Material reduction apparatus

Material reduction apparatus for reducing waste material consisting of both metallic and non-metallic waste which is required to be rendered separable so that each type of waste material is rendered useable, and apparatus that embodies cutters on a single rotary shaft and a series of stationary cutting blades located in a position to allow the shaft mounted cutters to carry the waste material from the stationary cutting blade to effect the desired reduction of that waste material is provided with structure permitting removal of jammed material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is directed to apparatus for grinding and granulating 
various types of waste material which may contain hard to grind stray 
material and to a construction in such apparatus adapted to protect the 
grinding components of the apparatus when hard to grind stray material is 
encountered in the waste material. 
Various shredding apparatus are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,474,239 issued Dec. 12, 1995 described a particular apparatus for 
separating materials in tires, for example. The '239 patent is 
incorporated herein by reference. While the structure disclosed in the 
'239 patent works well for its intended purpose, I have found that jamming 
can occur in the apparatus, which often causes expensive repair and 
considerable down time. The invention described hereinafter provides a 
device for preventing damage to the equipment, in a relatively straight 
forward design which permits prompt return of the shredder to operational 
status. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The problem associated with recovery of the constituents in waste material 
is overcome by apparatus which accommodates the difficulty of reducing 
stray components which may be conditioned for further processing to render 
an overall recovery of the waste material. 
The present apparatus is capable of thereby converting waste into useful 
sub-products in a single processing apparatus that can handle desirable 
quantities of the assorted waste at a collection station, for example, 
where such waste material is found. 
Therefore, an important object of the invention is to provide apparatus 
having the ability to convert waste into sub products from a supply which 
has been cut-up or roughly shredded into pieces, some portions of which 
are a special object of recovery. 
It is also an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for 
processing waste which can be moved by a system of cutting teeth on a 
common rotor in a predetermined sequence to effect the reduction of the 
waste material such that metallic tramp components can be isolated from 
non-metal waste. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a material shredding 
apparatus with a series of rotating blocks positioned on a common rotor, 
wherein each block carries multiple-cutting teeth spaced around its 
circumference to shred the material and progressively distribute the 
material between the blocks so that waste components can be separated. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a material shredding 
apparatus in which the multiple cutting teeth are easily positionable on 
the shaft and easily replaceable should damage occur. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a structure for preventing 
damage to the machine should inadvertent jamming of the apparatus during 
shredding operation, for example occur. 
Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art 
in light of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. 
In accordance with this invention, generally stated, a material reduction 
apparatus for processing waste includes a frame structure having a waste 
material inlet side and an outlet side. A rotor is mounted along the frame 
structure to receive the waste material. A series of circumferentially 
spaced blocks are mounted on the rotor which operate, in conjunction with 
an operationally stationary blade associated with said frame structure to 
reduce material entering the inlet. The blocks are positionable on the 
rotor such that the teeth rotating with the rotor pass the stationary 
blade one at a time. A screen is positioned down stream of the tooth 
blocks to receive the reduced waste material from the frame structure. A 
control is operatively connected between the blade and the screen for 
separating the blade and the screen upon the occurrence of a predetermined 
condition.

Corresponding reference numerals are used throughout the several views of 
the drawings to indicate like components. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of 
example and not by way of limitation. This description will clearly enable 
one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and describes 
several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the 
invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of 
carrying out the invention. 
An apparatus assembly 13 seen in FIG. 1 includes a frame 14 having a 
material receiving inlet 5 formed by panels 15 open at the top 15A and 
stiffened by ribs 16. The interior space enclosed by the panels 15 is 
partly broken away to show a single material grinding rotor 18 having a 
plurality of cutter blocks 19 thereon. The rotor has its opposite ends 20 
carried in suitable bearings 21. The rotor 20 is positioned over a base 22 
which supports a screen 112. The screen 112 allows the ground waste 
material, not shown, to be dropped onto a suitable conveyor 26 having a 
surface 24 caused to vibrate by a motor 25. As the surface 24 is vibrated 
the material falling on it will be caused to travel to the outlet end 29 
of the conveyor 26. Any metallic components in the waste grounded up by 
the assembly 13 may be seen, and can be pulled out by various devices 
known in the art, while the non-magnetic waste material drops off the end 
29 into a container (not shown). The drive for the rotor 20 is seen in 
FIG. 1 to include a coupling device 31 which connects the shaft 20 to a 
speed reduction assembly 32 located in a housing 30 in the usual manner. 
The assembly 32 is operated by an electric motor 34. 
The single rotor 20 seen in FIG. 1 and illustrated in section in FIG. 4 has 
a straight single keyway 35 sized to receive a key 36. The key 36 is 
common to all of the rotary blocks seen in FIG. 2, as well as FIG. 3. In 
FIG. 2 those blocks are numbered in order of 37-44. The single keyway 45 
in the block 44 (FIG. 2) is limited to that block because each of the 
other blocks has its own keyway (not shown), due to the selective rotary 
alignment the cutting teeth must have on the rotor 20. In the alternative, 
each of the blocks 37-44 may have a plurality of keyways formed in them, 
as best seen in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, each of the blocks 37-44 may 
be manufactured identically to one another, and later positioned with 
respect to key 36 to accomplish the objects of the invention. 
In an assembly of eight three-tooth cutter blocks, and with the teeth on 
each block circumferentially spaced 120.degree. to arrive at the desired 
arrangement that a single cutting tooth on any given block of the group of 
blocks 37-44 of FIG. 2 will rotate around to engage a stationary blade 46 
seen in the view of FIG. 4. Each of the blocks 37-44 have a plurality of 
cutters associated with each respective block. By stepping the cutting 
blocks 37-44 around the rotor 20 selectively as to each keyway it becomes 
unique to have a cutter 47 on block 37 in FIG. 7 align to engage with the 
blade 46. The next cutter 48 on block 44 is in position to engage the 
blade 46. The next cutter 49 on block 38 is in position to engage the 
blade 46. Thus, it is then followed by cutter 50 on block 43, followed by 
a cutter 51 in block 39, then by a cutter 52 on block 42, then by a cutter 
53 on block 40, and finally a cutter 54 on block 41. 
The order of the cutters on the respective blocks, 37-44 follows the same 
pattern in which each single tooth occurs in an order that moves the waste 
material to distribute it across the rotor 20 within frame 14. As will be 
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the number of cutters may vary in 
embodiment of this invention. One illustrative variation is show in FIG. 
6. The operation of the cutter 6 is discussed in greater detail in the 
above referenced '239 patent. While a cutter spacing of 120.degree. in 
FIG. 7 and by 72.degree. in FIG. 6 has been set forth in the preceding 
description, it is to be understood that the tooth spacing for nine teeth 
in each block involves spacing of 40.degree.. When the number of the 
cutter blocks on the rotor 20 changes, the circumferential spacing of the 
teeth on each block changes. The uniqueness of this arrangement is that 
the frequence of the single cuts on the base cutter bar 46 changes, 
whereby coarse shredding can be produced by increasing the spacing of the 
circumferential teeth on each rotor block, and a finer shredding can 
result by increasing the frequency of the sequence of single cuts on the 
blade 46. Thus, by selecting cutter blocks having predetermined numbers of 
circumferentially spaced cutters, the grinding of the trash entering the 
frame 14 can be selected for a coarse grind or for a fine grind. 
To assure the desired alignment between the cutting edges on the teeth of 
the rotating blocks of FIGS. 6 and 7 and the stationary cutting blade 46 
there is seen in FIG. 4 the provision of adjusting bolts 116 in a support 
115 for the screen 112. By adjusting the bolts 116, the screen 112 can be 
squared up to be aligned properly with the rotor 20. Referring now to FIG. 
4, a support plate is positioned to support the blade 46. In the same 
manner, the support plate 126 and blade 46 can be squared up by the 
adjusting bolts 125 on the support 124 so the expand cutting edge on the 
blade 46 can be positioned so it will be aligned to be parallel to the 
cutting teeth in the blocks on the rotor 20. Thus, the cutting edge on the 
blade 46 can be secured to be parallel with the teeth in the blocks on 
rotor 20. Furthermore, employing a waste material grinder in which a 
cutting impact is generated one tooth at a time, the full energy of the 
rotor 20 can be applied to the waste material. When tramp material 
exerting resistance to clean cutting is encountered the energy of the 
rotor 20 can be applied to the best advantage to such items as tramp metal 
or the like. 
Turning now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the single shaft 20 carries the 
rotary five-toothed blocks seen in FIG. 6. The first rotary block 71 is 
keyed to the shaft 20, and has been rotated so its first cutter 79 has 
passed the stationary blade 46 and the respective cutter 87 and 95 are 
rotated over the screen 112. The screen 112 is supported by a rib 113 
which is pivotally attached to a rod 114 in the frame 14. The rod 114 is 
carried in the adjustable support 115, the adjustments being provided by 
the adjusting bolts 116 as described above. An opposite end 117 of the 
support rib 113 is retained by a shear pin 118. A movable wall portion 119 
in the frame 14 is secured to the end 117 of the rib 113 so an angular 
extension 120 of that wall portion 119 can assume a raised position to 
offer support for a pivoted arm 121 carried on a hinge rod 122 positioned 
in a plurality of stationary brackets 124 in the frame so that adjustment 
of the pivot extension bracket 124 can be reached to engage the adjustment 
bolts 125. 
When the rotor 20 is employed to drive the cutter blocks having five teeth 
per block, the sequence is illustrated in FIG. 3 and 6 where the movement 
of the waste material follows a pattern determined by the circumferential 
spacing of 72.degree. in each block. With this spacing in mind the 
distribution of the waste material is directed toward the opposite ends of 
the shaft 20 as indicated by the arrow A, and the reverse or inward return 
movement of the waste materials is inward from the ends of the rotor 20 as 
indicated by arrows B. In FIG. 6 the stationary blade 46 in FIG. 4 is 
represented by the straight line 46. As the waste material enters the 
inlet 5, the rotation of the single shaft 20 will tend to distribute that 
waste material outwardly in the direction of the arrow A while the action 
of the cutting teeth on the rotary blocks 71,72 or 78,77 will move the 
waste material in an inward direction as indicated by the arrows B. In the 
same manner the waste material is maintained in constant circulation. As 
the waste material enters the housing of frame 14 it is distributed toward 
the opposite ends of the frame 14 where the teeth of the end rotor blocks 
41,48 and 48,50 reverse the distribution. A different distribution of the 
waste material occurs in the arrangement of cutting teeth in the blocks 
37-44, seen in FIG. 7. Other movement distributions are compatible with 
the broader aspects of this invention. 
In comparing the five tooth rotor blocks of FIG. 6 where the teeth in each 
block 71-78 are spaced at 72.degree. with the perspective view of FIG. 3 
it can be understood that the stationary cutter blade 46 seen in FIG. 4 is 
represented by the straight line 46 in FIG. 6. Upon rotation of the five 
tooth blocks relative to the line for blade 46 the sequence of cutting 
teeth on the blocks 71-78 is such that the tooth 79 on block 71 is 
followed by a single tooth 80 of block 78, and that tooth 80 is followed 
by a tooth 81 in block 72, then by a single tooth 82 of block 77. 
Continuing in the pattern of teeth cooperating with the stationary cutter 
blade 46, the first tooth 83 of block 74 is followed by tooth 84 of block 
75, then tooth 85 of block 73 and finally by tooth 86 in block 76. That 
sequence of cutter blade in the blocks 71-78 is indicated in FIG. 6 at 
teeth 87-94; followed by teeth 95-101; then teeth 102-109; and finally by 
teeth 110-114. 
In FIG. 4 there is shown in a schematic manner a control for the drive 
motor 34 when it is necessary to stop rotation of the rotor 20 upon 
shearing of the pin 118. When the pin 118 shears the screen support rib 
113 pivots out of the way, the pivot arm 121 for the blade 46 pivots down 
and out of the way so a surface 129 swings down and actuates a switch S in 
an electrical circuit C which cuts the circuit C to the motor 34 through 
the 120 V single phase power supply P-1 to the motor 460 V thru 3 phase 
power P-2. This circuit is well known to those skilled in the art and 
requires no further explanation other arrangements may be used, if 
desired. 
The stationary blade 46 is adjustably mounted on the support 126 having a 
position in a seat in the arm 121 which is movable with that arm 121. That 
bar 126 is adapted to carry the adjustable base 127 for the blade 46 and 
its adjustment threaded element 128 which permits in-out positioning of 
the blade 46. It is noted that the pivot arm 121 has a lifting abutment 
plate 129 located so it can be raised by the angular extension 120 of the 
wall portion 119 when the screen support ribs 113 are raised so that shear 
pin 118 can be inserted to fix the ribs in the raised position. 
The view of FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the mechanism for releasing the screen 
assembly when a hard to grind material is encountered by the stationary 
blade 46. When that event occurs, the shear pin 118 (See FIG. 8) shears or 
breaks which allows the screen 112 to drop away on the pivot rod 114, and 
that event allows the stationary blade 46 to rotate on the rod 122, 
tripping the motor circuit and shutting down the operation. This also 
allows the hard material to be found and removed. Thereafter, the screen 
112 can be repositioned and held by a replacement shear element. Attention 
is directed to FIG. 8 to show the assembly for supporting the screen 112. 
In that plan view there are a plurality of support rib 113 each pivotally 
attached to hinge support rod 114 carried by fixed supports 115A 
positioned adjacent the back wall of the frame 14. Those ribs 113 are 
incorporated in a system of elongated beams assemblies 131 which extends 
the length of the structure. The ends of the screen support ribs 113 are 
held by shear pins 118 at the opposite ends of the support bar 126. The 
support 126 extends lengthwise of the screen 112. When hard material is 
encountered so the load on either shear pin 118 causes shearing, the 
entire screen assembly is caused to drop and at the same time the blade 46 
drops open as is shown in FIG. 5. 
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and 
advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other 
advantageous results have been obtained. 
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without 
departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter 
contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings 
shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
The material reduction apparatus described in the foregoing specification 
represents a preferred embodiment which may be subject to changes as to 
form but which follows an equivalent of the principals herein, and that 
which shall be claimed,