Article processing apparatus and related method
First Claim
1. A method of decontaminating articles containing greater than 20% moisture by weight within an apparatus that includes a housing defining at least one opening, and an enclosure in flow communication with the at least one opening, at least one door configured to cover the at least one opening, respectively, and a rotatable drum in the enclosure, the rotatable drum defining a cavity, wherein the housing includes a layer of amorphous magnesium silicate fiber, the method comprising:
- placing the articles in a water-based solution including a disinfectant;
placing the articles into the cavity via the at least one opening;
confirming that the at least one door is closed;
rotating the drum;
heating the air in the cavity;
providing microwave energy to the cavity;
providing ultraviolet light to the cavity from a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting apparatuses;
placing a chemical in the cavity;
opening the at least one door;
removing the articles from the cavity via the at least one opening; and
creating an electronic copy of the articles.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods of disinfecting and/or decontaminating articles, and more specifically to a system and method of efficiently disinfecting and/or decontaminating articles such as pieces of mail that may have been exposed to diverse biological and/or chemical contaminants.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of decontaminating articles containing greater than 20% moisture by weight within an apparatus that includes a housing defining at least one opening, and an enclosure in flow communication with the at least one opening, at least one door configured to cover the at least one opening, respectively, and a rotatable drum in the enclosure, the rotatable drum defining a cavity, wherein the housing includes a layer of amorphous magnesium silicate fiber, the method comprising:
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placing the articles in a water-based solution including a disinfectant; placing the articles into the cavity via the at least one opening; confirming that the at least one door is closed; rotating the drum; heating the air in the cavity; providing microwave energy to the cavity; providing ultraviolet light to the cavity from a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting apparatuses; placing a chemical in the cavity; opening the at least one door; removing the articles from the cavity via the at least one opening; and creating an electronic copy of the articles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification