Shredder with thickness detector
First Claim
1. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed aperture and a cutting mechanism powered by an electric motor, the feed aperture being arranged to receive sheet material for shredding and to direct such sheet material to the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine having means for measuring the thickness of sheet material passed into said feed aperture for shredding which sheet material may comprise a plurality of superimposed sheets which together provide such thickness, said measuring means controlling said cutting mechanism so as to permit energisation of the cutting mechanism where the thickness of sheet material measured thereby is below a controlling threshold and to prevent such energisation where the thickness of sheet material measured is above said controlling threshold, characterised in that the machine includes at least one input for inputting a variable parameter relevant to such shredding and control means operable to adjust said controlling threshold in dependence upon the value of the parameter input.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed aperture and a cutting mechanism powered by an electric motor, the feed aperture being arranged to receive sheet material for shredding and to direct such sheet material to the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine having means for measuring the thickness of sheet material passed into said feed aperture for shredding which sheet material may comprise a plurality of superimposed sheets which together provide such thickness, said measuring means controlling said cutting mechanism so as to permit energisation of the cutting mechanism where the thickness of sheet material measured thereby is below a controlling threshold and to prevent such energisation where the thickness of sheet material measured is above said controlling threshold, characterised in that the machine includes at least one input for inputting a variable parameter relevant to such shredding and control means operable to adjust said controlling threshold in dependence upon the value of the parameter input.
- 6. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed aperture and a cutting mechanism powered by an electric motor, the feed aperture being arranged to receive sheet material for shredding and to direct such sheet material to the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine having a detector for detecting the thickness of sheet material passed into said feed aperture for shredding which sheet material may comprise a plurality of superimposed sheets which together provide such thickness, said detector controlling said cutting mechanism so as to permit energisation of the cutting mechanism where the thickness of sheet material measured thereby is below a controlling threshold and to prevent such energisation where the thickness of sheet material measured is above said controlling threshold, characterised in that the machine includes at least one input for inputting a variable parameter relevant to such shredding and a controller operable to adjust said controlling threshold automatically in dependence upon the parameter input.
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11. A shredding machine for shredding sheet material, the machine comprising a feed aperture and a cutting mechanism powered by an electric motor, the feed aperture being arranged to receive sheet material for shredding and to direct such sheet material to the cutting mechanism for shredding, the machine having a thickness measuring device for measuring the thickness of sheet material passed into said feed aperture for shredding which sheet material may comprise a plurality of superimposed sheets which together provide such thickness, said thickness measuring device controlling said cutting mechanism so as to permit energisation of the cutting mechanism when the thickness of sheet material measured thereby is below a controlling threshold and to prevent such energisation when the thickness of sheet material measured is above said controlling threshold, characterised in that the machine includes at least one input for inputting a variable parameter relevant to such shredding, and a controller operable to adjust said controlling threshold in dependence upon the value of the parameter input.
Specification