Security entrance system
First Claim
1. A security entrance system for restricting access from an infeed area to a protected area and diverting suspicious persons to a temporary containment area comprising:
- a) a structure defining an enclosed chamber with a first opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said infeed area, a second opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said protected area, and a third opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said temporary containment area, said structure including one or more first doors movable between a closed position in which said first doors block said first opening and an open position in which said first doors do not block said first opening, one or more second doors movable between a closed position in which said second doors block said second opening and an open position in which said second doors do not block said second opening, and one or more third doors movable between a closed position in which said third doors block said third opening and an open position in which said third doors do not block said third opening;
b) a contraband detection system operative to detect contraband entering said chamber;
c) a chamber monitoring system connected to said structure for measuring at least one characteristic of said structure defining said chamber; and
d) a controller connected to said doors, said detection system and said chamber monitoring system, said controller operating cyclically, each cycle including allowing said first door to open to allow a person entry to said chamber, actuating said detection system to scan said chamber for contraband entering the chamber and allowing said second door to open if no contraband is detected and said first door and said third door are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to the protected area, or allowing said third door to open if contraband is detected and said first door and said second door are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to said temporary containment area, said controller inhibiting operation of at least one of said doors if at least one characteristic of said structure as determined by said chamber monitoring system while no person is present in said chamber differs from a normal value of such characteristic, whereby said controller will inhibit passage of a person into said protected area if any object is left in said chamber during a preceding cycle.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A security entrance system for controlling access from an infeed area (98) to a protected area (100) has a structure (24) defining a chamber disposed between the infeed area, the protected area and a temporary containment area (201), with a first door (38) at the infeed area portion of the chamber, a second door (46) at the protected area portion of the chamber, and a third door (47) at the temporary containment area portion of the chamber. A person entering the protected area must pass through a contraband detector such as a metal detector (90,92) and enter the chamber. If no alarm was provided by the detector, the doors allow exit from the chamber into the protected area. If an alarm was provided by the metal detector, the doors only allow the person to enter the temporary containment area. The chamber is weighed or otherwise examined after at least some cycles of operation to assure that no contraband was concealed within the chamber.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A security entrance system for restricting access from an infeed area to a protected area and diverting suspicious persons to a temporary containment area comprising:
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a) a structure defining an enclosed chamber with a first opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said infeed area, a second opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said protected area, and a third opening connecting the interior of said chamber with said temporary containment area, said structure including one or more first doors movable between a closed position in which said first doors block said first opening and an open position in which said first doors do not block said first opening, one or more second doors movable between a closed position in which said second doors block said second opening and an open position in which said second doors do not block said second opening, and one or more third doors movable between a closed position in which said third doors block said third opening and an open position in which said third doors do not block said third opening;
b) a contraband detection system operative to detect contraband entering said chamber;
c) a chamber monitoring system connected to said structure for measuring at least one characteristic of said structure defining said chamber; and
d) a controller connected to said doors, said detection system and said chamber monitoring system, said controller operating cyclically, each cycle including allowing said first door to open to allow a person entry to said chamber, actuating said detection system to scan said chamber for contraband entering the chamber and allowing said second door to open if no contraband is detected and said first door and said third door are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to the protected area, or allowing said third door to open if contraband is detected and said first door and said second door are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to said temporary containment area, said controller inhibiting operation of at least one of said doors if at least one characteristic of said structure as determined by said chamber monitoring system while no person is present in said chamber differs from a normal value of such characteristic, whereby said controller will inhibit passage of a person into said protected area if any object is left in said chamber during a preceding cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of restricting access to an area comprising the steps consisting of:
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a) providing a chamber having one or more first doors, one or more second doors, and one or more third doors;
b) opening said first doors to allow a person entry to the chamber from an infeed area;
c) sensing for contraband as the person enters the chamber;
d) if no contraband was sensed during entry to the chamber, closing the first door and opening said second door to allow the person access to the protected area, but if contraband was sensed maintaining said second door closed, closing said first door, and allowing said third door to open to provide access from the chamber to the temporary containment area; and
e) detecting the presence of objects remaining in said chamber after the person has vacated the chamber, and inhibiting opening of at least one of said doors if an object is detected in said chamber.
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23. A security entrance system for restricting access from an infeed area to a protected area and diverting suspicious persons to one or more temporary containment areas comprising:
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a) one or more structures, each said structure being associated with one of said one or more temporary containment areas, each said structure defining an enclosed chamber with a first opening connecting the interior of such chamber with said infeed area, a second opening connecting the interior of such chamber with said protected area, and a third opening connecting the interior of such chamber with said temporary containment area associated with such chamber, each said structure including one or more first doors movable between a closed position in which said first doors of such structure block said first opening of such structure and an open position in which said first doors of such structure do not block said first opening of such structure, one or more second doors movable between a closed position in which said second doors of such structure block said second opening of such structure and an open position in which said second doors of such structure do not block said second opening of such structure, and one or more third doors movable between a closed position in which said third doors of such structure block said third opening of such structure and an open position in which said third doors of such structure do not block said third opening of such structure;
b) one or more contraband detection systems, each said contraband detection system being associated with one or more said structures, operative to detect contraband entering said structure associated with said contraband detection system;
c) one or more chamber monitoring systems connected to one or more of said structures, defining each said chamber, for measuring at least one characteristic of said structure associated with said chamber monitoring system; and
d) one or more controllers connected to each said doors of each said chamber, each said detection system and each said chamber monitoring system, said controllers of such chamber, detection system and chamber monitoring system, operating cyclically each cycle including allowing said first door of such structure to open to allow a person entry to said chamber, actuating said detection system of such structure to scan said chamber for contraband entering said chamber and allowing said second door of such structure to open if no contraband is detected and said first door of such structure and said third door of such structure are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to said protected area, or allowing said third door of such structure to open if contraband is detected and said first door of such structure and said second door of such structure are closed, thereby allowing the person entry to said temporary containment area associated with such structure, said controller of such structure inhibiting operation of at least one of said doors of such structure if at least one characteristic of said structure as determined by said chamber monitoring system of such structure, while no person is present in said chamber, differs from a normal value of such characteristic, whereby said controller of such structure will inhibit passage of a person into said protected area associated with such structure if any object is left in said chamber during a preceding cycle. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
a) one or more package x-ray machines; and
b) one or more partitions preventing passage, absent through said openings of such chambers, from said infeed area to said protected area.
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Specification