Patent ID: 6082642
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B29B,B29K,Y02W,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for comminuting a collection of compressible materials comprising:a frame supported on a surface;a cylinder supported on said frame, said cylinder having a hollow interior which has a first length of uniform cross-sectional shape having an interior cylinder area which terminates in a smoothly narrowed exit length to at least one exit port formed in a cylinder head having an outer face, the total area of the sum of the areas of all of said at least one exit port having a total port area no larger than about one fourth of the interior cylinder cross-sectional area;a force applying member having a force applying member end portion movable along said first length of uniform cross-sectional shape for compressing a collection of materials to be comminuted, said force applying member exerting a pressure at said force applying member end portion of at least 500 psi whereby said collection of compressible materials are compressed to an extent that there are essentially no voids in the collection of compressible materials at the at least one exit port and said collection of compressible materials form a solid, incompressible, essentially void free, cuttable face at said at least one exit port; anda rapidly moving cutter including means for cutting mounted thereon so that said means for cutting move about normal to a direction of movement of said collection of compressible materials at said cuttable face and at a speed of at least about five feet per second and wherein said means for cutting move in a path which completely covers said at least one opening and extends inwardly from said outer face of said cylinder head whereby said compressible materials are cut into very fine particles.