Abstract: In a device and a process, as well as a clamping tool for breaking away blank cuttings during the cutting out of cardboard in an automatic cutting press with a breaking away tool comprising breaking away shafts (9), a matrix (11) and a clamping tool for holding the cutting (6) to be broken away through the matrix openings (12) and hanging on a cardboard bridge (13) on the cardboard blank (7), the clamping tool is constructed as a one or multiple-part, flat element (16), which supports flat the matrix (11) and is in elastic operative connection with the breaking away shafts over the cuttings (6) at the time of breaking away. According to a further development of the invention, the flat element (16) is covered with an elastic covering layer (17) and with a multi-part construction the flat element (16) comprises clamping segments cyclically rotatable about its longitudinal axis, so that during rotation openings are freed between the clamping segments for discharging the separated cuttings (16).