SHREDDER AUTO FEED SYSTEM WITH PAPER STACK SEPARATION MECHANISM

摘要

The present disclosure is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for separating at least a sheet from a stack in a tray. A paper feed mechanism feeds paper that is separated from the stack by a stack separation mechanism to the cutter elements. The feed and separation mechanisms can be activated by rotation of the cutter elements. In one embodiment, the stack separation mechanism moves in an alternating manner between retracted and extended positions to disengage and engage and insert the stack to separate (with its edge) paper therefrom to feed to the feed mechanism for shredding. The paper stack separation mechanism can move in an non-undulating manner relative to the stack. A device for stripping stapled pages, a pivotable support plate, and pressure plate can also be used, as well as a number of sensors.

主权项

1. 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 paper stack separation mechanism positioned adjacent to the tray, the paper stack separation mechanism comprising opposing surfaces configured to separate at least one paper sheet from the stack, the paper stack separation mechanism being moveable between a retracted position away from the stack and an extended position for insertion of the opposing surfaces into at least part of the stack in between paper sheets in the stack to separate at least an edge of at least one paper sheet therefrom; a paper feed mechanism positioned adjacent to the tray for advancing the at least one separated paper sheet into the cutter elements, and a drive system constructed to drive the paper feed mechanism in a feeding direction to feed the at least one separated paper sheet from the stack by the paper stack separation mechanism to the cutter elements.