Abstract: A machine for cutting a block of soft material has a machine frame, a table adapted to support the soft-material block adjacent the machine frame, a center support shiftable transversely on the machine frame relative to the table, and a cutting tool carried on and transversely shiftable with the center support and engageable with the block on the table for longitudinally cutting the block. A hold-down device has a hold-down frame vertically displaceable on the machine frame above the table and a plurality of longitudinally shiftable hold-down plates longitudinally shiftable on the hold-down frame and separated by longitudinally extending gaps at least one which is transversely wider than the center support. The center support projects vertically through the one gap.

Abstract: A hold-down device (4) for machines on which material blocks (11) made of soft material are processed or machined, preferably for foam contour-cutting machines, with hold-down plates (6 to 10) that are parallel to and can be adjusted vertically relative to a table (2), the cutting machine comprising for a cutting tool (12) at least one center support (13) for the cutting tool (12) that is held on two rails of a machine frame (1), that can be variably adjusted to the width of the material block (11), and that is supposed to be further developed such that, despite an optimally sized contact surface, a quick, automatic change of the blocks with a corresponding transverse displacement of the center supports is guaranteed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting-up a device for peeling a film (4) that is peeled off a substantially round material block (1) that is carried on a shaft (2), by means of a circulating knife arranged below the material block (1) and integrated in a stationary knife bar (3), wherein the material block (1) is adjusted against the knife bar (3) by way of the shaft (2), with the following steps: the material block (1) is lowered until directly above the knife bar (3), the material block (1) is rotationally driven mechanically and adjusted by a predetermined amount relative to the knife bar (3), after a predetermined peeling angle the desired thickness of the film (4) is set by adjustment of the shaft (2), and after at most one revolution of the material block (1) the desired size of the film is achieved.