Method of testing a package seal
AssigneeThe Aro Corporation
InventorsJohn M. Fox, David C. Maloney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of testing the integrity of a package seal (14) provided between a container portion (11) and a lid portion (12), includes the steps of: initially reducing the pressure acting on the outer surface of the container portion to cause the lid portion to bow inwardly to a position of substantially maximum concavity while maintaining the ullage volume within the package substantially constant; further reducing the pressure acting on the outer surface of the container portion to distend the container portion for increasing the volume of the ullage space; and sensing for a change in position of the distended container wall.
Claims4
The method of testing the integrity of a seal in a package, said package having a thin-walled open-mouthed container portion and having a flexible lid portion sealed to a rim portion of said container mouth, said package having an ullage volume therewithin, which method comprises the steps of:
- creating a first pressure differential to bow said lid portion into said container portion to a position of substantially maximum concavity without substantially changing said ullage volume;
- creating a second pressure differential across the wall of said container portion to increase said ullage volume;
- and
- sensing for a change in position of a portion of said container portion wall after said second pressure differential has been created;
- thereby to indicate whether fluid has leaked into said package.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.