WO1993007459A1 - Dispositif testant l'integrite de l'etancheite d'emballages souples - Google Patents

Dispositif testant l'integrite de l'etancheite d'emballages souples Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1993007459A1
WO1993007459A1 PCT/GB1992/001818 GB9201818W WO9307459A1 WO 1993007459 A1 WO1993007459 A1 WO 1993007459A1 GB 9201818 W GB9201818 W GB 9201818W WO 9307459 A1 WO9307459 A1 WO 9307459A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
package
inflated
squeezing
monitoring
testing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1992/001818
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Martyn Gregory Alan Paradise
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ROBOTEC Ltd
Original Assignee
ROBOTEC Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ROBOTEC Ltd filed Critical ROBOTEC Ltd
Publication of WO1993007459A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993007459A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/36—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting change in dimensions of the structure being tested

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a testing device for testing the sealing integrity of a closed flexible package containing a product and a surrounding gas.
  • Flexible packages have many different uses in order to store products therein, with each particular product being introduced into an open package after manufacture and / or treatment of the product, and which is then followed by closure of the package in sealed manner with the product contained therein, and with a surrounding gas also contained within the package.
  • the surrounding gas may be atmospheric air for some products, whereas for other products it may be necessary to specify that the surrounding gas introduced into the package is suitably inert with respect to the product and also the packaging material.
  • peanuts are normally stored within nitrogen filled packages, whereas nuts and bolts can be contained within air filled packages, or with suitably inert gas which will prevent any corrosion of the nuts and bolts.
  • Flexible packages are used to package food products, such as potato crisps and sweets and the like, or products such as sets of screws, nuts and bolts, and the packages must be sufficiently durable to enable the packages to be transported and handled at least up to the time of sale, so that the customer can have the assurance that, in the case of a food product, no contamination or tampering of the product has taken place, and in the case of a non-edible product the assurance that the package has the required number of product contents with none of the products having been lost from the package in transit.
  • flexible packages usually contain an appreciable volume of gas surrounding the product, so that the package is usually at least partly inflated.
  • any faulty sealing in the closure of the package will either result in a substantially flat or uninflated package, or else it will take-up this state when picked-up by a customer from a shelf or other display point.
  • Flexible packages are usually filled with product on a mass production basis, with open packages being conveyed through a filling / loading station to receive the product, followed by sealed closure of each package with gas therein, and discharge to a packing and dispatch station.
  • the volume of gas may be located mainly in one part of the package whereas the product is in another part, and therefore the product may well occupy a position in which the measured width of the package at this position will be greater than at the rest of the package.
  • the invention seeks to provide an improved design of testing device for testing the integrity of a sealed closure of a flexible package which is at least partly inflated with product and surrounding gas, and which is able to operate to improved standards of testing efficiency.
  • a testing device for testing the integrity of a sealed closure of a flexible package which is at least partly inflated with product and a surrounding gas
  • said device comprising: a squeezing device which is engageable with a part of the outer periphery of the part inflated package, and which is operable to squeeze and direct a portion of the gas in the package to a monitoring zone of the package which thereby is inflated, or further inflated, by this directed portion of gas; a monitoring device arranged to monitor the inflated zone of the package; and, a detector means associated with the monitoring device and operative to detect any possible leakage of gas from the package.
  • a flexible sealed package and its contents can be readily presented to the testing device so as to undergo action by the squeezing device, and the gas in the package is therefore directed to any suitable monitoring zone of the package which becomes enlarged in volume, and which can then be monitored by the monitoring device and the detector means is then able to detect any gas leakage.
