SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESIDUE COLLECTION WITH IMPROVED LETTER HANDLING CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. A residue collection system for collecting residues, the system comprising:
- a housing which substantially encloses an internal volume;
at least two pinching means located within said internal volume, each of said at least two pinching means compressing a mail piece passing through said pinching means to expel air from internal said mail piece;
means for feeding said mail piece to said housing via gravity;
air intake means for collecting at least a portion of said air expelled by at least one of said pinching means from said internal area and for maintaining said internal volume at a negative pressure;
residue detection means for detecting the presence of a residue if said residue is present in said portion; and
air handling means for providing said portion to said residue detection means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
44 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A residue collection system for collecting residues, the system comprising:
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a housing which substantially encloses an internal volume; at least two pinching means located within said internal volume, each of said at least two pinching means compressing a mail piece passing through said pinching means to expel air from internal said mail piece; means for feeding said mail piece to said housing via gravity; air intake means for collecting at least a portion of said air expelled by at least one of said pinching means from said internal area and for maintaining said internal volume at a negative pressure; residue detection means for detecting the presence of a residue if said residue is present in said portion; and air handling means for providing said portion to said residue detection means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A residue collection system for collecting residues, the system comprising:
an aerosol chamber including; a housing which substantially encloses an internal volume; a means for maintaining said internal volume at a negative pressure; a first means for compressing located within said internal volume and capable of compressing a mail piece passing through said first means for compressing so as to expel air from internal said mail piece; a second means for compressing located within said internal volume and capable of compressing said mail piece passing through said second means for compressing so as to expel air from internal said mail piece; and means for providing said mail piece to said housing via gravity; means for transporting at least a portion of said air expelled from internal said mail piece from said internal area to a residue detector.
Specification