Patent ID: 7530806

Claim:
A cutting assembly designed to cut a material extruded from a die plate, the assembly comprising: a die plate having a first and second side and at least one die plate opening; a wiper designed to be connected or interconnected to an end portion of an auger, said wiper and said end portion of said auger disposed adjacent said first side of said die plate, said wiper including at least one radially disposed wiper blade, said wiper blade designed to direct material into said at least one die plate opening for extrusion through said die plate when said wiper is rotated; a cutter head disposed adjacent said second side of said die plate, said cutter head including at least one cutter knife designed to cut material extruded through said at least one opening in die plate, said cutter head connected to a rotating member, said cutter head separate and independent from said wiper and said auger; a motor designed to cause said rotating member and said cutter head to at least partially rotate; and, a motor controller designed to control a speed of rotation of said motor, said speed of rotation of said motor at least partially independent from a rotation speed of said auger and wiper blade, said speed of rotation of said rotating member selected to cut a desired length of said extruded material that is extruded through said at least one opening in said die plate, said motor controller designed to at least partially control the speed of rotation of said motor based on at least one of a detected pressure of material prior to being extruded through said die plate, a detected pressure of said material as said material is being extruded through said die plate, a detected velocity of said material prior to being extruded through said die plate, a detected velocity of said material as said material is extruded through said die plate, a detected velocity of said material after being extruded through said die plate, and a detected length of the cut material.