CN1761863A - In-line leak detector - Google Patents
In-line leak detector Download PDFInfo
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- CN1761863A CN1761863A CN 200480007319 CN200480007319A CN1761863A CN 1761863 A CN1761863 A CN 1761863A CN 200480007319 CN200480007319 CN 200480007319 CN 200480007319 A CN200480007319 A CN 200480007319A CN 1761863 A CN1761863 A CN 1761863A
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- container
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Abstract
The invention provides an in-line leak tester apparatus for detecting leaks in packages having a flexible cover such as contact lens packages. The flexible covers move in contact with an electromechanical switch when the atmospheric pressure surrounding the package is lowered.
Description
Related application
The application is the non-provisional application of the provisional patented claim of the U.S. (sequence number 60/455,342) of submission on March 17th, 2003.
Invention field
The present invention is in a word relevant with the lens production technology, is the novel online leakage detector about lens production system in specifically.People are very familiar to robotization lens production run, and wherein each eyeglass is to form by a single polymers being clipped between the back curve (top) that moves into die cavity and preceding curve (bottom) mould structure.This single polymers is aggregated (curing) and through including, but is not limited to mould, hydration, detecting, be transported to single bubble shape cover packaging part, this packaging part is sealed with soft lid, and sterilization etc. are further handled.The reader can be with reference to U.S. Patent No. 5,555,504 " production line is followed the tracks of and quality control system ", and it is described typical lens production before a kind of and encapsulation control system, and we quote its integral body for referencial use.
For the encapsulation of eyeglass and other some products, the most important thing is to guarantee that all respectively steep shape cover packaging part and all seal, to prevent that article are subjected to bacterial contamination in it.Whether often detect the sealed package for preparing on the production line by the packaging part of removing any batch seals with definite its.A kind of common detection is to be immersed in representational sealed package sample in the container that contains the visualizing liquid dyestuff and to vacuumize.With the naked eye detect these packaging parts, see if there is dyestuff and infiltrate wherein.This class off-line test is very time-consuming, and can not check the integrality of prepared most of packaging parts.In addition, owing to work with tracer liquid, this class detects often will damage the outward appearance of detected packaging part, thereby damages this product.Therefore, need a kind of most of packaging parts method of sealing of determining efficiently whether fully, it can be on the production line and in the time suitable with line speed at packaging part finishes.
Goal of the invention
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a kind of online leak detecting device of sealed package, it does not need packaging part is unloaded down from production line.These packaging parts have a soft lid, and soft lid produces motion when the environmental pressure that surrounds it reduces, and this is suitable for the present invention most.Another object of the present invention provides the method for determining whether packaging part seals.A further object of the invention provides simply and the effectively apparatus and method whether a definite packaging part seals, and can not damage packaging part because of detection.The present invention has a purpose to provide a kind of simple mechanical device and method again, is used for determining whether packaging part seals.Another object of the present invention provides a kind of apparatus and method that once can detect many packaging parts, and can determine it is which (if any) packaging part leaks one by one.The present invention has a purpose to provide a kind of leakage detector that can directly be attached on the production line again.
Brief description
Fig. 1 is the top side angel view of device.
Fig. 2 is a kind of switch detector member side view that has assembled.
Fig. 3 is this leakage detector sensor element view.
Fig. 4 is the component side view that this switch detector member has assembled.
Fig. 5 is the view on this surface of leak detector system.
Fig. 5 is the view of this leak detector system baseplane.
Fig. 7 is the view of the leak detector system that assembles of a part.
Fig. 8 is the view with the contacted mechanical switch head of packaging part.
Fig. 9 is the view of the mechanical switch that assembles of a part.
Figure 10 is the view of a sensor device that assembles.
Figure 11 is a captive proximity sensor that part assembles.
Figure 12 is the view that is connected to a switch that assembles of this device second layer.
Figure 13 is the view of device when opening.
The present invention and DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
The present invention includes a device that is used for detecting the leakage at least one sealed package, wherein packaging part has a dividing plate, and it can be out of shape when being subjected to subatmospheric air pressure, and this device comprises:
A container,
This container can open or close so that load and unload this packaging part,
When container closure, can vacuumize or turn back to atmospheric pressure,
At least one mechanical switch, it comprises a head, an afterbody,
A sensor, wherein when container closure during at atmospheric pressure, head is in from the position of one first fixed range of deformable dividing plate, and afterbody is in the position from one second fixed range of sensor;
And one be used for determining the mechanism that mechanical switch is opened or closed.
Here used " packaging part " is meant the container that is used for stored prod of any kind.As previously mentioned, this class packaging part must have a dividing plate, when the air pressure of surrounding sealed package drops to the packaging part that is lower than this sealing and wherein during the internal pressure of article, dividing plate produces distortion.These deformable dividing plates can be plastics, film, complex or other ductility material, preferably film.One embodiment of the present of invention are to be used for test ophthalmic lens packages, as contact lens package.Therefore, detailed description of the invention mainly is to describe this embodiment specially.
Most of contact lenses are to be encapsulated in the single bubble shape cover packaging part, and it has a bowl-shaped portion and a film top, and wherein bowl-shaped portion is made with hydrophobic material such as polypropylene etc., and make of aluminium foil on the film top.The example of this class encapsulation can be referring to U.S. Patent No. 4691820,5054610,5337888,5375698,5409104,5468868,5515964,5609246,5695049,5697495,5704468,5711416,5722536,5573108,5823327,5704468,5983608,6029808,6044966 and 6401915, and we quote their whole integral body for referencial use.Preferred package of the present invention is as the described a kind of ophthalmic lens packages of U.S. Patent application No.2003/0029730A1, and its patented claim that is called " contact lens package " is submitted in 2003.2.23, and is quoted for referencial use by integral body.
Here " leakage " speech of Cai Yonging is meant the opening in the packaging part, for example can allow some openings (as the airtight breach between deformable dividing plate and packaging part remainder) that bacterial contamination enters or the thing (as the encapsulation solution of contact lenses) in the packaging part ooze out." container " of device must possess whole features of proposition, promptly can open and close, and vacuumizes or turn back to atmospheric pressure.But preferably this container comprises a ground floor and a second layer, forms a seal diaphragm when these layers are assembled together.Suggestion seals a two-layer container with " O type circle " (it is sandwiched in the centre when two-layer being assembled together).Advise that also the one deck in two-layer has several zones of raising, they are from the surf zone projection around O type circle neighboring.When this container is closed and relatively these are raised the zone and block from machinery that this is two-layer during the sealing of O type circle at every turn.Ground floor preferably comprises some openings, is used for matching with the geometric configuration of particular package, and is suitable for settling many packaging parts.The second layer comprises some and the corresponding opening of ground floor opening.In addition, the second layer is connected to some mechanical switchs (one of each packaging part) removably, the head of each mechanical switch is in from one first fixed range place of packaging part deformable dividing plate, and this first fixed range is decided by to reduce to when container inner pressure the amount of movement of atmospheric pressure sealed package deformable closure when following.The ultimate range that deformable closure moves under certain concrete reduction pressure determined by experiment, and with first fixed range be arranged on this ultimate range 0% to 30% between.In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, when container closure in atmospheric pressure (0%) following time, the head of this mechanical switch (following can explanation) contacts with deformable closure.
Here used " mechanical switch " speech is meant the element that some are independent, a head, the packaging part of an afterbody and a sensor.This switch has a head, and it is positioned on the movable part of this mechanical switch.When container closure, this head is in above the sealed package that encases, and moves along with the motion of deformable closure.In this preferred embodiment, this head is spring-loaded, makes under atmospheric pressure to keep and the contacting of deformable closure.Special wish that the resistance that spring is loaded head is arranged to like this: make when container closure during at atmospheric pressure deformable closure evened up by this head.Mechanical switch has a sensor, and when this head moved along with deformable closure, it produced and activates (opening or closing and send electric signal), and by mechanical switch " afterbody " actuation sensor.Advise that this sensor is noncontact capacitive proximity type, laser, ultrasonic or optical sensor.In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, this sensor is a untouchable captive proximity sensor, by
Omron company produces, and Part No. is E2E2-X2B1-M1.
The afterbody of mechanical switch is settled along its movable part, and nearer than the head of mechanical switch from the distance of sensor.When the pressure in the container was lower than atmospheric pressure, the motion of afterbody reflected the motion of head according to the distance of deformable closure motion.When sensor activates, there is a mechanism to become aware of this actuating and indicates this packaging part sealed.When container closure during at atmospheric pressure, the distance of sensor and afterbody is " second fixed range ".This second fixed range depends on the ultimate range that the sealing deformable closure is moved along with the pressure that reduces and the sensing range of sensor.Deformable closure is determined by experiment in certain concrete ultimate range of moving under the pressure that reduces.The sensing range of sensor is meant a distance from sensor, and in order to allow sensor activate, afterbody must be within this distance.In this preferred embodiment, this distance is axially to measure along the line of being determined by head, afterbody and sensor.But the present invention comprises that also the orientation of head, afterbody and sensor may not locate mechanical switch on an axis.Under the sort of situation, sensing range is the radially extended distance from sensor to afterbody, activates for making sensor, and afterbody must be within this distance.Second fixed range is set between such scope: from the summation less than [ultimate range that deformable closure moves under certain concrete pressure]+[this sensing range], to a distance that is positioned at this sensing range.Preferably, second fixed range is set in 80% the summation of [deformable closure move ultimate range]+[this sensing range] under certain concrete pressure.For instance, if the maximum that the deformable closure of sealed package is moved under the atmospheric pressure of-50KPa is 1.5mm, the sensing range of sensor is 1.0mm, then second fixed range (distance between afterbody and the sensor) should be set in less than about 2.5mm to greater than about 1.0mm, be more preferably less than about 2.5mm and be equal to or greater than about 2.3mm.Preferably second fixed range is set in about 2.3mm.
The mechanism whether detecting sensor activates can be any analytical equipment, and it can show that this sensor is in work to operator or machine.In a preferred embodiment, this mechanism is a computing machine, terminal data can be shown from there, transmits or connects with other control of concrete production line.This mechanism preferably can indicate the other parts of production line that unencapsulated packaging part is weeded out.This device best incorporated is in production line, and if so, it must detect packaging part with the speed of production line.
The present invention also comprises a kind of method that detects the leakage at least one sealed package, and this packaging part comprises a dividing plate, and it can be out of shape when being subjected to subatmospheric air pressure, and the method comprises:
This packaging part is installed in the container;
Wherein this container can open and close, so that load and unload this packaging part, wherein can vacuumize or turn back to atmospheric pressure during this container closure, and wherein this container comprises at least one mechanical switch, and it comprises:
A head, an afterbody and a sensor, wherein when container closure during at atmospheric pressure, head is in from one first fixed range of deformable closure, and afterbody is in from one second fixed range of sensor;
Close this container and the pressure in the container is reduced to the level of the internal pressure that is lower than packaging part and contained thing thereof;
Determine that mechanical switch opens or close.
Here the term packaging part of using, deformable closure, container, mechanical switch, leakage, head, afterbody, sensor, mechanism, first fixed range, second fixed range all have above-mentioned meaning and preferable range." close " speech and be meant any device of closing this container (the especially ground floor and the second layer).There is one deck to fix in each layer, preferably allows ground floor fix and allow second layer motion.Vacuumize the pressure that can reduce in the container by the aperture in this container.In this preferred embodiment, the pressure of this reduction is more than or equal to-70kPa.In some cases, as leakage is arranged in the contact lens package, the atmospheric pressure that has reduced will cause that soft contact lenses stop up this and leak, and provide the reading that indication this packaging part of a falseness has sealed.Therefore our ad hoc proposal, the pressure in container is brought down below before the internal pressure of packaging part and contained article thereof, and the pressure in this container is increased to level greater than the internal pressure of packaging part and contained article thereof.
