子分类：
| 序号 | 专利名 | 申请号 | 申请日 | 公开（公告）号 | 公开（公告）日 | 发明人 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 | Mail processing system with multilevel contaminant detection and sterilization | US10287445 | 2002-11-01 | US07304259B2 | 2007-12-04 | Wolfgang Schwarz; Michael Carpenter; John J. Mampe |
| A method of sorting mail according to the invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of first mail pieces of unknown origin in a first apparatus for bulk processing of the mail pieces, processing the mail pieces in the first apparatus by one of testing the mail pieces to determine if a potentially dangerous microorganism is present, sterilizing the mail pieces to destroy microorganisms on mail pieces, or both, and then if no contamination is detected or if sterilization is carried out, combining first the mail pieces at a later stage of postal processing with second mail pieces from senders identified as having a lesser risk of contamination than the first mail pieces of unknown origin. The invention further provides mail contaminant detection and sterilization systems suitable for use in such a method. | ||||||
| 142 | AUTOMATED FLATS DIVIDER | US11678344 | 2007-02-23 | US20070201968A1 | 2007-08-30 | Matthew Gene Good; Robert Lee Schlender; Thomas Anthony Hillerich; Jacob L. Timm; Charles Michael Miller; Mark Thomas Neebe |
| An automated flats handling system is provided that includes mail shuttles, a tray unloading section, a quality control area, a shuttle tilter, a shuttle return section and a stacker/loader. The tray unloading section has a conveyor and unloads mail from a standard tray into one of the shuttles. The quality control area also has a conveyor and facilitates grooming the mail in the shuttle. The shuttle tilter tilts each shuttle prior to unloading the mail from the shuttle. The shuttle return section also has a conveyor and returns the shuttles to the tray unloading section. The stacker/loader cooperates with the shuttle tilter and unloads the mail from the shuttles, creates a mail stack from the unloaded mail, and loads a portion of the mail stack into an automation compatible tray. | ||||||
| 143 | Chemical/biological hazard trigger with automatic mail piece tagging system and method | US10865163 | 2004-06-10 | US07232070B2 | 2007-06-19 | William C. Craig |
| Apparatus and method for detecting and identifying hazardous material in a mail stream in which hazardous particulates or material in or on mail pieces in a mail stream are detected and the mail piece bearing the hazardous material is identified. A bar code applicator applies a unique bar code to the wrapper of each mail piece identified as potentially containing hazardous material. The bar code applicator is an ink jet which applies the bar code on-the-fly. The bar code applied is encoded with specific information about the detection parameters at the time of the event in addition to specific information about the date, time of day, machine identification, temperature and humidity conditions, etc. present at the time of the event. | ||||||
| 144 | Apparatus and method for automated parcel screening | US10510434 | 2003-04-16 | US07205497B2 | 2007-04-17 | Stuart D. Harshbarger; Adam K. Arabian; Michael P. McLoughlin; Micah A. Carlson |
| A system and method (FIG. 1) for automated handling and identification of parcels sorted by an automated high-speed mail sorting apparatus that identifies parcels that contain hoax or biological threat material comprising an opener (120) and a particle sampler (170) wherein said sampler analyzes air flow created as the parcels are compressed by pinch rollers (140). | ||||||
| 145 | Mail processing system and method of delivering mail items to delivery location therein | US10933343 | 2004-09-03 | US07197376B2 | 2007-03-27 | Peter Berdelle-Hilge |
| In a mail processing system that delivers articles to delivery locations a first transport vehicle at a first loading point is loaded with a first article, and guided along a first delivery path to a first delivery location. A second transport vehicle at a second loading point is loaded with a second article, and guided along a second delivery path to a second delivery location. Depending on a determination of whether the first and second transport vehicles deliver the first and second articles to the respective first and second delivery locations, the method returns an empty transport vehicle to the nearest one of the loading points and bypasses one of the first and second loading points for a still loaded transport vehicle. This allows to minimize the number of transport vehicles within the system. | ||||||
| 146 | System and method for pre-feeding mailpieces, detecting the presence of harmful materials in the mailpieces and sorting the mailpieces | US10172708 | 2002-06-13 | US07165053B2 | 2007-01-16 | Christian A. Beck |
| An embodiment of the system of the present invention generally comprises an automated mailpiece sorting apparatus and method and more particularly, the system generally comprises a pre-feeding apparatus, a diverter, a collection module, a mailpiece sorting apparatus. The pre-feeder apparatus comprises a pre-feeder and a singulator including a detection module. The pre-feeder apparatus is connected to the mailpiece sorting apparatus via a diverter. The diverter diverts hazardous mailpieces to the collection module and non-hazardous mailpieces to the mailpiece sorting apparatus. The mailpiece sorting apparatus comprises a feeder, an OCR system, a mailpiece transporter, bins for receiving sorted mailpieces, an OCR system for reading addressee information, an addressee database, a sort plan and a personal computer (PC) or microprocessor based control system. In an alternate embodiment a sanitizer is included downstream from the diverter and upstream from the sorting apparatus. The system provides for sanitization of mailpieces so as to help deter delays in incoming mail delivery caused by the presence of life harming material and sanitize the mail so as to protect the intended recipients from harm and protect the mail sorting apparatus from contamination. | ||||||
| 147 | System and method for extracting articles from a slot | US10933453 | 2004-09-03 | US20070003396A1 | 2007-01-04 | Peter Berdelle-Hilge |
| The present invention relates to a system and method for laterally extracting articles from a slot. The slot may belong to a DPP machine and housed within a DPP container. The present invention includes an extraction device with moveable walls that may be compressed and uncompressed a selectively width so as to define a cavity of the select width. The extraction device is inserted into the slot. The separator sheets are removed. The extraction device walls are compressed so as to make room between them and the slot walls. The separator sheets are reintroduced into this room. The extraction device is then pushed forward, out of the slot, and into a further processing element where the articles are deposited. The slot is then returned to a start position behind the slot. The extraction device includes an H-belt to facilitate removal of the articles from the extraction device cavity. | ||||||
| 148 | System and method for directly connecting an advanced facer canceler system to a delivery bar code sorter | US11444510 | 2006-06-01 | US20060213819A1 | 2006-09-28 | Timothy Barnum; George Laws; Leung Shiu; James Goodbar |
| Systems and methods that allow for orienting and delivering mail between a postage verifier and a mail sorter. A postage verifier incudes an optical character reader for decoding addresses on mail pieces that do not have bar codes. A reverter orients mail from the postage verifier into a position required for processing by the mail sorter. A combination of mail carrying modules carry the mail from the reverter to the mail sorter. The mail sorter prints bar code information on mail lacking bar codes, when the data is available, and sorts the mail based on the bar code information. | ||||||
| 149 | Systems and methods for residue collection | US11125287 | 2005-05-09 | US07073371B2 | 2006-07-11 | James J. Strohmeyer; William Blumfelder; John Tehan; Dennis Osterhorn; Joseph Matteoni; William J. Nelgner; Brian Lybarger; David Schenken; James Wagy |
| 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. | ||||||
| 150 | Method and system for isolating and testing biological contaminants in mail packages | US10742106 | 2003-12-19 | US07060927B1 | 2006-06-13 | Douglas B. Quine; Denis J. Stemmle |
| A method and system for encapsulating mail containers delivered to a building so as to prevent possible contaminants in the mail containers from contaminating the building. An opening is provided on a building wall that substantially separates indoor air circulation from the outdoor air for receiving the mail containers. A plastic tube having a closed end and an open end is used to encapsulate the mail containers. The open end is securely attached to the opening in the wall for receiving the mail containers into the tube, while preventing air circulation outside the building from entering the opening. A sealing device is used to seal the plastic tube for keeping the mail containers in separate sealed sections. A severing device is used to separate the sealed sections in the encapsulated packages so that the encapsulated packages can be tested for the possible contaminants. | ||||||
| 151 | Franking system and method | US10532435 | 2003-05-30 | US20060020476A1 | 2006-01-26 | Gordon Cooper; Todd Teal; Richard Cooper |
