Electronic Device Destruction Apparatus with Multi-Stage Hammermill

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for destroying electronic devices are inadequate in ensuring complete destruction and security, particularly for storage devices like hard drives, which may be subject to regulatory and business security requirements.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device destroying apparatus comprising a shredder assembly and two hammermill assemblies, with chutes and screens to progressively reduce the size of electronic device components, ensuring thorough destruction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing destruction methods are used, then the process is simple, but the destruction is incomplete and security requirements are not met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestruction completenessVSAvoidapparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The destruction process is divided into three sequential stages: shredding (reducing to small pieces), first hammermill processing (reducing to granules), and second hammermill processing (reducing to fine powder). Each stage uses specialized equipment configured for its specific function, ensuring progressive and complete destruction while maintaining operational simplicity through automated material transfer between stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a single destruction device is used, then the device complexity is low, but the size reduction is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize reduction precisionVSAvoidnumber of assemblies

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The size reduction process is segmented into three distinct assemblies: a shredder assembly for initial size reduction, a first hammermill assembly for intermediate reduction, and a second hammermill assembly for final fine powder production. Each assembly is optimized for its specific size reduction task, with screens and chutes ensuring proper material progression through each stage to achieve the required fine powder specification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The assemblies are arranged in a nested configuration where the shredder assembly feeds into the first hammermill assembly, which in turn feeds into the second hammermill assembly. This nested arrangement allows material to progress through progressively finer reduction stages, with each assembly containing the previous stage's output and producing output for the next stage, achieving cumulative size reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If progressive size reduction is implemented, then the destruction thoroughness is improved, but the processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedestruction thoroughnessVSAvoidprocessing cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The three assemblies operate continuously in sequence, with material flowing automatically from the shredder through the first hammermill to the second hammermill via gravity-fed chutes and screens. This continuous operation eliminates idle time between stages, allowing the system to process material through all reduction stages without interruption, achieving thorough destruction while maintaining high processing throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively reduces and destroys electronic devices beyond recovery, addressing the inadequacies of existing methods by ensuring complete destruction and compliance with regulatory and business security standards.

Implementation Method 1

a shredder assembly, a first hammermill assembly, and a second hammermill assembly; wherein the shredder assembly is operatively connected to the first hammermill assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

transferred the plurality of shredder remnants into a first hammermill, resulting in a plurality of first hammermill remnants; transferring the first hammermill remnants into a second hammermill

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS20250153186A1Apparatus and methods for reducing and destroying electronic devices

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 SCHUTTE-BUFFALO HAMMERMILL LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for destroying electronic devices including a shredder assembly, a first hammermill assembly, and a second hammermill assembly. The shredder assembly is operatively connected to the first hammermill assembly and the first hammermill assembly is operatively connected to the second hammermill assembly. The shredding assembly, the first hammermill assembly and the second hammermill assembly are configured to destroy electronic devices.