1. Technical Field
The present invention 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.
2. Background Art
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 of paper may form in, and may block the paper feed passage. If comminution continues during an overfeed, the shredder motor and gears may be damaged. A shredder operator may be tempted to manually clear the overfeed while the motor is energized and become injured.
Also, as the cluster of paper in the paper feed passage moves deep into the passage, the usual gap in paper feed passage can be widened, allowing foreign matter to enter paper feed passage as comminution continues, further endangering a paper shredder operator and damaging the shredder. 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.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a safety inlet apparatus for a paper feed opening of a shredder, which has cutting cylinders. An embodiment includes an upper casing of the shredder, the upper casing having a feed end with a safety dam. The safety dam includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes an upper index and a lower index. Also included is an angled plate set apart from the upper casing, the set apart portion forming at least a portion of the paper feed opening. A safety plate is provided, which is formed to traverse the paper feed opening from the angled plate to the safety dam. The safety plate has a distal index end. The embodiment also includes a pivot member, and a power control switch. The pivot member is coupled between the safety plate and the upper casing. The pivot member is positioned at least partly proximally, relative to the distal index end. The pivot member is configured to facilitate cantilevered traversal of the safety plate distal index end from the angled plate to the safety dam. The power control switch is disposed on the upper casing and distally set apart from the pivot member. The cantilevered traversal of the safety plate distal index end from the angled plate to the top portion of the safety dam exposes the paper feed opening for shreddant feeding and initiates comminution by the shredder cutting cylinders. The cantilevered traversal of the safety plate distal index end to the lower index of the safety dam causes the power control switch to stop comminution by the shredder cutting cylinders.
In an alternate embodiment the angled plate and the safety plate distal index end extend to the top portion of the safety dam form feed guides for the paper feed opening. In another embodiment, the safety plate proximal end is pivotally coupled to the upper casing. Yet other embodiments include elastic means coupled between the safety plate proximal end and the upper casing, wherein the elastic means biases the safety plate upward to contact the angled plate and to close the paper feed opening. Yet other certain embodiments employ elastic means around a longitudinal means of the safety cover to urge the safety plate to the closed position. The embodiments can employ a buckle bit to temporarily hold the safety plate in the open position. Still other embodiments include an upper cover having the upper casing on one side and the angled plate on the other side, and being formed with an opening that sets apart the upper casing from the angled plate. In still other embodiments, the angle of the angled plate makes difficult shredder operator contact with the comminution blades. In yet additional embodiments the depth of the feed opening relative to the shredder cutting cylinders prevents shredder operator or foreign object contact with the comminution blades.
Certain embodiments provide a safety shredder having cutting cylinders, an electric motor coupled to the cutting cylinders, a power control unit coupled to the electric motor and controlling power delivered to the electric motor, a housing surrounding the cutting cylinders and the electric motor, an angled plate formed in the first side and having an apex, the second side formed on the second side and being disposed with an upper deck positioned lower than the apex, in which the upper deck is disposed with a dam having an upper index and a lower index, the dam being adjacent the feed opening throat. The embodiments also include a safety plate having an index on a distal end and pivoting means on a portion of the proximal end, and switching means proximal to the pivoting means, and configured to cause the power control unit to turn off power to the electrical motor when actuated. The housing has an opening with the first side set apart from the second side to provide a feed opening throat. Comminution occurs when power is delivered to the electric motor. The safety plate is positioned above the second side upper deck. When the safety plate distal index is in contact with the angled plate, the feed opening throat closes. When the safety plate distal index is positioned at the upper index of the dam the feed opening throat opens and causes the power control unit to provide power to the electrical motor. When the safety plate distal index is positioned at the lower index of the dam the switching means actuates, turning off the motor.
The embodiments herein also include a safety inlet apparatus for a paper feed opening of a shredder having cutting cylinders, having a safety plate positioned in a closed position, in an open position, or in a safety position. The apparatus includes an upper casing of the shredder, the upper casing having a feed end with a safety dam, wherein the safety dam includes a lower index, and an angled plate set apart from the upper casing to form the paper feed opening. In yet other embodiments, the apparatus includes an upper cover having the angled plate on a first side and the upper casing on a second side, and being formed with an opening that sets apart the angled plate from the upper casing. The apparatus also includes a safety plate formed to traverse the paper feed opening from the angled plate to the safety dam. The safety plate has a distal index end. A pivot member coupled between the safety plate and the upper casing, in which the pivot member is positioned longitudinally, relative to the safety plate, is configured to facilitate traversal of the safety plate distal index end from the angled plate to the safety dam. In addition, a power limit switch is disposed on the upper casing, set apart from the pivot member, and coupled to a power control unit.
The traversal of the safety plate distal index end from the angled plate to the safety dam exposes the paper feed opening for shreddant feeding and initiates comminution by the shredder cutting cylinders; and the traversal of the safety plate distal index end to the lower index of the safety dam actuates the power limit switch to stop comminution by the shredder cutting cylinders. In the closed position, the safety plate distal index end is adjacent to the apex. In the open position, the safety plate distal index end is disposed between the apex and the dam. In the safety position, the safety plate distal index end is adjacent to the lower index of the safety dam.
Embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and are not limited by, the accompanying figures, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which:
Skilled artisans can appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention.
Embodiments of the present invention can provide an inexpensive, reliable, and convenient solution to potential hazard and safety problems arising from forced entry of an object into the shredder paper feed throat inlet. In accordance with the following description, certain embodiments of a safety inlet apparatus for paper shredder can be realized, inter alia, using a traversing safety cover in the paper feed inlet or opening. In other embodiments, a safety plate is oriented to a longitudinal axis and rotates about that axis, to provide the functionality of the safety shredder.
In general, during normal operation, the safety plate can be opened to create an acceptable gap, and allowing comminution to occur. When excessive paper or foreign matter is introduced into paper feed passage, the safety plate tends to be forced open, which actuates a power limit switch, thereby depowering the shredder motor. An elastic member, such as a tension spring, can provide a force to close the safety plate, when the shredder is not in use.
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Safety shredder can have an upper housing 430 having angled plate 435 set apart from an upper casing 440. Angled plate 435 can have an apex 490. The set apart portion between apex 490 and vertical safety dam 455 can form at least a portion of the paper feed opening throat 444 of paper feed opening 445. Sensor 422 can be coupled to power control unit 485. Sensor 422 can be positioned in throat 444, such that shreddant 466 entering paper feed opening 445 can be detected by sensor 422, causing power control unit 485 to energize electric motor 470. Sensor 422 can be, without limitation, a mechanical, an electrical, or an optical sensor. Upper casing 440 includes an inclined upper deck 450 coupled to an approximately vertical safety dam 455. The safety dam 455 includes a lower index 460. In addition, power limit switch 465 can be disposed in upper deck 450 and inclined such that, when safety plate 405 is in the safety position, the safety plate 405 actuates the power limit switch 465, which causes power control unit 485 to cut off power to the shredder motor 470. Such a cut-off can occur with material being in feed throat 444. The safety plate 405 can pivot on a pivot means 410 disposed on a longitudinal axis relative to the safety plate 405. The safety plate 405 is configured to traverse the generally vertical plane of the paper feed opening 445 from the angled plate 435 to the safety dam 455. The safety plate 405 has a distal index end 475 and proximal end 480. Longitudinal pivot means 425 can be biased by a tension spring 424 that relaxes in the closed position 410. Also, in some embodiments, disposed on one or both ends of longitudinal pivot means can be disposed detent device 488, which may be in the form of, without limitation, a buckle bit plate. The buckle bit plate 488 can have two recesses or detents that accommodate corresponding protrusions 487a-b disposed on either end of safety plate 405, as is described relative to
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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. Other embodiments and configurations have been taught by the foregoing embodiments, and modifications and substitutions thereof are comprehended by this description. 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.