System and method for removing contaminates from the air in a mail-sorting room
First Claim
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 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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6. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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14. A method for removing contaminants from air in a sealed mail processing area, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification