Shredder

Abstract

We provide a shredder that functions as an autonomous dialogue device. [Solution] The shredder 10 according to the present invention comprises a holder 20 having an appearance resembling a goat, and a shredder body 30 held by the holder 20. The shredder body 30 has an insertion slot 302 for receiving paper to be shredded. When a piece of paper on which a user has written an arbitrary sentence is inserted into the insertion slot 302, the sentence written on the paper is read by a reading unit (322) acting as a reading means, and then the paper is shredded by a shredding mechanism (312) acting as a shredding means. Then, a response to the sentence read from the paper is generated by a large-scale language model, and this generated response is output from a speaker 334a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shredder, and more particularly to a shredder provided with a reading means for reading an article recorded on an object to be shredded before the object to be shredded is shredded.

Background Art

[0002] An example of this type of shredder is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to the shredder disclosed in this Patent Document 1, a reading and recording device as a reading means for reading information recorded on an information recording medium to be shredded before the information recording medium is shredded is provided. Therefore, even if a medium on which valuable information is recorded is accidentally processed, the information can be immediately restored.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, shredders provided with the above-described reading means can be developed for various applications. For example, it can be developed for use as a so-called autonomous dialogue device that can autonomously interact with a user who uses the shredder.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel shredder as an autonomous dialogue device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve this objective, the shredder according to the present invention comprises an insertion slot, a shredding means, a reading means, a generation means, and an output means. The insertion slot accepts the insertion of an object to be shredded. The object to be shredded is, for example, a sheet, more specifically, paper. Arbitrary text is written on this object in advance by the user. The shredding means shreds the object inserted into the insertion slot. The reading means reads the text written on the object to be shredded before the object is shredded by the shredding means. The generation means generates a response to the content of the text read by the reading means. The output means then outputs the response generated by the generation means. By auditory means, for example by sound, Output to the user.

[0007] Furthermore, the text written on the shredded material is: Ne Includes negative content nothing The negative content referred to here includes negative emotions such as complaints, dissatisfaction, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, envy, suffering, hatred, sadness, anger, anxiety, and loneliness. and, The responses generated by the generation means, or in other words, the responses output by the output means, will include content that encourages the user in response to negative content. nothing . Furthermore, the output means outputs the answer after the shredding of the object to be shredded by the shredding means is completed.

[0008] Furthermore, the generation means may include generative artificial intelligence (generative AI), and may include, for example, a large-scale language model.

[0010] and The output means outputs the answer in an auditory manner. Add Furthermore, the response may be output in a visual form, for example, by displaying the response.

[0011] In addition, the present invention may further provide a switching means. This switching means selectively switches between a first state and a second state. The first state is a state in which all of the shredding means, reading means, generating means and output means are activated. On the other hand, the second state is a state in which at least the shredding means is activated and at least the output means is disabled.

[0012] The shredder according to the present invention may be held by a holder having an appearance imitating, for example, a goat.

[0013] Alternatively, the shredder according to the present invention may itself have an appearance imitating a goat. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to autonomously interact with a user, that is, to provide a shredder as an autonomous interaction device. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] It is an external view of the shredder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing the internal structure of the shredder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the shredder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing the flow of control tasks in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the shredder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the shredder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the shredder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0016] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the shredder 10 according to the first embodiment includes a holder 20 having an appearance modeled after a goat and a shredder main body 30 held by the holder 20. Note that FIG. 1 is an external view of the shredder 10 as seen from the front. That is, the front-rear direction of the paper on which FIG. 1 is drawn corresponds to the front-rear direction of the shredder 10. The vertical direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to the vertical direction of the shredder 10, and the left-right direction in FIG. 1 corresponds to the left-right direction of the shredder 10.

[0018] The holder 20 is, for example, a stuffed toy having an appearance modeled after a goat, but is not limited thereto, and may be a molded product made of resin, wood, metal, or the like. The shredder main body 30 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is held in a state of being held by the holder 20. Further, the shredder main body 30 can be easily attached to and detached from the holder 20 without using any special tools, that is, it is configured to be so.

[0019] Referring also to FIG. 2, an insertion port 302 for receiving the insertion of a piece of paper (not shown) as an object to be shredded is provided at the upper part of the shredder main body 30. Although it will be described in detail later, an arbitrary sentence is previously described on the paper by a user who uses the shredder 10. Then, the paper is inserted into the insertion port 302 as indicated by an arrow 100 in FIG. 2 with the surface on which the sentence is described facing forward of the shredder 10 (shredder main body 30). Note that the vertical direction of the paper when it is inserted into the insertion port 302 is not questioned.

[0020] Paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is detected by a paper detection unit 304 located below the insertion slot 302. This paper detection unit 304 has, for example, a reflective photoelectric sensor (not shown) and detects the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302, or in other words, the fact that paper has been inserted into the insertion slot 302, without contact. The paper detection unit 304 may also have a transmissive photoelectric sensor instead of a reflective photoelectric sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor instead of a photoelectric sensor. Furthermore, the paper detection unit 304 may have a contact-type switch such as a microswitch. In any case, the paper detection unit 304 only needs to be capable of reliably detecting paper inserted into the insertion slot 302.

[0021] When paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is detected by the paper detection unit 304, a motor 306 (see Figure 3), not shown in Figure 2, is driven in response. This motor 306 is the power source for the two rollers (more precisely, two pairs of rollers) 308 and 310, which will be described next, as well as the shredding mechanism 312, which will be described later.

[0022] The two rollers 308 and 310 are positioned below the paper detection unit 304, with appropriate distances between them in the vertical direction. The upper roller 308 of these two rollers 308 and 310 is a intake roller for taking in paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 into the shredder body 30. The lower roller 310 of the two rollers 308 and 310 is a feed roller for sending the paper taken into the shredder body 30 by the intake roller 308 to the shredding mechanism 312, which will be described next. In other words, the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is transported by the two rollers 308 and 310 and guided to the shredding mechanism 312 via the path shown by the short dashed line 314 in Figure 2.

[0023] The shredding mechanism 312 is an example of a shredding means for shredding paper guided to the shredding mechanism 312. This shredding mechanism 312 is, for example, a one-cut cross-cut type, but is not limited to this, and may be a spiral-cut type or other type. However, it is desirable that a shredding method with a higher security level than the straight-cut type be adopted.

[0024] The paper waste shredded by the shredding mechanism 312, known as shredded waste, is collected in a roughly rectangular box-shaped dustbin 316 located below the shredding mechanism 312. To prevent the shredded waste from scattering outside the dustbin 316, a scattering prevention mechanism 318 of an appropriate structure is provided. The dustbin 316 can be inserted into and removed from the shredder body 30 at will by opening a cover 320 located on the front of the shredder body 30, as shown by the dashed line 320a in Figure 2. That is, when the shredded waste contained in the dustbin 316 is to be discarded, the cover 320 is opened and the dustbin 316 is removed from inside the shredder body 30. After the shredded waste contained in the dustbin 316 is discarded, the dustbin 316 is placed back into the shredder body 30, and then the cover 320 is closed. Furthermore, a handle 320b for manually opening and closing the cover 320 is provided at an appropriate location on the cover 320. As shown in Figure 1, this handle 320b is, for example, heart-shaped, that is, a shape that provides comfort and a sense of security to the user (human). In addition, instead of the dust box 316 and the cover 320 being separate elements as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dust box 316 may be made into a drawer, so that the dust box 316 also serves as the cover 320. With this configuration, the work of disposing of the shredded waste contained in the dust box 316 becomes easier, and unnecessary stress on the user is suppressed as a result of this work.

[0025] Furthermore, a reading unit 322 is provided as a reading means for reading text written on the paper, located in front of the shredder 10 (to the right in Figure 2) of the paper guide path 314, and between the two rollers 308 and 310 in the paper guide (convey) direction. This reading unit 322 has, for example, a line sensor (not shown). This line sensor is positioned in close proximity to and facing the paper guide path 314, and extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper guide direction. The reading unit 322, in conjunction with the paper being guided as described above, reads text from the paper, or more precisely, reads a two-dimensional image containing the text. That is, the reading unit 322 reads text from the paper before the paper is shredded by the shredding mechanism 312.

[0026] In addition, a push-button type power switch 324 is provided at an appropriate location on the shredder body 30, for example, near the top of the front. This power switch 324 is a kind of sub-switch for waking the shredder 10 from sleep mode, and a separate main power switch (not shown) is provided in addition to this power switch 324. That is, when the main power switch is turned ON, power is supplied to the shredder 10, and then when the power switch 324 is turned ON, the shredder 10 becomes operational. If the shredder 10 is not used for a predetermined period of time (for example, several tens of seconds to several minutes), the shredder 10 enters sleep mode. The button portion 324a of the power switch 324 is shaped like a bell, as shown in Figure 1, that is, it is shaped like a bell attached to the collar of a goat, whether livestock or a pet.

