Abstract: A paper shredder cutting assembly having an arbor, spaced-apart cutting blades on the arbor, a rigid frame set apart from and parallel to the arbor, and braces coupling the arbor to the frame. Each resilient brace is a spacer between a pair of spaced-apart cutting blades. The braces support arbor and cutting blades. The rigid frame and the braces cooperate to strengthen, and to reduce translational motion of the arbor, while allowing rotation of the arbor. Each brace has a brace body, a brace tang extending therefrom, and a brace tab extending perpendicularly from the brace tang. Each brace tab is aligned with another along an edge of the rigid frame, the brace bodies are spacers between the cutting blades, and the brace tabs impair translational motion of the brace bodies. A paper shredder with a motor, gearing, and counterposing cutting assemblies has motion-limited resilient spacers adjacent to cutting blades.

Abstract: A mechanical bin-full device for a paper shredder with a bin, having a curved, perforated T-blade sensor on a cylindrical body partially covered with a metal sheet. The T-blade is pendent into the bin. Metal contacts are placed on the paper shredder near the metal sheet, forming a switch, which is coupled to a motor control circuit for the shredder motor. The T-blade is pushed by paper shreddant and rotates the cylinder body as paper shreddant fills the bin. When the bin becomes full, the T-blade is positioned so that the metal contacts touch the metal sheet, closing the control circuit switch, and causing the motor to cease operating. The control circuit can include a microcontroller coupled to the motor, or a transistor-based driver coupled to a motor relay.

Abstract: A paper shredder controller, with an all-analog controller including a power supply circuit, coupled to a door open switch circuit, an automatic forward control circuit, an automatic reverse control circuit, and a wastebin full circuit. The paper shredder controller includes an overload circuit, a forward-reverse control and relays circuit, a forward-reverse model delay setting circuit, and an overheating protection circuit. Further includes a POWER indicator light; a DOOR OPEN light; an AUTOMATIC FORWARD light; an OVERHEATING light, and a WASTEBIN FULL light.

Abstract: A paper shredder with counter-rotating shredder blades coupled to a shredder motor, including a paper tray having a floor and being shaped to receive paper. The floor has an offset slot therein adjacent to the counter-rotating shredder blades. The engagement wheels partly protrude through floor, adjacent to the offset slot. The engagement wheels frictionally engage paper and turn towards the offset slot to force paper into the shredder blades. Also, a dentate catch disposed in each corner of the paper tray temporarily holds an affixment while a sheet of paper held by the affixment is being frictionally engaged by the engagement wheels to enter the slot for comminution. A PAPER FULL sensor, a DOOR OPEN sensor, an OVERLOAD sensor, an OVERHEAT sensor, a paper-in-tray sensor, a paper-at-entry sensor, a SAFETY LOCK sensor, and a cover door open/closed sensor are provided, as are AUTO and MANUAL modes of operation.

Abstract: A paper shredder jam clear mechanism including a power switch coupled to bidirectional motor, a sensor coupled to the power switch, and disposed in a feed inlet, and a jam clear button coupled to the sensor. The power switch has an AUTO/FORWARD position, to move the motor forward; an OFF position; and a REVERSE position, to move the motor in reverse. The sensor is coupled to the power switch in the AUTO/FORWARD position, and the motor is moved forward when the sensor detects an object in the feed inlet. The jam clear switch is configured to contact the sensor, and to move the motor forward. A delay circuit is coupled to the contact switch and to the motor, when actuated by the contact switch delays an operation of the motor for a period. Also, the delay circuit when actuated causes a brief period of auto-operation operation of the motor.

Abstract: A paper shredder having shredder cover and a motor coupled to shredder blades includes a shredder throat in proximity to shredder blades. The shredder throat has a moveable blade, and a fixed blade. A cam coupled to the moveable blade is in communication with a power switch plunger. When the shredder is in the NORMAL/ON position, a throat gap is in its normal position and the cam positions the plunger to power to the motor. When the shredder is in the JAM CLEAR/OFF position, the throat gap is in its wide position and the cam positions the plunger to remove power to the motor. A method is provided, including providing a moveable blade; sensing a throat jammed condition; releasing the moveable blade; moving the moveable blade to a wide gap position; sensing the moveable blade in the wide gap position; turning off the motor in response to the sensing.

