Squeeze force measuring system

1. A method of measuring squeeze force, comprising:

applying a compression force to a package;

measuring more than once the compression force applied to the package;

measuring more than once the volume change of the package; and

correlating the measured compression force with the measured volume change.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the applying comprises:

placing the package in a force tester comprising a crosshead; and

compressing the package with the crosshead.

3. The method of claim 2 , where the placing comprises positioning the package below the crosshead.

4. The method of claim 3 , where the force tester further comprises a holder; and

the placing comprises inserting the package in the holder.

5. The method of claim 4 , where the compressing comprises moving the crosshead toward a bottom of the holder.

6. The method of claim 2 , where the force tester further comprises a test stand comprising a base; and

the placing comprises placing the package on the base.

7. The method of claim 6 , where the compressing comprises moving the crosshead toward the base.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the package comprises a fluid.

9. The method of claim 8 , where the measuring is performed at initiation of fluid flow.

10. The method of claim 8 , where the measuring is performed after at least a portion of the fluid is displaced from the package.

11. The method of claim 10 , where the measuring comprises calculating a percentage of the fluid that is displaced from the package.

12. The method of claim 8 , where the measuring comprises:

measuring the compression force applied to the package;

measuring the amount of fluid displaced from the package; and

correlating the measured compression force with the measured amount of displaced fluid.

13. A method of measuring squeeze force of a package, comprising:

placing the package in a force tester below a movable crosshead;

compressing the package with the crosshead by a compression force;

measuring more than once the compression force applied to the package with a force gauge attached to the crosshead;

measuring more than once the volume change of the package; and

correlating the measured compression force with the measured volume change.

14. The method of claim 13 , where the package comprises a product.

15. The method of claim 14 , where the measuring the volume change comprises measuring the amount of product displaced from the package.

16. The method of claim 15 , where the product is a fluid.

17. The method of claim 16 , where the fluid is selected from the group consisting of liquids, gels, creams, pastes and thixotropic materials.

18. The method of claim 16 , where the measuring the amount of product displaced comprises measuring the mass of fluid displaced from the package.

19. The method of claim 16 , where the measuring the amount of product displaced comprises measuring the volume of fluid displaced from the package.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising connecting the package to a fluid gauge prior to the compressing.

21. The method of claim 13 , where the force tester comprises a test stand comprising a base;

the placing comprises placing the package on the base; and

the compressing comprises moving the crosshead toward the base.

22. The method of claim 13 , where:

the placing comprises inserting the package in a holder; and

the compressing comprises moving the crosshead toward a bottom of the holder.

23. The method of claim 22 , where the force tester comprises a test stand comprising a base, and

the placing further comprises securing the holder to the base.

24. The method of claim 22 , where the crosshead is shaped to fit the inner dimensions of the holder.

25. The method of claim 22 , where the package is a bottle.

26. The method of claim 25 , where the package is compressed along the circumference of the package.

27. The method of claim 22 , where the package is compressed along the length of the package.