Shredder Compactor Plate Pivoting Waste Bag Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shredders without compaction mechanisms often require frequent emptying of the waste container as the shredded material builds up and can jam the shredding mechanism, necessitating manual compaction or emptying.
Innovation Solution
A waste bag support mechanism that pivots between operating and bag removal positions, featuring extending runners and a compactor plate with a guide to retain and compact shredded material within a bag, preventing buildup and jamming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a shredder operates without a compaction mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but the waste container requires frequent emptying as shredded material builds up and can jam the shredding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The compactor plate automatically compacts shredded material as it is discharged from the shredding mechanism, without requiring manual intervention. The plate moves between a compacting position beneath the shredding mechanism and a bag removal position, enabling the system to self-maintain compacted waste volume and continue operating without frequent emptying
Solution Approach 2:
The compactor plate is designed to be movable between two positions: a compacting position where it compresses shredded material in the waste bag, and a bag removal position where it can be easily extracted. This dynamic positioning allows the system to alternate between compacting operations and bag replacement, maximizing continuous operation time
2Ease of operation
If shredded material is not compacted, then the ease of operation is improved as no manual compaction is needed, but the waste container fills up quickly requiring frequent emptying
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic compaction mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually compact waste material. The compactor plate automatically compresses shredded paper as it is discharged, maintaining compacted volume without requiring user intervention, thus eliminating both manual compaction effort and the associated time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The compactor plate operates continuously during the shredding process, compacting material as it is discharged. This continuous compaction action maximizes the waste container's capacity utilization and extends the time between bag replacements, reducing the frequency of emptying operations
3Productivity
If the compactor plate is positioned close to the shredding mechanism for effective compaction, then the compaction efficiency is improved, but the ease of removing the waste bag is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compactor plate is designed to move between a compacting position close to the shredding mechanism for efficient compaction, and a bag removal position where it can be easily extracted from the cabinet. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by providing both effective compaction during operation and easy bag removal when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The waste bag support mechanism is divided into separable components that can be independently positioned. The compactor plate can be detached from the waste bag and removed from the cabinet separately, allowing the bag to be removed for replacement while the compactor plate remains in position for continued compaction operations
Data Source
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AI summary
The improvements relate to shredders for paper and the like having a shredding mechanism (12) with an opening through which shredded material passes out of the shredding mechanism (12), a compactor plate (32) located beneath the shredding mechanism (12) and including an opening (34), and a base (22), wherein the shredder (10) has a waste bag support mechanism (24) of which the compactor plate (32) forms a part. The waste bag support mechanism (24) is secured to the underside of the shredding mechanism (12) towards the rear thereof for pivotal movement between an operating position in which an upper part of the waste bag support mechanism (24) is close to the underside of the shredding mechanism (12), and a bag removal position in which the upper part of the waste bag support mechanism (24) is pivoted downwards at its front away from the shredding mechanism (12). The waste bag support mechanism (24) includes extending runners (26) on which the compactor plate (32) is mounted for sliding movement between the operating position located beneath the shredding mechanism (12) in which the opening (34) in the compactor plate (32) is substantially directly beneath the opening through which the shredded material passes, and the bag removal position in which the compactor plate (32) is located forward of the shredding mechanism (12).