JP2011191203A - Air-tightness inspection method and inspection system of container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-tightness inspection method and an inspection system of a container capable of conducting high precision inspection efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: The airtight inspection system of a container which inspects the air-tightness of a container containing liquid using a leak detector 200 detecting the presence or absence of the leakage of gas from an inspection container 10 has a container pressing mechanism 100 pressing a prescribed region of the container 10 so as to be push in the region prior to the assembling of the container 10 as an inspection container to the leak detector 200. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airtightness inspection method and an inspection system for inspecting the airtightness of a container containing a liquid.

  Conventionally, various leak detection apparatuses that detect the presence or absence of gas leakage from a container to be inspected have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In this type of leak detection apparatus, the gas detector detects the amount of gas that can be contained in the test container contained in the gas sucked from the cap member (container) that covers the test container. The airtightness of the container to be inspected can be determined based on the inspection result.

  As another type of leak detection device, a container to be inspected is placed in a chamber, the pressure in the chamber is reduced, the pressure in the chamber is measured, and a gas leak from the container to be inspected based on the measurement result. 2. Description of the Related Art A vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus that inspects the presence or absence of air is known. This vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus can detect the presence or absence of gas leakage from the inspected container even if the gas contained in the inspected container is the same air as the outside air.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-332088 JP 2004-257717 A

  In the above-described leak inspection apparatus (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2) in which the gas detector directly detects the gas leaking from the inspection container, only a very small pin hole (for example, a size of several μm) is opened in the detection container. If it is not, it takes time until the gas leaked from the container to be inspected is accumulated in the cap member covering the object to be inspected up to an amount detectable by the gas detector, and it is difficult to perform an efficient inspection. Therefore, it is conceivable to use a highly sensitive gas detector. However, in addition to the problem that the gas detector with high sensitivity becomes expensive, there is another problem that it becomes easy to detect noise and the processing for accurately detecting the target gas from the output of the gas detector becomes difficult. It will occur.

  Further, even in the vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus described above, when only a very small pinhole is opened in the detection container, the gas leaking from the detection container similarly accumulates so that a pressure change can be detected in the chamber. It takes a long time and it is difficult to conduct an efficient inspection. Therefore, it is conceivable to further reduce the internal pressure in the chamber to promote gas leakage from the pinhole of the container to be inspected. However, there is a problem of pressure resistance of the container to be inspected, and there is a limit to lowering the internal pressure in the chamber.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a situation, and provides the airtightness inspection method and test | inspection system of a container which can perform a highly accurate test | inspection efficiently.

  The container airtightness inspection method according to the present invention is a container airtightness inspection method for inspecting the airtightness of a container containing a liquid using a leak inspection apparatus that detects the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container to be inspected. Thus, a container pressing step of pressing a predetermined portion of the container before pressing the container as an inspection container into the leak detection device is provided.

  With such a configuration, before the container is put into the leak inspection apparatus as a container to be inspected, a predetermined portion of the container is pressed, and the liquid inside leaks slightly from a pinhole or the like in the container. The liquid may be attached to the outer surface of the container. In this state, when the container is put into the leak detection apparatus as a container to be inspected, the gas generated by the evaporation of the liquid attached to the outer surface of the container is added to the gas leaking from the pinhole or the like, and substantially more Gas is emitted from the container.

  In the container airtightness inspection method according to the present invention, as the leak inspection apparatus, a container to be inspected is placed in a chamber, the pressure in the chamber is reduced, the pressure in the chamber is measured, and based on the measurement result A vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container to be inspected can be used.

  With such a configuration, when a container in which a predetermined portion is pressed and liquid is attached to the outer surface is introduced as a container to be inspected into the vacuum air leak inspection apparatus, the vacuum air leak inspection apparatus Since the gas generated by the evaporation of the liquid adhering to the outer surface of the container is added to the gas leaking from the pinhole or the like, the pressure change in the chamber becomes large. Based on the measurement result of the pressure having a large change, the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container can be detected with high accuracy and efficiency.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection method according to the present invention, there is a container posture changing step for changing the posture of the container so that a predetermined leak inspection site is positioned downward, and the container pressing step includes the leak inspection site. It can comprise so that the said predetermined | prescribed site | part of the said container of the attitude | position which carried out downward may be pressed.

  With such a configuration, the predetermined part of the container is pressed in a posture in which the predetermined leak inspection part is positioned below, so that the liquid inside leaks from a pinhole or the like in the leak inspection part of the container. To be able to. Accordingly, in the leak inspection apparatus, it is possible to accurately and efficiently detect the presence or absence of gas leakage from a pinhole or the like at the leak inspection portion of the container.

  Furthermore, in the container airtightness inspection method according to the present invention, the container posture changing step may include a container reversing step for inverting the container in an upright posture to an inverted posture.

  With such a configuration, a predetermined portion of the container is pressed in an inverted posture in which the upper portion where the mouth portion or the like of the container is formed is on the lower side. Even if there is, the liquid inside can be leaked from a pinhole or the like in the upper part of the container. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and efficiently detect the presence or absence of gas leakage from a pinhole or the like in the upper part of the container in the leak inspection apparatus.

  The container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention is a container airtightness inspection system for inspecting the airtightness of a container containing a liquid using a leak inspection device for detecting a gas leak from a container to be inspected. It has a container pressing mechanism that presses the predetermined part of the container so as to push it in, and the container after being pressed by the container pressing mechanism is configured to be supplied to the leak inspection apparatus as a container to be inspected.

  With such a configuration, the container pressing mechanism presses a predetermined part of the container before the container is put into the leak inspection apparatus as the container to be inspected, and the liquid inside leaks slightly from a pinhole or the like in the container. Thus, the liquid may be attached to the outer surface of the container. In this state, when the container is put into the leak inspection apparatus as a container to be inspected, the gas generated by the evaporation of the liquid adhering to the outer surface of the container is added to the gas leaking from the pinhole or the like, and substantially more Gas is emitted from the container.

  In the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the leak inspection apparatus puts the container to be inspected into the chamber, depressurizes the chamber, measures the pressure in the chamber, and based on the measurement result A vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus for inspecting the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container to be inspected can be configured.

  The container whose predetermined portion is pressed by the container pressing mechanism can be provided to the leak inspection apparatus by the operator. In the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the container can be configured to have a transport mechanism that transports the container after being pressed by the container pressing mechanism to the leak inspection apparatus.

  In the latter case, the container after being pressed by the container pressing mechanism can be automatically provided to the leak inspection apparatus by the transport mechanism.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the container pressing mechanism includes a container holding unit that holds the container so that the predetermined part of the container is exposed, and a container holding unit that holds the container. It can comprise so that it may have a pressing machine which presses so that the said predetermined part may be pushed in.

  With such a configuration, when the container holding unit holds the container, a predetermined portion of the container can be pressed by the pressing machine.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the container pressing mechanism includes a plurality of pressing units in which the container holding unit and the pressing machine are integrated, and a pressure that circulates and moves the plurality of pressing units. A container loading mechanism for loading and setting a container in the container holding portion of the pressing unit located at a predetermined loading position among the plurality of pressing units that circulate and move by the pressing unit moving mechanism; It can comprise so that it may have a container taking-out mechanism which takes out a container from the said container holding | maintenance part of the press unit located in the predetermined taking-out position among the several pressing units which circulate.

  With such a configuration, in a process in which a plurality of pressing units circulate, the container is loaded into the container holding unit of the pressing unit located at the loading position by the container loading mechanism, and from the container holding unit of the pressing unit positioned at the take-out position. The container is removed by the container removal mechanism. And each predetermined | prescribed site | part comes to be able to be pressed by the pressing machine for a predetermined period after each container is thrown into the container holding part of a press unit until it takes out from the container holding part.

  Moreover, the airtightness test | inspection system of the container which concerns on this invention WHEREIN: The said press unit moving mechanism can be comprised so that the said several press unit may be circularly moved circularly.

  With such a configuration, in the process in which a plurality of pressing units circulate circularly, the container is loaded into the container holding portion of the pressing unit located at the loading position, and the container is moved from the container holding portion of the pressing unit located at the removal position. Is taken out.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the container holding portion of each of the plurality of pressing units has a structure for holding the container with a predetermined leak inspection site downward, and the container loading mechanism includes: A first container attitude changing mechanism for changing the attitude of the container so that the container is loaded and set in the container holding portion with the leak inspection part facing downward; A second container attitude changing mechanism that changes the attitude of the container so as to take out the held container from the container holding part in a predetermined take-out attitude can be provided.

  With such a configuration, in a process in which a plurality of pressing units are circulated and moved, the container is placed in a posture in which the leak inspection unit is positioned downward in the container holding unit of the pressing unit positioned at the loading position, and the pressure positioned at the take-out position. A container is taken out from the container holding part of the unit in a predetermined take-out posture. Each container has a pinhole in the leak inspection part of the container when the predetermined part is pressed by the pressing machine for a predetermined period from when the container is inserted into the container holding part of the pressing unit to when the container is taken out. It becomes possible to leak out the liquid from the inside. Then, when the container taken out in the predetermined take-out posture is put into the leak inspection apparatus, the leak inspection apparatus accurately determines whether or not gas leaks from a pinhole or the like in the leak inspection portion of the container. It becomes possible to detect efficiently.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the first container posture changing mechanism can be configured to include a first container reversing mechanism that reverses the container in an upright posture to an inverted posture.

  With such a configuration, in a process in which a plurality of pressing units are circulated, the container holding portion of the pressing unit located at the loading position is in an inverted posture in which the upper portion where the mouth portion or the like is formed is on the lower side. Since the predetermined part is pressed while being held, even if there is a space in the upper part of the container in an upright posture, the liquid inside leaks out from a pinhole or the like in the upper part of the container. To be able to.

  Further, in the container airtightness inspection system according to the present invention, the second container posture changing mechanism changes the posture of the container so that the container held in the inverted posture is taken out from the container holding portion in the upright posture. It can comprise so that the 2nd container inversion mechanism to change may be included.

  With such a configuration, in a process in which the plurality of pressing units are circulated and moved, the predetermined portion of the container set in an inverted posture on the container holding portion of the pressing unit positioned at the charging position is pressed by the pressing machine. Thereafter, the container is taken out in an upright posture from the container holding portion of the pressing unit at the take-out position.

  According to the container airtightness inspection method and the inspection system according to the present invention, the container is introduced into the leak inspection apparatus by pressing the predetermined portion of the container into the leak inspection apparatus before being introduced into the leak inspection apparatus. Since the gas generated by the evaporation of the liquid leaking and adhering to the outer surface of the container is added to the gas leaking from the pinhole or the like, substantially more gas is emitted from the container, so that the accuracy is high. Inspection can be performed more efficiently.

  The liquid contained in the container to be inspected is a liquid that is relatively highly volatile at room temperature, such as an alcohol-based liquid, from the viewpoint of enabling more accurate and efficient inspection at room temperature. Is preferred.

It is a side view which shows the side surface shape of the container used as an example of a test object. It is a front view which shows the front shape of the container used as an example of a test object. It is a block diagram which shows the fundamental structure of the airtightness test | inspection system of the container which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the container pressing mechanism in the inspection system shown in FIG. 2, the container injection | throwing-in mechanism which inputs a container into the container pressing mechanism, and the container extraction mechanism which takes out a container from the container pressing mechanism. FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a structural example of each pressing unit in the container pressing mechanism shown in FIG. 3. It is a section explanatory view showing an example of operation of a press unit of the structure shown in Drawing 4A. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the vacuum type air leak test | inspection apparatus in the test | inspection system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a pressure change in the chamber of the vacuum type air leak test | inspection apparatus shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The container to be inspected is, for example, a cartridge filled with methanol (volatile liquid fuel) as fuel for the fuel cell, and has an external structure as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. 1A shows the side shape of the container 10, and FIG. 1B shows the front shape of the container 10.

  1A and 1B, the container 10 (fuel cartridge) has a mouth portion 12 having a nozzle structure at the upper end of a body portion 11. The trunk portion 11 is formed of, for example, a flexible plastic such as PET or olefin resin, and the mouth portion 12 is formed of, for example, a hard plastic such as polycarbonate. The body portion 11 and the mouth portion 12 are joined so as to maintain airtightness by, for example, screwing and joining a male screw and a female screw formed on both sides with an O-ring interposed therebetween. Liquid fuel (methanol) is accommodated in the container 10 so that a space S is slightly formed above the body 11. The liquid fuel is supplied from the container 10 (fuel cartridge) to the fuel cell by joining the port 12 (nozzle) to the fuel port of the fuel cell and pushing the body 11 with a finger or the like.

  A basic configuration of a container airtightness inspection system according to an embodiment of the present invention is as shown in FIG. In this inspection system, the container 10 (fuel cartridge) having the above-described structure is an inspection target.

  In FIG. 2, the inspection system includes a container pressing mechanism 100 and a vacuum type air leak inspection device (hereinafter simply referred to as an air leak inspection device) 200 as a leak inspection device. A container loading mechanism 130 and a container removal mechanism 140 are functionally coupled to the container pressing mechanism 100, and a container loading mechanism 230 and a container removal mechanism 240 are also functionally coupled to the air leak inspection apparatus 200. Further, the first transport mechanism 310 extends toward the container loading mechanism 130 of the container pressing mechanism 100, and the second transport mechanism 300 is between the container unloading mechanism 140 of the container pressing mechanism 100 and the container loading mechanism 230 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200. Further, the third transport mechanism 320 extends from the container take-out mechanism 240 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200.

  In such an inspection system, the container 10 transported to the container loading mechanism 130 by the first transport mechanism 310 from the previous process (for example, the process of attaching the mouth portion 12 to the body 11 into which liquid fuel is put) is loaded into the container. The mechanism 130 is put into the container pressing mechanism 100. In the container pressing mechanism 100, the trunk portion 11 of the charged container 10 is pressed as will be described later. The pressed container 10 is removed from the container pressing mechanism 100 by the container extracting mechanism 140 and transferred to the second transport mechanism 300. The container 10 is further transported by the second transport mechanism 300 to the container throwing mechanism 230 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200 and is thrown into the air leak inspection apparatus 200 by the container throwing mechanism 230. In the air leak inspection apparatus 200, as will be described later, the charged container 10 is placed in a chamber, the pressure in the chamber is measured after the pressure in the chamber is reduced, and the container 10 is measured based on the measurement result. It is inspected for gas leaks from Then, the inspection result is obtained as a result of the airtightness inspection of the container 10. The container 10 after this inspection is taken out from the air leak inspection apparatus 200 by the container take-out mechanism 240 and transferred to the third transport mechanism 320. The non-defective container 10 (determined that there is no gas leakage) is transported by the third transport mechanism 320 until a subsequent process (for example, a boxing process). On the other hand, the defective container 10 (determined that there is a gas leak) is discharged from the third transport mechanism 320 to a predetermined defective product storage part during the transport.

  The inspection system described above will be further described in detail.

  The container pressing mechanism 100, the container loading mechanism 130, and the container removal mechanism 140 are configured as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the container pressing mechanism 100 includes an annular support ring body 120 and a plurality of pressing units 110 arranged and fixed at predetermined intervals inside the support ring body 120. The support ring body 120 is rotated around its center by a drive mechanism (not shown), and the plurality of pressing units 110 are moved at a predetermined speed by the drive mechanism and the support ring body 120 (pressing unit moving mechanism). Is circularly moved in a fixed direction (arrow A direction).

