U.S. patent application number 10/286202 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-08 for safety apparatus and method for automated services.
Invention is credited to Simon, Rudy J..
Application Number | 20030085266 10/286202 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23315337 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030085266 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Simon, Rudy J. |
May 8, 2003 |
Safety apparatus and method for automated services
Abstract
Apparatus and method for enhancing the safety of postal and
other services, and in particular, that of mail-processing and
mail-delivery personnel. The apparatus and method provide for the
neutralization of various harmful substances that may have been
inserted into or adhere to the outside a piece of mail. The
apparatus includes conventional neutralization devices, such as UV
light emitters, heaters, fogging or misting devices, ultrasonic
emitters, ionizers, face masks and gloves. Furthermore, the
apparatus and method enable identification of the place of origin
of each individual piece of mail deposited with the service and the
identity of the person who deposited it.
Inventors: |
Simon, Rudy J.; (Dexter,
ME) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BOHAN, MATHERS & ASSOCIATES, LLC
PO BOX 17707
PORTLAND
ME
04112-8707
US
|
Family ID: |
23315337 |
Appl. No.: |
10/286202 |
Filed: |
November 2, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60336272 |
Nov 2, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
232/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L 2/10 20130101; G07B
2017/00209 20130101; A47G 2029/1221 20130101; B07C 1/00 20130101;
G07B 17/00193 20130101; G01N 2001/022 20130101; A47G 29/1207
20130101; A61L 2/18 20130101; A61L 2/204 20130101; G01N 2001/025
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
232/27 |
International
Class: |
B65D 091/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus for processing an article, said apparatus comprising:
a collection receptacle for receiving said article and collecting
said article together with other articles to form a batch of
articles; and a neutralization means for neutralizing a harmful
substance carried by said article, said neutralization means being
mounted within said collection receptacle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said neutralizing means is a
dispenser of a fluid that contains a neutralizing agent.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said dispenser includes a
fluid reservoir and a dispensing nozzle through which said fluid is
discharged in said collection receptacle.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said neutralizing agent is
formaldehyde.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said neutralizing agent is
bleach.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said neutralizing agent is an
ultraviolet (UV) light emitter.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said neutralizing agent is an
ionizer.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an article tracking
means for linking said article with a place of origin of a deposit
into said collection receptacle.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said article tracking means
includes a digital imaging device for recording an image of said
article as it is deposited into said collection receptacle and a
digital storage device for receiving image data of said article
from said digital imaging device and storing said image data.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said image data of each
article collected within said batch of articles is identified as
being connected to said batch of articles.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a
telecommunications link for linking said digital storage device to
a telecommunications system.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said telecommunications link
includes a satellite uplink-downlink installed on said collection
receptacle.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said telecommunications link
includes a telecommunications cable installed in said collection
receptacle and coupled to a cable telecommunications system.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said telecommunications link
includes a radio transmitter that transmits to a radio network.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said article tracking means
includes a place-of-origin stamp that is mounted within said
collection receptacle, and wherein said stamp imprints said article
with place of origin information as said article is deposited
within said collection receptacle.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a biometric
feature scanner, wherein an individual depositing said article has
a scannable biometric feature, and wherein said biometric feature
scanner scans said biometric feature to obtain scanned biometric
data from said individual.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said scanner is linkable to
said digital storage device and said scanned biometric data is
stored in said digital storage device.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said scanner is a retinal
scanner and said biometric feature is a retina in an eye of said
individual.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said scanner is a facial
scanner and said biometric feature is a face of said
individual.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said scanner is a
fingerprint scanner and said biometric feature is a fingerprint of
said individual.
21. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a card reader that
is mounted on said collection receptacle and linked to said
telecommunications system, wherein said individual has a unique ID
card that is insertable into said card reader, and wherein said
card reader transmits and receives data through said
telecommunications system.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said ID card contains
recorded biometric data of said individual, and wherein said card
reader compares said recorded biometric data with said scanned
biometric data of said individual and determines whether said
scanned biometric data and said recorded biometric data match.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said article is encased in a
safety envelope through which said neutralizing agent is
penetrable.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said safety envelope
comprises an outer material and an inner material, said outer
material being porous and allowing said neutralizing agent to pass
freely therethrough, and wherein said inner material provides a
barrier preventing passage of said harmful substance
therethrough.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein passage through said barrier
is unidirectional, allowing passage of said neutralizing agent from
outside into said safety envelope and preventing passage of said
harmful substance from inside said safety envelope to outside said
safety envelope.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said safety envelope
includes a device for neutralizing said harmful substance.
27. The apparatus of claim 23, said safety envelope further
comprising an anti-static envelope liner.
28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said safety envelope
includes an immunobiological assay pad for indicating the presence
of said harmful substance.
29. A method of processing articles deposited in a collection
receptacle, said method comprising the step of equipping said
collection receptacle with a dispenser for dispensing a
neutralizing agent for neutralizing a harmful substance carried by
an article deposited within said collection receptacle.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein said step of equipping said
collection receptacle with said dispenser includes the steps of: a)
mounting said dispenser within said collection receptacle; and b)
providing a dispensing system that automatically dispenses said
neutralizing agent onto said article when said article is deposited
into said collection receptacle.
31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of providing
an article tracking system for linking said article with a point of
original deposit in said collection receptacle.
32. The method of claim 31, said step of providing said article
tracking system including the steps of: a) providing a digital
image device for recording an image of said article as it is
deposited into said collection receptacle; b) providing a data
storage device for storing recorded image data of said article; and
c) providing a link to a telecommunications system for transmitting
said recorded image data.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein said step of providing said
link to said telecommunications system includes providing a
telecommunications link from a group consisting of a satellite
uplink-downlink coupling to a satellite telecommunications system,
a cable link to a cable network, a radio link to a broadcast
network, and a link to a telephone network.
34. The method of claim 29 further comprising recording said image
data of said article and storing said image data on said storage
device.
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the steps of: a)
identifying each collection pick-up of said articles from said
collection receptacle with a pick-up batch identifier; and b)
linking said image data of each article in said each collection
pick-up with said pick-up batch identifier.
36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the steps of: a)
providing a biometric feature scanner on said collection
receptacle; b) scanning a biometric feature of an individual
depositing said article into said collection receptacle; c)
recording scanned data of said biometric feature; and d) storing
said scanned data in said data storage device.
37. The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of: a)
providing an ID card reader on said collection receptacle for
reading digitally readable data on an ID card that is insertable in
said ID card reader, said ID card containing recorded biometric
data; b) comparing said recorded biometric data from said ID card
with said scanned biometric data.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/336,272, filed on Nov. 2, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to the general field of collecting,
processing, and delivering mail. More specifically, it relates to
mail-processing equipment operated by postal facilities for the
collection, sorting, and distribution of mail. Yet more
particularly, it relates to apparatus for and a method of reducing
or eliminating biological safety hazards for mail recipients and
employees of postal services.
[0003] The use of specialized, automatic equipment for processing
high volumes of mail is well established in the field of mail
handling and processing. This equipment generally includes
equipment for collecting, sorting, and bundling mail. In addition
to the automated, equipment-driven processing of mail, manual
activities, most notably the actual collection and delivery of mail
by postal service employees, are also involved.
[0004] Typical for a postal service, be it a national postal
service with some government oversight, such as the United States
Postal Service, or a privately owned and operated postal service,
such as FedEx or UPS, are the ubiquitous mail collection
receptacles, also referred to as "mail-drop boxes," that are placed
in readily accessible locations in towns, cities, airports, and
trains stations throughout the nation. The very nature of a postal
service makes it an effective delivery vehicle for an unauthorized
dissemination of substances--it collects mail deposited anonymously
in mail-collection receptacles, processes the mail in large
mail-processing centers together with mail from hundreds of other
mail-collection receptacles, and distributes the mail to locations
across the country. A harmful substance can pass from a single
piece of contaminated mail to many other pieces of mail with which
it comes into contact during collection and processing for
delivery. The substance can then be passed to persons coming into
direct contact with a piece of contaminated mail or by inhaling the
substance that has become airborne during processing.
[0005] The use of a postal service for the criminal dissemination
of a harmful substance, such as, for example, anthrax spores, has
many frightening aspects. From the perspective of a person
intending to inflict harm randomly on a population, the anonymity
of dropping mail in a mail drop box and the mixing of the dropped
mail with mail from many other sources during processing are both
desirable features, because the anonymity makes it difficult to
track the perpetrator and the appearance of serious, if not fatal,
infectious diseases in seemingly random geographic locations
incites terror in a much broader population than is directly
injured by the harmful substance. By way of illustration, at least
one piece of mail containing anthrax spores was mailed with the
U.S. Postal Service in the year 2001 and, as a result of inhaling
spores or by direct contamination from handling the mail, several
postal service employees and recipients of contaminated mail became
ill and/or died.
[0006] This recent situation involving anthrax and the generally
recognized threat of the dissemination of infectious biological
substances via a service that collects articles from and
distributes them throughout the general population underscore the
need to implement safety measures that will protect both employees
of such services and recipients alike from harm as a result of
handling and processing articles contaminated with hazardous
materials and/or infectious biological substances. Such services
are not limited to mail deposit and collection services, but also
include banking services, particularly those provided via Automated
Teller Machines (ATMs), and myriad other automated services,
including stamp vending machines, check-cashing machines, concert
ticket vending machines, utility payment machines, and so
forth.
[0007] For purposes of illustration only, the invention of the
present application will use a typical postal service as the
vehicle for describing the invention. It should be understood,
however, that the apparatus and the method of the invention are
applicable to many different types of automated or semi-automated
processing of articles, such as letters, checks, parcels, and
various other goods, and that the terms "postal service", "mail",
"postal service employees" and "mail recipients" also apply
respectively to the many different types of article-processing, the
articles and goods processed by these services, the employees who
provide and the recipients who receive the services.
[0008] The use of specialized, automatic equipment for processing
high volumes of mail is well known in the field of mail handling
and processing. The equipment has been limited to the functions of
collecting, sorting and bundling mail for distribution. What has
not been addressed in the prior art is the matter of ensuring the
safety of postal service employees and mail recipients with regard
to contamination by infectious and otherwise harmful biological
substances transmitted via the mail. The prior art also fails to
provide a means for reliably tracing a piece of mail deposited in a
mail-drop box back to its point of origin. Such a means that
ensures that mail cannot be deposited in an anonymous manner would
be of great use in apprehending persons who deposit illegal or
dangerous materials with the postal service, as well as act as a
deterrence for persons contemplating depositing such materials with
the postal service.
[0009] What is needed, therefore, is a method of protecting postal
service employees and mail recipients from harm resulting from
infectious and/or harmful biological substances entrained on or
enclosed in pieces of mail. What is further needed is apparatus
that detects such substances. What is yet further needed is such
apparatus that renders such substances harmless. What is still yet
further needed is such apparatus that provides information as to
the point of origin of a piece of mail and the identity of the
person who deposited the piece of mail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
and apparatus that protect postal service employees and mail
recipients from harmful materials such as infectious biological
substances that may be entrained or enclosed on a piece of mail. It
is a further object to provide such a method and apparatus for the
neutralization of such infectious biological substances and harmful
materials. Still another object is to provide such a method and
apparatus for tracking the transit route of an individual piece of
mail from its final destination back to its point of origin, and to
provide information as to the identity of the person who deposited
the piece of mail.
[0011] The objects of the invention are achieved by providing
method and apparatus that neutralize infectious substances and
harmful biological materials that are contained in or on pieces of
mail, provide tracking information on the transit route of the
piece of mail from its destination back to its point of origin, and
provide identity information on the person who deposited the mail
into a mail-collection receptacle.
[0012] The method of the present invention encompasses steps that
regulate the collection, sorting, and delivery processes, the
combination of which ensures maximum protection of the service
employees and the recipients of mail or other goods delivered by
the service. Each of the phases relates to one stage of the
processing and handling. For example, the first phase relates to
collection receptacles, specifically, in this illustration,
mail-collection receptacles where letters are typically introduced
into the postal system, although it should be understood that the
collection receptacle can just as well be an ATM or a vending
machine, and the "mail" deposited with the collection receptacle is
a deposit envelope or paper currency. At this first stage, it is of
primary importance to render harmless any infectious or otherwise
harmful biological substances that may be introduced with a piece
of mail into the postal service. To this end, one or more
neutralizing agents are provided in the mail-collection receptacle
that create an environment within the mail-collection receptacle
that is adverse to the survival of most biological pathogens. Such
neutralizing agents include ultra-violet light, ultrasonic pulses,
chemical disinfectants such as a disinfectant adhesive patch or
strip and/or a bactericidal mist, and/or heat.
[0013] The apparatus according to the present invention is equipped
with neutralizing agents that include one or more of the following:
ultra-violet light emitters, ultrasonic pulse emitters,
bactericidal chemical dispensers, heaters, or any combination
thereof. The neutralizing agents are installed in the
mail-collection receptacle and maintain an atmosphere within the
mail-collection receptacle that is adverse to the survival of any
infectious or harmful biological substances. The chemical
dispensers include the use of foggers or misters, and patches. The
use of disinfectant patches is particularly practical when used
together with a liner bag that lines the mail-collection receptacle
and is removed along with the mail contents when the mail is
collected. The patch is attached to the inside of the bag and acts
on the contents of the mail-collection receptacle until the mail is
removed from the bag. Ideally, the entire liner bag, along with
disinfectant patch and mail contents, is removed at the time of
collection. The mail deposited in the bag remains there until it is
transferred to the sorting facility. The use of disinfectant
patches does not require the use of a liner bag; the patches can,
instead, be attached to an inside wall of the mail-collection
receptacle and replaced at regular intervals.
[0014] The neutralizing agents provided according to the present
invention act on infectious or hazardous biological substances
which may adhere to the external surfaces of or be contained within
an envelope, as the piece of mail is introduced into the
mail-collection receptacle, whereupon the infectious or hazardous
biological material is destroyed or otherwise neutralized.
Alternatively, a neutralization chamber is provided that is
separate from the mail-collection receptacle, and the mail
deposited in a given mail-collection receptacle is transferred to
the neutralization chamber and treated with one-or more
neutralizing agents. The use of a separate neutralization chamber
is particularly cost effective when the neutralizing agent is heat
in an inert atmosphere, whereby the atmosphere is heated to a
temperature sufficiently high to denature any pathogens that are
present in the mail.
[0015] At this first stage of mail processing, it is also important
to obtain information about the person depositing the piece of mail
and about the piece of mail itself. According to the method and
apparatus of the invention, the face of each piece of mail is
scanned as it is deposited into the mail-collection receptacle and
the scanned information is stored in a data storage device for
retrieval at a later time. Upon introduction of a piece of mail to
the mail-collection receptacle, a digital camera records a digital
image of the face of the piece of mail, and imprints this image
with a code identifying the time of deposit and the exact location
of the mail-collection receptacle. The image data is stored in a
conventional digital memory storage device that is either installed
in or on the mail-collection receptacle or is installed at a remote
location that is linked to the mail-collection receptacle by some
conventional mode of telecommunications, such as a satellite
uplink/downlink, cable transmission, or radio transmission. The
image data is identified as pertaining to a particular
mail-collection batch by any number of methods. For example, when
the mail is collected a postal service employee may retrieve the
stored data and transfer or copy it onto a data storage medium that
travels with the mail-collection batch, or the employee may enter
an identifying code that links the stored image data with the
particular mail-collection batch. Thus, if a suspicious piece of
mail is discovered later in a particular batch of mail, the
appearance of the piece of mail can be compared to the stored image
data for the respective batch of collected mail to verify the
location of origin of the piece of mail.
[0016] Alternatively, the deposit slots of the mail-collection
receptacles are equipped with a conventional time/date stamp and
each piece of mail is stamped as it enters the mail-collection
receptacle with time of deposit and location of mail-collection
receptacle, just as deposit envelopes are now stamped at bank
automatic teller machines (ATMs). In this way, time and location of
deposit is easily ascertainable from a suspicious piece of mail
found in the mail-collection receptacle.
[0017] The apparatus according to the invention also includes one
or more conventional biometric identification devices, such as a
palm, thumbprint, or fingerprint reader, a facial scanner, a
retinal image scanner, a digital camera, etc. For example, the
person depositing a piece of mail, hereinafter referred to as the
"depositor", provides the biometric data by pressing a fingerprint
scan button or looking into a retinal scanner. Once the biometric
data is recorded, the deposit slot on the mail-collection
receptacle opens to accept the piece of mail. The biometric data
thus scanned from the depositor is then either imprinted on the
recorded image of the piece of mail, or recorded on a separate
medium, but linked to the particular piece of mail by the time and
location information.
[0018] The biometric identification as described above is a passive
form of identification that requires some effort at a later time to
match biometric data taken from a suspect with the biometric data
recorded and stored by the postal security system. This type of
identification may be considered adequate for many different
applications of the method of the present invention. In a more
sensitive application that requires a more sophisticated means of
identification, the apparatus according to the present invention is
equipped with an identification (ID) card scanner that records
personal identification of the depositor, such as name, address,
social security number, and perhaps some biometric data that is
immediately verifiable against data stored in a central databank,
such as a DNA sequence. Electronically scannable ID cards and the
scanners for such cards are known. U.S. provisional patent
application No. 60/344,833, filed on Nov. 7, 2001, and utility
patent application Ser. No. 10/198,342, filed on Jul. 18, 2002,
both commonly owned by the inventor of the present invention and
herein incorporated by reference, disclose an ID card that is very
suitable for use with the apparatus according to the present
invention. The apparatus according to the present invention
provides a card swipe slot and a reader for reading the
identification data on the ID card. The identification information
is either stamped on the digitally recorded image of the piece of
mail and/or stored in a data storage device with the time and
location information that corresponds to that of the deposit of the
piece of mail.
[0019] The second phase of the present invention relates to the
stage of processing that includes the handling of the mail by
postal service employees when collecting mail from the
mail-collection receptacle and transferring it to sorting
facilities. The method according to the present invention requires
the use of safety equipment by the postal service employees while
performing such tasks during this second phase. Specifically, the
safety equipment includes a glove worn by the postal service
employee, which contains a plurality of ultraviolet light emitters
for the purpose of illuminating any surface with which the glove
comes into contact. Ultra-violet light is a well established means
for neutralizing certain harmful biological substances, such as
bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, etc. Thus, if the postal service
employee should pick up a piece of mail that bears a harmful
biological substance that was not neutralized in phase one of the
present invention, the ultra-violet light emitted by the glove
renders the substance harmless. As an additional measure, when
handling mail according to the method of the present invention, the
postal service employee wears an air-filtration mask. It is within
the scope of this invention to equip the mask with ultra-violet
light emitters in a manner similar to the above-described glove.
The filtration mask serves the two-fold purpose during the mail
collection process of preventing inhalation by the postal service
employee of infectious and/or harmful biological substances
emanating from pieces of mail, and of neutralizing the airborne
substances by means of ultra-violet light.
[0020] Phase three of the present invention relates to the stage of
mail processing in which mail is sorted and bundled at a postal
facility. The machinery used for sorting and bundling is equipped
with apparatus that renders harmless most known harmful biological
substances, such as, bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi. Such
apparatus includes heaters and ultra-violet lights. The sorting and
bundling machinery typically has metal tracks through which the
mail passes. According to the present invention, the tracks are
heated to a temperature adverse to the survival of most biological
substances. Additionally, the mail is irradiated with ultra-violet
light as it is processed, to render harmless any airborne
substances, thereby further ensuring the health safety of the
person or persons overseeing the sorting and bundling process. The
ultra-violet light fixtures are mounted on or near the sorting and
bundling equipment and irradiate an area surrounding the
equipment.
[0021] It is further within the scope of the invention to apply
bactericidal chemicals to pieces of mail to further ensure
elimination of harmful substances. For example, known bactericidal
chemicals or solvents can be sprayed into the air surrounding the
sorting and bundling equipment, or directly onto the pieces of mail
during the sorting and bundling processing.
[0022] Phase three of the method of the present invention also
implements apparatus emitting "black light" (that is, near
ultraviolet) illumination. Such black light illumination is well
established in the prior art as a means for making visible certain
substances that would not be visible to the naked eye under
wavelengths of light emitted by ordinary incandescent or
fluorescent light sources. In the present invention, this black
light apparatus will permit postal service employees to detect the
presence of certain powdered substances on the outer surfaces of
pieces of mail going through the sorting machinery. Any piece of
mail displaying a suspicious powdered substance on the envelope or
spilling from the envelope could then be quickly removed from the
processing machinery and isolated for decontamination or further
inspection.
[0023] Integral to the implementation of the present invention at
each of its three phases is the use of an envelope specially
constructed for ensuring the safety of persons handling pieces of
contaminated mail. The envelope construction embodies several
features that facilitate the neutralization of harmful substances
contained therein and permits the envelope to be tracked by
electronic means from its point of purchase to its final
destination. The envelope comprises a paper portion that it is
perforated with a plurality of holes. These holes permit the
introduction of ultraviolet light, bactericidal chemicals, or other
infectious substance-neutralizing agents to the inside of the
envelope. In order to prevent the egression of material, including
infectious powdered substances, from the envelope during mail
processing, each of the holes is spanned with an elasticized film,
such as polyethylene, that permits the passage of UV-light. As an
alternative or additional mechanism, the film is constructed of
ultra-small-hole filtering material, such as a MILLIPORE.RTM.
filter, that blocks all substances greater than one micron in size.
