a machine for cutting roots and tubers intended for feeding to farm animals or for industrial use. Soviet industry produces the KPI-4 root cutter and the MRK-5 washer-cutter.
The main components of the KPI-4 are the electric motor, the loading bin, the chopping chamber (which has two disks with blades), the concave, and the ejecting disk. An unloading sleeve, through which the chopped-up roots are fed into containers or onto a conveyor, is attached to the loading hatch of the body. The disks and blades are used to regulate the fineness of chopping, from 1–3 mm (fine) to 5–8 mm (coarse). The throughput capacity of the machine is 4 tons/hr for fine chopping and 7 tons/hr for coarse chopping. The machine is operated by three workers. In addition to the chopping device, the MRK-5 washer-cutter has a device for washing the roots and tubers before chopping. It is a circular sprinkler that is connected to a water supply by a rubber hose. When the chopping device is turned off, the machine may be used as a washer.