Seal integrity inspection

An apparatus for inspecting the integrity of a seal of a package that includes a container and a seal membrane carried thereby, comprising:

• a conveyor configured to move said package along a path and including a vacuum plenum section configured to create a sub-atmospheric pressure that is applied to said seal membrane of said package as said package moves through said vacuum plenum section, wherein said vacuum plenum section comprises a vacuum plenum disposed beneath said conveyor;
• a first inverter configured to invert said package prior to the application of a sub-atmospheric pressure to said seal membrane at said vacuum plenum section of said conveyor;
• a second inverter configured to invert said package following the application of a sub-atmospheric pressure to said seal membrane at said vacuum plenum section of said conveyor;
• an imaging sensor configured to generate one or more images of said seal membrane following the application of a sub-atmospheric pressure hereto at said vacuum plenum section and the inversion of said package by said second inverter;
• and
• an electronic processing device configured to:
• process said one or more images of said seal membrane generated by said sensor;
• and
• evaluate the integrity of the seal of said package based on said one or more images.

A method for inspecting the integrity of a seal of a package that includes a container and a seal membrane carried thereby, comprising:

• moving, by a conveyor, said package through a vacuum plenum section of said conveyor;
• applying, by the vacuum plenum section, a sub-atmospheric pressure to said seal membrane of said package as said package passes through said vacuum plenum section;
• acquiring, by an imaging sensor, one or more images of said seal membrane following said application of said sub-atmospheric pressure thereto;
• processing, by an electronic processing device, said one or more images to evaluate the integrity of the seal of said package based on said one or more images of said seal membrane.