Battery-powered shredder

Abstract

Battery-powered shredder (100), comprising: - a shredding body (110) for shredding materials; - a frame (120) for supporting the shredding body (110); - a collection unit (130) connected to the frame (120) for collecting shredded material; - a user interface (114) for switching the battery-powered shredder (100) between an on and an off state;and a battery chamber (140) for receiving at least one battery pack (142) which supplies the shredding body (110) with electrical energy, wherein the battery chamber (140) is integrated with or connected to a housing (112) of the shredding body (110), wherein the battery-powered shredder (100) further comprises a cover (116) for the battery chamber (140), wherein the cover (116) has an open state which allows access to the at least one battery pack (142), and a closed state which restricts access to the at least one battery pack (142); characterized in that the cover (116) in the closed state defines at least one first opening (118) between the battery chamber (140) and the environment of the battery-powered shredder (100).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present disclosure relates to a battery-powered shredder and in particular a battery-powered shredder for shredding organic, stem-like material from the household or garden area. STATE OF THE ART A shredder can be designed to reduce the volume of materials, such as garden waste. Such a device typically includes a shredding unit for performing the shredding, a frame to support the unit, and a collection chamber for gathering the shredded material. The shredding is generally powered by an electric motor housed within the shredder's casing. Chinese patents and utility models CN 101 690 907 A and CN 206 547 399 U disclose electric garden shredders with a shredding body supported by the frame. The frame includes a collection container and a movable mounting component. The collection container is detachably attached to the mounting. To prevent unintentional removal, the container is secured to the frame by interlocking contours that can be manually locked on the side of the container. These types of shredders can be powered by mains electricity, but this limits their mobility. To increase portability, battery-operated versions have been developed. In these models, a rechargeable battery pack is housed in a battery or power supply compartment, which can be integrated into or attached to the shredder housing. A battery-powered shredder for processing materials, especially organic, stem-like material from the household or garden, is described in EP 0 546 496 A1. Here, too, the shredding unit is connected via a frame to a collection section that gathers the shredded material. The shredding unit comprises a tool head driven by a drive unit consisting of an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery pack. For space-saving design, the shredder housing includes a power supply compartment that houses the battery pack. The collection section is positioned below the shredding unit via the frame and ergonomically raises the shredding unit towards the user. As described in EP 0 546 496 A1, the power supply chamber protects the battery pack and its electrical contacts from environmental influences such as moisture and dirt. The chamber may be fitted with a cover that, when closed, seals the compartment from the environment. While this tight configuration provides protection, it has a functional disadvantage: During operation, the battery pack generates heat, and the sealed chamber hinders the dissipation of this thermal energy. The resulting higher operating temperatures can adversely affect the performance and lifespan of the battery pack and pose potential safety risks. Another example of a battery-powered shredder can be found in European patent application EP 4 098 102 A1. It describes a battery-powered shredder with easy access to the power supply chamber via a pivoting cover. This cover allows access to the chamber when open and seals it when closed. In one embodiment, the power supply chamber contains a battery pack consisting of at least one rechargeable cell. The battery pack is connected to the shredder's power electronics via electrical contacts. By sealing the power supply chamber, the cover prevents the ingress of unwanted external substances such as rainwater, dirt, or foreign objects. Furthermore, the sealed cover protects the battery pack from atmospheric corrosion and mechanical damage caused by external forces. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages discussed. This object is achieved, at least in part, by a battery-powered shredder. According to one aspect of the present invention, the battery-powered shredder comprises a shredding body for shredding materials and a frame for supporting the shredding body. A collection unit is connected to the frame to collect shredded material. The battery-powered shredder further comprises a user interface for switching between an on and an off state. The battery-powered shredder also includes a battery compartment for accommodating at least one battery pack that supplies the shredding body with electrical energy. The battery compartment is integrated into or attached to the housing of the shredding body. The battery-powered shredder further comprises a cover for the battery compartment, the cover having an open state that allows access to the at least one battery pack and a closed state that restricts access to the at least one battery pack.The battery-powered shredder is characterized in that the cover, when closed, defines at least one first opening between the battery chamber and the environment of the battery-powered shredder. The battery-powered shredder according to the present disclosure thus advantageously provides a ventilation path for the battery chamber, which allows the heat generated by the battery pack during operation to be dissipated. This improves battery performance, extends the operating life of the battery pack, and increases the overall safety of the shredder by reducing risks associated with overheating. This configuration differs from conventional designs, which are designed for a complete seal of the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one first opening may comprise a series of perforations, a single elongated slit, or an opening provided with a grid that prevents the ingress of larger particles while still allowing airflow. In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one first opening is configured as a gap between a circumference of the cover and an edge of an access opening in the battery chamber. This can represent a structurally simple and cost-effective way to create the ventilation path, as it can be achieved through suitable manufacturing tolerances between the cover and the housing without additional complex manufacturing processes. This design can create a discrete and distributed ventilation channel that is less susceptible to the direct ingress of falling particles or rain. In one exemplary embodiment, the gap can have a uniform width across the entire circumference of the cover, or the gap can be irregularly shaped, with widened sections at certain points to optimize airflow depending on the position of heat-generating components within the chamber. The gap can also be created by integrating discrete spacers either on the cover or on the housing edge. In an exemplary embodiment, the gap forming the at least one first opening can have a width in the range of 1 millimeter to 4 millimeters. This dimension provides a sufficient cross-sectional area for effective ventilation and is simultaneously small enough to inhibit the ingress of larger particles, such as wood shavings or leaves, and thus maintain a certain degree of protection for the battery chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, the battery chamber includes at least one second opening. Providing this second opening allows for clear and effective cross-ventilation of the battery chamber, thus enabling significantly more efficient convective cooling than a configuration with only a single opening. This ensures a continuous flow of ambient air over the battery pack and actively removes heat from the chamber. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening can be arranged at different heights on the housing to promote passive cooling by natural convection. For example, arranging the at least one second opening in a lower position and the at least one first opening in an upper position can cause cooler, denser ambient air to flow in through the lower opening, while warmer, less dense air exits through the upper opening, thus creating a continuous passive airflow even without a fan. In one exemplary embodiment, the second opening can be located on a wall of the battery chamber opposite the first opening to maximize airflow. In another exemplary embodiment, the second opening can include a series of louvered vents that direct the airflow and also provide additional protection against moisture ingress. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one second opening can comprise a plurality of slots, the total cross-sectional area of ​​the slots being substantially equal to or greater than the total cross-sectional area of ​​the at least one first opening. This ensures that the airflow path is not restricted and promotes efficient and balanced ventilation of the battery chamber, whether by natural convection or forced airflow. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one of the first or second openings can be designed to define a labyrinthine path. Such a design can hinder the ingress of foreign substances, such as splashing water or dirt, in a direct line of sight, while still allowing air to pass through for ventilation, thus reconciling the requirements for cooling and component protection. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery-powered shredder further comprises a motor for driving the shredding unit. The motor is arranged to force an airflow between the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening. This can create an active or forced convection cooling system, which is significantly more effective than passive ventilation, especially under high load. Utilizing the existing motor's fan enables improved cooling without the need for a separate, dedicated fan, thus optimizing costs, complexity, and energy consumption. In one exemplary embodiment, the airflow can be guided through internal channels or baffles to direct it specifically over the hottest areas of the battery pack. In another exemplary embodiment, a small, separate fan, controlled by a temperature sensor, can provide on-demand cooling only when the battery temperatures exceed a predetermined threshold. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery chamber further comprises a battery tray designed to establish an electrical and mechanical connection to the at least one battery pack. The at least one second opening is located near the battery tray. This arrangement allows for targeted cooling of the contact area, which, due to electrical resistance, is a critical heat generation point. Directing the airflow to this area can increase the reliability and service life of the electrical connection and further improve the overall safety of the shredder. In one exemplary embodiment, the second opening can be located directly below the battery tray to dissipate heat from the terminals. In another exemplary embodiment, the second opening can be integrated into the structure of the battery tray itself to achieve highly localized and efficient cooling. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing, frame and collection part can be made from an impact-resistant polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polypropylene, to provide durability, weather resistance and a lower overall weight for better maneuverability. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one battery pack can be a lithium-ion (Li-lon) battery pack with a nominal voltage in the range of 18 V to 80 V, which offers a balance of high power density and manageable weight for demanding shredding tasks. In one exemplary embodiment, the motor can be a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, which offers higher efficiency, a longer service life and quieter operation compared to conventional brushed motors, thus improving the performance and ease of use of the battery-powered shredder. In one exemplary embodiment, the collection unit is a removable container that may include a safety interlock switch. The safety interlock switch can be designed to prevent motor operation unless the collection unit is properly secured to the frame. This increases operational safety by preventing unintentional contact with the shredding mechanism. In one exemplary embodiment, the user interface is provided in a manner that meets the requirements of IEC / IEEE 82079-1:2012. The user interface can enable effective and efficient operation of the shredder. It can be configured to display one or more shredder states, such as on / off status, direction of rotation of the shredding unit (forward / reverse), and the current battery charge level. Such comprehensive real-time feedback can increase operator safety and improve efficiency by enabling the user to make informed decisions, such as when to recharge the battery. In one exemplary embodiment, the user interface may include a panel with separate LED indicators, display an LCD with graphical symbols, or even integrate Bluetooth connectivity to transmit detailed diagnostics and status information to a user's mobile device via a dedicated application. Further features and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a battery-powered shredder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a side view of a battery-powered shredder, with a shredding body shown in section, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view of a battery compartment of a battery-powered shredder according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view of a battery compartment of a battery-powered shredder with at least one battery pack installed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show embodiments of the invention incorporating one or more aspects of the present invention. However, the invention can be implemented in many forms and should not be limited to the embodiments shown herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure comprehensive and complete and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention may be used in other embodiments and even in other types of structures and / or methods. In the drawings, identical reference numerals refer to identical elements. Certain terminology is used herein for the sake of simplicity only and is not to be understood as limiting the invention. For example, terms such as "top," "bottom," "front," "back," "sideways," "longitudinal," "transverse," "upward," "downward," "forward," "backward," "sideways," "left," "right," "horizontal," "vertical," "inward," "outward," "inward," "outward," "above," "below," "central," "middle," "between," "end," "adjacent," "near," "distal," "distant," "radial," "circumferential," or similar terms merely describe the configuration shown in the figures. The components can actually be oriented in any direction, and the terminology should therefore be understood as encompassing such variations unless otherwise specified. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a battery-powered shredder 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The battery-powered shredder 100 comprises a shredding body 110 and a frame 120. The shredding body 110 serves to shred materials. The frame 120 serves to support the shredding body 110. The shredding body 110 comprises a housing 112. The housing 112 is provided at the top with a filling opening 128, and a shredding mechanism, for example a rotating cutting unit, is provided in the housing 112. During operation, materials enter the housing 112 through the filling opening 128 and are subsequently processed by the shredding mechanism. A feed tool (not shown) can be shaped and dimensioned such that it can be inserted into the filling opening 128 to convey material towards the shredding mechanism. The housing 112 is further equipped with a handle part 124.The handle 124 is arranged on the top of the housing 112 to facilitate the operation and transport of the shredding device for the user. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 124 is a separate component that is attached to the housing 112 by means of one or more fastening elements, such as screws, and is designed so that the user can move and transport the battery-powered shredder 100. To meet the requirements of IEC / IEEE 82079-1:2012, the battery-powered shredder 100 is equipped with a user interface 114. The user interface 114 is also located on the housing 112 to facilitate interaction between the user and the battery-powered shredder 100. The user interface 114 is configured to switch the battery-powered shredder 100 between an on and an off state. The frame 120 is arranged below the shredding body 110. The frame 120 comprises a support frame 122, which serves as the skeleton of the frame 120. The frame 120 further comprises a drive mechanism, which in this embodiment is at least one wheel 126 coupled to the support frame 122. The wheel 126 is designed to facilitate the movement of the battery-powered shredder 100. A collection unit 130 is connected to the frame 120. The frame 120 defines a space, and the collection unit 130 is arranged within this space. The collection unit 130 is positioned below the shredding body 110 and serves to collect and store the shredded material. The battery-powered shredder 100 further comprises a cover 116 for a battery compartment 140 (shown in Fig. 2). When closed, the cover 116 restricts access to the battery compartment 140. In this exemplary embodiment, the cover 116, when closed, defines at least one first opening 118 between the battery compartment 140 and the surroundings of the battery-powered shredder 100. This first opening 118 serves as an air inlet or outlet for a ventilation system, as described in more detail below. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the battery-powered shredder 100, with the shredding body 110 shown in section. The battery-powered shredder 100 also includes a motor 150 for driving the shredding body 110. In other words, a drive unit, which in this embodiment is the motor 150, is provided in the housing 112 to supply drive power to the shredding mechanism. The battery chamber 140 is connected to the housing 112 of the shredding body 110. Furthermore, the battery chamber 140 is designed to accommodate at least one battery pack 142, which serves as a power supply unit and provides electrical energy to the shredding body 110. The battery chamber 140 also includes a battery receptacle 144, which is designed to establish an electrical and mechanical connection to the at least one battery pack 142.In other words, the at least one battery pack 142 is detachably installed in the battery chamber 140 via the battery receptacle 144. The cover 116 has an open state that allows access to the at least one battery pack 142, and a closed state that restricts access to the at least one battery pack 142. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged sectional view of the battery compartment 140 of the battery-powered shredder 100. The battery receptacle 144 is arranged within the battery compartment 140 and is designed to hold the at least one battery pack 142. The user interface 114 is located above the battery compartment 140. In this exemplary embodiment, the at least one first opening 118 is designed as a gap between a circumference of the cover and an edge of an access opening of the battery compartment 140. Furthermore, the battery compartment 140 includes at least one second opening 160. The at least one second opening 160 is designed here as a series of parallel slots. In this embodiment, the at least one second opening 160 is arranged near the battery receptacle 144.The arrangement of the at least one first opening 118 and the at least one second opening 160 provides a path for passive airflow through the battery chamber 140, thereby dissipating the heat generated during operation by natural convection. As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, the passive airflow creates complex flow patterns within the battery chamber 140. These patterns include the inflow of cool ambient air through one opening and the outflow of warmer air through another opening after passing around the battery receptacle 144, as well as a bidirectional flow at the first opening 118, through which air can both enter and exit the battery chamber 140.In another exemplary embodiment, the motor 150 is functionally arranged in such a way that it forces an airflow between the at least one first opening 118 and the at least one second opening 160, thus creating an active cooling system for the removal of thermal energy from the battery chamber 140 by means of forced convection. Fig. 4 shows a further enlarged sectional view of the battery chamber 140, with the at least one battery pack 142 installed in the battery chamber 140 and connected to the battery tray 144. The at least one battery pack 142 is shown with a plurality of interconnected battery cells arranged in a grid-like structure. The at least one second opening 160 is formed at the base of the at least one battery pack 142, near the lower end of the battery receptacle 144. The spatial relationship between the at least one first opening 118 and the at least one second opening 160 provides a defined path for cooling air to flow through the battery chamber 140. This path directs the airflow over the surfaces of the at least one battery pack 142 to dissipate the heat generated by the motor 150 and the at least one battery pack 142 during operation. The drawings and description disclose exemplary embodiments and examples of the invention, and although specific terms are used, they serve only in a general and descriptive sense and not to limit the scope of protection of the invention, which is defined in the following claims. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature CN 101 690 907 A

[0003] CN 206 547 399 U

[0003] EP 0 546 496 A1 [0005, 0006]EP 4 098 102 A1

[0007]

Claims

Battery-powered shredder (100), comprising: - a shredding body (110) for shredding materials; - a frame (120) for supporting the shredding body (110); - a collection unit (130) connected to the frame (120) for collecting shredded material; - a user interface (114) for switching the battery-powered shredder (100) between an on and an off state;and a battery chamber (140) for receiving at least one battery pack (142) which supplies the shredding body (110) with electrical energy, wherein the battery chamber (140) is integrated with or connected to a housing (112) of the shredding body (110), wherein the battery-powered shredder (100) further comprises a cover (116) for the battery chamber (140), wherein the cover (116) has an open state which allows access to the at least one battery pack (142), and a closed state which restricts access to the at least one battery pack (142); characterized in that the cover (116) in the closed state defines at least one first opening (118) between the battery chamber (140) and the environment of the battery-powered shredder (100). The battery-powered shredder (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one first opening (118) is designed as a gap between a circumference of the cover (116) and an edge of an access opening of the battery chamber (140). The battery-operated shredder (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery chamber (140) comprises at least one second opening (160). The battery-powered shredder (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the battery-powered shredder (100) further comprises a motor (150) for driving the shredding body (110), wherein the motor (150) is arranged such that it forces an airflow between the at least one first opening (118) and the at least one second opening (160). The battery-operated shredder (100) according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the battery chamber (140) further comprises a battery receptacle (144) which is designed to establish an electrical and mechanical connection to the at least one battery pack (142), and that the at least one second opening (160) is arranged near the battery receptacle (144).

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