Patent ID: 7190276
Filing Date: 2007-03-13
Classification: G01N,G08B

Abstract:
1. A system for detecting harmful agents within the contents of mail, the system comprising: a plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment positioned within a mail processing facility, at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment also being positioned to individually separate and contact a plurality of pieces of mail as the plurality of pieces of mail pass through the at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment at a relatively high rate of speed, the plurality of pieces of mail, including a plurality of letters; at least one harmful agent sensor positioned adjacent the at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment to sense the presence of a harmful agent in the plurality of pieces of mail as the plurality of pieces of mail are processed by the at least one of the plurality of pieces of mail processing equipment; at least one system processor in communication with the at least one harmful agent sensor to process data received from the at least one harmful agent sensor; and at least one alarm indicator responsive to the at least one system processor to indicate that the at least one harmful agent sensor has sensed the presence of a harmful agent.