GB2257055A - Document shredder. - Google Patents

Description

4

DESCRIPTION

DOCUMENT SHREDDER 2 21) 7j 35 The invention relates to a docLrnent shredder or canponents/subassenblies for the same, which are particularly intended to be located in the boundary region of a conveying or feed path and which is traversed by the material to be carminuted before and/or after =rninution, as well as during ca-rminution in the vicinity of a cant inution gap. To this end for the docanent shredder is provided a body with receptacles for a carminuting mechanism, whose boundary members, e.g. cutting rollers, after installation, bound or limit the canninuting gap located in the conveying path and are to be fixed to said components, which during cperation cane into contact with at least parts of the material being CUL11 inuted.

In a direction roughly corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the caminuting gap, it is possible to provide outside the latter, e.g. adjacent to the outer circunference of at least one boundary member, at least one profile part, which at least in individual longitudinal portions between its side facing the outer circunference of the boundary member and said outer circunference no further components are provided, so that here the profile part forms the caTponent closest to the outer circunference of the boundary 11161. The profile part permits reciprocal stiffening of e.g. side or bearing walls of the body, carries or forms stripping elements for at least one boundary member or creates boundaries for the conveying path or similar functional constructions. If the profile part is formed by a solid, e.g.

cross-sectionally rectangular or circular profile bar, although it leads to advantageous strength characteristics and to receptacles for strippers, but it also leads to a relatively high weight and limited arc angle over which the individual profile bar surr ounds the boundary members in crosssection.

However, if the prof J 1 e part is formed by a wall prof ile in the sense that it has cross -sectionally interconnected portions with a different alignment, as well as a roughly constant wall thickness and said profile part traverses with a profile portion the ccmninuting gap, there are advantageous possibilities for a stripper construction and prior to the assembly or installation of the boundary mEmber the profile part is engaged therewith.

An object of the invention is to provide a docLment shredder or carponents or at least one subassembly for a document shredder so as to avoid the disadvantages of known constructions and which particularly in the case of a simple construction permits a favourable shielding of at least one boundary member in its areas located outside the carminuting gap, whilst being able to assume different functions in the case of simple and possibly also subsequent installability.

To solve this problem a single or each boundary member in the area of its outer circLimference, which does not directly belong to the boundary of the caTminuting gap, the entrance into the sane and/or the exit fran the sane, is partly or caupletely surrounded in at least one or all operating states by a profile section, whose inside associated with the boundary member forms cross-sectionally appropriately interconnected portions of different alignment and can surround the boundary member, relative to its central axis, over an arc angle of more than 45, 60, 90, 120 or 180% Advantageously in the associated area said profile section forms a shield for the boundary member on its side remote frcm the cana inuting gap and whose maximi-m distance fran the boundary member is smaller than its cross-sectional width or is half the sane and which is apprcpriately substantially ccapletely contact-free relative to the boundary member.

The prof J I e section, which advantageously at least in the cperating state is connected in rigid, clearance-free or braced manner in its mounting position with the body, can take over individual or all the said and further functions. If the CUM ing mechanism, optionally including the body, is su:rounded by a dane-like casing, even after removing the latter the boundary 111EIL remains shielded in the associated circunferential area ill such a way that the working or can, inuting area is not accessible fran a direction at right angles to the conveying path.

Instead of being formed by individual, grid-like, juxtaposed clips, an extruded or simi-lar strand profile, the profile section can be particularly simply formed by a bent or angular, flat material, such as sheet metal and therefore has over its entire extension a substantially constant wall thickness. Therefore interconnected or facing areas of said profi-le section can be resiliently flexible relative to one another, which in particular facilitates assembly. Moreover, over part or all its cross-section, or over part or the entire length of the effective working area or width, the profile section can be constructed in substantially closed-wall manner, so that it forms a substantially particle or dust-tight shield immediately adjacent to the outer circumference of the boundary member, which then in cross-section so engages in said chamber, that at the most half of its outer circumference is exposed in the vicinity of the conveying path.

one or all the boundaries of the conveying path, particularly those which in the manner of shaft boundaries are located roughly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the CaMinuting gap on one or both sides of its gap median plane, can be connected on the inlet and/or outlet side in roughly tight manner to the outer circunference of the associated boundary member and can be formed by the profile part, so that the associated chamber can only be entered by the finest particles, which possibly by vibrations or working movements can be returned to the feed shaft.

From an area upstrean of the inlet to an area downstream of the outlet for the ccruminuting gap, the conveying path can be:in cross-section substantially closed at right angles to and/or parallel to the longitudinal direction of the gap:in such a way that within said boundary there are one or both boundary mEmbers, said closed boundary, which:is cross-sectionally passed round the particular boundary body on its side remote from the CUIlLinuting gap, passes fran an externally accessible, slot-like apparatus insertion opening at a safe distance from the CUILLinuting gap for the manual insertion of the material to be ccrrrninuted to a shaft outlet for the already ccmminuted material at an even greater distance frcrn said gap. This leads to a shaft system separate fran the casing and located in substantially contact-free manner within the latter and which belongs to the body and is substantially closed and which can be bounded at me or both ends of the CULItinuting gap or on the longitudinal sides of the shaft by the side walls of the body instead of by one or two facing profile parts.

The profile part, which is e.g. braced against the insides of the side walls of the body with flange plates, can also serve as a carrier for one or two strippers for the associated boundary members displaced over the ci- rcu-nference or which roughly diametrically face one another and with said stripper can form a preassembled or one-piece assembly. The profile part can form at least one connection for a boundary of the insertion opening formed by the outer casing, so that the transition from said longitudinal boundary to the associated end of the boundary of the shaft system is almost continuous and the profi-le part or a guide element fixed thereto from the insertion opening to the intake of the caLLL inuting gap forms a continuous guidance surface. The profile part can also carry at least one sensor following the intake opening, which e.g. in the manner of a switch operated by the introduced material for CULIt Inution puts the caTminuting mechanism into operation.

The lightweight inventive construction still leads to a high strength, particularl of the body or the comminuting mechanism. The two side walls of the body, which are appropriately made in one piece with a bottom wall connecting sane in the lower region from a sheet metal plate or the like, whilst obviating crossbars with a solid cross-section, can solely be strut-braced by wall, hollow or box prof i-les and optionally by the boundary members with respect to one another. Such a profi-le part can in cross-section be provided at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the caTminuting gap also spaced from the conveying path or laterally and/or height-displaced with respect thereto and so as to form angularly a shield for a drive motor for the caiminutJng mechanism located between the side walls and whose upper leg is directed against one end of the body, so that after removing the casing the motor is freely accessible from said end.

These and further features can be gathered from the claims, despription and drawings and the individual features, both singly or in the form of subcombinations can be put into effect in an embodiment -of the invention and in other fields and represent advantageous, independently protectable constructions for which protection is hereby claimed. Eknbodiments of the invention are described in greater detail hereinafter relative to the drawings, wherein show:

Fig. 1 An inventive document shredder, partly in cross-section.

Fig. 2 f ig. 3 Two inventive canponents of the document shredder according to fig. 1 in cross-section and on a larger scale.

Another embodiment in a larger-scale detail.

The document shredder 1 according to figs. 1 and 2 has in cross or vertical section an approximately U-profile body 2 and an easily removable outer easing 3 mounted thereon and only leaving the body 2 uncovered on the bottom. Within the outer casing 3, which essentially forms the outsides of the document shredder 1, on the body 2 is located a canninuting mechanism 4 driven by a motor 5 and to which can be supplied fran the outside material to be CaL&Linlli-r-d via an insertion opening 6 of the outer casing 3. The material passes fran an approximately linear, horizontal supply shaft 7 Emanating fran the insertion cpening 6 into an approximately horizontal ccn-ninuting gap 10, which is bounded by two facing, approximately horizontal and tool-like interlocking boundary mEmbers 8, 9. To the outlet of the caminuting gap 10 an inclined discharge shaft 11 is connected to a shaft outlet 12, in whose vicinity the ccnninuted material passes out of the outer ca ing 3 or the document shredder 1 and can be collected in a container placed below a corresponding discharge opening.

The body 2 has two approximately vertical, parallel, substantially planar side walls 13, 14 located at the ends of the ceminuting gap 10, between which are located the boundary menbers 8, 9 and which are interconnected in one-piece spaced therefrcm below the cantinuting gap 10 in the vicinIty of their associated longitudinal boundaries and by means of a substantially through, planar base plate 15. On the exposed bottcm of the base plate 15, the body 2 has downwardly projecting feet 16, enabling the document shredder to be placed on any randcm placEment surface and above the standing surfaces thereof terminates the outer casing 3. Facing the shaft outlet 12 at an angle and outwardly overhanging the associated end of the base plate 15 forms an upwardly angled wall 17 with respect thereto with an cpening for the discharge of the catatinuted material frcrn the document shredder.

In the end region remote fran the discharge area the body 2 forms a substantially tightly closed motor chamber 18 with respect to the ccmninuting mechanism 4 for the reception of the motor 5. At the ends of the horizontal, slot-like insertion opening 6, the outer casing 3 forms lateral hollow or U-shaped bounded casing walls 19, which are cpen to the base plate 15 and into which project the side walls 13, 14 at least in the vicinity of the insertion cpening 6, so that the latter at its ends is bounded by the outsides of the inner legs of said casing walls 19. To the extent that said inner legs do not project over the length of the shaft 7 or 11, the associated lateral flanks positioned transversely to the longitudinal direction of the caTminuting gap 10 can be bounded by corresponding guide plates, which are connected in aligned manner to the inner legs, extend over the entire length of the shaft 7, over part of the shaft 11 and/or on the caTminuting gap 10 into the shaft 11, as well as being located on the insides of the side plates 13, 14 and/or fixed to the latter.

Both boundary members 8, 9 are constructed as roughly horizontal ccnininuting rollers mounted in rotary manner in receptacles or bearings of the side plates 13, 15, which are rotated by the motor 5 and by means of a gear stage are directly drive-connected in contrarotating manner. The gear fran the motor 5 to the canLinuting mechanism 4 and the gear stage are located on the outside of a side wall 13 and on the inside of the associated lateral casing wall. The bearings of the boundary members 8, 9 also act as journal bearings, so that they bring about a static stiffening of the body 2.

Between the facing insides of the side walls 13, 14 extend in the vicinity of the canninuting mechanism 4 two facing profile parts 20, 21, which are apprcpriately made frcm metal or sheet metal, have approximately constant =ss-sections over their entire length and which do not project over the outsides of the side walls 13, 14. The profile part 20 or 21 extends in cr ss-section substantially fran the insertion cpening 6 to the shaft outlet 12 and forms for the associated boundary members 8 or 9 with a profile section 22 or 23 a closed casing, which is only cpen over its entire lorigitudinal. side facing the cant inuting gap 10, so that the associated boundary member 8 or 9 can engage in its casing at least approximately over half its circumference.

Instead of being pitch circular in cross-section, each profile section 22 or 23 is approximately rectangular U-shaped and therefore forns two profile legs 24, 25 or 27, 28 and a U-shaped crossbar 26 or 29. The profile leg 27 of the lower profile section 23 closer to the insertion opening 6 is at an obtuse angle to the associated U-crossbar 29 and in cross-section is approximately at right angles to the median plane of the shaft 7, whereas its other profile leg:Ls approximately at right angles to the median plane of the shaft 11. Thus, inmed:Lately adjacent to the inlet and/or outlet of the cann:Lnuting gap 10, the profi-le section 22, 23 is roughly tangentially connected to the outer c:LrcL3mference of the associated boundary member 8 or 9 with a small gap spacing, so that each boundary member:Ls located in contact-free manner:in a slot-shaped casing channel. Sa:Ld median planes are roughly parallel to the width direction of the shaft 7 or 11.

Instead of only fozming the profile section 22 or 23, the particular profile part 20 or 21 has at least one further prof:Lle part, which is appropriately directly connected to the outside of the associated proftle leg 24, 25 or 27, 28 and includes sane in its proftle construction. On the supply side the particular profile part 20 or 21 foirns a box profile 30 or 31 substantially in one piece therewith and which passes fran the associated profile leg 24 or 27 approximately or at least up to the insertion opening 6 and also extends roughly over the length of the ccMinuting gap 10 or the prof i-le section 22, 23. The box profile 30, 31 has a profile crossbar 32, 34 connected in one piece by angling to the outside to the associated profile leg 24 or 25 and which substantially over its entire width and length is parallel to the associated boundary of the shaft 7 and can foim the latter.

At a distance fran the prof ile leg 24, 27 said prof i-le crossbar 32, 34 passes into a reinforcing bar 33, 35 angled away fran the shaft 7, so that a U-profile lower than the profile section 22, 23 is fonned. The box profi-le 30 is narrower in cross-section than the box profile 31, its reinforcing bars 33, 35 located roughly in carmon plane being set back only slightly by roughly their material thickness carpared with the insertion cpening 6.

The outlet-side prof J I e leg 25 or 28 passes by bending in one piece into a wall profile 36 or 37, which extends approximately to the shaft outlet 12 or at least to the associated end of the side walls 13, 14. At the ends of the particular box profi-le 30, 31, its profile crossbar 32, 34 fonns a plate or flange-like fastening element 38, 39 bent in the sane direction as the reinforcing bar 33, 35 and which e.g. by welding can be rigidly fixed to the terminal edges of the associated profile legs 24, 27 and reinforcing bars 33, 35, so that the frame or flat shell-like box profile 30 or 31 having a through wall in substantially uninterrupted manner over the entire circunference is formed. The wall profile 36 or 37 has also at least one fixing element 40 or 41, 42 constructed or bent in the sane sense and which also is connected directly to the associated profile leg 25, 28 and/or can be positioned in spaced manner therefrom.

All the fixing elements 38 to 42 of the particular end of the profile part 20, 21 are appropriately located in a carmon plane and can e.g. have through or tapped holes, so that their outwardly directed plate faces can be fixed by bolts against the inside of the associated side wall 13 or 14 in a rigid, but in non-destructive, easily detachable and replaceable manner. As a result of this f ixing the prof 11 e section 22 or 23 is also fixed in dimensionally rigid manner, having previously had a resilient elasticity at least to the extent that its two profile legs can be spread apart. The wall profile 36 or 37 has a substantially planar profile plate 43 or 44, each of which being located like the profile crossbar 32, 34 on one side of the median plane of the associated shaft 11 and one, particularly the lower one can have on the inside a convex curved or angled portion, so that the crosssectional height of the shaft 11 increases at an acute angle of a few degrees towards the shaft outlet 12.

The upper boundary 45 of the shaft 7 IS substantially through planar and horzontal from the insertion opening 6 to the outer wall of the associated upper boundary member 8. The shaft boundary 46 located in spaced manner below it is also substantially planar and parallel to the shaft boundary 45 f= the insertion opening 6 and over part or approximately half the length of the shaft 7 and then diverges with respect thereto up to the circumference of the associated lower boundary member 9, so that the internal crosssectional height of the shaft 7 is increased in acute-angled manner to the c=ninuting gap 10 and the entering material for canninution on the tcp of the shaft boundary 46 can run up onto the outer circunference 50 of the boundary member 9, which towards the shaft 7 is exposed on an at least or more than twice or three times greater arc angle than the outer circunference 49 of the boundary menber 8.

Both shaft boundaries 45, 46 are so guided up to the associated outer circanference, that they are connected in substantially continuous manner thereto or engage in depressions on said outer circunference. This also applies for the corresponding shaft boundaries 47, 48 of the shaft 11. The upper shaft boundary 47 is inclined fran the outer circunference of the boundary mEmber 8 by fewer radians than the lower shaft boundary 48, which appropriately has a portion connected to the outer circLrnference of the boundary me-nber 9, which is located parallel to the boundary 47 and is shorter than half the shaft length.

As a result of their roughly identical cross-sectional curvature, the outer circinferences 49, 50 define a hcpper or funnel-shaped narrowed gap entrance 51 at the end of the shaft 7 and a hcpper or funnel-shaped widened gap exit 52 at the start of the shaft 11. The gap entrance 51 extends in crosssection only between the shaft boundaries 45, 46 and corresponding to their arrangEment is asynmetrical to the gap plane of the CCIIAL inuting gap 10, the shaft boundary 46 following onto the outer circunference 50 is located apprepriately in its associated axial plane or roughly parallel to the gap plane, whereas the axial plane of the outer circunference 49 parallel to the shaft boundary 45 is outwardly displaced with respect to the boundary 45 and the latter is at an obtuse angle to the gap plane. The gap exit 52 is correspondingly bounded by two shaft boundaries 47, 48 and substantially symetrical to the gap plane and each shaft boundary 47, 48 can be connected roughly in an axial plane to the associated outer circinference 49 or 50.

