阅读说明：本技术 切碎机箱满设备 (Shredder case full apparatus ) 是由 左永康 刘秀敏 于 2018-09-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种纸张切碎机的箱满传感器,其具有：推杆；耦接到推杆的导电元件；与导电元件设置为常开的感测接触组件；以及耦接到感测接触组件的信号触点。传感器包括在导电元件和推杆之间的推杆扫动器,以及耦接到推杆扫动器的偏置元件,该偏置元件弹性地抵抗切碎材料力。预定的切碎材料力按压推杆,从而使导电元件耦接到感测接触组件,继而导致发出废物箱满信号。推杆可以是铰接的也可以是非铰接的。铰接的推杆包括上部推杆和下部推杆,以及连接相应的上部推杆和下部推杆的相应的张紧元件。下部推杆从上部推杆延伸。纸张切碎机可以具有铰接推杆或非铰接推杆。(A bin full sensor of a paper shredder, comprising: a push rod; a conductive element coupled to the push rod; a sensing contact assembly arranged to be normally open with the conductive element; and a signal contact coupled to the sense contact assembly. The sensor includes a push rod wiper between the conductive element and the push rod, and a biasing element coupled to the push rod wiper, the biasing element resiliently resisting the shredded material force. A predetermined shredded material force presses the push rod, thereby coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes a waste bin full signal to be issued. The push rod may be articulated or non-articulated. The articulated push rod comprises an upper push rod and a lower push rod, and respective tensioning elements connecting the respective upper push rod and lower push rod. The lower push rod extends from the upper push rod. The paper shredder may have either an articulated push rod or a non-articulated push rod.)

1. A shredder sensor for a paper shredder, comprising:

a push rod having a front side and a back side;

a conductive element mechanically coupled to the opposite surface of the push rod;

a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open with the conductive element; and

a signal contact electrically coupled to the sense contact assembly, wherein the signal contact is configured to issue a tank-full signal.

2. The shredder sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a pushrod sweep coupled between the opposing surface of the pushrod and the conductive element, the pushrod sweep having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposing surface of the pushrod; and

a biasing element coupled to a distal end of the push rod sweep, wherein the biasing element resiliently resists a shredded material force.

3. A shredder sensor according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined shredded material force presses the front face of the push rod causing the conductive element to electrically couple to the sensing contact assembly which in turn causes the bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact, wherein the predetermined shredded material force corresponds to a predetermined bin full level.

4. The shredder sensor of claim 3, further comprising:

a shredder lower housing; and

an opening in the shredder lower shield formed to receive the pushrod, wherein the front face of the pushrod is at least partially disposed within the opening in the shredder lower shield.

5. A shredder sensor according to claim 4, wherein a predetermined shredded material force presses the front face of the push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes the bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact.

6. The shredder sensor of claim 5, wherein the push rod and the push rod wiper are electrically non-conductive.

7. The shredder sensor of claim 5, further comprising a waste bin configured to receive a portion of the shredder lower shield, the waste bin receiving shredded materials, wherein the predetermined level of shredded materials in the waste bin corresponds to a predetermined shredded materials force and the predetermined shredded materials force causes the bin full signal to be emitted, wherein the bin full signal causes a motor of the paper shredder to stop.

8. The shredder sensor of claim 5, wherein the push rod has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion includes a pivot portion, wherein the predetermined shredded material force pivots the push rod about the pivot portion.

9. A shredder sensor for a paper shredder, comprising:

an articulated push rod having a front side and a back side;

a conductive element mechanically coupled to the opposite surface of the articulated push rod;

a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open with the conductive element; and

a signal contact electrically coupled to the sense contact assembly, the signal contact configured to generate a tank full signal.

10. The shredder sensor of claim 9, further comprising:

a push-rod sweep coupled between an opposing surface of the articulation push rod and the conductive element, the push-rod sweep having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposing surface of the articulation push rod and the proximal end is coupled to the conductive element; and

a resilient biasing element coupled to a distal end of the push rod sweep, wherein the resilient biasing element resiliently resists a predetermined shredded material force,

wherein the predetermined shredded material force presses the front face of the hinged push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes the bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact.

11. The shredder sensor of claim 10, wherein the hinged push rod comprises:

an upper push rod with a guide slot;

a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using the guide slot; and

an adjustable tensioning element disposed in the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is extended or retracted from the upper push rod to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element.

