Seal integrity tester and method
AssigneeGeo. A. Hormel & Co.
InventorsLyndon R. Leining, Eric S. Vandenberg, Ralph O. Erlandson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a method and apparatus for testing filled containers. The apparatus includes both a vacuum sensor and displacement sensors in combination. A computer is utilized to analyze the data from both the vacuum sensor and the displacement sensors, and based on preselected criteria, determines the seal integrity for the container.
Claims23
A vacuum test apparatus of the type wherein a filled sealed plastic container having first and second walls is tested for seal integrity comprising:
- (a) a test chamber;
- (b) means for holding the container within said chamber;
- (c) means for creating a specified vacuum within said chamber;
- (d) means for measuring the displacement of the first and second container walls when the vacuum is created and transmitting signals indicative of the displacements;
- (e) vacuum measuring means for evaluating the vacuum loss within said chamber after the vacuum is created and transmitting a signal indicative of the vacuum;
- and
- (f) data processing means, receptive to said displacement and vacuum signals, for determining the seal integrity of the plastic container based on the received signals compared with preselected criteria.
A vacuum test apparatus of the type wherein a filled sealed plastic container having a first and second walls is tested for seal integrity comprising:
- (a) a test chamber, wherein said test chamber is comprised of a material not prone to gassing off in a vacuum environment;
- (b) means for holding the container within said chamber, said container holding means being comprised of a material not prone to gassing off in a vacuum environment;
- (c) means for creating a specified vacuum within said chamber;
- (d) means for measuring the displacement of one of the container walls when the vacuum is created and transmitting a signal indicative of the displacement;
- (e) vacuum measuring means for evaluating the vacuum loss within said chamber after the vacuum is created and transmitting a signal indicative of the vacuum;
- and
- (f) data processing means, receptive to said displacement and vacuum signals, for determining the seal integrity of the plastic container based on the received signals compared with preselected criteria.
A vacuum test method, of the type wherein a filled sealed plastic container having a first and a second side is tested in a vacuum test chamber for seal integrity, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) creating a specific vacuum within the chamber;
- (b) determining the displacement of the first and second sides of the container when the vacuum is created;
- (c) determining the degradation of the vacuum;
- and
- (d) evaluating the displacements and degradation against preselected criteria to determine the integrity of the container seal.
A vacuum test method, of the type wherein a filled sealed plastic container, having a top and a bottom, is tested in a vacuum test chamber for seal integrity by use of position sensors in operative contact with the container top and bottom and a vacuum sensor in said chamber, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) evacuating the chamber so as to form a vacuum;
- (b) capturing and storing information concerning the container top and bottom displacement from the position sensors and the vacuum from the vacuum sensors, for a specified time interval;
- (c) determining maximum and average readings for the position sensors and the combination of position sensors;
- (d) determining an average reading for vacuum level loss;
- and
- (e) evaluating said determined readings against preset criteria whereby the integrity of the sealed container may be determined.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.