Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability

• US 7,178,379 B1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Support Systems Incorporated (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Wagy, James, Osterhorn, Dennis, Nelgner, William J., Lybarger, Brian, Blumfelder, William, Schenken, David, Matteoni, Joseph, Strohmeyer, James J., Tehan, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/282,268
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 73/232, 73/280.1, 73 3101- 3104, 73/310.7, 7386321-86323, 738/637.1, 738/643.3, 340/540, 340/632, 435/287.1, 435/587.1, 705/402, 705/410, 209/606, 209/655, 209/659, 209/663
• US Class Current: 73/28.01
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 1/00 Measures preceding sorting according to destination
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/02 Devices for withdrawing samples sampling of foundation soil E02D1/04; collecting or conveying radioactive samples G01T7/00, e.g. G01T7/02, G01T7/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2211 with cyclones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2226 Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/019 Biological contaminants; Fouling

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.

Claims

1. A residue collection system for collecting residues from the mail, the system comprising:

an aerosol chamber including;

a housing which substantially encloses an internal area;

at least two arrays of pinch rollers placed inside said housing, each of said arrays comprising two sets of pinch rollers, each array of pinch rollers being capable of compressing a mail piece located within said internal area, and

an air intake, said air intake being capable of collecting air from said internal area;

wherein when said mail piece passes through a first array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said first array of pinch rollers compresses said mail piece forcing a first volume of air from within said mail piece;

wherein when said mail piece passes through a second array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said second array of pinch rollers compresses said mail piece forcing out a second volume of air from within said mail piece;

wherein at least one of said first volume of air and said second volume of air includes a residue of a substance present in said mail piece;

wherein said air intake can take in sample air from within said internal area, said sample air including said residue; and

wherein said air intake can supply said sample air including said residue to a detection system capable of detecting said residue.

2. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is part of a stream of mail wherein no mail piece is entirely covering another mail piece.

3. The residue collection system of claim 1, wherein said system receives a mail stream which has previously passed through a mail segregation component.

4. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said mail piece.

5. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residue collection system is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

6. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a letter.

7. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a flat.

8. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein each of said sets of pinch rollers comprises a plurality of disks.

9. The residue collection system of claim 8 wherein one of said sets of pinch rollers in each of said at least two arrays of pinch roller'"'"'s is a drive pinch roller and the other is an idler pinch roller.

10. The residue collection system of claim 9 wherein at least one of said drive pinch roller and idler pinch roller is constructed of a flexible material.

11. A residue collection system for collecting residues from the mail, the system comprising:

an aerosol chamber including;

an internal area;

at least two arrays of pinch rollers, each of said arrays comprising two sets of pinch rollers, each of said sets of pinch rollers comprising a plurality of disks wherein said disks in a first of said arrays are arranged farther apart than said disks in a second of said arrays, and each array of pinch rollers is capable of compressing a mail piece located within said internal area; and

an air intake, said air intake being capable of collecting air from said internal area;

wherein when said mail piece passes through a first array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said first array of pinch roller'"'"'s compresses said mail piece forcing a first volume of air from within said mail piece;

wherein when said mail piece passes through a second array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said second array of inch rollers compresses said mail piece forcing out a second volume of air from within said mail piece;

wherein at least one of said first volume of air and said second volume of air includes a residue of a substance present in said mail piece;

wherein said air intake can take in sample air from within said internal area, said sample air including said residue; and

wherein said air intake can supply said sample air including said residue to a detection system capable of detecting said residue.

12. The residue collection system of claim 11 wherein said disks in said second array are arranged touching each other.

13. The residue collection system of claim 11 wherein said residue is indicative of a Chemical or Biological Warfare Agent (CBWA) being present in said mail piece.

14. The residue collection system of claim 11 wherein said residue collection system is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).

15. The residue collection system of claim 11 wherein said mail piece is a letter.

16. The residue collection system of claim 11 wherein said mail piece is a flat.

17. A residue collection system for collecting residues from the mail, the system comprising:

a housing which substantially encloses;

at least two arrays of pinch rollers, each of said arrays comprising two sets of pinch rollers, each array of pinch rollers being capable of expelling air from a mail piece placed in the array; and

an air intake, said air intake transporting at least a portion of said expelled air outside of said housing;

wherein said expelled air includes a residue of a substance if said substance is present in said mail piece;

wherein said air intake can take in air including said residue; and

wherein said air intake can supply said air including said residue to a detection system capable of detecting said residue.

18. The residue collection system of claim 17 wherein said mail piece is a flat.

19. The residue collection system of claim 17 wherein said mail piece is a letter.