Carton Reducer With Differential Speed Shafts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recycling methods for expired food items and their packaging are labor-intensive and inefficient, with cardboard and plastic shredders causing damage and intermixing of materials, making separation for recycling difficult.
Innovation Solution
A carton reducer/bag opener with two main shafts rotating at different speeds, equipped with variable speed motors and shaped teeth, which reduces packaging and food items into manageable sizes without shredding them excessively, and includes features to prevent material accumulation and wrapping around the shafts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If cardboard and plastic shredders are used to reduce packaging size, then the packaging is reduced to small pieces, but the food and packaging materials become intermixed and difficult to separate for recycling
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the processing function into two distinct stages: first opening/separating the food items from packaging using shafts with opening elements, then separately shredding the packaging materials using shafts with shredding elements. This segmentation prevents food-packaging intermixing while achieving size reduction of packaging materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses an intermediary collection container positioned between the processing shafts to receive and hold the separated food items, preventing them from mixing with the shredded packaging materials. This intermediary structure facilitates clean separation of recyclable materials.
2Productivity
If plastic shredders operate continuously, then plastic is reduced efficiently, but plastic accumulates and wraps around the rotational shaft requiring regular maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates self-cleaning features where the relative rotation of shafts and the design of the processing chamber prevent plastic accumulation and wrapping around the shafts. The system maintains itself by preventing the harmful effect rather than requiring external intervention for cleanup.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses dynamically rotating shafts with varying speeds and directions to prevent plastic materials from accumulating and wrapping around the shafts. The dynamic motion patterns ensure continuous material flow without stagnation points where wrapping could occur.
3Ease of operation
If traditional shredders are used to open carrier boxes and packaging, then packaging is broken down, but the food items suffer damage and become contaminated with packaging shards
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the processing function into two distinct stages: first opening/separating the food items from packaging using shafts with opening elements, then separately shredding the packaging materials using shafts with shredding elements. This segmentation prevents food-packaging intermixing while achieving size reduction of packaging materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary separation of food items from packaging before any shredding operation occurs. Food items are extracted and collected in a protected container before the packaging materials undergo shredding, preventing subsequent contamination of food with packaging shards.
Data Source
AI summary
A package reducing device includes a hopper having lap over rings, first and second main shafts which traverse the hopper, first and second pipe shafts are secured to the main shafts, where the ends of the pipe shafts are positioned interior to the lap over rings. First and second rings extend from the pipe shafts having recessed openings to position a fastener interior to the surface of the rings. Tooth plates having teeth are attached to the rings. A first motor rotates the one pipe shaft at a first rate and a second motor rotates another pipe shaft at a slower rate of rotation. The pipe shafts are rotated in an inboard direction, and the motors include variable frequency drives. The teeth reduce the size of packaging and food transported inside of the packaging during use of the invention.