System and method for removing contaminates from the air in a mail-sorting room

• US 6,960,244 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Safe Air, Inc.
• Original Assignee: American Safe Air, Inc.
• Inventors: Lehman, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Application Number:
  US10/015,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20030110946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,415 Days
• Field of Search: 553/852, 554/70, 554/73, 55D/IG.18, 55D/IG.46, 55D/IG.29, 454/187, 454/236, 454/56, 454/67, 454/344, 952/85, 952/87, 379/350, 422/300, 436/48, 312/1
• US Class Current: 95/273
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/102 Carbon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/708 Volatile organic compounds V.O.C.'s
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2258/0225 from chemical or biological warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/42 Auxiliary equipment or operation thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/0407 Constructional details of adsorbing systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/44 Protection from terrorism or theft
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/18 Work bench
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/29 Air curtains
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 55/46 Spray booths
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114165 with step of insertion or removal from test line

Abstract

A system for removing contaminates from the air in a mail sorting room includes a vacuum unit and a filter, both of which may be located within this room. The vacuum unit creates a downwardly directed laminar flow of air which expels airborne particulates (e.g., anthrax spores) from the room. Prior to being expelled, the air is passed through a multi-stage filtration unit which includes a HEPA filter and optionally a carbon V.O.C. filter for removing chemical agents. The mail sorting room preferably has a modular construction with removable walls, a ceiling, and a floor. The walls may be transparent or opaque. An air lock room may be attached to the mail sorting room to prevent air from the sorting room from accidentally escaping. A cleaning device may be included in the sorting room for individually cleaning the mail. This cleaning device may be connected to a conveyor which automatically advances the mail for cleaning. The present invention is especially well suited to preventing mail workers from being infected from cross-contaminated letters.

Claims

1. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:

providing a work surface at a predetermined height above a floor of said sealed mail processing area;

introducing an item of mail onto said work surface in the sealed mail processing area;

creating a downward flow of air within said sealed mail processing area, said downward flow of air transporting contaminants from said item of mail into an inlet of a vacuum unit which created said downward flow of air;

said downward flow of air traveling through said work surface disposed in said sealed mail processing area; and

filtering the air after said vacuum unit has caused the downward flow of air to pass through said work surface to remove said contaminants.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

assembling the sealed mail processing area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealed mail processing area includes an air inlet and an air outlet.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said filtered air exits the air outlet of said sealed mail processing area.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said sealed mail processing area has a modular construction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said work surface is a surface of a mail sorting table, the method further including positioning the inlet of said vacuum unit underneath said mail sorting table in said sealed mail processing area.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealed mail processing area includes an intercom system, which allows a person outside said sealed mail processing area to communicate with a person inside said sealed mail processing area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said sealed mail processing area includes a warning device, which provides an indication that said sealed mail processing area is in use.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said downward flow of air is a laminar air flow.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

attaching an air lock room to said sealed mail processing area,

wherein said air inlet extends between said sealed mail processing area and said air lock room, and wherein the air suctioned through said air inlet resides within said air lock room.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

attaching another air inlet to said air lock room, wherein negative pressure created by said vacuum unit in said sealed mail processing area draws air into said sealed mail processing area through said another air inlet and said air inlet.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

another filter unit connected to said another air inlet, said another filter unit filtering air from an outside source.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a mail cleaning device in the sealed mail processing area, said mail cleaning device including a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, said air outlet connected to a vacuum unit and a filter, said vacuum unit suctioning air through said air inlet to create an air flow through said chamber; and

inserting the item of mail into the mail cleaning device.

6. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:

assembling the sealed mail processing area to include removable walls,

providing a work surface at a predetermined height above a floor of said sealed mail processing area;

introducing an item of mail onto said work surface in the sealed mail processing area;

creating a downward flow of air within said sealed mail processing area, said downward flow of air transporting contaminants from said item of mail into an inlet of a vacuum unit which created said downward flow of air;

said downward flow of air traveling through said work surface disposed in said sealed mail processing area; and

filtering the air after said vacuum unit has caused the downward flow of air to pass through said work surface to remove said contaminants.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said sealed mail processing area includes at least one of a removable ceiling and a removable floor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said sealed mail processing area includes a removable ceiling and a removable floor.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said sealed mail processing area has at least one transparent wall.

14. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:

providing a work surface at a predetermined height above a floor of said sealed mail processing area;

introducing an item of mail onto said work surface in the sealed mail processing area;

creating a downward flow of air within said sealed mail processing area, said downward flow of air transporting contaminants from said item of mail into an inlet of a vacuum unit which created said downward flow of air;

said downward flow of air traveling through said work surface disposed in said sealed mail processing area; and

filtering the air after said vacuum unit has caused the downward flow of air to pass through said work surface to remove said contaminants, said filtering the air including

filtering particles within a first range of sizes from the air suctioned from said work surface; and

filtering particles within a second range of sizes from said filtered air, said second range of sizes being smaller than said first range of sizes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said filtering step includes filtering chemical contaminates from the air suctioned from said work surface.