The shredder automatically starts up when a sheet of paper is fed into the machine. There are two ways this is done. Mechanical auto-starting is done by a micro switch which is triggered by contact with the paper. It is used on machines of all sizes. Electronic auto-starting is done by the paper passing through a beam of light. This method is more common on the larger, more expensive machines.

Micro switches can become clogged or jammed with paper waste, especially if the machine is not emptied regularly and waste builds up. Machines with electronic systems often have other sensors such as ones to detect the level of waste in the bin, preventing the machine operating if they need to be emptied.

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