Paper shredder control system responsive to touch-sensitive element

• US 8,008,812 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Limited
• Original Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Hsin-Hsiung, Chen, Kevin, Tsai, Chung Shih
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/841,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/326, 241/34, 241/37.5, 192/130, 823/62
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/0007 specially adapted for disintegrating documents
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0023 Switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0038 Motor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/164 Prevention of jamming and/or overload
• 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

Abstract

The invention is directed to a touch-sensitive paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction control circuit unit. The control circuit unit then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive.

Claims

1. A touch-sensitive paper shredder control system, comprising:

a conductive shredder element;

a shredder blade;

a shredder mechanical part coupled to the shredder blade and configured to stop the shredder blade;

a control unit coupled to the conductive shredder element and capable of detecting bioelectricity from a living being applied to the conductive shredder element, the control unit coupled to the shredder mechanical part and configured to stop the shredder blade responsive to detected bioelectricity.

2. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, wherein the shredder mechanical part further comprises a mechanical restraint having a clutch.

3. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, further comprising:

an electromagnetic motor coupled to the shredder mechanical part and coupled to the shredder blade, wherein motor operation drives shredder blade motion; and

an electromagnetic braking circuit coupled in the control unit to the motor, wherein the control unit is configured to cause electromagnetic braking of the motor, and

wherein the control unit provides substantially real-time monitoring of contact between the conductive shredder element and a living being, and wherein the control unit causes electromagnetic braking of the motor responsive to living being contact with the conductive shredder element.

4. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, wherein:

the shredder mechanical part includes a reversible shredder motor;

the control unit includes a three position switch having, on, off, and reverse positions; and

the control unit is operable to disable the reversible shredder motor when the three position switch is in the ON position or in the REVERSE position.

5. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, wherein:

power to the reversible shredder motor is controlled by a relay switch.

6. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, wherein the bioelectricity is a static electrical charge produced by the living being.

7. The touch-sensitive paper shredder controller of claim 1, wherein the bioelectricity is a flowing electrical charge produced by the living being.

8. A touch-sensitive paper shredder system, comprising:

a shredder motor;

a bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit including a biosensor coupled to a paper shredder blade;

a shredder control unit coupled between the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit and the shredder motor,

wherein the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit cooperates with the shredder control unit to stop the shredder motor when a living being-contacts, and applies bioelectricity to, the biosensor.

9. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 8 further comprising:

an optical coupler interposed in an electrical path between the biosensor and the shredder control unit, wherein a bioelectricity signal from the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit is coupled through the optical coupler to actuate the shredder control unit to stop an operating shredder motor.

10. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 9, further comprising a grounding switch circuit coupled to transmit to the optical coupler, a bioelectricity signal received from the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit, wherein the grounding switch circuit couples the bioelectricity signal from the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit to the optical coupler.

11. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 10, wherein the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit further comprises:

a first cascaded transistor having a base coupled to the biosensor, a collector coupled to a power supply, and an emitter coupled the base of a second cascaded transistor, wherein the emitter of the second cascaded transistor is coupled to an optical coupler input.

12. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 8, wherein the bioelectricity signal is a static electrical charge produced by the living being.

13. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 8, wherein the bioelectricity signal is a flowing electrical charge produced by the living being.

14. A touch-sensitive paper shredder system comprising:

a shredder blade;

a powered shredder motor coupled to the shredder blade;

a biosensor responsive to bioelectricity from a living being with a biosignal;

a control circuit unit, having a control switch coupled to the powered motor; and

an optical isolator coupled to receive a biosignal from the biosensor and configured to electrically isolate the biosignal transmitted to the control circuit unit,

wherein, while the shredder is operating, the biosignal actuates the control circuit unit to operate a control switch to stop the powered shredder motor, and

wherein the control switch is a reed switch.

15. The touch-sensitive paper shredder system of claim 14, wherein the bioelectricity signal produced by the living being is one of a static electrical charge or a flowing electrical charge.

16. A method of controlling a paper shredder with a touch-sensitive device comprising:

providing a powered shredder motor, which can be operated in one of a forward direction or a reverse direction;

providing a shredder blade capable of being moved by the powered shredder motor;

coupling a touch-sensitive sensor to the a shredder element, wherein the touch-sensitive sensor can be energized by a bioelectrical signal of a living being;

providing a control circuit coupled to the touch-sensitive sensor and configured to receive a biosignal representative of a received bioelectric signal; and

configuring the control circuit to cease operation of the powered shredder motor in one of a forward direction or a reverse direction, responsive to the living being contacting the touch-sensitive sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing electrical isolation between the touch-sensitive sensor and a voltage that operates one or both of the control circuit and the powered shredder motor.

18. A paper shredder safety system comprising:

a shredder blade;

a powered reversible shredder motor coupled to the shredder blade;

a safety control circuit coupled to the powered reversible shredder motor;

a ground switching circuit coupled to the safety control circuit;

a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit coupled to the safety control circuit, and including a touch-sensitive sensor,

wherein when a bioelectricity signal is sensed from a living being in contact with the touch-sensitive sensor, the safety control circuit responsively actuates the ground switching circuit to stop the powered reversible shredder motor.

19. The paper shredder safety system of claim 18, further comprising:

a safety switch having an electrical member coupled to the safety control circuit and a mechanical member coupled to proximally mate with an articulating portion of a shredder chassis, wherein the electrical member transmits a safety switch signal to the safety control circuit when the proximal mating of the mechanical member and the articulating portion is disrupted, and wherein the safety control circuit actuates the control circuit to stop the powered reversible shredder motor, and wherein the electrical member includes the touch-sensitive sensor.

20. The paper shredder safety system of claim 19, wherein the touch sensitive sensor is connected to at least one of a paper shredder blade, a metalized paper shredder frame member, a metalized paper shredder blade spacer, or a metalized blade shield.