Abstract: Systems and methods for compacting components are provided. In one exemplary aspect, a component is positioned between a first tool portion and a second tool portion of a compaction tool. A sandwich structure is positioned between the first tool portion and the component. The sandwich structure includes a thermally expandable material and a rigid shell. The thermally expandable material is positioned between the first tool portion and the rigid shell. During compaction, the thermally expandable material is subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures, e.g., within an autoclave. When subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures, the thermally expandable material applies a force on the rigid shell, which in turn applies a force on the component so as to compact the component between the rigid shell and the second tool portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveyor line (1) for the continuous production of drywall boards as well as a slurry distributing device (22) which is used in this conveyor line (1). The distributing device is used for the uniform and low-speed flow distribution of slurries (20).

Abstract: A dough forming station for a device for forming a dough ring comprises a roller with a roller rotational axis and a plurality of dough forming inserts arranged on an outer lateral surface of the roller, a punch beam, which has a punch beam longitudinal axis, with at least one punch, wherein the dough ring is arranged for forming between the at least one punch and a dough forming insert, wherein a lifting drive is provided to displace the punch beam with the at least one punch along a stroke direction oriented perpendicular to the roller rotational axis, wherein the roller rotational axis and the punch beam longitudinal axis are oriented parallel to one another, and wherein a plurality of dough forming inserts arranged about the roller rotational axis along a rotational direction are provided.

Abstract: Noodles with hand-made quality consisting of thick and thin portions are processed by introducing a noodle belt between first and second cutting rolls 5 and 6 having first and second cutting blades 3 and 4 each formed by large and small diameter portions 3a, 4a and 3b and 4b, and spacers 7. The cutting rolls are relatively shifted in an axial direction such that the thick portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and spacer and the thin portion is formed by opposing large diameter portion and small diameter portion.

Abstract: A food product press having a mold base, a press assembly having a plurality of press bodies, and blade spaces between the press bodies, a plurality of blades slidable within the blade spaces, and a blade operating mechanism for moving the blades relative to the press bodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food-form-apparatus with: a rotating drum (5) which comprises product cavities in which a food product is formed from a food mass and a food mass feed member (23), which comprises a housing with an infeed channel (24) and at least one upstream sealing area (25) and/or a downstream sealing area (26) and a flexible pressure plate (7) which is pressed against the outer surface of the drum and thereby provides a seal between the food mass member and the drum. The drum has at its outer surface a multitude of rows of cavities.

Abstract: A die for an underwater cutting type pelletizer, the die including a die orifice part in which a thermoplastic resin is inhibited from solidifying within the die orifices. The die can have a reduced difference in temperature between the die orifice part and an inner periphery-side fixing part for fixing the die orifice part to a mixer/extruder, and can thereby inhibit the generation of thermal stress. The die is characterized by being equipped with a heating jacket for heating the inner periphery-side fixing part, the heating jacket being disposed within the inner periphery-side fixing part along an inner annular passage formed within either the die orifice part or the inner periphery-side fixing part or both along the boundary between the die orifice part and the inner periphery-side fixing part.

Abstract: The invention concerns an extrusion granulator for the granulation of plastic strands gripped by a pair of feed rollers and directed over a slideway in the direction of a cutting rotor with an opposing blade. A guided air stream directed onto the slideway, and deflected perpendicularly towards the cutting rotor by said slideway, impinges on the strands carried on the slideway with such a speed that the strands are held in a parallel orientation by the air stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming and cutting a dough sheet into a plurality of generally spherically shaped, boule-type dough products in a continuous process. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum and a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum for engaging, shaping and severing dough from the sheet as the dough sheet moves along the dough travel path. Each of the cutter molds including a peripheral edge portion, a base portion and a curved, annular side wall defining a concave, generally bowl-shaped internal cavity, with the peripheral edge portion establishing a cutting edge for the cutter mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming, cutting and stamping a dough sheet into a plurality of uniformly stamped, imprinted dough pieces. The apparatus engages a leading portion of a dough sheet as it travels along a conveyor. The apparatus includes a drum rotatably disposed relative to the conveyor, a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum and a plurality of pattern imprinters formed within internal cavities defined by the plurality of cutter molds. Each of the cutter molds simultaneously cuts a dough piece received in the internal cavity and imprints on the dough piece to form a rounded edge roll. The pattern imprinter preferably has a star configuration for stamping the dough to form Kaiser-type rolls.

