WO2013019542A1

WO2013019542A1 - Paper shredder

Info

Publication number: WO2013019542A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/048293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lea Marie PLATO; Rebecca Smith
Original assignee: Master Lock Company Llc
Priority date: 2011-07-29
Filing date: 2012-07-26
Publication date: 2013-02-07

Abstract

A paper shredder includes a paper shredding unit, a collection bin, and a compressor plate. The paper shredding unit includes a housing defining a feed slot and a paper cutting mechanism disposed within the housing and aligned with the feed slot for cutting paper inserted into the feed slot. The collection bin is removably assembled with the paper shredding unit for collecting paper cut by the paper cutting mechanism. The compressor plate is at least partially retained within the collection bin and vertically slideable from a raised position to a lowered position within the collection bin to compress cut paper collected in the collection bin. At least one plate biasing member is connected to the compressor plate and biases the compressor plate toward the raised position.

Description

PAPER SHREDDER

Cross-Reference to Related Application

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/512,983, entitled "PAPER SHREDDER" and filed July 29, 201 1, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with the present application.

Background

[0002] Paper shredders for commercial or residential use may be provided with an upper shredding unit mounted onto or assembled over a collection bin, such that one or more sheets of paper fed through a paper receiving feed slot in the shredding unit is shredded and dropped into the bin for collection, for example, for subsequent disposal when the bin has been filled. The shredding unit may employ any suitable shredding mechanism, including, for example, cutting blades secured to rotary shafts that are motor driven to rotate toward each other to cut paper passing through the receiving slot and between the rotary shafts into thin strips. In another embodiment, blades may be shaped or oriented (for example, oriented helically) to cross-cut paper into smaller shredded pieces.

Summary

[0003] In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a paper shredder includes a paper shredding unit, a collection bin, and a compressor plate. The paper shredding unit includes a housing defining a feed slot and a paper cutting mechanism disposed within the housing and aligned with the feed slot for cutting paper inserted into the feed slot. The collection bin is removably assembled with the paper shredding unit for collecting paper cut by the paper cutting mechanism. The compressor plate is at least partially retained within the collection bin and vertically slideable from a raised position to a lowered position within the collection bin to compress cut paper collected in the collection bin. At least one plate biasing member is connected to the compressor plate and biases the compressor plate toward the raised position.

[0004] According to another exemplary aspect of the present application, an exemplary method of electronically retaining shredded documents is described. In the exemplary method, a paper shredder is provided, the paper shredder including a feed slot, a paper cutting mechanism aligned with the feed slot, and a document scanning mechanism aligned with the feed slot and disposed between the feed slot and the paper cutting mechanism. A document is received through the feed slot. The document is scanned with the document scanning mechanism to generate an image file associated with the document. The document is shredded with the paper cutting mechanism, wherein a first portion of the document is being shredded while a second portion of the document is being scanned. The image file associated with the document is transmitted to a remote computer for storage of the image file.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the above detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional schematic view of an exemplary paper shredder;

[0007] Figure 2 is an upper side perspective view of another exemplary paper shredder;

[0008] Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of the paper shredder of Figure 2;

[0009] Figure 4 is an upper side perspective view of the paper shredder of Figure 2, shown with the collection bin in a withdrawn position;

[0010] Figure 5 is an upper perspective view of the collection bin of the paper shredder of Figure 2;

[0011] Figure 6 is a side perspective view of the collection bin of Figure 5;

[0012] Figure 7 is an upper front perspective view of another exemplary paper shredder;

[0013] Figure 8 is an upper side perspective view of the paper shredder of Figure 7;

[0014] Figure 9 is an upper side perspective view of the paper shredder of Figure 7, shown with the collection bin in a withdrawn position;

[0015] Figure 10 is an upper side perspective view of the paper shredder of Figure 7, shown with the collection bin in a withdrawn position and with the collection tray in a withdrawn position;

[0016] Figure 11 is an upper perspective view of the collection bin of the paper shredder of Figure 7; and

[0017] Figure 12 is a block diagram of an exemplary document scanning arrangement for a paper shredder.