Abstract: A paper shredder having shredder cover and a motor coupled to shredder blades includes a shredder throat coupled to an inlet in the shredder cover and in proximity to shredder blades. The shredder throat has a moveable throat blade, which widens the shredder throat. An anti-jam switch, which when activated causes the motor to advance the shredder blades to clear a jam in the widened shredder throat. The jam clearing mechanism can be automatic or manual, as by push-button or turn-knob linkages. A method for recovering from a shredder jam in a paper shredder is provided, including providing a moveable throat blade; sensing a shredder throat jammed condition; releasing the moveable throat blade; moving the moveable throat blade to a wide gap position; sensing the moveable throat blade in the wide gap position; advancing shredder blades in response to the sensing, by which the jammed condition is cleared.

Abstract: A mechanical bin-full device for a paper shredder with a pressing plate, a contact switch, and a touching part. The pressing plate is installed at an outside portion of the shredder mechanical parts under the lower housing. One end of the pressing plate is pivots on the lower housing and the other end is free. The contact switch is fixed on the lower housing and a contact point is provided on the contact switch. The touching part is provided on the pressing plate, away from the mechanical parts. The lower housing has a through-hole under the contact point of the contact switch enabling the touching part to contact the contact point. The waste paper drives the pressing plate to turn around the joint between it and the lower housing, making the touching part touch the contact point of the contact switch and making the shredder power off.

Abstract: A paper shredder motor cooling assembly having a paper shredder motor coupled to a fan shaft, an enclosure surrounding the paper shredder motor and having selected input and selected output vents to control airflow to the paper shredder motor, a fan coupled to the fan shaft, communicating with the selected input vents or the selected output vents; when the paper shredder motor is operating, the rotor shaft turns the fan to generate a differential air pressure between the selected input vents and the selected output vents, removing heat from the motor. A duty cycle of greater than 15 minutes is obtained. The fan can be coupled to the motor by speed increasing gearing, attached to the cutter blade assembly, such that the fan turns faster than the motor. The fan also can be attached to the motor shaft. An input fan and an output fan can be used.

Abstract: Paper shredder thickness calibration using a Hall effect torque detector coupled to a paper shredder motor, producing a signal corresponding to the paper shredder motor rotation, a controller receives the signal and determines a paper shredder motor torque from the signal corresponding to the rotation of the paper shredder motor, with the torque corresponding to shreddant thickness. Signal is compared to predetermined maximum signal beyond which overload is signaled. Also, a method of operating a paper shredder having a rotating motor to comminute shreddant, including providing a Hall effect rotor and sensor; creating a torque signal based on a full load motor torque, and comparing the current torque signal to the full load torque signal.

Abstract: A mechanical bin-full device for a paper shredder with a bin, having a curved, perforated T-blade sensor on a cylindrical body partially covered with a metal sheet. The T-blade is pendent into the bin. Metal contacts are placed on the paper shredder near the metal sheet, forming a switch, which is coupled to a motor control circuit for the shredder motor. The T-blade is pushed by paper shreddant and rotates the cylinder body as paper shreddant fills the bin. When the bin becomes full, the T-blade is positioned so that the metal contacts touch the metal sheet, closing the control circuit switch, and causing the motor to cease operating. The control circuit can include a microcontroller coupled to the motor, or a transistor-based driver coupled to a motor relay.

Abstract: Paper shredder thickness calibration using a Hall effect torque detector coupled to a paper shredder motor, producing a signal corresponding to the paper shredder motor rotation, a controller receives the signal and determines a paper shredder motor torque from the signal corresponding to the rotation of the paper shredder motor, with the torque corresponding to shreddant thickness. Signal is compared to predetermined maximum signal beyond which overload is signaled. Also, a method of operating a paper shredder having a rotating motor to comminute shreddant, including providing a Hall effect rotor and sensor; creating a torque signal based on a full load motor torque, and comparing the current torque signal to the full load torque signal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a touch-sensitive paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction control circuit unit. The control circuit unit then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive.

