Apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in depositories for mail-like articles

An apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in deposited mail-like articles includes an enclosure adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles, a squeezing mechanism located within the enclosure and adapted for pressuring opposite flat sides of said deposited mail-like articles for expelling air along with any particulate matter from said deposited mail-like articles and into the enclosure, and a sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the enclosure and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in air expelled from the deposited mail-like articles. The apparatus may be embodied in a depository of an automated teller machine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to depositories for mail-like articles, and, more particularly to the detection of particulate contamination such as biological hazardous material, in mail-like articles received in such depositories.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The recent incidents of anthrax-laced letters being transported through the United States Postal Service (USPS) facilities by unsuspecting mail handlers to unsuspecting recipients has alarmed the nation and the world. Currently, the tainted letters are discovered after the recipient accepts delivery or by alert postal employees noticing white powder that could be anthrax on mail parcels, sorting and distribution equipment, or themselves. There appear to be no current security devices or procedures that are available to intercept such letters at the earliest source of introduction into the USPS system, for example at the depository or drop boxes.

Many depository boxes already exist both in the US and around the world and they vary in form from stand-alone to built-in structures. Such depositories also take the form of ATM banking machines and less common, but still known, automated teller postal machines. Such postal machines are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,900,905; 5,369,258; 4,940,887; 5,025,3386; 5,273,183 and 5,313,404.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have an apparatus which would provide the detection of particulate contamination in depository boxes of various types and applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for testing for particulate contaminants in deposited mail-like articles comprising an enclosure adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles, a squeezing mechanism located within said enclosure and adapted for pressuring opposite flat sides of the deposited mail-like articles for expelling air along with any particulate matter from the deposited mail-like articles and into the enclosure, and a sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the enclosure and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in air expelled from the deposited mail-like articles. The squeezing mechanism may comprise a pair of opposed rollers adapted to pass deposited mail-like articles there between and apply physical pressure to opposing sides of the deposited mail-like articles passing there between. The rollers may be located in a lower portion of the enclosure and the enclosure may be formed to gravitationally feed deposited mail-like articles to pass between the rollers. The apparatus may further comprise a pair of guides each having a planar surface oriented substantially parallel to the rollers, wherein the planar surfaces are oriented on opposing sides of any deposited mail-like articles and adapted to direct any deposited mail-like articles between the rollers. The enclosure may include an inlet port adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles and a closure device adapted to close the inlet port while the squeezing mechanism is expelling air from the deposited mail-like articles. The inlet port may be of a size to admit only articles capable of being handled by the rollers. The enclosure may be adapted to hang from a wall with the depository port extending through the wall. The enclosure may be adapted to fit within either a mail box or an automated teller machine. The apparatus may further comprise a controller adapted to activate the squeezing mechanism and the sensing apparatus in response to a detection of mail-like articles in the enclosure. The apparatus may also comprise means for communicating an alarm signal in response to a detection of particulate contamination in the enclosure. The apparatus may also further comprise a communication device adapted to signal information concerning the apparatus.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a depository for mail-like articles, comprising an enclosure adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles, a depository port adapted for passing deposited mail-like articles into the enclosure, a squeezing mechanism located in the enclosure and adapted for pressuring opposite flat sides of said deposited mail-like articles for expelling air along with particulate matter from the deposited mail-like articles into the enclosure, and a sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the enclosure and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in air expelled from the deposited mail-like articles. Further refinements may be made to this depository in accordance with the refinements discussed above for the apparatus.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides an automated teller machine for receiving mail-like articles deposited therein, comprising an enclosure adapted for receiving deposited mail-like articles, a depository port adapted for passing deposited mail-like articles into the enclosure, a squeezing mechanism located in the enclosure and adapted for pressuring opposite flat sides of said deposited mail-like articles for expelling air along with particulate matter from the deposited mail-like articles into the enclosure, and a sensing apparatus operatively coupled to the enclosure and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in any air expelled from the deposited mail-like articles. Further refinements may be made to this automated teller machine in accordance with the refinements discussed above for the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2show an apparatus10from perspective and exposed end views, respectively, which apparatus10is constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus10generally includes an enclosure12forming a chamber13and having a depository port14configured to pass deposited mail-like articles into chamber13. The term “mail-like articles” is used herein to describe anything similar to an envelope or mail flat having opposed flat sides. A squeezing mechanism16is located within chamber13and configured for pressuring deposited mail-like articles from opposing flat sides for expelling air located therein along with any particulate matter that might be located in the deposited mail-like articles. A sensing apparatus18is operatively coupled to withdraw air samples from chamber13and adapted for determining the presence of particulate contaminants in those air samples.

