Patent ID: 7356163

Claim:
Apparatus for detecting hazardous particulates in a mail stream, comprising: A. means for detecting hazardous particulates in or on mail pieces in a mail stream; B. a scanner for scanning each mail piece wrapper to form an image thereof; C. means for evaluating the image based upon predetermined events and determining the probability of the mail piece being suspect; and D. combing the results of the detecting means and the evaluating means to determine the level of probability of the mail containing hazardous material; wherein the evaluating means uses the following factors: a. Excessive postage; b. Badly typed or hand written address; c. Hand written characters are printed rather than script; d. Typed address has uneven background of different color/shade (cut from other paper); e. Misspelled words in address; f. Addressed without any indicated name; g. Excessive tape or discoloration evident in mail piece image; h. No return address present; i. Return address does not match postmark; and j. Return address is from a suspect area or interest.