CA1316891C - Method and apparatus for cutting disposable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

NHL-SH-01 Canada METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A machine is capable of cutting into pieces disposable contain-ers such as plastic bottles and metal cans. A first cutting section includes a pair of parallel shafts mounted for rotation in opposite directions. Each of the shafts supports a plurality of cutting wheels keyed for rotation therewith. The cutting wheels of one shaft overlap the cutting wheels on the other shaft as each cutting wheel is axially separated from axially adjacent cutting wheels thereon by one of the cutting wheels on the other shaft. The cut-ting wheels include a plurality of cutting teeth and cutting wheel spacers maintain the cutting wheels in a spaced relationship on the shafts to prevent damaging contact between the teeth. A comber is aligned with each cutting wheel to provide a gap between the cutting teeth and the end of the comber and is maintained in alignment to prevent damaging contact with the teeth of adjacent cutting wheels.
The disposable containers are cut into first pieces between the cutting wheels of one shaft and the cutting wheels of the other shaft. The first pieces from the first cutting section pass to a second cutting section to be cut into smaller, second pieces. The invention also includes the method of cutting the disposable con-tainers in pieces.

Description

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CIJTTING DISPOS~BLE CONTAINERS

BACKGROUND OE' THE_INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting disposable containers, such as plastic bottles or metal cans, into small pieces.
. Description of the Prior Art:
Recent legislation regulating the collection and disposition of disposable containers, such as plastic bottles and metal cans in the soft drink industry, has resulted in increased interest in ma-chines that can be employed to reduce the size of the used contain-ers to simplify handling and storage. Three machines respectively disclosed in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,857,334i 4,009,838; and 4,285,426 represent specific devices intended to satisfy specific needs in this regard.
~owever, there remains a need for any reliable and versatile machine configuration which can be employed to cut the sheet plastic or sheet metal material of the disposable containers. Paper shred-ding machines include a general configuration which might appear to satisfy such a need but would not normally include sufficiently strong components or be properly configured for such a heavy-duty operation. Nevertheless, paper shredding machines, such as those disclosed in U.~. Patents Nos. 1,178,386; 1,319,496; 2,202,843;

2,554,114; 2,770,302; 3,797,765; and 4,018,392, include a ~eneral arrangement of rotating cutters and stationary combers whlch could be appropriate for this purpose. Clearly, the particular components to be used in such a machine should be simple to manufacture and easy to assemble. Further, it would be advantageous if the machine configuration could be employed for any number of purposes, such as N~iL-SH-01 Canada ~ 3 ~
within machines to be operated by consumers, machines to be operated by store personnel, or machines to be operated at waste control centers.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a machine capable of cutting into pieces a plurality of disposable containers such as plastic bvttles and metal cans.
It is another object to provide such a machine with components whic~ are simple ~o manufacture, easy to assemble and reliable to operate.
It is a further object to provide such a machine with a general configuration which can be employed on different size machines which clearly satisfy different needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects of the invention are provided in a preferred embodiment thereof including a machine for cutting at least one disposable container which includes a first cutting sec-tion having an inlet for the receipt of the disposable container therein. The first cutting section includes a pair of parallel shafts mounted at opposite sides of the inlet for rotation in oppo-site directions. Each of the shafts supports a plurality of cutting wheels keyed for rotation therewith. The shafts are separated by a distance therebetween which is less than a diameter of the cu~ting wheel. Each cutting wheel is axially separated from axially adja cent cutting wheels on the shaft by one of the cutting wheels on the other shaft extending therebetween. Each cutting wheel has a plurality of cutting teeth thereon. The cutting wheels are main-tained in axial position on the shafts to prevent damaging contact between the plurality of cutting teeth thereof. The first cutting ~0 section includes a pluraiity of combers with each comber beine NHL-SH-01 Canada ~ 3 ~
aligned with a corresponding cutting wheel to provide a gap between an end thereof and the cutting teeth of the corresponding cutting wheel. The combers are maintained in an axial position relative to the cutting wheels to prevent damaging contact with the pluralit~
of cutting teeth thereof. The cutting wheels rota~e to grip the disposable container therebetween to cause it to be directed between the cutting wheels of the one shaft and the cutting wheels of the other shaft and cut into first pieces. A second cutting section is mounted below the first cutting section to receive the first pieces therefrom to be further cut into smaller second pieces. The machine may further include a feeding assist means at the inlet to the first cutting section with the feeding assist means including a pair of parallel feeding shafts which are centrally disposed above the pair of shafts and parallel therewith. The feeding shafts each include at least one paddle fixedly mounted thereon with each feed-ing shaft and the paddle thereon rotating in the same direction as its adjacent shaft to cause the paddles to push the disposable con~
tainer through the inlet toward the cutting wheels to be gripped thereby. The feeding shafts can include the same number of paddles thereon, can rotate at the same speed, and can be rotationally aligned to cause each paddle on one feeding shaft to pass closely by a corresponding paddle on the other feeding shaft to entrap the disposable container therebetween to facilita~e the push thereof toward the cutting wheels. An extended edge of each paddle can include a plurality`of gripping teeth and may be bent at an acute angle from a radial plane of the paddle in the direction of rotation of the paddle. The angle can be about 10 to about 25 degrees. The second cutting section can include a fixed cutting blade and at least one rotating cutting blade generally aligned with the fixed cutting blade for cutting the first piec~s therebetween. The first NHL-SH-01 Canada ~s~
pieces are elongated, include a first end which initially passes through the gap, and are held at least a second end thereof by the cutting wheels as the first end is directed between the fixed and the rotating cutting blades to be cut into second pieces therebv.
One of the fixed blade and the rotating blade can be at an angle with respect to the other of the rotating blade and the fixed blade to cause aligned portions of adjacent cutting edges thereof to be aligned for cutting at different times as the rotating blade passes by the fixed blade. The rotating cutting blade of the second cut-1~ ting section can rotate at a speed which is about 20 to 25 times as fast as the rotation of the shafts of the first cutting section.
The first cu~ting section can include a first drive means and the second cutting section can include a second drive means. The second cutting section can include a single unit which is capable of being removably secured to the first cutting section.
There is also provided a method of cutting disposable contain-; ers including gripping the disposable container with the cutting teeth of oppositely rotating, overlapping cutting wheels which are maintained in relative axial position to prevent damaging contact between the cutting teeth thereof. The teeth of the cutting wheels cut the container into pieces with the pieces being retained close-ly to the cutting teeth until fully cut from the container, The method can also include feeding the container toward ~he cutting teeth to be gripped thereby. The method may include collecting a plurality of containers to allow simultaneous feeding of several of the containers and simultaneous cutfing of several o the contain-ers, The feeding can include entrapping the container be~ween opposed members moving toward the cutting teeth. The entrapping can include localized gripping between a plurality of gripping teeth on the opposed members. The method can further include the ': ' N~-iL-S~1-01 Canada ~ ~3~J~

step of cutting the first pieces into smaller second pieces. The retaining of the first pieces at least partially supports the first pieces during the cutting into the second pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a machine including various features oE the invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the machine of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an ele~ational view o~ the opposite side of the machine of Figure l.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary top view of the cutting section of the machine of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a simplified ènd view of the cutting section of Figure 4 including various features of the invention.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of an alternative cutting section.
Figure 7 is a view such as shown in Figure 6 of another alter~
native cutting section.
Figure 8 is an end elevational view partially i.n section of another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a view of,the çmbodiment of Figure 8 as seen along line 9-9.
Figure 10 is a view as seen along line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a bottom view of the embodiment shown in Figure 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the preferred machine 10 for cutting disposable containers such as plastic bottles and metal cans primarily includes a loading section 12, a cutting section 14, and a collecting section 16. The preferred machine 10 is the type /

