Apparatus for cutting individual pieces from a continuously moving extruded strand

In an apparatus (10) for cutting individual pieces (1) from a continuously moving extruded strand (2), having a transport device (11) for the extruded strand (2) and two cutting blades (26, 27), disposed one on each side of the extruded strand (2) are driven for simultaneous movement crosswise and lengthwise of a feed direction (17) of the extruded strand (2) and are aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the extruded strand (2), the cutting blades being coupled to each other and actuated by a common drive mechanism (32), wherein the cutting blades (26, 27) respectively rotate in a circular path, the improvement wherein the two cutting blades (26, 27) are each disposed on a separate disk-shaped element (36, 38) by way of blade supports (51, 52) on an axis (48, 49) parallel to a rotational axis (37, 39) of the elements (36, 38) and wherein, in order to align the cutting blades (26, 27) perpendicular to the feed direction (17) of the extruded strand (2), the blade supports (51, 52) supporting the cutting blades (26, 27) are coupled to each other by means of at least one rod (55, 56) which extends alongside the cutting blades (26, 27) and aligned with them, said blade supports (51, 52) being mounted for movement on said at least one rod (55, 56).