Abstract: An automatic cutting apparatus, applicable to presses for making pasta or to extruders for making snacks includes a main supporting structure, an annular support having a vertical axis, a main shaft arranged coaxially to the annular support, and elements for actuating the main shaft with a rotary motion about its own axis. The annular support can be associated with a press for making pasta or an extruder for making snacks below a die that has a vertical axis and is connected to the outlet of the press or of the extruder, or below a cutting accessory that is interposed between the die and annular support. The main shaft can be coupled to at least one blade that is adapted to act on the lower die face or with at least one blade of the cutting accessory.

Abstract: A method for cleaning die plates for the production of pasta or snacks includes: a first step in which a working fluid is placed in contact with one of two end faces of the die plate to be cleaned, and a second step, in which the pressure of the working fluid is increased to force the working fluid to penetrate the holes of the die plate in order to push the residue of the mixture, present in the holes, so that it exits from the opposite end face of the die. A machine for cleaning the die plates includes a jacket that internally defines a chamber, an opening, a component for introducing a working fluid into the chamber, and a component for increasing the pressure of the working fluid to force it to pass through the holes of the die plate which are occupied by the mixture to be removed.

Abstract: An automatic cutting apparatus, applicable to presses for making pasta or to extruders for making snacks includes a main supporting structure, an annular support having a vertical axis, a main shaft arranged coaxially to the annular support, and elements for actuating the main shaft with a rotary motion about its own axis. The annular support can be associated with a press for making pasta or an extruder for making snacks below a die that has a vertical axis and is connected to the outlet of the press or of the extruder, or below a cutting accessory that is interposed between the die and annular support. The main shaft can be coupled to at least one blade that is adapted to act on the lower die face or with at least one blade of the cutting accessory.