Abstract: A slow speed high torque shear technology is disclosed having optional configurations and attachments for its construction and methods for reconfiguring existing shears to improve performance, and maintenance economics. A method is provided for the readily replacement of individual cutters and tooth modules, reconfiguration of cutter and tooth assemblies in a mix and match manner, in combination with matching anvils having replacement cutting elements with multiple cutting faces. Alternative embodiments are provided illustrating methods of configuration of various types of cutting elements and material feed systems. Methods for converting a shear a rough cut shear to a fine particle shear and then to a granulator is provides. A method for rejecting unprocessable material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A mixer feeder wagon (1) for mixing animal feed which includes hay, straw, silage and the like, including a mixing compartment (20) and a dispensing compartment (21). A mixing rotor (30) is rotatable in the mixing compartment (20) for mixing the animal feed, and a dispensing auger (38) in the dispensing compartment (21) dispenses the mixed animal feed through a dispensing outlet (22). A plurality of first blades (55) extend radially from mixing paddles (47) of the mixing rotor (30) and co-operate with a plurality of second blades (56) which are mounted on a base (12) of the mixing compartment (20) for cutting the fibrous material of the animal feed into relatively short lengths as the mixing rotor (30) rotates.

Abstract: Fiberglass filament waste is cut into segments with an apparatus comprised of a feeder that includes a cutting roller having a rotatable shaft with a plurality of spaced circular cutting blades mounted thereon, and a waste feeder having a discharge opening adjacent said roller for conveying said waste into engagement with the periphery of the blades, the feeder including at first and second spaced surfaces extending from a waste inlet opening to a waste discharge opening, at least one of the surfaces being pivotal adjacent the waste inlet opening to expand the discharge opening under pressure from waste being conveyed between the surfaces. At least one of the surfaces, which may be a surface of a conveyor belt, is moveable toward the discharge opening, while the other surface may be stationary, or move toward the discharge opening. In one embodiment, the lower surface moves toward the discharge opening, while the upper surface moves away from the discharge opening to equalize the volume of waste being fed.

Abstract: A system and method for recycling a waste glass cullet includes a first screening station for separating large glass shards of approximately one inch in diameter from smaller glass shards in the cullet, a crusher to reduce the large glass shards to smaller glass shards smaller than approximately one inch in diameter, a second screening station to separate remaining large contaminants having a diameter of approximately one inch or greater from the cullet, a series of vacuum inlets disposed along a conveyor to remove light contaminants, a presoaking apparatus comprising a holding tank partly filled with a presoaking solution, a rotary washing apparatus comprising a drum with vanes disposed along an inner wall of the drum to toss the cullet in the washing solution, the vanes being oriented so that the cullet is tossed progressively forwardly toward a discharge outlet of the drum, to remove buoyant contaminants from the cullet, a dewatering apparatus to remove excess water from the cullet, and a dryer for reducin

Abstract: A food chopper has a housing having side walls and a generally semicylindrical floor formed with holes and having an inner surface generally centered on a horizontal axis and a shaft journaled in the side walls at the axis for rotation about the axis. Respective elongated elements spaced axially apart along the axis extend radially of the axis and each have an inner end fixed at the axis and an outer end fixed in the floor. A plurality of U-shaped cutters are each unitarily formed with a pair of axially spaced parallel side blades each having an inner end fixed on the shaft and an outer end and a respective end blade extending substantially parallel to the axis between the respective outer cutter-blade ends. The side blades are of such a length that on rotation of the shaft the end blades sweep closely along the floor inner surface. The shaft can be rotated to orbit the cutters about the axis and past the elongated elements.

Abstract: In the crusher of the present invention, a rotary blade section has blades for roughly crushing a member to be crushed. A fixed blade section has a plurality of blades which are linearly arranged. A movable blade section has a plurality of blades which are linearly arranged and capable of engaging with the blades of the fixed blade section. The movable blade section is capable of swinging to move close to and away from the fixed blade section. A driving mechanism swings the movable blade section with the rotation of the rotary blade section. With this structure, the crushed members, which have been roughly crushed by the rotary blade section, are crushed into grains between the fixed blade section and the movable blade section.

