Abstract: Sheet materials in the form of remnants of non-repetitive shapes and that might be flawed, e.g. hides (10), are cut up using a method that includes the following operations: digitizing the geometrical shape of each remnant; defining a layout for pieces to be cut out from the remnant; and cutting out the pieces from the remnant in compliance with the resulting layout. The surface of the remnant (10) is provided with marks characteristic at least of the disposition and of the orientation of the remnant during digitization. The marks are detected so as to generate and record position information representative of the positions of the first marks.

Abstract: The invention related to a device for layer-stacking web-like materials, comprising a fixed table on which a carriage is mounted for sliding, said carriage supporting a roll of material mounted for free rotation on a support and being held by pressure against at least one endless driving elastic belt mounted on two rollers placed in parallel relationship inside a vertical plane, said rollers being driven in rotation by a position- and speed-controllable driving member, the material being unrolled and going down freely vertically in order to be laid on the laying table.