Determine that mechanical switch opens or close, can finish by in some sensors any one.Our suggestion in case determine that this sensor activating, then is delivered to a computing machine to this signal, shows these data on machine, and links mutually with other control section of a concrete production line or related.This method preferably can tell the other parts of production line that packing less packaging part is rejected.Suggestion the method and production line are linked together, and if so, it must detect packaging part with the speed of production line.In addition, wish that this method can finish the detection of 1 to 12 packaging part in less than 10 seconds, preferably 5 seconds with the interior detection of finishing 1 to 12 packaging part.
One embodiment of the present of invention represent in more detail with reference to the following drawings.Fig. 1 represents schematic representation of apparatus that has assembled of the present invention, and it has 12, one second layers 11 of a ground floor, and mechanical switch 13 removably is connected with the second layer 11.Fig. 2 represents a mechanical switch that all assembles 13, and it does not also link to each other with the second layer 11.Fig. 3 represents the unassembled part of mechanical switch 13.A is a proximity sensor, and B is a sensor lock nut, and C is a sensor installing plate, and D is a sender unit, and E is an O type circle, and F is a spindle nut, and G is an O type circle, and H is a thread spindle, and I is a spring, and J is a head.As shown in Figure 4, mechanical switch is assembled as follows: E is placed on the spindle nut F with O type circle, and O type circle G is contained on the H, and spring I is contained on the head J.Pass aperture in the second layer 11 from the surface of the second layer 11 of opposed face 14 thread spindle H, until opposite 15, as shown in Figure 5.Fig. 6 represents the surface 14 that thread spindle H and O type circle G have assembled.In addition, Fig. 6 has shown an aperture 17, and it is that class hole that is used for inserting thread spindle H.Fig. 6 has also shown a groove 18, and it is used for being installed in the O type circle (not shown) that seals the ground floor 12 and the second layer 11 when vacuumizing.
In order to continue assembling, the spindle nut F of band O type circle E is screwed on the thread spindle H, as shown in Figure 7.Sender unit D is inserted in the spindle nut F, and the thread spindle of sender unit D will pass the surface 14 that spindle nut F arrives the second layer.The head J of band spring I is screwed on the thread spindle of sender unit D, as shown in Figure 8.For the online leakage detector of the contact lenses of present embodiment, key is that to make the distance between the bottom of the afterbody of sender unit D and head J be 34.60 ± 0.05mm, as shown in Figure 9.Sensor installing plate C is lubricated and be installed on the thread spindle F.Tightening adjusting screw 19 as shown in figure 10 fixes sensor installing plate C.By Figure 11 lock nut B is screwed on the sensors A and sensors A and is screwed in the sensor installing plate C.Lock nut B is screwed to sensor installing plate C and contacts towards surface 15.As shown in figure 12, sensor cable 20 is fixed on the top of captive proximity sensor A.
Figure 13 is a unlimited schematic representation of apparatus of the present invention.On the second layer 11, can see the openning 21 of regulating pressure.Some molded indentations 22 (be used for rest single package) in ground floor 12, have been shown.
Though we are that the present invention will be described with a preferred embodiment, but this does not show that scope of the present invention only limits to this particular form, and on the contrary, it will be included in the thinking of the present invention that defines as following claims and the many replacements in the scope, revise, and equivalents.
Claims (18)
1. device that detects the leakage at least one sealed package, this packaging part comprises a dividing plate, can be out of shape when described dividing plate bears the air pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure, and this device comprises:
Container, it can open and close, and loading and unloading this packaging part, and can vacuumize or turn back to atmospheric pressure when closing;
At least one mechanical switch, it comprises a head, an afterbody and a sensor, when container closure during at atmospheric pressure, wherein head is in from deformable closure one first fixed range, and afterbody is in from sensor one second fixed range;
One is used for determining the mechanism that this mechanical switch is opened or closed.
2. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein head is on the surface of deformable closure during at atmospheric pressure at container closure.
3. device as claimed in claim 1 comprises many mechanical switchs.
4. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein sensor is selected for use from following respectively the group the sensor:
Formula electric capacity, laser, ultrasonic, optical sensor are pressed close in noncontact.
5. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein sensor is the noncontact captive proximity sensor.
