FILED OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an improved cutting blade for a shredder, especially
to an elliptical acetabuliform blade that is integrally formed by punching a sheet
metal in a mold machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The conventional shredders for cutting paper use a plurality of cutting blades and
spacers engaging over a rotary cutter shaft; and the shearing force that two parallel
and opposite rotary cutter shafts produce for transferring and cutting the paper-to-be-cut
along a longitudinal direction into strips. Shredders can be classed into two types,
the stripe-cut shredders and crosscut shredders, according to the machine cutting
style. The former shredders arrange cutting blades to the rotating cutter shafts in
a manner to cutting the paper in a longitudinal direction to form strips. The later
shredders include blades that include more than one cutting edge, and each cutter
is disposed helically along the rotary cutter shaft for first cutting paper along
a longitudinal direction into strips and then cutting paper along a horizontal direction
into approximate 4 mm×40 mm paper chips.
[0003] By referring to the assembled perspective view of a conventional blade illustrated
in Fig. 1 and a planar view showing the operation of the conventional blade in Fig.
2, the conventional blade is made by punching a sheet metal having a thickness of
approximately 2 mm into a circular blade by a mold. The blade includes a polygonal
central hole A1 through which a rotary shaft may pass. The blade also includes cutting
edges A2 that are spaced in 120 degrees apart around the periphery. As shown, when
two blades are arranged on the rotary shafts B in a back-to-back manner to combine
into a set of blades A, the cutting edges of the two blades assume a V-like edge A3.
The opposite rotary shafts B' space the two blades apart by spacer (not shown) in
a face-to-face manner to form a set of blade A'. When the paper-to-be-cut passes through
the two reverse rotary shafts B, B', the opposing rotation of the periphery of the
blades, that is, flanks A4 and flanks A4, will cut the paper like scissors. The opposing
rotation of cutting edges A2 and the opposite flanks A4 will then cut the paper along
a horizontal direction into 4 mm×40 mm paper chips.
[0004] During operating of the conventional blades, to ensure smooth cutting of the paper
along the horizontal direction, sharp blades with proper orientations are needed.
However, because the blades are formed by a punch molding, the mold wear that increases
with the time will reduce sharpness of the blade edges, which does not improve until
replacing the mold, to result in inconsistent quality. To ensure quality of the blades,
it is necessary to shorten the service term of the mold, which results in increment
of the cost. In addition, in the conventional blades, the thickness of the blade is
the same as the width of the paper-to-be-cut. To ensure the strength of blades while
cutting along the horizontal direction, the blades cannot be too thin, or else the
blades tend to deform or fracture. Such a limitation attributes to the high material
cost, which is less competitive as compared to the current market price. In addition,
because the thickness of the conventional blades is same as the width of the paper-to-be-cut,
and because the location of the width define the horizontal cutting points, the narrower
width of cross-section is, the smaller output power is needed to cut along the horizontal
direction. In other words, the motor can supply a minimum power for cutting along
the horizontal direction, that is, to reduce the power consumed by the motor. But
because of the width of the paper-to-be-cut by the conventional blades is 4 mm, the
motor needs to output higher power to drive the blades and flanks moving in opposing
directions to cut the paper along the horizontal direction smoothly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the above, this invention overcomes the shortcoming of the conventional
blades.
[0006] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an elliptical acetebuliform
blade for shredders, that is integrally punched from a sheet metal in a mold into
an elliptical acetabuliform blade to effectively reduce the material cost and the
weigh of the blade to thereby reduce the motor loading and power consumption.
[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an elliptical acetabuliform
blade for shredders, that uses the change in the curvature of the elliptical acetabuliform
blade to cut paper into paper chips each having a wider center and tapering towards
the ends, so as to reduce the power that that motor needs to output for cutting the
two ends to thereby reduce the motor loading and the power consumption.
[0008] To realize the above objectives, in the present invention, a sheet metal is punched
by a mold to integrally form an elliptical acetabuliform blade, where the periphery
of elliptical blade is integrally formed into serration. The serrated periphery extending
horizontally inwards to integrally form a planar disk for cutting paper along a longitudinal
direction serves as a flank. The two ends along the major axis of the elliptical of
the flank are integrally formed into a hooked edge for cutting the paper along a longitudinal
direction to form paper chips having double-tapering ends. An inner edge of the flank
then integrally extends inwards and downwards to form an arc base and then a circular
base. A polygonal hole is formed in a center of the circular base, through which a
rotary shaft may pass.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
Fig. 1 is an assembled perspective of a conventional shredder;
Fig. 2 is a planar view of a conventional shredder in operation;
Fig. 3 is the a planar view of the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the elliptical acetabuliform blade assembled to the
rotary shafts;
Fig. 7 is an operating view of the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention
in cutting paper;
Fig. 8 is an operating view of the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention
in cutting off paper;
Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention
fragmenting paper after cutting; and
Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing the paper after being cut by the elliptical acetabuliform
blade of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] The present invention will be described in further detail hereinafter, with reference
to accompanying drawings.
[0011] Please refer to Figs. 3 to 5, where Fig. 3 illustrates the planar view of the present
invention, and Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views taken from lines 4-4 and line
5-5 in Fig. 3, respectively. The above-mentioned views disclose a revolutionized cutting
blade 1 for a shredder, which blade is able to provide an optimum sheet capacity based
on the various types of shredders. The present invention selects a sheet metal having
a thickness of 0.2 mm as a raw material, the selected sheet metal is punched into
an elliptical acetabuliform blade by a mold. The periphery 11 (shown in the enlarged
view of Fig. 3) of the elliptical blade is integrally formed into serration 110. The
periphery 11 of serration serves to pull the paper-to-be-cut downwards. The acetabuliform
periphery 11 extending horizontally inwards to integrally form a planar disk for cutting
paper along a longitudinal direction serves as a flank 12. The two ends along the
major axis of the-elliptical flank 12 are each integrally formed into a hooked edge
13 for cutting the paper along a longitudinal direction to form paper chips having
double-tapering ends. An inner edge 120 of the flank 12 integrally extends inwards
and downwards to form an arc base 14 and then a circular base 15. A polygonal hole
16 is formed in a center of the circular base 15, through which a rotary shaft may
pass.
[0012] As shown in the assembled perspective view of the present invention in Fig. 6, the
standardized elliptical acetabuliform blades punched from a sheet metal by a mold
are arranged sequentially on two rotary shafts to be assembled into the rotary cutting
tool that is most important for a shredder. During assembly, the elliptical acetabuliform
blades on one of the rotary shafts are arranged by alternating in forward and reversed
orientations. The elliptical acetabuliform blades on the other rotary shaft are then
arranged by alternating in reversed and forwards orientations.
[0013] As exemplified in Fig. 6, the first blade 21 and the second blade 22 on a lower first
rotary shaft 2 are arranged by alternating in the forward and reversed orientations.
Because the blades extend from an inner periphery of flank inwards and downwards to
form an arc base and then a circular base, the circular base of the first blade 21
and second blade 22 join to contact each other while the hooked edges of the first
blade 21 and the second blade 22 are separated from each other to assume an open space
23. On the other hand, the first blade 31 and second blade 32 on an upper second rotary
shaft 3 are arranged by alternating in the forward and inversed orientations. Similarly,
because the blades extend from the inner periphery of the flanks inwards and downwards
to form an arc base and then a circular base, the circular base of the first blade
31 and second blade 32 are separated from each other, while the hooked edges of the
first blade 31 and the second blade 322 are joined to contact each other. By adopting
such arrangement, when the two rotary shafts rotate in opposing directions, the hooked
edges 33 of the first blade 31 and the second blade 32 on the upper second rotary
shaft 3 after contacting each other adapt to insert into the open space 23 of the
first blade 21 and second blade 22 on the lower first rotary shaft 2.
