Patent US4111049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4111049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for securing vapor samples
Assignee: US Customs Service
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Filing: 1977-05-06
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Granted: 1978-09-05
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Expires: 1997-05-06
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is described for securing vapor samples, particularly from articles such as suitcases, travel bags, packages, and the like. The apparatus may include several depressor arms hinged above a station along a conveyor belt or the like. A sampling probe for sampling vapor expelled from the articles is positioned at the station. As the articles are carried by the conveyor past the station, they lift the arms which are suitably hinged above them so that the weight of the arms causes a part of the vapor accumulated in the article to be expelled. The expelled vapor is sampled by the probe at the station and may be carried to a suitable vapor analyzer for test.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Lerner
- 👤 Richard A. Ericson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/02; G01N1/22; G01N1/24; G01N33/00; G01N33/0078; G01N33/0081; G01N2001/022; G01N2001/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for sampling vapor from articles carried by a conveyor comprising, at a station along said conveyor: an arm arranged to press upon an article carried past said station by said conveyor to cause a vapor to be emitted by the article, and a sampling probe for sampling the vapor emitted by the article when the article is pressed by said arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for sampling vapor from articles carried by a conveyor comprising, at a station along said conveyor: an arm arranged to press upon an article carried past said station by said conveyor to cause a vapor to be emitted by the article, and a sampling probe for sampling the vapor emitted by the article when the article is pressed by said arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said arm being hinged to swing from above said conveyor and thus to press upon any article passing the station at said conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said arm being weighted between the hinge axis and a distal end arranged to contact the passing article.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for sampling vapor comprising: a conveyor for conveying articles along a path, a depressor arm hinged to swing above a station on said conveyor path, a sampling probe at said station, whereby the said arm will be swung up by an article passing the station on the conveyor, the article will be compressed by the force exerted by the arm, and the probe will receive a vapor sample from the resultant compression of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus for sampling vapor comprising: a conveyor for conveying articles along a path, a depressor arm hinged to swing above a station on said conveyor path, a sampling probe at said station, whereby the said arm will be swung up by an article passing the station on the conveyor, the article will be compressed by the force exerted by the arm, and the probe will receive a vapor sample from the resultant compression of the article.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said arm carrying a weight between the swing axis and the distal end of the arm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, several arms as claimed in claim 5 being arranged to swing independently.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said arms each exerting a weight on the article of between about 2 pounds and about 20 pounds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for securing vapor samples from articles carried by a conveyor comprising: a testing station along said conveyor; means at said station for exerting a force on an article by direct-contact mechanical means as the article passes said station on the conveyor to cause a vapor to be expelled from said article; and means at said station for collecting a sample of said vapor when expelled from said article by said force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for securing vapor samples from articles carried by a conveyor comprising: a testing station along said conveyor; means at said station for exerting a force on an article by direct-contact mechanical means as the article passes said station on the conveyor to cause a vapor to be expelled from said article; and means at said station for collecting a sample of said vapor when expelled from said article by said force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus claimed in claim 8 wherein said collecting means comprises a sampling probe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said force exerting means comprising arms for exerting force on the articles as they pass said station.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said force being between about 2 and about 20 pounds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for detecting vapors coupled to said collecting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 said detecting means providing an electrical signal on detection of certain vapors, said apparatus further comprising a marking device responsive to said signal for marking said article.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-04 | 1982-03-06 | 1982-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-04 | 1986-03-06 | 1986-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-04 | 1990-03-06 | 1990-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |