stroke.

  l 1 2790572 The installation then causes the inversion of the movement of the unstacking head 36 which begins its race vertically towards the

  bottom as can be seen in Figures 3A and 3B.

  During this downward movement, the last card of the stack sucked by the suction cups 40 of the gripping head 36, which applies a traction force on the card, passes vertically between the needles 30 which cause its elastic deformation by arching it , with a concavity turned upwards, which has the effect of detaching it from the immediately adjacent upper card, this detachment being completed by the presence of the jets

  of pressurized air blown through the nozzles 34.

  Only the last card aspirated by the suction cups 40 therefore crosses the needles after having been slightly arched around its median longitudinal axis L. The downward movement of the unstacked card continues as can be seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B while the blowing

  pressurized air was interrupted.

  As will be explained later, the unstacking operation of the card ends by automatically placing it

  this on automatic conveying means.

  A new unstacking cycle can then start again according to

the cycle described above.

  The method according to the invention guarantees an individual separation of the cards, that is to say a unitary unstacking without the risk of simultaneously taking two cards stuck together. Each unstacked card is only very slightly bent during its passage between the two longitudinal needles 30 and the internal structure of the

  plastic body does not undergo any modification.

  In addition, the method according to the invention makes it possible to achieve

  very high rates of the order of 7000 cards per hour.

12 2790572

  The method according to the invention can of course be applied in reverse, that is to say by unstacking the cards from the top, the unstacking head 36 coming to grip the last upper card of the stack which then passes vertically along a movement from bottom to top between two longitudinal hands. We will now describe in detail the example of making an installation in accordance with the teachings of

  the invention shown in Figures 6 to 8.

  In these figures, elements which are identical, analogous or similar to those described above are designated by the

same reference signs.

  The installation 50 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a double installation, that is to say that it comprises two adjacent unstacking units each comprising in particular a charger 20 and a unstacking head 36 with its corresponding control means. The upper part of each installation is a fixed part comprising in particular the charger 20 with its blowing nozzles 34 which, for the same charger, are connected to each other and to a pressurized air circuit (not shown in detail) to which

  they are connected by fittings 52.

  The upper frame elements 54 which carry the chargers are fixed relative to the lower frame 56 which carries in the upper part two transfer or conveying devices 58 which are illustrated diagrammatically in silhouette in the figures and each of which comprises rails or slides 60 to deposit

each card unstacked.

  The transfers 58 are therefore arranged vertically in line with the loaders 20 below them and their central part is cleared to allow passage vertically in the two

  direction of the corresponding unstacking head 36.

13 2790572

  Each plate 38 of a unstacking head 36 is a thick plate-shaped element which is fixed in an adjustable manner to the upper end 62 of a rod 64 belonging to a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 66 which controls the vertical movements in the two directions of the unstacking head 36. The body of the jack 36 is fixed by its lower part 68 in a U-shaped frame element 70 itself carried by the frame 56 and which extends vertically as can be seen in particular at Figure 8. o0 The vertical block 70 which surrounds the cylinder 66 receives in vertical sliding two parallel columns 72 and 74 which are fixed at their upper ends to the plate 38 and which

  therefore move vertically simultaneously with it.

  Column 72 is a solid guide column which is received in sliding mode, with the interposition of a guide sleeve,

  in a corresponding hole 76 in block 70.

  The column 74 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube comprising a vertical central channel 78 over its entire height which is closed at its lower end by a plug 80, and the upper end of which is in communication with the

pipes 41 of the suction cups 40.

  The column tube 74 is slidably received, with the interposition of a guide and sealing sleeve, in a vertical bore 82 of the block 70 in which it slides in leaktight manner and in which a fitting 84 of a pipe opens transversely. 86 connected to a source of vacuum (not shown). In its lateral face and in its median vertical part, the tube 74 includes a vertical opening light 88 which connects

so channel 78 outside.

14 2790572

  Opposite the tubular column 74, the lower part of the chassis block 70 includes a window 90 allowing the passage of an articulated lever 92 for controlling a pneumatic drawer 94

whose rod 96 has been shown.

  The free end of the lever 92 comprises a caster 98 which is in contact with the external cylindrical surface of the tubular column 74 and which is capable of cooperating with the frustoconical external surface of larger diameter 102 of the plug 80

  as will be explained later.

  l0 The installation naturally includes other elements belonging to a control unit which in particular make it possible to control the starting or stopping of the blowing of pressurized air into the nozzles 34 and this preferably automatically as a function of the movements. vertical of the unstacking and gripping head 36, for example by means of sensors (not shown) for displacement thereof electrically connected,

  mechanically or pneumatically to the control unit.

