Enclosure leak tester and method

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said deforming of said cap includes moving a fluid emitting nozzle against said cap to move it inwardly, said releasing step includes moving said nozzle outwardly to release said cap, said sensing step includes sensing whether or not the nozzle remains blocked by said cap when said cap is released.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said deforming step includes inwardly moving a portion of the container, said releasing step includes releasing the container portion permitting it to return to its original position.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 wherein the moving of the container portion is accomplished by moving container deforming members into engagement with the container to move it inwardly, said releasing step including moving said container deforming members to a container releasing position away from said container when the cap does not return to its original position.

Claim 6

Apparatus for leak testing a fluid-filled, flexible enclosure comprising: means for supporting said fluid-filled enclosure; means movable between an outer position and an inner position for deforming a portion of the enclosure to decrease the volumetric capacity of the enclosure and increase the pressure in the enclosure so that fluid will be forced through any unsealed openings in The enclosure; means for moving said deforming means from said outer position to said inner position to deform said portion of said enclosure and for returning at least a part of said deforming means to said outer position to permit a part of the deformed portion to return to its non-deformed position; and means for sensing whether said part of said deformed portions returns to its non-deformed position.

Claim 7

Apparatus for leak testing a fluid-filled, flexible enclosure comprising: means for supporting said fluid-filled enclosure; means movable between an outer position and an inner position for deforming a portion of the enclosure to decrease the volumetric capacity of the enclosure and increase the pressure in the enclosure so that fluid will be forced through any unsealed openings in The enclosure; means for moving said deforming means from said outer position to said inner position to deform said portion of said enclosure and for returning at least a part of said deforming means to said outer position to permit a part of the deformed portion to return to its non-deformed position; and means for sensing whether said part of said deformed portions returns to its non-deformed position.

Claim 8

The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said enclosure includes a container having an opening covered by a cap, said deforming means includes means for inwardly deforming a portion of said cap, constituting said enclosure part, from an outer position to an inner position and then releasing it; said sensing means including means for sensing whether the released cap portion returns to its outer position.

Claim 9

The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein said cap deforming means includes a nozzle having a fluid emitting port, said means for moving said deforming means includes means for moving said nozzle against said cap portion so that said port is blocked when said cap portion is moved inwardly, said sensing means includes means for sensing the fluid pressure in said port to determine whether said cap portion is blocking said port when said cap portion is released.

Claim 10

The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said deforming means comprises means movable between a removed position and a container deforming position for inwardly deforming a portion of said container; means for moving said container deforming means from said removed position to said container deforming position and responsive to said sensing means for returning said container deforming means to said removed position when the nozzle is in said outer position and said port is not blocked by said cap portion.

Claim 11

Leak testing apparatus for containers having an opening covered by a cap and filled with fluid comprising: means for supporting a fluid-filled and capped container; means movable between an outer position and an inner position for deforming a portion of the container to reduce the volumetric capacity of the container and increase the pressure in the container to force fluid through any unsealed openings; cap deforming means movable between an outer position and an inner position for inwardly deforming a portion of the cap from an outer position to an inner position when the container portion is in its inner position; means for moving said constricting means from said outer position to said inner position; means for moving said cap deforming means from said outer position to said inner position and for thereafter returning it to said outer position to release said cap portion and permit it to return to its outer position; and sensing means for sensing whether said cap portions returns to its outer position.

