After studying and analyzing the types of cutter roller’s movable blades, various arrangements and layouts of movable blades and structures of such cutter roller of current sugarcane leaf shattering and returning machine in China, a totally new cutter roller design is proposed for 1GYF-200 sugarcane leaf shattering and returning machine: blades are arranged in unequally-spaced double-helix symmetry, the movable blades arranged on both sides of the cutter roller are increased appropriately, and combination of two straight blades and one improved L-blade are adopted as movable blades. Comparing with the original prototype, the improved machine’s pick-up rate has increased by 0.8% and shattering rate has improved by 2.5%. This study provides theoretical basis and reference in designing an effective and reliable machine for shattering sugarcane leaves and incorporating it into soil.