Destroying non-homogeneous loads using zero-clearance cutting systems, double-secondary shredders in zero-clearance cutting systems, and other zero-clearance systems

A method of destroying material, comprising the steps of:

• disposing the material in a destruction zone;
• followed by
• compelling material that has escaped being reduced to powder size to travel via one of at least two screenless exit paths, during which secondary cutting is performed on the bigger-than-powder size material,
• wherein the material has been converted into a security-level fine material.

A method of destroying material, comprising the steps of:

• disposing the material in a destruction zone;
• followed by
• compelling material that has escaped being reduced to powder size to travel via one of at least two screenless exit paths, during which secondary cutting is performed on the bigger-than-powder size material,
• wherein the destruction zone includes a rotary cutter and two secondary shredders, the cutter and the secondary shredders rotating about a fixed axis of rotation.

A machine for destroying a material, comprising:

• a destruction zone wherein material having passed through and/or by the zone is residue;
• at least two screenless exit paths, with the residue mechanically compelled to exit via the screenless exit paths;
• a rotating primary cutter,
• at least two secondary shredders disposed on the same axis about which the primary cutter rotates,
• wherein the secondary shredders differ from the primary cutter.

A residue exit method for a destruction machine, comprising a step, after at least one destruction step has been nerformed or attempted, of:

• splitting direction of exiting residue into at least a first screenless exit path and a second screenless exit path and compelling residue to move via the screenless exit paths,
• including destroying a non-homogeneous load comprising at least two selected from the group consisting of paper, polyester material, a plastic card, a SMART card, a compact disk, a magnetic tape, a laminated data-bearing card, a credit card, a bank card, a DVD, film, wood and a photograph;
• comprising:
• feeding the non-homogeneous load to a zero-clearance cutting zone in which a relatively-softer sacrifice material is used with a relatively-harder material,
• wherein the non-homogeneous load is destroyed.