Abstract: A granulator for comminuting scrap material has an improved rotor blade assembly. The granulator is of the type having a pair of spaced-apart, parallel bed knives mounted stationarily in the granulator. An arcuate perforated screen is mounted below the bed knives for the passage of comminuted material through apertures in the screen. A rotor axle is mounted between and parallel with the bed knives. At least one blade is mounted on the axle for rotation with the axle. The blade has a peripheral contour with a plurality of spaced-apart cutting tongues extending outward. The cutting tongues define a circular path closely spaced to the bed knives and screen for shearing scrap.

Abstract: A granulator for comminuting plastic web scrap has features that allow it to also granulate three dimensional objects. The granulator has a pair of nip rollers mounted above a cutter assembly for drawing the web into the cutter assembly. The nip rollers have grabbing devices for grabbing three dimensional objects when they fall onto the rollers, for shredding the objects and forcing them between the rollers. In one embodiment, the grabbing device consists of a groove formed in the surface of at least one of the rollers. The groove has a sharp-edged trailing surface that grabs the article. In another embodiment, the grabbing device consists of a protruding finger that grabs the article. To provide clearance, a circumferential slot is located in the other roller for receiving the finger.

Abstract: A device for granulating objects into particles has a false bottom for improving collection of particles. The device includes a housing with a cutter assembly located in the housing for granulating the objects into particles. A blower is connected to the housing for removing the particles from the housing. The false bottom consists of a downwardly facing channel carried between the cutter assembly and the bottom of the housing. Spaces exist between the bottom of the housing and the edges of the channel for the admission of particles to the space below the channel. The blower is connected to one end to create air movement through the channel for removing the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating articles into particles for reuse, having a force feed mechanism that urges the articles into the grinder chamber. The apparatus has a chute for inserting articles, and the grinder chamber encloses rotor knives that are rotated past stationary knives. The force feed assembly is mounted above the grinder chamber and includes a rotating shaft driven by a motor separate from the grinder assembly motors. A series of plates are mounted to the shaft at intervals. The plates have teeth on the edge for grabbing and tearing articles. Webs are mounted between the plates for pushing the articles into the grinder chamber.