  • the squeezing action of the squeezing device will be a suitably gentle action, having regard to the nature of the product in the package, and sufficient to cause movement of gas in the package to the monitoring zone.
  • the squeezing device is a two part device, at least one part of which is composed of resiliently deformable elements.
  • the or each part of the squeezing device comprises an endless arrangement of sponge ⁇ like fingers.
  • a conveyor may be provided to convey the packages through a testing station at which the testing device is mounted, and the squeezing device may comprise two endless runs of squeezing elements which have working paths which run alongside the conveyor and which apply gentle squeezing action to each package as the packages are conveyed to the monitoring device.
  • the squeezing action is applied to a lower portion of each package, and the monitoring zone may therefore comprise an upper portion of each package or bag, so that the monitoring device will be arranged along the path of the inflated upper portion of each package.
  • the monitoring device may comprise a pair of engaging or measuring heads engageable on opposite sides of the inflated upper portion of each package, and the detector means may comprise a measuring device responsive to movement of one, or both of the heads as a consequence of escape of gas from the package.
  • the detector means may comprise a measuring device responsive to movement of one, or both of the heads as a consequence of escape of gas from the package.
  • the testing device can be used with different shapes of package, and package contents
  • the testing device is easily adaptable to a wide range of package size and shape and variation in packaging material, with minimal alteration;
  • the testing device is capable of operating on a continuous basis as part of a mass production system throughput;
  • the testing device is substantially non-intrusive. to minimise any risk of damage to the package contents.
  • Figure 1 is a side view of a testing device according to the invention mounted alongside a conveyor, track of a mass-production package filling, closing and discharge installation;
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of the testing device shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic end view illustrating the manner by which a two part squeezing device of the testing device is engageable with a part of the outer periphery of a part inflated filled and sealed package;
  • Figure 4 is a similar view of a monitoring part of a testing device to which the packages are fed while being engaged by the squeezing device in order that the integrity of the sealed closure of each package can be tested.
  • a testing device is designated generally by reference 10 and is intended to test the integrity of a sealed closure of a flexible package which is at least partly inflated with product and surrounding gas, and in the illustrated arrangement receives a succession of closed packages 1, la, 1b etc as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which are fed thereto by a continuous conveyor 2.
  • the testing device 10 has a two part squeezing device 4, 4a which is engageable with a part of the outer periphery of each part inflated package, as can be seen particularly in Figure 3, and which is operable to squeeze and direct a portion of the gas in the package to a monitoring zone of the package which thereby is inflated, or further inflated by this directed portion of gas.
  • the part of the outer periphery of the package which is squeezed is the lower portion 5
  • the monitoring zone portion which receives the gas squeezed out from the lower portion 5 comprises an upper portion 6 of the package.
  • Each part 4, 4a of the squeezing device comprises an endless arrangement of sponge-like fingers 3, 3a, 3b etc, which form an endless belt-like conveyor caused to travel at the same speed as the conveyor 2, and having working paths in which they run alongside the path of travel of the conveyor 2, as can be seen in Figure 2.
  • the fingers are resiliently deformable, so as to apply a gentle squeezing action on the lower part 5 of each package, as shown in Figure 3, which displaces some of the gas within the sealed package towards the upper zone 6 of each package.
  • the fingers only apply a partial squeezing action on the package, which will generally be a non- intrusive squeezing action, such as not to cause any damage to any package contents which happen to be located in the lower part of the package during the squeezing action.
  • the testing device 10 also includes a monitoring device which is arranged downstream of the region of first engagement of the squeezing device 4, 4a, and to which the squeezed packages are fed, and which monitors the inflated zone 6 of each package.
  • the monitoring device comprises a pair of engaging heads 7, 7a, engageable with opposite sides of the zone 6, as can be seen in Figure 4, thereby to monitor the inflated zone of each package.
