System for detecting the presence of harmful materials in an incoming mail stream
US7071437B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/90
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system including a mailpiece sorting apparatus which includes a feeder, an OCR scanner, a mailpiece deliverer, a diverter and output module, compartments or bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an optical character recognition system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, and microprocessor based control system is described. In an illustrative example, harmful materials are detected in mailpieces and such mailpieces are diverted from the mail stream. In another example, the system is contained in a detection area and clean room; and/or the system uses x-ray technology to determine the content of the mailpieces. The system provides for detection of harmful materials in mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and to sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.