Abstract: A paper shredder comprising a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, and a feeder base adapted to support a stack of paper. The feeder base includes a feed slot and an aperture providing communication between a top surface of the feeder base and a waste area. An edge defines at least a portion of the aperture and is oriented at an angle oblique to the feeder slot. The edge can be positioned at an angle of 3 degrees to 70 degrees, and preferably at about 10 degrees relative to the feeder slot. Preferably, the edge includes a first section at an angle of between 3 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the feeder slot, and a second section at an angle of between 20 degrees and 45 degrees relative to the feeder slot. The shredder can further comprise a deflection member for deflecting clips falling into the aperture.

Abstract: A shredding machine for domestic or office use having a feed passage 3 leading to a cutting mechanism 10, 11 powered by an electric motor, has a thickness measuring device 15 for measuring the thickness of bundles of paper fed through the feed passage and the machine is controlled by a microprocessor which receives signals from the thickness measuring device and prevents the cutting mechanism from being energised if the thickness measured is above a threshold determined by the microprocessor. The microprocessor varies the threshold in accordance with electrical supply voltage, the electric motor temperature and the electric current drawn by the motor during a previous shredding operation, so that the maximum thickness the shredder will accept can be reduced automatically when motor temperature increases or as the effectiveness of the machine deteriorates throughout its working life.

Abstract: A paper shredder comprising a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, a feeder base coupled to the housing and including a feeder slot, and a pressure plate mounted for movement above the feeder base. The pressure plate has a length perpendicular to the feeder slot that is less than 80% of a length of the feeder base. In one embodiment, the pressure plate includes two rollers positioned on opposing sides of the feeder slot (e.g., rotational about axes fixed relative to each other). The pressure plate preferably does not overlap with any aperture(s) in the feeder base. The paper shredder can also include a feeder door that substantially covers the entire feeder base and is pivoted at one end of the feeder door. The pressure plate can be mounted adjacent a bottom surface of the feeder door.

Abstract: A shredding machine for domestic or office use having a feed passage 3 leading to a cutting mechanism 10, 11 powered by an electric motor, has a thickness measuring device 15 for measuring the thickness of bundles of paper fed through the feed passage and the machine is controlled by a microprocessor which receives signals from the thickness measuring device and prevents the cutting mechanism from being energised if the thickness measured is above a threshold determined by the microprocessor. The microprocessor varies the threshold in accordance with electrical supply voltage, the electric motor temperature and the electric current drawn by the motor during a previous shredding operation, so that the maximum thickness the shredder will accept can be reduced automatically when motor temperature increases or as the effectiveness of the machine deteriorates throughout its working life.

Abstract: A paper shredder comprising a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, a feeder base coupled to the housing and including a feeder slot, and a pressure plate mounted for movement above the feeder base. The pressure plate has a length perpendicular to the feeder slot that is less than 80% of a length of the feeder base. In one embodiment, the pressure plate includes two rollers positioned on opposing sides of the feeder slot (e.g., rotational about axes fixed relative to each other). The pressure plate preferably does not overlap with any aperture(s) in the feeder base. The paper shredder can also include a feeder door that substantially covers the entire feeder base and is pivoted at one end of the feeder door. The pressure plate can be mounted adjacent a bottom surface of the feeder door.

Abstract: A paper shredder comprising a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, and a feeder base adapted to support a stack of paper. The feeder base includes a feed slot and an aperture providing communication between a top surface of the feeder base and a waste area. An edge defines at least a portion of the aperture and is oriented at an angle oblique to the feeder slot. The edge can be positioned at an angle of 3 degrees to 70 degrees, and preferably at about 10 degrees relative to the feeder slot. Preferably, the edge includes a first section at an angle of between 3 degrees and 20 degrees relative to the feeder slot, and a second section at an angle of between 20 degrees and 45 degrees relative to the feeder slot. The shredder can further comprise a deflection member for deflecting clips falling into the aperture.

Abstract: A shredding machine for domestic or office use having a feed passage 3 leading to a cutting mechanism 10, 11 powered by an electric motor, has a thickness measuring device 15 for measuring the thickness of bundles of paper fed through the feed passage and the machine is controlled by a microprocessor which receives signals from the thickness measuring device and prevents the cutting mechanism from being energised if the thickness measured is above a threshold determined by the microprocessor. The microprocessor varies the threshold in accordance with electrical supply voltage, the electric motor temperature and the electric current drawn by the motor during a previous shredding operation, so that the maximum thickness the shredder will accept can be reduced automatically when motor temperature increases or as the effectiveness of the machine deteriorates throughout its working life.

Abstract: A shredding machine is disclosed for shredding sheet material such as paper documents. The machine comprises an electric cutting mechanism which is operable to shred the sheet material, and has a collection bin arranged below the cutting mechanism for collection of the resulting shreds. The collection bin is movable in a pivotal manner between a first position in which it permits operation of the cutting mechanism and collects the shreds, and a second position in which it stops operation of the cutting mechanism. The bin is configured to move from the first position to the second position in response to the weight of shreds collected in the bin and the force acting on the collected shreds by fresh shreds exiting the cutting mechanism exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A shredding machine for domestic or office use having a feed passage 3 leading to a cutting mechanism 10, 11 powered by an electric motor, has a thickness measuring device 15 for measuring the thickness of bundles of paper fed through the feed passage and the machine is controlled by a microprocessor which receives signals from the thickness measuring device and prevents the cutting mechanism from being energised if the thickness measured is above a threshold determined by the microprocessor. The microprocessor varies the threshold in accordance with electrical supply voltage, the electric motor temperature and the electric current drawn by the motor during a previous shredding operation, so that the maximum thickness the shredder will accept can be reduced automatically when motor temperature increases or as the effectiveness of the machine deteriorates throughout its working life.

Abstract: A shredding machine is disclosed for shredding sheet material such as paper documents. The machine comprises an electric cutting mechanism which is operable to shred the sheet material, and has a collection bin arranged below the cutting mechanism for collection of the resulting shreds. The collection bin is movable in a pivotal manner between a first position in which it permits operation of the cutting mechanism and collects the shreds, and a second position in which it stops operation of the cutting mechanism. The bin is configured to move from the first position to the second position in response to the weight of shreds collected in the bin and the force acting on the collected shreds by fresh shreds exiting the cutting mechanism exceeding a predetermined threshold value (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A binder is described which is operable to bind together pages of a document using a comb, the binder including a punch mechanism operable to punch a line of holes close to one edge of the pages of the document, and a comb opening mechanism to enable the punched pages to be placed on the comb, the comb opening mechanism having a user operable control. The binder further includes a user operable control for selection of the comb size to be used to bind the document which automatically determines at least two settings of the binder.

Abstract: A binder operable to bind together pages of a document, the binder including: means for measuring the document length, including first and second locating members which act to locate the pages of the document between them in a lengthwise direction, thereby measuring the length of the pages of the document; and means for using the document length measurement to select one or more settings of the binder, wherein the means for measuring the document length also comprises an operating member, movement of which causes movement of one or both locating members, to locate the pages of the document between the locating members.

Abstract: A shredding machine includes a housing which defines a passageway through which a sheet of material to be shredded may pass, a punching mechanism comprising a plurality of punch members, a mechanism to move the punch members from a retracted position in which the punch members are spaced from the passageway to an advanced position in which the punch members extend through the passageway, and a feeding mechanism for feeding the sheet of material through the punching mechanism so that repeated movement of the punch members between the retracted and the advanced positions effects shredding of the material. A method of shredding sheet material comprises feeding a sheet of material to be shredded past a punching mechanism and repeatedly punching the sheet material so as to shred the entire sheet.