[0027] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the shredder 10. As shown in Figure 3, the shredder 10 includes a control unit 330 as a control means. The control unit 330 has a computer, such as a CPU 330a, as a control execution means. In addition, the control unit 330 has a storage unit 330b as a storage means that the CPU 330a can directly access. Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the storage unit 330b includes ROM and RAM. The ROM stores the control software as embedded software. The RAM constitutes a work area and buffer area when the CPU 330a performs various processes based on the control software. The control software includes generative AI software for realizing generative AI in the shredder 10 alone, that is, in the local environment. The generative AI referred to here is, for example, a large-scale language model.

[0028] The control unit 330 is connected to the aforementioned paper detection unit 304, motor 306, reading unit 322, and power switch 326 via the input / output interface (I / F) unit 332. In addition, the control unit 330 is connected to the audio output unit 334 as an output means via the input / output interface unit 332. The audio output unit 334 includes a speaker 334a. At least the speaker 334a is built into the portion 20a of the holder 20 corresponding to the goat's mouth (see Figure 1). The electrical elements other than the speaker 334a, such as the control unit 330, are provided, for example, inside the shredder body 30. However, as can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the button portion 324a of the power switch 324 is exposed to the outside of the shredder body 30. The aforementioned main power switch is provided, for example, at an appropriate location on the shredder body 10.

[0029] Now, the shredder 10 according to this first embodiment functions as an autonomous dialogue device that can autonomously converse with the user, and in particular functions as a human care device that encourages users who have negative emotions such as complaints, dissatisfaction, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, envy, suffering, hatred, sadness, anger, anxiety, and loneliness.

[0030] Specifically, the user pre-writes a message on the paper to be shredded. This message contains negative content that expresses the aforementioned negative emotions. Then, the paper with this message written on it is inserted into the insertion slot 302.

[0031] When the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is detected by the paper detection unit 304, the motor 306 is started in response. As a result, the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is guided by the two rollers 308 and 310 to the shredding mechanism 312, where it is shredded. The shredded paper is then collected in the dust box 316 as described above. In addition, before the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is shredded by the shredding mechanism 312, the text on the paper is read by the reading unit 322.

[0032] The text read by the reading unit 322, or more precisely, the two-dimensional image containing the text, is sent to the control unit 330, and more specifically to the CPU 330a. The CPU 330a extracts the text from the two-dimensional image containing the text read by the reading unit 322. If the extracted text is oriented upside down, the CPU 330a corrects its orientation. The CPU 330a then identifies the extracted text as a prompt to be input to the large-scale language model. The CPU 330a then performs processing as a large-scale language model to generate a response to the prompt text, that is, a response that encourages the user in response to negative content. The CPU 330a that generates a response in this manner is an example of a generation means according to the present invention.

[0033] The answer generated by the CPU 330a, specifically the audio output data for outputting the answer as sound from the speaker 334a, is sent to the audio output unit 334. In response, the audio output unit 334 outputs sound corresponding to the audio output data, that is, sound representing the answer, from the speaker 334a. As mentioned above, the speaker 334a is built into the part 20a of the holder 20 that corresponds to the goat's mouth, so the sound output from the speaker 334a appears as if it were coming from the goat's mouth.

[0034] The audio response is output from speaker 334a after the shredding of the paper by the shredding mechanism 312 is completed, or more specifically, after the motor 306 has stopped running. To explain in more detail, as mentioned above, when the paper inserted into the insertion slot 302 is detected by the paper detection unit 304, the motor 306 starts running in response. After a predetermined estimated shredding time Tb has elapsed from the time the motor 306 starts running, the motor 306 stops running. The estimated shredding time Tb is a time slightly longer than the time required from the time a single sheet of paper is detected by the paper detection unit 304 until the shredding of that paper by the shredding mechanism 312 is completed, for example, a few seconds to a dozen seconds. After the motor 306 has stopped running, the audio response is output from speaker 334a. With this configuration, the voice output from speaker 334a representing the response is not interfered with by the operating noise of motor 306, making it easier for the user to hear.

[0035] In short, according to the shredder 10 of this first embodiment, the goat (or rather, Mr. Goat) offers words of encouragement to the user in response to the negative emotions they express by writing them down on paper. The paper on which the negative emotions are expressed is then shredded by the shredding mechanism 312, essentially being cut into pieces, which has the effect of alleviating the user's negative emotions. In addition, the shredding of the paper on which the negative emotions are expressed ensures the confidentiality (security) of the contents written on the paper. Furthermore, by discarding the shredded waste collected in the dustbin 316, the user can also discard (discard) their own negative feelings. Thus, the shredder 10 of this first embodiment functions as an autonomous dialogue device, and in particular as a human care device that allows the user to safely express their own feelings and process (digest) those feelings on their own.

[0036] Here are some examples of what users write on paper and the responses that the shredder 10 provides to that content.

[0037] For example, if the user writes on paper, "I've been working so hard, but nobody understands me. Nobody helps me. I'm so tired," the system might respond with something like, "That must have been tough. Write down everything that happened and let it all out. You can write anything at all."

[0038] For example, if the user writes on paper, "I just wanted someone to listen to me, but I was given advice instead. I just wanted someone to listen, why can't they understand that?", the system might respond with something like, "I know, I wonder why. All they needed was for you to just nod and say, 'That must have been tough.' You just wanted someone to listen because you had a bad experience, but you ended up feeling sad again. That must have been hard."

[0039] Furthermore, for example, if the user writes on paper something like, "I'm working so hard, but I'm not getting recognized, and my salary isn't increasing. I even improved my numbers," the system might respond with something like, "You improved your numbers! That's amazing! You did a great job! But it's frustrating, isn't it?"

[0040] For example, if the user writes on paper something like, "○○ has dumped more work on me again! It's so annoying!", the system will output a response such as, "Again? That's really annoying!"

[0041] For example, if the user then writes on paper something like, "○○ always pushes his work onto others and doesn't do any work himself. Isn't that unfair?", the system will output a response such as, "What? That's unfair! He should do his job properly!"

[0042] Furthermore, for example, if the user writes on paper something like, "My superiors never get angry at XX, and even praise him, which is really annoying!", the system might output a response such as, "Those superiors have no judgment. It's infuriating!"

[0043] For example, if the user writes on paper something like, "It feels like those who work hard are being taken advantage of. It's unfair," the system might respond with something like, "That's so true. It's ridiculous. I wish people who work hard would be properly recognized."

[0044] These are merely examples; the system will output appropriate responses to encourage the user based on what they write on paper. Therefore, it is desirable that the aforementioned large-scale language model be configured to learn each time.

[0045] To realize the shredder 10 as a human care device, or in other words, as an autonomous dialogue device, the CPU 330a executes control tasks according to the control program included in the aforementioned control software. The flow of these control tasks is shown in Figure 4. Note that the control tasks are executed in response to the power switch 324 being turned ON.

[0046] In other words, when the power switch 324 is turned ON, the CPU 330a responds by outputting a predetermined startup voice message from the speaker 334a in step S1. The startup voice message here refers to a message that encourages the user in an introductory manner, such as "I will accept and process your feelings!" or a message that gently asks the user, such as "What happened today?" Then, the CPU 330a proceeds to step S3.

[0047] In step S3, the CPU 330a resets and starts a timer (not shown) for measuring a predetermined waiting time Ta. The waiting time Ta is a time that is sufficiently longer than the time it is expected to take for the user to turn on the power switch 324 and insert paper into the paper slot 302, for example, a few tens of seconds to several tens of seconds. The timer for measuring the waiting time Ta is, for example, a software timer configured by the CPU 330a, but it may also be a hardware timer provided separately from the CPU 330a. After executing step S3, the CPU 330a proceeds to step S5.

[0048] In step S5, the CPU 330a determines whether paper has been detected by the paper detection unit 304. If paper is detected by the paper detection unit 304 (S5: YES), the CPU 330a proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if paper is not detected by the paper detection unit 304 (S5: NO), the CPU 330a proceeds to step S21, which will be described later.

[0049] In step S7, the CPU 330a resets and starts a timer (not shown) used to measure the estimated shredding time Tb. This timer for measuring the estimated shredding time Tb is also a software timer configured by the CPU 330a, but it may also be a hardware timer provided separately from the CPU 330a. The CPU 330a then proceeds to step S9.

[0050] In step S9, the CPU 330a starts driving the motor 306. Then, the CPU 330a proceeds to step S11.

[0051] In step S11, the CPU 330a executes a text reading process to read the text written on the paper, that is, it controls the reading unit 322 to read the text. In this text reading process, if the vertical orientation of the text read by the reading unit 322, or more precisely, the vertical orientation of the text extracted from the two-dimensional reading image by the reading unit 322, is reversed, the CPU 330a corrects the vertical orientation of the text to the correct direction. Then, the CPU 330a proceeds to step S13.

[0052] In step S13, CPU 330a executes a response generation process to generate an answer to the text obtained in step S11, specifically, it performs processing as a large-scale language model in which the text is input as a prompt. Once the answer is generated, CPU 330a proceeds to step S15.

[0053] In step S15, the CPU 330a waits for the time measured by the timer used to measure the estimated shredding time Tb to reach that estimated shredding time Tb, that is, waits for the estimated shredding time Tb to elapse (S15: NO). Then, when the estimated shredding time Tb has elapsed (S15: YES), the CPU 330a proceeds to step S17.

[0054] In step S17, the CPU 330a stops the motor 306 from running. Then, the CPU 330a proceeds to step S196.

[0055] In step S19, the CPU 330a performs an answer output process to output an audio representing the answer generated in step S13 from the speaker 334a. As a result, an audio representing the answer is output from the speaker 334a. The CPU 330a then returns to step S3 to wait for a new piece of paper to be inserted into the insertion slot 302. The CPU 330a executing step S19 works in cooperation with the audio output unit 4, which includes the speaker 334a, to constitute the output means.

[0056] In contrast, if the process proceeds from step S5 to step S21 as described above, the CPU 330a determines in step S21 whether the time measured by the timer for measuring the waiting time Ta has reached the waiting time Ta, that is, whether the waiting time Ta has elapsed. If the waiting time Ta has not elapsed (S21: NO), the CPU 330a returns to step S5 to check whether the paper detection unit 304 has detected paper. On the other hand, if the waiting time Ta has elapsed, that is, if the waiting time Ta has elapsed before the paper detection unit 304 detects paper (S21: YES), the CPU 330a proceeds to step S23.

[0057] In step S23, the CPU 330a outputs a predetermined termination voice message from the speaker 334a. This termination voice message is, for example, a message encouraging the user, such as "Please feel free to vent your feelings again next time!" With the execution of step S23, the CPU 330a terminates the control task.

[0058] Thus, the shredder 10 according to this first embodiment functions as an autonomous dialogue device capable of autonomously interacting with the user, and in particular functions as a human care device that encourages users who are experiencing negative emotions. Such a shredder 10 is expected to be used not only for personal use but also in various fields such as medicine and spirituality.

[0059] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5.

[0060] As shown in Figure 5, the shredder 10a according to this second embodiment is modified from the shredder 10 according to the first embodiment by adding a changeover switch 340. This changeover switch 340 is a switching means that selectively switches between a first state in which the shredder 10a functions as a human care device and a second state in which the shredder 10a functions as a pure shredder. The changeover switch 340 is provided, for example, at an appropriate location on the shredder body 30.

[0061] For example, when the shredder 10a is in the first state, the CPU 330a performs the control task (see Figure 4) in the manner described above in response to the power switch 324 being turned ON. This means that all electrical elements constituting the shredder 10a are activated. As a result, the shredder 10a functions as a human care device.

[0062] In contrast, even when the shredder 10a is in the second state, the CPU 330a executes a control task in response to the power switch 324 being turned ON, but skips steps S1, S11, S13, S19, and S23 of that control task. This means that the processing of the paper detection unit 304, motor 306, power switch 324, changeover switch 340, and the CPU 330a related to them are enabled, while the processing of the paper detection unit 304, reading unit 322, and the CPU 330a related to them, as well as the processing of the CPU 330a as the aforementioned large-scale language model, are disabled. As a result, the shredder 10a functions as a pure shredder that simply shreds paper.

[0063] Thus, according to the shredder 10a of this second embodiment, a first state in which the shredder 10a functions as a human care device and a second state in which the shredder 10a functions as a pure shredder can be selectively switched using the changeover switch 340. In other words, the shredder 10a can be made to function not only as a human care device, but also as a pure shredder.

[0064] [Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 6.

[0065] As shown in Figure 6, the shredder 10b according to this third embodiment is equipped with a user detection unit 350 in place of the power switch 324 of the shredder 10 according to the first embodiment. This user detection unit 350 detects a user when a user is present in the vicinity of the shredder 10b, and for this purpose, it has an infrared sensor (pyroelectric sensor) or an ultrasonic sensor (not shown).

