Patent ID: 7661537

Claim:
A multi-finger clamshell disc for use with an apparatus for classifying a stream of mixed recyclable materials of varying sizes and shapes which comprises: a resilient disc body configured in a thin flat circular shape defining a radial perimeter, a plurality of fingers integrally formed as an appendage to said radial perimeter, the fingers extending outwardly from the radial perimeter in a evenly spaced manner, said body having a centrally positioned square opening therethrough, with radial corners, said square opening sized to fit onto a shaft of said apparatus, said body having a tapered notch therein with a proximal end interfacing with said radial corners of said square opening and a distal end tapering adjacent to said radial perimeter, wherein said tapered notch having no more than 15 degrees of taper, said body having a tapered slot therethrough with a proximal end interfacing with corners of said square opening and a distal end tapering to a slit intersecting with said radial perimeter and the slot arranged in linear alignment with said notch, and a plurality of insert sets molded within said body adjacent to said notch and said slot with the insert sets configured to receive threaded fasteners for compressing said notch and said slot together thereby tightly gripping the shaft of said apparatus after the body has been spread open, in clamshell manner, over the shaft and springs back in shape.