Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing used vehicle tires that separates the steel metal from the rubber and other non-metallic materials for recycling. The tire is rotated at sufficient speed to force the materials outwardly by centrifugal force. Heated blades move centripetally to melt and cut through the non-metallic materials, dividing the tire into at least two arcs that are held together by the steel reinforcement that is not easily cut through. Electric heating apparatus heats the steel more than the rubber so that the forces binding the rubber are released, enabling the rubber and other non-metallic materials to be flung outwardly away from the steel. The steel is then collected separately. The differential heating apparatus may be inductive or resistive.

Abstract: A cutter module with an integrated trim disposal mechanism is disclosed. The integrated trim disposal mechanism results in the lack of need for using large expensive external trim disposal devices. The trim disposal mechanism chops the trim into small pieces that are easily collected in a trim fragment collection receptacle. A full trim fragment collection receptacle can either be emptied and reused or discarded and replaced with a new empty trim fragment collection receptacle.