Device for testing the tightness of containers

Claim 1

Apparatus for testing the tightness of containers as the containers move through the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: means adapted to pass the containers through the apparatus; means fixedly positioned adjacent the passing means for heating the containers; detecting means fixedly positioned adjacent the passing means to receive containers from the heating means and comprising: A housing having a passage through which the containers pass; a pair of gas detectors adapted to detect the presence of gas leaking from the containers; gas removing means adapted to direct gases from the passage to the gas detector, the gas removing means including a blower and a pair of tubes having respective first ends connected to the passage and respective other ends connected to the suction side of the blower and valve means coupled to the tubes for selectively connecting the tubes either to the blower or to atmosphere; the detector means further comprising: first light barrier means on the side of said detector near the entrance to said passage and capable of actuating said valve means upon passage of a container past said first light barrier to connect the tube of one of said detectors to the blower, and a second light barrier means on the side of the detector near the exit from said passage capable of actuating said valve means upon passage of a container past said second light barrier to disconnect the tube of said connected detector from the blower and connect the tube of the other detector to said blower; and means operable by said detecting means and adapted to remove leaking containers from the passing means.