Shredding Device With Interlocking Cutting Discs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing comminution devices are not suitable for shredding stable and smooth materials like mobile end devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, as they fail to effectively grip and shred these materials due to gaps between cutting discs and lack of suitable feed mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A comminution device with two cooperating cutting rollers having alternately arranged cutting discs that engage in an overlapping manner, forming a cutting gap, and a feed mechanism with an inclined guide device to ensure materials are properly aligned and gripped for shredding, including a load measurement system to adjust rotation direction for effective shredding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If cutting discs are arranged with gaps between them, then the device can process various materials, but stable and smooth materials like mobile end devices cannot be effectively gripped and shredded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to process various materialsVSAvoidgripping capability for stable materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting mechanism is divided into multiple cutting discs arranged in series on each cutting roller. These cutting discs are segmented to create multiple engagement points along the cutting path, allowing stable and smooth materials to be gripped reliably while maintaining versatility for different material types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting discs are designed with different local characteristics - some have larger spacing between them to accommodate flexible materials, while others have smaller spacing to provide secure gripping for stable materials. This local variation in disc arrangement optimizes performance for different material categories.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If cutting discs are arranged with gaps between them, then the structure is simpler, but the cutting action is insufficient for stable and smooth materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidshredding effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple cutting discs are merged into a single cutting roller assembly, working together as an integrated unit. This combination provides cumulative cutting action that enhances shredding effectiveness for stable materials while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to using separate cutting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a feed mechanism with guide device is added, then material alignment and gripping are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial alignment capabilityVSAvoidfeed mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A guide device is introduced as an intermediary component between the material feed path and the cutting mechanism. This guide device gently directs and aligns materials of various sizes toward the cutting discs, improving operation ease without requiring a completely complex feed system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If cutting discs engage in alternating manner, then the cutting action is enhanced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting action efficiencyVSAvoidcutting disc alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting discs are pre-positioned and pre-aligned during assembly to ensure proper alternating engagement pattern. This preliminary positioning action establishes the correct geometric relationships before operation, enhancing cutting efficiency while managing manufacturing precision requirements through careful initial setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3195934B1Grinding device and method for operating the same

Publication Date: 2019.01.02 INTIMUS INT

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AI summary

A shredding device for materials such as memory cards or mobile devices comprises a shredding unit (24) with two cooperating cutting rollers (28a, 28b) with cutting discs (29a, 29b) that have cutting edges on their outer edges and form a cutting gap. The cutting discs (29b) of one cutting roller (28b) each engage in an annular groove between adjacent cutting discs (29a) of the other cutting roller (28a) and have several teeth (30a, 30b) along their outer circumference, each with a tooth tip and a tooth edge (31a, 31b). During operation, when the cutting rollers rotate, the tooth edges (31a) of one cutting roller (28a) are positioned next to the tooth edges (31b) of the other cutting roller (28b). The comminution device also has a feed (16) with a feed track (17) for the material to be comminuted to the comminution unit (24), which ends above the cutting gap.An elongated guide device (21) is arranged between them, which extends over a length of at least 30% of the length of the cutting rollers (28a, 28b) and is inclined downwards in its longitudinal direction.