12. The shredder sensor of claim 11, wherein the lower push rod further comprises a lower pivot portion disposed within the guide slot, and wherein the lower push rod is extendable, retractable, or pivotable.

13. The shredder of claim 10, wherein the hinged push rod comprises:

an upper push rod with a guide hole;

a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using the guide hole; and

an adjustable tensioning element positioned at least partially through the guide aperture into the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is angled relative to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element.

14. The shredder sensor of claim 13, further comprising:

a lower pivot portion coupled to the adjustable tensioning element, wherein the lower push rod is adjustably pivotable and releasably positionable to a selected angle relative to the upper push rod.

15. A paper shredder comprising:

a motor;

a cutting block mechanically coupled to the motor;

a shredder controller electrically coupled to the motor, the shredder controller configured to receive a bin full signal; and

a bin full sensor electrically coupled to the shredder controller having:

the push rod is provided with a front surface and a back surface,

a conductive element mechanically coupled to the opposite surface of the push rod,

a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open with the conductive element,

a signal contact electrically coupled to the sense contact assembly,

a pushrod sweep coupled between the opposing surface of the pushrod and the conductive element, the pushrod sweep having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposing surface of the pushrod, an

A biasing element coupled to a distal end of the push rod sweep, wherein the biasing element resiliently resists a force of shredded material,

wherein the shredded material force corresponds to a predetermined level of a waste bin and presses the front face of the push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes the bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact and received by the shredder controller, wherein the motor is deactivated.

16. The paper shredder of claim 15, further comprising:

a lower shroud mechanically coupled to the motor, the cutting block, and the shredder controller;

an opening in the lower shroud formed to receive the pushrod; and

a waste bin removably coupled to the lower shroud,

wherein the push rod extends at least partially from the opening in the lower shroud, and wherein the push rod is positioned to cause the bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact when shredded materials reach a predetermined level in the waste bin.

17. The paper shredder of claim 16, wherein the push rod comprises a non-hinged push rod.

18. The paper shredder of claim 16, wherein the push rod comprises an articulated push rod.

19. The paper shredder of claim 18, wherein the hinged push rod comprises:

an upper push rod with a guide slot;

a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using the guide slot; and

an adjustable tensioning element disposed in the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is extended or retracted from the upper push rod to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element.

20. The paper shredder of claim 18, wherein the hinged push rod comprises:

an upper push rod with a guide hole;

a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using the guide hole; and

an adjustable tensioning element positioned at least partially through the guide aperture into the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is angled relative to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element.

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to paper shredders and, in particular, to a bin full apparatus for a paper shredder.

2. Background of the invention

Shredders are machines that are commonly used to destroy confidential or personal documents. Typically, a shredder includes a shredder apparatus and a waste bin. A fully filled waste bin will have difficulty continuing to shred paper and the high build up of debris can easily damage current bin full detection equipment. The existing paper full detection apparatus mainly includes three types: mechanical type, electronic type, and optical type. Electronic box full detection equipment is quite expensive and unstable. The existing mechanical box fullness detection equipment has the defects of complex structure and inflexible use. Primary mechanical bin full detection senses the paper fill status of the paper shredder by combining a paper fill plate as long as the paper exit and a micro switch. Since the paper filling plate is long and needs to be lower than the middle portion of the paper exit, the touch stroke of the micro switch is limited, the touch efficiency is low, and the sensitivity is low. The optical box full detection device is also quite expensive and is prone to malfunction if the optical sensor becomes clogged or dirty. There is a need for a bin full apparatus that eliminates the aforementioned problems.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments herein provide a simple, inexpensive and robust solution by implementing an electromechanical box full detector.

Embodiments of a shredder sensor for a paper shredder are provided, which may have a push rod with a front side and a back side; a conductive element mechanically coupled to an opposite side of the push rod; a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open to the conductive element; and a signal contact electrically coupled to the sense contact assembly. Selected embodiments further include a pushrod sweep coupled between an opposite side of the pushrod and the conductive element, the pushrod sweep having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposite side of the pushrod; and a biasing element coupled to the distal end of the push rod sweeper, wherein the biasing element resiliently resists the shredded material force. The shredded material force presses against the front face of the push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes a bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cross section of a paper shredder according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inverted shredder lower shield in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial view of FIG. 2 showing a bin full sensor in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electromechanical sensor in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the shredder lower shield of FIG. 2 showing the location of an embodiment of the bin full sensor in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hinged bin full sensor according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is another perspective view of the sensor of FIG. 6A with an extended sensor portion in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a hinge box full sensor having an angled extension in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 7B is another view of the sensor of FIG. 7A with a straight extension in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Skilled artisans will 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 understanding of embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, like numbers correspond to like elements.

