Seal tester apparatus and method

An apparatus for testing the integrity of a package, the apparatus comprising:

• a first volume detecting means for detecting a first volume of the package at a first position;
• conveying means for moving the package from the first position to a second position downstream from the first position;
• compression means for providing a compression force on the package;
• a second volume detecting means for detecting a second volume of the package at the second position;
• determining means for determining the integrity of the package based upon a change in volume of the package;
• and
• rejecting means for removing packages, the integrity of which is determined by the determining means not to be intact,
• wherein the determining means is in electronic signal communication with each volume detecting means independently,
• wherein the determining means is in electronic signal communication with the rejecting means,
• wherein the compression means is located above a portion of the conveying means and
• wherein each volume detecting means independently comprises two cameras for producing a stereo image of the package or a single time-of-flight camera;
• and
• wherein the compression means and conveying means each independently comprise a belt conveyor, wherein the belts of the conveying means and compression means are counter rotating, wherein the compression means belt is a shorter top belt and the conveying means belt is a longer, counter rotating bottom belt, and wherein the apparatus further comprises adjustment means to adjust the height of one belt with respect to the other.