Abstract: A circular cutting machine is described which is characterised in that a product supply carriage, into which the guide for the material to be cut, the feed device and means for holding the material to be cut are integrated, can be switched over between an operating position and a retracted position by means of an actuating unit, thus permitting the product to be guided right-up to the immediate vicinity of the cutting knife. A change-over between the operating position and the retracted position can also be obtained by corresponding displacement of the cutting plane.

Abstract: A drive and bearing arrangement for a circular cutting machine is described which is characterized by its high operational reliability, long working life and precise knife guidance. For this purpose a particular bearing arrangement is provided for supporting the knife shaft. The knife shaft is journalled at the knife side via a bearing which is particularly suited to bear radial forces while a bearing unit which can bear both radial forces and also axial forces is provided directly adjacent this bearing. The inner and outer rings of all the bearings are clamped together without play in the axial direction.