Claim 12

Leak testing apparatus for containers having an opening covered by a cap and filled with fluid comprising: means for supporting a fluid-filled and capped container; means movable between an outer position and an inner position for deforming a portion of the container to reduce the volumetric capacity of the container and increase the pressure in the container to force fluid through any unsealed openings; cap deforming means movable between an outer position and an inner position for inwardly deforming a portion of the cap from an outer position to an inner position when the container portion is in its inner position; means for moving said constricting means from said outer position to said inner position; means for moving said cap deforming means from said outer position to said inner position and for thereafter returning it to said outer position to release said cap portion and permit it to return to its outer position; and sensing means for sensing whether said cap portions returns to its outer position.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 including means mounting said cap deforming means for movement with said container deforming means but permitting said cap deforming means to be moved relative to said container deforming means, said cap deforming moving means moving said cap deforming means away from said cap and relative to said container constricting means to release the cap portion and permit it to return to its outer, undeformed position.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein means is provided for yieldably urging said cap deforming means toward said container, and said means for moving said cap deforming means overcomes the force of said yieldable means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sensing means includes port means in said cap deforming means connected with fluid pressure means, and means responsive to the pressure in said port means for operating said means for moving said container deforming means in such a manner as to withdraw said container constricting means to said removed position.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said support means is mounted for movement in an endless path of travel, said Container deforming means being mounted above said container deforming means for movement in an endless path of travel in timed relation with said support means so that said container deforming means is maintained in vertical alignment with said containers on said support means.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said support means is rotatable about a vertical axis, said container deforming means is mounted on said support means for rotary movement therewith, said means for moving said container deforming means includes means on said support means for moving said container deforming means relative to said support means between a position removed from the container and a position inwardly deforming the upper end of the container on said support means, and means responsive to rotation of said support means for moving said deforming means to said inner deforming position at one psition of rotation of said support means and for moving said deforming means to said outer position in another position of rotation; said cap deforming means being moved to said outer position interjacent said positions of rotation.

Claim 18

Apparatus for leak testing a fluid-filled, flexible enclosure comprising: means for applying external pressure by inwardly deforming at least two portions of the enclosure to increase the pressure within the enclosure and force fluid through any unsealed openings in the enclosure; means for relieving at least a portion of the pressure by releasing the deforming force from one of the two deformed portions while maintaining the deforming force at the remaining deformed portions; and means for sensing whether or not the portion from which the deforming force is relieved returns to its original position.

Claim 19

Apparatus for leak testing a fluid-filled, flexible enclosure comprising: means for applying external pressure by inwardly deforming at least two portions of the enclosure to increase the pressure within the enclosure and force fluid through any unsealed openings in the enclosure; means for relieving at least a portion of the pressure by releasing the deforming force from one of the two deformed portions while maintaining the deforming force at the remaining deformed portions; and means for sensing whether or not the portion from which the deforming force is relieved returns to its original position.

Claim 20

The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said sensing means includes a port in a portion of said enclosure deforming means connected with a source of pressurized fluid, said port being positioned to be blocked by said released, enclosure portion when fluid is not forced through any unsealed openings in the enclosure and positioned so as not to be blocked when fluid is forced through said openings.

Claim 21

The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said pressure applying means comprises first and second, relatively movable, pressure applying portions mounted for movement between positions removed from the enclosure and enclosure flexing positions; at least a portion of said pressure sensing means being movable with said first pressure applying portion, and means for moving said first pressure applying portion away from said enclosure to release a part of the flexed enclosure portions so that said sensing means can sense whether said part returns toward its original position.

Claim 22

The apparatus set forth in claim 17 including means responsive to said sensing means for moving said first and second pressure applying means to said removed positions when said part of said enclosure portion does not return to its undeformed position.

Claim 23

The apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein said pressure applying means includes a fluid pressure emitting nozzle and means for moving said nozzle against a part of said enclosure to deform it inwardly, said releasing means includes means for moving said nozzle outwardly to a removed position, said sensing means includes means for sensing the pressure in the nozzle in the removed position; and means is responsive to said sensing means for moving said pressure applying means to an enclosure releasing position.

Claim 26

The method defined in claim 20 comprising the further steps of conveying the enclosure along a circular path while applying and releasing external pressure to the enclosure, and employing the external pressure applied to said remaining portions of said enclosure to prevent the enclosure from being centrifugally discharged from said path upon the release of external pressure from said one portion.