Underside particle flap for shredder

A method for preventing shredded materials from being discharged from an output opening of a shredder, the shredder comprising a container for receiving shredded materials;

• a shredder housing supported above the container and having a shredder mechanism mounted therein, the shredder mechanism comprising an input opening on an upper side for receiving materials to be shredded and the output opening on a lower side for discharging shredded materials into the container;
• the shredder further comprising a rolling closure located adjacent the output opening and including a flexible panel and a storage device for receiving the flexible panel in a rolled condition, the rolling closure being configured to enable the panel to be selectively unrolled about an axis and extended from the storage device to a closed position and rolled about the axis and retracted to the storage device to an open position, respectively, the method comprising:
• unrolling the flexible panel of the rolling closure about the axis from the storage device with an actuator from the open position to the closed position in response to a predetermined operational condition of the shredder,
• wherein the rolling closure allows shredded materials to be discharged from the output opening in the open position and prevents shredded materials from being discharged from the output opening in the closed position.

A shredder comprising:

• a container for receiving shredded materials;
• a shredder mechanism including a motor and cutter elements, the shredder mechanism enabling materials to be shredded to be fed into the cutter elements and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements in a shredding direction so that the cutter elements shred materials fed therein;
• a shredder housing having the shredder mechanism mounted therein;
• the shredding housing comprising an input opening on an upper side for receiving materials to be shredded into the shredder mechanism, and an output opening on a lower side for discharging shredded materials from the shredder mechanism;
• a frame supporting the shredder housing above the container such that the shredded materials are discharged through the output opening into the container, the frame defining a waste container receiving space beneath the shredder housing, the waste container receiving space being configured to allow the container to be moved in a first direction between an operative position positioned in the frame beneath the shredder housing and a withdrawn position moved out from beneath the shredder housing for emptying of the shredded materials therein;
• a closure located adjacent the output opening, the closure being configured to slide relative to the output opening between an open position and a closed position in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction;
• the closure allowing shredded materials to be discharged from the output opening in the open position and preventing shredded materials from being discharged from the output opening in the closed position;
• and
• an actuator for sliding the closure to the closed position in response to the container being moved out of the operative position.

A method for preventing shredded materials from being discharged from an output opening of a shredder, the shredder comprising a container for receiving shredded materials;

• a shredder housing supported above the container by a frame and having a shredder mechanism mounted therein, the shredder mechanism comprising an input opening on an upper side for receiving materials to be shredded and the output opening on a lower side for discharging shredded materials into the container;
• the frame defining a waste container receiving space beneath the shredder housing, the waste container receiving space being configured to allow the container to be moved in a first direction between an operative position positioned in the frame beneath the shredder housing and a withdrawn position moved out from beneath the shredder housing for emptying of the shredded materials therein;
• a closure located adjacent the output opening, the closure being configured to slide relative to the output opening between an open position and a closed position in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, the method comprising:
• moving the container in the first direction;
• and
• sliding the closure in the second direction from an open position to a closed position in response to the container being moved out of the operative position,
• wherein the closure allows shredded materials to be discharged from the output opening in the open position and prevents shredded materials from being discharged from the output opening in the closed position.