Sacrificial rotary scissors

Abstract

True zero-clearance cutting on a commercial scale is provided via a cutting area including a sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the cutter. One example is a cutting system which is capable of cutting a material such as, for example, tape or paper, into a fiber or powder. The cutting system includes a cutting blade, typically a rotary cutter, and a sacrificial plate or round bar contacting the cutting blade. The contacting portion has a zero clearance during the cutting operation. A metering mechanism is also provided which is capable of metering the material at a predetermined rate to the cutting blade. A mechanism is also provided for incrementally moving the sacrificial blade towards the cutting blade to ensure that the zero clearance is maintained between the cutting blade and the sacrificial plate, even when the sacrificial plate begins to wear down due to usage. Also, destruction of the material is further enhanced by advantageous strategic patterning of cutting edges on a rotary cutter, and further by secondary shredding features. Systems are provided for reducing to-be-destroyed paper and other relatively-thin planar materials to a dust or powder-size.

1 - 49 . (canceled)  
     
     
         50 . A method of cutting, comprising rotary scissoring of a first scissors blade and a second scissors blade, wherein the first scissors blade rotates and the second scissors blade is stationary, the stationary blade comprising a stationary sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the rotating blade.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further including feeding a to-be-destroyed material between the respective rotating blade and sacrifice blade.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the to-be-destroyed material is controllably fed.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the to-be-destroyed material is paper.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further including continued rotary scissoring until the to-be-destroyed material has been destroyed.  
     
     
         55 . (canceled)  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the rotating blade is serrated.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein the two respective scissors blades are in zero-clearance or essentially-zero-clearance shearing contact with each other.  
     
     
         58 . A rotary scissors device comprising a first scissors blade and a second scissors blade, wherein the first scissors blade rotates and the second scissors blade is stationary, the stationary blade comprising a stationary sacrifice material that is relatively softer than the rotating blade.  
     
     
         59 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 58 , including a feeder receiving a to-be-destroyed material and providing the to-be-destroyed material between the respective rotating blade and sacrifice blade.  
     
     
         60 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 58 , wherein the feeder is controllably metered.  
     
     
         61 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 59 , wherein the feeder accommodates paper.  
     
     
         62 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 58 , wherein the rotary scissors device in continued operation provides zero-clearance yet does not suffer significant blade blunting or dulling that affects cutting due to the zero-clearance.  
     
     
         63 . (canceled)  
     
     
         64 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 58 , wherein the rotating blade is serrated.  
     
     
         65 . The rotary scissors device of  claim 58 , wherein the two respective scissors blades are in zero-clearance or essentially-zero-clearance tolerance with each other.  
     
     
         66 - 82 . (canceled)  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 50 , including rotary scissoring of a compact disk.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 50 , including rotary scissoring of magnetic tape.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 50 , including rotary scissoring of a laminated data-bearing card.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 50 , including rotary scissoring of a credit card or bank card.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 50 , including rotary scissoring of stored data.  
     
     
         88 - 107 . (canceled)