Equipment for handling sheet material in a pattern cutting machine

Equipment for handling sheet material in a pattern cutting machine including means (9) for cutting workpieces from the material, a perforated worktable (4) disposed for supporting the material web (3), an inverted hood (11) adapted to extend over the underside of the perforated table surface, and fan means (13) connected to the hood (11), said means being adapted to establish a sub-pressure in said hood (11) for retaining the material web (3) on the table (4) during the cutting operation, characterized in that a suction hood (20) with a perforated suction surface (21) facing towards the surface of the table and having a size substantially corresponding to that of the table, is adapted displaceable between a first position over the worktable (4) and a second position outside one rear edge of the table, in that the suction hood (20) is adapted to attract and lift the material with its suction surface in the first position, and to release the material in its second position, in that a material capturing means (50, 51) is disposed at the forward edge of the suction hood (20), in that a store (1) of material is arranged outside the forward edge of the table, in that the capturing means is adapted for coaction with the material on the table for pulling out a material web from the store (1) over the table (4) when the suction hood (20) moves to its second position and in that the fan means (13) of the inverted hood (11) is adapted for generating an excess pressure in said hood (11) for supporting the material web (3) on an air cushion when it is pulled out from the store over the table.