Touch-sensitive paper shredder control system

• US 8,018,099 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Limited
• Original Assignee: Aurora Office Equipment Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Liangneng
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/576,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/326, 241/34, 241/37.5, 192/130, 833/62
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/528 To delay response to work-senser
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/535 Release of interlock controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/849 With signal, scale, or indicator

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 shredder mechanical part;

a touch panel coupled to the shredder mechanical part; and

a control system coupled to the shredder mechanical part and to the touch panel,

wherein bioelectricity from a living being applied to the touch panel actuates the control system to stop the shredder mechanical part.

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

an optical coupler connected between the touch panel and the shredder mechanical part, wherein the optical coupler provides electrical isolation of the touch panel from the shredder mechanical part.

3. The touch-sensitive paper shredder control system of claim 1, wherein the control system provides substantially real-time monitoring of contact with a living being.

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

the shredder mechanical part includes a reversible shredder motor;

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

the control system 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 moving 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 touch panel disposed near a throat of a shredder;

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

wherein the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit cooperates with the shredded control system to stop the shredder motor when a living being-contacts, and applies bioelectricity to, the touch panel.

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

an optical coupler interposed in an electrical path between the touch panel and the shredder control system, wherein a bioelectricity signal from the bioelectricity-controlled switching circuit is coupled through the optical coupler to actuate the shredder control circuit 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 includes a first cascaded transistor having a base coupled to the touch panel, a collector coupled to a power supply, and an emitter coupled the base of a ground switching circuit cascaded transistor, wherein the emitter of the second cascaded transistor is coupled to electrical ground, and the emitter of the ground switching circuit cascaded transistor is coupled to the 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 moving electrical charge produced by the living being.

14. A touch-sensitive paper shredder system comprising:

a powered shredder motor;

a touch detection circuit unit coupled to a touch panel;

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

an optical isolator coupled to electrically isolate the touch detection unit and the control circuit unit, while transmitting a touch signal representative of the bioelectricity,

wherein while the shredder is operating bioelectricity applied to the touch panel by a living being is received by the touch panel while the shredder is operating, bioelectricity flows through energizing the touch detection circuit to actuate the control system 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 is one of a static electrical charge or a moving electrical charge, produced by the living being.

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 touch-sensitive touch panel near a shredder inlet, wherein the touch-sensitive panel can be energized by the bioelectrical signal of a living being;

providing a control circuit coupled to the touch sensitive touch panel and configured to receive a touch signal 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 panel.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing electrical isolation between the touch pad 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 powered reversible shredder motor;

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 comprising a touch panel in proximity with a feed throat of the shredder; and

wherein when a bioelectricity signal is sensed from a living being in proximity with the touch panel, and, in response, the safety control circuit 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.