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Glossary

How Virtus Equipment Does Business
Terms

Equipment Terminology

  1. Cutting Chamber
    The main section of a shredder or granulator where materials are fed and cut by rotating blades or knives.
  2. Rotor
    A rotating component in shredders and granulators equipped with blades that shred or granulate materials as it spins.
  3. Fixed Blade
    A stationary knife in the cutting chamber that works with the rotor blades to slice through materials.
  4. Screen
    A perforated metal sheet under the cutting chamber that determines the size of the output particles by allowing only appropriately sized pieces to pass through.
  5. Hopper
    The top opening of a shredder or granulator where materials are fed into the machine for processing.
  6. Shaft
    The central axle in a shredder or granulator that holds and rotates the cutting blades or tools. Machines may have single or multiple shafts for different applications.
  7. Drive System
    The mechanism that powers the machine, typically including an electric motor or hydraulic system that drives the rotor or shafts.
  8. Feed Rollers
    Mechanized rollers that grip and push materials into the cutting chamber, ensuring consistent feeding in shredders.
  9. Grates
    Replaceable screens or bars that control the size of the material exiting the shredder or granulator.
  10. Infeed Conveyor
    A conveyor belt system that moves materials into the shredder or granulator, allowing for continuous and automated feeding.
  11. Discharge Conveyor
    A conveyor system that removes processed materials from the shredder or granulator and transports them to the next stage of processing or storage.
  12. Overload Protection
    A safety feature that shuts down the machine if it is overburdened with material to prevent mechanical damage.
  13. Flywheel
    A rotating wheel that stabilizes the machine’s energy and ensures smoother operation during cutting or shredding.
  14. Blade Gap
    The precise spacing between the rotor and fixed blades, critical for effective cutting and material size control.
  15. Hydraulic Ram
    A powered component that pushes bulky materials into the cutting chamber, commonly used in industrial shredders for heavy-duty applications.
  16. Cutting Angle
    The angle at which blades meet materials, which influences the efficiency and quality of the shredding or granulating process.
  17. Counter Knife
    A stationary knife positioned opposite the rotating blades, creating a shearing action to cut through materials.
  18. Wear Plate
    A replaceable metal plate that protects machine components from abrasion and damage caused by processed materials.
  19. Cutter Block
    The assembly that holds and supports the cutting knives or blades on the rotor.
  20. Torque Limiter
    A mechanism that prevents damage by disengaging the drive system if the machine encounters excessive resistance or a blockage.
  21. Baffle Plate
    A device inside the hopper or cutting chamber that helps guide materials into the blades for even cutting and shredding.
  22. Hydraulic Power Pack
    A system that supplies hydraulic pressure to components like the ram or feed rollers, enabling smooth and powerful operation.
  23. Bed Knife
    A stationary cutting blade mounted in the cutting chamber that works in tandem with the rotor knives to slice materials.
  24. Screen Basket
    A cylindrical or semi-cylindrical screen used in some shredders or granulators to filter processed materials based on size.
  25. Pulley System
    A series of wheels or belts that transfer power from the motor to the rotor or other moving parts of the machine.
  26. Chipper Rotor
    A specialized rotor design with large, sharp blades, often used for shredding wood and fibrous materials.
  27. Claw Cutter
    A blade design resembling a claw, often used in granulators to achieve efficient cutting and reduce material stress.
  28. Reversible Blades
    Cutting blades that can be flipped and used on both sides, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.
  29. Material Feed Sensor
    A sensor that monitors the flow of materials into the machine and adjusts feed rates to prevent overloading or jams.
  30. Dust Extraction System
    An integrated system that removes dust and fine particles created during the shredding or granulating process to maintain a clean and safe environment.
  31. Auto-Reverse Function
    A feature that automatically reverses the rotor’s direction if a jam occurs, preventing damage to the machine.
  32. Knife Holder
    The structure on the rotor that secures individual cutting blades in place.
  33. Edge Hardening
    A treatment applied to blade edges to improve durability and resistance to wear when cutting abrasive materials.
  34. Magnetic Separator
    A machine add-on used to remove ferrous metals from shredded or granulated materials, ensuring cleaner outputs.

Core Components

  • Cutting Chamber The enclosed space where the rotor and fixed knives meet and reduce material.
  • Rotor The rotating shaft and knife assembly that does the cutting, available in open, closed, or staggered designs.
  • Rotor Knives (Fly Knives) The moving blades mounted on the rotor that shear material against the fixed knives.
  • Fixed Knives (Bed Knives) The stationary blades the rotor cuts against to create the shearing action.
  • Blade Gap The precise clearance between rotor and fixed knives that controls cut quality and particle size.
  • Screen The perforated plate beneath the rotor that holds material in the cut zone until it is small enough to pass through.
  • Screen Perforation Size The hole diameter that sets the maximum output particle size.
  • Hopper The intake opening that guides material into the cutting chamber.
  • Hydraulic Ram (Pusher) The powered ram that forces bulky material against the rotor in single shaft shredders.
  • Swing Ram A pivoting two speed pusher that feeds material and reverses to clear jams.
  • Drive System The motor, belts, and pulleys or direct drive that turn the rotor.
  • Flywheel The rotating mass that smooths cutting energy for steadier operation.

Process and Output

  • Single Shaft Shredder One cutting rotor working against fixed counter knives, ram fed, used across most Virtus shredders.
  • Dual Shaft Shredder Two intermeshing shafts that tear tough or bulky material at high torque and low speed.
  • Granulation Reducing material to uniform flake suitable for reprocessing.
  • Pulverization Reducing flake or chip to a fine powder.
  • Regrind Granulated scrap blended back with virgin resin at a controlled ratio.
  • Fines Undersized dust like particles, minimized by slow speed cutting and correct screening.
  • Throughput The weight processed per hour, set by rotor size, power, screen, knives, and material.
  • Output Particle Size The final flake or chip dimension, controlled by the screen.
  • Two Stage Size Reduction Shredding bulky material first, then granulating it to uniform regrind.
  • Closed Loop Recycling Reclaiming and reusing in house scrap on site to cut virgin material purchases.

Wear and Maintenance

  • Wear Plate A replaceable liner that protects the chamber from abrasion.
  • Reversible Blades Knives usable on two edges to extend service life.
  • Knife Steel Grade and Hardness (HRC) The tool steel and Rockwell hardness selected to resist wear on abrasive or filled material.
  • Overload Protection A control that stops the machine if it is overfed to prevent damage.
  • Auto Reverse A function that reverses the rotor to clear a jam automatically.
  • Metal Separation Magnets and detectors that remove metal before it reaches the rotor.