EP1204515B1 - Cutting and calibrating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutting and calibrating device for dicing and stripping food, especially for portioning meat in cubes and slices, especially raw meat and comprising a moulding tube, a cutting grid fitted at the end of the moulding tube. An improvement is characterized by the following: a calibrating cavity is provided under the outlet of the moulding tube. The calibrating cavity is perpendicular to the advance movement of the food to be portioned into sizes corresponding at least to the cross-section of the moulding cavity. The depth of the calibrating cavity is equal to the length of the cubes or slices to be produced.

Description

The invention relates to a calibration cutting device especially for cutting into cubes or strips of portions from pieces of raw meat cut lengthways.

Especially in the mechanical production of meat skewers there is the problem, pieces of raw meat in cubes to cut.

It is already a device for cutting cubes or longitudinal strips of raw meat cuts. Since meat is thawed for cutting into cubes or strips is too compliant and soft these known methods first freeze the meat. It may even be necessary to cut the piece of meat first squeeze it sideways and then pull it out to press out a press cavity, against one lattice-shaped knife arrangement. By pushing through of the meat through this gate-like knife arrangement the meat is cut into longitudinal strips. To that first knife gate is at a short distance in feed motion the meat a second congruent in the feed direction Gates arranged between them a saber knife while rotating passed and depending on the feed movement of the meat cut the longitudinal strips into cubes.

With such a known method, however, only very unevenly portioned cubes are made, because the pieces of meat are often not cut cleanly become. In addition, none can with this known method Fresh meat is processed which is too soft, which is why the meat must at least be frozen.

• ein Hygiene- und/oder Qualitätsverlust durch das Anfrieren,
• eine Aussaftung des Fleisches durch das Anfrieren, und
• ein Farbverlust des Fleisches, der den Frischeverlust für Jedermann verdeutlicht.

But above all for portioning companies that pack their goods, for example, in protective gas-packed fresh containers (as are usually also offered in supermarkets), it is a great advantage to process meat fresh. As a result, the following three disadvantages of freezing could be avoided:

• a loss of hygiene and / or quality due to freezing,
• freezing of the meat by freezing, and
• a color loss of the meat, which illustrates the loss of freshness for everyone.

A generic calibration cutting device is off CH-A-152 595 became known. With it you can but with the desired accuracy, if possible the same Do not make large pieces of meat or strips. Out DE-A-19 735 597 is a calibration cutting device known, but not for cubes or strips suitable for cutting.

Finally, DE-A-3 540 904 is also one Meat slicer become known, too not suitable for cutting cubes or strips.

The object of the present invention is therefore a improved device for the production of cubes and / or strip-shaped food products, in particular cubes or strips of raw meat create.

The task is according to that specified in claim 1 Features resolved. Advantageous embodiments of the Invention are specified in the subclaims.

The present invention makes it amazingly simple Means a significant improvement over conventional ones Solutions created.

According to the meat to be portioned by means of a press cylinder forced through a knife gate and so longitudinally divided into different meat strands.

A significant improvement can be achieved that the meat is not continuously through a knife gate is pressed through and cut into pieces, but that each in the form of cubes or strips cutting pieces of meat by a corresponding Knife gates are pushed through, but only in this way wide until the lengthwise cut into strips Meat mass in a below the knife gate, so arranged in the feed direction of the meat and during portioning plate closed at the bottom of this step is filled. This causes a so-called "warping" of the Strands of meat avoided, primarily due to the different Consistency of different muscle, fat and tendon strands arises.

After filling such a calibration cavity by cutting and cutting only in the longitudinal direction Meat mass is then a knife below the Cutting grid, in other words between the cutting grid and moved through the calibration cavity to now from the longitudinal strips cubed portions of meat separate. The diced meat portions can then emptied from the calibration plate and in a next one further step the further cutting process is carried out become.

Although a calibration device with a fillable Calibration cavity for portioning meat slices (for example pulp slices) is known now shown that only the combination of such a known meat calibration device together with a knife gate just above the Calibration cavity shows the desired success. According to the invention can be largely the same size Make meat cubes or strips.

Furthermore, the uniformity of the individual Further improve meat cubes or strips, that in the calibration cavity itself accordingly the knife gate arrangement are also provided with webs in the feed direction the strip of meat is congruent with that Knife gates lie. Because the meat behaves during the feed movement, i.e. during the pressing process through the knife gate, largely similar to one Liquid so that the strips of meat are even in the Portioning plate can "flow", with the result that portions of different sizes would arise if not the additionally mentioned webs a "flow away" would prevent individual strips of meat.

Figur 1 :

eine schematische Längsseitenansicht durch einen vertikalen Mittellängsschnitt durch eine Kalibrierschneidvorrichtung zur Herstellung von würfel- oder streifenförmigen Rohfleischstücken;

Figur 2 :

eine schematische horizontale Draufsicht in Höhe des Schneidmessers bei Weglassung eines Formrohres;

Figur 3 :

eine vergrößerte auszugsweise schematische Seitenansicht aus einem Ausschnitt aus Figur 1 mit einem Kalibrierhohlraum und einem darüber angeordneten Messergatter;

Figur 4 :

eine vergrößerte Detail-Draufsicht auf eine in Figur 1 zum Einsatz gelangte Kalibrierplatte mit einem Kalibrierhohlraum;

Figur 5 :

eine entsprechende Darstellung zur Figur 3 bezüglich eines abgewandelten Ausführungsbeispiels mit zusätzlich im Kalibrierhohlraum vorgesehenen Stegen; und

Figur 6 :

eine entsprechende Darstellung zu Figur 4 unter Verdeutlichung der Stege in der Kalibrierform.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show in detail

Figure 1:

a schematic longitudinal side view through a vertical central longitudinal section through a calibration cutting device for the production of cubic or strip-shaped pieces of raw meat;

Figure 2:

is a schematic horizontal plan view at the height of the cutting knife with the omission of a molded tube;

Figure 3:

an enlarged partial schematic side view of a section of Figure 1 with a calibration cavity and a knife gate arranged above;

Figure 4:

an enlarged detail plan view of a calibration plate used in Figure 1 with a calibration cavity;

Figure 5:

a corresponding representation of Figure 3 with respect to a modified embodiment with webs additionally provided in the calibration cavity; and

Figure 6:

a corresponding representation to Figure 4 clarifying the webs in the calibration form.

The calibration cutting device shown in the figures comprises a base 1, which is also referred to below as a base frame referred to as.

In the area of one end side of the rectangular in plan view Base frame 1, a pressure plate 3 is mounted, which has an upward-pointing cylindrical bore 5 has, in which a cylindrical counterpart 7 one Vacuum plate 9 engages.

By engaging in the cylindrical bore 5 cylindrical Counterpart 7 of the vacuum plate 9 becomes a pressure chamber 11 created a clamping unit 13, on its importance will be discussed below.

Via a compressed air connection 17 with a subsequent one Pressure line 19 cannot of the pressure chamber 11 Compressed air source shown in detail is supplied with compressed air in a controlled manner become.

The vacuum plate 9 mentioned has a vacuum chamber 21 on that via a suction line 23 with no closer shown suction connection is connected. In the suction line 23 can still a vacuum valve, not shown in Figure 1 be installed.

An insert plate 31 is inserted in the vacuum chamber 21, the feet or spacers 33 to the bottom of the Vacuum space 21 is offset higher. The top 31 ' the insert plate 31 is approximately flush with the surface 35 of the vacuum plate 9 or is only - preferably only around Fractions of a millimeter - deeper than that Surface 35 of the vacuum plate 9 is arranged.

The shape and dimensioning of the insert plate 31 in plan view is compared to the dimensioning and shape of the vacuum chamber 21 also in plan view designed that there is only a very small gap between the Circumferential edge 39 of the insert plate 31 and adjacent adjacent, circumferential wall surface 43 of the vacuum space 21 arises, this gap between, for example 0.05 to 2 mm, preferably 0.1 to 1 mm, in particular Can be 0.2 to 0.6 mm. In the embodiment shown a gap width of 0.3 mm has been selected. The In the exemplary embodiment shown, the gap height is 5 mm and corresponds to the thickness of the feet 33 above actual insert plate 31. By this small dimension gap 37 ensures that no larger meat particles during calibration and Cutting process can be suctioned off (Figure 3).

One in FIGS. 1 to 3 in rests on the surface 35 their basic position shown calibration plate 47, the one hollow or calibration mold space open at the top and bottom 49 includes. Its upward-facing feed opening 51 and its horizontal cross-sectional shape and dimensioning corresponds to the horizontal cross-sectional shape and dimensioning one above the calibration plate 47 arranged shaped tube body 53 with a vertical in Inside the molded tube 55, from the overhead Feed side 57 fed meat to be portioned and arranged above one of the loading opening 57 and actuated via a press cylinder 59 Press ram 61 can be pushed down. The The shaped tube has a rectangular cross section in plan view, namely a rectangular opening 55 ', such as this can be seen in the top view in FIG. 2. This oval shape 55 'corresponds to the wedge shape aligned knife edges 65 'also the cross-sectional shape and size of the calibration mold cavity 49. The molded tube 55 or the molded tube body 53 can consist of several plates be formed with corresponding recesses that can be placed on top of one another, the shaped tube body 53 or the individual plates forming it by two lateral guide columns 71 are held, which with the Base 1 connected and held on. alternative the molded tube body can also in its longitudinal axis be divided into two, for example in the form of two half-shells.

Since the lower surface of the molded tube body 53 as a sealing surface serves for knife 65, the lower plant or Sealing surface 66 of the shaped body 55 the V-shaped cutout 67 of the knife 65 in the starting or filling position cover.

As from Figure 1 and especially from the enlarged vertical 3 shows cross-sectional representation, is the shape and dimensioning of the insert 31 receiving opening of the vacuum or vacuum chamber 21 slightly larger than the horizontal Cross-sectional shape and dimensioning of the hollow or Calibration mold space 49 in the calibration plate 47 or the horizontal cross-sectional shape or dimensioning of the Shaped tube 55.

Finally, between the calibration plate 47 is on this lying on and the underside of the molded tube body 53 Knife 65, i.e. a hole knife 65 is provided, which in Top view is roughly rectangular, i.e. plate-shaped and includes a knife opening 67 (Figure 2) that at least the size and shape of the transfer opening 63 of the shaped tube 55 or the feed opening 51 of the calibration mold space 49 corresponds. In the embodiment shown are the cutting edges in the leading cutting direction in Top view V-shaped (Figure 2), the two V-shaped cutting edges 65 'in the central longitudinal axis of the rectangular hole knife 65 converge. The two knife edges 65 'run here for example at a 45 ° angle to the central longitudinal plane of the knife, so close to each other about a 90 ° angle and thereby achieve a pulling cut. The knife inclination can also vary accordingly, for example by at least up to +/- 30 ° and more. alternative it is also possible to do this in a knife body interchangeable blades 65 'are provided.

Deviating from a reciprocating knife arrangement is basically also a rotating knife device conceivable. For example, it could be a disc-shaped one Knife device used in sectors closed knife openings offset from each other 67, the size and function of which are described above Knife opening corresponds to being used for carrying out of a cutting process then a circular or partial circular movement of the knife with outside to the knife opening seated axis of rotation would have to be performed. In this The trap would be continuous, at least gradually Rotary movement of the knife device possible if all knife openings trailing in the rotating hole knife Have cutting edges.

On the opposite side to the molded tube body 53 Base frame 1 can, apart from control elements and devices, at least two cylinders 73 and 75 be provided, namely a knife cylinder 73 for the Vorund Backward movement of the hole knife 65 according to the Arrow representation 77 and a calibration cylinder 75 accordingly the adjustment movements of the calibration plate 47 likewise in the direction of arrow 77. The two calibration cylinders are for this purpose 75, 77 by means of clamping holding elements 75 ', 77 'with the knife 65 or the calibration plate 47 connected.

The knife preferably has the same shape as the calibration plate and consists of a full tool steel and is ground out of it. The knife thickness can be in suitable Ranges vary, for example from 0.3 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. That too Knife moves like the calibration plate (which follows still to be discussed) at right angles to that vertically oriented shaped tube 55.

Finally, at the lower exit end of the shaped tube 55 a knife gate 81 is arranged, which - as in particular from the schematic top view according to FIG. 2 in The height of the knife gate results in a rectangular shape Calibration cavity 49 longitudinal knife dividing in half 81 'and two transverse knives 81' spaced perpendicularly thereto comprises, so that six in such a knife gate Meat strips can be generated.