[0066] In other words, according to the shredder 10b of this third embodiment, when a user is detected by the user detection unit 350, the CPU 330a executes a control task in response. Therefore, the user does not have to turn on the power switch 324 when using the shredder 10b, thereby improving the operability of the shredder 10b.

[0067] As mentioned above, the shredder 10b according to this third embodiment is equipped with a user detection unit 350 instead of the power switch 324 of the shredder 10 according to the first embodiment, but the user detection unit 350 may be equipped instead of the power switch 324 of the shredder 10a according to the second embodiment. In other words, the shredder 10b according to this third embodiment is also equipped with a changeover switch 340 similar to that of the shredder 10a according to the second embodiment, and the changeover switch 340 may be capable of selectively switching between a first state and a second state.

[0068] [Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7.

[0069] As shown in Figure 7, the shredder 10c according to this fourth embodiment is a shredder 10 according to the first embodiment with a display unit 360 added. This display unit 360 outputs the answer to the user in a visual form by displaying the answer. The display unit 360 is provided, for example, on the front of the shredder body 30.

[0070] In other words, according to the shredder 10c of this fourth embodiment, the response to the user is output in an auditory manner as sound from the speaker 334a, and the response is also output in a visual manner as a display on the display unit 360. Therefore, the user can receive an encouraging response in both an auditory manner as sound and a visual manner as a display.

[0071] As mentioned above, the shredder 10c according to this fourth embodiment is the shredder 10 according to the first embodiment with the display unit 360 added, but the display unit 360 may also be added to the shredder 10a according to the second embodiment or the shredder 10b according to the third embodiment. Furthermore, the display unit 360 may be provided as a device independent of the shredder 10c, that is, separately from the shredder 10c (for example, at a distant location). Moreover, if the display unit 360 is provided, the audio output unit 334 including the speaker 334a may not be provided.

[0072] [Other application examples] The embodiments described above are specific examples of the present invention and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can also be applied to aspects other than those described in the embodiments.

[0073] For example, the large-scale language model used in the generation method is assumed to be from a local environment, but it may also be from a remote (global) environment. Furthermore, a generation AI other than a large-scale language model may be used. Moreover, even without the use of a generation AI, for example, several answers (patterns) may be pre-compiled into a table, and an appropriate answer may be extracted from the answers compiled in this table and output to the user.

[0074] In addition, while each embodiment is configured to output an encouraging response to negative text written by the user on paper, it is not limited to this. For example, if the text written by the user on paper is positive, the system may be configured to output a response praising the user.

[0075] Furthermore, in each embodiment, the shredder body 30 is held by a holder 20 that resembles a goat, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the shredder itself may have an appearance that resembles a goat.

[0076] Furthermore, instead of imitating a goat, the design may also imitate other animals that eat (or can eat) paper, such as sheep. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 10, 10a, 10b, 10c... shredder 20 … Holding body 30... Shredder unit 302… Insertion port 306… Motor 312 ... Shredding mechanism 322 ... Reading section 330 ... Control Unit 330a ... CPU 330b … Storage section 334 ... Audio output section 334a ... Speaker

Claims

1. An insertion slot that accepts the insertion of shredded material on which arbitrary text has been written by the user. Shredding means for shredding the object to be shredded, which is inserted into the insertion opening. A reading means for reading the text before the object to be shredded is shredded by the shredding means. A generation means for generating a response to the content of the text read by the reading means, and The system includes an output means for outputting the response generated by the generation means to the user in an auditory manner, The above text contains negative content. The aforementioned response includes content that encourages the user in response to the aforementioned negative content. The output means is a shredder that outputs the answer after the shredding of the object to be shredded by the shredding means is completed.

2. The generation means includes generative artificial intelligence, as described in claim 1.

3. The shredder according to claim 1, wherein the output means outputs the answer in a visual manner in addition to outputting the answer in an auditory manner.

4. The shredder according to claim 1, further comprising a switching means for selectively switching between a first state in which all of the shredding means, reading means, generating means and output means are activated, and a second state in which at least the shredding means is activated and at least the output means is disabled.

5. The shredder according to claim 1, which is held by a holder having an appearance resembling a goat.

6. The shredder according to claim 1, having an appearance resembling a goat.

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