The particular prof ile part 20, 21 or prof J 1 e section 22, 23 forms a prof ile inside 53, 55 facing the conveying path and a prof i-le outside 54, 56 reMote therefr(n. A stripper 57, 59 or 58, 60 projects over the profile inside of the par-ticular profile leg 24, 25 or 27, 28 transversely or roughly parallel to the associated shaft boundary and instead of being shaped in one piece frcm the associated profile leg or part, is formed by a separate carponent in the form of a flat material strip 61 and is fixed rigidly or non-detachably to the profile part 20 or 21. The intake-side, upper stripper 57 and both outlet-side strippers 59, 60 are constructed in substantially through planar manner over the width and/or length thereof and with one of their two plate faces are so fixed to the entire associated surface of the profi-le crossbar 32 or the inside of the profile plate 43 or 44, that they form with their other plate face the associated part of the shaft boundary 45, 47, 48. The material thickness of the sheet metal or similar stripper can be roughly the sa-ne as that of the profile parts 20, 21. The intake-side, lower stripper 58 is formed by a strip bent in the described manner in accordance with the shaft boundary 46, so that in the vicinity of the shaft the particular shaft boundary 45 or 46 is formed carpletely by the associated strip 61. on its longitudinal edge projecting freely against the boundary member 8 or 9 and therefore possibly yielding slightly on bending, the particular stripper is provided in carb-like manner with projecting stripping fingers 62, which are formed by cutouts located between the sane on said longitudinal edge and which are therefore constructed in one piece with the associated strips 61. Each boundary member 8 or 9 forms a substantially cylindrical roll er, which has a plurality of substantially identically dimensioned, axially juxtaposed cutting rings 63, which form the outer circu-nference 49 or 50 and in each case between two adjacent cutting rings an annular slot 64 is formed, in which can engage approximately to the bottan of the slot a cutting ring of the other boundary member. The stripper engages with a stripping finger 62 in substantially each annular slot of the associated cutting roller. The particular stripper is connected with the bottan edges of the cutouts in an approximately continuous manner to the associated outer ci-rcumference 49 or 50 in the manner described relative to the shaft boundaries.

A longitudinal edge of the strip 61 of the stripper 57 projects in the vicinity of the insertion opening 6 over the box profile 30, so that together with the reinforcing bar 33 it forms an angular profile and constitutes a connecting member 65 for the flush reception, optionally located on the projecting longitudinal edge, of the lower longitudinal edge of an upright wall of the outer casing 3, which consequently is approximately connected to the upper longitudinal boundary of the insertion cpening 6 and forms a front boundary wall of an insertion hcpper 67 of the outer casing 3 which is significantly widened ccmpared with the insertion opening 6. By means of an outer, downwardly shoulder- like offset longitudinal edge directly adjacent to the outside of the reinforcing bar 35, the strip of the stripper 58 forms a connecting member 66 for the associated longitudinal edge of the other boundary wall of the insertion hcpper 67, which is consequently almost continuously and uninterruptedly connected in the vicinity of the insertion cpening 6 to the shaft boundary 46 and can also be supported on the connecting member 66.

On said boundary wall can be placed the material to be caminuted constituted by stacked sheet layers, e.g. of paper and plastic sheeting and then insertion takes place into the shaft 7 with a stack height limited by the slot height of the insertion opening 6. Casing walls 19 define the insertion hcpper 67 on both sides. The longitudinal edge of the strip 61 located at the connecting member 65 can be bevelled for forming an insertion bevel 68. The strips or strippers form, as a result of the described construction, guide members for the material to be cantinuted or for the ccnlninuted material, at least in the vicinity of the gap entrance 51 or the gap exit 52.

In addition, the box profile 30 or 31 forms a carrier for said guide member or the associated stripper 57, 58 or the associated connecting member 65, 66. Moreover, together with the associated strip 61, it forms a carrier 70 for a sensor 71, which at a limited distance following the insertion opening 6 and roughly in the centre of its length projects slightly into the shaft 7. Each of the two spacedly facing sensors 71 is inserted in an e.g. rectangular passage cpening, which traverses the associated profile crossbar 32 or 34 and the associated strip 61, so that the casing of the particular sensor is located in a largely protected manner within the associated box profile 30, 31. If material for catitinution is introduced through the insertion opening 6, it activates the sensors 71, slides along the guide surfaces 72, 73 formed by the strips 61 until it canes into the widened shaft area in the gap entrance 51 and then into the canninuting gap 10, where the two substantially identically constructed cutting rollers mesh over an arc angle of less radians than the outer circumference 50 and more than the outer circumference 49 is exposed to the shaft 7.

After the canminution which has only taken place in this area the cut, damaged or torn material in the form of strips and/or transversely cut particles leaves the MUL inuting gap 10 through the gap exit 52, so that it drcps by gravity into the shaft 11 and through the shaft exit 12 and the wall 17 can pass into the cpen. In the case of a contrarotation of the cutting rollers any material adhering to the outer circumference 49, 50 thereof or in the annular slots 64 is stripped off in e.g. scraping manner by the strippers 57 to 60 and most of it, as a function of the cutting roller rotation direction, passes into the shaft 11 or 7 and fina- Uy to the shaft exit 12. However, part of the stripped material can also pass into the casing chamber formed by the associated profile section 22, 23 and can be collected therein through the approximately uninterrupted connection of the strippers to the cutting rollers. In the case of the casing chamber of the upper cutting roller the dust can be placed on the tcp surfaces of the associated strippers 57, 59.

During assembly said strippers 57, 59 can be slightly moved apart by resilient spreading of the profile legs 24, 25, so that in the manner of a snap connection they can be moved over the associated axial plane of the cutting roller 8, because the connecting plane between said two strippers 57, 59 is nearer the cam Inuting gap 10 than the paral 1 el axial plane of the cutting roller 8.

Together with the longitudinal edge of the profile plate 43 located at the shaft exit 12, the wall prof i-le 36 forms a carrier 76 for a shaft flap 77 which hangs or swings in the shaft exit 12 and which can be mounted with rings 78 inserted in holes of the carrier 76 and the upper longitudinal edge thereof in such a way that under the pressure of the moving up, ccnTninuted material, they free the shaft exit. The end of the wan prof i-le 37 located at the shaft exit 12 or the associated longitudinal edge of the prof ile plate 44 serving as a chute forms a locking member 79, which is curved back outwards in hook-like manner, passes through the passage cpening of the wall 17 and is supported on its outside. The described cant inuting mechanism 4, including the shafts 7, 11, is

located in a substantially closed casing chanber with respect to the motor chamber 18. In the vicinity of the motor chamber 18 the two side walls 13, 14 are strut-braced against one another by a further profile part 80, which can also be constructed as a wall prof J I e from sheet metal or the like in a crosssectionally angular manner and with fixing elements of the described nature is only fixed to the insides of the side walls 13, 14 and optionally the base plate 15. On the side facing the comminuting mechanism 4, the profile part 80 forms an upright leg 81 standing on the base plate 15 and which above the motor 5 passes into an approximately horizontal or hip roof-shaped leg 82 engaging over the sane, so that for the motor located below the insertion cpening 6 or the insertion hopper 67 a shield 83 is obtained, which is spaced below the lower wall of the insertion hopper 67 inclined in the manner of a sliding ramp to the insertion opening 6. Between the side walls 13, 14, the base wall 15 and the upper leg 82 is consequently formed an access opening 84 to the motor 5 extending approximately over the entire width of the body 2 and which is exposed after lifting off the outer casing 3.

In spaced manner adjacent to the leg 81 and immediately adjacent to the connecting member 67, the outer casing 3 has a partition 85 projecting downwards from the underside of the base wall of the insertion hopper 67 and which can stand as a support wall on the base plate 15 and forms an additional separating wall between the motor chernber 18 and the cutting mechanism 4. Moreover, Jn the vicinity of the two ends of the body 2, the outer casing 3 is raisably supported on the body 2 by support shoulders located on its bottom. In the vicinity of the motor chamber 18 the base plate 15 projects slightly over the ends of the side walls 13, 14 and consequently forms a support for an upwardly displaced support shoulder in the lower edge face of the associated end wall. At the other end the wall 17 forms in its end region on the inside a support 86 on which rests the other end wall of the outer casing 3. As a result and because the connecting member 66 is slightly displaced counter to the insertion direction with respect to the connecting member 65, the cuter casing 3 can be raised both linearly and also in pivoting manner about the support located at the motor.

As a result of the described construction is obtained at the wide side of the conveying path a substantially preassembled assembly 87, 88, which in each case has as the basic carrier the associated profile part 20 or 21, on which are provided the described further components and arrangements. The two canponents of the assembly 87 or 88 located on either side of the carminuting gap 10 in its supply and discharge area are interconnected in bridge-like manner via the profile section 22, 23 outside the shaft 7, 11, so as to form clip portions, which are located spaced frcm and between the inner faces or ends of the side waUs 13, 14 Or the CULII inuting gap 10 and are uniformly distributed between said ends if not, as shown, formed by a closed, through prof ile section 22, 23. Substantially all the canponents of the body 2, the shafts 7, 11, the stripper, the crossstruts, etc. can therefore be made frcm prof iled sheet metal, which leads to a very lightweight construction.

In fig. 3 corresponding parts are given the saue reference numerals as in figs. 1 and 2, but followed by the letter a, so that all description parts correspondingly apply to all Embodiments. According to fig. 3 the profile part 20a, 21a is not in one piece frcm the insertion cpening 6a formed by the outer casing up to the shaft exit, but is instead subdivided into at least two or three parts, so that there are three profile sections on each wide side of the shaft 7a, lla over the length thereof. The profile section 22a or 23a forms for the cutting roller 8a or 9a an approximately rightangled, angular shield, whose legs 24a, 25a or 27a, 28a are approximately tangential to the associated cutting roller. Only one of these legs or sides is rigidly fixed to the body, whereas the other leg or side 25a or 27a terminates in freely projecting, unfixed manner, so that the shield can give way resiliently. In the case of the higher shield the leg 24a passes into an obtuse outwardly angled profile web 32a and the latter into an angular web 33a bent at right angles to the shaft 7a, so that an angular profile 30a is formed with which the profi-le section 22a is fixed to a strut 38a, which as a solid rod with a rectangular cross-section links the two side walls and also carries the strip 61a of the stripper 57a.

For this purpose the strut 38a passes through a row of holes, in which bolts 89 are inserted at right angles to the median plane of the shaft 7a in such a way that the= heads are located flush in holes of the strip 61a and fix the latter against the associated flat side of the strut 38a. The bolt 89 is provided for this purpose on the side of the strut 38a rEMOte fran the strip 61a with a claTp nut, on whose outer end face engages the angular prof ile 38a with the leg 32a and is fixed with a further nut, so that the prof J I e part 22a can be removed without loosening the strip 6 la. The angle leg 33a of the angle profile 30a receiving the strut 38a on the inside can engage in supported manner on a -lateral face of the strut 38a.

For the further supporting of the strip 61a, adjacent to the strut 38a. in the vicinity of the insertion opening 6a can be provided an identical strutting bar 70a, which forms with an outer face a flank of the associated connecting member 65a. Therefore the strip 61a can reciprocally stiffen the two struts 38a, 70a between their ends.

The wall profile 36a is also formed by a separate ccrnponent fixed independently of the prof ile section 22a to a further, identical strut 40a and which is constructed in one piece with the stripper 59a and in continuous manner as a planar plate. The latter is fixed by bolt 89a against the strut 40a with a limited spacing adjacent to the outer circunference of the cutting roller 8a, as described relative to the strip 61a and can project therefran freely or in unfixed manner towards the shaft exit. The profile leg 25a, which is planar in the sane way as al I the other legs of the prof ile section 22a, is connected with its free longitudinal edge in an approximately continuous manner or only with a gap spacing to the lateral face of the strut 40a facing the cutting roller 8a, so that it only forms part of the boundary of the casing.

In the case of the lower profile section 23a. the arrangement is reversed to such an extent that the angle profile 31a is connected to the profile leg 28a and is so fixed by bolts to a rod-like strut 41a, together with the wall profile 37a or the stripper 60a, as described relative to the angle profile 30a. The upper cutting roller 8a. is displaced in the feed direction relative to the lower cutting roller 9a, so that the c=non axial plane thereof is correspondingly inclined and the two struts 40a, 41a are correspondingly tilted and are apprepriately located in a ccamon plane parallel to said axial plane.

With its free longitudinal edge the other leg 27a is connected to the reentrant angular zone of the strip of the stripper 58a. The leg 27a is located between the outer circumference 50a of the cutting roller 9a and a further, rod-like strut 39a, which in the described manner with bolts carries the strip of the stripper 58a or the connecting mr:mber 66a. The prof i'le section 23a can be constructed in the sane way as the proftle section 22a, so that both profile sections are fonned by identical canponents and can be interchanged. Substantially all the features of both embodiments can be provided in randan combinations or additions with respect to further enbodiments.

Claims (1)

1. A document shredder having at least one comminuting gap (10 or 10a) to be defined by at least one boundary member (8, 9 or 8a, 9a) of a comminuting mechanism (4 or 4a), wherein at least one of said comminuting gap (10 or 10a) defines at least one gap plane and a longitudinal direction at right angles to a passage direction of the material to be comminuted.

The document shredder according to claim 1, wherein for an arrangement roughly in said longitudinal direction and spaced from an adjacent outer face (49, 50 or 49a, 50a) of an associated one of said at least one boundary member (8, 9 or 8a, 9a), there is at least one profile part (20, 21 or 20a, 21a) to be fixed to a basic body (2) of the comminuting mechanism (4), preferably at least one profile part (20, 21 or 20a, 21a), considered in the longitudinal direction, having a profile section (22, 23 or 22a, 23a) surrounding in spaced clip-like manner an associated one of said at least one boundary member (8, 9 or 8a, 9a).

A document shredder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one profile part (20, 21 or 20a, 21a) over at least part of its length extension is constructed as an approximately U-shaped wall profile, which is preferably constructed for surrounding the associated boundary member (8, 9 or 8a, 9a) with its profile section (22, 23 or 22a, 23a) in casinglike spaced manner over an arc angle of between approximately 450 and more than 1800.

