Leakage testing - Packaging control with thermography

Industrial inline system providing fully automatic inspection of packaging. For example, testing for leaks in infusion bags.

When packing liquids, the containers must be tested for leaks after they have been filled - ideally across their entire surface area. In many fields, this has always been a problem without a satisfactory solution. Not just because a leak can force liquid out: often more critical is the fact that germs can also penetrate the packing container. Tiny leaks are all it takes. This is an area where the pharmaceutical industry is particularly susceptible. Although packages filled with liquids (such as infusion bags) are tested, this is generally a purely manual process performed by personnel who either press the packages with their hands or inspect them visually. A small drop of liquid can quickly be overlooked. Infrared imaging, on the other hand, offers a relatively simple solution to quality control: because of the evaporative cooling effect, a contrast in temperature develops between an escaping drop of liquid and the packaging material. This can be detected by an infrared camera and analysed using software to achieve fully automatic ejection of the defective packaging. If there should be particularly high detection criteria, the evaporative effect and, therefore, the contrast can be enhanced. To this end, it is possible to guide the packaging through a vacuum lock, amongst other things.