  We will now describe the operation of the installation

illustrated in Figures 6 to 8.

  In the extreme low position illustrated in FIG. 6 and on the left-hand side of FIG. 7, the pipe 86 and the connector 84 are located opposite a solid portion of the external surface of the tubular column 74 and the pipes 41 are connected to the open air via light 88, the lower part of which, as can be seen in FIG. 6, projects vertically downwards

  out of bore 82 to communicate with the outside.

  The caster 98 is in contact with the cylindrical surface of the tubular column 74 and the drawer 94 is designed to, in this position, control the interruption of the air supply under

nozzle pressure 34.

2790572

  The control unit feeds the lower chamber of the jack 66 to cause the vertical unloading head 36 to move upwards, starting from the low position illustrated in the

figure 6.

  During this upward movement, the tubular column 74 moves vertically relative to the chassis block 70 and the light 88 is then closed by the wall of the vertical bore 82 and it is located opposite the fitting 84, 86 thus ensuring the communication of the suction cups 40 with the source

io of depression.

  The ascent of the head 36 and of the columns 74 and 72 continues to come, as was explained above, to take by suction the last lower card of the stack of cards loaded

in the magazine 20.

  At the end of this climb stroke, the frustoconical wall 102 of the lower plug 80 acts on the lever 92 by means of the wheel 98 to modify the position of the pneumatic slide valve 94 which then puts the nozzles 34 in communication with the source. pressurized air to blow air between the last two bottom cards of the stack, as explained above. In the high position, the suction cups 40 are therefore connected to the vacuum source while the nozzles 34 are connected to the

pressurized air source.

  The installation control unit then causes the downward movement of the head 36 which brings with it the last card of the stack which it has just grasped in order to place it

on transfer 58, 60.

  During the downward movement, as soon as the plug 80, 102 no longer cooperates with the lever 92 of the drawer 94, the latter interrupts the supply of pressurized air to the nozzles 34

  thus interrupting the blowing of air between the cards of the stack.

  The downward movement continues gradually until the light 88 is again placed in communication with the outside; At this precise moment, the pipe 86 and the connector 84 is still located opposite the window 88 formed in the tubular column 74 ensuring the maintenance of a

  'partial' pressure in the suction cups 40.

  The continuation of the descent has the effect of increasing the section of the light 88 in contact with the outside; thus the void present

  in the suction cups 40 becomes more reduced.

  The continuation of the descent has the effect of bringing the line 86 and the connector 84 into line with a full portion of the external surface of the tubular column 74. The aspiration is then cut off The whole of this process has the effect of causing a gradual relaxation of the vacuum a few millimeters before the unstacked card comes to be deposited on the transfer in order to prevent the flexibility of the suction cup from introducing a phenomenon of

  rebound of the card when it is deposited on the transfer.

  The end of the downward stroke of the jack 66, and therefore of the head 36, ends for example about one millimeter after the

removal of the card.

  The design according to the invention using in particular the light 88 precisely dimensioned with its arrangement in the block of the frame 70 makes it possible to solve the synchronization problems inherent in known installations insofar as the synchronization of the control of the connection to the source of depression of the unstacking head no longer depends on the speed of translation of the jack and / or a vacuum distributor, nor on the losses

17 2790572

  load between the distributor and the suction cups, regardless of the distance between the suction cups and the vacuum source. The design of the installation according to the invention requires practically no overtravel in either direction, which makes it possible to accelerate the rates and to avoid applying shocks to the entire stack or movements. The loading of cards in a stack in the feeder 20 is simplified because it is easier to place the cards in a stack on very long needles than on shorter needles arranged according to the

io width as before.

  Without departing from the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to use electrical servo means rather than mechanical and pneumatic by using

corresponding sensors.

  Similarly, the unstacking head can be driven by a mechanical cam and / or ball screw system instead

and place of the pneumatic cylinder 66.

Claims (24)