-fig A document shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile section (22, 23 or 22a, 23a) of the profile part (20, 21 or 20a, 21a) on at least one profile side is at least approximately connected to at least one plate-like shaft boundary (45, 47; 46, 48) of a supply and/or discharge shaft (7 or 7a; 11 or 11a) for the material to be comminuted and which preferably extends substantially over the length of the comminuting gap (10 or 10a) or the shaft width.

A document shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile part (20, 21 or 20a, 21a) forms a preassembly assembly with at least one shaft boundary (45, 47; 46, 48 or 45a, 46a) connected to the comminuting mechanism (4 or 4a) and is in particular constructed substantially in one piece at least with the connecting area of the shaft boundary (45, 47; 46, 48) and preferably at least one profile leg (24, 25; 27, 28) is angled outwards and passes into an associated shaft boundary.

-lq - - A docunent shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the profile par-t (20, 21 or 20a, 21a) substantially only outside the profile outer faces (54, 56 or 54a, 56a) of the profile section (22, 23 or 22a, 23a) and particularly connected directly thereto has fixing elements (38, 40; 39, 41, 42) for fixing to the body (2 or 2a), preferably flange plates connected in one piece to its ends.

7. A docanent shredder according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein on the outside of the profile section (22, 23) of the profile part (20, 21) is connected at least one box or wall profile (30, 36 or 31, 37) which is in particular U-shaped in the longitudinal or transverse section and which preferably with the outside of a U-crossbar (32, 43 or 34, 44) form at least part of the associated shaft boundary (45, 46 or 47, 48) and/or with at least one U-leg forms a fixing element (38, 40 or 39, 41, 42), a reinforcing bar (32 or 35), a profile leg (24, 25 or 27, 28) of the profile section (22 or 23), or the like.

8. A docunent shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the prof Lle part (20 or 21) forms a subassEmbly (87 or 88) with at least one of the canponents; formed by at least one stripper (57, 59 or 58, 60) for the material to be cant Inuted, at least one guide member (72, 74 or 73, 75) for the material to be canninuted. extending approximately up to the outer circunerence (49 or 50) of the associated boundary member (8 or 9), a carrier (70) for at least one sensor (71) for the material being caminuted, a carrier (76) for a shaft flap (77) m a shaft exit (12) for the ccmninuted material, at least one connecting member (65 or 66) for boundaries of a caTminuting material insertion cpening (6) of an outer casing (3) of the dor-unent shredder (1) and at least one reinforcing profile for the body (2).

9- A docunent shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one stripper (57, 59 or 58,.60) for the canninuting material projects in cross-sect:Lon over the profile inside (53 or 55) of the profile section (22 or 23) of the profile par-t (20 or 21), particularly being in substantially one piece over the length of the ccriminuting gap (10) and is preferably formed by a substantially planar strip (61), which forms at least _^ o - r_ cne portion of the shaft boundary (45, 47 or 46, 48) connected to the associated boundary member (8 or 9), the associated connecting member (65, 66), at least a part of the carrier (70) for a sensor (71) and/or a guide member (72, 74 or 73, 75).

10. A doctnent shredder according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein at least one stripper (57, 59 or 58, 60) for the material to be canninuted Is fixed substantially flat to a wall surface of the profile part (20 or 21), particularly the outside of a U-crossbar (32 or 34) and preferably projects with at least one longitudinal edge over the associated lcng:i-tudinal boundary of said wall surface.

11-A docirnent shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one boundary member (8, 9) is formed by a rotary drivable canninuting roller, which has cutting rings (63) distributed over its length with annular slots (64) located between them for the engagement of the other boundary member (9, 8) and preferably at least one stripper (57 to 60) forms ccmb-like projecting stripping fingers (62) for engagement in the annular slots (64).

12-A document shredder according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the boundary members (8, 9) are positioned between two side walls (13, 14) of the body (2) and in particular the two side walls (13, 14) spaced frcm a U-crossbar (15) of the U-shaped body (2) are reciprocally stiffened substantially exclusively by means of the boundary members (8, 9) and profile parts (20, 21, 80) ccnstructed as wall profiles and whereof preferably a substantiaLly angular profile part (80) forms a casing-Me motor shield (83).

13.A document shredder according to any one of the preceding claim, wherein the boundary member (8 or 9), with the exception of its area associated with the carminuting gap (10) Including the gap entrance (51) and gap exit (52), engages in a substantially ccffrpletely enclosed manner in an inner casing, which is preferably formed by the associated profile section (22, 23) and the associated strippers (57, 59 or 58, 60) and, independently of an outer casing (3), farms a preassembled cosntructional unit with the body (2).