Abstract: A vacuum lifting arrangement for flat workpieces, such as wooden boards, wooden beams and the like, includes a vertically and horizontally movable housing bounding a suction chamber having a downwardly open suction side. A valve insert is accommodated in the suction chamber and is preferably removably mounted on the housing. A closing plate is hingedly mounted on the housing for pivoting into an out of a closing position in which it sealingly covers the downwardly open suction side of the suction chamber and the valve insert. An elastic sealing element in the form of a foamed mat having suction apertures is mounted on the closing plate, and is operative for sealingly contacting the workpieces to be lifted.

Abstract: An arrangement for clamping a lumber element during its processing especially in a sawing installation includes at least two spaced abutment members having abutment surfaces for the lumber element. A substantially vertically extending suction plate is situated between the abutment elements and includes an upright contact plane. The suction plate is movable transversely to its contact plane and has a plurality of suction openings capable of exerting suction effect on the lumber element which is juxtaposed with the contact plane. Respective contactless sensors sense the presence of the lumber element at the respective suction openings and generate corresponding indication signals. The suction effect of the suction openings is controlled by an electrical switching and control device in dependence on the indication signals.