EP1192435A1 - Aerosol container testing apparatus - Google Patents

Aerosol container testing apparatus

Info

Publication number
EP1192435A1
EP1192435A1 EP00942256A EP00942256A EP1192435A1 EP 1192435 A1 EP1192435 A1 EP 1192435A1 EP 00942256 A EP00942256 A EP 00942256A EP 00942256 A EP00942256 A EP 00942256A EP 1192435 A1 EP1192435 A1 EP 1192435A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conveyor
shower
liquid
station
heating station
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00942256A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Richard John Boyle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BWI PLC
Original Assignee
BWI PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BWI PLC filed Critical BWI PLC
Publication of EP1192435A1 publication Critical patent/EP1192435A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/002—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using thermal means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
    • G01M3/02—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum
    • G01M3/04—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
    • G01M3/20—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material
    • G01M3/22—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
    • G01M3/226—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators for containers, e.g. radiators

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to aerosol container testing apparatus
  • the cans are filled with a product to be dispensed and with a propellant, pressurised and then sealed with a valved cap Before these containers can be packaged and shipped out, they are required to be tested to eliminate any cans with leaks or weak spots
  • a conveyer system was provided to g ⁇ p each can of a row of cans arriving in single file at the testing station, by its head, and to draw it through a tank of water heated to a temperature of 55°C
  • the length of the tank is such that each can remains submerged for around 3 minutes to allow the temperature of the can and contents to equalise
  • the cans are then withdrawn from the water in the tank, d ⁇ ed and tested for leaks
  • the conveyor remains proud of the surface of the water in the tank and keeps all but the head of each can submerged as it travels over the tank
  • the tank is filled with a high volume of water which must be constantly circulated and heated to a temperature of 55°C
  • the conveyor system is adapted to draw only a single row of cans through the water tank with the cans being spaced at regular intervals from each other
  • To feed a second row of cans requires a second conveyor system It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved aerosol container testing apparatus.
  • aerosol container testing apparatus comprising a heating station and a drying station, a conveyor for carrying an array of approaching containers in succession through said heating station and said drying station, said heating station including means providing a shower curtain of heated liquid to shower said containers as they are carried by the conveyor through said heating station, the length of the shower curtain, in relation to the speed of the conveyor, being such that the temperature of each container and its contents become substantially stabilised at a temperature approaching that of the liquid.
  • Figure 1 is a side elevation of the testing apparatus
  • Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, of part of the conveyor travelling through the testing station.
  • the testing apparatus comprises a heating station 2, a drying station 4 downstream of the heating station and a leak detecting station (not shown) located downstream of the drying station.
  • a conveyor 6 conveys filled aerosol cans 8 received from a feed conveyor 10 successively through the heating station 2 and the drying station 4.
  • the conveyor 6 consists of an endless belt 12 extending around a pair of rollers 14 and 16.
  • the endless belt 12 is of open mesh material, for example stainless steel, which allows the passage of any water therethrough.
  • Located below the belt 6 is a wide trough 18 to collect any water passing through the belt.
  • the trough 18 is thermally insulated to minimise heat loss.
  • the heating station 2 includes a housing 20 supporting, in its upper region, an array of shower heads 22 which provide a shower curtain to envelop any aerosol cans being conveyed through the heating station on the conveyor 12.
  • an array of shower heads 22 which provide a shower curtain to envelop any aerosol cans being conveyed through the heating station on the conveyor 12.
  • other means can be provided to generate the shower curtain.
  • a pump 24 pumps water drawn from an outlet at the bottom of the trough 18 and feeds it through a heater 26 connected to a power source 28.
  • a pipe 30 delivers the heated water from the heater 26 to the shower heads 22.
  • the heater 26 heats the water in the range of from 55°C to 65°C.
  • the heated water which is then showered on the cans 8, heats the cans and their contents to an equilibrium temperature of around 50°C.
  • the speed of the conveyor 6, in relationship to the length of the shower curtain in the direction of travel of the cans, is such as to allow each can to dwell in the shower curtain for around 2.5 to 3.00 minutes to achieve equilibrium at 50°C.
  • the conveyor 6 may move the cans 8 at a speed of lm/minute and the shower curtain may be 3m in length.
  • the air knife 32 is located at the downstream end of the housing 20 to drive excess water from the outer surface of the cans. The air knife may be located above and/or below the cans.
  • the conveyor 6 then carries the cans through the drying station 4.
  • the drying station 4 includes a housing 36 supporting an array of air jets 38 which blow hot or warm air at the cans 8 to complete the drying process.
  • the jets 38 are supplied by a fan heater 40 located on top of the housing.
  • shower heads 22 instead of the shower heads 22 being located above the conveyor 6, they can be located between the upper and lower runs of the belt 12 and directed upwardly through the upper run of the belt to provide a shower curtain in the form of a shower fountain.
  • the advantage of this arrangement is that the water will initially impinge on the underside and lower portions of the cans 8 which is generally where the higher heat capacity product to be dispensed is located and so temperature equilibrium will be achieved much sooner.
  • the speed at which hot liquid flows along the sides of the cans is considerably faster than the speed of the conveyor 6 and so heating takes place much faster and more efficiently than when the cans are being dragged through a bath of hot water, as in the prior art.
  • the shower heads may be arranged to produce water streams which intersect one another at the point at which the cans pass therethrough to effect more efficient heating of the cans.
  • the provision of a wide belt 12 allows the cans to arrive and pass through the heating station 2 in a random manner without the need to slow down and deliver the cans in single file and at spaced intervals, as required by the prior art.
  • the heater 26 can comprise a heat exchanger and be provided with a filter to filter the water entering or leaving the heater 26.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a conveyor (16) having an open mesh endless belt (12) for transporting arriving aerosol containers (8) through a heating station (2). The heating station (2) comprises an array of shower heads (22) which rain heated water down onto the containers (8) carried by the conveyor (6) until the temperature of the containers (8) and their contents are substantially stabilised at a predetermined level. Thereafter, the conveyor (6) carries the containers (8) through a drying station (4) where they are subjected to blow drying.

