LEAK DETECTION

Abstract

A device and a method for detecting leaks of closed containers with an inspection apparatus configured to determine the curvature of the container closure of the closed containers, as well as an evaluation apparatus by means of which the curvature of the closure is compared with a predefined value. A pressure generating apparatus is used to press each container closure flat prior to inspection. The pressure-generating apparatus comprises an actuator with which pressure is applied locally to each container closure from the outside.

Claims

1. A device for leak detection of closed containers, comprising: an inspection apparatus configured to determine the curvature of the container closure of the closed containers, a pressure generating apparatus for pressing each container closure flat prior to inspection, and an evaluation apparatus with which the curvature of the closure is compared with a predefined value, wherein the pressure generating apparatus comprises an actuator with which a pressure is applied locally from the outside to each container closure.

2. The device for leak detection according to claim 1, wherein the inspection apparatus for determining the curvature of the container closure is an optical inspection apparatus.

3. The device for leak detection according to claim 2, wherein the optical inspection apparatus for determining the curvature of the container closure is a point distance scanner or a 2D or 3D laser scanner, and wherein the distance between the highest point of the container closure and an edge point of the container closure is determined for determining the curvature of the container closure.

4. The device for leak detection according to claim 1, wherein the pressure generating apparatus is arranged upstream of the inspection apparatus.

5. The device for leak detection according to claim 1, wherein the pressure generating apparatus comprises a plunger with which the pressure is applied to each container closure.

6. The device for leak detection according to claim 1, wherein at least one further container treatment apparatus is arranged upstream of the inspection apparatus, and wherein the pressure generating apparatus is integrated in this further container treatment apparatus.

7. The device for leak detection according to claim 1, wherein a labeler with a container tulip is provided upstream of the inspection apparatus, and wherein the pressure generating apparatus is designed as an insert in the container tulip.

8. A method for detecting leaks of closed containers, comprising the steps of: applying pressure by means of a pressure generating apparatus to a container closure to press said container closure flat, inspecting the container closure to determine the curvature of the container closure of the closed container; and comparing the determined curvature of the container closure with a predefined value, wherein the pressure generating apparatus comprises an actuator for locally applying pressure to each container closure from the outside.

9. The method according to claim 8 for leak detection of closed containers, wherein the container closures are light metal closures, such as aluminum pull ring closures.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Various embodiments are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic section of a filling line,

[0028] FIG. 2 is a pull-ring closure according to the state of the art,

[0029] FIG. 3 is a container mouth closed with a pull-ring closure, and

[0030] FIGS. 4a-4b are a container tulip of a labeler with and without modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows a section of a filling line in which containers 10 are filled with a carbonated product and then fitted with a pull ring closure 12. The cleaned, empty containers 10 are first transported to a filler 14. The containers 10 filled with the desired product are then closed in an air-tight manner in a capper 16 by means of a pull-ring closure 12. Finally, the containers 10 are labeled in a labeler 18 to identify the container contents.

[0032] Finally, the containers 10 are subjected to a comprehensive final inspection in which various properties of the filled, closed container 10 are examined in several inspection apparatuses 20, 22, 24. The results of the container inspection are evaluated in a control apparatus 26. Only those containers 10 that meet the required quality criteria are put into circulation. Containers 10 with a defect, on the other hand, are rejected from the filling process by a rejection apparatus 28 and disposed of.

[0033] One of the quality criteria carried out in the final inspection is testing the tightness of the containers 10. Depending on the container type and closure type, the skilled person is familiar with various methods for leak detection. The possibilities for leak detection are somewhat limited when using pull ring closures 12 made of aluminum. Since aluminum is non-magnetic and relatively soft, conventional leak detection methods that use acoustic or electro-magnetic excitation of the container closures cannot be used. Therefore, for leak detection in beverage containers 10 in which carbonated products are closed with pull ring closures 12, the curvature of the pull ring closures 12 is examined in the inspection apparatus 24. In the case of containers 10 closed in an airtight manner, an overpressure develops which causes curvature of the pull-ring closure 12.

[0034] A typically used prior art pull ring closure 12 is shown in FIG. 2. The pull ring closure 12 has a side tab or pull ring 13 that the user can pull on to open the closure. To facilitate opening, the pull ring closure 12 is made of aluminum. In addition, the pull ring closure 12 may also be provided with punch lines 15, further facilitating opening.

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through a closed container head with pull-ring closure 12. In the mouth area 30 of the container 10, the pull ring closure 12 is in front contact with the container wall 32 over the entire circumference of the mouth and covers the entire container opening 34. However, due to the internal pressure of the container, the pull ring closure 12 does not extend in the plane defined by the container opening 34, but the pull ring closure 12 is pressed outward and is therefore slightly curved.

[0036] The soft material from which the pull ring closures 12 are made enables on the one hand the user to open the closures more easily. On the other hand, the lack of elasticity of the pull-ring closures 12 means that a curvature of a pull-ring closure 12 formed due to the internal pressure of the container does not return on its own when the internal pressure of the container decreases due to a small leak in the course of the filling process.

[0037] For this reason, a pressure is briefly applied to the pull ring closure 12 in the inspection apparatus 24 before leak detection, with which the pull ring closure 12 is pressed flat. In the filling line shown in FIG. 1, this pressure is applied in the labeler 18. In the labeler 18, the individual containers are each held clamped between their base and mouth areas so that the side wall of the containers is freely accessible and can be provided with the desired label. In the mouth area, the containers are thereby held in a container tulip 40.

[0038] FIG. 4a shows such a container tulip 40. It comprises a base 42 and a container adapter 44 on the underside of which a hollow-cylinder-shaped receptacle 46 is provided for the mouth area of the container 10. As can be seen in FIG. 4a, the container tulip 40 contacts only the frontal container wall in the mouth area of the container. The pull ring closure 12 therefore retains its curvature.

[0039] FIG. 4b illustrates a modified container tulip 40, the modification being that an insert 48 is provided which is mounted in the hollow cylinder-shaped receptacle 46. Now, when a container 10 is received and clamped in the modified container tulip 40, the insert 48 ensures that pressure is also applied to the curved pull ring closure 12 so that it is pressed flat while the container is received in the modified container tulip 40.

[0040] After the labeler 18, the containers are conveyed to the multiple inspection apparatuses 20, 22 and, in particular, to the optical inspection apparatus for checking the curvature of the container.

[0041] In the case of containers 10 which have a leak, the differential pressure between the interior of the container and the environment is non-existent or reduced, so that the pull-ring closure 12, which is pressed flat in the labeler 18, subsequently no longer curves out at all or only very slightly. This lack of curvature or insufficient curvature is then detected in the optical inspection apparatus 24, and the container 10 can then be rejected from the filling process.

[0042] If, on the other hand, the container 10 is closed in an airtight manner, the sufficiently high internal container pressure ensures that the pull-ring closure 12, which has been pressed flat, returns to its previous curvature after leaving the labeler 18. A container 10 having a pull ring closure 12 with a sufficient curvature is classified as airtight and can be released for sale.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0043] 10 container [0044] 12 pull-ring closure [0045] 13 pull-ring [0046] 14 filler [0047] 15 punch line [0048] 16 capper [0049] 18 labeler [0050] 20 inspection apparatus [0051] 22 inspection apparatus [0052] 24 optical inspection apparatus [0053] 26 control apparatus [0054] 28 rejection apparatus [0055] 30 mouth area [0056] 32 container wall [0057] 34 container opening [0058] 40 container tulip [0059] 42 base [0060] 44 container adapter [0061] 46 hollow cylinder-shaped receptacle [0062] 48 insert