Shredding device with a service hatch

Abstract

A shredding device for shredding materials is provided, the shredding device having: a housing, a rotor in the housing, a pusher element which is pivotable about an axis, so that it pushes the material to be shredded towards the rotor, and a service hatch which is mounted on the housing and configured in such a manner that in an open state it exposes a first opening in the housing with access to a rotor and a second opening in the housing with access to the underside of the pusher element when the latter is pivoted upwardly.

Claims

1. Shredding device for shredding material, comprising: a housing; a rotor in said housing; a pusher element which is pivotable about an axis, so that it pushes the material to be shredded towards said rotor; and a service hatch which is mounted on said housing and configured in such a manner that in an open state it exposes a first opening in said housing with access to said rotor and in the open state a second opening in said housing with access to an underside of said pusher element when the latter is pivoted upwardly.

2. Shredding device according to claim 1, which said service hatch is hinged between a first and a second end thereof to a pivot axle and said first opening extends below said pivot axle and said second opening extends above said pivot axle.

3. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which in the open state of said service hatch, said first opening and said second opening are separated from each other by a portion of said service hatch.

4. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said service hatch at least in part forms at least a part of a pusher wall along which said pusher element is pivotable.

5. Shredding device according to claim 4, in which said service hatch in part forms part of said housing.

6. Shredding device according to claim 2, in which said service hatch comprises a first portion with said first end and a second portion with said second end, where said first and said second portions transition into one another at said pivot axle and said second portion is in the open state of said service hatch at least for the larger part located above said pivot axle.

7. Shredding device according to claim 6, in which said second portion in the open state of said service hatch remains entirely within said housing.

8. Shredding device according to claim 5, in which at least part of said first portion is in the open state of said service hatch outside of said housing.

9. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said first opening is sufficiently large so that a service person can enter said shredding device through said first opening access.

10. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said second opening is sufficiently large so that said underside of said pusher element can be at least partially cleaned therethrough.

11. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said service hatch extends across the entire housing width or across part of said housing width.

12. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said pusher element is attached entirely within said housing to a drivable shaft such that it remains entirely within said housing during operation.

13. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said pusher element is partially pivotable to the exterior of said housing during operation.

14. Shredding device according to claim 1, in which said shredding device is a single-shaft or a multi-shaft shredder.

15. Method for cleaning a pusher element of a shredding device comprising the steps of: providing the shredding device comprising the pusher element and a service hatch mounted on a housing of said shredding device and configured in such a manner that in an open state it exposes a first opening in said housing with access to a rotor in said housing and a second opening in said housing with access to an underside of said pusher element when the latter is pivoted upwardly; opening said service hatch; and cleaning the underside of said pusher element through said second opening.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional drawing of an example of a shredding device comprising a pusher element and a service hatch according to prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional drawing of a shredding device comprising a pusher element and a service hatch according to one example of the present invention, where the open service hatch provides two openings for service purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(3) As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary shredding device 100 according to the invention comprises a housing 101, a pusher element 102 having a pivot arm 102a and pusher surface 102b and a rotor 103. The pusher element 102 is driven by a drivable shaft. The drivable shaft can be connected to a lever mechanism as a part of the drive device on the exterior of the material receiving space of the shredding device. Due to the fact that the lever mechanism is attached outside the material receiving space, it will not be impeded by the material to be shredded, which could interfere with a respective linkage mechanism or even partially block it, if it were installed within the material receiving space. A hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder can be connected to the lever mechanism and adapted to drive the lever mechanism. Such cylinders represent reliable, relatively inexpensive and easy-to-maintain or removable drive devices. Alternatively, at least one motor drive, in particular a servo motor or a torque motor, can be provided for driving the shaft.

(4) Force can be applied to the material to be shredded via the pusher surface 102b of the pusher element 102 perpendicular or substantially perpendicular or at a small angle (approximately 10° to 20°) to the rotor axis of the rotor 103 and along the pivoting motion. The term pusher surface is herein generally referred to as a surface of the pusher element which during operation contacts the material and serves transmission of force onto the material corresponding to the torque of the driven shaft. The waste material to be shredded is thereby pushed by the pusher element 102 onto the rotor 103 and shredded there and ultimately discharged through a screen device 110.

(5) The shredding device 100 comprises a service hatch 104 for servicing. The width of the service hatch 104 can be suitably selected. For example, it extends across the entire width of the housing 101, or only over part of the width of the housing 101, the service hatch 104 can, in particular, be provided as part of the housing 101. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the service hatch 104 in the closed state defines a pusher wall along which the pusher element 102 is pivoted in a contactless manner. In the open state of the service hatch 104 shown in FIG. 2, the pusher wall thus defined is pivoted upwardly, so that a service person 105 gains access to the interior 106 of the shredding device 100 and to the rotor 103 via the resulting first opening 108. In the open state of the service hatch 104, a further opening 111 above the open service hatch 104 results according to the invention. The underside of the upwardly pivoted pusher element 102 can through this further opening 111 be cleaned easily without any disassembly of machine elements. By providing this further opening 111, in particular no hydraulic or other drive devices for the pusher element 102 or the service hatch 104 interfere during cleaning of the pusher element 102 via this further opening 111. Such drive devices therefore do not need to be dismantled in a time-consuming manner in order to clean the pusher element 102. It should be noted that, alternatively, the pusher element 102 in the service mode stops in front of the rotor 103. After opening the service hatch 104, it can be moved for servicing.

(6) The service hatch 104 is hinged to a pivot axle 107 about which it can be pivoted. The position of the pivot axle 107 and the associated pivot point of the service hatch 104, respectively, determine the size of the further opening 111 arising when the service hatch 104 is opened. The position of the pivot axle 107 is in the design of the shredding device 100 or the service hatch 104, respectively, to be selected such that a further opening 111 is in the open state of the service hatch 104 provided such that easy cleaning of the underside of the pusher element 102 is enabled, which is covered during operation. In particular, a part of the service hatch 104 separates the first opening 108 through which a service person 105 can access the interior 106 of the housing 101 from the further opening 111, so as to enable at least partial cleaning of the underside of the pusher element 102 only through the further opening 111.

(7) The pivot axle 107 is located between a first left end of the pusher element 102 and a second right end of the pusher element 102. A first portion of the pusher element 102 with the first end in FIG. 2 therefore extends to the left of the pivot axle 107, and a second portion of the pusher element 102 with the second end extends to the right of the pivot axle 107. In the example shown, the second end is in the operating mode of the shredding device 100 (service hatch 102 is closed) located below the pivot axle 107, whereas the first end is in the operating mode located above the same. When opening the service hatch 104, the second portion of the pusher element 102 and the second end of the pusher element 102 are pivoted upwardly in the service mode of the shredding device 100 (service hatch 102 is opened), the second end is then located above the pivot axle 107.