Appeal 2007-1799
Application 10/036,991
a sanitizer module positioned downstream of the component for
singulating and feeding the mailpiece, the sanitizer for
decontaminating the mailpiece, the sanitizer module comprises:
a first set of guide walls, each guide wall in the first set of guide
walls positioned parallel to the feed path and facing the other guide
wall forming an alley along the feed path;
a second set of guide walls positioned down stream of the first
set of guide walls along the feed path and forming a gap along the
feed path between the first set of guide walls and the second set of
guide walls, each guide wall in the second set of guide walls
positioned parallel to the feed path and facing the other guide wall
forming an alley along the feed path;
a sanitization apparatus positioned along the feed path in the
area of the gap along the feed path between the first set of guide walls
and the second set of guide walls, the sanitization apparatus comprises
at least one apparatus for the group consisting of: an irradiation
apparatus, an ultraviolet light source, a microwave emitter, an ozone
generator and a chemical mister;
an output bin module for receiving a mailpiece after the
mailpiece has been sanitized
wherein at least a portion of the feed path comprises a transport
belt which travels along an edge of the first set guide walls and an
edge of the second set of guide walls; and
whereby the mailpiece is sanitized as it passes by the gap along
the feed path between the first set of guide walls and the second set of
guide walls, and wherein
the sanitizer module is adjacent to a filtered transition area.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references to show
unpatentability:
Stirling US 6,191,424 B1 Feb. 20, 2001
Call US 2002/0124664 A1 Sep. 12, 20021
1 Provisional Application No. 60/337,674 (‘674), filed November 13, 2001.
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