[0014] As shown in the operating views in Figs. 7 and 8, the standardized elliptical acetabuliform
blades enable the flanks of the corresponding blade set to maintain a certain contact
gap at all time by means of the changes between the major axis and minor axis of the
elliptical blades and the curvatures of the blades. In other words, while viewing
from the rear projection, the superposition of the blades arranged on different rotary
shafts are constant. Such a constant superposition can ensure scissors like cutting
effects between the flanks 12 when the two rotary shafts rotate in opposing directions
(shown in Fig. 7). When the cutting edges 13 of the corresponding opposite blades
on the two ends of elliptical major axis rotate to the elliptical major axis, the
hooked edges 13 on the major axis of the elliptical blades will cooperate with the
flanks 12 on the minor axis of the mating elliptical blades to cut off the paper strips
(as shown in Fig. 8).
[0015] Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the schematic views of the elliptical acetabuliform blade
of the present invention fragmenting paper after cutting, and the paper after being
cut by the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention. Along with the
changing of the curvatures of the elliptical acetabuliform blades, the paper is fragmented
into paper chips 4 each having a wider center 42 and tapering towards the ends 41.
Because of the two ends 41 of the paper chip 4 are the horizontal cutting positions,
the narrower width of cross-section is, the smaller output power is needed to cut
along the horizontal--direction. In other words, the motor can supply a minimum power
for cutting along the horizontal direction under a minimum load. The reduction in
the motor load also reduces the power consumption and increases service-life of the
motor.
[0016] In addition, the conventional blade is punched from a sheet metal having thickness
of about 2mm, while the elliptical acetabuliform blade of the present invention may
be punched from a sheet metal having a minimum thickness of 0.2mm, where the costs
of the two materials are significantly different, and the reduced weight also helps
to further reduce the power that the motor needs to supply to thereby increase the
service-life of the motor and reduce the power consumption. These characteristics
help to reduce the manufacturing cost and enhance the market competitiveness.
[0017] In summary, according to the present invention, a sheet metal may be punched into
elliptical acetabuliform blades, where the periphery of each elliptical blade is integrally
made into serration. The serrated periphery extending horizontally inwards to integrally
form a planar disk for cutting paper along a longitudinal direction serves as a flank.
The two ends along the major axis of the elliptical flank are each integrally formed
into a hooked edge for cutting the paper along a longitudinal direction to form paper
chips having double-tapering ends. The revolutionized construction of the present
invention reduces power consumption, material cost, and lessens motor load, so as
to enhance the market competitiveness of the shredder.
[0018] In the present specification "comprises means "includes or consists of" and "comprising"
means "including or consisting of".
[0019] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or
the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means
for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed
result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be
utilized for realizing the invention in diverse forms thereof.
LISTING OF NOMENCLATURES
[0020]
- 1
- cutting blade
- 110
- serration
- 13
- cutting edge
- 15
- base
- 2
- first rotary shaft
- 22
- second blade
- 3
- second rotary shaft
- 32
- second blade
- 4
- paper chips
- 11
- periphery
- 12
- flank
- 14
- base
- 16
- polygonal hole
- 21
- first blade
- 23
- open space
- 31
- first blade
- 33
- hooked edges
1. An elliptical acetabuliform blade for a shredder, punched from a sheet metal in a
mold into an elliptical acetabuliform blade, wherein a periphery of elliptical blade
is integrally formed into a planar disk serving as a flank, the two ends along the
major axis of the elliptical flank are integrally formed into a hooked edge, an inner
edge of the flank then integrally extends inwards and downwards to form an arc base
and then a circular base.
2. An elliptical acetabuliform blade for shredder according to Claim 1, wherein, the
periphery of elliptical blade are integrally formed into serration.
3. An elliptical acetabuliform blade for shredder according to Claim 1, wherein, the
center of the base is provided with a polygonal hole.