SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESIDUE COLLECTION WITH IMPROVED LETTER HANDLING CAPABILITY

• US 20080022788A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• 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 Strohmeyer, James Wagy, John Tehan, Joseph Matteoni, William Blumfelder, William Nelgner
• Inventors: Nelgner, William, Strohmeyer, James, Wagy, James, Osterhorn, Dennis, Lybarger, Brian, Blumfelder, William, Schenken, David, Matteoni, Joseph, Tehan, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,328,603 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/864.33
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• 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 1/2211 with cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

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. The system also utilizes aerosol chambers using at least two arrays of pinch rollers to provide for decreased incremental changes on mail pieces and decrease the likelihood of mail piece damage.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

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

providing a plurality of mail pieces to a mail facility in a batch;

utilizing two cull conveyors, each of which comprises a smooth conveyor which passes under an overhead counter-rotating drum, to separate said mail pieces in said batch into two groups, the first of said groups comprising thicks and the second of said groups comprising letters and flats, said second group comprising two portions, a first portion on said first cull conveyor and said second portion on said second cull conveyor;

transferring said mail pieces in said first portion to a first delayering conveyor which mechanically arranges said mail pieces in said first portion into a generally singular layer;

transferring said mail pieces in said second portion to a second delayering conveyor which mechanically arranges said mail pieces in said second portion into a generally singular layer;

providing said mail pieces in said first portion to a first chamber and said mail pieces in said second portion to a second chamber, each of said first and said second chambers including an outer shell defining an internal volume, said outer shell having an entrance port for allowing said provided portion to enter said internal volume and an exit port for allowing said provided portion to exit said internal volume, but otherwise substantially sealing said volume, said chamber further including an intake within said outer shell;

within said chamber, compressing said provided portion a first time;

within said chamber, compressing said provided portion a second time, at least one of said first and said second compressions aerosolizing a residue present in at least one of said mail pieces in said provided portion;

within said chamber, flowing air into said intake, said flow into said intake being sufficient to maintain said internal volume at a negative pressure; and

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

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

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

20. The method of claim 17 wherein in said flowing, said air lifts residue from the exterior of said at least one mail piece.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein each of said first and said second portions comprise at least one letter.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein each of said first and said second portions comprise at least one flat.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein each of said cull conveyors is about 86 inches long.

24. A system for collecting residues from mail pieces within a mail facility comprising:

At least two cull conveyors, each of which comprises a smooth conveyor which passes under an overhead counter-rotating drum, to separate mail pieces in a batch into two groups, the first of said groups comprising thicks and the second of said groups comprising letters and flats, said second group comprising two portions, a first portion on said first cull conveyor and said second portion on said second cull conveyor;

a first delayering conveyor which mechanically arranges said mail pieces in said first portion into a generally singular layer and provides them to a first chamber;

a second delayering conveyor which mechanically arranges said mail pieces in said second portion into a generally singular layer and provides them to a second chamber;

each of said first and said second chambers including;

an outer shell defining an internal volume, said outer shell having an entrance port for allowing said provided portion to enter said internal volume;

an exit port for allowing said provided portion to exit said internal volume, but otherwise substantially sealing said volume;

at least two arrays of pinch rollers, each of said arrays each including at least two sets of pinch rollers capable of compressing mail pieces in said portion in such a manner as to aerosolize a residue present in at least one of said mail pieces; and

an intake within said outer shell; and

a detector capable of detecting the presence of a residue in air provided to said detector by said intake.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said mail pieces.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein said residue is from the interior of said at least one mail piece.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said residue is from the exterior of said at least one mail piece.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein each of said first and said second portions comprise at least one letter.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein each of said first and said second portions comprise at least one flat.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein each of said cull conveyors is about 86 inches long.