A sheet punching and embossing machine includes a device for stripping waste from a punched and embossed sheet at a stripping station, the device having a stripping plate for supporting the sheet. Also included are gripper carriages fixed to revolving chains, for gripping the sheet at a leading edge thereof and for then pulling the sheet intermittently through the stripping station and further stations in the machine. The stripping plate has, in an inlet region for the sheet and before stripping openings, at least one suction opening to which vacuum is applicable from below.