Patent ID: 7114671

Claim:
An apparatus for separating hard components from a grinder comprising: a grid means having openings formed therein, said grid means for stopping the hard components and for draining the hard components toward a center thereof; a separating cutter having a generally star-shape with legs extending from a center thereof, said separating cutter having a drive shaft connected thereto; and a collecting tube positioned centrally of said grid means, said grid means comprising a supporting grid, said grid means for causing the hard components to pass between said supporting grid and said separating cutter and into said collecting tube, said supporting grid being connected by a counter-nut to said collecting tube such that a relative rotation of said counter-nut between said supporting grid and said collecting tube causes change of distance between said separating cutter and supporting grid, said collecting tube having an axial recess receiving an end of said drive shaft therein, said end of said drive shaft being freely rotatable within said axial recess, said collecting tube having at least one channel formed in a periphery of said collecting tube, said collecting tube suitable for connection to a discharge pipe, the channel suitable for transmitting the hard components toward the discharge pipe.