| A billing system for determining package transportation charges. The billing system includes a reader to read a package identifier associated with said package and the reader generates a package identifier signal and transmits the same to a microprocessor. The billing system also includes a package sizer having a plurality of non-contact optical sensors located along each of an x, y and z axis, where each optical sensor is in a known position. The sensors are oriented relative to the conveyor so that packages passing over the sensors are detected by the sensors and produce a signal correlated to said package size. Also provided is a microprocessor to receive and correlate said package size and identifier signals, and to determine an appropriate shipping charge based upon the same. A weigh scale may also be incorporated into the system. A method of determining a transportation charge is also comprehended, which includes a selfdiagnostic initialization procedure. | ||||||
| 152 | System and method for automated document processing | US11009808 | 2004-12-10 | US20050189272A1 | 2005-09-01 | Thomas DiBiaso; Robert DeWitt; George Hayduchok |
| A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. A stack of mail is placed in an input bin in a feeder module. A feeder serially feeds the envelopes into a transport path. The envelopes are then examined to determine if the contents are qualified for extraction. Envelopes that are qualified for extraction are opened in a cutting module and then conveyed to an extraction module to extract the contents from the envelopes. The contents may then be scanned and reoriented as desired so that the contents are in a pre-determined orientation. The contents are then sorted into a stacker. | ||||||
| 153 | Method and system for detection of contaminants in mail | US10125235 | 2002-04-17 | US06888085B2 | 2005-05-03 | David W. Spencer; Pradeep K. Das |
| A contaminant detection system for mail is provided. A mail piece enters the system according to the present invention and a probe is inserted into the mail piece. An extraction device, such as, for example, a vacuum system, extracts a sample of air, including any dust and other particles, from inside the mail piece. The extracted sample is provided to a sampling system that monitors for the presence of a possible contaminant. If any type of contaminant is found in the sampled air, dust and other particles, a signal can be provided to alert an operator of contaminant detection and the mail piece can be diverted and held for further investigation. If no contaminants are detected, the mail piece is accepted and delivered to a normal processing path. | ||||||
| 154 | Systems and methods for processing pathogen-contaminated mail pieces | US10217710 | 2002-08-12 | US06872927B2 | 2005-03-29 | William L. Geisler; Howard M. Reisner; Richard S. Garard |
| Systems and methods for neutralizing pathogen-contaminated mail pieces via variable frequency microwave processing are provided. Mail pieces are initially screened to identify suspicious characteristics or indications of potentially harmful contents. Mail pieces are swept with variable frequency microwaves selected to neutralize pathogens contained within each mail piece without harming the mail piece or other contents thereof. The temperature of each mail piece may be monitored during microwave processing to identify mail pieces containing potentially harmful substances and/or devices. Mail pieces can be irradiated via additional forms of radiation to neutralize pathogenic material on outside surfaces thereof. | ||||||
| 155 | Exception mail handling | US10933355 | 2004-09-03 | US20050056573A1 | 2005-03-17 | Peter Berdelle-Hilge |
| The present invention relates to article handling and sorting and in particular to a system and method for handling and sorting both regular and exception articles. Regular articles are ones which fit into an article bin assigned to the article's destination address. Exception articles are ones which no longer fit due to volume concerns. In operation, a first sort of the article batch is performed into bins or PODs assigned to regular and exception articles. The exception articles are extracted, polywrapped and sorted a second time in sequence of delivery. The exception articles are also sorted in sequence of delivery. Markers are inserted into the regular article stack to indicated where an exception article should have gone. After the second sort, the articles are again extracted, exception articles first. Related regular articles are then extracted and the exception articles are manually inserted where marked. Because the exception articles are in sequence order, they will also be in the order of the markings, making manual insertion sequential and therefore easier. The present invention also includes a system for performing the above. | ||||||
| 156 | Method and apparatus to detect genuine or hoax contaminants | US10501320 | 2004-07-13 | US20040255644A1 | 2004-12-23 | Micah A. Carlson; Adam K. Arabian; Michael P. McLoughlin |
| A system (100) and method for detecting contaminants in parcels or other mailings (110). The contaminants, either genuine or hoax, are detected using the system (100) that includes a jogger (140) that shakes the parcels or other mailings (110). The system (100) further comprises a particle sampler (170) that analyzes the air flow created over the parcels (110) while the parcels are shaken. The system (100) and method preferable includes a parcel opening cutter (120) and a ram (148) for compressing during the shaking of the parcels. The air flow is sampled in order to detect whether or not a plurality of opened parcels is suspected of including contaminants such as biological threat material. | ||||||
| 157 | System and method for detecting hazardous materials inside containers | US10277069 | 2002-10-21 | US06823714B2 | 2004-11-30 | Clifford A. Megerle |
| A system and method for detecting hazardous materials inside containers includes an air distribution plate 20 that defines an air plenum AP with a series of openings 22 that function to distribute a flow of air. An air input port 26 and an air output port 28 are provided to allow connection to an air recirculation and sensor system 30 including an air mover 32 having an inlet duct 34 that is selectively connectable to the air outlet port 28 and an outlet duct 36 that is selectively connectable to the air inlet port 26 of the semi-trailer 10. Upon the creation of a recirculation air flow, the air recirculation and sensor system 30 functions to detect the presence of hazardous materials with in the containment. | ||||||
| 158 | Multi-resolution label locator | US09454090 | 1999-12-03 | US06728391B1 | 2004-04-27 | Jianxin Wu; Gregory P. Skinger; Jason Wang; James Recktenwalt |
| A multi-resolution label locator system divides an input image into a plurality of multi-pixel cells. The multi-resolution label locator system then creates a decimated image or low resolution image corresponding to the input image. The decimated image includes a common-characteristic value that corresponds to a multi-pixel cell of the input image. The multi-resolution label locator system identifies one or more areas within the decimated image that have characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of interest. While generating the decimated image, the multi-resolution label locator system simultaneously creates an edge-occurrence image that corresponds to the input image. The edge-occurrence image includes an edge value that corresponds to each cell of the input image. Each edge value represents the number of occurrences of an edge within the pixels of a corresponding cell of the input image. The multi-resolution label locator system identifies one or more candidate areas within the input image that have decimated-image characteristics and edge-occurrence image characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of interest. The multi-resolution label locator system then classifies the candidate areas according to the likelihood of the input image containing indicia having the characteristics of interest. Lastly, the multi-resolution label locator system compiles a list of one or more candidate areas that most likely contain indicia having the characteristics of interest. | ||||||
| 159 | System and method for detecting hazardous materials inside containers | US10277069 | 2002-10-21 | US20040020267A1 | 2004-02-05 | Clifford A. Megerle |
| A system and method for detecting hazardous materials inside containers includes an air distribution plate 20 that defines an air plenum AP with a series of openings 22 that function to distribute a flow of air. An air input port 26 and an air output port 28 are provided to allow connection to an air recirculation and sensor system 30 including an air mover 32 having an inlet duct 34 that is selectively connectable to the air outlet port 28 and an outlet duct 36 that is selectively connectable to the air inlet port 26 of the semi-trailer 10. Upon the creation of a recirculation air flow, the air recirculation and sensor system 30 functions to detect the presence of hazardous materials with in the containment. | ||||||
| 160 | Mail weighing system and method | US10010236 | 2001-12-07 | US06651878B2 | 2003-11-25 | James Malatesta; Edward Cohen |
| A method of processing a plurality of mail items in an automated system without isolating each mail item on a scale. The method includes creation of a mail item record that identifies the item and includes the weight. Mail items may be weighed by determining a first scale weight reading, introducing a mail item onto the scale, determining the mail item weight at one or more times within a time window, and finding the difference between each consecutive scale weight. Differences between scale weight readings not equal to zero are outputted. All outputted scale weight readings are totaled to obtain the mail item weight. Further disclosed are a mail processing system and a method of ceasing mail processing when invalid weights are detected. | ||||||
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