On-line air filter integrity testing apparatus

An assembly of an air filter integrity test apparatus assembled with a production system comprising:

• (a) a production system which includes a plurality of air filters;
• and
• (b) an apparatus for on-line testing of the integrity of a plurality of air filters, apparatus comprising:
• a plurality of valves with each valve being in fluid communication with air that has already passed through at least one of said air filters;
• a programmable controller in communication with each of said valves for sequentially opening and closing said valves upon receiving command information from a system operator;
• a particle counter in fluid communication with air that has passed through said valves, said particle counter adapted to detect the levels of particle contamination in said air, and a computer in association with said programmable controller and said particle counter, said computer adapted to be operated by said system operator to establish (i) a sequence for opening and closing said valves and (ii) a predetermined level of acceptable particle contamination present in said air and to activate a warning signal in the event said predetermined level of acceptable particle contamination is exceeded.

A method for testing the integrity of a plurality of air filters incorporated within a food, beverage, or drug production packaging process, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing a valve in communication with the air that has already passed through each of said air filters;
• placing a particle counter in fluid communication with the air which passes through each of said valves;
• connecting a computer to said particle counter to regulate the sequential testing of each of said air filters by said particle counter, and to indicate when a predetermined acceptable level of particle contamination has been exceeded in the air that has already passed through one of said air filters so that said air filter can be identified and replaced;
• and, sequentially opening respective valves connected to the respective outputs of each of said air filters, to detect the particle contamination level in the air that has already passed through the air filter being tested.