Abstract: A paper shredder motor cooling assembly having a paper shredder motor coupled to a fan shaft, an enclosure surrounding the paper shredder motor and having selected input and selected output vents to control airflow to the paper shredder motor, a fan coupled to the fan shaft, communicating with the selected input vents or the selected output vents; when the paper shredder motor is operating, the rotor shaft turns the fan to generate a differential air pressure between the selected input vents and the selected output vents, removing heat from the motor. A duty cycle of greater than 15 minutes is obtained. The fan can be coupled to the motor by speed increasing gearing, attached to the cutter blade assembly, such that the fan turns faster than the motor. The fan also can be attached to the motor shaft. An input fan and an output fan can be used.

Abstract: Composition, apparatus, and methods of composition and apparatus manufacture, for sharpening a paper shredder blade. Composition includes grinding powder, thickening agent, and additive. The thickening agent may be a white oil, an animal oil, a vegetable oil, or a stearine wax. The additive may be an antirust powder, an antiwear powder, an antistatic powder, or an antioxidation powder. The grinding composition is dispensed into a polyethylene film, and sealed to form the grinding apparatus, as a grinding sheet or a grinding packet. A method for forming a grinding sheet includes selecting the constituent materials for a grinding composition; stirring the constituent grinding composition materials; heating the constituent materials to melting; mixing the constituent materials, while melting and intermixing; cooling and packaging the grinding composition to form a grinding sheet or packet.

Abstract: A thickness detecting system for a paper shredder having a lever arm extending into the shredder's throat. One or more sensors may be in communication with the lever arm and configured to measure the rotation of the lever. A first maximum thickness and second maximum thickness may correspond to the paper inserted into the throat before and during shredder, respectively. Circuitry may reverse the motor when the thickness is exceeded to ease the removal of the paper and to prevent further shredding. A touch structure and the preferential power supply switch may be used to engagingly interact with each other, so that the motor can be switched off when the plate is selectively positioned to close the paper feed opening, can be switched on when the plate is selectively positioned to open the feed opening, and can be switched off when unexpected items are introduced into the feed opening.

Abstract: A paper inlet safety protection device with an upper cover plate, a safety cover plate, a paper entrance block and an elastic component. The upper cover plate is connected with the upper cover plate, first end of the upper cover plate covers inlet of the paper entrance of the upper cove plate, paper entrance block is arranged toward the paper entrance and in the upper cover plate, and limits the second end of the safety cover plate, two ends of the elastic component connect with the inner wall of the upper cover plate and the paper entrance block respectively, the paper entrance block is connected fixedly with the second end, or integrated with the second end, or limits the studs arranged on the second end, the paper entrance block is positioned between the paper entrance and the elastic component, the safety cover plate is pivoted with the upper cover plate.

Abstract: A paper shredder having a ventilation fan; a ventilation duct tightly coupled to the ventilation fan; and air openings on the ventilation duct to blow air so that the natural fall of paper waste is disturbed. The air openings are on the ventilation duct blow air generally sideways or generally angularly to the natural fall of paper waste. The ventilation fan intake is proximate to and provides supplemental cooling air flow to, a shredder motor. A lower lid is generally above the waste bin, wherein the air openings are disposed to blow air. The shredder motor is on the lower lid. A ventilation fan intake is proximate to a shredder motor and tightly coupled to the ventilation fan, the ventilation fan intake provides supplemental cooling air flow to the shredder motor, and the air openings are on the ventilation duct blow air angularly to the natural paper waste fall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a power-saving shredder, including motorized shredder blades; a shredder controller coupled to the motor controller; a timer coupled to the motor controller, and a mechanically-actuated switch (GREEN SWITCH) couples to the shredder controller. The GREEN SWITCH causes the shredder controller, the motor controller, the motorized shredder blades, and the timer to be activated. The Normally Off switch, when deactuated, causes motorized shredder blades to deactivate.

Abstract: Cooling apparatus and methods for a fractional-horsepower motor. Motor cooling apparatus includes a heat shoe, a heat diffuser, and a heat pipe coupled therebetween. The heat shoe is configured to partially cover a portion of, and to receive motor thermal energy from, the motor. The heat pipe is coupled to the heat shoe, and is configured to convey the motor thermal energy from the heat shoe. Heat diffuser can be coupled to receive motor thermal energy from the heat pipe. It is configured to diffuse at least a portion of the motor thermal energy into an ambient atmosphere. A thermal sensor is coupled to the motor and configured to sense a motor thermal condition; and a fan can be coupled to the thermal sensor through a controller. The controller is configured to control the speed of the fan relative to the motor thermal condition sensed by the thermal sensor.