Abstract: A rubber reduction and recycling system with dramatically reduced power requirements. The present invention provides a series of reduction stations which successively reduce the size of the rubber, typically in the form of tires, to eventually result in crumb rubber. The power requirements are dramatically reduced by providing a fixed cutting plate through which the teeth of the cutting apparatus pass and cut the rubber in a shearing fashion. Moreover, the teeth of the cutting apparatus pass through the fixed cutting plate at an angular disposition so that at any given point, a relatively small portion of the rubber is being cut and thereby consuming power. Finally, the power consumption is reduced by providing the teeth on rotating shafts in a plurality of series of arcuate patterns. Therefore, at any given time, only a relatively small number of teeth in each series cut at the same time and thereby require power.

Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting glass is disclosed having a housing. Within the housing are a plurality of weighted members or hammers, flexibly connected to and spaced about a rotatable shaft. A drive member rotates the shaft, causing the hammers to rotate about the shaft and define a rotation circumference. A glass intake opening located at the top portion of the housing is provided to introduce glass into the apparatus. A first adjustable plate is located adjacent the glass intake opening and positioned to provide a space between the first adjustable plate and the hammers' rotation circumference. A first glass suspension chamber is defined by the glass intake opening, the first adjustable plate, and the rotation circumference of the hammers. In operation, the shaft is rotated, causing the weighted members to spin about the shaft. A quantity of glass is introduced into the apparatus, and the weighted members contact the glass, causing the glass to strike the first adjustable plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus serve to packaging material and its contents, specifically from packaging elements filled with soft material such as food packaging. The method allows a clean separation of the packaging and content materials so that, according to the application, each of these materials can be reused individually with substantially no further preparation. The apparatus comprises a combination of a coarse cutter in the form of a shredder and a soft separator working on the drum and pressing belt principle with a further fine cutter or fragmenter in the form of a blower mill arranged downstream of these. By coarsely cutting the packaging materials prior to compression, cavities in which amounts of contents material may remain trapped cannot be formed, the soft separator can thus operate more effectively to cleanly separate the two materials.

Abstract: An integrated unitary comminuting system adapted for wastewater channel use is provided with devices which include a stationary single or dual semi-cylindrical-like sizing and sweeping screen member each having a rotating sweeping mechanism of interactive slotted comb bars or blades with tynes or teeth, so as to sweep and clear lodged or agglomerated solids adhering to the outer circumference surface of the semi-cylindrical-like screen member, disposed in spaced apart contiguous parallel relationship with a twin shaft shredder device having two parallel shafts with shredder or grinder teeth along the length thereof that rotate in opposite senses. The unitary system of devices may be positioned perpendicular between the influent and effluent side of the wastewater flow in a channel so that solids therein will encounter the semi-cylindrical-like sizing and sweeping screen members or the twin shaft shredder as the wastewater flows through the channel.

Abstract: A shredding apparatus includes a rotor having rows of tines projecting generally radially outwardly therefrom, and also a housing surrounding the rotor having rows of tines projecting generally radially inwardly therefrom. The rotor tines and stator tines have staggered positions, with one or more of the rotor tines passing between adjacent stator tines. Material inserted into an inlet at the top of the housing is caught by the rotor tines and pulled past the first row of stator tines. That first row has fewer tines than does each row of tines on the rotor, whereas the final row has the same number of tines as each row on the rotor. The opposing faces of the tines on the rotor and stator are flat, with a small clearance between passing tines, of typically about 1/8 of an inch. The passing flat faces on the tines are at a slight angle to each other, the outer ends of rotor tines passing stator tines ahead of the inner ends in a scissors-like fashion.

Abstract: The present invention is a universal shredder for shearing and cutting bulk material into pieces of a predetermined size. The apparatus has rotating shearing members that pull the bulk material down between the shearing members and shearing it into sheared pieces. Grooves formed by helically-shaped members extending from the bodies of the shearing members carry the sheared material downward to a main cutting member where the sheared material is cut by cutting teeth removably attached to the helically-shaped members as the cutting teeth pass through notches in the main cutting member. The cut pieces fall or are pushed through the notches in the main cutting member and pass through apertures in a screen positioned beneath the shearing members. The size of the apertures can be adjusted by moving the screen which is supported by a series of parallel ribs with lugs attached in a pattern that matches the pattern of the apertures of the screen.

Abstract: A material cutting shaft assembly in which a rotary shaft of hexagonal shape in cross section carries an array of material cutting discs between its opposite ends, seat means adjacent the shaft ends, and disc retainer means adjustable and removably mounted in the seat means to hold the array of cutting discs in operative positions to avoid axially directed load stress conditions.

Abstract: The waste material processing system of the present invention includes a (1) waste material supply; (2) shredder; (3) moisture reducing device; (4) crusher having a rotatable screw auger positioned within a cavity of the crusher for crushing and conveying waste material and a pressurizing device such as a conduit attached to the discharge end of the cavity for exerting a backpressure upon a portion of the waste material positioned about the second end of the auger such that a portion of the scrap glass fibers in the waste material is crushed; (5) dryer; and (6) separating device for separating waste material having a mean average length of less than about 5 millimeters from oversized dried waste material. Also provided by the present invention is a process for recycling waste material using the system.

Abstract: A blade assembly for a shredding machine is presented which can be used in the method for replacing broken blades and when rebuilding the blade seat. The method includes milling the base support to reduce its height and redrilling the blade bolt holes. A new independent blade seat is then affixed by double-threaded bushings after which a new blade can then be bolted atop the blade seat.

Abstract: A treatment unit for densely compacted sewage sludge having an elongated trough like member with at least one elongated shaft extending throughout its length and rotatably mounted therein. The elongated shaft has a first longitudinal portion with a helix formed thereon. A shear section is located in the trough like member downstream of the first longitudinal portion of the elongated shaft. The shear section includes a static member attached to the inner surface of each sidewall of the trough like member and a rotary component mounted on a second longitudinal portion of the elongated shaft. The rotary component of the shear section includes a pair of half cylinder segments attached to the shaft. Each segment has a first longitudinal section with a plurality of outwardly extending paddles mounted thereon and a second longitudinal section with a plurality of outwardly extending pitched blades mounted thereon. The elongated shaft is rotated by an electric motor mounted on the trough like member.

Abstract: A pulverizing mill designed especially for waste products made of plastic is equipped with a pulverizing cylinder (14) situated under a downward slanted cover plate (22) by means of which the connection between the pulverizing cylinder (14) and a hopper (52) containing the material to be pulverized can be alteratively opened and closed. When the pulverizing mill is switched off, a control unit (70) continues to energize a cylinder drive (68) until the cover plate has been moved into its closed position. This ensures that the pulverizing cylinder (14) can be restarted, even though the cylinder drive (68) is set to run the pulverizing cylinder at high speeds of preferably 200 to 1000 rpm, as is advantageous for plastic waste products.

Abstract: A hammermill-type shredding apparatus having a rotor assembly disposed in a housing, the rotor assembly including hammer elements of longer and shorter lengths mounted in an intersticed or alternating manner thereon, a grate having thicker and thinner portions in like alternating manner so as to accept longer length hammers adjacent the thinner portions of the grate and between the thicker portions of the grate, the housing further provided with a comb assembly having finger portions extending into the circle defined by the hammers when in operation, and further extending between the hammer elements so as to remove and prevent any undesirable materials accumulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for triturating composite materials, particularly for triturating solid urban waste, which comprises a shredding apparatus that is in turn composed of a cutting element provided with multiple blades arranged side by side along an axis, of elements for actuating the blades with a rotary motion about the axis, and of a complementary cutting element which is laterally adjacent to the cutting element. The complementary cutting element cooperates with the cutting element in shredding the material conveyed between the cutting element and the complementary cutting element, and is movable away from the cutting element to allow material that withstands the action of the blades of the cutting element to pass between the cutting element and the complementary cutting element.

Abstract: A hammermill includes a pair of rotors to each of which are attached a plurality of relatively long and relatively short hammers. In one embodiment each long hammer on one rotor is arrayed opposite a short hammer on the other rotor such that, as the rotors rotate, a circular path described by an end of each long hammer is in close proximity to a circular path described by an end of a corresponding short hammer on the other rotor. The long hammers are interleaved and a plurality of impact plates are shaped and positioned in close proximity to the hammer circular tip paths so that materials being reduced by the hammermill impact the impact plates until the materials are reduced to a desired size. The inventive hammermill is particularly effective in reducing tough and pliable materials such as automobile tires as well as light materials such as paper and aluminum cans.

Abstract: A poultry and swine pulverizing or grinding apparatus comprises an enclosed housing having an inlet end and an outlet end. A grinding drum is rotatably mounted within the enclosed housing and provided with raised cutting teeth extending in a helical orientation along the longitudinal length of the grinding drum. A carcass retention element is positioned adjacent the length of the grinding drum and cooperates therewith to facilitate pulverizing or grinding of animal carcasses by the grinding drum into small size particles which exit the housing through the outlet end. The grinding drum of the apparatus is motivated by an operatively connected motor.

Abstract: A truck mounted mobile paper shredder with high shredding rate incorporates a hammer mill, with a sweeping arm in a tub feeding the mill. A lifting arm lifts paper containers to an inverted position over the tub to feed paper into the tub. The hammer mill, with striking angle less than 30.degree. feeds paper into a compactor with reciprocating plunger. Compacted shredded paper passes through a movable wall into a storage area having an unloading gate. Movement of the movable wall forces compacted shredded paper out of the unloading gate.

Abstract: A waste paper processing system includes an upper shredding portion and a lower compressing portion. The shredding portion includes to horizontally parallel shafts mounting thereon a plurality of circular blades. The shafts are rotated to spin outwardly of a space between the shafts from a paper feeding direction. Presser arms are provided for retaining paper from above during shredding and stopper arms and a filter portion are provided below the blades to assure the paper is shredded sufficiently. After shredding the paper falls into a hopper and is introduced via a rotor to the compression portion. In the compression portion a screw is rotated for urging the shredded paper into a compression tube the tube as a narrower portion at the lower end for assuring sufficient compression of the shredded paper. In addition, water is added to the shredded paper in the upper side of the compression tube for binding the shredded paper together as pulp.

Abstract: The apparatus consists of a glass breaker alone or a glass granulator alone or combinations of the two machines along with a screen/sieve and cullet mover mechanism to sort or size the glass particles for further reprocessing or for use an end product of the glass processing apparatus. The glass breaker breaks the glass objects using a rotating shaft with breaker bars attached thereto. The glass containers are shattered by impact with radially extending members of a rotating shaft and by causing the glass to impact a breaker plate within a breaking chamber. The granulator is used to process glass cullet to create glass particles of selected size for the purpose of recycling. As a result of the granulation of the glass, it is possible to separate out or screen out the non-glass articles such as caps, rings, paper etc.

Abstract: The comminuting machine includes a housing provided with a rotary impact mechanism. A conveyor conveys infed material to the rotary impact mechanism which cooperates with an impact plate in disintegrating the infed material. A comb-like further comminuting structure follows the impact plate in the rotary direction and is arranged laterally of the rotary impact mechanism. The comb-like further comminuting structure extends over part of a discharge opening of the housing and is linked to a rear end of the impact plate. Displacement devices are provided for displacing the comb-like further comminuting structure between an operative position in which the comb-like further comminuting structure extends laterally of the rotary impact mechanism, and an inoperative position in which the comb-like further comminuting structure is pivoted away therefrom. Adjusting devices are provided for adjusting the comb-like further comminuting structure relative to the rotary impact mechanism.

Abstract: The shredding apparatus comprises a shredder housing with an inlet having a flow regulator that feeds insulation into the housing at a selected rate. A blade assembly is positioned within the housing adjacent the inlet. The blade assembly rotates about an axis designating an insulation flow direction. The blade assembly has a plurality of knife blades that are arranged in a helix about the axis, and are operable to catch insulation fed from the flow regulator. A stator positioned adjacent the blade assembly obstructs the insulation caught on the blade assembly such that the blade assembly shreds the insulation. The blade assembly urges the shredded insulation to an auger positioned coaxially with the blade assembly that discharges the shredded insulation from the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for breaking solid objects includes a box-shaped support (6) open at the top and at the bottom, a substantially horizontal rotor (6) mounted in the box and carrying at least one knife which turns with it while passing between backing knives, an active face of which is turned toward the rotor, and preferably has teeth, the backing knives being movable independently of each other and having their own return means, for example by oscillating the backing knives on a pivot parallel to the rotor. The knives may be set in forced oscillation, and may be individually removable.

Abstract: A mixer capable of mixing a resin material consisting of a plurality of liquids and of discharging the mixture. The mixer includes a plurality of agitating portions provided on a rotor shaft, and a plurality of partitioning members disposed in a mixing chamber with the rotor shaft accommodated therein, for respectively partitioning each space defined between adjacent ones of the agitating portions. A gap between the agitating portion and the partitioning member is set to be small, and the partitioning members are provided with small holes. The material which is fed toward a discharging end through the small holes is consecutively cut by the agitating portions, and the liquid resin material can be mixed at low rotational speed.

Abstract: A mobile self-contained scrap fragmentizer for reducing light scrap metal structures into small pieces of scrap metal. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing having a scrap-receiving opening for receiving the metal structures to be fragmentized, and a discharge opening for discharging fragmentized pieces of scrap metal. The apparatus is attached to a vehicle having a source of hydraulic power. A feed roller and fragmentizing rotor are powered by the source of hydraulic power for feeding metal structures in the scrap-receiving opening into the apparatus housing and for fragmentizing the metal structures into small pieces of scrap metal. The fragmentized metal structures are discharged through a discharge opening in small pieces ready for further processing.

Abstract: A scrap fragmentizer for reducing light scrap metal structures into small pieces of scrap metal. The apparatus includes an apparatus housing having a scrap-receiving opening for receiving the metal structures to be fragmentized, and a discharge opening for discharging fragmentized pieces of scrap metal. The apparatus is attached to a vehicle having a source of hydraulic power. A feed roller and fragmentizing rotor are powered by the source of hydraulic power for feeding metal structures in the scrap-receiving opening into the apparatus housing and for fragmentizing the metal structures into small pieces of scrap metal. The fragmentized metal structures are discharged through a discharge opening in small pieces ready for further processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a machine for grinding tree stumps to a level below the surface of soil in which the stump is located. The machine comprises a sled structure including lugs for releasably coupling the sled with pivot pins to a moveable boom of a backhoe or other earth moving machine. The sled has skids or skiis for guiding the apparatus over the surface of soil adjacent to the stump with the moveable boom. A drive unit is mounted on the sled having power transmission and a self contained fuel source. A stump grinding wheel is journaled to the sled for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and coupled to the power transmission of the drive unit. The wheel has a stump abrading surface with replaceable teeth which shred, chip or grind the wood of the stump and dig a trench in the soil approximately 6-9 inches deep.

Abstract: A trailer mounted shredding machine for reducing solid waste materials to a chip or fragmented consistency which includes an auger having a spiral conveying flight which includes a plurality of replaceable cutting teeth. The cutting teeth cooperate with replaceable anvil teeth mounted so as to extend within a conveying drum in which the auger is rotatably mounted. Material is loaded within a receiving hopper positioned above the auger and processed material is discharged through an opening which is axially oriented with respect to the auger. The processed materials are discharged onto an elevating conveyor which is driven by engagement with the auger drive shaft.

Abstract: A horizontally oriented three sided frame is adapted to hold a round hay bale. An endless chain driven conveyor encircles the floor of the frame to cause the round bale to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof while simultaneously urging a portion of the perimeter of the bale against a rotary drum cutter arrayed just above the floor on one side of the frame. The cutter chops the hay bale into individual strands for feeding to livestock. A spacer, commonly called a concave, is pivotably attached to the frame, and is spaced from and extends longitudinally along the top of the rotary drum. The spacing between the concave and the drum is adjustable. By adjusting this spacing, as well as the speed of rotation of the rotary drum and the speed of rotation of the round bale via the conveyor, the length of hay strands cut by the cutter is adjustable.

Abstract: A trash plant stem shredder having vertically stacked pairs of parallel, frictionally engaged contra-rotating uprooting rollers are carried by a frame and towed behind a vehicle. The uprooting rollers are tilted forward such that, when a trash plant stem which remains in the ground after harvesting an agricultural product from the plant, enters the nips of the rollers, the stem is uprooted and moved rearwardly along the frame. A contra-rotating feed roller is disposed rearwardly of the uprooting rollers and in abutting relationship thereto, and feeds the stem to a shredder which includes a plurality of vertically stacked cutter units that longitudinally shear or shred the stem into small sections which are scattered and allowed to biodegrade in the field and fertilize the soil.

Abstract: A fiber fluff generator includes a housing having three substantially cylindrical portions, each of which mounts and contains a rotor having a rotor shaft and a plurality of rotor pins extending radially therefrom. The rotor pins are arranged in rows spaced incrementally along the length of the shaft with gaps therebetween, each row including plural rotor pins arranged in spoke-like fashion. The rotor shafts preferably are mounted parallel to one another and lie in a common vertical plane. The rotor pins on one rotor shaft are axially offset from and overlap with the rotor pins on the adjacent rotor shaft(s) so that the rotor pins collectively are interleaved to provide a cross-combing effect. Stator pins fastened to the housing extend radially inwardly into the gaps between the rows of rotor pins to provide further cross-combing interaction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for safe disposal of hypodermic syringes, needles and other small, contaminated instruments such as, for example, scalpel blades, stitch cutters etc. (Commonly referred to as "sharps"). The apparatus firstly comprises a collection container having a primary lid which is movable between an open position and a closed position and is releasable latched in the closed position. The latch mechanism is adapted to be released when the contain is brought into cooperation with a destructor apparatus. The destructor apparats comprised a disposal receptacle adapted to receive the container and unlatch the lid, and a destructor means. adapted to generally comminute the material deposited therein. The destructor apparatus has an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of rotating blades which cooperate with two cutting plates which are arranged to define a flow path for the material between the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: In order in the case of a chopper for waste material and more particularly for garden waste, comprising a feed hopper and a roller-like cutting rotor arranged at a lower end of the hopper and adapted to be driven for cooperation with a stationary mating knife arrangement, to achieve quiet operation in a manner which makes the chopper easy to use and provides for a long working life, the roller-like cutting rotor is constituted by a roller-like cutting rotor whose axis extends transversely in relation to the axis of the hopper, and which bears circumferential teeth between which gaps are provided, which during operation are cleared by a clearing spud adapted to plunge into them.

Abstract: A double shaft breaker for use in breaking plastic wastes and wastes of metal cans so that the materials can be used again.

Abstract: An in-line crushing system is provided which is capable of reducing and crushing both wet and dry material pieces passing therethrough to free-flowing sizes, that utilizes an internal stationary cutter array in conjunction with coaxially aligned rotatable drum or shaft for intermeshing shredding action between the stationary cutter array and cutting blades affixed to the drum or shaft. The operative mechanical crushing structural features of the crushing system provides for convenient accessibility and removal of the cutter array and cutting blades from an inner housing space of the system along a path transverse to a material flow path of the system, without disruption of the system's physical in-line arrangement or location owing to the lack of a need to remove the entire in-line crushing system for purposes such as inspection, repair or replacement of the cutter array and cutting blades in combination.

Abstract: A fabric bag is used to be packed with shredded waste material from a shredder/compactor. During loading, the bag is confined in a close-fitting steel box and is supported on a fork lift-type ballast. Use of the box as a confining rigid jacket enables the shredder/compactor to compress and compact the shredded feed. The front wall of the box can then be removed and a fork lift-type jack used to extract the packed bag and pallet as a unit, ready for shipping.

Abstract: A self-contained reciprocating action miller having a grinding mill housed within a mill housing and rotating about a grinding axis. A refuse hopper mounted above the mill housing has a convex floor with an opening therein to expose the grinding mill. Reciprocating feed apparatus mounted within the refuse hopper reciprocates two parallel, spaced-apart vertical walls along an axis parallel to the grinding axis to gradually feed the refuse into the grinding mill at a steady rate to prevent jamming of the mill when grinding tough refuse. Shear plates in the form of segments of a circle are positioned adjacent the rotor for comminuting shreddable or grindable material while guiding noncomminutable materials through the mill. A reversible rotor, stator, and discharge chute allow the comminuted material to be discharged from either side of the mill with no loss of grinding efficiency.

Abstract: An ice crushing apparatus for use in combination with an ice making machine which has an ice storage bin. The ice crusher includes a plurality of rotatable blades which are mounted on a motor-driven shaft and which pass, preferably in sequence, through slots in a grate, for crushing the ice in an ice crushing zone. A mechanism is provided for bypassing the ice crusher and dropping ice directly from the ice maker to the ice storage bin. A mechanism is also provided for moving the grate to change the size of crushed ice particles. In one embodiment, a device is provided for breaking apart large sheets or other chunks of ice before they reach the ice crushing zone. An electronic control system provides ice crusher operation only when ice is harvested in the ice making machine.

Abstract: A device for achieving uniform distribution of airborne fibres, for instance cellulose-fibres, in the outlet of a conduit intended for the air-transport of fibres, the device being placed in the outlet (10) of the conduit. In accordance with the invention, the device includes a plurality of mutually similar, concentrically arranged circular rotors (1) and a plurality of semi-circular stators (6) which are disposed between the rotors on the outlet side of the device.

Abstract: A machine for reducing worn-out vehicle tires to small chip-like particles comprises a frame on which an elongated shaft is journaled for rotation, the shaft having a first and second plurality of rotary cutting blades, each of a different diameter affixed to the shaft so as to be rotatable therewith. Also affixed to the frame is a set of stationary cutter bars whose sharpened edges are disposed within a predetermined close tolerance to the periphery of the rotary cutting blades. A large, massive flywheel is attached to one end of the shaft and is driven by a suitable motor. Surrounding the rotary cutting blades is a shroud which, in turn, suppots an infeed hopper having a spiked drum journaled therein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wet process recovery system for solid waste. The waste is fed into a hydrokinetic separation step wherein it is immersed in a body of water which is subjected to rising and lateral flows. These flows establish a synthetic gravitational environment to effect separation of solids above and below a predetermined density greater than the density of water. The solids having the higher densities are collected by gravity and transported from the water for recycling. A modified hammermill is connected to the body of water and the rising and lateral fluid flows cooperate to carry waste into a cutting and ejecting mechanism which both shears friable waste and dynamically ejects non-friable waste back into the liquid. The output of the hammermill is a slurry of comminuted waste in the liquid. This is pumped to a centrifuge separator where solid waste is separated from liquid and the liquid recirculated to the body of water to create the flows in that body.

Abstract: A disintegrating apparatus comprising a material infeed hopper and a rotatable shaft mounted in an elongate opening in a frame disposed under the hopper. The shaft comprises a plurality of helically arranged and axially spaced apart working means which cooperate with holding-up means in the area of a front longitudinal side edge of the opening. The hopper is hingedly connected to the frame so that, if necessary, the hopper can be swung up to give access to the shaft. In addition to said holding-up means, the apparatus comprises a second set of holding-up means mounted at the rear longitudinal side edge of the opening and adapted to prevent large objects from passing down the back way between the shaft and the rear longitudinal side edge and to cooperate with the working means upon reversal of the direction of shaft rotation, so as to provide at least a certain degree of disintegration of material also in reversed operation.

Abstract: A shredding machine for shredding vehicle tires and various other materials includes a pair of rotatable shafts and a cutting block mounted within a frame. The cutting block includes a top surface and a plurality of slots extending downwardly from the top surface and located on each side of the cutting block. The top surface of the block and each of the slots define respective U-shaped cutting edges. The shafts are rotatably mounted on the frame on opposite sides of the cutting block. Each shaft includes a plurality of cutting teeth which are spirally arranged along the length of each shaft. Each shaft may include one or more spirals of cutting teeth. The shafts are rotated in opposite directions relative to one another with one or more of the cutting teeth on each shaft being rotated through a respective slot in cutting engagement with the U-shaped cutting edge of the slot.

Abstract: A machine for cutting large pieces of sod into smaller, generally square blocks suitable for planting, comprising a cutting mechanism for cutting the large pieces of sod into smaller, generally square pieces of sod which are of generally equivalent size and shape, a discharging means for discharging the smaller pieces of sod onto the ground, and a weighted means to plant the sod into the ground.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for chopping-up bulk material and particularly long stem animal feed material and which comprises: a frame; an elongate cutter body mounted in said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis; cutter blades mounted on the outer periphery of the cutter body; an elongate housing extending partly around said cutter body, said housing defining an inlet which extends substantially throughout the length of the cutter body to admit bulk material to be chopped and an outlet for discharging chopped up material after treatment by the blades of the rotating cutter body; a feeder device arranged on the frame and operable to support and to feed the bulk material to the housing inlet; and, a grill arranged at the inlet so as to control the supply of material to the cutter body.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shredder which has a single rotating shaft with a plurality of large and small diameter blades in a side-by-side relationship down the length of the shaft. The blades cooperate with fixed shear bars mounted on the first and the second side of the shredder. The shredder can operate in a shredding mode in a forward and a reverse direction. The shredder is driven by a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor has a control circuitry, which detects an overload condition in either the foward or the reverse direction. Should an overload condition be detected, the shredder will automatically reverse to eliminate the jammed condition. In normal operation, the shredder cycles for a pre-set time period in a first direction, stops, and then cycles for a second pre-set time period in a reverse direction.