6. device as claimed in claim 5, wherein container comprises first and second layers, and the second layer comprises at least one mechanical switch.
7. device as claimed in claim 6, wherein ground floor comprises some molded indentations, is used for keeping described packaging part.
8. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein packaging part is an ophthalmic lens packages.
9. device as claimed in claim 2, wherein container comprises a ground floor and a second layer, and the second layer comprises many mechanical switchs are connected vacuum pump with one interface.
10. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fixed range approximately is 0%-30%.
11. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second fixed range approximately are the summations that the peak exercise of deformable closure under specified pressure adds 80% sensing range.
12. the method for the leakage of detection at least one sealed package, this packaging part comprises a dividing plate, and described dividing plate can be out of shape when bearing the air pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure, and this method comprises:
Packaging part is packed in the container;
Wherein said container can open and close, and loading and unloading this packaging part, and can vacuumize or turn back to atmospheric pressure when closing;
Container wherein comprises at least one mechanical switch, and it comprises a head, an afterbody and a sensor, and when container closure during at atmospheric pressure, wherein head is in from deformable closure one first fixed range, and afterbody is in from sensor one second fixed range;
Close this container and pressure that will be wherein and be brought down below the level of packaging part and interior article internal pressure thereof;
Determine that mechanical switch opens or close.
13. as the method for claim 12, wherein said packaging part is a contact lens package.
14. as the method for claim 12, wherein pressure is reduced to approximately more than or equal to-70kPa.
15. as the method for claim 12, wherein when described container closure in atmospheric pressure following time, described head is spring loaded on the surface that leans against deformable closure.
16., will in less than 10 seconds, finish as the method for claim 12.
17., will in less than 5 seconds, finish as the method for claim 12.
18. the method for the leakage of detection at least one sealed package, wherein this packaging part comprises a dividing plate, and described dividing plate can be out of shape when bearing the air pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure, and this method comprises:
Packaging part is packed in the container;
Wherein said container can open and close, and loading and unloading this packaging part, and can vacuumize or turn back to atmospheric pressure when closing;
Container wherein comprises at least one mechanical switch, it comprises a head, and an afterbody and a sensor are when container closure during at atmospheric pressure, wherein said head is in from deformable closure one first fixed range, and described afterbody is in from sensor one second fixed range;
Close this container and the pressure in the container increased to packaging part and more than the interior article internal pressure;
Pressure in the described container is brought down below the level of packaging part and interior article internal pressure thereof;
Determine that described mechanical switch opens or close.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US45534203P | 2003-03-17 | 2003-03-17 | |
| US60/455,342 | 2003-03-17 | ||
| US10/800,903 | 2004-03-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN1761863A true CN1761863A (en) | 2006-04-19 |
Family
ID=36707356
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN 200480007319 Pending CN1761863A (en) | 2003-03-17 | 2004-03-15 | In-line leak detector |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CN (1) | CN1761863A (en) |
| AR (1) | AR043637A1 (en) |
| TW (1) | TW200500275A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107655639A (en) * | 2017-09-01 | 2018-02-02 | 西北工业大学 | Released gas rate detection means |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP2770380B1 (en) * | 2013-02-21 | 2018-12-26 | The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd. | Electronic device provided with an automatic leak detection means |
| JP7112726B2 (en) * | 2018-08-10 | 2022-08-04 | ヤマハファインテック株式会社 | Ultrasonic inspection device and ultrasonic inspection method |
| JP7190154B2 (en) | 2018-08-10 | 2022-12-15 | ヤマハファインテック株式会社 | ultrasonic inspection equipment |
-
2004
- 2004-03-15 CN CN 200480007319 patent/CN1761863A/en active Pending
- 2004-03-17 TW TW093107020A patent/TW200500275A/en unknown
- 2004-03-17 AR ARP040100886 patent/AR043637A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN107655639A (en) * | 2017-09-01 | 2018-02-02 | 西北工业大学 | Released gas rate detection means |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| TW200500275A (en) | 2005-01-01 |
| AR043637A1 (en) | 2005-08-03 |
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