The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 14, 2002
John J. Leonard, Lockport, IL (US);
Steven Robert Ehardt, Algonquin, IL (US);
Newell Esmond, Carpentersville, IL (US);
Kurt Aaron Kreutzmann, Cary, IL (US);
Timothy J. Hamilton, Elgin, IL (US);
John Konieczka, Lake Barrington, IL (US);
The Quaker Oats Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for evaluating the integrity of a seal on liquid-filled container. According to one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a tank for containing a liquid solution and a clamp with a first and second member between which the container is engaged. The clamp is positioned with respect to the tank such that a portion of the container properly situated in the clamp will extend into the tank and contact the liquid solution. A ram and cylinder are operatively connected to the clamp to engage the container. A seat is provided to support a portion of the container such that at least a portion of the container supported by the seat will extend into the tank. A drill is provided to pierce a surface of the container to make an opening. The drill is positioned such that the opening can be made while the container is in the clamp and/or the seat such that at least a portion of the container extends into the tank. The apparatus further includes a conductivity meter mounted on the platform, a first electrode attached to the drill, and a second electrode positioned such that at least a portion of the second electrode extends into the tank. According to another aspect of the invention, the tank, the clamp, the seat, and the ram and cylinder are mounted on a mobile platform. The present invention further relates to a method for evaluating a seal on a liquid-filled container.