Abstract: A method for providing a visual aid to guide a driver when executing a test cycle includes controlling an electronic display to display a graph including a target trace indicating a target speed of a vehicle during the test cycle and a first visual indicator of an actual speed of the vehicle during the test cycle, scroll the target trace from a first side of the graph to a second side of the graph during a time-based portion of the test cycle to indicate the target vehicle speed with respect to an amount of time elapsed since a start of the test cycle, and scroll the target trace from the first side of the graph to the second side of the graph during a distance-based portion of the test cycle to indicate the target vehicle speed with respect to a distance travelled by the vehicle during the test cycle.

Abstract: A shredder for shredding substrates has a shredder mechanism, a motor, and a pair of cooperating shredding structures each having a set of spaced apart cutter elements interleaving with one another such that substrates are fed between the interleaved sets of cutter elements. At least one of the cooperating shredding structures includes a rotatably mounted shaft rotatable by the motor with its cutter elements mounted in spaced apart relation with spaces therebetween. The shaft has a tubular body with an inner surface defining a hollow interior, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings formed through the tubular body open to the inner and outer surfaces. The openings are open to the spaces between the cutter elements on the shafts. A supply of lubricant communicates with the plurality of openings of the shaft to deliver the lubricant from the interior of the shaft to the cutter elements through the openings.

Abstract: A shredder including a housing having a throat for receiving articles to be shredded, a shredder mechanism, a blocking member, and an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. A thickness detector comprises a contact member extending into the throat. The shredder includes an actuator for moving the blocking member between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator and the thickness detector are coupled to enable the actuator to move the blocking member from the retracted position to the extended position responsive to the movement of the contact member by insertion into the throat of the at least one article above a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The blocking member is configured such that in the extended position the blocking member prevents further insertion of the at least one article into the throat, and in the retracted position the blocking member permits further insertion thereof into the throat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shredder including a detector having a first contact member on one side of the shredder's throat and a second contact member on the other side. The contact members extend into the throat and are independently moveable relative to one another to enable insertion of an article into the throat. The article can move the contact members relative to one another by a combined amount. The shredder may prevent its motor from driving its cutter elements if it determines that the combined amount of independent relative movement correlates to a thickness that is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum thickness. In an embodiment, the contact members may include binary switches. The contact members aid in controlling and/or reducing flutter and wrinkles when articles are fed into the shredder.

Abstract: A shredder and a method for monitoring a motor of a shredder comprises a housing having a throat for receiving an article and a shredder mechanism received in the housing for shredding the article, the mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements in a shredding direction to shred articles. A current sensor for detecting current flowing through the motor and a controller coupled to the motor for controlling operation of the motor are also provided. The controller is also coupled to the current sensor and configured to detect at least an initial amount of current (or inrush current) supplied to the motor for each shredding event. Based on the inrush current, the controller sets a parameter (e.g., overload or thickness) to prevent overloading or stalling of the motor, such as caused by a jam or overheating.

Abstract: A shredder for shredding substrates has a shredder mechanism, a motor, and a pair of cooperating shredding structures each having a set of spaced apart cutter elements interleaving with one another such that substrates are fed between the interleaved sets of cutter elements. At least one of the cooperating shredding structures includes a rotatably mounted shaft rotatable by the motor with its cutter elements mounted in spaced apart relation with spaces therebetween. The shaft has a tubular body with an inner surface defining a hollow interior, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings formed through the tubular body open to the inner and outer surfaces. The openings are open to the spaces between the cutter elements on the shafts. A supply of lubricant communicates with the plurality of openings of the shaft to deliver the lubricant from the interior of the shaft to the cutter elements through the openings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shredder including a detector having a first contact member on one side of the shredder's throat and a second contact member on the other side. The contact members extend into the throat and are independently moveable relative to one another to enable insertion of an article into the throat. The article can move the contact members relative to one another by a combined amount. The shredder may prevent its motor from driving its cutter elements if it determines that the combined amount of independent relative movement correlates to a thickness that is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum thickness. In an embodiment, the contact members may include binary switches. The contact members aid in controlling and/or reducing flutter and wrinkles when articles are fed into the shredder.

