Systems and methods for residue collection

• US 20050199039A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Brian Lybarger, David Schenken, Dennis Osterhorn, James J. Strohmeyer, James Wagy, John Tehan, Joseph Matteoni, William Blumfelder, William J. Nelgner
• Inventors: Wagy, James, Osterhorn, Dennis, Nelgner, William J., Lybarger, Brian, Blumfelder, William, Schenken, David, Matteoni, Joseph, Strohmeyer, James J., Tehan, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/28.04
• 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:

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.

2. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said delayering conveyor means is located after said cull conveyor means.

3. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said delayering conveyor means utilizes velocity differential separation relative to said cull conveyor means.

4. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said delayering conveyor means utilizes gravity separation.

5. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residues are indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said second stream.

6. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said delayering conveyor means and said cull conveyor means is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

7. The residue collection system of claim 1 further comprising pinch roller means in said aerosol chamber means, said pinch roller means compressing individual mail pieces in said second stream.

8. The residue collection system of claim 7 wherein said pinch roller means comprises a pair of pinch rollers where one of said pinch rollers is a drive pinch roller and one is an idler pinch roller.

9. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said air sampling system means includes a cyclonic separator.

10. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said second stream consists of a combination of letters and flats.

11. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said second stream consists of either letters or flats, but not both.

12. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail stream consists of a combination of letters and flats.

13. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail stream consists of either letters or flats, but not both.

14. A residue collection system comprising:

at least two cull conveyors for creating a mail stream having a first depth;

at least two delayering conveyors, for reducing the depth of said mail stream to a second stream of generally single item depth;

at least two aerosol chambers for taking in said second stream, said aerosol chambers including air intakes to collect residues from said second stream by aerosolizing said residue in air; and

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

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said second stream.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said residue collection system is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said air intakes lift a residue from the interior of at least one mail piece in said second stream.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein in said air intakes lift a residue from the exterior of at least one mail piece in said second stream.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said second stream consists of only flats or letters.

20. A residue collection system comprising:

means for separating and removing thicks from a stream of mail pieces;

means for arranging said remaining mail pieces horizontally in a singular layer;

means for allowing gravity to pull said single layer of mail pieces into a chamber;

means for compressing said mail pieces while they are within said chamber so as to aerosolize a residue present on one of said mail pieces;

means for flowing air over said one of said mail pieces so as to transport said residue to a detector capable of detecting the presence of said residue; and

means for detecting said residue.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said means for separating and said means for arranging comprise a cull conveyor.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said means for arranging comprises a delayering conveyor