Systems and methods for residue collection

• US 20040255701A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Belden Technologies, LLC (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wagy, James, Osterhorn, Dennis, Nelgner, William J., Lybarger, Brian, Blumfelder, William, Schenken, David, Matteoni, Joseph, Strohmeyer, James J., Tehan, John
• Granted Patent: US 6,941,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2214 by sorption
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/24 Suction devices G01N1/22 - G01N1/2294 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for the detection of substances (particularly particulate substances) within mail pieces, specifically letters and other “flats” of mail. In particular, the systems and methods are for the detection of residues of Chemical or Biological Warfare Agents (CBWAs) which may be present within the mail pieces. The system is principally designed to be included as part of Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS) for the collection and detection of the residue when the contaminated mail piece first enters a mail facility and before it is intermingled with other mail pieces.

Claims

1. a residue collection system comprising:

an aerosol chamber including;

an internal area;

an intake plenum, said intake plenum being capable of collecting air from said internal area; and

a set of pinch rollers, said pinch rollers being capable of compressing a mail piece located within said internal area;

wherein said mail piece can be directed into said pinch rollers, said pinch rollers compressing said mail piece so as to force out some internal air from within said mail piece into said internal area, said internal air including a residue of a substance present in said mail piece;

wherein said intake plenum can take in at least a portion of said internal air including said residue from said internal area; and

wherein said intake plenum can supply said internal air including said residue to a detection system capable of detecting said residue.

2. The residue collection system of claim 1 further comprising:

a segregation component arranged prior to said aerosol chamber in a mail stream, said segregation component serving to provide said mail piece to said aerosol chamber.

3. The residue collection system of claim 2 wherein said segregation component includes a cull conveyor.

4. The residue collection system of claim 3 wherein said segregation component includes a delayering conveyor.

5. The residue collection system of claim 4 wherein said delayering conveyor is located after said cull conveyor.

6. The residue collection system of claim 5 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes velocity differential separation relative to said cull conveyor.

7. The residue collection system of claim 5 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes gravity separation.

8. The residue collection system of claim 2 wherein said segregation component includes a delayering conveyor.

9. The residue collection system of claim 8 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes gravity separation.

10. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said mail piece.

11. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residue collection system is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

12. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said set of pinch rollers comprises a pair of pinch rollers where one of said pinch rollers is a drive pinch roller and one is an idler pinch roller.

13. The residue collection system of claim 12 wherein said idler pinch roller is spring-mounted.

14. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said air passes through a cyclonic separator system before reaching said detector.

15. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a letter.

16. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a flat.

17. A method for collecting residues from mail pieces comprising:

arranging mail pieces so as to place the mail pieces in a generally singular layer;

providing said mail pieces to a chamber;

within said chamber, flowing air over said mail pieces so as to lift a residue from the exterior of at least one of said mail pieces; and

transporting said air and said residue to a detector capable of detecting the presence of said residue.

18. The residue collection system of claim 17 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said mail pieces.

19. The residue collection system of claim 17 wherein said method is performed within a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of arranging is at least partially performed by a cull conveyor.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of arranging is at least partially performed by a delayering conveyor.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of flowing, said air also lifts a residue from the interior of said at least one mail piece.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one mail piece comprises a letter.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one mail piece comprises a flat.

25. A residue collection system comprising:

a cull conveyor means for creating a mail stream having a first depth;

a delayering conveyor means, for reducing the depth of said mail stream to a second stream of generally single item depth;

aerosol chamber means capable of taking in said second stream, said aerosol chamber means passing air across said second stream to collect residues from said second stream by aerosolizing said residue in said air; and

an air sampling system means, capable of transporting said air from said aerosol chamber means to a detector means, said detector means capable of detecting said residue.