Abstract: A device and a method for portioning food, in particular meat, into portions with a predetermined weight and/or predetermined thickness are proposed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an in-mold cutting unit for a thermoforming machine having at least one mold element (4), at least one counter-mold element (5) intended to cooperate, in use, with a respective mold element (4), and actuation means intended to command the relative movement of the mold (4) and countermold (5) elements; the cutting unit comprising at least one annular knife element (60) having a sharp edge (61), and at least one counter-cutting element (7) for each knife element (60), defining a sharp counter-edge portion (71), and the in-mold cutting unit comprising at least one witness-forming insert (8) removably housable in a respective reception seat (S) at the at least one annular knife element (60) or the at least one counter-cutting element (7), and delimiting at least one recess or incision (89) thereon, during use very close to the sharp edge (61) of the annular knife element (60) or to the sharp counter-edge portion (71) for the formation of a respective witness (T) between a thermof

Abstract: In a resin granulating apparatus of the present invention, a bracket extending in the outward radial direction over an outer peripheral surface of a sleeve is provided for the sleeve for rotatably supporting a cutter shaft of a cutter for shearing a material extruded from a die. Stopper means cooperating with the bracket to regulate movement of the sleeve toward the die and moving a regulation position in the axial direction is provided on the radially outer side over an outer diameter of the sleeve. With such a configuration, installation space is compactified so as to additionally provide the stopper means in the existing facilities, and a position of the cutter relative to a die surface is precisely adjusted so as to stably produce a pellet of a best shape.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizer is presented having an electromagnetic clamp that includes an electromagnetic ring body having a series of electromagnets disposed along a contact surface of the electromagnetic ring body. A clamping ring body has a series of mild steel inserts disposed along a contact surface of the clamping ring body, where each mild steel insert is disposed in a position complementary to at least one of the series of electromagnets. The electromagnetic clamp ring has a contact face with a series of electromagnets disposed therein and providing a clamping ring having a contact face with a series of mild steel inserts disposed therein, where the contact face of the clamping ring is configured to engage the contact face of the electromagnetic ring to form a seal and the mild steel inserts are positioned such that each one of the series of electromagnets is adjacent to one of the mild steel inserts when the contact faces of the electromagnetic and clamping rings are engaged.

Abstract: A sheeter includes an internally grooveless front roller, a rear roller configured to rotate counter to the front roller, a partially spiraled stripper wire coupled across the front roller, and a conveyer belt connected to a proximal conveyer roller and a distal conveyer roller. The conveyer belt includes a landing zone configured to prevent damage to a received product. The conveyer belt includes a raised portion adjacent to the proximal end and flat portion towards the distal end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pelletization of plastics and/or polymers, in which a melt coming from a melt generator is supplied via a diverter valve having different operating positions to a plurality of pelletizing heads through which the melt is pelletized. The plurality of pelletizing heads have different throughput capacities and are used sequentially for the start-up of the pelletizing process, with the melt first being supplied to a first pelletizing head having a smaller throughput capacity and then the melt volume flow being increased and the diverter valve being switched over such that the melt is diverted by the diverter valve to a second pelletizing head having a larger throughput capacity.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming wallboard panels having recessed edges along all four edges.

Abstract: A machine for shaping dough pieces from a batch of risen dough placed in a holding pan includes a set of tools that can move between a number of positions for activating different tools for sequentially applying them to the dough, the pan and the set of tools being placed in a relative motion whereby respectively approaching or moving away from one another. The set of tools includes a tool for controlled spreading of the dough inside the pan for rendering its thickness uniform while essentially preserving its initial volume; a tool for shaping/dividing the dough into distinct dough pieces, equipped with partition walls that, between them, define receptacles for the shaping of dough pieces the shape of these partition walls in each receptacle being provided for progressively drawing an upper surface layer of the dough and pushing back the remainder of the dough into said layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying synthetic resins applicable to a metal mold wheel that rotates at a high speed. A cutter of a cutter unit and a holding fitting are attached to an air cylinder, so that the cutter unit can be advanced and retreated in the radial direction of rotation. When the molten resin is stably blown out from an extrusion nozzle, the air cylinder is expanded to move the cutter to an advanced position to cut the molten resin. When the molten resin is unstably blown out from the extruder, the air cylinder is contracted and the cutter is arranged at a retreated position so will not to come in contact with the molten resin. Despite the cutter wheel continues to rotate, the molten resin is not contacted by the cutters.

Abstract: An improved dough sheeter having a pair of counterrotating sheeter rollers and a cutter roller rotating against a front one of the sheeter rollers to cut a pattern into a sheet of dough therebetween. The improvement is the cutter roller being formed from an oil-impregnated wear resistant plastic that results in a much longer cutter life. The dough sheeter's cutter roller may have axial shaft, a pair of cutter lift arms including a U-shaped end, and a pair of needle bearing assemblies, each needle bearing assembly located on a corresponding end of the axial shaft. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cutter roller for a dough sheeter where the crown is formed before the cutting pattern is cut into the cutter roller.

Abstract: A dough sheet for producing thin, baked chips is obtained continuously by compressing a dough sheet to a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.035 inch between counter-rotating gauge rolls while maintaining the surface of each gauge roll at a temperature of about 85° F. to about 95° F. Maintaining the gauge roll surface temperature at about 85° F. to about 95° F. avoids sticking, tearing, and shredding of the thin dough sheet as it is compressed and transferred by the gauge rolls, even at high production rates or line speeds. A rotary cutter is employed to obtain thin, irregularly shaped, scallop-edged snacks in a variety of shapes from a single dough sheet without producing dough scraps between the pieces.

Abstract: An improved process for the pelletization of polymers is disclosed, using a die in which the die holes incorporate a reverse taper along at least a portion of the length thereof. Conditions for operation of an under melt cutter incorporating this die are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for removing doses of plastic material from the outflow orifice of an extruder by means of at least one removal element movable with respect to the extruder and provided with a receptacle for a dose removed from the orifice, the removal element comprising a severing element adapted to cut into the plastic material dispensed by the extruder along a severing edge advancing through the material from one side of the orifice to the other, the receptacle being shaped so as to accomodate the dose and allow its expulsion substantially in the directon of the severing edge.

Abstract: A multiple cavity (30a, 30b) mold die (10) and method for molding binder coated wood flakes (12) into multiple three dimensionally curved wood strand parts. Vertical walls (28, 32) shear a felted mat (11) of binder coated wood flakes as the mold is closed.

Abstract: Apparatus for highly reliably cutting a rubber strip (12) even when reinforcement cords are embedded therein, and for shaping the upper surfaces of the trailing end of a resultant rubber band member (15) and the leading end of the remaining rubber strip (12) to have a slope inclined with a small angle relative to the general plane of the rubber strip (12) or rubber band member (15). An anvil (20) and a press cutter/shaper (39) are arranged opposite to each other, and a cutting blade (38) is gradually inserted into an anvil groove (22), with at least one surface (38a, 38) of the blade (38) pressed against a periphery (22a) of the anvil groove (22). The cutting blade (38) protrudes from the boundary between inclined a pair of shaping surfaces (34, 35) towards the anvil 20, and has a cutting blade angle (F) that is smaller than angle (G) between the inclined shaping surfaces (34, 35).

Abstract: In a pastillation machine, an improved distribution system is provided. The distribution system comprises: a distribution bar having a bore extending therethrough, a series of holes located on an inlet surface of the bar, a series of slots located on an outlet surface of the bar, and a diffuser located in the bore of the bar, the diffuser being spaced between the inlet surface and the outlet surface. The series of holes of the distribution system aligns with flowable substance outlets of the pastillation machine. The pastillation machine can be used to form various hot liquid mixtures, including elemental sulphur and sulphur based fertilizers containing swelling clay matrix, and macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn etc.).

Abstract: A nozzle holder (14) with at least one nozzle (34′; 34″), which ends at a mouth (38′; 38″), is used for manufacturing baking articles (54) from an extruded strand (56). In order to manufacture baking articles (54) which extend in a plane, the nozzle (34′; 34″) is pivotably mounted by means of a joint with a ball (32) and its mouth (38′; 38″) is displaceable by a pivoting device (45) in two axes (X; Y) extending at right angles to one another. Furthermore, constructed in the ball (32) is at least one connecting duct (48′; 48″), of which one end is connected to a stationary feed duct (50′; 50″) and the other end to the pivotable nozzle (34′; 34″).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of thermoforming and partly cutting thermoforming objects, which comprises intermittently feeding a tape or plate (2) of thermoformable material to a thermoforming press (46); thermoforming and cutting the tape or plate in a mould (48, 50) to obtain at least one thermoformed article (51) surrounded by residual web or waste (57), wherein partial cutting is carried out by means of punch-and-die cutting means (52, 54) and cutting affects the whole outline of each thermoformed object (51) and has at least one discontinuity (55) which results in one or more tiny connection sections or witness beads (58) connecting each thermoformed object (51) to the waste (57).

Abstract: This method of manufacturing packaging articles each having a hollow body provided with a neck-forming open end comprises the steps of applying a flat piece of thermoplastic material over the open end of a mold recess, of heating said material, of punching the material by inserting a piston into the mold cavity through its opening so as to form a blank, of blowing the resulting blank against the wall of the mold, and opening the mold. The mold is constituted by an assembly of elements each constituting a matrix for molding a segment of an article, and the mold is opened by separating the elements of each pair. While the mold is being opened, the article is sucked against a bottom element of the mold.

Abstract: A cream depositor assembly has a depositor body in the form of a rotatable cylindrical stencil (11) provided with axially-spaced sets of circumferentially-spaced outlet ports (12). A recirculatory cream supply to the depositor body has a cream feed duct (27) fed by a pump (25), and a cream return duct (28). A cream diverting means (14) is housed within the interior of the stencil (11) and is operative to divert part of the cream flow from the feed duct (27) to an outlet passage (28), to supply the stencil. The illustrated diverting means (14) employs a flexible impeller (36), mounted eccentrically within a cylindrical rotor chamber, but a gear pump may be used.

Abstract: An improved sheeter wire device providing constant tension on a feeder spool even during wire breakage. A constant speed motor draws wire across the face of the sheeter while a drag motor maintains constant tension on the wire. A pair of pinch rollers prohibits unwinding of the feeder spool in the event of wire breakage.

Abstract: A food product sheeter includes first, second, third and fourth rollers rotatably supported on a frame. The fourth roller is positioned above the first and second rollers, and is separated from the first roller by gap which serves as the entrance for dough into the sheeter. The fourth roller acts as a pressurizing roller and drives the food product into a slot between the first and second rollers. The third roller engages against the first roller to cut out food product shapes. The first and second rollers can have smooth non-stick surfaces to facilitate release of the cut-out food product shapes, without gaps or voids forming in them. In a second embodiment, the first roller has a pattern of non-stick surfaces, for example, in the shape of circles. The non-stick surfaces facilitate release of the cut food product shapes off the first roller. The pattern of the non-stick surface on the front roller is indexed to the cutting surfaces on the third roller, to maintain them in registration.

Abstract: A cream depositing machine including a rotatable stencil drum (2) having first and second stencil ports (3, 4), a device (5) for rotating the drum (2), a first and second cream supply device (12, 13) for supplying first and second cream material separately to the ports (3, 4), a cream control device (10, 16) within the drum (2) and operable, in time sequence, to initially cause the first cream material to issue from the first stencil port (3) and thereafter, after angular movement of the drum (2), to cause the second cream material to issue from the second stencil port (4) whereby deposits of the first and second cream material co-exist on the drum (2), and a device (15) for simultaneously removing the co-existing deposits.

Abstract: A method of making processed mozzarella cheese that does not require any aging or refrigeration during storage is disclosed herein. This is accomplished by dicing cheese curd, adding emulsifier, and thermomechanically treating in an extruder to stretch and cook the curd. Fresh processed mozzarella cheese having functionality similar to the aged mozzarella cheese is achieved by addition of emulsifier to soften casein and inputting sufficient mechanical energy to establish the appropriate fibrous structure. Longer shelf-life and storage without refrigeration is achieved by application of suitable time-temperature combination to inactivate proteolytic enzymes and microorganisms.

Abstract: A system for making tortillas includes a sheeter, a roller/heater, and an oven. Tortillas are die cut into an oblong shape in the sheeter. The roller/heater rolls the tortillas into a round shape and conductively heats the tortillas simultaneously on the top and bottom surfaces, gelatinizing the food product and sealing in moisture. The tortillas are then baked in an oven. Slot marks on the tortillas are avoided as the roller/heater has upper and lower belts have continuous surfaces.

Abstract: A roof tile making machine and its method of operation. The reinforcement ribs on the underside of a concrete roofing tile are formed during their manufacture by directing mortar into recesses in a pallet on which the tile is made, with a compactor means in the form of multi-tined wheels compacting the mortar in the recesses, and providing thereafter a secondary layer of mortar over the compacted reinforcement ribs, to complete the tile in a conventional manner. A tile provided by the apparatus of the invention has reinforcement ribs which are compacted to the same degree as the remainder of the tile, thereby ensuring that the finished product, when cured, has a uniform, or substantially uniform, strength.

Abstract: This pelletizer relates to pelletizer systems of the type that include a scraper blade. Such structures of this type, generally, employ a removable, replaceable, breakaway scraper blade that can be changed out easily and quickly without damaging the remainder of the blade assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention, useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material include a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: The single tapered die mount employs a radially inner surface at an angle to the axis of rotation of the die mount, die and die holder. The radially inner surface of the die mount acts on an annular shoulder of the die to support and position the die in the die holder. The die mount of the invention is located between the radially outer surface of the die and the extended lip of the die housing. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially inner surface of the die mount in contact with the radially outer surface of the die shoulder has an angle of a modified Morse taper. The radially outer surface of the die shoulder is machined to a matching angle.

Abstract: A pelletizing apparatus including rotating cutting knives which are moved against a die plate to sever the plastic strands into pellets. The knives are driven such as to ensure a constantly parallel contact without any partial lifting of the knives from the die plate caused by the unilateral fixing of the cutting knives. This is achieved by a coupler mechanism which connects the knives to the hub of the knife head and ensures a parallel arrangement of the cutting edges of the knives over their entire length relative to the die surface.

Abstract: A sheeter machine and process is disclosed which eliminates the use of at least one stripper wire or doctor blade wherein the dough, including masa, is worked between pinch rolls rotating at selected, infinitely varying speed ratios enabling controlled differential adhesion characteristics between the dough material being sheeted and the surfaces of the rolls. Variable cutter speed ratios acting with the front roll enable control of the cut product size.

Abstract: A rework assist belt system for use on a sheeting head used to form masa dough into thin sheets improves the final product by preventing contamination with fragments of rework dough. The rework assist belt system prevents rework from prematurely detaching from the front roller by moving in synchrony with the front roller so that the rework is held between the belt and the front roller. The rework is carried to the top of the front roller where it is disgorged into a dough hopper and mixed with other dough therein.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for removing articles cut from a sheet of flexible material includes a gas transmissive conveyor belt that is brought into proximity to the exposed surface of the articles, a suction roll which backs the conveyor belt and has an internal vacuum and passageways for exposing said vacuum to the outer surface of the suction roll in configurations corresponding the leading portions of the articles, and means for causing the passageways to register substantially with the leading regions of the articles. Embodiments may also include passageways which are arcuately arrayed in groups, a cylindrical cutter roll for cutting out the articles from the sheet as it is being transported by a carrier surface, and/or a carrier surface in the form of a roll face.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and dispensing segments of thermoplastic material into receptacles such as crowns, particularly into those having relatively high sidewalls, includes a conveyor for conveying the crowns through a passageway at predetermined speeds, an extruder for extruding thermoplastic material through a discharge opening, a rotary knife having blades for cutting the extruded material into segments and depositing the segments into the receptacles as they are conveyed through the passage, and a drive system for rotating the blade in response to the conveying of the receptacles. The output or driven shaft of the drive system is coupled to the rotary knife and intermittently rotates 180 degrees at a time at a speed which is twice that of the input or drive shaft, thereby avoiding contact of the knife blades with the receptacle sidewalls and ensuring clean cutting of the thermoplastic material even at low speeds of closure conveyance.

Abstract: The present invention has a purpose to prevent leakage of resin material and disorder of cutting operation without increasing plate thickness of the cutter, thereby providing a resin material supply apparatus capable of suiting increase of resin material sheet size or higher back pressure.To this end, according to the present invention, there is provided a resin material supply apparatus and method for a resin press molding machine in which: resin material is extruded in a supply cylinder toward a die by a piston, and the molded resin material is cut by a cutter which slides along a front end surface of the die. Then, the cut resin material is supplied onto a metal mold, and new resin material is charged into the supply cylinder by pressing the cutter toward the die at a position that the cutter closes an opening of the die.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a honeycomb half-cell structure into sheets includes a blade for cutting the structure and a conveyor for positioning a length of the half-cell structure so that the blade cuts across the diagonal surface of the half-cell structure, thereby forming the sheets. The conveyor comprises platens including a plurality of bars contacting the valleys on one side of the half-cell structure and a space between each consecutive bar. The half-cell structure is cut along the diagonal surface alternating between one side of a first predetermined bar and one side of a second predetermined bar. A process for cutting a half-cell structure into sheets includes positioning a length of the half-cell structure so that the diagonal surfaces of the structure are positioned adjacent a blade for cutting and cutting across the diagonal surface to form the sheets.

Abstract: A mill roll for pelletizing material having first and second counter-rotating, cylindrical rollers, the second roller having a solid exterior at its central portion, a hollow core and a series of perforations at each end. The first roller has a solid exterior. The rollers can be heated. Material to be pelletized is placed in the central portion of the nip formed between the rollers and as the rollers rotate, the material is spread outward toward the perforations where the material passes through such perforations to be cut off by a knife disposed within the second roller's hollow core. Also disclosed is a method of pelletizing material utilizing such mill roll.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for the production of sterile, pelleted feed products is provided which includes an extruder device (12) equipped with a pelleting head (14) adjacent the outlet end of the extruder barrel (17). The pelleting head (14) includes an annular die section (52) having die openings (58) therethrough which is secured to the extruder barrel (17), forming an extension thereof; a rotatable, multiple-vane plate (66) is secured to the screw (42) of the device (12) and cooperates with the die section (52) to form final pellets. A rotatable knife (16) serves to cut emerging extrudate so as to size the pellets. In an alternative embodiment, the plate (66) is separately powered for rotation independent of the extruder screw (17), preferably by means of a prime mover (102) coupled with a short extruder screw section (100) which supports the plate (66). Preferably, the extruder device (12) is equipped with an upstream preconditioner (40) serving to moisturize and uniformly mix dry feed ingredients.

Abstract: A screw-type front extrusion granulating apparatus for forming moistened powdered raw material such as chemicals for use in the agriculture, pharmaceutical, or food industries into granules, has a conveying screw in axial alignment with a semi-spherical die, the die having a plurality of die openings formed therein. The conveying screw has an extrusion blade mounted to its forward end to project into the confines of the semi-spherical die, the contour of the extrusion blade generally conforming to the inner surface of the die. In operation, the moistened powdered material is transported forwardly under pressure by the screw and extruded through the die utilizing the pressure of the screw and the scraping action of the extrusion blade.

Abstract: Extrusion cooked coextruded food products having a cereal-based outer envelope in a thermoplastic state are cut by passing the product between two parallel counter-rotating cylinder surfaces which define male and female impression elements configured and positioned so that upon rotation, the impression elements of one surface converge with the elements of the other surface in a male to female relation for cutting the product into discrete pieces.