Testing device and method for testing the tightness of containers
The invention relates to a testing device for testing the tightness of containers ( 2 ), comprising a supply unit ( 3 ) for supplying the containers ( 2 ), a testing unit ( 4 ) for testing the tightness of the containers ( 2 ), a diverting unit ( 5 ) for diverting tested tight containers ( 2 ), and a discharge unit ( 6 ) for discharging containers ( 2 ′) tested to be untight in the testing unit ( 2 ). The testing unit ( 4 ) has at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) for testing individual containers and at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) for receiving a plurality of containers in order to simultaneously test multiple containers ( 2 ). The testing device also comprises a control unit ( 10 ) which is designed to supply possibly untight containers ( 2 ′) which have been discharged by means of the discharge unit ( 6 ) from a multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) individually back into an individual testing chamber ( 42 ) in order to carry out an individual test of said containers.
1. A testing device for testing the tightness of containers ( 2 ), the device comprising
a feeding unit ( 3 ) for feeding the containers ( 2 );
a testing unit ( 4 ) for testing the tightness of the containers ( 2 );
a discharge unit ( 5 ) for discharging tested and tight containers ( 2 );
an evacuation unit ( 6 ) for evacuating containers ( 2 ′) that have tested as potentially untight in the testing unit ( 4 );
wherein the testing unit ( 4 ) has at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) configured to receive a single container in order for the single container to be tested, and at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) configured to receive a plurality of containers in order for the plurality of containers ( 2 ) to be simultaneously tested, wherein the testing unit is configured as a rotary magazine ( 40 ), wherein the at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) and the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) are provided along a circumference of the rotary magazine in a predetermined timed cycle; and
a control unit ( 10 ) which is specified for returning the potentially untight containers ( 2 ′) that have been evacuated by the evacuation unit ( 6 ) from one of the at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) individually to one of the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) of the testing unit ( 4 ), in order for individual testing of said potentially untight containers to be carried out.
2. The testing device as claimed in claim 1 , furthermore comprising a robot ( 8 ) for handling the containers ( 2 ).
3. The testing device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) has precisely one single receptacle for receiving one of the individual containers.
4. The testing device as claimed in claim 1 , furthermore comprising a robot ( 8 ) for handling the potentially untight containers ( 2 ′).
5. The testing device as claimed in claim 1 , furthermore comprising an intermediate store ( 7 ) for receiving and temporarily storing the potentially untight containers ( 2 ′) which are evacuated by the evacuation unit ( 6 ).
6. The testing device as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the control unit ( 10 ) is specified for feeding the potentially untight containers from the intermediate store ( 7 ) to the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ).
7. The testing device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the feeding unit ( 3 ) has at least one first star wheel ( 31 ) in order for the containers ( 2 ) to be fed.
8. The testing device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the feeding unit ( 3 ) comprises the first star wheel ( 31 ) and a second star wheel ( 32 ), wherein the plurality of containers ( 2 ) by means of the first star wheel ( 31 ) are feedable to the at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ), and the individual containers by means of the second star wheel ( 32 ) are feedable to the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ).
9. The testing device as claimed in claim 8 , characterized in that the first star wheel ( 31 ) and the second star wheel ( 32 ) are intercoupled in a mechanically rigid manner.
10. A method for testing the tightness of containers ( 2 ) in a testing unit ( 4 ) configured as a rotary magazine having at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) configured to receive a single container, and at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) configured to receive a plurality of containers, comprising the following method steps:
providing the at least one individual testing chamber ( 42 ) and the at least one multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) in a predetermined timed cycle;
feeding the containers ( 2 ) to the multiple testing chamber ( 41 );
testing the tightness of the containers ( 2 ) in the multiple testing chamber ( 41 );
performing an evacuation of the containers ( 2 ′) that have tested as potentially untight when the test in the multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) has resulted in a leakage; and
feeding the potentially untight containers ( 2 ′) individually from the multiple testing chamber ( 41 ) to respective individual testing chambers ( 42 ) in order for the potentially untight containers to be tested individually for tightness.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that the potentially untight containers ( 2 ′) prior to being fed to the individual testing chamber ( 42 ) are temporarily stored for a predetermined period in order for an equalization of pressure to be enabled.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein specimen containers for regularly testing the testing chambers are fed from an intermediate store ( 7 ) to the testing chambers.