  1. Method for unstacking rectangular flat objects, in particular cards (C), of rigid or semi-rigid material stacked vertically on top of each other in at least one stack, during which the unit is gripped, in particular by suction, from a last card in the stack, then a traction force is applied to this card in a generally vertical direction, characterized in that a pressurized air jet (34) is sent laterally at least one lateral edge (12) of the last card of the stack to be unstacked and of the card immediately adjacent 2. Method according to the preceding claim characterized in that the pressurized air jet (34) is sent before the   is passage of the unstacking card (C) between needles (30).   3. Method according to one of claims 2, characterized in   what we send the jet of pressurized air (34) during the passage, with deformation, of the unstacking card (C) between the needles (30).   4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the jet of pressurized air (34) is sent in line with two parallel and opposite edges (12) of the card (C) to   unstack and immediately adjacent map.   5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the jet of pressurized air (34) is sent in line with at least one edge (12) of short length of the card (C) to   unstack and immediately adjacent map.   6. Method according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that a cambering is caused   temporary removal of the card by deforming it elastically. 19 2790572   7. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the card (C) is passed vertically between at least one pair of parallel horizontal needles (30) arranged respectively opposite two zones (32) facing each other. screw of the face (14) for gripping the card adjacent to two parallel and opposite edges (10) of the card by elastically deforming the latter to cause temporary bending of the card to be unstacked around a bending axis (L ) substantially horizontal parallel to the needles (30).   8. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the unstacking card (C) is passed between two horizontal needles (30) parallel to the axis (L) of greater length of the card to cause temporary bending of the card by   elastic bending of the card (C) around this axis (L).   9. Method according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that we take the last card   bottom (C) of the stack to unstack it.   10. Installation for unstacking rectangular flat objects, in particular cards (C), of rigid or semi-rigid material stacked vertically on top of each other in at least one stack, of the type comprising gripping means (40), in particular by aspiration, of a last card of the stack and means (30, 34) of separation of the stacked cards, to guarantee the unstacking of the stacked cards, characterized in that said card separation means comprise means (34 ) of pressurized air blowing which are arranged in the vicinity of the stack of cards to be unstacked to send laterally a jet of pressurized air at the right of at least one lateral edge (12) of the last card (C) of the stack to be unstacked and the immediately adjacent card 11. Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the means for blowing pressurized air (34) send a jet of pressurized air in line with two parallel and opposite edges (12) of the card (C) to unstack and immediately adjacent map.   12. Installation according to one of claims 10 or 11,   characterized in that the means for blowing pressurized air (34) send a jet of pressurized air in line with at least one edge (12) of short length of the card (C) to be unstacked and of the card o immediately adjacent.   13. Installation according to any one of claims   12, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (94) which controls the means for blowing pressurized air (34) to trigger the sending of a jet of pressurized air i5 (34) beforehand when passing the card to be unstacked between needles (30).   14. Installation according to any one of claims   13, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (94) which controls the means for blowing pressurized air (34) to trigger the sending of a jet of pressurized air during the passage, with deformation, of the card (C) to be unstacked between the needles (30).   15. Installation according to any one of claims   14, characterized in that it comprises a unstacking head (36) which is mounted vertically movable between a position for gripping the unstacked card and a position for removing the unstacked card and which comprises at least one gripping member by suction, in particular a suction cup (40), from the unstacking card which is capable of cooperating with the gripping face (14) in look at the map to be depilated.   16. Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the unstacking head (36) is carried by a control cylinder (66).   17. Installation according to one of claims 15 or 16,   characterized in that the unstacking head (36) comprises at least two suction gripping members (40) which are aligned longitudinally along the axis (L) of bending of the card (C) to be unstacked.   18. Installation according to any one of claims   io 15 to 17 taken in combination with one of claims 13 or   14, characterized in that the control unit (94) controls the means for blowing pressurized air (34) as a function of the   vertical position of the unstacking head (36, 74, 80).   19. Installation according to any one of claims   15 to 18, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (88, 70) which controls each gripping member by suction (70) as a function of the vertical position of the unstacking head (36, 74, 80), especially in order to release   gradually the card which has just been unstacked.   20. Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that the control unit comprises an arrangement of a window 88, in a tubular column 74, of a block 70 and of a connection 84 of pipe 86, said arrangement being able to cause a progressive venting of the window 88 while the fitting 84 is still facing the latter, with a view to loosening   gradually the card which has just been unstacked.   21. Installation according to any one of the claims   19, characterized in that said separation means comprise at least one pair of parallel horizontal needles (30) which are respectively arranged opposite two zones (32) facing the gripping face (14) of the card adjacent to two parallel and opposite edges (10) of the card and which elastically deform the latter when it passes between the needles (30) to cause temporary bending of the card around a bending axis (L) substantially horizontal parallel to the needles (30). 22. Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the needles (30) are parallel to the axis (L) of greater length of the unstacking card (C) to cause temporary bending of the card by elastic bending of the io map around this axis (L).   23. Installation according to one of claims 21 or 22,   characterized in that it comprises at least one loader (20) which receives the stack of cards (C) to be unstacked and comprising at least two vertical walls (24) for guiding the edges (10) of long cards (C) , and in that each of the two needles   (30) is arranged along one of these guide walls (24).   24. Installation according to any one of claims   21 to 23, characterized in that the last card to be unstacked is the last lower card of the stack which rests vertically in abutment on the two needles (30) by the zones (32) facing its lower face ( 14) adjacent to its two opposite edges (10) very long.