Shredder with thickness detector

• US 7,963,468 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Matlin, Tai Hoon K., Gach, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BENA B
• Application Number:
  US12/616,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20100051731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 241/36, 241/236, 241/101.3
• US Class Current: 241/36
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/0007 specially adapted for disintegrating documents
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/16 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0015 for disintegrating CDs, DVDs and/or credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0023 Switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/164 Prevention of jamming and/or overload
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/166 Lubricating the knives of the cutting mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/168 User safety devices or measures in shredders
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/04 Safety devices in general F16P ; for rotary mills B02C13/31
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/06 Selection or use of additives to aid disintegrating
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 23/18 Adding fluid, other than for crushing or disintegrating by fluid energy for tumbling mills B02C17/186; feeding devices B02C23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/088 by cleaning or lubricating sterilizing B26D1/00

Abstract

A shredder is disclosed. The shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder mechanism enables the at least one article to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements. The motor is operable to drive the cutter elements so that the cutter elements shred the articles fed therein. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is operable to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is at least equal to a predetermined maximum thickness.

Claims

1. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed-aperture and an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine being characterized by the provision of a thickness detector which is moveable between a first position in which the thickness detector permits energization of the cutting mechanism and a second position in which the thickness detector prevents energization of the cutting mechanism, wherein part of the thickness detector extends into the feed-aperture, the thickness detector being configured such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from said first position to said second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

further provided with maximum thickness indicating means to provide a visual indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position,

wherein said thickness detector is provided in the form of an elongate arm mounted for pivotal movement between said first and second positions.

2. A shredding machine according to claim 1, wherein said thickness detector is arranged to actuate a switch when in said second position, the switch being configured to cause a break in the circuit providing power to the cutting mechanism, and wherein the extent of the arm extending from the pivot axis of the arm into the feed-aperture is less than the extent of the arm extending from the pivot axis to the switch.

3. A shredding machine according to claim 2, wherein the pivot axis is located substantially adjacent the feed-aperture.

4. A shredding machine according to claim 2, wherein said switch is located remote from said pivot axis.

5. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed-aperture and an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine being characterized by the provision of a thickness detector which is moveable between a first position in which the thickness detector permits energization of the cutting mechanism and a second position in which the thickness detector prevents energization of the cutting mechanism, wherein part of the thickness detector extends into the feed-aperture, the thickness detector being configured such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from said first position to said second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

further provided with maximum thickness indicating means to provide a visual indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position;

wherein the part of the thickness detector extending into the feed-aperture extends through an opening in a wall that at least partially defines the feed-aperture;

wherein said thickness detector is provided in the form of an elongate arm mounted for pivotal movement between said first and second positions.

6. A shredding machine according to claim 5, wherein said thickness detector is arranged to actuate a switch when in said second position, the switch being configured to cause a break in the circuit providing power to the cutting mechanism, and wherein the extent of the arm extending from the pivot axis of the arm into the feed-aperture is less than the extent of the arm extending from the pivot axis to the switch.

7. A shredding machine according to claim 6, wherein the pivot axis is located substantially adjacent the feed-aperture.

8. A shredding machine according to claim 6, wherein said switch is located remote from said pivot axis.

9. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed-aperture and an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine being characterized by the provision of a thickness detector which is moveable between a first position in which the thickness detector permits energization of the cutting mechanism and a second position in which the thickness detector prevents energization of the cutting mechanism, wherein part of the thickness detector extends into the feed-aperture, the thickness detector being configured such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from said first position to said second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

further provided with maximum thickness indicating means to provide a visual indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position;

further comprising a presence sensor along the feed-aperture for detecting a presence of the sheet material inserted into the feed-aperture, and a controller coupled to the thickness detector, the presence sensor, the maximum thickness indicating means, and the electric cutting mechanism,

wherein the controller is configured to start energization of the cutting mechanism only in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the sheet material inserted into the feed-aperture and the part of the thickness detector not having been moved to the second position by the sheet material;

wherein the controller is configured to prevent the starting of energization of the cutting mechanism and also actuate the maximum thickness indicating means to provide the visual indication in response to the part of the thickness detector moving to the second position.

10. A shredding machine according to claim 9, wherein said thickness detector includes a sensor and the part is coupled to a detectable element movable for detection by the sensor, and wherein said thickness detector is configured such that movement of said part in the feed-aperture amplifies movement of the detectable element at the sensor.

11. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising:

a feed-aperture;

an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding;

a controller coupled to the cutting mechanism;

a thickness detector coupled to the controller, the thickness detector having a part extending into the feed-aperture and being moveable such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from a first position to a second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

said controller being configured to, during insertion of the sheet material into the feed-aperture, permit energization of the cutting mechanism prior to the part of the thickness detector reaching the second position and prevent energization of the cutting mechanism responsive to said part of the thickness detector reaching the second position; and

a maximum thickness indicator for providing a visual or audible indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position;

further comprising a presence sensor along the feed-aperture for detecting a presence of the sheet material inserted into the feed-aperture, the controller being coupled to the presence sensor and the maximum thickness indicator,

wherein the controller is configured to start energization of the cutting mechanism only in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the sheet material inserted into the feed-aperture and the part of the thickness detector not having been moved to the second position by the sheet material;

wherein the controller is configured to prevent the starting of energization of the cutting mechanism and also actuate the maximum thickness indicator to provide the visual or audible indication in response to the part of the thickness detector moving to the second position.

12. A shredding machine according to claim 11, wherein said thickness detector includes a sensor and the part is coupled to a detectable element movable for detection by the sensor, and wherein said thickness detector is configured such that movement of said part in the feed-aperture amplifies movement of the detectable element at the sensor.

13. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed-aperture and an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine being characterized by the provision of a thickness detector which is moveable between a first position in which the thickness detector permits energization of the cutting mechanism and a second position in which the thickness detector prevents energization of the cutting mechanism, wherein part of the thickness detector extends into the feed-aperture, the thickness detector being configured such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from said first position to said second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

further provided with maximum thickness indicating means to provide a visual indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position;

wherein said thickness detector includes a sensor and the part is coupled to a detectable element movable for detection by the sensor, and wherein said thickness detector is configured such that movement of said part in the feed-aperture amplifies movement of the detectable element at the sensor.

14. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising:

a feed-aperture;

an electric cutting mechanism, the feed-aperture being configured to receive multiple sheets and direct said sheets in a feeding direction towards the cutting mechanism for shredding;

a controller coupled to the cutting mechanism;

a thickness detector coupled to the controller, the thickness detector having a part extending into the feed-aperture and being moveable such that said part will be engaged by sheet material inserted in the feeding direction into the feed-aperture prior to reaching the cutting mechanism, and moved from a first position to a second position as a result of said engagement, if the sheet material exceeds a predetermined thickness;

said controller being configured to, during insertion of the sheet material into the feed-aperture, permit energization of the cutting mechanism prior to the part of the thickness detector reaching the second position and prevent energization of the cutting mechanism responsive to said part of the thickness detector reaching the second position; and

a maximum thickness indicator for providing a visual or audible indication to a user of the machine that energization of the cutting mechanism is prevented due to the sheet material moving said part of the thickness detector to said second position;

wherein said thickness detector includes a sensor and the part is coupled to a detectable element movable for detection by the sensor, and wherein said thickness detector is configured such that movement of said part in the feed-aperture amplifies movement of the detectable element at the sensor.