Detailed Description

[0018] An exemplary paper shredder includes a paper shredding unit removably assembled with a collection bin for collecting paper cut by a paper cutting mechanism disposed within the paper shredding unit. As the shredded paper collects in the bin, the paper may accumulate loosely in the bin, which may quickly fill the bin and may cause the paper shredder to jam when the accumulated loose shredded paper interferes with operation of the blades. In an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a paper shredder is provided with a paper compressing member that facilitates compression of the shredded paper into the bottom of the collection bin. By compressing the shredded paper in the collection bin, more paper may be shredded without jamming the paper shredding unit or without requiring that the collection bin be emptied.

[0019] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary paper shredder 10 including a paper shredding unit 20 removably assembled with a collection bin 30. The paper shredding unit 20 includes a paper cutting mechanism, shown schematically at 21, disposed in a housing portion 22 of the paper shredding unit and aligned with a feed slot 25 to shred paper inserted into the feed slot 25. In one embodiment (not shown) a paper shredding unit may be secured directly to an upper edge of the collection bin, for example, by fasteners or an overhanging flange or lip on the paper shredding unit that fits over an outer periphery of the collection bin. In the illustrated embodiment, the paper shredding unit 20 includes an enclosure or frame portion 24 (which may be integral to or assembled with the housing portion 22 of the paper shredding unit 20) that receives the collection bin 30.

[0020] In the illustrated example, a paper compressing member 40 is at least partially received in the collection bin 30 and is vertically slideable between a raised position proximate the housing portion 22 of the paper shredding unit 20, and a lowered position within the collection bin 30, to compress cut or shredded paper P accumulated within the bin 30. The compressing member 40 may be lowered by direct engagement from a user, for example, by pushing downward on the compressing member when the collection bin is separated from the paper shredding unit 20. In other embodiments, the compressing member may be manually movable by a mechanical Hnkage (e.g., a cable attachment, gear mechanism, etc.), or by an electromechanical mechanism (e.g., a motor or solenoid driven mechanism), which may, but need not, be accessible and operable while the collection bin remains assembled with the paper shredding unit.

[002] J The paper shredder 10 may be provided with one or more mechanisms for facilitating retention of the compressing member 40 in the raised position (for example, to ensure that paper passes through the opening 45 as it is shredded), and/or for returning the compressing member 40 toward the raised position. As shown in the illustrated schematic, the compressing member 40 may be attached to one or more biasing members 48 (for example, springs, rubber cords, bungees, or elastic bands) that bias the compressing member 40 toward the raised position. The biasing members 48 are connected to the compressing member 40 (e.g., at a first end 48a) and connected to at least one of the paper shredding unit 20 and the collection bin 30 (e.g., at a second end 48b). Additionally or alternatively, the compressing member may be provided with an attachment portion 46 configured to be secured to a corresponding attachment portion 28 of at least one of the paper shredding unit 20 and the collection bin 30. The attachment portions may include, for example, a fastener and mounting hole, a magnet and magnetized surface, interlocking hooks or flanges, hook- and-loop fasteners.

[0022] Figures 2-6 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a paper shredder 100 including a paper shredding unit 120 and a collection bin 130. The paper shredder may be configured to permit access to the interior of the collection bin in a variety of ways, for example, by pivoting or removal of the paper shredding unit from the collection bin. In the illustrated example, the collection bin 130 is slidably removable from within a housing frame 124 affixed to the paper shredding unit 120, such that the paper shredding unit may not need to be manipulated to access the interior of the collection bin 130. An exposed wall 131 of the collection bin 130 may be provided with a handle 132 or other such graspable portion to facilitate sliding withdrawal of the collection bin 130, similar to that of a drawer. The collection bin 130 may be provided in any suitable material, including, for example, one or more metal or plastic materials. Also, as illustrated, the exposed wall 131 may be provided with a window portion 133 to provide a visible indication of the extent to which the collection bin 130 has been filled. Additionally or alternatively, at least a portion of the collection bin 130 may be constructed from a transparent plastic material for visibility of the fill level of the shredded paper.

[0023] Many different types of paper compressing members may be utilized. In an exemplary embodiment, a compressor plate is disposed within the collecting bin, and is vertically slideable within the bin to compress accumulated, loose shredded paper below the compressor plate, for example, to clear shredded paper away from the paper shredding mechanism to avoid jamming, and/or to allow for a greater amount of shredded paper to be collected prior to disposal. In the illustrated embodiment, a compressor plate 140 is provided with an outer perimeter 144 that may substantially conform to an inner perimeter 134 of the collection bin 130, such that shredded paper below the compressor plate 140 is impeded from slipping past the compressor plate as the compressor plate is moved downward. As shown, the compressor plate 140 may be provided with an opening 145 aligned with a paper feed slot 125 in the paper shredding unit 120 to allow the paper to drop below the compressor plate 140 as the paper is shredded. One or more apertures 147 may (but need not) be provided in the compressor plate 140 to reduce air resistance as the compressor plate is moved downward or upward within the collection bin 130. These apertures 147 may be sized or shaped to prevent shredded paper from passing upward through the apertures. The compressor plate 140 may be provided in any suitable material, including, for example, one or more metal or plastic materials.

[0024] The paper shredder 100 may be provided with one or more mechanisms for facilitating retention of the compressor plate 140 in an elevated position (for example, to ensure that paper passes through the opening 145 as it is shredded), and/or for returning the compressor plate toward the elevated position. In one exemplary embodiment, the compressor plate may be attached to one or more biasing members (for example, springs, rubber cords, bungees, or elastic bands) that bias the compressor plate toward the elevated position, hi the illustrated embodiment, the ends of the compressor plate 140 are attached to bungees 148 (or any other suitable elastic component) coupled to or secured through an upper end of the collection bin 130, such that the compressor plate 140 may be pressed downward against upward biasing forces of the bungees 148. As shown, the bungees 148 may be secured to a bottom end of the collection bin 130 and extending through apertures in an upper end of the collection bin 130, to allow for a greater range of elasticity of the bungees 148 between elevated and lowered positions. When the user releases the compressor plate 140 after compression of the accumulated shredded paper, the stretched elastic bungees 148 contract to lift the compressor plate toward the elevated position. To remove the compressor plate, for example, to empty the collection bin, the compressor plate 140 may be detachable from the bungees 148 using clips 149 or other such fasteners. Alternatively, the compressor plate may be displaced outside of the collection bin, while still attached to the bungees, to facilitate access to the contents of the bin 130.

[0025] Additionally or alternatively, a plate retaining mechanism may be provided on one or both of the compressor plate and the upper end of the collection bin to releasably secure the compressor plate 140 in the elevated or raised position. As one example, one of the compressor plate and the bin may be provided with a magnet 146 (Figure 4), and the other of the compressor plate and the bin may be provided with a magnetizable material to releasably secure the compressor plate in the elevated position. Other latches, detents, or fasteners may additionally or alternatively be used.

[0026] In some embodiments, a paper shredder may additionally include an additional media processing mechanism. As one example, a second shredding mechanism, either integral with or separate from a paper shredding unit, for shredding more durable items, such as plastic items (e.g., CD's, credit cards). To keep shredded paper separate from shredded plastic (for example, to facilitate recycling), the shredded paper and plastic may be deposited into separate bags, trays or compartments.

[0027] As shown in the exemplary embodiment of Figures 2-6, a plastic feed slot 126 in the paper shredding unit 120 is aligned with a tray portion 136 in the collection bin 130 to keep shredded plastic separate from shredded paper within the collection bin. The tray portion 136 may be separable from the bin 130 to facilitate disposal of the shredded plastic. In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in Figures 7-1 1 (which may, but need not, include many of the features described and shown in the embodiment of Figures 2-6), a paper shredder 200 includes a sliding tray 236 (see Figure 10) that is slidingly retained by the paper shredding unit 220 for removal from the paper shredder separate from removal of the collection bin 230. The tray 236 may include a front wall 237 that is complementary to a recessed handle portion 232 of the collection bin 230 for simultaneous removal of the collection bin 230 and tray 236. Additionally or alternatively, the collection bin 230 may be sized and/or shaped to retain a bag or liner 238 positioned to receive the shredded paper, for example, to facilitate emptylng of the collection bin 230.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present application, a paper shredder may be provided with a media processing mechanism electronically scan documents and other articles. A document scanning processing mechanism may be aligned with or associated with a separate feed slot, for example, for scanning documents in an operation separate from a shredding operation. In another embodiment, a document scanning processing mechanism is aligned with or associated with the feed slot for the paper cutting mechanism, such that the paper shredding unit is configured to electronically scan documents and other articles as they pass through the feed slot of the paper shredding unit to be shredded. This arrangement may provide for an efficient way to digitally store documents or records of articles to be shredded, for example, to reduce storage space while retaining a copy of the shredded document. The electronic copy may be saved (for example, in ADOBE "pdf ' format) to a local storage medium (e.g., a hard drive, USB drive, SD card, or other media), and/or may be transmitted wirelessly or by a wired connection to a computer or web server for secure local or remote storage of the electronic files. Document management software may be utilized to facilitate identification, location, and organization of the documents. The software may be configured to automatically delete documents after a pre-determined time period, for example, to consistently comply with a business 's document retention policy.

[0029] An exemplary document scanning arrangement 300 for a paper shredder (such as, for example, any of the paper shredders of Figures 1-11) is schematically shown in the block diagram of Figure 12. The arrangement includes an optical input device 310, an image processing device 320, and an output device 330. The exemplary optical input device includes an image sensor 31 1 to obtain raw image data from the sheet fed into the paper shredder. The image sensor may include, for example, a charge coupled device (CCD), contact image sensor (CIS), or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or other such activated pixel sensor (APS) imager. The optical input device 310 may include a light source 312 directed toward the surface of the sheet fed into the paper shredder, and one or more mirrors 313 may redirect light reflected off of the scanned sheet through a focusing lens 314 and toward the image sensor 311. The optical input device 310 may utilize the motor- driven rotary blades of the paper shredder to transmit the documents past the image sensor 312 as each single page is fed by the user into the paper shredder feed slot. Alternatively, the optical input device 310 may include an automatic document feeder 315 to feed a stack of paper one sheet at a time into the paper shredder feed slot and past the optical input device 310.

[0030] The exemplary image processing device 320 of the document scanning arrangement 300 includes hardware, circuitry, and software for receiving the raw image data from the optical input device 310 and processing the data to generate a readable text and/or image file. A scanning control module 321 includes a processor 322 that produces a two dimensional image from the raw image date, using an incremental or absolute encoder 323 (e.g., mechanical, optical, or magnetoresistive encoder) to identify the relative locations of lines of scanned image data to "knit" together these lines of data to construct a two dimensional image of the scanned sheet. A software-based text recognition module 324 may optionally be provided to recognize text characters in the two dimensional image to allow storage of the document as a text based file (e.g., to facilitate searching of the scanned document for words, numbers, or other text of interest). An output interface 325 may be used to format the constructed image/text data from the scanned document for reproduction, storage, printing, display, or communication with another device.

[0031] The exemplary output device 330 electronically receives the formatted text/image file from the image processing device 320 for reproduction, storage, printing, display, communication, or any other such output of the generated file. Accordingly, the exemplary output device may include one or more of a media storage device (e.g., SD card reader, hard disk, optical disk drive), printer, display screen, or communication port/module (e.g., USB port, serial port, wireless transceiver). The scanned sheets may be organized in a stored database to facilitate retrieval, for example, by using a time/date stamp, user information, or information obtained from the scanned image itself (e.g., recognized text from the scanned image),

[0032] While documents inserted into the feed slot may be shredded nearly instantaneously as they are scanned, in another embodiment, the paper shredder may be configured to scan a document in its entirety before the document is shredded (for example, to ensure that the document has been scanned without errors before it is shredded). The paper shredder may include software configured to analyze the scanned file to detect errors or problems with the scan. To allow for complete scanning prior to shredding, the paper shredding unit may be provided with a paper shredding mechanism at the base or bottom of the housing frame, such that the inserted document does not reach the shredding mechanism until the entire document has passed through the feed slot for scanning. The paper shredding unit may be provided with a single scanning mechanism to scan single-sided documents, or with dual scanning mechanisms to scan double sided documents.

[0033] Any suitable tactile interface may be utilized for operating the paper shredder, for example, with controls for turning the paper shredder on and off, reversing the movement of the cutters to prevent jamming, to alter the speed of the cutters, or to activate a paper scanning mode, as described above. For example, the paper shredder may be controlled by a pushbutton interface, resistive touch panels (in which user contact changes the current through the electrically conductive panels to signal a controller), and/or capacitance-based sensors (utilizing a change in capacitance produced by user contact with the sensor, to generate one or more electrical control signals). In the illustrated embodiment, a capacitive touch interface 129, 229 on an upper surface of the paper shredding unit 120, 220 may be operable to perform one or more of the above functions, with different locations on the interface functioning as different operational "buttons" for control of the paper shredder. While visible indicia (e.g., painted or etched characters) may be disposed on the surface of the capacitive touch interface, the interface 129, 229 may instead be backlit to display operating indicia when the paper shredder is in use, allowing for a clean, indicia-free aesthetic when the paper shredder is not in use.

[0034] While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary

embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions-such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on— may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred

arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understandmg the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.

Claims

We claim:

1. A paper shredder comprising

a paper shredding unit including a housing defining a feed slot and a paper cutting mechanism disposed within the housing and aligned with the feed slot for cutting paper inserted into the feed slot;

a collection bin removably assembled with the paper shredding unit for collecting paper cut by the paper cutting mechanism;

a compressor plate at least partially retained within the collection bin and vertically slideable from a raised position to a lowered position within the collection bin to compress cut paper collected in the collection bin; and

at least one plate biasing member connected to the compressor plate, the at least one plate biasing member biasing the compressor plate toward the raised position.

2. The paper shredder of claim 1 , wherein the compressor plate including a cutout aligned with the feed slot for receiving paper cut by the paper cutting mechanism.

3. The paper shredder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plate biasing member comprises an elastic member connected to the compressor plate at a first end and connected to one of the paper shredding unit and the collection bin at a second end.

4. The paper shredder of claim 3, wherein the elastic member comprises a bungee.

5. The paper shredder of claim 3, wherein the second end of the elastic member is secured to a bottom portion of the collection bin, with the elastic member extending through an aperture in a top portion of the collection bin.

6. The paper shredder of claim 1, wherein the paper shredding unit further defines a second feed slot aligned with a media processing mechanism and isolated from the paper cutting mechanism, the media processing mechanism being configured to process media inserted into the second feed slot.

7. The paper shredder of claim 6, wherein the media processing mechanism comprises a plastic cutting mechanism configured to cut plastic media inserted into the second feed slot.

8. The paper shredder of claim 7, further comprising a tray aligned with the second feed slot for collecting cut plastic media separate from the cut paper collected in the collection bin.

9. The paper shredder of claim 8, wherein the tray is assembled with the paper shredding unit and laterally slideable with respect to the paper shredding unit for removal of cut plastic media collected in the tray.

10. The paper shredder of claim 6, wherein the media processing mechanism comprises a document scanning mechanism configured to electronically scan documents inserted into the second feed slot.

11. The paper shredder of claim 10, wherein the document scanning mechanism includes an image sensor and a processor configured to generate a two dimensional image from data obtained from the image sensor.

12. The paper shredder of claim 1 , wherein the at least one plate biasing member comprises a magnet.

13. The paper shredder of claim 1 , wherein the paper shredding unit comprises a housing frame sized to slidingly receive the collection bin.

14. The paper shredder of claim 1 , further comprising a document scanning mechanism aligned with the feed slot and positioned between the feed slot and the paper cutting mechanism to electronically scan a document mserted into the feed slot to generate an image file of the document.

15. The paper shredder of claim 14, wherein the document scanning mechanism and paper cutting mechanism are configured such that a document inserted in the feed slot is fully scanned by the document scanning mechanism before the paper cutting mechanism begins to cut the document.

16. The paper shredder of claim 14, wherein the document scanning mechanism includes an optical input device including a light source directed toward the document inserted in the feed slot, at least one mirror positioned to redirect light reflected off of the scanned document, and a focusing lens positioned to deliver the redirected light to an image sensor.

17. The paper shredder of claim 14, wherein the document scanning mechanism includes a scanning control module comprising a processor configured to generate the image file from raw data obtained by the document scanning mechanism, and an encoder configured to identify relative locations of lines of scanned data.

18. The paper shredder of claim 17, wherein the document scanning mechanism is configured to generate a time stamp associated with the image file.

19. A method of electronically retaining shredded documents, the method comprising: providing a paper shredder including a feed slot, a paper cutting mechanism aligned with the feed slot, and a document scanning mechanism aligned with the feed slot and disposed between the feed slot and the paper cutting mechanism;

receiving a document through the feed slot;

scanning the document with the document scanning mechanism to generate an image file associated with the document;

shredding the document with the paper cutting mechanism, wherein a first portion of the document is being shredded while a second portion of the document is being scanned; and transmitting the image file associated with the document to a remote computer for storage of the image file.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the image file includes a time stamp, the method further comprising deleting the image file after a predetermined time based on the time stamp.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising converting the scanned image file to a searchable document file.