Patent Application
20110024535
The present utility model relates to the technical field of a paper shredder, particularly to a protection apparatus for a paper shredder, and more particularly, to a paper shredder feed opening safety inlet apparatus.
Paper shredders currently in the consumer and business markets have a narrow gap through which paper is fed to the shredder cutting apparatus. By design, the gap in a paper feed passage is limited in size, to protect a user or other party from inadvertently coming into contact with the shredder blade, or to protect the shredder blade apparatus by limiting the opening into which foreign matter may fall. When excessive paper is pushed into the feed opening (an “overfeed”), a thick cluster, or a bolus, of paper may form in, and may block, paper feed passage. A shredder may aim to protect a user during a paper overfeed by stopping the shredder action, for example, by actuating a switch the feed passage, causing the shredder motor to stop.
As the bolus of paper in the paper feed passage move deep into the passage, or causes the shredder to stop operation, the usual gap in paper feed passage can be widened, allowing foreign matter to enter paper feed passage, and further endangering a paper shredder user. However, complex apparatus attempting to solve the problem tend to be unacceptably costly. There is a need for paper shredder feed opening safety apparatus, which can improve user safety at a lower cost.
Accordingly a safety inlet apparatus for a paper feed opening of a shredder includes an upper cover, a safety cover, a paper feed passage block connected to the safety cover, and an elastic member connected to the upper cover and to the paper feed passage block. The upper cover includes a paper feed passage with a passage entrance and an upper cover inner wall that connects to the elastic member. The safety cover is rotatably coupled to the upper cover, with a first end section of the safety cover being rotatable to cover the passage inlet. Also, the paper feed passage block is connected to a second end section of the safety block, and is slidably disposed on the upper cover to move toward the paper feed passage, and limiting safety cover movement. Furthermore, movement of the elastic member resiliently actuates the safety cover to rotate toward closure of the passage inlet or entrance.
In other embodiments of the safety inlet apparatus, the paper feed passage block is fixed to the second end section. In some of these embodiments of the safety inlet apparatus, the paper feed passage block is integrated with the second end section.
In yet other embodiments of the safety inlet apparatus, the paper feed passage block is disposed between the paper feed passage and the elastic member. In still other embodiments of the safety inlet apparatus, the elastic member includes a tension spring. Further embodiments provide at least one stud on the second end section of the safety cover, and at least one stud is limited by the paper feed passage block.
In still further embodiments, the safety cover is pivotably coupled to the upper cover. In some embodiments of the pivotably coupled safety cover, rotating axles provided on sides of the safety cover and axle seats are facingly disposed on the upper cover. The axel seats are positioned to receive a respective rotating axel, and the rotating axels of the safety cover are respectively mounted in the axle seats.
The invention is generally shown by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Embodiments of the present invention can provide an inexpensive, reliable, and convenient solution to potential hazard and safety problems arising from an enlarged paper shredder feed inlet or opening. In accordance with the following description, certain embodiments of a safety inlet apparatus for paper shredder can be realized, inter alia, using a constrainedly rotatable safety cover including a passage feed block in the paper feed inlet.
In general, during normal operation, the safety cover can be opened to create an acceptable gap. When excessive paper or foreign matter is introduced into paper feed passage, the safety cover tends to be forced open, which further tends to push paper feed passage block into paper feed passage, thereby closing paper feed passage. Feed passage closure during paper feed passage overloading can provide a significant safeguard for a paper shredder user. An elastic member, such as a tension spring, can provide a force to reset paper feed passage block, when the amount of paper fed to the shredder is reduced below an excessive limiting thickness, or when a comparable thickness of foreign matter is removed.
Referring to
Typically, safety cover 2 can be rotatably coupled to the upper cover 1, aligned with axis 28. First end section 21 can be formed to reversibly cover the entrance to paper feed passage 3. Safety protection apparatus also can include paper feed passage block 4 and elastic member 5. Paper feed passage block 4 can be slidably arranged on the upper cover 1 disposed towards paper feed passage 3. Paper feed passage block 4 can be disposed to limit second end section 22. Alternatively, paper feed passage block 4 can be disposed to connect with second end section 22. Typically, the two ends of elastic member 5 can be connected to the inner wall of the upper cover 1 and to paper feed passage block 4, respectively. Elastic member 5 may be, without limitation, a coil spring in tension, although other resilient materials may be used for elastic member 5.
Paper feed passage block 4 can be arranged between paper feed passage 3 and elastic member 5, although other arrangements mat be substituted. Tension spring 5 functions when paper feed passage block 4 extends into paper feed passage 3, and resets paper feed passage block 4 with tension force. Paper feed passage block 4 also may be arranged at one side of paper feed passage 3 and elastic member 5. That is, elastic member 5 and paper feed passage 3 may be arranged at the same side in reference to the paper feed passage block 4. Paper feed passage block 4 enters the paper feed passage 3 by tightly pressing elastic member 5 and will empty the passage and reset with the aid of the elastic force of elastic member 5. Also, at least one stud 23 can be provided at second end section 22 and may limit paper feed passage block 4. However, in the depicted example embodiment, two studs 23 are provided at the second end section 22. Safety cover 2 can be pivotably connected to the upper cover 1, and generally can pivot along transverse axis 28. As depicted in
When no paper is being fed, the entrance to paper feed passage 3 can be covered by safety cover 2 and may be tightly closed. When in use, safety cover 2 can rotate up to a limiting rotation angle to form a gap in paper feed passage 3, allowing a limited thickness of paper to pass through paper feed passage 3. At a rotation angle greater than the limiting rotation angle, the amount of paper being placed into paper feed passage 3 is considered to be excessive. In addition, foreign matter having a thickness greater than the comparable limiting thickness for paper also may be considered to have excessive thickness.
In the embodiment depicted in
When excessive paper or foreign matter are introduced into paper feed passage 3, safety cover 2 continues to rotate in response, tending to create a larger passage gap. As shown in
When no paper is fed into shredder 105, inlet to paper feed passage 3 is covered by safety cover 2, and, in general, is tightly closed. This action is similar to the embodiments illustrated in
As shown in
Although the present invention has been described in terms of example embodiments, it is to be understood that neither the Specification nor the Drawings are to be interpreted as limiting. Various alternations and modifications are inherent, or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the foregoing disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as covering all alternations and modifications that are encompassed by the spirit and the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200910055706 | Jul 2009 | CN | national |
This U.S. patent application is related to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/980,176, entitled “Safety Shredder,” which was filed on Oct. 30, 2007, which is assigned to the same assignee hereof, which is relied upon under Chinese Application No. 200910055706 filed Jul. 31, 2009, for priority, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