This then would allow bactericidal vapors to be forced into the
envelopes, once the envelopes are properly deployed, yet prevent
most substances from passing through the filter from inside the
envelope to the outside.
[0024] A further feature of the method according to the present
invention is to require the use of specific types of envelopes that
aid in localizing possible pathogens. Such envelopes contain a
metallic coating, such as aluminum. The coating has a tendency to
develop a static electric charge, which charge in turn causes
spores and powdered substances to cling to the metallic surface,
thus retarding free movement of such spores and powdered substances
through the air, even if the envelope should be ruptured.
[0025] Also included in the envelope is an ELISA assay pad that
will indicate the presence of one or more specific types of
bacteria, typically by coloration of an indicator strip. The ELISA
assay is well-known in the bio-technology field and is not
described here in any detail.
[0026] In addition, the method according to the present invention
includes providing in some form on the envelope a means for
identifying the origin of the envelope. A key feature of the
identification means is a tamper-proof integration of such a means
into the construction of the envelope. Such identification means
include simple code devices as bar codes or color codes, or
technically sophisticated devices, such as a data chip. The data
chip has the ability to retain data pertaining to the place of
purchase of the envelope, as well as to record data indicating the
location through which the envelope passes at each stage of
processing. The data stored in this device can be easily read by
use of a hand-held scanning device. Thus, every envelope would
immediately yield information about its history, and any envelope
suspected of having contained an infectious or harmful biological
substance can be quickly traced back to its sender.
[0027] The apparatus according to the present invention is
assemblable or installable on a variety of mail collection
receptacles and equipment. Because of cost considerations for
upgrading or replacing conventional mail-collection receptacles
with sophisticated mail-collection receptacles equipped with the
apparatus according to the present invention, other devices may be
incorporated into the mail-collection receptacle, as a means of
taking advantage of the security apparatus and providing a
comprehensive communications unit. For example, an alternative
embodiment of the mail-collection receptacle according to the
present invention is also equipped with telecommunications devices,
thereby providing a comprehensive communications apparatus having
the added capability of processing money orders, dispensing postage
stamps, providing access to Internet and Ethernet, and providing
teleconferencing capability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates a conventional mail-collection
receptacle equipped with apparatus of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 3 depicts a postal service employee removing mail from
a mail-collection receptacle while using apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 4 depicts mail sorting equipment equipped with the
apparatus of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 5 is the novel envelope of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] The Figures depict the preferred embodiment of the invention
as used in a postal collection and distribution service. FIGS. 1
and 2 depicts a conventional public mail-collection receptacle 1,
equipped with the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus
includes a conventional ultraviolet light emitter 4, a conventional
ultrasonic pulse emitter 9 and a bactericidal fogger 5. Mail that
is deposited in the mail-collection receptacle 1 accumulates in a
pile 10, where it is exposed to the disinfectant light from the
emitter 4, the disinfectant pulses from the pulse emitter 9, and
the disinfectant mist from the fogger 5. The mail-collection
receptacle 1 is also equipped with a conventional optical/magnetic
data receiver 3. The receiver 3 performs the two-fold function of
capturing a digital photographic image of an individual piece of
mail 2 being deposited into the mail-collection receptacle 1 and
the face of a person making the deposit.
[0033] FIG. 3 depicts a postal service employee in the process of
removing accumulated mail from the public mail-collection
receptacle 1. The postal service employee is outfitted with the
safety apparatus of the present invention and is holding a piece of
mail 2 that had been deposited in the mail collection receptacle 1.
These apparatus comprise an ultraviolet light-emitting safety glove
20 and an ultraviolet light-emitting filter mask 21. The
ultraviolet light emitted by the glove 20 destroys infectious
biological substances present on the exterior of the piece of mail
2 grasped by the glove. The mask 21 prevents the postal service
employee from inhaling infectious particles while further reducing
the risk of infection by emitting a field of ultraviolet light,
thereby creating an atmosphere surrounding the mask 21 that is
adverse to the survival of infectious biological substances. The
postal service employee is also equipped with a passive data
collection device 23. Upon coming within a specified distance to
the mail-collection receptacle 1, the data collection device 23
picks up a radio signal emitted from the transmitter 22 attached to
the optical/magnetic data receiver 3 and receives data pertaining
to each piece of mail collected within the mail-collection
receptacle 1. The data transmitted to the data collection device 23
is transferable to a conventional central data storage facility for
retrieval at a later time.
[0034] FIG. 4 depicts pieces of mail 2 being processed by standard
sorting and bundling equipment 35. The sorting equipment 35 is
equipped with the infectious biological substance-destroying
apparatus of the present invention. The Preferred Embodiment of the
apparatus comprises an ultraviolet light emitter 32, an electrical
track heater 31, an ultra-sound emitter 33, and an ionizer 34, each
of which creates a field adverse to the survival of infectious
biological substances through which each piece of mail 2 must pass
while being processed. Although each of the devices just named
creates a field adverse to the survival of infectious substances, a
combination of the devices 32, 31, 33, and 34 provides such a field
that is adverse to infectious substances that adhere to the
external surface of the piece of mail 2 as well as to substances
contained within the mail. The ultraviolet light emitter 32, for
example, illuminates an area through which the mail 2 passes and
destroys infectious substances that are on the external surfaces of
the mail 2 or have been shaken into the air by the motion of the
mail 2 along the track. The track heater 31 heats the metal track
30 of the sorting equipment 35 to a degree that kills infectious
biological substances adhering to and also contained within pieces
of mail 2 passing through the track 30.
[0035] FIG. 5 depicts the envelope 40 of the present invention. The
envelope 40 consists of an outer paper portion 41, and an inner
lining of thin aluminum 43. Both the paper portion 41 and the
aluminum lining 43 are perforated by a plurality of holes 42. The
holes 42 permit the ready transmittance of ultraviolet light to the
contents of the envelope 40, thereby facilitating the
neutralization of infectious biological materials contained within.
Each hole 42 is covered with a transparent barrier material 46,
indicated by the dashed lines. The barrier material 46, while
permitting the passage of ultraviolet light, prevents infectious
biological materials within the envelope 40 from escaping through
the holes 42. In an alternate embodiment, the barrier material 46
features a plurality of elastic microvalve pores. The pores are
sized so that the small molecules of bactericidal gas easily pass
through the pores into the envelope or package, but that the
typically larger molecules of most infectious biological material
are too large to escape through the pores.
[0036] An ELISA assay pad 48 is includable in the envelope 40. The
assay pad is constructed to indicate the presence of one or more
specific pathogens. Indication is typically by coloration, so that
a person viewing the envelope 40 can "read" the assay pad with the
naked eye.
[0037] The outer paper portion 41 of the envelope 40 according to
the present invention also features a color and/or symbol code that
provides information about the point of origin of the envelope 40.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to use a code
to identify a class of the populace (e.g. political, commercial,
private citizenry) that deposited the piece of mail and/or to which
class the mail is addressed.
[0038] The aluminum lining 43 has inherent properties that cause
the lining 43 to tend to retain a static electrical charge. The
charge will cause loose particles of infectious biological material
within the envelope 40 to cling to the lining 43 so that when the
piece of mail is opened there is a reduced risk of infectious
particles becoming airborne and causing infection by inhalation.
Also embedded within the envelope 40 of the present invention, in a
manner that is integral to the envelope's construction, is a
miniature data storage device 44. Removal of the data storage
device 44 necessitates destruction of the envelope 40. The data
storage device 44 retains data about the envelope's point of
origin, the identity of its sender, and the locations of all
processing points through which the envelope has passed. In
addition, the data storage device 44 acts as an electronic key for
deposit into a public mail-collection receptacle 1. The
magnetic/optical data receiver 3 built into the mail-collection
receptacle 1 detects the presence of the data storage device 44
within the envelope 40 to be deposited and triggers an actuator
within the mail-collection receptacle 1, thereby releasing the mail
slot 2 for deposit of the piece of mail 2. If the data storage
device 44 is not detected, the mail slot 2 does not open and the
piece of mail 2 cannot be deposited. At the same time, the data
receiver 3 reads and records the magnetically-stored data contained
in a storage device 44.
[0039] The apparatus and method described herein are merely
illustrative of the present invention. It should be clear that
persons skilled in the art will be able to introduce numerous
modifications of the invention, including additional devices
serving as the safety apparatus, that are included within the scope
of the invention.
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