Method and device for removing pieces from sheet material

Claim 1

A METHOD OF REMOVING AT LEAST ONE PIECE FROM ALREADY PUNCHED SHEET MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES: (A) CLAMPING SAID SHEET MATERIAL BETWEEN A RESILIENT SUPPORTING MEMBER ON ONE SIDE THEREOF AND A RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER ON THE OTHER SIDE THEREOF, SUCH SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING APERTURES AT LEAST IN THE REGION OF SAID PIECE; (B) GRIPPING SAID PIECE BETWEEN A REMOVING MEMBER DISPOSED ON THE SAME SIDE AS SAID RESILIENT SUPPORT MEMBER AND OCCUPYING SAID APERTURE IN SAID RESILIENT SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A GRIPPING MEMBER ON THE SAME SIDE AS SAID RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER, THE PROFILE OF SAID REMOVING MEMBER CONFORMING TO THE SHAPE OF SAID PIECE; (C) EFFECTING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN, ON THE ONE HAND SAID REMOVING AND GRIPPING MEMBERS AND SAID GRIPPED PIECE, AND ON THE OTHER HAND SAID RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER AND SAID CLAMPED SHEET MATERIAL,TO FORCE SAID REMOVING MEMBER TOGETHER WITH SAID GRIPPED PIECE THROUGH SAID CLAMPED SHEET MATERIAL WHILE COMPRESSING SAID RESILIENT SUPPORT MEMBER; (B) SEPARATING SAID GRIPPING MEMBER AND SAID REMOVING MEMBER TO RELEASE SAID REMOVED PIECE WHILE THE SAME IS DISPLACED FROM SAID CLAMPED SHEET MATERIAL; AND (E) EFFECTING OPPOSITE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN, ON THE ONE HAND SAID REMOVING MEMBER, AND ON THE OTHER HAND SAID RIGID SUPPORT MEMBER, TO PERMIT SAID RESILIENT SUPPORT MEMBER TO EXPAND AND STRIP SAID SHEET MATERIAL FROM SAID REMOVING MEMBER.