Abstract: A machine for densifying plastic containers, such as recyclable FET bottles, includes a feeder and a shredder. The feeder includes a paddle wheel with radial vanes for feeding the containers into the inlet of the shredder and blocking their return. A scraper is provided adjacent the outlet of the feeder for dislodging any material wedged in the pocket formed between adjacent vanes and preventing its return into the inlet of the feeder. The shredder includes intermeshing rotary shredder elements and stationary shredder elements, the cutting surfaces of which slope with respect to each other to provide a scissoring action. In a preferred form, each rotary shredder element includes a sharpened outer tip which projects in the direction of rotation for starting a tear in the container undergoing reduction. Each stationary shredder element also includes a sharpened outer tip which projects opposite the direction of rotation for retaining larger pieces of material in the shredder for further shredding.

Abstract: A shredder having a stationary comb cutter and primary and secondary cutters on the rotor providing "punch and die" shearing action suitable for shredding wallboard or the like. Means for metering the incoming feed through a pair of nip rollers, the upper set of which is spaced inboard such that they do not press on the side edges of the wallboard as it passes through the nip.