Method and system for detection of contaminants in mail

• US 20030196937A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Das, Pradeep K., Spencer, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,888,085 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/549
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line

Abstract

A contaminant detection system for mail is provided. A mail piece enters the system according to the present invention and a probe is inserted into the mail piece. An extraction device, such as, for example, a vacuum system, extracts a sample of air, including any dust and other particles, from inside the mail piece. The extracted sample is provided to a sampling system that monitors for the presence of a possible contaminant. If any type of contaminant is found in the sampled air, dust and other particles, a signal can be provided to alert an operator of contaminant detection and the mail piece can be diverted and held for further investigation. If no contaminants are detected, the mail piece is accepted and delivered to a normal processing path.

Claims

1. A method for testing a mail piece for a contaminant comprising the steps of:

penetrating the mail piece with at least a portion of a probe;

collecting a sample of air from within the mail piece utilizing the probe; and

analyzing the sample of air from within the mail piece to determine if a contaminant may be present.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of collecting further comprises:

using a vacuum system to collect the sample.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing further comprises:

analyzing the sample for an aerosol.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein if an aerosol is found in the sample, the method further comprises:

diverting the mail piece from a normal processing path.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing further comprises:

analyzing the sample for a specific contaminant.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein if the specific contaminant is found in the sample, the method further comprises:

diverting the mail piece from a normal processing path.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

activating a signal alarm to indicate the mail piece is being diverted from the normal processing path.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein if no contaminants are found in the sample, the method further comprises:

sending the mail piece to a normal processing path.

9. A system for testing a mail piece for a contaminant comprising:

a probe for penetrating the mail piece;

an extraction device coupled to the probe to extract a sample from within the mail piece through the probe; and

an analysis device coupled to the extraction device to receive and analyze the sample taken from within the mail piece for a contaminant.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the extraction device further comprises:

a vacuum to draw the sample from inside the mail piece.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the analysis device analyzes the sample for an aerosol.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the analysis device analyzes the sample for a particular contaminant.

13. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a transport device to transport the mail piece; and

at least one sensor to detect the mail piece on the transport device,

wherein when the at least one sensor detects the mail piece, the transport device stops the mail piece such that at least a portion of the mail piece is adjacent to the probe.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a test chamber surrounding at least a portion of the transport device.

15. The system according to claim 9, further comprising:

a control unit coupled to the analysis device, the control unit receiving data based on the analysis performed by the analysis device; and

a diverter unit to divert the mail piece to one of a plurality of paths, the diverter unit coupled to the control unit to receive a diversion signal based on the analysis of the sample,

wherein if the sample contains a contaminant, the mail piece is diverted to a reject path.

16. The system according to claim 15, further comprising:

an alarm device coupled to the control unit, wherein if a mail piece is diverted to the reject path, the control unit signals the alarm device to operate.