Method and apparatus for recognizing the presence of leakages from sealed containers
AssigneeFt System S.R.L.
InventorFabio Forestelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for recognizing the presence of leakages from sealed containers includes defining a detection zone in which a sealed container will be placed, putting the detection zone in communication with at least one gas sensor through at least one duct, introducing a flushing gas into the detection zone through the duct, placing a container in the detection zone; and sucking a gas flow from the detection zone through the duct and transferring it to a first sensor. The gas flow that reaches the first sensor is either transferred to a second sensor or to the first sensor for a second time. The signals generated by the two sensors, or the two signals generated by the same sensor, are processed for determining the presence of a gas leakage in the container.
Claims6
A method for recognizing the presence of leakages from sealed containers, said method comprising the steps of:
- defining a detection zone (13) in which a sealed container (CT) will be placed;
- putting said detection zone (13) in communication with a first gas sensor (219a) through at least one duct (21);
- placing a container (CT) in said detection zone (13);
- and
- sucking a gas flow from said detection zone (13) through said duct (21) and transferring said gas flow to the first gas sensor (219a) in a first direction to generate a first signal indicative of the presence of gas(es) in said gas flow transferred in the first direction,
- wherein the method further comprises a step in which said gas flow that has reached the first gas sensor is transferred to the first gas sensor for a second time in a second direction opposite to the first direction to generate a second signal indicative of the presence of gas(es) in said gas flow transferred in the second direction, and
- wherein the first and second signals generated by the first gas sensor are processed for determining the presence of a gas leakage in said container (CT).
An apparatus for recognizing the presence of leakages from sealed containers, said apparatus comprising:
- a detection zone (13) adapted to receive a sealed container (CT);
- a first gas sensor (219a) capable of generating a signal indicative of the presence of gas(es);
- a duct (21) communicating with said detection zone (13) and said first gas sensor;
- a suction fan (25) provided with an inlet port (25a) from which air is sucked and which communicates with said duct (21),
- wherein the apparatus further comprises transfer means capable of transferring back to the first gas sensor, in a second direction, an air flow that has been sucked from said detection zone, has been transferred to the first gas sensor in a first direction and has left the first gas sensor, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, and the first gas sensor being configured to generate a first and a second signal indicative of the presence of gas(es) in the air flow passing through the first gas sensor in the first and second direction, respectively,
- wherein said transfer means includes a reversible fan or a reversible suction fan, and
- wherein the apparatus further comprises processing means for processing the first signal and the second signal generated by the first gas sensor, for determining the presence of a gas leakage in said container (CT).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.