Abstract: A cutting apparatus for ductile materials comprises a nozzle having a number of outlet openings separated from each other by separator webs. Next to the nozzle, a rotating cutting tool is provided, having a plurality of cutting knives for cutting off the strands of material discharged through the outlet openings of the nozzle. Each separator web is at least as wide as a cutting knife. For performing a cutting operation, the cutting tool is intermittently rotated. Between two cutting operations, the cutting tool is stopped, whereby its knives remain in a rest position behind the separator webs. For the next cutting operation, the cutting tool is rotated by such an amount that its cutting knives move from a position behind a first separator web to the next adjacent separator web.

Abstract: The invention provides a packing assembly for rotating and/or oscillating machine shafts arranged in a machine housing. The packing assembly comprises a packing accommodation unit floating on said shaft. The packing accomodation unit is supported on the housing by means of a ball joint assembly that is pivotable and translatory movable in a radial direction to and from the shaft. The ball joint assembly comprises a ball member provided with a central bore received in a ball socket. A guiding element projecting into the bore of the ball member serves for translatory guiding the ball member along the axis of the bore in the ball member, whereby the axis of the bore on the ball member runs essentially perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the shaft.