Abstract: A round cutter-blade of a paper shredder includes a body having a surface, a periphery, and an opening formed therethrough; and at least one triangular shaped knife-edge that is integrally formed with the surface of the body and is turned over the periphery of the body. The cutter-blade can cut broken paper into short fragments, thus raising the secure requirement greatly and reducing the cost due to a reduction of thickness of the round cutter-blade.

Abstract: A modular blade assembly having base and blade components and at least one keyplate aligning the base and blade components. The keyplate rests in a recessed groove in each of the base and blade components. Each of the dimensions of the recessed groove in which the keyplate rests is less than the dimensions of the surface in which the groove is disposed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shredder blade made by punching and bending that is integrally made by punching a metal sheet having a thickness of about 0.6 mm by a punching die to form a circular blade body, where the circular blade is formed into a serrated cutting edge around it periphery, and symmetrical cutting portions, connecting portions and supports extending outwards from a top and a bottom transections of the blade body, wherein the cutting portions, connecting portions and supports are first pressed towards a first direction such that they protrude from a major side of the blade body, and the cutting portions and connecting portions are bent towards an opposing second direction to form cutting edges. Relative movements of the cutting edges cut paper along a longitudinal direction to form strips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a round undulating blade for shredder, where a sheet metal is integrally formed into a round undulating blade to serve as the blades for constructing a blade module. The blade includes: a periphery; an undulating blade flank including at least two cambers having a first curvature and at least two cambers having a second curvature alternatively arranged with respect to the cambers having the first curvature; and hooked edges formed on the periphery of the cambers having the first curvature, wherein the undulating blade flank of the blade serves to cut paper along a longitudinal direction to form paper strips having double-tapering end, and the hooked edges serve to cut the strips along a horizontal direction into paper chips. These characteristics help to reduce the manufacturing cost, reduce the motor load and power consumption, to thereby enhance the market competitiveness.

Abstract: A vehicle has a housing mounting within it a rotor assembly comprising parallel shafts having intermeshing cutter discs in axially spaced relation thereon. The discs have radial projections with first cutting edges extending axially to face in a rotatively leading direction. Cutter segments carried on the discs project radially outwardly to provide second cutting edges of lesser axial extent facing in the leading direction. A toothed member mechanism carries teeth which project into the axial spaces between the discs and provides axial surfaces for coacting with the first and second cutting edge.

Abstract: The present application discloses a multi-functional shredder that is capable of effectively destroying both paper documents and rigid/semi-rigid objects, such as CDs or DVDs. This multifunctional shredder comprises a housing; a drive system including at least one motor; and at least two shafts rotatably mounted within the housing and coupled to the drive system to enable the drive system to counter-drive the shafts in respective opposing rotational cutting directions. Each of the shafts includes positive cutter elements and negative cutter elements, configured to cooperate to shred articles as the shafts are rotationally counter-driven by the drive system in the respective rotational cutting directions thereof. The positive cutting elements on each shaft have positive cutting parts angled in the respective rotational cutting directions of the shafts, and the negative cutting elements on each shaft have negative cutting parts angled opposite the respective rotational cutting directions of the shafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an elliptical acetabuliform blade for shredder, where a sheet metal is punched by a mold to integrally form an elliptical acetabuliform blade, where the periphery of elliptical blade is integrally formed into serration. The serrated periphery extending horizontally inwards to integrally form a planar disk for cutting paper along a longitudinal direction serves as a flank. The two ends along the major axis of the elliptical flank are each integrally formed into a hooked edge for cutting the paper along a longitudinal direction to form paper chips having double-tapering ends. These characteristics help to reduce the manufacturing cost, reduce the motor load and power consumption, to thereby enhance the market competitiveness.

