Apparatus for removing and chipping wood scraps

An apparatus for receiving wood scraps from a work area and reducing said scraps to wood chips having a predetermined consistency and size, said apparatus comprising:

• a chipper section for reducing said wood scraps to said wood chips, said chipper section comprising:
• a chipper grate having a flat, substantially planar intake face and a plurality of through openings;
• and
• a rotating cutter blade for reducing said scraps to said wood chips as said wood scraps are drawn against said chipper grate and said wood chips are drawn through said grate, said rotating blade being positioned to rotate in parallel, closely spaced relationship with said flat, planar intake face of said chipper grate and comprising upper and lower stepped blade sections, said upper blade section having a sharply angled leading edge for penetrating and cutting said wood scraps and for drawing air and debris towards said chipper grate, and said lower blade section having a substantially planar lower surface for passing closely over and parallel to said intake face of said chipper grate and a bluntly angled leading edge for shearing said wood scraps as said scraps enter said through openings in said grate;
• and
• a blower section for drawing said scraps into said chipper section, and then drawing said chips from said chipper section and discharging said chips to a predetermined collection area;
• said chipper and blower sections being mounted together with said chipper section in fluid communication with an intake side of said blower section.