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which can be utilized in grocery or convenience stores to reduce the volume of disposable container material to be handled or stored by store personnel until removed by waste or scrap dealers. The machine 10, shown without cover panels and shields in order to see various operating components, includes features which are particu-larly adapted for such a use. ~or example, it basically employs gravity flow, lncludes~ operator accessible loading section 12 and collecting section 16, and incorporates safety features associated with the loading section 12 to ensure against any injury or harm to the operator.
Specifically, the loading section 12 is funnel-shaped and includes a closable top 18 which, when open, allows approximately thirty 2-liter disposable plastic bottles to be put in the interior of the section 12. Operation of the machine motor 20 is prevented whenever the top 18 is open by a safety switch 22 mounted on the top 18. Specifically, the switch 22 is a mercury-type switch which is only closed to allow current to flow therethrough when in a hor-izontal position. The top 18 is mechanically prevented from being positioned horizontally except in the closed position and the safety switch 22 is connected by wiring 24 to a motor controller 26 in a manner well-known in the electrical motor control art to prevent any operation of the motor 20 unless access to the interior of the loading section 12 is prevented.
The motor 20 provides basic power for operating the entire machine 10 through a drive pulley 28. A belt 30 connects the drive pulley 28 to a larger, driven pul~ey 32 which is mounted on a trans-fer shaft 34 having a chain drive sprocket 36 on the other end thereof. The drive sprocket 36 is connected by a chain 38 to a larger sprocket 40 which directly drives one of a pair of main shafts 42 and 44. The main shafts 42, 44 are primarily used to cut NHL-SH-01 Canada .d.
the containers in a manner which will be explained in detail herein-below. They are parallel and mounted for rotation in opposite directions, and, in the preferred configuration, the shafts 42, 44 extend horizontally and are located at the same hori~ontal level within the machine 10. To cause shaft 44 to rotate in the opposite direction of shaft 42 but at the same speed as shaft 42, they are geared together at 46.
The main shafts 42, 44 ~a~e sprocket and chain means 48, 50 respectively mounted on the opposite ends thereof in order to be able to transmit corresponding rotation to a pair of feeding shafts 52, 54 of a feeding assist means 55 which will also be discussed in detail hereinbelow. Finally, a single chain and sprocket means 56 is employed to impart rotation to an agitation shaft 58 which sup-ports agitator paddles 60. The rotating agitator paddles 60 are capable of stirring the containers in the loading section 12 to insure they will be properly delivered to the cutting section 14.
Although the paddles 60 may be made of sheet metal, it is possible for the outer edges 61 to be partially made of rubber material to insure that the containers will not be entrapped against the inter-ior wall of the loading section 12.
The collecting section 16 is below the cutting section 14 and joined thereto to receive pieces of the disposable containers as they pass by gravity from the cutting section 14. The collecting section 16 is enclosed on three sides but includes a removable 25 ~ basket 61 to collect the pieces for it to be periodically emptied by the machine operators. As thus described, the preferred machine 10 includes dimensions and an arrangement of components which are particularly appropriate for use in grocery and convenience stores.
As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the preferred cutting section 14 includes a plurality of cutting wheels 62, 64 respectively mounted NHL-S~l-01 Canada at holes 65 on the main shafts 42, 44. Each of the preferred cut-ting wheels is mounted on its circular main shaft at a longitudinal groove 66 by a pair of ball bearings 68. Because of the axial width of each cutting wheel 62, 64, two ball bearings 68 are pre-ferred for each wheel to distribute the load equally therebetween.
The ball bearings 6~ are installed in the groove 66 and a pair of axially aligned detents 70 provided in the interior wall of hole 65. The detents 70 are relatively easy to provide by inserting a tool at each side of hole 65.
The cutting wheels 62 are axially separated from axially adja-cent cutting wheels 62 on the shaft 42 by one of the cutting wheels 64 on the main shaft 44. The cutting wheels 62, 64 are of a design which is different from any of the cutting wheels shown in the pri-or art machines disclosed in the patents mentioned hereinabove.
The cutting wheels include a plurality of evenly spaced cutting teeth 72 with a root diameter D. The main shafts 42, 44 are separ-ated by a distance therebetween which is less than the root diameter D to provide an overlapping of the cutting wheels 62, 64 which includes all of the radial height of the cutting teeth 72. Further, it should be noted that the preferred cutting teeth 72 are quite simple in form and simple to provide, Specifically, the cutting teeth 72 are identical with a flat leading surface 74 and a flat trailing surface 76 which meet at a straight edge 78 at the outer periphery of the cutting wheel which straight edge 78 is parallel to the shafts 42, 44. The cutting teeth 72 are also equally posi-tioned at the periphery of the wheels as the leading surface 74 and trailing surface 76 intersect a radial line of the cutting wheel through the edge 78 at equal angles. It has been found that such a too~h configuration includes sufficient integrity and well-aligned cutting edges for gripping and cutting sheet plastic and sheet : `

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N~L-SH-01 Canada 3 '7 metal material found in disposable containers. Further, the equal positioning of the teeth 72 means that the cutting wheels 62, 64 are all interchangeable and can be installed either side first on the shafts 42, 44 without af~ecting their effectiveness. This fea-ture reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies assembly. To pre-vent undesired relative axial movement of the cutting wheels 62, 64 on their respective shafts 42, 44, a cutting wheel spacer 67 is provided between adjacent cuttlng wheels. The spacers 67 are pref~
erably made of an acetal resin such as that sold under the trade-marks DELRIN and CELCON. Such an acetal resin is employed because it has a relatively high modulous of elasticity and high strength and stiffness. Additionally, it has a low coefficient of friction with good abrasion and impact resistance. A spacer 67 can be made of such an acetal resin because of its excellent machinability.
Its use in the machine for cutting plastic bottles or metal cans from the soft drink industry is appropriate because of its low moisture absorption.
By proper use of the spacers 67 on both shafts 42, 44, the cutting teeth 72 of the cutting wheels 62, 64 will be prevented rom allowing any damaging contact therebetween which could reduce the effective life of the cutting wheels 62, 64.
The interaction of cutting wheels 62, 64 is not expected to do the cutting alone. The CUttillg section 14 also includes a plurality of combers 80 which are different from those disclosed in the prior art patents mentioned hereinabove. Each comber 80 is aligned with a corresponding cutting wheel 62, 64 to provide a gap 82 between an end 84 thereof and the cutting teeth 72 of the corresponding cutting wheel 62, 64. Basica~ly, the combers 80 are each mounted at holes 86 on a pair of mounting rods 88 which extend across the cutting section 14. The mounting rods 88 are parallel with and located NHL-SH-01 Canada outwardly of the shafts 42, 44. The other end of each comber 80 extends around one of the shafts 42, 44, and the cutting wheel spacer 67 thereon, at a hole 90 therethrough and between axially adjacent cutting wheels 62, 64 on the shaft 42, ~l4. As a result, the end 84 of each comber 80 is located at the cutting teeth 72 of the corresponding wheel 64, 62 on the other shaft 44, 42 to provide the gap 82 therebetween. To properly maintain the combers 80 in axial position between the cutting wheels, a plurality of comber spacers ~9 are mounted on the mounting rods 88. Proper axial posi-tioning of each comber 80 prevents the comber from making damaging contact with any of the cutting teeth on the adjacent cutting wheels 62, 64. The comber spacers 89 are again preferably made of an acetal resin like that used for .the cutting wheel spacers 67.
It has been ound in the preferred machine 10 that a relatively thick comber 80 need not be made of a single, solid metal piece as is required for the cutting wheels 62, 64. To simplify manufacture of the preferred combers 80 and to make them less expensive to pro-vide, the combers 80 have an overall thickness T which is less than the thickness of a cutting wheel 62, 64. However, the combers 10 are formed of a plurality of thin metal plates 92 in a stacked array to provide the overall thickness T. The plates 92 can be simply and inexpensively stamped from sheet material and may be spot welded if desired to form a more rigid comber 80.
As thus described, the cutting section 14 can be expected to .~ 25 properly cut disposable containers into pieces in various machine arrangements. ~owever, in the preferred machine 10, the feeding assist means 55 is employed to insure that each load of disposable containers is completely cut into pieces and to speed up machine operation. The feeding assist means 55 is in an entrance opening 94 of the cutting section 14 and includes the pair of feeding shafts '' ' ' ' ' ' .

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52, 54 whlch are centrally disposed above the pair of main shafts 42, 44 and parallel thereto. The feeding shafts 52, 54 each include a plurality of feeding paddles 96 fixedly mounted thereon. Each of the ~eeding shafts 52, 54 and paddles 96 thereon rotate in the same direction as its adjacent main shaft 42, 44 to cause the paddles 96 to push the disposable containers toward the cut~ing wheels 62, 64 to be gripped thereby. In the preferred machine 10, the shafts 52, 54 include three paddles 96, rotate at the same speed, and are rotationally aligned to cause each paddle 96 on feeding shaft 52 to pass closely by a corresponding paddle 96 on feeding shaft 54 to be able to entrap the disposable containers therebetween to facilitate the push thereof toward the cutting wheels 62, 64.
In order to fully understand the preferred machine 10, there is additional information which might be of interest. The machine 10 can cut disposable containers including 1/2-, 1-, 2- or 3-liter plastic bottles and aluminum or steel cans. The overall height of the machine 10 is about 5-1/2 feet tall. The preferred loading section 12 is about 22" tall with a 24" x 24" top opening and a bottom which is about 8" x 13". The preferred cutting section is iust over 13 inches wide to include thirteen cutting wheels 62, 64.
Each main shaft 42, 44 has a diameter of about 2-3/8 inches. The cutting wheels 62, 64 are 1 inch wide and have an outside diameter of about 4-3/4 inches. The root diameter D is about 4-1/4 inches with a tooth height of 1/4 inch. There are 30 evenly-spaced cutting teeth 72 with the leading surface 74 being perpendicular to the trailing surface 76. The two ball bearings 68 are 1/4 inch and installed in two detents 70 which are 1/8 inch deep and respectively centered 1/4 inch from each side of the cutting wheel 62, 64. The cutting wheel spacers 67 are also about one inch wide to properly align the cutting wheels 62, 64. The combers 80 have an overall N~-IL-SH-01 Canada thickness T of 3/4 inch and are made of three 1/4 inch sheets of metal. Consequently, to properly support the combers 80 and main-tain them in axial alignment, the comber spacers 89 are about 1-1/4 inch thick. Collecting section 16 is about 2' x 2' x 2'. The pieces cut from the 2-liter plastic bottles are corrugated, about l inch wide in various lengths and result in a volume of about 1/3 the volume of the original bottles.
The preferred machine 10 is not the only type of machine in which the general type of components of the cutting section can be employed. For example, if there is a need for a machine at a waste disposal center requiring greater capacity and greater volume sav-ings, the cutting wheel 100 and comber 102 arrangement of Figure 6 can be used. Again, appropriate cutting wheel spacers and comber spacers will prevent damaging contact to the cutting teeth. The cutting wheels 100 have the same teeth and diameter as the wheels 62, 64 but are only 3/4 inch wide. The combers 102 are 1/2 inch thick and made of two 1/4 inch sheets of metal. The pieces will be only 3/4 inch wide for a waste volume of about 1/4 of the original volume. The overall length of such a machine could be increased to about 24 inches for a total of 32 cutting wheels 100 and 32 combers 102.
As seen in Figure 7, similar cutting wheels 104 could be only l/2 inch wide and combers 106 of about 3/8 inch in width could be formed of two 3/16 inch sheets of metal. The waste volume produced by such a machine would be about 1/5 of the original volume.
As seen in Figures 8 through 11, a preferred cutting machine I20 for cutting at least one disposable container at a time includes ~ a first cutting sec~ion 122 which is similar to the cutting section ; described hereinabove for the embodiments of Figure 1 through 7.
However, the cutting machine 120 also includes a second cutting ~ ~ ~ 12 :~ ~

NHL-SH-01 Canada section 124 to further reduce the size of the pieces of the dispos-able container. The cutting machine 120 is intended to be installed in a reverse vending machine ~not shown) which will be primarily utilized to allow individual consumers to return empty containers to the reverse vending machine for money or credit for the "deposit"
on the container when initially bought. Consequently, the reverse vending machine will include many features which are outside the scope of the present invention. For example, there would probably be included means for insuring that only one container at a time can be placed in the reverse vending machine for cu~ting and that the cutting machine 120 will not function when the reverse vending machine is open or when anything other than the desired container may be cut. The container would probably be "examined" by the reverse vending machine to determine that it is the right type of container, which company made it, that it is empty and in a condi-tion for cutting, etc. It should therefore be sufficient, for the purposes of describing the cutting machine 120, to realize that it will be employed in a manner which will insure that at least one container at a time will be directed to the first cutting section 122 thereof and that the pieces being discharged from the second cutting section 124 thereof will be collected in and periodically removed from the interior of the reverse vending machine.
The first cutting section 122 inclùdes a first support struc-ture 126 to be mounted within the reverse vending machine. A motor 128 is mounted on the structure 126 to drive a speed reducer 130 through a belt and pulley configuration 132, The speed reducer 130 includes an output 134 to drive one of the shaf~s 136 having cutting wheels 138 thereon in the manner described hereinabove. The other shaft 136 is driven by gears 140 to produce the desired rotation in opposite directions. The first cutting section 122 would therefore NLIL-S~I-01 Canada include the same type of overlapping configuration of cutting wheels 138 as the previously described embodiments with a ~lurality of similar cutting teeth 142 thereof.
Additionally, the cutting section 122 includes an array of combers 144 at each side thereof which are supported on rods 146.
In the same manner as described hereinabove, each comber 144 would have an inner end thereof near a corresponding cutting wheel 138 to provide a gap therebetween. Preferably, cutting wheel and comber spacers are again provided to prevent damaging contact with the cutting teeth.
When a container enters an inlet 150 of the first cutting sec-tion 122 from generally above and between the shafts 136, it is initially gripped by the cutting teeth 142 of the cut~ing wheels 138 and drawn therebetween to be cut in-to first pieces.
To insure that each container is properly directed to the in-; let 150 of the first cutting section 122, a feeding assist section 152 is also included in and supported by the first support structure 126. The shafts 136 each include a sprocket and chain means 154 at the ends thereof opposite from the gears 140 in order to transmit corresponding rotation to a pair of feeding shafts 156 of the feed-ing assist section 152. Each of the feeding shafts 156 includes a pair o feeding paddles 158 fixedly mounted thereon. The paddles 158 again rotate in the same direction as their corresponding shafts 136 in order to be able to push the disposable container toward the cutting wheels 138 to be gripped thereby. The paddles 158 are rotationally aligned to cause each paddle 158 to pass closely by a corresponding paddle 158 on the other feeding shaft 156 to entrap the container between extended edges 160 thereof. The alternative paddles 158 dLffer from the paddles 9~ of the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5 ln the form and shape provided to the extended edges ; 14 :::

NHL-Stl-01 Canada 3' 3 160. Specifically, the extended edges 160 are provided a plurality of teeth 162 and are angled toward the direction of rotation from the radial portion of the paddles. The angle A provided to the edges 160 may insure better entrapment of the container. Similarly, the teeth 162 reduce the likelihood of the container slipping from between the paddles 158 as it is directed downwardly to the inlet 150.
Because of the intended use of the cutting machine 120 in a reverse vending machine, it is important that the pieces cut there-by take up as little space as possible. In other words, where it is important to reduce the overall space that the pieces cut from each container will fill, it is desirable to insure that each indi-vidual piece is as small as practical. If the pieces are small, they will tend to lay closer together to produce a greater mass of the container material in the same space than would larger pieces.
Accordingly, to increase the number of cut containers which can be retained in the reverse vending machine prior to periodic removal, the machine 120 includes a second cutting section 124.
The second eutting section 124 includes a second support structure 162 with support tabs 164 at a back edge thereof and mounting holes and brackets 165 at the forward edge thereof to allow it to be mated with and supported by the first support structure 126. As will be seen, providing the ~irst support structure 126 and the second support structure 162 in this manner allows the machine 120 to be conveniently shipped and assembled and, further, facilitates disassembly for separate maintenance and cleaning of the first cut-ting section 122 and the second cutting section 124.
The second support structure 162 includes a motor 166 mounted thereon with an associated pulley and belt configuration 167 to drive a cutting blade shaft 168. The second cutting section 124 ~:
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N~IL-SH-01 Canada includes a fixed cutting blade 170 rigidly mounted in the structure 162 and a pair of rotating cutting blades 172 mounted on the cutting blade shaft 168. Each of the blades 170, 172 are individually adjustable and aligned to cut the first, elongated pieces discharged from the cutting section 122 into smaller, second pieces. Although not shown in detail in the figures, the fixed blade 170, which ls generally aligned tangentially to the blades 172 rotating thereby, is provided a leading cutting edge 174 which is slightly angled with respect to the shaft 168 and the blades 172 mounted thereon.
As a result, the cutting edge 174 will be in close cutting relation-ship with the cutting edge of each blade 172 at different times along its length. This arrangement produces a scissor type cutting of the first pieces rather than a simple chopping. The preferred method of cutting in the second cutting section 124 is quieter and results in less wear and vibration which should increase the e~fec--tive life of the second cutting section 124.
The preferred close proximity of the first cutting section 122 and the second cutting section 124 insures that the first pieces will be properly supported and directed to the second cutting sec-tion 124 by the first cutting section 122. Because the first pieces are elongated strips of container material, the rearward ends there-of will still be located within the gap between ~he combers 146 and their corresponding cutting wheels 138 as the forward end of each first piece is being cut into smaller second pieces by the cutting section 124. As a result, even though a part of each first piece will be released from the first cutting section 122 before it can be received for further cutting in the second cutting section 124, the systematic supp~rt of the first pieces as they are initially being cut in the second cutting section 124 insures that the second cutting section 124 will be able to cut and discharge the smaller .

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second pieces at a sufficient rate. The first pieces will not be able to collect or gather above the second cutting section 124 and interfere with its cutting function.
To further insure that all the first elongated pieces are directed ~et~een the blades 170, 172, a circumferential 6hield or guide plate 176 is pro~ided behind the rotating blades 172 to pre-~ent the first pieces or portion thereof from collecting elsewhere in the second cutting section 124. Additionally, the second cutting section 124, because of the particular reverse vending machine in which it is to be employed, includes an outlet deflector 178. The outlet deflector 17~ is intended to roughly separate the second pieces for receipt and collection in two collection areas for easy removal from the reverse vending machine.
In order to better understand the machine 120, it is appropri-ate to include some dimensions and operating specifications of the preferred machine 120. For example, the preferred machine 120 can be used in a reverse vending machine adapted and designed to control and regulate the deposit of 1/2~ , 2-, and/or 3-liter plastic bottles therein. To properly cut these types of plastic bottles, the motor for the first cutting section is 2 HP, the speed reduc-tion is 25 to 1, and the cutting wheels rotate at about 23 rpm. To ensure that all the bottles will be properly fed to the cutting wheels, the angle A of the edge of the feeding paddle should be be~
tween 10 to 25 degrees. An angle A of 19 degrees is used in the preferred machine. As with one of the embodiments described herein-above, each of the cutting wheels includes 30 cutting teeth and is about 1/2 inch wide. Consequently, it is expected that the first pieces discharged from the first cutting section would fill a space about l/5th the size of the space required for the bottles prior to cutting.

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1 3 ~ ~) f~ ~ 1L
The second cutting section is driven by a 1-HP motor to cause the cutting blade shaft to rotate at about 772 rpm or about 20 to 25 times faster than the shafts of the first cutting section. Each of the rotating blades is about 1/2" x 1-1/2" x 7-7/8". The designed 5 taper or tilt of the fixed blade is about 1/8 inch along its length. The second pieces are cut from the first pieces by the second cutting section to fill a space about 1/10th to 1/12th the size of space required for the bottles prior to cutting. It has been determined that fifty plastic bottles can be reduced in volume to fili a one cubic foot 1 o space.

Clearly, any nurnber of alternatives could be made to the preferred machines without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

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Claims (22)

1. A machine for cutting into pieces at least one disposable container such as a plastic bottle or metal can comprising:
a first cutting section having an inlet at a top thereof for receiving said disposable container;
said first cutting section including a pair of parallel shafts disposed at opposite sides of said inlet and mounted for rotation in opposite directions, said pair of shafts each supporting a plur-ality of cutting wheels keyed for rotation therewith, said pair of shafts being separated by a distance therebetween which is less than a diameter of said cutting wheel;
each of said cutting wheels on one of said shafts being axially separated from axially adjacent said cutting wheels thereon by one of said cutting wheels on the other of said shafts extending there-between, each said cutting wheel having a plurality of cutting teeth thereon;
means for maintaining said cutting wheels on said shafts in axial position to prevent damaging contact between said plurality of cutting teeth thereof;
said first cutting section including a plurality of combers, each said comber being aligned with a corresponding said cutting wheel to provide a gap between an end thereof and said cutting teeth of said corresponding wheel;
means for maintaining said each said comber in an axial posi-tion relative to said cutting wheels to prevent damaging contact with said plurality of cutting teeth thereof;
said plurality of said cutting wheels on said pair of shafts being rotated to grip said disposable container therebetween to cause said disposable container to be directed between said pair of NHL-SH-01 Canada shafts with said disposable container being cut into first pieces between said cutting wheels on said one shaft and said cutting wheels on said other shaft as said first pieces pass through said gaps;
a second cutting section adjacent to and below said first cutting section for receiving said first pieces therefrom; and said second cutting section including means for cutting said first pieces into second pieces which are smaller than said first pieces.

2. The machine as set forth in Claim 1, further including a feeding assist means at said inlet to said first cutting section, said feeding assist means including a pair of a parallel feeding shafts which are centrally disposed above said pair of said shafts and parallel therewith, said feeding shafts each including at least one paddle fixedly mounted thereon with each said feeding shaft and said paddle thereon rotating in the same direction as its adjacent said shaft to cause said paddles to push said disposable container through said inlet toward said cutting wheels to be gripped thereby.

3. The machine as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said feeding shafts include the same number of said paddles thereon, rotate at the same speed, and are rotationally aligned to cause each said paddle on one said feeding shaft to pass closely be a corresponding said paddle on the other said feeding shaft to entrap said dispos-able container therebetween to facilitate said push thereof toward said cutting wheels.

4. The machine as set forth in Claim 3, wherein an extended edge of each said paddle includes a plurality of gripping teeth.

5. The machine as set forth in Claim 3, wherein an extended edge of each said paddle is bent at an acute angle from a radial plane of said paddle in the direction of rotation of said paddle.

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6, The machine as set forth in Claim 5, wherein said angle is about 10 to about 25 degrees.

7. The machine as set forth in Claim 5, wherein said extended edge includes a plurality of gripping teeth.

8. The machine as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said second cutting section includes a fixed cutting blade and at least one rotating cutting blade generally aligned with said fixed cutting blade for said cutting said first pieces therebetween.

9. The machine as set forth in Claim 8, wherein said first pieces are elongated, include a first end which initially passes through said gap, and are held at least a second end thereof by said cutting wheels as said first end is directed between said fixed and said rotating cutting blades to be cut into second pieces thereby.

10. The machine as set forth in Claim 8, wherein one of said fixed cutting blade and said rotating cutting blade is at an angle with respect to the other of said rotating cutting blade and said fixed cutting blade to cause aligned portions of adjacent cutting edges thereof to be aligned for said cutting at different times as said rotating cutting blade passes by said fixed cutting blade.

11. The machine as set forth in Claim 8, wherein said rotating cutting blade of said second cutting section rotates at a speed which is about 20 to about 25 times as fast as said rotation of said shafts of said first cutting section.

12. The machine as set forth in Claim 11, wherein said first cutting section includes first drive means and second cutting sec-tion includes second drive means.

13. The machine as set forth in Claim 12, wherein said second cutting section includes a single unit which is capable of being removably secured to said first cutting section.

NHL-SH-01 Canada

14. The method of cutting at least one disposable container such as a plastic bottle or metal can comprising the steps of:
gripping said container between cutting teeth of oppositely rotating, overlapping cutting wheels;
maintaining said overlapping cutting wheels in relative axial position to prevent damaging contact between said cutting teeth thereof;
cutting said container into first pieces between said cutting teeth of said overlapping cutting wheels; and retaining said first pieces adjacent said cutting teeth until fully cut from said container thereby.

15. The method as set forth in Claim 14, including feeding said container toward said cutting teeth to be gripped thereby.

16. The method as set forth in Claim 15, including collecting a plurality of said containers to allow simultaneous said feeding of several of said containers.

17. The method as set forth in Claim 16, including simultane-ous said cutting of several of said containers.

18. The method as set forth in Claim 15, wherein said feeding includes entrapping said container between opposed members moving toward said cutting teeth for said gripping thereby.

19. The method as set forth in Claim 18, wherein said entrap-ping includes localized gripping between a plurality of gripping teeth on said opposed members.

20. The method as set forth in Claim 14, further including the step of cutting said first pieces into smaller second pieces.

21. The method as set forth in Claim 20, wherein said retain-ing said first pieces at least partially supports said first pieces during said cutting into said second pieces.

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