Description

AEROSOL CONTAINER TESTING APPARATUS
The present invention relates to aerosol container testing apparatus
In the manufacture of aerosol cans, the cans are filled with a product to be dispensed and with a propellant, pressurised and then sealed with a valved cap Before these containers can be packaged and shipped out, they are required to be tested to eliminate any cans with leaks or weak spots
It is a requirement that the cans be heated until they and their contents reach an equilibrium temperature of 50°C This increases the pressure of the propellant within the can to a point at which any significant weaknesses should manifest themselves
To effect this test, a conveyer system was provided to gπp each can of a row of cans arriving in single file at the testing station, by its head, and to draw it through a tank of water heated to a temperature of 55°C The length of the tank is such that each can remains submerged for around 3 minutes to allow the temperature of the can and contents to equalise The cans are then withdrawn from the water in the tank, dπed and tested for leaks The conveyor remains proud of the surface of the water in the tank and keeps all but the head of each can submerged as it travels over the tank
This system suffers from a number of disadvantages Firstly, the tank is filled with a high volume of water which must be constantly circulated and heated to a temperature of 55°C Secondly, the conveyor system is adapted to draw only a single row of cans through the water tank with the cans being spaced at regular intervals from each other To feed a second row of cans requires a second conveyor system It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved aerosol container testing apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided aerosol container testing apparatus comprising a heating station and a drying station, a conveyor for carrying an array of approaching containers in succession through said heating station and said drying station, said heating station including means providing a shower curtain of heated liquid to shower said containers as they are carried by the conveyor through said heating station, the length of the shower curtain, in relation to the speed of the conveyor, being such that the temperature of each container and its contents become substantially stabilised at a temperature approaching that of the liquid.
An aerosol testing apparatus embodying the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the testing apparatus; and
Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, of part of the conveyor travelling through the testing station.
The testing apparatus comprises a heating station 2, a drying station 4 downstream of the heating station and a leak detecting station (not shown) located downstream of the drying station.
A conveyor 6 conveys filled aerosol cans 8 received from a feed conveyor 10 successively through the heating station 2 and the drying station 4. The conveyor 6 consists of an endless belt 12 extending around a pair of rollers 14 and 16. The endless belt 12 is of open mesh material, for example stainless steel, which allows the passage of any water therethrough. Located below the belt 6 is a wide trough 18 to collect any water passing through the belt. The trough 18 is thermally insulated to minimise heat loss.
The heating station 2 includes a housing 20 supporting, in its upper region, an array of shower heads 22 which provide a shower curtain to envelop any aerosol cans being conveyed through the heating station on the conveyor 12. Instead of an array of show headers, other means can be provided to generate the shower curtain.
A pump 24 pumps water drawn from an outlet at the bottom of the trough 18 and feeds it through a heater 26 connected to a power source 28. A pipe 30 delivers the heated water from the heater 26 to the shower heads 22. The heater 26 heats the water in the range of from 55°C to 65°C. The heated water, which is then showered on the cans 8, heats the cans and their contents to an equilibrium temperature of around 50°C. The speed of the conveyor 6, in relationship to the length of the shower curtain in the direction of travel of the cans, is such as to allow each can to dwell in the shower curtain for around 2.5 to 3.00 minutes to achieve equilibrium at 50°C. Typically, the conveyor 6 may move the cans 8 at a speed of lm/minute and the shower curtain may be 3m in length. The air knife 32 is located at the downstream end of the housing 20 to drive excess water from the outer surface of the cans. The air knife may be located above and/or below the cans.
The conveyor 6 then carries the cans through the drying station 4. The drying station 4 includes a housing 36 supporting an array of air jets 38 which blow hot or warm air at the cans 8 to complete the drying process. The jets 38 are supplied by a fan heater 40 located on top of the housing.
In a modification, instead of the shower heads 22 being located above the conveyor 6, they can be located between the upper and lower runs of the belt 12 and directed upwardly through the upper run of the belt to provide a shower curtain in the form of a shower fountain. The advantage of this arrangement, is that the water will initially impinge on the underside and lower portions of the cans 8 which is generally where the higher heat capacity product to be dispensed is located and so temperature equilibrium will be achieved much sooner. The speed at which hot liquid flows along the sides of the cans is considerably faster than the speed of the conveyor 6 and so heating takes place much faster and more efficiently than when the cans are being dragged through a bath of hot water, as in the prior art.
In a modification, the shower heads may be arranged to produce water streams which intersect one another at the point at which the cans pass therethrough to effect more efficient heating of the cans.
As can be seen in Figure 2, the provision of a wide belt 12 allows the cans to arrive and pass through the heating station 2 in a random manner without the need to slow down and deliver the cans in single file and at spaced intervals, as required by the prior art.
The heater 26 can comprise a heat exchanger and be provided with a filter to filter the water entering or leaving the heater 26.

Claims

1. Aerosol container testing apparatus comprising a heating station and a drying station, a conveyor for carrying an array of approaching containers in succession through said heating station and said drying station, said heating station including means providing a shower curtain of heated liquid to shower said containers as they are carried by the conveyor through said heating station, the length of the shower curtain, in relation to the speed of the conveyor, being such that the temperature of each container and its contents become substantially stabilised at a temperature approaching that of the liquid.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises an endless belt of porous material.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises an endless belt of open mesh material.
4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said shower curtain is provided by a plurality of shower heads located above the conveyor.
5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said shower curtain is produced by a plurality of shower heads located below the upper surface of the conveyor.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said heating station includes a trough located below said conveyor to collect the liquid from said shower curtain, heating means for reheating the collected liquid and pump means for recycling the reheated liquid to said shower curtain.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, including an air knife located at the downstream end of the heating station to remove excess liquid on each container as it emerges from the heating section.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said drying station includes an array of warm air jets for drying said containers as they pass therethrough.
9. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or to Claim 5, wherein said shower heads are arranged to provide two shower curtains inclined to one another at a predetermined angle.
10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said liquid comprises water.
11. Aerosol container testing apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
EP00942256A 1999-07-01 2000-07-03 Aerosol container testing apparatus Withdrawn EP1192435A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9915391 1999-07-01
GB9915391A GB2351565B (en) 1999-07-01 1999-07-01 Aerosol container testing apparatus
PCT/GB2000/002555 WO2001002825A1 (en) 1999-07-01 2000-07-03 Aerosol container testing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1192435A1 true EP1192435A1 (en) 2002-04-03

Family

ID=10856424

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00942256A Withdrawn EP1192435A1 (en) 1999-07-01 2000-07-03 Aerosol container testing apparatus

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1192435A1 (en)
AU (1) AU5695900A (en)
GB (1) GB2351565B (en)
WO (1) WO2001002825A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2409724A (en) * 2003-12-30 2005-07-06 Adphil Ltd NMR Leak Test
GB2496665A (en) * 2011-11-18 2013-05-22 Framo Eng As Pressure Testing Subsea Modules, Piping or Components

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB996830A (en) * 1961-12-12 1965-06-30 Nealis Claremont Harrison Improvements in and relating to the testing of vessels
DE1923012A1 (en) * 1969-05-06 1970-11-19 Schwarzkopf Gmbh Hans Device for testing the tightness of containers, especially aerosol cans
IT957204B (en) * 1971-04-26 1973-10-10 Waldherr J Ohg CONTROL DEVICE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS
JPS5990026A (en) * 1982-11-16 1984-05-24 Kishimoto Akira Inspecting method of sealing defect of hermetically sealed container
GB2312158B (en) * 1996-04-18 1999-08-18 Rover Group Apparatus for water testing vehicles
US6167751B1 (en) * 1997-11-26 2001-01-02 Thermedics Detection, Inc. Leak analysis

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0102825A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2351565A (en) 2001-01-03
GB9915391D0 (en) 1999-09-01
GB2351565B (en) 2003-10-08
WO2001002825A1 (en) 2001-01-11
AU5695900A (en) 2001-01-22

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