Process for testing the tightness of packages

US6354142B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• LEYBOLD VAKUUM GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Markus Nothhelfer · Kerpen, DE
• Ingo Seckel · Münstermaifeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 8, 1999
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 8, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M3/3281
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A process is disclosed for testing the tightness of a package (11) containing a packaged object (10) and in which a test gas is contained; leak testing is performed in such a manner that the packaged object (10) is introduced into a test chamber formed by two extensible foils (2, 3) and where the space between the foils (2, 3), in which the packaged object is contained, is evacuated in such a manner that the foils (2, 3) can wrap the packaged object (10); at least in the areas of their surfaces which face the packaged object (10) and in which the tightness of the package (11) is to be inspected, the foils (2, 3) are provided with means (12) which form a coherent intermediate space (13) over the areas to be inspected of the package (11); the intermediate space (13) is evacuated down to a pressure lower than the pressure within the package (11); the evacuated intermediate space (13) is connected to a detector (30) sensitive to the test gas to determine if test gas escapes outwards through the inspected area of the package (11).