Patent ID: 8794559

Claim:
An apparatus for destroying electronic memory media having a cell structure, said apparatus including a support assembly, a drive apparatus carried by the support assembly having a linearly movable ram and a control system operably coupled to the drive apparatus and operable to selectively control movement of the ram, said improvement comprising: a first insulated and grounded plate mounted to an end of the ram and movable therewith and having an exposed first face with a plurality of pyramid shaped protuberances and reciprocal cavities formed therebetween; a second insulated and electrically charged plate carried by the support assembly and having an exposed second face facing generally toward the first face, said second plate having a plurality of second face protuberances projecting therefrom with reciprocal cavities formed therebetween, said first face protuberances sized and shaped to fit within said second face reciprocal cavities, said second face protuberances sized and shaped to fit within said first face reciprocal cavities, said second plate electrically charged with an applied voltage higher than a breakdown voltage of an electronic memory media cell structure; a stripper mechanism carried by the support assembly and operably associated with the first plate whereby when the first plate moves away from the second plate the stripper mechanism having a portion movable inwardly to engage a portion of a memory device carried by the first plate and release the memory device from the first plate, said stripper mechanism includes a stripper plate carried by the support assembly, said stripper plate having a distal portion engaging the first plate and movable by said first plate to a retracted position during movement of the first plate toward the second plate and movable toward an extended position during movement of the first plate away from the second plate.