Inventors:
Charles R. Miller - Houston TX
Haskell B. Berry - Channelview TX
Tod S. Johnson - Clear Lake Shores TX
Assignee:
Premier Medical Technology, Inc. - Houston TX
International Classification:
B02C 1822
Abstract:
Apparatus for processing solid waste includes a chamber for receiving the waste, which may be any contaminated or non-contaminated waste including paper, plastics, cloth, metal and hospital sharps, and a ram for forcing the waste, to which germicide may be added, into contact with a plurality of cutting heads. The cutting heads which shred, shear and cut the waste are each mounted on an elongated rotating shaft. Each cutting head includes a plurality of parallel cutting blades separated by spacers. Adjacent cutting heads mesh together so that cutting blades of one cutting head interdigitate with spacers of an adjacent cutting head. A pair of curved doors close the chamber closely adjacent the cutting heads while the waste is being cut, and are opened for releasing the cut waste. The doors include elongated parallel grooves alternately for receiving the cutting edges of the cutting blades and for receiving the spacers. A dislodging plate is fixed centrally, adjacent the inward edges of the curved doors when the doors are closed.