The mode of operation is discussed below.

There, as usual, according to the dismantling of the whole Device to be cleaned must, the device can then be reassembled and be put into operation. At the mentioned suction connection a suction hose and a compressed air hose at the compressed air connection 17 connected with appropriate vacuum or compressed air devices are connected.

In addition, there are three more hose connections intended. A hose connection is required to connect the Reset the tappet of the vacuum valve. Because if that Knife its extended end position after the cutting process (or shortly before) is reached, a valve lifter mentioned valve assembly rotated and the vacuum supply to Vacuum room interrupted. Then the calibration plate extended forward. The cylinder exhaust is also used to close the vacuum chamber aerate. This will make the vacuum chamber itself existing negative pressure is released more quickly. By breaking it down The negative pressure prevents the Calibration plate another suction effect through the vacuum chamber is available. The other mentioned above Hose connection serves as an air connection for the vacuum chamber, to pump in compressed air here. The last hose connection is used to connect the pressure to the vacuum chamber in to place a vacuum switch in this hose connection, to measure the pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Now larger quantities of meat in the form of cubes or strips to cut is first a correspondingly coherent Piece of meat from above into the loading opening 57 placed in the shaped tube 55, the generated by a vacuum device, not shown and in the vacuum chamber 21 effective vacuum the piece of meat pulls further into the shaped tube 55. By subsequent Actuation of the press cylinder 59 becomes the feed movement of the piece of meat supported.

Due to the negative pressure generated in the vacuum chamber 21 and the feed movement of the ram 61 becomes the leading one Area of the piece of meat to be portioned moved down until the front of the portion to be portioned Piece of meat the hollow or calibration mold space 49 fully filled. During this feed movement, the meat in the lower exit area of the mold cavity corresponding to the knife gate 81 in corresponding meat strips (In the embodiment shown in the square Cross section) cut. During this process can by the extremely small dimensions 37 however, no meat in the vacuum and suction gaps 37 penetrate or be sucked off.

The desired vacuum to support the feed movement of the meat to be portioned and the full Filling the calibration mold cavity 49 through the meat is primarily supported and guaranteed by the entire arrangement of molded tube body 53, perforated knife 65 and the calibration plate 47 underneath by the Clamping device 13 explained at the beginning with the contact pressure Vacuum plate towards each other like a package is pre-pressed and tensioned so that there is no ambient pressure if possible penetrate into the vacuum area and the Can reduce negative pressure. Since a hole knife is also used no atmospheric pressure can occur in the knife area get into the vacuum area. Through the mentioned The shaped tube body 53 also becomes guide columns 71 fixed against the base 1 as a pressure counter bearing held to the clamping unit 13 thus formed accordingly optimally pressed against each other.

As soon as the portioned into longitudinal strips Pieces of meat filled the entire calibration mold cavity 49 can have one with the vacuum chamber 21 in Connected vacuum switch 27 a vacuum change be determined. Now the Knife cylinder 73 are triggered and operated, the in Extending the cutting direction and doing so in the calibration mold cavity 49 amount of meat in the Molded tube body 53 separates the amount of meat. at the device described is the tensioning device 13 permanently under pressure and excited to see what the Another advantage is that a very thin knife plate or knife disc can be used. Through the the thin knife plate becomes pressurized protected against bulges and is thereby the opposite wall portions of bottom 66 of the shaped tube body 53 or the top of the calibration plate 47 stabilized.

As soon as the cutting knife reaches its front end position has, i.e. at least when the knife opening 67 the feed opening 51 in the calibration mold cavity 49 completely has run over, the calibration cylinder 75 and so that the calibration plate 47 is also in the feed movement added. Once the calibration mold cavity 49 over the Vacuum plate has gone, the meat can either through its own weight or an additional ejection device, for example down to a transfer station, for example, a conveyor belt, etc. given become. A simple one that portioned into cubes Meat-ejecting aid can for example in the form of levers that take the meat out of the calibration mold express downwards. As an ejection device can also be a short, sufficiently strong one Airflow serve, for example, through cylinder exhaust can be generated. Other ejection devices are also possible.

