Paper shredder and control method for paper shredder

Abstract

The invention provides a paper shredder for displaying an environmental contribution value and a control method of the paper shredder. The paper shredder is provided with: a shredding unit (20) that shreds paper into paper sheets (C); a container (11) for storing the paper sheet (C); a weight sensor (50) that is provided at the lower side of the container (11) and that measures the weight of the paper sheet within the container (11); a processor of the control unit (40) that calculates an environmental contribution value on the basis of the paper weight measured by the weight sensor (50); and a display (6) that displays the environmental contribution value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shredder and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a shredder that shreds printed and unwanted copy paper or the like has been known. For example, in Patent Document 1, a shredder having a wastepaper basket for storing shredded pieces is disclosed.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-136651 Summary of the Invention

[0004] However, in the shredder described in Patent Document 1, when the shredded paper is reused, the degree of contribution to the environment is unclear. Recently, in the case of attaching importance to environmental considerations, the motivation for environmental conservation has become important. Conventionally, there has been no technology in which a user of a shredder knows the degree of contribution to environmental conservation if the shredded document is reused when shredding an unwanted document. In order to solve such a problem, the following invention has been proposed.

[0005] The shredder of the present invention includes: a shredding unit that shreds paper into pieces; a container that stores the pieces; a weight sensor that is provided below the container and measures the weight of the pieces in the container; a processor that calculates an environmental contribution value based on the weight of the pieces measured by the weight sensor; and a display that displays the environmental contribution value.

[0006] In the control method of the shredder of the present invention, the shredder includes: a shredding unit that shreds paper into pieces; a container that stores the pieces; a weight sensor that measures the weight of the pieces in the container; a processor; and a display. The control method includes: a first step of measuring the weight of the pieces by the weight sensor; a second step of calculating an environmental contribution value by the processor based on the weight of the pieces measured by the weight sensor; and a third step of displaying the environmental contribution value on the display. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 A perspective view showing the appearance of the shredder according to the embodiment.

[0008] Figure 2 A perspective view showing the appearance of the shredder with the door portion opened.

[0009] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the shredder.

[0010] Figure 4 It is a flowchart showing the control method of the shredder.

[0011] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing an example of the display of the environmental contribution value on the display.

[0012] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram showing the waste paper recycling process using a shredder and a paper manufacturing device. Detailed implementation mode

[0013] In the following implementation mode, a shredder 1 that shreds paper such as waste paper that has been printed and used up, and a control method of the shredder 1 are exemplified and described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each of the following figures, the XYZ axes, which are orthogonal to each other, are marked as needed, and the direction indicated by each arrow mark is set as the + direction, and the direction opposite to the + direction is set as the - direction. When the shredder 1 is installed on a horizontal plane, the Z axis becomes an imaginary axis along the vertical direction. The +Z direction is set as the upper side, and the -Z direction is set as the lower side.

[0014] As Figure 1 shown, the shredder 1 according to this implementation mode is substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The shredder 1 has a housing composed of an upper surface 5 and a bottom surface 2e that face each other in the vertical direction, and four side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. The side surfaces 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are rectangles with their long sides along the Z axis.

[0015] Each of the structures of the shredder 1 described later is housed in the above housing. The user of the shredder 1 performs operations such as shredding paper facing the side surface 2a facing the -X direction. In the following description, the user of the shredder 1 is also simply referred to as the user.

[0016] The shredder 1 is equipped with a display 6. The display 6 is arranged in the +X direction of the upper surface 5. The display 6 displays various information such as the working conditions and operation instructions related to the shredder 1. In particular, the display 6 displays the environmental contribution value described later.

[0017] The display 6 can also serve as an operation unit for accepting various instructions from the user for the shredder 1. The display 6 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device of a touch panel type. In addition, the display 6 is not limited to a structure that also serves as an operation unit. The operation unit can also be provided independently of the display 6.

[0018] On the -X direction of the upper surface 5, an insertion port 7 is arranged. The insertion port 7 is an opening into which the paper to be shredded is inserted. The paper inserted from the insertion port 7 moves to the shredding unit described later inside the above housing.