  • the sealed packages fed to the testing device 10 will normally come within a predetermined range of shapes and sizes, and the setting-up of the heads 7 and 7a will be such as to monitor the inflated zones of packages coming within an acceptable range.
  • the heads 7, 7a effectively comprise measuring heads, and are urged by any suitable biasing means inwardly to engagement with the opposed outer sides of the inflated zone 6, and a distance sensor 8 associated with pivoting arms 9, 9a which carry the heads 7 and 7a respectively functions to measure the separation between the heads 7 and 7a for each package to be monitore .
  • the heads 7 and 7a may comprise rollers which are arranged to apply a predetermined pressure and for a predetermined time to the upper monitoring zone 6 of each package, and any leakage from the closure seals of each package will be manifested, and detected by a reduction in the distance D between the heads 7, 7a, as measured by distance sensor 8.
  • the monitoring device component of the testing device 10 is therefore formed by the mechanical engagement of each inflated zone 6 between heads 7, 7-a, and a detection means associated with the monitoring device (7, 7a) and which operates to detect any possible leakage of gas from the package comprises mechanical measurement of the spacing between the heads 7, 7a via distance sensor 8.
  • a detection means associated with the monitoring device (7, 7a) and which operates to detect any possible leakage of gas from the package comprises mechanical measurement of the spacing between the heads 7, 7a via distance sensor 8.
  • detection means may be provided, associated with the monitoring device, and operative to detect any possible leakage of gas while the package is being squeezed.
  • Non-mechanical detector means may be adopted, including "sniffer" devices, bubble and noise detectors, optical measurement devices, as well as other measuring devices such as distance measuring devices, and angle measuring devices.
  • monitoring device comprises mechanically acting measuring heads 7, 7a, which make direct engagement with the inflated zone 6 of each package
  • other arrangements of monitoring device may be provided within the scope of the invention, and which include non-contact type arrangements, which may include acoustic, optical or electronic monitoring devices, arranged in any suitable arrays in order to respond to changes in distance across the upper monitoring zone 6, which thereby provides response to changes in pressure within the packages which would be indicative of a gas leakage under the squeezing action of the squeezing fingers 3 of the two part squeezing device.
  • the monitoring heads 7, 7a are shown only schematically in Figures 1 and 2, and in order to speed-up throughput through the testing device 10, the measuring heads provided by the monitoring device may be arranged to travel a short distance with each package being tested, before returning to carry out a monitoring cycle of operation with the next package.
  • Figures 3 and 4 show end views of a typical flexible package, which could be a package of the type used to contain snack foods, such as potato crisps, and in which the package contents (not shown) will be surrounded by gas of any suitable type which is compatible both with the contents and also the packaging material e.g. nitrogen gas in the case of potato crisps, and after filling with product and gas, each package will then take-up a partly inflated shape, and with sealed closures along initially open end(s) of each package.
  • Figure 3 shows top and bottom end closure seals 11 and 12 respectively, and it is the purpose of the testing device 10 to test the integrity of the or each closure seal of each flexible package.
  • the seal may be of such a nature that small gas leakage takes place under the pressure of the squeezing action by the testing device 10, since during subsequent storage and transport, and further handling, the packages may not be exposed to such strong squeezing action.
  • the requirement will be for substantially leak-proof sealing of the packaging, in which case the monitoring system should be set-up to monitor, and reject any package which is subject to loss of gas during the squeezing and monitoring operations.
  • the parameters of the monitoring and detecting system will be set—up according to particular requirements, and for certain cases may tolerate a "slow" leakage of gas during the squeezing and monitoring operation, whereas in other cases substantially no gas leakage will be permitted.
  • the measuring heads 7, 7a will substantially abut each other, and no distance D will be measured, whereas smaller or larger degrees of leakage will be represented by variation in the distance measured D, and the system will then decide which can be tolerated, and which cannot.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Examining Or Testing Airtightness (AREA)

Abstract

On décrit un dispositif de test (10) destiné à contrôler l'intégrité d'une fermeture (11, 12) d'un emballage souple (1), au moins partiellement gonflé avec un produit et un gaz extérieur. Ce dispositif comprend: une pince de la forme de deux chaînes à chenille (4, 4a) pourvues de doigts déformables élastiques (3) qui veinnent en contact avec les côtés opposés d'une partie inférieure (5) de la périphérie externe de chaque emballage partiellement rempli d'air (1), transporté par un tapis roulant (2), et qui compriment une partie du gaz dans l'emballage, dans la zone de contrôle supérieure (6) de l'emballage qui commence à se remplir d'air ou se remplit d'air par la suite; un dispositif de contrôle (7, 7a) placé en aval de la pince pour contrôler la zone remplie d'air (6) de chaque emballage; et un moyen de détection (8) associé au dispositif de contrôle (7, 7a) permettant de détecter par des éléments mécaniques au autres toute fuite possible de gaz de l'emballage lorsque celui-ci traverse le dispositif de test (10).
PCT/GB1992/001818 1991-10-04 1992-10-05 Dispositif testant l'integrite de l'etancheite d'emballages souples Ceased WO1993007459A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB919121133A GB9121133D0 (en) 1991-10-04 1991-10-04 A device for checking package sealing security
GB9121133.4 1991-10-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993007459A1 true WO1993007459A1 (fr) 1993-04-15

Family

ID=10702435

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1992/001818 Ceased WO1993007459A1 (fr) 1991-10-04 1992-10-05 Dispositif testant l'integrite de l'etancheite d'emballages souples

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9121133D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993007459A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999020991A1 (fr) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-29 Testamatic Limited Test de l'etancheite d'un emballage par deformation
US6955256B2 (en) 2002-03-12 2005-10-18 Tna Australia Pty Limited Conveyor
CN108692894A (zh) * 2018-04-23 2018-10-23 苏州澳昆智能机器人技术有限公司 冰淇淋包装袋漏气检测装置
ES2731256R1 (es) * 2018-04-30 2020-03-06 Tna Australia Pty Ltd Dispositivo para contactar bolsas
CN111605823A (zh) * 2020-05-29 2020-09-01 周彬龙 一种全自动的粉状物包装设备
US11801533B1 (en) 2021-12-31 2023-10-31 Aaron Thomas Bacon Automated sorting of sealable bags

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2059381A (en) * 1979-10-06 1981-04-23 Danepak Ltd Leak detecting of vacuum sealed packages
EP0082605A2 (fr) * 1981-12-18 1983-06-29 Hulbritt Developments Limited Appareil d'épreuve de la fermeture de sachets, paquets et emballages analogues
US4955226A (en) * 1984-12-26 1990-09-11 Frito-Lay, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of holes in filled and sealed packed plastic bags

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2059381A (en) * 1979-10-06 1981-04-23 Danepak Ltd Leak detecting of vacuum sealed packages
EP0082605A2 (fr) * 1981-12-18 1983-06-29 Hulbritt Developments Limited Appareil d'épreuve de la fermeture de sachets, paquets et emballages analogues
US4955226A (en) * 1984-12-26 1990-09-11 Frito-Lay, Inc. Method and apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of holes in filled and sealed packed plastic bags

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999020991A1 (fr) * 1997-10-21 1999-04-29 Testamatic Limited Test de l'etancheite d'un emballage par deformation
US6955256B2 (en) 2002-03-12 2005-10-18 Tna Australia Pty Limited Conveyor
CN108692894A (zh) * 2018-04-23 2018-10-23 苏州澳昆智能机器人技术有限公司 冰淇淋包装袋漏气检测装置
ES2731256R1 (es) * 2018-04-30 2020-03-06 Tna Australia Pty Ltd Dispositivo para contactar bolsas
US11486789B2 (en) 2018-04-30 2022-11-01 Tna Australia Pty Limited Bag engaging device
CN111605823A (zh) * 2020-05-29 2020-09-01 周彬龙 一种全自动的粉状物包装设备
US11801533B1 (en) 2021-12-31 2023-10-31 Aaron Thomas Bacon Automated sorting of sealable bags
US12337351B1 (en) 2021-12-31 2025-06-24 Aaron Thomas Bacon Automated testing of sealable bags

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9121133D0 (en) 1991-11-13

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