Abstract: A disintegrator roll for use in a textile spinning machine, such as an open-end spinning machine, includes a roll body releasably mounted onto a drive shaft. A fittings carrier with associated fittings is releasably mounted on the roll body. A releasable connection apparatus is operably disposed between either the fittings carrier and the roll body or the roll body and the drive shaft. The connection apparatus is actuated by an axial force applied generally parallel to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A chopper for chopping continuous items like fiber, fiber strand, yarn, string, wire, tape or ribbon, etc. which enters the chopper in unwound form at a high linear speed is disclosed having improvements that permit the chopper to tilt to change the angle of discharge of the chopped item(s). Also disclosed is a fast acting roll retainer and a chopper having the fast acting roll retainer that permits a backup roll and a blade roll to be removed and replaced in a faster and less damaging manner. Methods of chopping and changing rolls on an apparatus using the disclosed apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shredding apparatus includes a frame and shafts driven to rotate about shaft axes. A plurality of cutter plates are mounted for rotation with the shafts and are arranged in radial overlapping fashion. The cutter plates may each include cutter tooth groups spaced about an outer plate parameter. A succession of cutting relief surfaces are disposed between successive cutter tooth groups. The cutter tooth groups may be disposed at least partially outward of associated relief surfaces in a radial direction with respect to the drive shaft axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for installing insulation from bound insulation bales having a feeder for contacting and moving the insulation bales and a receiving apparatus for disengaging the insulation from unbound bales. A cutter disengages insulation from the insulation bales and has at least one vertically arranged member rotatable about a vertical axis toward which the bales are moved and also has a circumference upon which is vertically positioned a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from said circumference for severing the insulation away from the bales. An air blower blows the insulation out from said system onto a surface to be insulated.

Abstract: A mated hammer and hammer tip combination for releasable engagement are provided. The hammer includes a lower body portion for engagement with a rotor of a size reducing machine, and an upper body portion. The upper body portion of the hammer includes at least one bolt hole and a front face having a raised center section. The hammer also includes an upper and lower ledge, and recessed side grooves. The hammer tip includes a front face with a distally located working edge for debris impact, at least one bolt hole for receipt of a bolt to releasably engage the hammer and hammer tip, and a back having a plurality of protruding opposable members, comprised of opposable shoulders or feet that define a recessed section therebetween forming a saddle-back. The saddle-back in the back of the hammer tip releasable engages with the raised center section of the hammer.

Abstract: A shredding apparatus includes a frame and shafts driven to rotate about shaft axes. A plurality of cutter plates are mounted for rotation with the shafts and are arranged in radial overlapping fashion. The cutter plates may each include cutter tooth groups spaced about an outer plate parameter. A succession of cutting relief surfaces are disposed between successive cutter tooth groups. The cutter tooth groups may be disposed at least partially outward of associated relief surfaces in a radial direction with respect to the drive shaft axis.

Abstract: A paper shredder has two rotary cutters each having multiple blades spaced apart from each other. Each blade has a first cutting blade with multiple cutting edges and a second cutting blade with multiple cutting edges alternate with respect to the cutting edges of the first cutting blade so that when shredding the paper, only one cutting edge engages the paper.

Abstract: A bone mill has a pair of cutter units, a first cutter unit and a second cutter unit. A bone to be crushed is taken in between the first cutter unit and the second cutter unit. While passing between the first cutter unit and the second cutter unit, the bone is crushed. Each cutter unit has a plurality of disks disposed in parallel to one another at regular intervals. Each disk is provided on the periphery thereof with blades for crushing the bone. The cutter units are positioned such that the disks of the first cutter unit are fitted in the gaps between adjacent disks of the second cutter unit. Both the disks of the first cutter unit and the disks of the second cutter unit are mutually inwardly rotated. Accordingly, when a bone to be crushed is supplied between the cutter units, the bone is taken in by and between the disks of the first cutter unit and the disks of the second cutter unit, both sets of disks being mutually inwardly rotated.

Abstract: A blade is designed for use in the paper shredder and is formed of a main body which is provided in the center thereof with a through hole for mounting the blade on a shaft rod. The main body is provided in the periphery thereof with one or more notches, blade edges, edge head ends, and edge tail ends. The main body is provided in the outer edge surface thereof with a plurality of cavities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding bone for use in orthopaedic procedures includes a bone shoot for receiving bone segments which are fed into a grinding assembly rotatable about an axis such that a plurality of cutting plates rotate about such axis to grind bone into uniform and desirable sized portions suitable for use in cementing of bone implants.

Abstract: In a three axes type crushing device, an area where a finely fragmenting blade rotary structure receives fragments is enlarged, and a blade clearance between a stationary blade and a finely fragmenting blade is adjusted relatively easily. A roughly fragmenting unit includes a pair of roughly fragmenting blade rotary structures (1), each having a large number of roughly fragmenting blades (2) with clearances substantially corresponding to thicknesses of the roughly fragmenting blades. The roughly fragmenting blade rotary structures are supported to be rotatable inward relative to each other and to be located such that the roughly fragmenting blades of one roughly fragmenting blade rotary structure enter the clearances between the roughly fragmenting blades of the other roughly fragmenting blade rotary structure, and the material nipped by the roughly fragmenting blades is cut by blade portions of opposing roughly fragmenting blades to be roughly fragmented into fragments, which falls downward.

Abstract: In rotary tire shredding machinery, cutter assemblies are built onto opposing rotary shafts timed together by meshed teeth of two gears, with spacer groups separating adjacent cutter assemblies, allowing two sets of cutter assemblies to intermesh, with cutter assemblies on one shaft interleaving with cutter assemblies on a parallel shaft in a shearing relationship. Each cutter assembly has a construction featuring a series of cutter sectors, with each sector having a separately demountable knife base, with a removable, radially outward knife top. Alternate spacers between cutter assemblies are segmented, with alignment rods running parallel to the axially rotating drive shafts, passing through both the knife bases of the cutter assemblies, spacers, retaining flanges and fixed registering spacer. The rods are secured at opposite ends and the center holding the cutter assemblies and spacers in place, but when pulled, allowing the cutter and spacer assemblies to be removed from the shaft.

Abstract: To avoid reduction in efficiency of rough fragmentation operation with a rough fragmenting blade by making it difficult for fragments to stay in clearances between rough fragmenting blades of roughly fragmenting blade rotary structures so that rotation of the roughly fragmenting blade rotary structures is kept to the initial drive state. A roughly fragmenting blade (2) has a recessed portion (27) in a side surface of a roughly fragmenting blade main body having an outer peripheral edge formed with a blade portion (22). This recessed portion is formed in an annular manner in an intermediate region that is on the inner side in the radial direction with respect to the blade portion and is outside a bearing region. The recessed portion is for facilitating removal of cut fragments, i.e.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a journal bearing apparatus that is specifically configured to apply an axial load on a rotor element carried on the rotor shaft.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pulverizing assembly having paired interconnecting cylindrical chambers wherein each chamber is provided with a rotatable shaft having a plurality of discs mounted thereon and wherein each disc is provided with a plurality of arcuately-shaped shoe members mounted in abutting relationship about the periphery of each disc member to facilitate the stage wise circulation of a slurry introduced into the assembly and to induce particle collision of the solids contained in the slurry so as to reduce the size of the particulate solids before exiting the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shredding module of a paper shredder that can cut more paper with less noise. The shredding module comprises two parallel rotatable shafts and two sets of circular shredding knives installed separately on the two rotatable shafts. Each of the shredding knives is made by punching a thin metal plate with a punching die. The shredding knife comprises a circular plate with a plurality of saw teeth around its circular edge, a circular recess on the circular plate, and a mounting hole positioned at the center of the circular plate. The peripheral portion of the concave side of each shredding knife is rotatably engaged with the peripheral portion of the concave side of a corresponding shredding knife mounted on the other rotatable shaft for cutting intervening paper. Each of the shredding knives further comprises a sloping edge on the circular edge of the convex side for sharpening the saw teeth so that the shredding module can cut more paper with less noise.

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 rough cut shear to a fine particle shear and then to a granulator as well as a method for rejecting unprocessable material is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blade assembly for paper shredders includes a plurality of blades arranged in a series on a rotary shaft. Each of the blades has a central hole and is integrally formed to have long and short projecting plates projecting from opposed sides thereof, respectively. The height of the long and short projecting plates is slightly larger than the thickness of the blade. The central hole of the blade can allow passage of the rotary shaft, which is configured to be polygonal. The long projecting plates of each blade bend towards the central hole to form engaging portions for engaging angular portions of the rotary shaft. The short projecting plates also bend towards the central hole to form retaining portions for engaging planer portions of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A shredder for brushwood and the like (FIG. 1) has at least one shaft carrying a helically arranged array of cutting discs surrounding the shaft. The discs are individually fixed on lugs which are generally radial to the shaft. As the brushwood is fed along generally parallel to the shaft axis it is impacted by the cutter discs, acting against one another where two parallel shafts are employed, or between the discs and a surrounding chamber wall if only a single shaft is employed. The shredded material is further fed and exhausted through a delivery passage by a current of air induced both by the discs and also by fan vanes carried by the shaft. The advantage of the discs as cutters is that if and when worn or blunted, each can be adjusted angularly on its lug to present a fresh portion of its periphery for action, without it being necessary to immediately replace or re-sharpen it.

Abstract: An interchangeable cast metal block for mounting on a rotor shaft, the shaft having a polygonal cross-section. The block includes a substantially circular body having a central bore complementary to the polygonal cross-section of the rotor shaft such that the rotation of the shaft will turn the block. There are at least two opposed cutting blade mounting bosses for attachment of cutting blades on the external surface of the block. The mounting bosses are positioned on the block in a predetermined geometric arrangement relative to a facet of the polygonal center bore such that the block can be reversed and remounted on the rotor shaft to effectively double the available number of cutting blade positions. The number of available cutting blade positions is two times the number of facets on the polygonal center bore. A plurality of the blocks may be stacked on the rotor in an array to provide a plurality of cutting blade patterns along the length of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting dough products fed by a conveyor assembly into a cutting section comprises a segmented, generally spiral-shaped straight cutting blade or three-dimensional or helical-shaped cutting blade having an angled blade edge, the blade attached to a shaft coupled to a motor operable to turn the blade to effect a cut of the dough products within the cutting section, with a feedback controller coordinating the blade turning rate with the dough feed rate.

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 cutting cylinder for a paper shredder has a shaft with a first end and a second end. A plurality of spaced-apart cutter discs are arranged on the shaft between the first and second ends of the shaft. Each cutter disc has an inner surface defining an inner diameter. In addition, the shaft has a first outer surface lining the inner surface of at least one cutter disc, and a second outer surface adjacent to at least one cutter disc. The second outer surface has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the adjacent cutter disc.

Abstract: A rotating claw drum for shredding discarded material (such as used carpet) is created from flat circular plates that are stacked tightly together on a driveshaft or drum, to create an impermeable drum face that prevents particulates from entering and fouling the internal mechanisms. Each flat plate is provided with at least one claw-holding slot in its outer rim; 6 to 12 slots preferably should be provided in each plate. Locking means (such as a locking bar that will pass through aligned locking notches in the slots and claws) will lock the claws in place while the drum is in use. After the drum has been stopped, a locking bar can be removed, to release a damaged claw from its slot so it can be replaced, without having to disturb any other claws.

Abstract: A paper manufacturing conical-type pulp refiner comprising a support structure 1 for a framework 2 with a front lid 3, and defining a refining internal and conical chamber 4, with a single and axial exit 5 and a radial side exit 6. The refiner further including a refining set including a rotatory axis 7, with the end centered inside the refining chamber 4, where the refining set itself is mounted, composed by a stationary conical pair and by a rotatory conical pairs, the latter interlayed between those, forming two refining conical surfaces.

Abstract: A cutting cylinder for a paper shredder has a shaft with a first end and a second end. A plurality of spaced-apart cutter discs are arranged on the shaft between the first and second ends of the shaft. Each cutter disc has an inner surface defining an inner diameter. In addition, the shaft has a first outer surface lining the inner surface of at least one cutter disc, and a second outer surface adjacent to at least one cutter disc. The second outer surface has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the adjacent cutter disc.

Abstract: A cylindrical cutting disk for use in a shredder having a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth, each tooth having a tapered and angled cutting edge. In a preferred embodiment, the disk includes a spacer located on one side of the disk, the spacer having a smooth outer surface and an inner lining coextensive with the lining of the central aperture of the disk. A plurality of disks may be mounted on a cutting cylinder. The disk can be made by sintering.

Abstract: A stripper for use on a cutting cylinder having a shaft. The stripper comprising a unitary, resilient body and an arcuate recess in the mid-portion of the body adapted to surround at least about 180 degrees of the circumference of the shaft of the cylinder.

