Abstract: A device for optionally or selectively drawing in a cutout from a stack of several cutouts, or taking over a cutout from a separating cutting device, which separates the cutout from a material web, includes a vacuum guide roller in which the cutout coming from the stack or the cutout that has been taken over can be passed to a subsequent work station for processing of the cutout in a work cycle, at a cycle speed. This device reduces both production costs and machine maintenance costs, reduces the amount of space required for the machine and generates less noise. The vacuum guide roller is configured as a segment roller in which optionally or selectively the cutout can be drawn in from the stack and accelerated to the cycle speed, or the cutout taken over from the separating cutting device can be accelerated to the cycle speed.

Abstract: A rotatable knife roll with at least one foil knife secured on a portion of the body of the roll and having a sharp and endless cutting edge closed within itself to cut out window openings. There are breakthroughs for suction apertures arranged within the cutting edge. There is at least one suction-air control valve arranged on the face side of the roll body. The valve is rotatable relative to this portion of the roll. The suction-air control valve has at least one suction-air-control channel and at least one fresh-air channel. There are suction apertures for temporarily retaining a letter envelope blank over a suction and transport angle zone &agr;, and for retaining a piece of material cut out by the foil knife across a suction and transport angle zone &bgr;. The suction apertures are arranged in rows to which suction channels are allocated in the part of the roll body.