Importance

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Abstract

A stationary steel rule cutting die for cutting a fixed pattern in each of a plurality of stacked compressible material layers according to the shape of the steel rule die and including a vacuum system for reducing the stacked height of the compressible material layers prior to cutting. The die assembly includes an enclosure comprising an upper wall and collapsible side walls extending downwardly from the upper wall. A rigid annular structure is secured to the lower edge of the collapsible side walls. The enclosure is positioned over the stacked compressible material layers with an annular sealing surface defined on the lower peripheral edges of the rigid annular structure coacting with an upwardly facing, closed loop sealing surface defined on the steel rule cutting die to define a sealed chamber from which air is exhausted through the rigid annular structure to collapse the side walls of the enclosure and compress the material layers prior to cutting.

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First Claim