Patent ID: 7165053

Claim:
A system for detecting the presence of harmful materials in the mailpieces prior to sorting, the system comprising: A detection and sanitization system positioned in a sanitization room comprising, a first feeding apparatus comprising a first feeder, a singulator downstream from the feeder and a detector positioned along the feed path of the singulator, the detection module for detecting the presence of harmful material in the mailpiece; The detection and sanitization system further comprising a diverter positioned downstream from the singulator for diverting the mailpiece into a collection module if harmful material is detected by the detection module as being present with the mailpiece; The detection and sanitization system further comprising a sanitizer, the sanitizer positioned down stream from the diverter; and A mailpiece sorting apparatus positioned down stream from the sanitizer in a clean room having a higher air pressure than the sanitization room whereby air flow is from the clean room to the sanitization room; Wherein the sanitizer is positioned directly upstream from the mailpiece sorting apparatus for sanitizing mailpieces that have been diverted along the feed path and for delivering such mailpieces to the mailpiece sorting apparatus through a transition area including a feedpath opening operatively connecting the sanitization room to the clean room, The mailpiece sorting apparatus comprising a second feeder apparatus operatively connected to the sanitizer for receiving the mailpieces, and a second singulator operatively connected downstream from said second feeder apparatus, the second singulator for reading the mailpiece and determining a destination bin if the detection module does not detect the presence of harmful material with the mailpiece; and The mailpiece sorting apparatus further comprising a bin module comprising two or more destination bins for receiving a mailpiece after a destination bin has been determined by the system for reading the mailpiece and determining the destination bin.