System and method for large scale detection of hazardous materials in the mail or in other objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for detecting of hazardous materials on a mail piece, said system comprising:
- means for transporting the mail piece;
means for sensing location and size of the mail piece;
means for depositing at least one sensitizing agent on a desired loci of locations on a the surface of the mail piece while the mail piece is being transported;
means for sensing, while the mail piece is being transported, said at least one sensitizing agent after being deposited on the surface of the mail piece to determine whether hazardous material is located on the surface of the mail piece;
means for adjusting travel time of said mail piece within a predetermined travel time, said predetermined travel time being equal to or greater than an activation latency time for said deposited sensitizing agent on the mail piece prior to reaching said sensing means for said sensitizing agent; and
means for analyzing results of said sensing;
wherein a change in a property of said sensitizing agent is indicative of the presence of hazardous materials.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that enables early detection of hazardous materials, such as explosives and biological materials, in the early phases of mail handling or processing, is disclosed. The early detection of such hazardous material utilizing the system and method of this invention can be performed while the mail is being processed. The system includes at least two primary elements: an activation sub-system and a sense and analyze sub-system.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A system for detecting of hazardous materials on a mail piece, said system comprising:
-
means for transporting the mail piece; means for sensing location and size of the mail piece; means for depositing at least one sensitizing agent on a desired loci of locations on a the surface of the mail piece while the mail piece is being transported; means for sensing, while the mail piece is being transported, said at least one sensitizing agent after being deposited on the surface of the mail piece to determine whether hazardous material is located on the surface of the mail piece; means for adjusting travel time of said mail piece within a predetermined travel time, said predetermined travel time being equal to or greater than an activation latency time for said deposited sensitizing agent on the mail piece prior to reaching said sensing means for said sensitizing agent; and means for analyzing results of said sensing; wherein a change in a property of said sensitizing agent is indicative of the presence of hazardous materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification