The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 25, 2009
Filed:
Aug. 05, 2003
Thaddeus J. Mielnik, Concord, OH (US);
Matthew C. Mitchell, Willoughby, OH (US);
Thaddeus J. Mielnik, Concord, OH (US);
Matthew C. Mitchell, Willoughby, OH (US);
American Sterilizer Company, Mentor, OH (US);
Abstract
A system for handling items () such as mail includes an enclosure (), which is capable of being isolated from the surrounding environment and from a chamber () of a decontamination system () fluidly connected therewith. The enclosure includes an opening () sized for receiving a container () containing potentially contaminated items, such as incoming mail. Manipulators () allow the mail to be sorted in the enclosure without risk of contaminating an operator or the surrounding environment. Mail to be decontaminated is conveyed between the enclosure and the chamber while being isolated from the surrounding environment. Vapor hydrogen peroxide or other decontaminant gas is used to decontaminate the enclosure, container, and any residual mail in the enclosure which is determined to be unsuited for ethylene oxide processing.