Patent US3708949A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3708949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for detection of leaks in seals of packages
Assignee: Safeway Inc
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Filing: 1970-10-09
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Granted: 1973-01-09
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Expires: 1990-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A machine for forming and testing sealed packages from heatsealable packaging materials employs an apparatus for forming individual packaging trays for receiving the product to be packaged from a first continuously fed web of heat-sealable flexible packaging material. A second continuously fed web of heat-sealable packaging material is directed along a path parallel to the path of the first web and is partially heatsealable thereto to package the product. After partial sealing, each of the serially connected train of packages is connected in fluid communication with means for evacuating the ambient atmosphere therefrom and replacing the ambient atmosphere with a preservative atmosphere. The package is then sealed to prevent escape of the preservative atmosphere and transported along the machine, still in the package train, to automatic inspection apparatus. The inspection apparatus provides a first section for detecting leaks in the individual packages and a second section for marking defective packages. The sensing section includes a pressure chamber for each individual package and means for sensing gas of the preservative atmosphere or a tracer gas portion of the preservative atmosphere should the inspected package be leaking such gas and to develop a control signal when gas leakage is detected. The marking section includes apparatus for marking a defective package received from the sensing section. An electrical control circuit extends between the sensing and the marking section to provide operative control of the marking apparatus at a delayed time which permits the travel of a package from the sensing section of the packaging machine to the marking section of the machine. After inspection, the packages are separated and the unmarked packages are then prepared for shipment while the marked packages are diverted so that their products may be repackaged. Inasmuch as the packages may be scuffed or in other ways have the integrity of their seals weakened or broken, for example the package material may be burned by labelling techniques, the packages are placed in an overwrap carton and the carton is subjected to another pressure test prior to sealing whereupon detection of the preservative atmosphere will signal that the carton contains a leaky package or packages. Cartons containing only sealed packages may then be further packaged for shipment and cartons containing leaky packages may be diverted for testing of the individual packages.
Inventors
- 👤 B Wilcox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:58
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B11/00; B65B11/50; G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/04; G01M3/20; G01M3/22; G01M3/226; G01M3/227
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A packaging apparatus comprising: means for transporting a first sheet of packaging material along a first path, means disposed along said first path for forming trays in the packaging material for receiving a product, means for transporting a second sheet of packaging material aloNg a second path including a portion parallel to the first path, first sealing means for sealing the first and second sheets of material together around the periphery of each of said trays, said first sealing means leaving an unsealed portion in the periphery of each of said trays to form partially sealed packages, means for evacuating the partially sealed packages, means for injecting a selected gas into the partially sealed packages, second sealing means for sealing the unsealed portions of said packages to prevent escape of said selected gas, means disposed along said first path and downstream of said second sealing means for providing a pressure external of the sealed packages which is at a variance with the internal pressure of the packages, including detecting means operable to generate a leak detection signal upon detection of the selected gas, and indicating means disposed adjacent said first path and connected to said detecting means and operated by a leak detection signal to indicate a defective package, said indicating means including means for removing defective packages from said first path in response to a leak detection signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A packaging apparatus comprising: means for transporting a first sheet of packaging material along a first path, means disposed along said first path for forming trays in the packaging material for receiving a product, means for transporting a second sheet of packaging material aloNg a second path including a portion parallel to the first path, first sealing means for sealing the first and second sheets of material together around the periphery of each of said trays, said first sealing means leaving an unsealed portion in the periphery of each of said trays to form partially sealed packages, means for evacuating the partially sealed packages, means for injecting a selected gas into the partially sealed packages, second sealing means for sealing the unsealed portions of said packages to prevent escape of said selected gas, means disposed along said first path and downstream of said second sealing means for providing a pressure external of the sealed packages which is at a variance with the internal pressure of the packages, including detecting means operable to generate a leak detection signal upon detection of the selected gas, and indicating means disposed adjacent said first path and connected to said detecting means and operated by a leak detection signal to indicate a defective package, said indicating means including means for removing defective packages from said first path in response to a leak detection signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a packaging machine of the type wherein a train of packages is formed between sheets of sealable material as the sheets are stepped along a packaging line and wherein a product is sealed in a preservative gas within each of the packages, the improvement comprising testing means on the packaging line for testing the integrity of the gas-filled packages as the train of packages is stepped therethrough, said testing means comprising means for providing a pressure external of a package that is different from the internal pressure of a package including means operable to contact and squeeze package, sensing means for sensing presence of said preservative gas external of said package and means for rejecting defective packages in response to the detection of said preservative gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a packaging machine of the type wherein a train of packages is formed between sheets of sealable material as the sheets are stepped along a packaging line and wherein a product is sealed in a preservative gas within each of the packages, the improvement comprising testing means on the packaging line for testing the integrity of the gas-filled packages as the train of packages is stepped therethrough, said testing means comprising means for providing a pressure external of a package that is different from the internal pressure of a package including means operable to contact and squeeze package, sensing means for sensing presence of said preservative gas external of said package and means for rejecting defective packages in response to the detection of said preservative gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a packaging machine of the type wherein a train of packages is formed between sheets of sealable material as the sheets are stepped along a packaging line and wherein a product is sealed in a preservative gas within each of the packages, the improvement comprising testing means on the packaging line for testing the integrity of the gas-filled packages as the train of packages is stepped therethrough, said testing means comprising means for providing a pressure external of a package that is different from the internal pressure of a package including a source of gas at a pressure for application to the exterior of a package, sensing means for sensing presence of said preservative gas external of said package and means for rejecting defective packages in response to the detecting of said preservative gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
135 words
