System and methods for detecting harmful agents within contents of mail
First Claim
1. A system for detecting harmful agents within the contents of mail, the system comprising:
- a plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment positioned within a mail processing facility;
a plurality of harmful agent sensors each positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment to sense the presence of a harmful agent in mail as the mail is processed by each of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment, each of the plurality of harmful agent sensors comprising an olfactory device positioned to sense the presence of a harmful agent within the mail to thereby define a plurality of olfactory devices;
at least one system processor in communication with each of the plurality of olfactory devices to process data received from the plurality of olfactory devices; and
at least one alarm indicator responsive to the at least one system processor to indicate that at least one of the plurality of olfactory devices has sensed the presence of a harmful agent.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and methods of the present invention advantageously provide efficient mail processing and handling that, as compared to existing procedures, enhances detection within the mail being processed or handled of biological, germ, chemical, or other harmful agents. A system and methods provide additionally a higher level of quality and consistency for processing and handling mail so that concerns over contamination of postal workers and potential mail recipients are reduced. A system and methods further provide enhanced disabling of contaminated mail contents, mail, mail equipment, mail containers, and mail personnel due to exposure or contact with harmful agents associated with mail. The system and methods preferably includes the use of at least one harmful agent sensor associated with mail processing equipment, and the at least one harmful agent sensor preferably includes at least one of the following: an olfactory device, an ultraviolet device, an infrared device, an x-ray device, a laser device, and a heat sensing device.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for detecting harmful agents within the contents of mail, the system comprising:
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a plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment positioned within a mail processing facility;
a plurality of harmful agent sensors each positioned adjacent one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment to sense the presence of a harmful agent in mail as the mail is processed by each of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment, each of the plurality of harmful agent sensors comprising an olfactory device positioned to sense the presence of a harmful agent within the mail to thereby define a plurality of olfactory devices;
at least one system processor in communication with each of the plurality of olfactory devices to process data received from the plurality of olfactory devices; and
at least one alarm indicator responsive to the at least one system processor to indicate that at least one of the plurality of olfactory devices has sensed the presence of a harmful agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for detecting harmful agents within the contents of mail, the system comprising:
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at least one piece of mail processing equipment positioned within a mail processing facility;
at least one harmful agent sensors positioned adjacent the at least one piece of mail processing equipment to sense the presence of a harmful agent in each individual piece of mail as the mail is processed by each of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment, the at least one harmful agent sensor comprising an olfactory device;
at least one system processor in communication with the olfactory device to process data received therefrom; and
at least one alarm indicator responsive to the at least one system processor to indicate that the olfactory device has sensed the presence of a harmful agent. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for disabling harmful agents in contents of mail, the system comprising:
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at least one piece of mail processing equipment positioned to process a plurality of pieces of mail; and
a harmful agent disabling fluid applicator associated with the at least one piece of mail processing equipment and positioned to apply a harmful agent disabling fluid to a plurality of pieces of mail being processed to thereby disable harmful agents within the plurality of pieces of mail during one of the following conditions;
when all of the plurality of mail pieces pass through at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment, when the presence of a harmful agent is detected in a mail piece being processed, or when the absence of a harmful agent is detected in a mail piece being processed, the harmful agent disabling fluid applicator including a fluid storage container positioned to supply the harmful agent disabling fluid for application to each of the plurality of pieces of mail, the harmful agent disabling fluid includes a nanobomb material associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of detecting the presence of a harmful agent associated with mail, the method comprising:
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smell sensing the presence of at least one of a plurality of harmful agents possibly associated with the contents of mail by the use of an olfactory device, the olfactory device including a memory having indications of a plurality of smell sensed conditions stored therein, each of the plurality of smell sensed condition being indicative of at least one of a plurality of harmful agents; and
indicating an alarm condition responsive to the sensed presence of one of a plurality of harmful agents. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of disabling a harmful agent associated with a piece of mail, the method comprising:
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sensing the presence of a harmful agent within a plurality of mail pieces; and
applying a harmful agent disabling fluid associated with processing mail to at least one of the plurality of mail pieces being processed, the harmful agent disabling fluid including an ink material and a nanobomb material associated with the ink material, the ink material being applied to each of the plurality of mail pieces.
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18. A method of detecting harmful agents associated with a piece of mail, the method comprising:
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positioning at least one harmful agent sensor to be associated with each of a plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment positioned to process a plurality of pieces of mail;
sensing the presence of a harmful agent associated with at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail; and
indicating an alarm condition responsive to the sensed presence of a harmful agent in at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification