METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOCUMENT DESTRUCTION

• US 20080029628A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clifford Spinac, Herman Rodriguez, Newton Smith
• Original Assignee: Clifford Spinac, Herman Rodriguez, Newton Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Newton, Spinac, Clifford, Rodriguez, Herman
• Granted Patent: US 8,364,306 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/36
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 18/0007 specially adapted for disintegrating documents
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2018/0015 for disintegrating CDs, DVDs and/or credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 25/00 Control arrangements specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable code for shredding objects. The apparatus has a number of components including a receptacle that is configured to receive objects. A shredding unit is connected to the receptacle, wherein the shredding unit selectively destroys the objects placed into the receptacle. An object detector is used to detect the presence of an object in the receptacle. An object identifier identifies objects placed into the receptacle. The apparatus also has a memory and a connector. The connector is used to establish a communications link with a data processing system. A controller in the apparatus stores identifications of objects identified by the object identifier in the memory and sends a signal to the shredding unit to control shredding of the objects.

Claims

1. An object shredding apparatus comprising:

a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive objects;

a shredding unit connected to the receptacle, wherein the shredding unit selectively destroys the objects placed into the receptacle;

an object detector, wherein the object detector detects the presence of an object in the receptacle;

an object identifier, wherein the object identifier identifies objects placed into the receptacle;

a memory;

a connector, wherein the connector is used to establish a communications link with a data processing system; and

a controller, wherein the controller stores identifications of objects identified by the object identifier in the memory and sends a signal to the shredding unit to control shredding of the objects.

2. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein sending of the signal by the controller to the shredding unit is controlled by the data processing system.

3. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller has a plurality of modes of operation comprising:

a first mode of operation, responsive to an object being placed in the receptacle for destruction, in which the controller generates an identification the object using the object identifier, stores the identification of the object in the memory, and sends the signal to the shredding unit to shred the object; and

a second mode of operation responsive to the communications link to the data processing system being established, in which the controller sends identifications stored in the memory to the data processing system.

4. The object shredding apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of modes of operation further comprises:

a third mode of operation responsive to the communications link to the data processing system being present in which the controller identifies another object placed into the receptacle, the controller generates another identification of the another object, and the controller determines whether to send the signal to the shredding unit to destroy the another object based on the another identification of the object.

5. The object shredding apparatus of claim 4, wherein in the third mode of operation, the controller sends the another identification of the another object to the data processing system and receives a response as to whether the another object is to be destroyed.

6. The object shredding apparatus of claim 4, wherein in the third mode of operation, the controller compares the identification of the another object with a collection of object identifications and makes a determination to destroy the another object if the another identification is not present in the collection of object identifications.

7. The object shredding apparatus of claim 6, wherein in the third mode of operation, the controller compares the identification of the another object with a list of objects to be destroyed and makes a determination to destroy the another object if the identification is present in the list of objects to be destroyed.

8. The object shredding apparatus of claim 6, wherein in the third mode of operation, if the determination to destroy the object is absent, the controller causes the another object to be moved to a secure bin.

9. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a bin connected to the shredding unit, wherein the shredding unit deposits shredded material generated by shredding the objects in the bin; and

a capacity sensor to determine an amount of shredded material.

10. The object shredding apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

determining means for determining a projection of when the bin will be full.

11. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least one of a serial port, a parallel port, a universal serial bus, a network interface card, a modem, a Bluetooth device, and a wireless communications unit.

12. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a control panel connected to the controller, wherein the control panel is used to operate the object shredding apparatus.

13. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller generates a certificate of document destruction by a certifying agency when an object is destroyed.

14. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller generates a proof of object destruction and transfers the proof of object destruction to the data processing system over the communications link.

15. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller schedules a pickup for destroyed objects using the communications link.

16. The object shredding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is selected from one of a document, an envelope, credit card, a floppy disk, a compact disk, a RFID label, or a DVD disk.

17-38. -38. (canceled)