Abstract: A waste comminutor includes two cutting assemblies which include alternating cutter and spacer elements. The two cutting assemblies are intermeshed together so that portions of the cutter elements of each cutting assembly overlap. Surface interruptions, in the form of depressions, recesses or the like are located in the overlapping portions of the cutter elements and define waste particle receiving pockets having a shearing surface against which waste particles may be further comminuted.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing shredded aggregate from, e.g., boards of expanded polystyrene, is described. The apparatus includes a shredding box defining a shredding chamber; a rotor housed in the shredding box; means for driving the rotor; a plurality of saw blades coupled to the rotor in linear succession, each saw blade having a plurality of spaced apart teeth, each successive saw blade being coupled to the rotor such that its teeth lie about halfway between the teeth of an adjacent saw blade; receiving means in the shredder box for receiving material to be shredded; and take-away means coupled to the shredder box for removing shredded material from the shredding chamber. Low density (e.g., 0.4-0.5 pcf loose bulk density) material having a uniform particle size distribution over time can be economically produced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is used for forming airlaid articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins and the like. The apparatus includes an anvil drum with die cavities formed therein. The die cavities have foraminous bottom walls for drawing a stream of air-entrained fibrous fluff therethrough. A first material layer is laid on the anvil drum for covering some of the die cavities and is then deformed into the cavities. After a belt with opening corresponding to the die cavities has been laid on the first layer for protecting the sealing areas from fluff, an air stream with fibrous fluff is drawn through the first layer and through the foraminous bottom walls, thus pulling the first layer into the die cavities and causing the fluff to be deposited in the cavities. A second material layer is placed on the deposited fluff and glued or crimped to the first layer. A die-cutting roller then cuts the airlaid articles into the desired shape before the articles are removed from the anvil drum.

Abstract: The comminution of solid materials, such as stumps and wood waste, into particulate form is accomplished by introducing the material to be comminuted into a tub. The tub is rotated to induce a circular motion to the material. Simultaneously, a disk positioned at the bottom of the tub is rotated, preferably in the opposite direction to the tub, in a plane parallel to the tub bottom. The disk has teeth thereon that impact the material in the tub. A screening means at the bottom of the tub is sized to keep the material in the tub until it reaches a desired particle size, at which time the particles can leave the tub through the screening means and enter a collection chamber. The particles are removed from the collection chamber by being entrained in an airstream that passes adjacent an opening in the collection chamber. Preferably, the teeth in the disk are individually replaceable and are symmetric so that once one side is worn the tooth can be reversed in its mount and used again.

Abstract: A paper shredding roller includes a rotatable knife shaft, a plurality of circular knives and a plurality of circular spacers. The knife shaft has a polygonal cross-section. Each of the circular knives is provided on the knife shaft and has a polygonal central through hole that corresponds with the cross-section of the knife shaft so as to permit the knife shaft to extend fittingly therethrough. Each of the circular knives is provided with a plurality of equiangularly spaced unidirectional cutting elements, the number of which is unequal to a number of sides of the knife shaft. The cutting knives are provided on the knife shaft in such a manner that the cutting elements of each circular knife are displaced angularly by a predetermined angle from corresponding ones of the cutting elements of an adjacent one of the circular knives so that the cutting elements of the circular knives are arranged on a number of helical rows that extend along the rotatable knife shaft.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a peripherally-toothed cutting wheel for parallel series of intermeshed cutting wheels, such as employed for the shredding of tires. Each cutting wheel comprises three congruent disks axially bolted together in which the two outer disks have hardened rectangular teeth radially bolted thereon. The inner sides of these teeth abut the opposite surfaces of the intermediate or third spacer disk peripherally congruent with the two outer teeth-mounting disks. Each rectangular tooth comprises a block of hardened material, such as steel, and may be backed up by a second congruent rectangular block providing an outer wearing surface in addition to the outer side surface of the tooth itself.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for compacting and/or crushing bulk material, in which two rollers which can be pressed together at high pressure each consist of a main roller body and a roller shell which is releasably connected to the main roller body and is composed of individual segments. Each of the individual segments has one single lug projecting in the circumferential direction on the front long side in the direction of rotation of the roller and one single complementary recess on the rear long side in the direction of rotation of the roller. The generatrices of the outer surfaces of the segments point in the circumferential direction and run radially with respect to the roller axis. This results in a simple construction of the segments and a high degree of security against tilting.

Abstract: A wear adjustable shredder having spaced apart, parallel rotating shafts, series of interleaved and overlapping cutter disks carried on the shafts, and an adjustable cutter disk assembly carried endmost on one of the shafts, the adjustable cutter disk assembly having an inner adjusting ring and an outer cutting ring with the cutting ring threaded on the adjusting ring. The cutting ring may be rotated with respect to the adjusting ring such that the ring moves axially toward or away from the cutter disks to adjust the spacing of the cutter disks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crushing or grinding element for drum refiners having an engine-driven rotor for the crushing or grinding of fibrous materials. The element is attachable to the rotor shell and has crushing or grinding surfaces of increasing diameter and optionally crushing or grinding surfaces of steeper inclination to the rotor axis immediately adjacent the crushing or grinding surfaces inclined to the rotor axis provided on the rotor shell. The grinding surfaces are symmetrical to the median plane of the material feed. The invention is characterized in that the crushing or grinding element(s) is (are) formed as (a) segment(s) placed around the circumference of the rotor having anchoring projections of hammerhead-like cross section on the side facing the rotor axis and which are engageable in corresponding rotor grooves of hammerhead-like cross section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tire shredding machine of the type having oppositely rotating rotors mounting interdigitated cutting elements, which is particularly adapted for use in the further reduction of relatively large size rubber chips presently produced by use of commercially available primary tire shredding machines. The present machine incorporates an improved segmented knife retention assembly and a stripper or knife cleaning assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a segment for drum refiners provided with comminuting, in particular grinding surfaces with a projection of hammerhead-shaped cross section for anchoring on the rotor or rotor drum shell. The invention is characterized mainly in that the segment (2') of T-shaped cross section consists of a slim stem (2") and a slim flange (2"') and that the transition surfaces from stem to hammerhead (12) viewed in cross section form an angle (.beta.) of between 15 and 75 degrees, preferably of about 55 degrees, open towards the hammerhead and conveniently equal on both sides with the axis of symmetry (8) of the hammerhead of symmetrical cross section. The ratio of the stem thickness (D) to the segment height (H) conveniently amounts to between 1:5 and 1:9, preferably about 1:7, and the flange thickness (FD) on the stem is about equal to the thickness of the stem.

Abstract: Apparatus for shearing waste material such as a discarded vehicle tire including parallel first and second rotatable shafts, each having an alternating pattern of driving rings and split sharpenable shear members along the length thereof. The driving rings and the shear members all abut the circumference of the associated shaft. The driving rings are keyed to the shafts and the shearing members are fixed to the driving rings. The shearing members of each shaft are axially aligned with the driving rings of the other shaft and are in meshing relation with the shearing members of the other shaft. The optimal edge-to-edge dimension of the shearing members is maintained after material reduction from the edges by insertion of a shim between the blades that comprise the split shearing members. After each periodic sharpening of the shear members, additional shim are added between the blades or the existing shims are replaced with larger shims.

Abstract: A cutter for a macerator of a type having first and second parallel contra-rotating shafts, each having a plurality of alternate cutters and spacers at the same axial thickness, the cutters of the first shaft being interleaved with those of the second shaft. The cutter of the invention has generally circumferentially spaced teeth 14, 16, 18, 22, each tooth having a front cutting face 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, and an inclined, generally ramp shaped rear face 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, which may be serrated. One tooth 14 has a "square" front face 26 which extends substantially parallel to the axis of the cutter while the front faces of the remaining teeth are inclined, preferably alternately, to the axis of the cutter.

Abstract: A knife shaft assembly (1) for a document shredder formed from a series of cutting disks (3) arranged on a shaft (2) with spacer rings (4) disposed between them. The spacer rings (4) are compressible, and a securing mechanism, such as snap rings (6) received in grooves (5), is provided on the shaft to secure the cutting disks (3) on the shaft (2) under compression. During assembly, the spaces between the cutting disks (3) are adjusted to a predetermined size by compression in the axial direction. This arrangement enables material costs to be kept low while assuring high dimensional accuracy of the knife shaft assembly.

Abstract: The comminution of solid materials, such as stumps and wood waste, into particulate form is accomplished by introducing the material to be comminuted into a tub. The tub is rotated to induce a circular motion to the material. Simultaneously, a disk positioned at the bottom of the tub is rotated, preferably in the opposite direction to the tub, in a plane parallel to the tub bottom. The disk has teeth thereon that impact the material in the tub. A screening means at the bottom of the tub is sized to keep the material in the tub until it reaches a desired particle size, at which time the particles can leave the tub through the screening means and enter a collection chamber. The particles are removed from the collection chamber by being entrained in an airstream that passes adjacent an opening in the collection chamber. Preferably, the teeth in the disk are individually replaceable and are symmetric so that once one side is worn the tooth can be reversed in its mount and used again.