Squeezing mechanism16is located below depository port14to provide gravitational feeding of deposited mail-like articles to mechanism16. A pair of guides20,21are located for properly orienting deposited mail like articles with respect to squeezing mechanism16. Enclosure12may further include a closeable door24(FIG. 2) adapted to cover depository port14under the control of a suitable closing mechanism26(FIG. 2).

Squeezing mechanism16preferably includes a pair of parallel, horizontally oriented rollers30. Rollers30are in substantial contact over their entire length and are movably mounted on mounts28under spring bias towards each other. Mounts28are adapted to allow rollers30to move away from each other in opposing directions due to the thickness of any articles passing between rollers30. This arrangement provides a variable gap between rollers30, which gap is automatically adjusted to the varying thicknesses of different mail-like articles, while still providing inward pressure on opposing sides of all such mail like articles. Included within rollers30is a separate drive motor36. The physical characteristics of the preferred pinch rollers30are 1.9″ in diameter and 17″ long having a non-slip ⅛″ thick coating. One pinch roller which may be used is manufactured by Sparks Belting Company under part number MRD-48-412-40-VO, though any conventional pinch roller assembly is suitable.

Guides20,21are located to direct deposited mail-like articles between rollers30. Guides20,21each includes a respective planar surface20a,21a, which is oriented substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of rollers30to thereby align deposited mail-like articles with rollers30and the line of contact between rollers30. Planar surfaces20a,21aare located or oriented on opposing sides of any deposited mail-like articles to direct any deposited mail-like articles between rollers30.

Rollers30are powered by a 24 volt power supply38and controlled through drive motors36by individual controllers40. Controllers40may work in conjunction with one or more sensors42,44,46. Sensors42,44,46may be located in various appropriate positions within enclosure12. Sensor42is shown in a position for sensing mail-like articles located in close proximity to rollers30. Sensor44may be located somewhat higher than sensor42to detect mail-like articles which may have jammed between the guides20and21. Sensor46may be located to sense the opening of door24or otherwise to detect the deposit of mail-like articles through depository port14. Any other suitable combination of sensors and locations thereof may also be used. Such sensors may be embodied by any suitable device, such as an infrared sensor or micro switches. In one apparatus, sensors42and44are a photo reflective type PMP device manufactured by Cutler Hammer part number 14156RDP1 7B1, however other conventional photo sensors or mechanical switches may be suitable.

The preferred particulate sensing apparatus18is the BIONI sensor manufactured by Pacific Scientific Instruments. An alternative particulate sensor apparatus18is the Biological Aerosol Warning Systems, BAWS I, developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, the assignee of this application. Typically, BAWS units are deployed around the perimeter of a facility to detect and analyze airborne particles for biological contaminants. Though the BIONI sensor is disclosed in the preferred embodiment, other available particulate sensors may also be adapted for use. Of particular significance is the ability of such sensors to detect particulate contaminants in the size range of 2 to 10 microns.

Apparatus10may further include a suitable microprocessor control50for handling overall management of apparatus10and communications with a remote monitoring station. Alternatively, controllers40may take various forms such as a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller, or even a simple mechanical controller adapted to perform the necessary control functions. In operation, the deposit of mail-like articles through depository port14is detected by sensors46,44or42and sensing apparatus18is activated responsively. Deposited mail-like articles are fed by gravity and guides20,21between rollers30and their presence is detected by sensor42. This detection may optionally cause closure of door24by closing mechanism26to thereby prevent expelling of any particulate contaminants outside of chamber13. This detection also causes drive motors36and rollers30to be activated for counter rotation thereby driving mail-like article47between rollers30. The drive force of rollers30draws mail-like article47there between, causing the spring bias of mounts28to adjust the spacing between rollers30to accommodate the normal range of thicknesses for deposited mail-like articles, while still applying sufficient force on opposing sides of the mail-like articles to expel air. Excess air located within mail-like article47is forced to the top of mail-like article47and expelled as a plume49into chamber13. Testing apparatus18may be adapted to withdraw air samples from various locations within chamber13and thereby sample a variety of different plumes. This will help compensate for envelopes which may be more porous or may not contain much excess air, thus reducing the size of a plume that would be created under different conditions. Once past rollers30, mail-like articles drop through the open bottom45of enclosure12, which may optionally include a normally closed portal to reduce the introduction of external contamination into chamber13. Rollers30and sensing apparatus18may be deactivated in response to any suitable control arrangement, such as sensors or timers.

Controller40may also be programmed to sense a jam of mail-like articles between guides20,21, for example when sensor42does not indicate the presence of a mail-like articles while sensor44does indicate such presence. Under such jammed conditions controller40would typically be programmed to request service of the apparatus10. Optionally, driven, anti-jam rollers (not shown) may be provided at the height of sensor44and be activated by controller40under jam conditions. To further reduce the possibility of jamming, the size of depository port14may be limited to the maximum size of mail-like articles which can be handled by squeezing mechanism16. In one embodiment, a ¾″ width is used for depository port14to admit articles of comparable thickness.

The apparatus10described above is sufficiently robust so that mail-like articles may be deposited in bunches or groups so long as such deposits fit through depository port14. Rollers30can adjust to different thicknesses and thus may squeeze more than one envelope or mail-like article at a time. The result for each mail-like article will be the same as that described above, excess air will be expelled into chamber13.

In conjunction with microprocessor control50, apparatus10may also include a suitable display device51(FIG. 2) operatively coupled to microprocessor control50, which display device51may be used by controller40to provide guidance to potential depositors of mail-like articles. Such guidance may include messages such as “Deposit Mail”, “Out of Service”, or “Danger Please Notify Authorities”. Display device51may further include an audio speaker for providing similar messages.

Enclosure12is adapted for installation behind a wall52with depository port14extending through an opening in such wall. Wall52may be structural or simply part of a large apparatus. In this form, apparatus10is ideally suited for use in post office lobbies and other publicly accessible buildings in which wall mounted postal slots are installed for public convenience.

As shown inFIG. 3, apparatus10is also adapted for installation within existing depository boxes, such as mail box60. Mail which has passed between rollers30drops from the enclosure12into a receptacle such as a standard mail flat tray62.

FIG. 4shows another embodiment of the present invention, in the form of an automated teller machine70, which provides the additional security of user identification through the use of magnetic card readers and video surveillance. Automated teller machine70performs teller like services in which mail-like articles are to be received under some interaction with a depositor, such as banking or postal services. Such machines70typically include a visual display72for providing information to depositors and an input mechanism74, such as keys, for receiving responses from such depositors. Machine70necessarily includes a depository port76for receiving mail-like articles, and may optionally include a magnetic card reader behind a slot78.

FIG. 5shows a representational cut-away diagram of the side of machine70in which an enclosure82is depicted in a manner similar to that ofFIG. 2. Enclosure82includes a depository port76which connects to a chamber83. Chamber83leads directly to a squeezing mechanism86, which may be constructed similar to squeezing mechanism16(FIGS. 1 and 2). After deposited mail-like articles pass squeezing mechanism86, they are temporarily held in a chamber90pending the results from a sensing apparatus88. This pause enables the capture and retention of any detected particle contaminants without the pollution of other portions of machine70. During testing, a depositor may be queried for relevant information. After a successful test, a mail-like article is forwarded for other processing, which may include weighing, franking and bar coding for mail. The details of such further mail processing are known through a variety of prior art patents as cited above. Users of such automated teller machines70enjoy an extra layer of security in knowing that previous users have gone through the same monitored process.

FIG. 6shows an application of the present invention to a monitoring network100generally including a central data collection station102in communication with a multiplicity of depository devices104equipped with an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Data collection station102would typically include a computer106, communication equipment108and an interface110between computer106and communication equipment108. Communication equipment108is shown to use wireless signals, however any other suitable communications, such as wired or optical, may also be employed. Computer106is programmed to monitor and store data collected from the depository devices104and to identified any abnormal conditions such as the detection of particulate contamination, depository service requirements, or any other anomalies which might be reported from depository devices104. Such a monitoring network100has been developed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, the assignee of the present application.

The present invention is illustratively described above in reference to the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.