FR3015448A1 - TOOLING AND CARD SEPARATION METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

Separating tool (1) for separating stacked cards (2), comprising: - a reception means (8) for the stacked cards (2), - at least a first cylindrical roll (4) able to exert a support on a first board (23), moving the first board (23) in a first direction (24) in the plane of the first board (23) and away from the axis (41) of the first roll (4), said roller (4) still being able to move, in a direction of displacement (45) substantially perpendicular to the plane (21) of the cards (2), - an opposition means (5) arranged against a second card (25) , able to exert a support on the second card (25), in a second direction (26), included in the plane of the second card (25) and in the opposite direction to the first direction (24).

Description

The present invention relates to separation tooling for separating cards, such as thin, stacked plastic cards. Such cards, typically used as a microcircuit card holder, are increasingly used to make bank cards, identity cards, or telephone subscription cards or SIM cards. During manufacture, such cards are made to be stacked for transportation or for manufacturing. In this arrangement, where the cards are stacked, it happens that the cards adhere to each other. This adhesion can have different origins. Since cards are typically made of plastic, static electricity can be created which causes adhesion. Another origin may be related to a manufacturing step where the stacked cards receive on their wafer a deposit, film, paint or varnish, used to cover said wafers, for tinting or for any other reason. Said deposit, being continuous and integral successive card slices in the stack, can be a cause of a detrimental joining cards. So it is sought a means of separation for cards so adhered. The invention relates to a separation tool for separating at least two cards, such as thin plastic cards, stacked so that each slice of a first card is aligned with the similar slice of a second card in a card. alignment, the tooling comprising: a receiving means adapted to receive and hold the stacked cards, at least a first cylindrical roll whose axis is parallel to the map plane and at a distance from the lower alignment plane at its radius, so that its surface is able to exert a support on at least a first card, said support moving said at least one first card in a first direction included in the plane of the first card and away from the axis of the first roller, a means of opposition, disposed on the opposite side to said at least one first roller, against at least a second card, different from said at least one first card, adapted to exert a bearing on said at least one second card, in a second direction, lying in the plane of the second card and in the opposite direction to the first direction, said roller still being able to move in a direction of movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cards, so to be able to exert said support successively on each of the stacked cards.

According to another characteristic, the support of the opposition means moves said at least second card in the second direction. According to another characteristic, the opposition means comprises an elastic mat.

According to another feature, the opposing means comprises at least a second cylindrical roller whose axis is parallel to the plane of the cards, and at a distance from the alignment plane closest to the second roller which is less than or equal to its radius, said axis of the second roller having with the axis of the first roller an offset in the direction of movement, said second roller being still able to move in the direction of movement, together with said at least one first roller. According to another characteristic, the tooling comprises a first pair comprising at least a first roll and its associated opposition means, opposed relative to a card along a first axis, and still at least a second pair comprising at least one other first roller and its associated opposing means opposed in relation to a card along a second axis, said second axis intersecting with the first axis. According to another characteristic, the tooling comprises a first set comprising at least one pair disposed in a first plane coplanar with the cards, and a second set comprising at least one pair disposed in a second plane coplanar with the cards, different from the foreground. . According to another characteristic, the cards are limited, in their plane, by a contour of substantially rectangle shape, and the tooling comprises at least a first roller parallel to a first side and its associated opposition means parallel to a second opposite side on the first side. According to another characteristic, the tooling further comprises at least one other roll parallel to a third side adjacent to the first side and its associated opposition means parallel to a fourth side opposite to the third side. According to another feature, a roll is made of a material harder than the cards. According to another characteristic, a roll is covered with a thin layer of soft material so as not to damage the cards. The invention also relates to a method of separating a stack of at least two stacked cards so that each slice of a first card is aligned with the similar slice of a second card in an alignment plane. method comprises the following steps: setting up the stack of cards in a reception means adapted to receive and maintain the stacked cards, setting up a first cylindrical roller whose axis is parallel to the map plane and to a distance from the alignment plane less than its radius, so that its surface is able to exert a support on at least a first card, said support moving said at least a first card in a first direction included in the plane of the first card and moving away from the axis of the first roll, setting up a means of opposition, disposed on the opposite side to said at least one first roll, against at least a second card, different from said at least one pr first card, able to exert a support on said at least one second card in a second direction, included in the plane of the second card and in the opposite direction to the first direction, the first roller and the opposing means co-operating separating the first card relative to the second card, moving the first roller and the opposing means in a direction of movement substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cards, so as to be able to exert said support successively on each of the stacked cards.

According to other features, the method comprises the following steps: Placing the second roller so that said axis of the second roller has with the axis of the first roller an offset in the direction of movement, displacement of the second roller in the direction moving together with said at least one first roll. According to other features, the method comprises a prior step of depositing a film, paint or varnish on at least two consecutive slices.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates the position of the problem, FIG. cards stacked in a reception means in front view, - Figure 3 shows cards stacked in a reception means in profile view, - Figure 4 shows a first embodiment of a separation tool with a 5 shows a second embodiment of separation tooling with two rollers; FIG. 6 shows an arrangement comprising several pairs crossed in one plane, in profile view; FIG. 7 shows an arrangement comprising several pairs in different planes, in front view, - Figure 8 shows the parameters of the geometry of the tooling.

The invention relates to cards 2, such as thin plastic cards. Such cards are substantially flat and have a thickness 32 low in front of the other dimensions. By way of a significant example, they may be cards 2 as defined by ISO / IEC 7810 standards. Thus a card 2 may have a format of 85.6 × 53.98 × 0.76 mm (bank card, ID-1) or a format of 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.67 (SIM card) with a thickness substantially equal to 0.76 mm. Figure 1 illustrates the problem that the invention proposes to solve. Cards 2 are stacked, face-to-face, on top of each other so that each slice of a first card is aligned with the homologous slice, that is to say similar and having the same dimensions, of a second map in an alignment plan. It can then appear a bonding or adhesion of the cards 2 relative to each other. This may be due to static electricity. This can still be the consequence of depositing a colored film or a layer of paint deposited on the wafers 22 aligned on an edge of the stack of cards 2. In order to take off the cards 2, it is necessary to contrast to the force created by the static electricity or to break the film 20. For this the invention proposes to apply a shear force in the plane 21 of the cards 2 to move, one relative to the other, two neighboring cards 23,25 in opposite directions to separate them. The invention proposes a separation tooling 1. This tool 1 comprises a means of reception 8, at least a first roll 4 and a means of opposition 5. The invention also relates to a method of separating the stacked cards, adapted to be implemented by the tool 1 of separation. FIG. 2, in front view, and FIG. 3 in side view, show an embodiment of a reception means 8. This reception means 8 is able to receive a stack of cards 2 and to keep stacked. For this purpose, guide rods 81, 83, arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane 21 of the cards 2, form a cage framing the cards 2. Means 82 that can be adjusted in position, in order to adapt to the number of cards 2 in the means of reception 8, keep stacked cards 2 by maintaining the faces of the two cards 2 most extreme. This maintenance is however loose enough not to oppose the movement of one card relative to another according to their plan 21. The dimensions of the cage are still such that the cards 2 can move in their plane 21. For that it is provided a clearance 84 consequent, of the order of a few millimeters and at least greater than the depression 46,66, as defined further, in both directions, or between the guides 81, here two by small side, and the slice 22 opposite and again between the guides 83, here one by large side, and the slice 22 opposite. The reception means 8 can be made differently. Its function is to keep the cards 2 stacked in a manner that is slightly constrained, in order to allow relative movement of a card 2 in its plane 21. In addition, the reception means is advantageously perforated so as to allow continuous access at the edge 22 of the cards 2 and thus a passage on the edge 22 of at least one roller 4.6. FIG. 4 illustrates the principle of the separation means realizing the separation of the cards 2. The cards 2 are stacked so that each slice of the first card is aligned with the similar slice of the second card in the alignment plane and a roll 4 is applied on their edge 22 at a distance from the nearest alignment plane less than its radius. The support exerted by the roll 4 tends to move a first card 23 in its plane 21 in a first direction 24, here from right to left in the plane of the figure. The tool 1 also comprises a means of opposition 5. This opposition means 5 is such that it creates a support in the opposite direction and slightly offset, in order to oppose the support exerted by the roller 4. L the support exerted by the opposing means 5 tends to maintain or move a second card 25, different from the first card 23, in its plane in a second direction 26, opposite the first direction 24, here from left to right in the plane of the figure. This opposition of the two movements 24,26 of 23,24 different cards and which can be adjacent, however, is not carried out in the same plane and creates a shear between the first card 23 and the second card 25. This shear has the effect of remove the adhesion, and in the case of a film, to permanently break said film. The roller 4 producing this effect is typically a cylindrical roller 4. Its axis 41 is parallel to the plane 21 of the cards 2. In order to move the cards 2, the roll must be inserted in the direction of the card stack 2. For this, the axis 41 is disposed at a distance 42 from the alignment plane slices 22 of the cards 2 closest to the roll 4, before their movement, less than the radius 43 of the roll 4.

Is a provision creating a "depression" d or 46 of the roll 4 in the stack of cards 2. Thus the surface 44 of the roll 4 is able to exert a bearing on at least a first card 23 facing the roller 4, said support tending moving said at least one first card 23 in a first direction 24 included in the plane of the first card 23 and away from the axis 41 of the first roller 4. In order to scan all the cards 2 of the stack, each card becoming successively a second card 25 and then a first card 23, and / or conversely, the shear being effected first in one direction then in the opposite direction, the roll 4 can move along the stack of cards parallel to itself, in a direction of displacement 45 substantially perpendicular to the plane 21 of the cards 2. Thus during this movement, the roller 4 retains a constant depression 46 and exerts said support successively on each of the stacked cards 2, which The opposing means 5 are each in turn opposed to the roller 4 and creates a counter-opposite and offset bearing on each of the cards 2 and thus makes it possible to perform shearing. The opposing means 5 is arranged on the opposite side to the first roll 4 and against at least a second card 25, different from the first card 23. The opposition means 5 is able to exert a pressure on said second card 25, tending to block or move said second card 25 in a second direction 26, opposite to the first direction 24, thereby creating a shear, particularly between a first card 23 and a second card 25. Figure 4 illustrates a first embodiment, where the opposing means 5 comprises an elastic belt 51. Such a carpet 51, supported on the edge 22 of at least a second card 25, or even advantageously of all the cards 2 of the stack, holds the cards 2 when they undergo the support of the first roller 4 on their opposite edge. Thus a card that is called the first card 23 and which is at the right of the first roller 4 undergoes a most important support and sinks into the belt 51, moving in the first direction 24. The elasticity of the carpet 51, creates, consequently, an opposing effort of opposite direction which tends to cause a displacement in opposite direction along the direction 26 as soon as a card which is called second card 25 is no longer directly in line with the first roll 4 Thus moving in the direction of travel 45 of the roll, successively moves each of the cards 2 of the stack from an initial position to a displaced position in which it is moved in the first direction. . At each change, the card is moved alternately in the first direction 24, then in the second direction 26 opposite, thus creating a shear at each change.

Such an elastic carpet 51 can be made by a carpet of springs, a pneumatic belt, or a layer of elastic material, such as an elastomer. The thickness and the stiffness of such a carpet 51 are determined according to the desired effort, for example the force allowing a rupture of the film. Such an embodiment is advantageous in its simplicity. Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment, wherein the opposing means 5 comprises at least one second cylindrical roller 6. As for the first roller 4, the axis 61 is parallel to the plane 21 of the cards, and is disposed at a distance 62 from the edge 22 opposite less than or equal to its radius 63, so that its surface 64 is able to exert a pressing on at least a second card 25 facing, different from said at least one first card 23, said support tending to maintain or move said at least one second card 25 in a second direction 26, opposite to the first direction 24, included in the plane of the second card 25 and away from the axis 61 of the second roller 6. In order that the first roller 4 and the second roller 6 exert their respective supports on different cards 2, they should be offset according to a direction perpendicular to the plane 21 of the cards 2, or in the direction of displacement 45. Thus the axis 61 of the second roller 6 has relatively to the axis 41 of the first roller 4 an offset A 65 in the direction of travel 45. In order that the opposition to the first roll 4 is made continuously during the movement of the first roll 4, the second roll 6 can also move parallel to itself, in the same direction of movement 45, together with the first roll 4, maintaining constant positioning and orientation relative to said first roll 4. The basic principle has been described. A pair 71, 73 comprising a first roller 4 opposed to an associated opposition means 5, optionally comprising a belt 51 or a second roller 6, makes it possible to perform the card separation function. It is possible to apply such a torque 71.73 to a stack of cards 2 by scanning at least once said stack. In order to redundancy, such an application may be repeated, in the same scanning direction, and / or in an opposite scanning direction. The embodiment with a carpet 51 is symmetrical, which makes it obviously applicable in both scanning directions. The dissymmetry of the embodiment with two opposing rolls 4.6 does not prevent its application in the two opposite directions of scanning. In order to avoid or reduce the number of repetitions of said application, it may be envisaged to multiply the number of pairs 71, 73. FIG. 6 illustrates a first embodiment, in which a first pair 71 comprises at least a first roller 4, here two such first rollers 4, and its associated opposition means 5, here an elastic belt 51 common to the first two rollers 4 , opposite relative to a card 2 along a first axis 72. This first pair 71 is completed by at least a second pair 73 comprising at least one other first roller 4, here such a first roller 4 and its associated opposition means 5, here a second roller 6, also opposite relative to a card 2 according to a second axis 74, secant to the first axis 72. These couples 71,73 can be located substantially in the same plane, but can still be shifted in a direction perpendicular to the 45. Thus, the first pair 71 creates a shear in the direction 72, and the second pair 73 creates a shear in the direction 74 and therefore not parallel to the previous shear. This can make it possible to redundate the shearing effect by varying the shear direction or to break several films present on non-parallel slices 22. This embodiment multiplies the pairs in a plane parallel to the map plane. FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment, in which the tooling 1 comprises a first set 75. This first set 75 comprises at least one pair 71 comprising less a first roller 4 and its associated opposition means and arranged substantially, according to a first plane coplanar with the cards 2. This first set 75 may for example be similar to the set comprising the two couples 71,73 of FIG. 6. The tooling 1 also comprises a second set 77, which may be similar, comprising at least one pair comprising at least one other roll and its associated opposition means, associated in a second plane 78 coplanar with the cards 2, different from the first plane 76. This embodiment multiplies the pairs in the direction of movement 45. It it is of course possible to combine the two previous embodiments by multiplying the pairs, both in a plane parallel to the map plane and according to the 5, 76 direction of dep. 45. A belt 51 is advantageously disposed along the entire length of the card stack. The rollers 4,6 are advantageously moved together in the direction of travel 45 over the entire length of the card stack. Also a carriage 9 can advantageously carry all the rollers 4,6 in order to secure them. What has been described above applies to cards 2 limited by an outline 27 of any shape. According to a particular case corresponding to the majority practice, the cards 2 are limited, in their plane 21, by a contour 27 of substantially rectangular shape. This rectangle defines a big and a small side. In this case a roll 4 is advantageously arranged so that its axis 41 is parallel to a first side and its associated opposing means 5 parallel to a second side opposite to the first side. In this particular case, a first pair 71 is arranged, its first roll 4 parallel to one of a large or a small side, its opposition means 5 parallel to the opposite side. A second pair 73 may advantageously be arranged perpendicularly, its first roller 4 parallel to the other of a large or a small side. So that a first roll 4 or possibly a second roll 6 can be moved along a card stack in the direction of movement 45, it is necessary to follow certain rules of dimensioning of the various components of the tool 1. Figure 8 specifies the notation used. The cards 2 are seen by the slice and are arranged horizontally. The roller or rollers 4,6 are seen in profile, their axis 41,61 being perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 8. It is notably assumed that both the cards 2 and the rollers 4,6 are indeformable. This implies that the results obtained do not require deformation of the cards that can be detrimental.