[0019] On the side surface 2a, a door portion 9 that forms a part of the side surface 2a is disposed. The door portion 9 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the -X direction, and its long side extends along the Z axis. The door portion 9 is a substantially plate-shaped member. The door portion 9 can be opened with the long side in the +Y direction as a fulcrum.

[0020] A handle portion 4 is provided on the long side of the door portion 9 in the -Y direction. By grasping the handle portion 4 with a hand and pulling the door portion 9 in the substantially -X direction, the door portion 9 can be opened.

[0021] As Figure 2 shown, the paper shredder 1 includes a shredding unit 20, a container 11, a weight sensor 50, and a control unit 40 (to be described later) inside the above-described housing.

[0022] The shredding unit 20 shreds paper into pieces C. The shredding unit 20 is disposed above the inside of the housing of the paper shredder 1. The pieces C fall from the shredding unit 20 to the container 11 by gravity.

[0023] The container 11 stores the pieces C. The container 11 is disposed in the internal space of the above-described housing below the shredding unit 20. The container 11 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box with an open top. The container 11 is made of, for example, resin.

[0024] The container 11 is detachable from the paper shredder 1. When the door portion 9 is opened, the container 11 can be taken out. The user opens the door portion 9, thereby being able to take out the container 11 from the paper shredder 1 and recover the pieces C from the container 11.

[0025] The weight sensor 50 supports the container 11 and measures the weight of the pieces of paper inside the container 11. The weight sensor 50 is provided directly above the bottom surface 2e and below the container 11.

[0026] As Figure 3 shown, the shredding unit 20 includes a first inclined portion 21, a first longitudinal cutting edge 22, a second longitudinal cutting edge 23, a transverse cutting edge 24, a second inclined portion 26, a top plate 27, and a stirring portion 28.

[0027] In the shredding unit 20, the first inclined portion 21, the first longitudinal cutting edge 22, the second longitudinal cutting edge 23, the transverse cutting edge 24, and the second inclined portion 26 are disposed above the top plate 27 in the above-described order. The paper to be shredded moves from the inlet 7 to the first inclined portion 21, the first longitudinal cutting edge 22, the second longitudinal cutting edge 23, the transverse cutting edge 24, the second inclined portion 26, and the stirring portion 28 in sequence.

[0028] The top plate 27 is disposed above the container 11. A stirring unit 28 is disposed between the container 11 and the top plate 27. The control unit 40 is disposed directly above the shredding unit 20 and directly below the upper surface 5.

[0029] The insertion port 7 is an elongated rectangle along the Y-axis. The dimension of the insertion port 7 along the Y-axis corresponds to, for example, the width dimension of the paper to be shredded. The paper to be shredded enters the paper shredder 1 from the insertion port 7 and slides down along the first inclined portion 21 by gravity and moves toward the shredding unit 20.

[0030] At the first inclined portion 21, a paper detection sensor (not shown) is disposed. The paper detection sensor detects the presence of the paper inserted from the insertion port 7. The paper detection sensor is electrically connected to the control unit 40 and transmits the detection result to the control unit 40.

[0031] The first inclined portion 21 extends from the insertion port 7 toward the first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23. The first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 are disposed at the end of the first inclined portion 21. The paper to be shredded reaches between the first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 via the first inclined portion 21.

[0032] The first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 are paired and are each substantially columnar with the height direction of the column along the Y-axis. The first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 each rotate about an axis along the Y-axis by the drive of a drive motor (not shown). Each of the first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 includes a plurality of cutting blades arranged in the direction along the Y-axis. The paper is shredded along the moving direction by the first longitudinal cutting blade 22 and the second longitudinal cutting blade 23 and thus becomes long and narrow strip-shaped pieces of paper. The pieces of paper advance toward the cross cutting blade 24.

[0033] The cross cutting blade 24 is substantially columnar and the height direction of the column is along the Y-axis. The cross cutting blade 24 rotates about an axis along the Y-axis by the drive of a drive motor (not shown). The cross cutting blade 24 shreds the long and narrow strip-shaped pieces of paper in a direction crossing the moving direction to make them into pieces of paper C. When the paper to be shredded is a confidential document, it is preferable that the pieces of paper C are shredded by the first longitudinal cutting blade 22, the second longitudinal cutting blade 23, and the cross cutting blade 24 until they reach a state where confidential information management is not required.

[0034] A second inclined portion 26 is disposed below the cross cutting blade 24. The pieces of paper C fall by gravity and are guided by the second inclined portion 26 to enter the stirring unit 28.

[0035] The stirring unit 28 disperses the paper pieces C that have slid down from the second inclined portion 26 in the air and causes them to fall into the container 11. The stirring unit 28 is a propeller-shaped member. The stirring unit 28 rotates about an axis along the Z-axis by the drive of a drive motor (not shown). The paper pieces C are drawn into the rotation of the stirring unit 28 and thus are dispersed in the air above the container 11. Thereby, the paper pieces C are dispersed and stacked in the container 11 under the condition of not being biased directly below the second inclined portion 26 or the like.

[0036] The weight sensor 50 includes a base member 51, a load cell 53, a circuit board 55, and a pedestal member 57. In the weight sensor 50, the base member 51, the load cell 53, the circuit board 55, and the pedestal member 57 are arranged in order from above to below.

[0037] The base member 51 is a substantially flat plate-shaped member on which the container 11 is placed. The base member 51 is supported by the load cell 53 from below and thus is in a state of floating from other structures such as the pedestal member 57. The loads of the container 11 and the paper pieces C placed on the base member 51 are only applied to the load cell 53.

[0038] The load cell 53 is supported by the pedestal member 57 from below and has the base member 51 placed thereon at the upper side. The load cell 53 is arranged at the center in the X-axis direction of the pedestal member 57. The load cell 53 measures the paper weight of the paper pieces C in the container 11 based on the deformation generated by the load applied from above. For the load cell 53, a well-known type of load cell can be applied. In the shredder 1, a beam type is applied as the load cell 53.

[0039] The weight measurement mechanism of the weight sensor 50 is not limited to the load cell 53. As weight measurement mechanisms other than the load cell 53, for example, a spring scale and an electromagnetic scale can be cited.

[0040] The circuit board 55 is electrically connected to the control unit 40 and the load cell 53. The circuit board 55 is arranged in the +X direction of the load cell 53 and is mounted on the pedestal member 57 below it. The circuit board 55 transmits the measured data of the paper weight to the control unit 40 as an electrical signal.

[0041] The pedestal member 57 is supported by a structural member of the shredder 1 (not shown) at its lower side and supports the load cell 53 and the circuit board 55 at its upper side. The pedestal member 57 extends along the X-axis. The pedestal member 57 is, for example, a metal plate that has been subjected to sheet metal processing.

[0042] The control unit 40 is electrically connected to the above-described structure of the shredding unit 20, the display 6, the weight sensor 50, etc. The control unit 40 comprehensively controls the operations of these structures.

[0043] The control unit 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage unit including a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. In the storage unit, various programs for controlling the shredder 1 are stored. The control unit 40 may also include dedicated hardware (Application Specific Integrated Circuit: ASIC) that executes at least a part of various processes.

[0044] The control unit 40 includes one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software). The processor calculates the environmental contribution value based on the weight of the paper pieces measured by the weight sensor 50.

[0045] The processor includes a CPU, and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The memories store program codes or instructions configured to cause the CPU to execute processes. The memories, i.e., computer-readable media, include all media accessible by a general or dedicated computer. The processor controls the operations of the respective structures of the shredder 1 via a controller, etc.

[0046] In addition, the shredder 1 may include an optical sensor that detects the volume of the paper pieces C accumulated in the container 11.

[0047] As Figure 4 shown, the control method of the shredder 1 includes steps S11 to S20. Steps S11 to S20 are steps related to the measurement of the paper weight, the calculation and display of the environmental contribution value. In the shredder 1, in addition to steps S11 to S20, well-known control methods may also be applied. In the following description, it is assumed that in addition to Figure 4 in addition, reference is also made to Figure 3 .

[0048] In step S11, the user turns on the power button. The power button may be included in the display 6 or may be provided independently of the display 6. Then, it proceeds to step S12.

[0049] In step S12, the user presses the shredding start button. The shredding start button is arranged in the display 6, etc., in the same way as the power button. The user successively inserts the paper to be shredded into the shredder 1 from the insertion port 7 following the instruction to start shredding. Then, it proceeds to step S13.

[0050] In step S13, the control unit 40 determines whether there is paper inserted through the insertion port 7. When the paper detection sensor detects the paper, the control unit 40 determines that there is paper to be shredded, and thus the process proceeds to step S14.

[0051] In step S14, a paper shredding process is performed. The paper is made into pieces of paper C, and is dispersed and stacked in the container 11 by the stirring unit 28. Step S14 continues until the paper detection sensor no longer detects the paper, that is, until there is no paper to be shredded. Then, the process proceeds to step S15.

[0052] In step S15, the weight sensor 50 measures the weight of the pieces of paper in the container 11. Step S15 corresponds to the first step of the paper shredder control method of the present invention. The weight of the pieces of paper is measured in units of, for example, 0.01 kg. The data of the weight of the pieces of paper is sent from the weight sensor 50 to the control unit 40. Then, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0053] In step S16, the control unit 40 stores the weight of the pieces of paper measured and received in step 15. Then, the process proceeds to step S17.

[0054] In step S17, it is determined whether the container 11 is full of the pieces of paper C. Specifically, the control unit 40 determines whether the weight of the pieces of paper has reached a predetermined threshold value or has not reached the predetermined threshold value based on the data of the weight of the pieces of paper sent from the weight sensor 50.

[0055] When the control unit 40 determines that the container 11 is full, it adds the weight of the pieces of paper to the cumulative value of the weight of the pieces of paper, and prompts the user to recycle the pieces of paper C in the container 11 via the display 6 or the like. When the control unit 40 determines that the container 11 is not full, the process proceeds to step S18.

[0056] In step S18, the control unit 40 calculates the cumulative value of the weight of the pieces of paper. The cumulative value of the weight of the pieces of paper mentioned here refers to the weight of the pieces of paper of all the shredded papers since the start of use of the paper shredder 1. Specifically, the cumulative value of the weight of the pieces of paper refers to the total value of the weight of the pieces of paper stored each time the pieces of paper C in the container 11 are recycled and the weight of the pieces of paper during the period until the container 11 becomes full most recently. The weight of the pieces of paper during the period from when the pieces of paper C in the container 11 are recycled until it becomes full is updated and stored in the control unit 40 each time the weight of the pieces of paper is measured. Then, the process proceeds to step S19.

[0057] In step S19, the processor of the control unit 40 calculates the cumulative value of the paper sheet weight based on the paper sheet weight measured by the weight sensor 50 and the above-mentioned total value. The environmental contribution value is calculated based on the calculated cumulative value. Step S18 and step S19 correspond to the second step of the paper shredder control method of the present invention.

[0058] The environmental contribution value refers to the number of sheets of paper produced and the number of trees in terms of conversion. The environmental contribution value is not limited to the above, and for example, it can also be the reduction amount of carbon dioxide emissions, or the reduction amount of water consumption, etc.

[0059] The number of sheets of paper produced refers to the predicted number of sheets that can be produced when the paper sheet C is recycled into paper. The size of the produced paper is, for example, A4 format. Specifically, the number of sheets of paper produced is calculated by the mathematical formula described below.

[0060] Let the total value of the paper sheet weight stored each time the paper sheet C in the container 11 is recycled be A [kg]. Let the paper sheet weight during the period until the container 11 is full, that is, the most recently measured paper sheet weight, be B [kg]. A + B is the above-mentioned total value and is the cumulative value of the paper sheet weight calculated in step S18.

[0061] In the paper manufacturing apparatus used for recycling the paper sheet C, let the weight of each sheet of the produced paper be a [kg], and let the utilization efficiency of the paper sheet C be b [%]. The utilization efficiency b is calculated by subtracting the color materials, impurities, etc. that are not required for recycling in the paper sheet C.

[0062] The number of sheets of paper produced [sheets] is calculated by the formula (A + B) * b * 0.01 / a.

[0063] The number of trees in terms of conversion refers to an index indicating how many trees the cumulative value of the paper sheet weight is equivalent to when the paper sheet C is recycled into paper. The number of trees in terms of conversion can also be said to be the number of trees that can be avoided from being cut down by recycling the paper sheet C.

[0064] Let the waste paper utilization rate be d [%]. The waste paper utilization rate d is cited from the Waste Paper Handbook published by the Public Interest Incorporated Foundation Waste Paper Recycling Promotion Center. Let the number of sheets of paper that can be produced from each tree be e. The number of sheets of paper that can be produced e is cited from the materials published by the Japan Paper Federation.

[0065] The number of trees in terms of conversion [trees] is calculated by the formula (A + B) * b / {e * a * (100 + d)}.

[0066] Specifically, for example, when the cumulative value A + B of the paper sheet weight is 50 kg, the number of sheets of paper produced becomes approximately 7,000 sheets, and the number of trees in terms of conversion becomes approximately 0.6 trees. Then, the process proceeds to step S20.

[0067] In step S20, the control unit 40 causes the display 6 to display the environmental contribution value. Step S20 corresponds to the third step of the shredder control method of the present invention. An example of the display of the environmental contribution value on the display 6 is shown in Figure 5 below.

[0068] As Figure 5 shown, on the display 6, when the environmental contribution value is displayed, each value is displayed in regions 61, 63, and 65. The cumulative value A + B [kg] of the paper sheet weight is displayed in region 61. The number of sheets of paper produced in the environmental contribution value is displayed in region 63. The number of trees in terms of conversion in the environmental contribution value is displayed in region 65. Thus, the user can visually confirm the environmental contribution value.

[0069] Returning to Figure 4 , step S18 and S19 as the second step and step S20 as the third step are executed after the paper is shredded by the shredding unit 20 in step S14. The user can know the environmental contribution value after the shredding operation. As described above, through steps S11 to S20, the paper can be shredded and the environmental contribution value can be displayed.

[0070] As Figure 6 shown, the shredder 1 can also be used in combination with the paper manufacturing apparatus 100. As the first stage P1, waste paper OP such as unwanted copy paper is shredded by the shredder 1 to become paper pieces C. Next, as the second stage P2, the paper pieces C are gathered at the paper manufacturing apparatus 100. Next, as the third stage P3, the paper manufacturing apparatus 100 uses the paper pieces C to manufacture the recycled sheet NP.

[0071] In the paper manufacturing apparatus 100, a known paper manufacturing machine can be applied. For example, when waste paper OP such as unwanted confidential documents is shredded by the shredder 1 installed in an office, the paper manufacturing apparatus 100 is installed on the same floor or in the same building as the above-mentioned office. Thus, in addition to reducing the labor such as transportation generated by the gathering of the paper pieces C, the recycled sheet NP can be flexibly utilized in the above-mentioned office.

[0072] In the paper manufacturing apparatus 100, a relatively small-sized paper manufacturing machine is more suitable compared to an industrial paper manufacturing machine. As a small-sized paper manufacturing machine, for example, the dry office paper making machine PaperLab (registered trademark) of Seiko Epson Corporation can be cited.

[0073] According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0074] The user can know the degree of contribution to the environment. Since the effect of reusing shredded paper is visualized, the user can actually feel the contribution to the environment and it also becomes a motivation for environmental conservation.

[0075] Reference Signs

[0076] 1... shredder, 6... display, 11... container, 20... shredding unit, 40... control unit, 50... weight sensor, C... paper pieces, S15... process as the first step, S18 and S19... processes as the second step, S20... process as the third step.

Claims

1. A paper shredder comprising: a shredding unit that shreds the paper into paper pieces; A container for storing the paper sheets; a weight sensor disposed at a lower side of the container and measuring the weight of paper sheets in the container; a processor that calculates an environmental contribution value based on the weight of the paper sheet measured by the weight sensor; A display is used to display the environmental contribution value.

2. A method for controlling a shredder, wherein: The paper shredder has: a shredding unit that shreds the paper into paper pieces; A container for storing the paper sheets; A weight sensor for measuring the weight of the paper sheets in the container; processor; monitor, The control method comprises: The first step is to measure the weight of the paper sheet by using the weight sensor; The second step is to calculate the environmental contribution value based on the weight of the paper sheet measured by the weight sensor by the processor; The third step is to display the environmental contribution value on the display.

3. The control method of a paper shredder according to claim 2, wherein: The second step and the third step are performed after the shredding is performed by the shredding unit.

4. The control method of a shredder according to claim 2, wherein: In the second step, a cumulative value of the measured paper sheet weight is calculated, and the environmental contribution value is calculated based on the calculated cumulative value.

Images