Document sampler and method of sampling a document

• US 20080217524A1
• Filed: 10/24/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mawer, Bill, Elliot, Mark, Piniarski, Mark, Feldberg, Simon, Link, Roland, Beyer, Geoff
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/281
• 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 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/028 Sampling from a surface, swabbing, vaporising

Abstract

A document sampler can be arranged to receive a document in an insertion area of the document sampler. With such arrangements, a document can be directly inserted into a document sampler without an extra step of swabbing a document with a sample collection device. By eliminating the extra step of swabbing a document, the efficiency of sample detection is improved, sample detection is performed more rapidly, and operating costs of sample detection are decreased.

Claims

1. A document sampler, comprising:

an analytical device; and

an insertion area formed by the document sampler, wherein the insertion area is configured so that a document can be inserted into the document sampler.

2. The document sampler of claim 1, wherein the insertion area is a slot.

3. The document sampler of claim 1, further comprising at least one mesh located in the insertion area, wherein the mesh is configured to contact the document.

4. The document sampler of claim 3, wherein the at least one mesh comprises a first mesh and a second mesh, wherein the first mesh is positioned on a first side of the insertion area to contact a first side of the document, wherein the second mesh is positioned on a second side of the insertion area to contact a second side of the document.

5. The document sampler of claim 3, wherein the mesh comprises metal mesh.

6. The document sampler of claim 1, wherein the analytical device is an IMS device.

7. The document sampler of claim 1, further comprising a desorber.

8. The document sampler of claim 1, wherein the document sampler is configured to provide an air flow in the insertion area.

9. The document sampler of claim 1, further comprising a sensor that is configured to detect insertion of the document into the insertion area.

10. The document sampler of claim 9, wherein the document sampler is configured to automatically initiate sample collection from the document when the sensor produces a signal.

11. The document sampler of claim 9, further comprising a second sensor that is configured to detect an exit of the document from the insertion area.

12. The document sampler of claim 11, wherein the document sampler is configured to automatically initiate analysis of a sample collected from the document when the second sensor produces a signal.

13. The document sampler of claim 1, further comprising at least one roller located in the insertion area, wherein the roller is configured to contact the document.

14. The document sampler of claim 13, further comprising a carousel that is configured to support the plurality of rollers, wherein the carousel is configured to rotate about a central axis.

15. The document sampler of claim 14, wherein each roller comprises at least one mesh.

16. The document sampler of claim 13, further comprising a pressure roller located in the insertion area.

17. The document sampler of claim 13, further comprising a cleaning stage.

18. A method of acquiring and analyzing samples from documents, comprising:

inserting a document into an insertion area of a document sampler;

acquiring a sample from the document; and

providing the sample to an analytical device for analysis.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the acquisition of the sample from the document is performed by a forced air flow, a suction air flow, heating the sample, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising decontamination after providing the sample to the analytical device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the document sampler comprises at least one roller located in the insertion area, wherein the roller is configured to contact the document.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein each roller comprises at least one mesh.