  Each of the plurality of pressing units 110 is configured as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. 4A and 4B, the pressing unit 110 includes a holding block 113 (holding portion) and a solenoid actuator 112 (pressing machine). The holding block 113 is formed with a recess 113a that opens upward and accommodates the mouth 12 of the container 10 downward, and a side hole 113b that extends from the side surface to the recess 113a. The solenoid actuator 112 is fixedly supported by a bracket 114 fixed to the surface of the holding block 113 where the side hole 113b is formed so that the plunger 112a is inserted into the side hole 113b. A large-diameter curved surface is formed at the distal end of the plunger 112a, and the distal end portion (large-diameter curved surface) of the plunger 112 that is advanced by the operation of the solenoid actuator 112 is set in the recess 113a of the holding block 113. The body portion 11 is pressed so as to be pushed in (see FIG. 4B).

  Returning to FIG. 3, the container loading mechanism 130 installed between the terminal end of the first transport mechanism 310 and the container pressing mechanism 100 has a gripping portion 131 fixed to the tip of the arm portion 132, The end portion is coupled to the rotation mechanism 133. In the container loading mechanism 130 having such a structure, the gripper 131 holds the container 10 positioned in the upright posture (the posture with the mouth portion 12 upward: see FIGS. 1A and 1B) at the end of the first transport mechanism 310. In this state, the rotation mechanism 133 rotates the arm portion 132 toward the container pressing mechanism 100 about an axis parallel to the horizontal plane. Thereby, the container 10 gripped by the grip portion 131 is inverted from the upright posture, and is inverted with the mouth l2 downward on the holding block 113 of the pressing unit 110 located at the loading position Sin of the container pressing mechanism 100. The posture is set (see FIG. 4A).

  The container take-out mechanism 140 installed between the container pressing mechanism 100 and the starting end of the second transport mechanism 300 also has a gripping part 141 fixed to the tip of the arm part 142, and the other end of the arm part 142 is a turning mechanism. The structure is coupled to 133. In the container loading mechanism 140 having such a structure, the gripper 141 grips the container 10 (see FIG. 4A) held in an inverted state on the holding block 113 of the pressing unit 110 located at the take-out position Sout of the container pressing mechanism 100. In this state, the rotation mechanism 143 rotates the arm portion 142 toward the second transport mechanism 300 about the axis parallel to the horizontal plane. Thereby, the container 10 gripped by the gripping part 141 is reversed from the inverted posture, taken out from the pressing unit 110 of the container pressing mechanism 100, and placed at the start end portion of the second transport mechanism 300 in the upright posture (takeout posture). Moved.

  Next, the air leak inspection apparatus 200 is configured as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, an air leak inspection apparatus 200 includes a solenoid valve 203 and a pressure sensor 204 in a pipe 202 extending from a chamber 201 that can be placed on and removed from the inspection table 220 and connected to a vacuum pump. It has a provided structure. A detection signal from a pressure sensor 204 that detects the pressure in the chamber 201 is supplied to a controller 210 via an analog / digital converter (A / D) 212. The electromagnetic valve 203 is driven to open and close by a drive circuit 211 that operates according to a control signal from the controller 210. An operation panel 213 including a display unit and an operation unit is connected to the controller 210. The controller 210 executes processing according to the operation of the operation unit on the operation panel 213, and also monitors pressure information and inspection results. And the like are displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 213.

  The container loading mechanism 230 (see FIG. 2) loads the container 10 into the inspection table 220 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200 from the end portion of the second transport mechanism 300. Further, the container take-out mechanism 240 (see FIG. 2) takes out the container 10 from which the chamber 201 is removed and the inspection table 220 is removed after the inspection is finished, and moves it to the start end of the third transport mechanism 320.

  The operation of the above-described inspection system will be described in detail.

  In the container pressing mechanism 100 (see FIG. 3), the plurality of pressing units 110 arranged at a predetermined interval are circulated and moved as the support ring body 120 rotates. In the process, the container 10 that has reached the terminal end of the first transport mechanism 310 is held by the holding block 113 of the pressing unit 110 located at the input position Sin by the container input mechanism 130 as shown in FIG. It is thrown in the inverted posture with the down. In the upright posture, there is a slight space S in the upper part of the body part 11 (see FIGS. 1A and 1B), and liquid fuel is present at the joint part between the mouth part 12 and the body part 11 that is likely to impair airtightness. Even if the container 10 is not in contact, the liquid fuel in the container 10 comes into contact with the joint portion between the mouth portion 12 and the body portion 11 by placing the container 10 in an inverted posture.

  Thus, while the containers 10 are sequentially loaded and set in the holding block 113 of the pressing unit 110 at the loading position Sin of the container pressing mechanism 100, the pressing units 110 in which the containers 10 are set are in the process of circulating and moving. When the injection position Sin moves to the pressing start position Ss, the solenoid actuator 112 operates so that the plunger 112a in the pressing unit 110 advances. Thereby, the trunk | drum 11 of the container 10 hold | maintained by the holding block 113 of the press unit 110 in the inverted posture is pressed so that it may be pushed in by the plunger 112a, as shown to FIG. 4B. The state in which the body 11 of the container 10 is pressed by the plunger 111a is continued until the pressing unit 110 at the pressing start position Ss moves and reaches the pressing end position Se. When the body portion 11 is pressed, if there is a defect that impairs airtightness such as a pinhole in the joint portion between the body portion 11, particularly the mouth portion 12 and the body portion 11, the liquid fuel inside leaks out from the defect. Thus, it is attached to the outer surface of the trunk portion 11.

  Note that the rotation speed of the support ring body 120 is such that the time during which the pressing unit 110 moves from the pressing start position Ss to the pressing end position Se, that is, the time during which the container 10 is pressed is a predetermined time (for example, several seconds to several tens of seconds). Time).

  When the pressing unit 110 moves from the pressing end position Se where the solenoid actuator 112 is operated so that the plunger 112a is retracted and the pressing of the body portion 11 is finished to the container extracting position Sout, the container extracting mechanism 140 takes the inverted posture. The container 10 is reversed and taken out from the holding block 113 of the pressing unit 110 in an upright posture, and is moved to the start end of the second transport mechanism 300. Then, the container 10 is transported to the container loading mechanism 230 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200 by the second transport mechanism 300. Then, the container loading mechanism 230 loads the container 10 that has reached the end of the second transport mechanism 300 into the inspection table 220 of the air leak inspection apparatus 200.

  In the air leak inspection apparatus 200, as shown in FIG. 5, the chamber 201 is put on the container 10 placed on the inspection table 200. In this state, the electromagnetic valve 303 is opened, and the inside of the chamber 201 is depressurized by the suction operation of the vacuum pump. By the suction operation by the vacuum pump for a predetermined time, the pressure in the chamber 201 gradually decreases from the atmospheric pressure as shown in FIG. The controller 210 stores the pressure value based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor 204 as the start pressure Pstart at a time to when a predetermined time (evacuation time) has elapsed from the start of suction.

  At this time (time to), the solenoid valve 204 is closed. When the electromagnetic valve 204 is closed, the body portion 11 of the container 10 is slightly expanded due to the reduced pressure in the chamber 201, so that the pressure in the chamber 201 slightly increases as shown in FIG. Then, at the detection time tt when a predetermined time (inspection time) has elapsed from the timing to when the electromagnetic valve 204 is closed, the controller 210 acquires the pressure value based on the detection signal from the pressure sensor 204 as the measured pressure Ptest.

  The controller 210 acquires the difference (Ptest−Pstart) between the measured pressure Ptest and the start pressure Pstart stored as described above as the leak differential pressure Δ. Then, the controller 210 determines whether or not the leak differential pressure Δ is equal to or less than the reference value Pth. When the leak differential pressure Δ is less than or equal to the reference value Pth (see the solid line in the inspection time zone shown in FIG. 6), the container 10 is determined to be non-defective, and the leak differential pressure Δ is greater than the reference value Pth (see FIG. 6), the container 10 is determined as a defective product having a problem in airtightness due to gas leakage. The reference value Pth is set in advance based on the relationship with the starting pressure Pstart, the inspection time, the inspection level (high accuracy, normal, low accuracy) and the like.

  The leak pressure difference Δ and the inspection result are displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 213 under the control of the controller 210. The inspector can immediately determine the airtightness of the container 10 currently inspected by looking at the leak differential pressure Δ and the inspection result for each container 10 displayed on the display unit.

  When the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container 10 is inspected in this way, the piping 202 is opened to the atmosphere (other valves not shown are opened), so that the chamber 201 returns to atmospheric pressure. Then, the chamber 201 is removed from the inspection table 220. Then, the container take-out mechanism 240 takes out the inspected container 10 from the inspection table 220 and moves it to the third transport mechanism 320. Thereafter, the container 10 that has received the non-defective product determination is transported to the next process (for example, a boxing process) by the third transport mechanism 320. On the other hand, the container 10 that has received the defective product determination is discharged from the third transport mechanism 320 to a predetermined defective product storage unit.

  In the inspection system described above, when there is a defect such as a pinhole in the joint portion between the mouth portion 12 and the body portion 11 of the container 10, the container 10 has leaked from the body portion 11 due to the pressing by the container pressing mechanism 100. Liquid fuel is introduced into the air leak inspection apparatus 200 in a state where it adheres to the outer surface. Then, in the air leak inspection apparatus 200, a gas generated by evaporation of liquid fuel adhering to the outer surface of the gas leaked from a defect such as a pinhole of the container 10 is added into the decompressed chamber 201. As a result, more gas is emitted from the container 10 into the chamber 201, and the pressure in the chamber 201 rises relatively rapidly from the inspection start time to (see the broken line portion in the inspection time zone shown in FIG. 6). As a result, the presence or absence of gas leaking from the defect can be determined in a shorter time, even if the defect is very slight, for example, even a very small (for example, several μm) pinhole. It becomes like this. Therefore, it is possible to perform a highly accurate inspection more efficiently.

  In addition, the upper part of the container 10 (for example, the connection part between the mouth part 12 and the body part 11) has a structure in which a defect is likely to occur, and in a normal upright posture, the liquid fuel inside is likely to be a part in which the defect is likely to occur. Even if they are not in contact, the body portion 11 of the container 10 is pressed in an inverted posture in which a portion where the defect is likely to occur (leak inspection site) is positioned below, so that the defect is likely to occur in the portion where the defect is likely to occur. In this case, the liquid fuel inside can be surely leaked.

  In the above-described inspection system, an air leak inspection apparatus (vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus) 200 is used as a leak inspection apparatus. However, other types, for example, a leak inspection apparatus using a gas sensor that detects a predetermined gas (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2) can also be used.

  The liquid stored in the container 10 is preferably highly volatile, such as methanol (liquid fuel) described above, but may be water or the like. However, in the inspection system according to the present invention, a container containing a liquid with extremely low volatility such as oil is not preferable as a container to be inspected.

  As described above, the container airtightness inspection method and inspection system according to the present invention have the effect that a highly accurate inspection can be efficiently performed, and inspect the airtightness of a container containing a liquid. It is useful as an airtightness inspection method and inspection system.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container 11 trunk | drum 12 mouth part 100 Container press mechanism 110 Press unit 112 Solenoid actuator (pressing machine)
112a Plunger 113 Holding block (holding part)
113a Concave portion 113b Side hole 114 Bracket 120 Support ring body 130 Container loading mechanism 131 Grip portion 132 Arm portion 133 Rotating mechanism 140 Container take-out mechanism 141 Grip portion 142 Arm portion 143 Rotating mechanism 200 Vacuum type air leak inspection device (air leak inspection device) )
201 Chamber 202 Piping 203 Solenoid Valve 204 Pressure Sensor 210 Controller 211 Drive Circuit 212 Analog / Digital Converter (A / D)
213 Operation panel

Claims (13)

An airtightness inspection method for a container for inspecting the airtightness of a container containing a liquid using a leak inspection device that detects the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container to be inspected,
A container airtightness inspection method comprising a container pressing step of pressing a predetermined portion of the container before the container is put into the leak detection apparatus as an inspection container.   As the leak inspection apparatus, the container to be inspected is placed in a chamber, the pressure in the chamber is reduced, the pressure in the chamber is measured, and the presence or absence of gas leakage from the container to be inspected is determined based on the measurement result. The container airtightness inspection method according to claim 1, wherein a vacuum type air leak inspection apparatus for inspection is used. A container posture changing step for changing the posture of the container so that a predetermined leak inspection site is located downward;
The container tightness inspection method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container pressing step presses the predetermined part of the container in a posture in which the leak inspection part is downward.   The said container attitude | position change step is a container airtightness inspection method of Claim 3 including the container inversion step which inverts the said container of an erect posture to an inverted posture. An airtightness inspection system for a container that inspects the airtightness of a container containing a liquid using a leak inspection device that detects a gas leakage from the container to be inspected,
A container pressing mechanism that presses the predetermined part of the container so as to push it in;
A container airtightness inspection system in which the container after being pressed by the container pressing mechanism is supplied to the leak inspection apparatus as a container to be inspected.   The leak inspection apparatus puts a container to be inspected into a chamber, decompresses the inside of the chamber, measures the pressure in the chamber, and determines whether there is gas leakage from the inspected container based on the measurement result. 6. The container airtightness inspection system according to claim 5, which is a vacuum type air leak inspection device for inspection.   The container airtightness inspection system according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a transport mechanism for transporting the container after being pressed by the container pressing mechanism to the leak inspection apparatus. The container pressing mechanism is configured to hold a container so as to expose the predetermined portion of the container;
The container airtightness inspection system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising: a pressing machine that presses the predetermined portion of the container held by the container holding portion. The container pressing mechanism includes a plurality of pressing units in which the container holding unit and the pressing machine are integrated,
A pressing unit moving mechanism that circulates and moves the plurality of pressing units;
A container loading mechanism that loads and sets a container in the container holding portion of the pressing unit located at a predetermined loading position among the plurality of pressing units that circulate and move by the pressing unit moving mechanism;
The container airtightness inspection system according to claim 8, further comprising: a container take-out mechanism for taking out the container from the container holding portion of the press unit located at a predetermined take-out position among the plurality of press units that circulate and move.   10. The container airtightness inspection system according to claim 9, wherein the pressing unit moving mechanism circulates and moves the plurality of pressing units in a circular shape. The container holding portion of each of the plurality of pressing units has a structure for holding the container with a predetermined leak inspection site downward,
The container loading mechanism has a first container posture changing mechanism that changes the posture of the container so that the container is loaded and set in the container holding portion with the leak inspection site facing downward.
The container removing mechanism has a second container posture changing mechanism that changes the posture of the container so as to take out the container held with the leak portion downward from the container holding portion in a predetermined removing posture. 10. The airtightness inspection system for containers according to 10.   12. The container airtightness inspection system according to claim 11, wherein the first container attitude changing mechanism includes a first container inversion mechanism that inverts the container in an upright attitude to an inverted attitude.   The container according to claim 12, wherein the second container posture changing mechanism includes a second container reversing mechanism that changes the posture of the container so that the container held in the inverted posture is taken out from the container holding portion in an upright posture. Airtightness inspection system.

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