Embodiments also include a shredder lower shield, and an opening in the shredder lower shield formed to receive the push rod, wherein a front face of the push rod is at least partially disposed within the opening of the shredder lower shield. In an embodiment, a predetermined shredded material force presses the front face of the push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes a bin full signal to be issued from the signal contact. In certain embodiments, the pushrod and pushrod sweep are electrically non-conductive. A waste bin configured to receive a portion of the shredder lower shield may also be included, the waste bin receiving shredded materials, wherein a predetermined level of shredded materials in the waste bin corresponds to a predetermined shredded materials force and the predetermined shredded materials force causes a bin full signal to be emitted, wherein the bin full signal causes the motor of the paper shredder to stop operating. In an embodiment, the push rod has a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the top portion includes a pivot portion, wherein a predetermined shredded material force pivots the push rod about the pivot portion.

Also provided is a shredder sensor for a paper shredder, the shredder sensor comprising an articulated push rod having a front side and a back side; a conductive element mechanically coupled to an opposite side of the push rod; a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open to the conductive element; and a signal contact electrically coupled to the sense contact assembly. Embodiments may also include a push rod sweeper coupled between the opposing surface of the articulation push rod and the conductive element, the push rod sweeper having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposing surface of the articulation push rod and the proximal end is coupled to the conductive element; and a resilient biasing element coupled to the distal end of the push rod sweep, wherein the resilient biasing element resiliently resists a predetermined shredded material force, wherein the predetermined shredded material force presses the front face of the hinged push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes a bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact. In some embodiments, the articulating push rod includes an upper push rod with a guide slot; a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using a guide slot; and an adjustable tensioning element disposed in the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is extended or retracted from the upper push rod to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element. In an embodiment, the lower push rod further comprises a lower pivot portion disposed within the guide slot, and wherein the lower push rod can extend, retract, or pivot. In an alternative embodiment, the articulated push rod comprises an upper push rod with a guide hole; a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using a guide hole; and an adjustable tensioning element positioned at least partially through the guide aperture into the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is angled relative to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element. An alternative embodiment may include a lower pivot portion coupled to the adjustable tensioning element, wherein the lower push rod may be adjustably pivoted relative to the upper push rod and releasably positioned to a selected angle.

Additionally, a paper shredder is provided, the paper shredder having a motor; a cutting block mechanically coupled to the motor; a shredder controller electrically coupled to the motor and configured to stop the motor when the bin full signal is received; and a shredder sensor having: a push rod having a front side and a back side; a conductive element mechanically coupled to an opposite side of the push rod; a sensing contact assembly adjacent to the conductive element and disposed normally open with the conductive element; a signal contact electrically coupled to the sensing contact assembly; a push-rod sweeper coupled between the opposite surface of the push-rod and the conductive element, the push-rod sweeper having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled to the opposite surface of the push-rod, and a biasing element coupled to the distal end of the push-rod sweeper. The biasing element resiliently resists the shredded material force and the shredded material force corresponds to a predetermined waste bin level. The shredded material force presses against the front face of the push rod, thereby electrically coupling the conductive element to the sensing contact assembly, which in turn causes a bin full signal to be emitted from the signal contact and received by the controller. Embodiments also include a lower shroud mechanically coupled to the motor, the cutting block, and the controller; an opening in the lower shroud formed to receive the pushrod; and a waste bin removably coupled to the lower shroud, wherein the push rod extends at least partially from the opening in the lower shroud, and wherein the push rod is positioned to cause a bin-full signal to be emitted from the signal contact when shredded materials reach a predetermined level in the waste bin. In some embodiments, the push rod is an articulating push rod. The hinged push rod comprises an upper push rod with a guide slot; a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using a guide slot; and an adjustable tensioning element disposed in the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is extended or retracted from the upper push rod to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element. In other embodiments, the push rod is an articulating push rod. The hinged push rod comprises an upper push rod with a guide hole; a lower push rod mechanically coupled to the upper push rod using a guide hole; and an adjustable tensioning element positioned at least partially through the guide aperture into the lower push rod, wherein the lower push rod is angled relative to the upper push rod by adjusting the adjustable tensioning element.