US 7,828,235 B2 · Shredder auto feed system

Abstract

The present invention is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for advancing at least a top sheet from a stack of paper in a tray into the cutter elements for shredding. In one embodiment, the apparatus uses a rotatable feed roller to feed paper atop the stack to the cutter elements. The feed roller moves in an alternating manner between a lowered and raised position to engage and disengage the stack when advancing the paper therethrough. Alternatively, a rotatable cam may be used. In an embodiment, the apparatus uses a rotatable drum or rotatable belt with an internal vacuum to lift paper from the stack and feed into the shredder mechanism.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A shredder comprising:

a housing;
a paper shredder mechanism received in the housing and including a motor and cutter elements, the motor rotating the cutter elements in an interleaving relationship for shredding paper sheets fed therein;
a tray for holding a stack of paper sheets to be fed into the cutter elements;
a moveable paper feed mechanism positioned above the tray, the moveable paper feed mechanism having an exterior paper engaging surface that is at least in part air permeable and rotatable;
a vacuum generator for applying a vacuum to an interior of the moveable paper feed mechanism to draw air through the exterior paper engaging surface, thereby lifting at least a top sheet from atop the stack, and
a feed driver system constructed to drive the feed mechanism by rotating the exterior paper engaging surface to feed the at least lifted top sheet to the cutter elements.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shredder auto feed system

Life of this patent

Shredder auto feed system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31