Apparatus and method for testing package integrity
OwnerBrian Hauginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for testing the integrity of packaging using vacuum. The apparatus consists of tank with an interior chamber, a lid operable to allow placement of a package into the interior chamber, a hold down plate attached to the lid, a measuring device configured to measure the size of the package, and a vacuum device configured to apply vacuum to the interior chamber of the vacuum chamber. During testing the package is submerged in a liquid, then placed under vacuum until predetermined size is reached. Then the package is inspected for indications of leakage.
Claims9
An apparatus for vacuum testing packaging comprising:
- a tank with an interior chamber;
- a lid operable to allow placement of a package into said interior chamber;
- a hold down plate attached to said lid;
- a measuring device configured to measure the size of said package;
- a floating plate movably attached to at least one guide rod, wherein said measuring device is further configured to measure the location of said floating plate;
- and
- a vacuum device configured to apply vacuum to said interior chamber of said tank.
A method for vacuum testing comprising:
- inserting a flexible package containing a mixture of a product and a first fluid in a gaseous phase into a vacuum chamber;
- filling said vacuum chamber with a predetermined amount of a second fluid in a liquid phase;
- holding said flexible package submersed in said liquid fluid;
- sealing said vacuum chamber;
- applying vacuum to said vacuum chamber until said flexible package reaches a predetermined size;
- and
- inspecting said flexible package for indications of leakage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.