The present invention relates to a device for treating substrates which device is modular and versatile in use. The device for treating substrates comprises a feeder and one or more first sub-structure modules which each comprise a pressure cylinder with devices for fixing a lift and a sheet-conveying device and one or more second sub-structure modules which respectively have a transport cylinder with openings formed on the cover surface thereof, and having devices for fixing a lift and a sheet conveying device. All of the first or second sub-structure modules have the same intersection point for connecting the sub-structure modules on one of the inlet and the exit side and they all can be equipped with an attachment module.

A cutting guide having a seam allowance recess and methods of cutting a piece of material with such cutting guide.

A method is provided for automatically modifying the cutting paths for parts to be cut out from a flexible material by automatically moving a cutter tool along predetermined cutting paths. The cutting paths are associated with each part being defined by a succession of cutting segments forming a polygon. Two cutting segments are identified and belonging to two different parts for cutting out in the material and for which a maximum distance condition between these cutting segments is satisfied. Two cutting segments are verified for being situated facing each other, and that no other cutting segments lie between the two cutting segments. A common cutting path for the two cutting segments is computed, and a common cutting path is connected to the cutting paths of the two parts for cutting out to obtain modified cutting paths for the two parts for cutting out.

The invention relates to a cutting machine for cutting cardboard, paper or the like, comprising an aligning station having a horizontal bedplate provided with sheet shifting means and stop means arranged along the forward movement direction of the sheet and configured for being in contact with one of the sides of the sheet for guiding the movement for shifting the sheet. Additionally, the machine comprises a cutting station provided with cutting means arranged in a transverse direction with respect to the forward movement direction of the sheets for dividing the sheets into longitudinal sections, and sheet shifting means for shifting the sheets in the forward movement direction which coincides with a longitudinal axis of the cutting station, said cutting means being provided for dividing each sheet into portions, a longitudinal axis of the bedplate of the aligning station having, when seen in plan view, an angle of inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting station.

A positioning device (38) for holding a flat flexible part, especially a sheet, on a positioning surface (46) is presented. It comprises a body (44) having a suction opening (50) for aspiring the part and a fluid port (52) being in fluid communication with the suction opening (50). Furthermore, an abutment protrusion (60) is provided on a connection surface (48) for abutting the positioning device (38) against a base part (28) to which it may be mounted. Also a sealing protrusion (64) is arranged on the connection surface (48) for compressing a gasket (42) being interposed between the positioning device (38) and the base part (28). A height (H.sub.a) of the abutment protrusion (60) is bigger than a height (H.sub.s) of the sealing protrusion (64). Additionally, a positioning assembly (24) is presented which comprises at least one such positioning device (38). Furthermore, a sheet material processing machine comprising at least one such positioning assembly (24) is introduced.

A modular comb element for a machine for automatically cutting a mat of sheets of material. The cutting machine includes a plurality of cutting supports. The comb element includes a plate forming a support from which a first and a second row of teeth extend longitudinally. The teeth of the first row alternate with the teeth of the second row, and a free end of the teeth of the first row are farther from a downstream edge of the support than a free end of the teeth of the second row of teeth. A ramp is mounted on the downstream edge of the support and inclined with respect to the latter so as to limit the contact surface between the mat of sheets and the comb element. Air injection means are at a downstream edge of the ramp over an entire width thereof.

A solar cell chip arrangement machine includes a feeding mechanism and a slicing mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes a whole battery piece. A push block is connected to the back of the whole battery piece, and a pressing plate is arranged above the front of the whole battery piece. The slicing mechanism is arranged on the pressing plate above the front of the whole battery piece. The slicing mechanism includes a vacuum sucker, a guide plate, a guide plate slide rail, a positioning block, a positioning block slide rail, a cylinder, a fixed plate, and a vacuum generator. The positioning block is arranged on the positioning block slide rail, a pulley is arranged on the positioning block, and the guide plate is provided with a limit slot corresponding to the pulley. The vacuum sucker is arranged on the positioning block, and the vacuum sucker is connected to the vacuum generator.

A cutting machine for detecting a defect during a manufacturing process is disclosed. The cutting machine comprises a base structure having a planar surface defining a working area, a rack to support a material spool, a cutter assembly, and a material-inspection system. The rack may be positioned at an end of the base structure to facilitate unrolling of a composite material sheet from the material spool and onto the working area. The cutter assembly comprises a cutter tool to cut the composite material sheet on the working area. The cutter assembly may be configured to move relative to the working area via a two-axis gantry. The material-inspection system comprises a plurality of non-contact ultrasonic sensors to measure one or more material properties of the composite material sheet. The measured one or more material properties can be used to detect and predict defects in the composite material sheet.

Devices and methods for processing animal or human tissue are provided. The devices may include a vacuum surface to secure the tissue in place and an apparatus for removing fat or other material from the tissue. The apparatus can include one or more blades and/or a fluid jet system.

Cutting of a material, such as a textile or film, can damage the material. A tool is provided that utilizes vacuum pressure near a knife edge to increase a result of the cut. The vacuum pressure passes through a base portion of the tool that has a recessed portion effective to distribute vacuum pressure to one or more apertures extending around an insert of a core portion. The one or more apertures align with a void between the knife edge and the insert allowing for the void to transmit the vacuum pressure through the tool to the knife edge. A machine horn may then cut the material at the knife edge and couple the material with another material.