Abstract: A shredder and a method for monitoring a motor of a shredder comprises a housing having a throat for receiving an article and a shredder mechanism received in the housing for shredding the article, the mechanism including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements, and the motor being operable to drive the cutter elements in a shredding direction to shred articles. A current sensor for detecting current flowing through the motor and a controller coupled to the motor for controlling operation of the motor are also provided. The controller is also coupled to the current sensor and configured to detect at least an initial amount of current (or inrush current) supplied to the motor for each shredding event. Based on the inrush current, the controller sets a parameter (e.g., overload or thickness) to prevent overloading or stalling of the motor, such as caused by a jam or overheating.

Abstract: A shredder is disclosed having a dual stage cutting mechanism. The dual stage cutting mechanism generally includes two pairs of cutters for performing two distinct cutting operations. The pair of first cutters is configured to pierce rows of staggered cross-cuts into material to create a waffle-like pattern. Disposed below the pair of first cutters, the pair of second cutters is configured to strip cut the pierced material.

Abstract: A shredder assembly for use in a shredder includes a plurality of cutter elements provided in a spaced apart manner configured to shred an article; and a plurality of stripper elements, each positioned between neighboring cutter elements, that are configured to remove debris particles stuck on the sidewalls of the cutter elements and/or between neighboring cutter elements. In a first configuration, when the cutter elements are rotated in a forward direction, upper portions of the stripper elements are urged toward the article to be shredded. In a second configuration, when the cutter elements are rotated in a reverse direction, the upper portions of the stripper elements are urged away from the article to be shredded. A method for shredding is also disclosed.

Abstract: A shredder including a housing having a throat for receiving articles to be shredded, a shredder mechanism, a blocking member, and an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. A thickness detector comprises a contact member extending into the throat. The shredder includes an actuator for moving the blocking member between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuator and the thickness detector are coupled to enable the actuator to move the blocking member from the retracted position to the extended position responsive to the movement of the contact member by insertion into the throat of the at least one article above a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The blocking member is configured such that in the extended position the blocking member prevents further insertion of the at least one article into the throat, and in the retracted position the blocking member permits further insertion thereof into the throat.

Abstract: A shredder is disclosed having a dual stage cutting mechanism. The dual stage cutting mechanism generally includes two pairs of cutters for performing two distinct cutting operations. The pair of first cutters is configured to pierce rows of staggered cross-cuts into material to create a waffle-like pattern. Disposed below the pair of first cutters, the pair of second cutters is configured to strip cut the pierced material.

Abstract: A substrate destruction apparatus for destruction of paper and optical discs, wherein first and second shafts are used for shredding paper fed through a paper receiving opening and second shaft is shared such that the second shaft and a stationary structure are used to damage optical discs. First and second shafts are provided with a plurality of cutter elements that interleave with when rotated relative to each other during use in a paper mode. When the apparatus is operated in a disc destruction mode, the shared second shaft is rotated in an opposite direction than the paper shredding direction and interleaves with the stationary structure to at least damage an optical disc fed through the disc receiving opening. Cutting elements on the second shaft have radial projections and protrusions for damaging at least the surface of the disc with a plurality of scratches, depressions, or cuts, rendering the disc unreadable.

Abstract: A substrate destruction apparatus for destruction of paper and optical discs, wherein first and second shafts are used for shredding paper fed through a paper receiving opening and second shaft is shared such that the second shaft and a stationary structure are used to damage optical discs. First and second shafts are provided with a plurality of cutter elements that interleave with when rotated relative to each other during use in a paper mode. When the apparatus is operated in a disc destruction mode, the shared second shaft is rotated in an opposite direction than the paper shredding direction and interleaves with the stationary structure to at least damage an optical disc fed through the disc receiving opening. Cutting elements on the second shaft have radial projections and protrusions for damaging at least the surface of the disc with a plurality of scratches, depressions, or cuts, rendering the disc unreadable.