In a packaging machine of the type wherein a train of packages is formed between sheets of sealable material as the sheets are stepped along a packaging line and wherein a product is sealed in a preservative gas within each of the packages, the improvement comprising testing means on the packaging line for testing the integrity of the gas-filled packages as the train of packages is stepped therethrough, said testing means comprising means for providing a pressure external of a package that is different from the internal pressure of a package including a source of gas at a pressure for application to the exterior of a package, sensing means for sensing presence of said preservative gas external of said package and means for rejecting defective packages in response to the detecting of said preservative gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
In a packaging machine according to claim 3, wherein said source of gas includes a vacuum source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein said means for rejecting defective packages includes means for marking defective packages in response to the detection of said preservative gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein said sensing means and said marking means are spaced-apart on said line, and said testing means further includes delay means interposed between said sensing and marking means to delay the operation of said marking means to accommodate package travel time between said sensing means and said marking means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for inspecting a plurality of serially-connected packages for leaks as said packages are moved in sequence along a line comprising: means for providing a selected atmosphere within each of said packages at a first position on said line including means for sealing the individual packages to prevent escape of the selected atmosphere; means for providing an enviroment for a package wherein the pressure external of the package is at a variance with the internal pressure of the package at a second position on the line; means for sensing for thE presence of said selected atmosphere external of the package that is within said environment; and means for removing defective packages from the line in response to the sensing of said selected atmosphere, said sensing means including means for marking a defective package and said means for removing packages including means responsive to a mark on a package to generate a signal, and a reject mechanism operable in response to said signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for inspecting a plurality of serially-connected packages for leaks as said packages are moved in sequence along a line comprising: means for providing a selected atmosphere within each of said packages at a first position on said line including means for sealing the individual packages to prevent escape of the selected atmosphere; means for providing an enviroment for a package wherein the pressure external of the package is at a variance with the internal pressure of the package at a second position on the line; means for sensing for thE presence of said selected atmosphere external of the package that is within said environment; and means for removing defective packages from the line in response to the sensing of said selected atmosphere, said sensing means including means for marking a defective package and said means for removing packages including means responsive to a mark on a package to generate a signal, and a reject mechanism operable in response to said signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for inspecting sealed packages which have an internal atmosphere of a selected gas and which are moved as a serial train of packages, said apparatus comprising: means for moving said packages in a line along a path, means forming a chamber for receiving said joined packages individually in sequence as they are moved along said path, said means forming said chamber including means forming a second chamber down-stream of the first mentioned chamber for receiving individual ones of said joined packages in sequence, means for pressurizing the first-mentioned chamber while it contains a package to a pressure that is at a variance with the internal marking of the package, means within the first-mentioned chamber for detecting the presence of the selected gas external of the packages, and means connected to and operated by said detecting means to reject leaky packages, said reject means including marking means having a movable marking member within said second chamber, and delay means connected between said detecting means and said marking means for delaying operation of said marking means for a time sufficient to permit travel of a defective package from the first-mentioned chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
194 words
Apparatus for inspecting sealed packages which have an internal atmosphere of a selected gas and which are moved as a serial train of packages, said apparatus comprising: means for moving said packages in a line along a path, means forming a chamber for receiving said joined packages individually in sequence as they are moved along said path, said means forming said chamber including means forming a second chamber down-stream of the first mentioned chamber for receiving individual ones of said joined packages in sequence, means for pressurizing the first-mentioned chamber while it contains a package to a pressure that is at a variance with the internal marking of the package, means within the first-mentioned chamber for detecting the presence of the selected gas external of the packages, and means connected to and operated by said detecting means to reject leaky packages, said reject means including marking means having a movable marking member within said second chamber, and delay means connected between said detecting means and said marking means for delaying operation of said marking means for a time sufficient to permit travel of a defective package from the first-mentioned chamber to said second chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for inspecting sealed packages which have an internal atmosphere of a selected gas and which are moved as a serial train of packages, said apparatus comprising: means for moving said packages in a line along a path, means forming a chamber for receiving said joined packages individually in sequence as they are moved along said path, means for pressurizing said chamber while it contains a package to a pressure that is at a variance with the internal pressure of the package, means within said chamber for detecting the presence of the selected gas external of the packages, means connected to and operated by said detecting means to reject leaky packages, said reject means including marking means disposed downstream of said chamber at a marking station for receiving said joined packages in sequence, and delay means connected between said detecting means and said marking means for delaying operation of said marking means for an interval sufficient to permit a package to be moved from said chamber to said marking station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for inspecting sealed packages which have an internal atmosphere of a selected gas and which are moved as a serial train of packages, said apparatus comprising: means for moving said packages in a line along a path, means forming a chamber for receiving said joined packages individually in sequence as they are moved along said path, means for pressurizing said chamber while it contains a package to a pressure that is at a variance with the internal pressure of the package, means within said chamber for detecting the presence of the selected gas external of the packages, means connected to and operated by said detecting means to reject leaky packages, said reject means including marking means disposed downstream of said chamber at a marking station for receiving said joined packages in sequence, and delay means connected between said detecting means and said marking means for delaying operation of said marking means for an interval sufficient to permit a package to be moved from said chamber to said marking station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said reject means comprises a reject mechanism and photoelectric scanning means for scanning the packages for marks and operable in response to the detection of a mark to operate said reject mechanism.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-09 | 1976-07-10 | 1977-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-09 | 1980-07-10 | 1981-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-09 | 1984-07-10 | 1985-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |