Patent ID: 6978954
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: B02C

Abstract:
1. A shredder for shredding material, comprising: a housing having a cutting device to shred material; a receptacle positioned to receive the shredded material, and enabling the shredded material to accumulate within the receptacle; a detecting device including a detector that emits and detects a beam, the detector being positioned below the cutting device at a predetermined height with respect to the receptacle such that the beam is interrupted when the shredded material accumulates within the receptacle to a level at or above the predetermined height; and the detecting device being coupled to the cutting device, wherein the detecting device determines if the beam has been interrupted for at least a predetermined period of time and in response prevents operation of the cutting device until the beam is no longer interrupted, and wherein the detecting device ignores interruptions of the beam for less than the predetermined period of time and enables operation of the cutting device to continue.