The calibration plate then preferably moves first and then the hole knife again in its in the figures 1 to 3 shown starting position and the process repeats itself, i.e. that after reaching the starting position of the knife 65 and the calibration plate 47 initially again the tensioning device 13 is actuated and a Vacuum built up in vacuum chamber 21 and by actuation of the ram 61 the meat located in the molded tube further in the feed direction, i.e. into the calibration mold cavity is moved in again, etc. Once the entire Portion of meat portioned and forward in the shaped tube 55 moved ram 49 reaches its lowest position has (which is not lower than the subsurface level of the Underside of the counter pressure plate 66 of the molded tube body 53), then another complete cutting process performed, then the ram from the Extend the shaped tube.

In the event that different types of meat are processed should be or meat types with different Size and weight can be portioned different sized knife and calibration plates with differently dimensioned and shaped Calibration cavity mold spaces are used. With the same Distinguish the hole knife and the constant shaped tube the calibration plates are then different Thickness to measure the weight and size of the portion to be portioned Change the amount of meat. But also the size the side view of the amount of meat to be portioned changed then there would have to be a different one Hole knife with correspondingly different dimensions Knife openings and a shaped tube with different Pipe cross-section can be installed.

Let it through the explained calibration cutting device produce uniformly large portions of meat that for example only by the smallest amounts of +/- 5 grams and less, for example only +/- 2 grams from each other differ.

5 and 6 show that congruent to the knife gate 81 in the calibration cavity 49 an in Top view of the knife gate 81 arranged congruently Grid graduation 83 is formed so that the Calibration cavity 49 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG six sub-rooms 49 'of equal size are divided is. The thickness of the webs can be a bit wider be than the thickness of the knife gate knife, although the knives can be designed so that they can be attached to the Have a thickness on the underside of the feed direction, which corresponds to the web thickness 83.

The application basically works the same as after the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. Die mentioned, the calibration cavity 49 into individual sub-cavities 49 'dividing webs 49 also ensure that the "flow" of the longitudinally cut strands of meat into the portioning plate, i.e. completely in the calibration mold cavity is avoided and therefore the individual cubes completely can be produced with equal weight, even if due to different meat composition in the one subspace more muscle than in the other subspace should be.

The entire control system can be structured differently. For example, an electric control comes in shape a PLC, a contactor or a relay control or in the form of combinations in question. Also a microprocessor based Control is possible, especially if if the calibration cutter in a larger facility is built in. Even in the execution case shown compressed air control has been described. Without this is described in detail, magnetic switches can the cylinders, working valves and control valves be, as valves OR-, And-, 3/2 ways or For example, 5/2 valves can be used. Pressure reducers, pressure gauges and vacuum switches are also for components that can be used during operation.

In particular, the vacuum valve 27 described can also be used by pushing the ram through the movable knife holder and the reset air can be operated.

For those related to the operation of the device Vacuum generators explained can have a wide variety of variants will be realized. For example, a Vacuum generators are based on the Venturi principle Generate negative pressure. The vacuum generator can only switched on during the phases by the pneumatic control be when the calibration hollow form again with meat should be filled. But it may also be necessary to always control this unit so that it is in the filters builds up a "vacuum cushion" until the tappet valve 27 again opens. Likewise, of course, an ongoing one Vacuum pump can be used. Through the valve tappet explained 27 is only then vacuum in the vacuum or Vacuum plate directed if this requires vacuum becomes. In the meantime, a vacuum cushion can get in build up the filters.

With the calibration cutting device, for example realize a cutting cycle time of 1 second. This means that one slice of meat is portioned per second and can be ejected.

