CA2518708A1 - Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability - Google Patents

Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2518708A1
CA2518708A1 CA002518708A CA2518708A CA2518708A1 CA 2518708 A1 CA2518708 A1 CA 2518708A1 CA 002518708 A CA002518708 A CA 002518708A CA 2518708 A CA2518708 A CA 2518708A CA 2518708 A1 CA2518708 A1 CA 2518708A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
collection system
residue collection
residue
mail piece
pinch rollers
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA002518708A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2518708C (en
Inventor
James J. Strohmeyer
William Blumfelder
John Tehan
Dennis Osterhorn
Joseph Matteoni
William J. Nelgner
Brian Lybarger
David Schenken
James Wagy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DRS Sustainment Systems Inc
Original Assignee
Engineered Support Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Engineered Support Systems Inc filed Critical Engineered Support Systems Inc
Publication of CA2518708A1 publication Critical patent/CA2518708A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2518708C publication Critical patent/CA2518708C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2202—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state involving separation of sample components during sampling
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2202—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state involving separation of sample components during sampling
    • G01N1/2211—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state involving separation of sample components during sampling with cyclones
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2226—Sampling from a closed space, e.g. food package, head space
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N2001/022—Devices for withdrawing samples sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N2001/022—Devices for withdrawing samples sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
    • G01N2001/025—Devices for withdrawing samples sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents postal items
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N1/00—Sampling; Preparing specimens for investigation
    • G01N1/02—Devices for withdrawing samples
    • G01N1/22—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state
    • G01N1/2202—Devices for withdrawing samples in the gaseous state involving separation of sample components during sampling
    • G01N2001/222—Other features
    • G01N2001/2223—Other features aerosol sampling devices
    • G01N2015/019—

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 (23)

1. a residue collection system for collecting residues from the mails, they 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 array of pinch rollers being capable of compressing a mail piece located within said internal area; and an intake plenum, said intake plenum being capable of collecting air from said internal area and being located between any two of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers;
wherein said mail piece passes through a first array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said first array of pinch rollers compressing said mail piece so as to force out some internal air from within said mail piece as said mail piece passes through;
wherein said mail piece passes through a second array of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers, said second array of pinch rollers also compressing said mail piece so as to force out additional air from within said mail piece as said mail piece passes through;
wherein at least one of said some internal air and said additional air includes a residue of a substance present in said mail piece;
wherein said intake plenum can take in at least a portion of said additional air including said residue from said internal area; and wherein said intake plenum can supply said additional air including said residue to a detection system capable of detecting said residue.
2. The residue collection system of claim 1 further comprising:

a segregation component arranged prior to said aerosol chamber in a mail stream, said segregation component serving to provide said mail piece to said aerosol chamber.
3. The residue collection system of claim 2 wherein said segregation component includes a cull conveyor.
4. The residue collection system of claim 3 wherein said segregation component includes a delayering conveyor.
5. The residue collection system of claim 4 wherein said delayering conveyor is located after said cull conveyor.
6. The residue collection system of claim 5 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes velocity differential separation relative to said cull conveyor.
7. The residue collection system of claim 5 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes gravity separation.
8. The residue collection system of claim 2 wherein said segregation component includes a delayering conveyor.
9. The residue collection system of claim 8 wherein said delayering conveyor utilizes gravity separation.
10. 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.
11. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said residue collection system is part of a Dual Pass Rough Cull System (DPRCS).
12. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein each of said sets of pinch rollers comprises a plurality of disks.
13. The residue collection system of claim 12 wherein one of said sets of pinch rollers in each of said at least two arrays of pinch rollers is a drive pinch roller and the other is an idler pinch roller
14. The residue collection system of claim 13 wherein at least one of said drive pinch roller and idler pinch roller is constructed of a flexible material.
15. The residue collection system of claim 14 wherein said flexible material is rubber.
16. The residue collection system of claim 13 wherein at least one of said drive pinch roller and idler pinch roller has a width between 0.75 and 1.25 inches.
17. The residue collection system of claim 16 wherein at least one of said drive pinch roller and idler pinch roller has a width of about 1 inch.
18. The residue collection system of claim 12 wherein said disks in a first of said arrays are arranged farther apart than said disks in a second of said arrays.
19. The residue collecting system of claim 18 wherein said mail piece passes through said first array before passing through said second array.
20. The residue collection system of claim 18 wherein said disks in said second array are arranged touching each other.
21. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said air passes through a cyclonic separator system before reaching said detector.
22. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a letter.
23. The residue collection system of claim 1 wherein said mail piece is a flat.
CA2518708A 2004-09-15 2005-09-09 Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability Expired - Fee Related CA2518708C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10/941,273 US7100422B2 (en) 2002-05-31 2004-09-15 Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability
US10/941,273 2004-09-15

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2518708A1 true CA2518708A1 (en) 2006-03-15
CA2518708C CA2518708C (en) 2010-05-25

Family

ID=35351656

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2518708A Expired - Fee Related CA2518708C (en) 2004-09-15 2005-09-09 Systems and methods for residue collection with improved letter handling capability

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (5) US7100422B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1637865B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE515687T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2518708C (en)
MX (1) MXPA05009699A (en)

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IT201800007630A1 (en) * 2018-07-30 2020-01-30 Fives Intralogistics Spa Con Socio Unico Singularizing apparatus.
CN111229630B (en) * 2020-01-13 2021-10-22 滁州市精美家电设备股份有限公司 Intelligent classification handling device is carried in storage
US11313771B1 (en) * 2020-10-16 2022-04-26 The Government of the United States of America, as renresenten by the Secretary of Homeland Securitv Sample collection apparatus for scent detection
CN113927475A (en) * 2021-10-21 2022-01-14 易德维能源科技(江苏)有限公司 Integrated equipment is used in ultra-low temperature battery processing

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE515687T1 (en) 2011-07-15
CA2518708C (en) 2010-05-25
MXPA05009699A (en) 2006-03-17
US7168293B1 (en) 2007-01-30
EP1637865B1 (en) 2011-07-06
US20050076722A1 (en) 2005-04-14
US8033158B2 (en) 2011-10-11
US7100422B2 (en) 2006-09-05
US7328603B1 (en) 2008-02-12
EP1637865A1 (en) 2006-03-22
US20110214483A1 (en) 2011-09-08
US20080022788A1 (en) 2008-01-31
US7178379B1 (en) 2007-02-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20220309

MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20200909