For an embodiment with a single roll 4, the parameters include the parameters of the card 2: L the length of a card 2 and e its thickness, the parameters of the roll 4: R the radius of the roll 4. The interface card 2 / roll 4 can be characterized by: d pressing the roll 4 into the card stack 2 according to the plane 21 and by two angles, measured relative to the plane 21, at a contact angle a between roll 4 and card 2 and a, an angle of attack of the roll 4 on a card 2. The angle a varies during the roll 4 / card 2 displacement. The angle α is the first contact roll 4 / card 2 angle and constitutes an upper bound of the angle a. It follows from these definitions lal <= la, l. It can be deduced from the reading of Figure 8 that e <= R.Isin ((DU 1 must be respected, in addition d = R. (1-cos (a,)) and therefore d <= R. ( 1-cos (a)), irrespective of A. The first relation sizes the radius R of the roll 4 relative to the thickness e of a card 2, R> = e / sin (a,). large is advantageous in that it allows to have a small angle of attack a, which improves the effectiveness of the support of the roller 4 on the card 2 in that it offers a component of said support according to the larger plane 21. R is limited upwards only by the total dimensioning of the tooling 1. Considering an angle of attack a, at most equal to 45 °, the relation becomes R> = 1 4.e It is easy to deduce that an increase in the ratio R / e leads to an advantageous reduction of the angle a, thus a ratio R / e equal to 10 ensures that the angle of attack has, remains 25 less than 6. Due to the second relation, an angle a, too small reduces the amplitude pos sible of the depression d and thus the maximum amplitude of shear. This sag of maximum amplitude of shear is, however, proportional to the radius R. It is always possible to increase R to increase d in proportion. It is considered that a minimum depression of 0.1mm is generally sufficient to separate two cards 2. A film is generally rigid and a small shear is sufficient to cause it to rupture. The dimensions R and d of the tooling 1 are determined accordingly. Thus, for example, for an angle of attack α of 10 °, a depression d of at least 0.1 mm requires a radius R of at least 6.6 mm, ie 8.7 times the thickness e of 0, 76mm of a typical card 2. From the relation d <= R. (1-cos (a)), it can be deduced, considering an angle of attack a, at the greatest maximum equal to 45 °, d <= 0.3.R. For a smaller angle, d is even smaller. For an embodiment with a second roller 6 acting as an opposing means 5, the following parameters and relationships can be added in addition to the previous parameters and relationships. The parameters of the second roll 6 are: R the radius of the second roll 6. The radius R, 63 of the second roll 6 could be different from the radius R, 43 of the first roll 4. However, for simplicity, for the calculations which follow these two radii 43,63 are considered equal. The interface card 2 / second 15 roll 6 can be characterized by d relative depression of the rollers 4,6 in the stack of cards 2 according to the plane 21. It should be noted that this depression d is the same as before. The interface card 2 / second roll 6 is further characterized by two angles, measured relative to the plane 21, a contact angle 13 between the roll 6 and the card 2 and an angle of attack 13, of the roll 6 on a card 2. These angles 13 and 13 are corollaries of the angles a and a ,. The angle 13 varies during the displacement roll 6 / card 2. The angle 13 is the angle of first contact roll 6 / card 2 and 25 constitutes an upper limit of the angle 13. For the same reasons as above it follows from these definitions ffll <= ffl, 1. It can be deduced from the reading of Figure 8 that e <= R.Isin (U1 must be respected, in addition d = R. (1- cos (U) and therefore d <= R. (1-cos (R )), regardless of R. The positioning parameters of the second roll 6 relative to the first roll 4 are again a center distance E measured between the axes 41,61 of the two rollers 4,6 according to the plane 21 and an offset A measured between the axes 41,61 of the two rollers 4,6 in the direction perpendicular to the plane 21 or 35 direction of displacement 45. Figure 8 shows that for a card 2 can pass between the two rollers 4,6, certain conditions must be A reading of Fig. 8 gives the relation A> = R.Isin (a) 1 + R.Isin (R) 1 + e It thus appears that the offset A must at least be strictly greater than the thickness e 2. The two angles a and 13 are linked, one increases when the other decreases, the relation A = R.Isin (a) 1 + R.Isin (R) 1 + e is true for all When 13 is zero, a is the maximum. FIG. 8 again gives the relations E = R.cos (a) + R.cos (R) + L and E = 2.R + Ld, from which we deduce d = R. (1- cos (a) + 1-cos (R)) which gives the inequality d <R. (1-cos (ai) +110 cos (U), similar to that already obtained previously. We see that there is a minimum A. The tool works correctly if an A offset greater than this minimum value is applied. It may be noted that the offset A must be increased with the radius R of the rollers 4,6. Advantageously a first roll 4 or a second roll 6 is made of a hard material, at least harder than the cards 2, to properly exert the support causing the shear.

In order not to risk damaging the cards 2 at the roll / card contact, a roll 4,6 is advantageously covered with a layer of soft material. Said layer is advantageously fine so as not to create too much flexibility. The material may, for example, be an elastomer to provide a compliant and compliant contact. The material may be deposited, placed or glued on the outer surface 44,64 of the roll 4,6 by any means or process. According to a first embodiment, the rollers 4,6 are fixed in rotation. According to an alternative and advantageous embodiment, the rollers 4,6 are free to rotate.

Claims (5)

REVENDICATIONS1. A separation tool (1) for separating at least two cards (2), such as thin plastic cards, stacked so that each slice of a first card is aligned with the similar slice of a second card in an alignment plane characterized in that said tooling (1) comprises: - a reception means (8) adapted to receive and hold the stacked cards (2), - at least a first cylindrical roll (4) whose axis (41 ) is parallel to the plane (21) of the cards (2) and at a distance (42) from the alignment plane less than its radius (43), so that its surface (44) is able to exert a support on at least one first card (23), said support moving said at least one first card (23) in a first direction (24) included in the plane of the first card (23) and away from the axis (41) of the first roller (4), - an opposing means (5), disposed on the opposite side to said at least one first roll (4), against at least a second bus te (25), different from said at least one first card (23), adapted to exert a bearing on said at least one second card (25) in a second direction (26), included in the plane of the second card (25). ) and in opposite direction to the first direction (24), the first roller (4) and the opposing means (5) cooperating to separate the first card (23) from the second card, said roll (4) further being able to move relative to the cards in a direction of movement (45) substantially perpendicular to the plane (21) of the cards (2), in order to be able to exert said support successively on each of the cards (2) stacked. 35 2. Tooling (1) according to claim 1 wherein said support of the opposition means (5) moves said at least second card in the second direction. 3. Tooling (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the opposing means (5) comprises a resilient mat (51). 4. Tooling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the opposing means (5) comprises at least a second cylindrical roller (6) whose axis (61) is parallel to the plane (21). ) cards, and at a distance (62) from an alignment plane of the cards (2) less than or equal to its radius (63), said axis (61) of the second roll (6) having with the axis ( 41) of the first roller (4) an offset (65) in the direction of travel (45), said second roller (6) being further movable in the direction of travel (45) together with the at least one first roll (4). 15 5. Tooling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a first pair (71) comprising at least a first roller (4) and its associated opposing means (5), opposed relative to a card ( 2) along a first axis (72), and still at least a second pair (73) comprising at least one other first roller (4) and its associated opposing means (5) opposed to a card (2) along a second axis (74), said second axis (74) being secant to the first axis (72). Tooling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a first assembly (75) comprising at least one pair (71,73) disposed in a first plane (76) coplanar with the cards (2), and still a second set (77) comprising at least one pair disposed in a second plane (78) coplanar with the cards (2), different from the first plane (76). 7. Tooling (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cards (2) are limited in their plane (21) 35 by a contour (27) of substantially rectangular shape, and where the tooling (1) comprises at least a first roller (4) parallel to a first side (28) and its associated opposing means (5) parallel to a second side (29) opposite the first side (28). 8. Tooling (1) according to claim 7, further comprising at least one other roller (4) parallel to a third side (30) adjacent to the first side (28) and its opposing means (5) associated parallel to a fourth side (31) opposite the third side (30). 9. Tooling according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a roll (4,6) is made of a material harder than the cards (2). 10. Tooling according to claim 9, wherein a roll (4,6) is covered with a thin layer of soft material, so as not to damage the cards (2). 11. A method of separating a stack of at least two stacked cards so that each slice of a first card is aligned with the homologous (similar) slice of a second card in an alignment plane, characterized in that it comprises the following steps - setting up the stack of cards in a reception means capable of receiving and holding the cards (2) stacked, - setting up a first cylindrical roll (4) of which 25 the axis (41) is parallel to the plane (21) of the cards (2) and at a distance (42) from the plane of alignment smaller than its radius (43), so that its surface (44) is able to exert an pressing on at least one first card (23), said support moving said at least one first card (23) in a first direction (24) included in the plane of the first card (23) and away from the axis (41) of the first roller (4), - positioning of an opposing means (5) disposed on the side opposite to said at least one first roller (4). ), against at least one second card (25), different from said at least one first card (23), able to exert a bearing on said at least one second card (25) in a second direction (26), included in the plane of the second card (25) and of the opposite direction to the first direction (24), the first roller (4) and the opposing means (5) cooperating so as to separate the first card (23) relative to the first second card, - moving the first roller (4) and the opposition means (5) in a direction of displacement (45) substantially perpendicular to the plane (21) of the cards (2), in order to be able to exert said supports successively on each cards (2) stacked. 12. A method of separating a stack of at least two cards according to the preceding claim, wherein the opposition means (5) comprises at least one second cylindrical roller (6) whose axis (61) is parallel to the plan (21) of the cards, and at a distance (62) from the alignment plane of the cards (2) less than or equal to its radius (63), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: in place of the second roller (61) so that said axis (61) of the second roller (6) has an offset (65) along the axis (41) of the first roller (4) in the direction of travel (45) moving the second roller (6) in the direction of movement (45) together with the at least one first roller (4). 13. A method of separating a card stack from at least two cards according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that it comprises a preliminary step of depositing a film, paint or a varnish on at least two consecutive slices.