Claims (19)

1. A sizing/cutting apparatus for cutting foods into cubes or strips, particularly for cutting meat, especially raw meat, into cube-shaped or strip-shaped portions, with the following characteristics:

   a moulding tube (55) is provided in order to form an advancing channel, in which the food product to be portioned can be additionally transported,

   a knife gate arrangement (81) is provided in the advancing channel that comprises the moulding tube (55), namely in the end region of the moulding tube (55), in order to cut the food being advanced into longitudinal strips, and

   a knife arrangement (45) that can be moved transverse to the knife gate arrangement (81) is arranged downstream of the knife gate arrangement (81) viewed in the advancing direction in order to cut the longitudinal strips of the food to be portioned into corresponding longitudinal strip sections or cubes,

      characterized in that

   a sizing/moulding cavity (49) is provided downstream of the knife gate arrangement (81) viewed in the advancing direction of the food to be portioned, namely on the outlet opening of the moulding tube (55), in that

   the sizing/moulding cavity (49) has dimensions transverse to the advancing direction of the food to be portioned which at least essentially corresponds to the cross-sectional dimensions of the moulding cavity, in that

   the depth of the sizing/moulding cavity (49) corresponds to the length of the food strips or cubes to be portioned, and in that

   webs (83) are arranged in the sizing cavity (49) such that it, if viewed from the top, their arrangement and partitioning corresponds to the arrangement and partitioning of the knife gate (81) or are situated downstream thereof.
2. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the height of the webs (83) corresponds to the height of the sizing/moulding cavity (49).
3. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the knife gate (81) is arranged directly in front of the outlet end of the moulding tube (55).
4. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that an additional tensioning device (13) is provided, wherein the tensioning device (13) presses the moulding tube (55) and the sizing/moulding cavity (49) against one another, in particular, during the cutting process.
5. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the tensioning device (13) makes it possible to press the moulding tube (55) and the sizing/moulding cavity (49) against one another in order to realize a negative pressure that acts as far as into the moulding tube (55) via the sizing/moulding cavity (49).
6. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the knife (45) consists of an apertured knife in the form of a knife plate with a knife aperture (67), wherein the knife aperture (67) is situated, if viewed from the top, such that it overlaps the transfer opening (63) on the underside of the moulding tube (55) and the feed opening (51) of the sizing/moulding cavity (49) in the starting position of the knife (45).
7. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-6, characterized in that the sizing/moulding cavity (49) is realized in a sizing plate (47), namely in the form of a sizing/moulding cavity (49) that extends through the sizing plate (47) and is open toward the top and the bottom.
8. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-7, characterized in that the moulding tube (55) is arranged in a moulding tube body (53) with a downwardly directed supporting surface (66), wherein the apertured knife (65) is covered in a sandwich-like fashion and accommodated between the supporting surface (66) of the moulding tube body (53) and the sizing plate (47).
9. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-8, characterized in that a tensioning cylinder arrangement of the tensioning device (13) is provided underneath the sizing plate (47), wherein said tensioning cylinder makes it possible to tension the arrangement consisting of the moulding tube (55), the apertured knife (65) and the sizing plate (47), preferably with a vacuum plate (9), by means of a pressing plate (3) situated underneath thereof.
10. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-9, characterized in that a negative pressure chamber (21) is provided in a vacuum plate (9) underneath the sizing/moulding cavity (49), wherein an insertion plate (31) arranged in the negative pressure chamber serves as a support for the food to be portioned.
11. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-10, characterized in that the shape and dimensions of the insertion plate (31) are slightly larger than the shape and dimensions of the feed opening (51) of the sizing/moulding cavity (49) and/or the transfer opening (63) of the moulding tube (55).
12. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that a preferably peripheral gap (37) in the form of a negative pressure channel is formed between the peripheral edge of the insertion plate (31) and the adjacent wall section (43) of the negative pressure chamber (21).
13. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the gap (37) is smaller than 2 mm.
14. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-13, characterized in that the knife aperture (67) has a basic shape and size that correspond to the cross-sectional shape and size of the moulding tube (55) and/or the feed opening (51) of the sizing/moulding cavity (49).
15. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 14, characterized in that two cutting edges (65') that are angled relative to one another are provided on the leading edge of the knife aperture (67).
16. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that the two cutting edges are angled relative to one another by + 60° to 120°, preferably by 90°.
17. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to Claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the two knife cutting edges (65') are arranged symmetrically referred to a vertically extending central longitudinal plane.
18. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 15-17, characterized in that the knife consists of a steel plate, the thickness of which varies between 0.2 mm and 6 mm.
19. The sizing/cutting apparatus according to one of Claims 1-18, characterized in that the sizing plate (47) and the knife (65) are arranged perpendicular to the vertically extending moulding tube (55).

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