Vacuum leakage detection and judgment device and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a vacuum leak detection and determination apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a vacuum ejector connected with a main chamber and a working chamber and forming a vacuum state or breaking a vacuum state in the chamber; the main chamber is connected with the vacuum ejector through a first vacuum pipeline so as to generate vacuum and maintain the vacuum; a working chamber into which the object to be detected is put, which is connected to the vacuum ejector through a second vacuum line, and which generates and maintains a vacuum; the first detection unit is mounted on a detection line for connecting the main chamber and the working chamber and is used for detecting the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber after the vacuum is maintained; a second detection unit which is installed in the working chamber and detects the height of the object to be detected before the vacuum is generated and the height of the object to be detected after the vacuum is maintained; and a control unit which controls the operation of the vacuum ejector and the opening and closing of the valve, receives the detection values from the first detection unit and the second detection unit, and determines the small-capacity leakage and the large-capacity leakage of the detection object.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vacuum leak detection and judgment device and method, and more specifically, to a vacuum leak detection and judgment device and method capable of detecting both small-capacity and large-capacity leaks. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, products requiring airtightness undergo airtightness checks during production. One method involves immersing the object being tested, filled with air, in water and observing the bubbles produced when the air escapes to confirm airtightness and detect leaks. However, this method requires immersing the object in water, which is cumbersome and cannot be used for objects that cannot be submerged in water.

[0003] As prior art, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0056880 (publication date: May 31, 2011) discloses a pressure equalization airtightness inspection device and method that provides compressed air stored in a receiving tank to the object to be tested, thereby achieving pressure balance between the receiving tank and the object to be tested. Then, the air flow rate of the compressed air moving from the receiving tank to the object to be tested is detected by a mass flow meter, and the leakage of the object to be tested is detected based on the flow rate value that appears after the pressure equalization time.

[0004] However, since the aforementioned existing technology requires compressed air to be injected directly into the object being tested, there is a problem that it is difficult to detect leaks in objects that do not have an air injection port.

[0005] Furthermore, as prior art, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2023-0068243 (published on May 17, 2023) describes a leak inspection method that includes the following steps: controlling the transport of a chamber for a secondary battery used for leak inspection; a pump unit for drawing air into the chamber; a gas sensing unit for sensing gas leaking from the secondary battery casing; and a control unit for controlling the chamber and the pump unit. When the secondary battery is transported into the chamber, the control unit controls the pump unit to maintain the air in the chamber in a vacuum state. The control unit determines whether a leak has occurred in the secondary battery casing based on the gas detection signal sensed by the gas sensing unit. If a leak is detected, the secondary battery is classified as a defective battery.

[0006] However, in the aforementioned prior art, for products with large leaks due to severe surface scratches or poor sealing, most of the air inside the product is expelled while a vacuum is created, making it impossible to detect the gas or generate pressure displacement. Therefore, it is difficult to detect large leaks. In particular, in the case of packaged food products, there is a problem that the contents may deteriorate due to leakage or be circulated in a deteriorated state. Summary of the Invention

[0007] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0008] The present invention aims to solve all the above problems and provides a vacuum leak detection device and method. It can detect small-capacity leaks not only by detecting the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber, but also by utilizing the principle of product expansion under vacuum. By detecting the height of the product before and after vacuum is generated, and calculating and comparing its expansion degree, it can detect large-capacity leaks. It can achieve high-precision, fast and accurate detection and improve the reliability of the object being detected.

[0009] (II) Technical Solution

[0010] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a vacuum leak detection and judgment device capable of detecting both small-capacity and large-capacity leaks. The device comprises: a vacuum ejector connected to a main chamber and a working chamber, creating or breaking a vacuum state within the chambers; a main chamber connected to the vacuum ejector via a first vacuum line equipped with a first shut-off valve to generate and maintain a vacuum; a working chamber containing a test object, connected to the vacuum ejector via a second vacuum line equipped with a second shut-off valve, capable of generating and maintaining a vacuum, and equipped with a transparent detection window; a first detection unit installed on the detection line connecting the main chamber and the working chamber, used to detect the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber after maintaining a vacuum, and transmit this displacement to a control unit; a second detection unit installed in the working chamber, used to detect the height of the test object inserted into the working chamber through the transparent detection window before vacuum generation and after vacuum maintenance, and transmit this height to the control unit; and a control unit controlling the operation of the vacuum ejector and the opening and closing of the valve, receiving detection values ​​from the first and second detection units, and determining whether the test object has a small-capacity or large-capacity leak.

[0011] Additionally, a vacuum leak detection and judgment method is provided. This method, which detects and judges a vacuum leak in a device comprising a vacuum ejector that creates a vacuum inside a chamber, a main chamber that generates and maintains a vacuum through the vacuum ejector, and a working chamber equipped with a transparent detection window and maintained by the vacuum ejector, includes the following steps: First, the object to be tested is placed inside the working chamber; Second, a control unit opens a first shut-off valve and a second shut-off valve installed on a first vacuum line and a second vacuum line respectively connected to the main chamber and the working chamber, and operates the vacuum ejector to generate a vacuum inside the main chamber and the working chamber. While a vacuum is generated inside the working chamber, air inside the object to be tested, which has a large-capacity leak, is expelled. When the vacuum level reaches a pre-reference value, the first and second shut-off valves are closed to maintain the vacuum. The third step involves a first detection unit installed on the detection line connecting the main chamber and the working chamber, detecting the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber, and transmitting it to the control unit. The fourth step involves a second detection unit installed in the working chamber, through a transparent detection window formed in the working chamber, detecting the height of the object being tested before vacuum generation and after vacuum maintenance, and transmitting it to the control unit. The fifth step involves the control unit receiving the detection values ​​from the first and second detection units to determine whether the object being tested has a small-capacity or large-capacity leak. The sixth step involves the control unit opening the first and second shut-off valves and controlling the vacuum ejector to provide compressed air to break the vacuum in the main chamber and the working chamber, and to discharge the object being tested to the outside.

[0012] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0013] According to the present invention, the effects are as follows: not only can small-capacity leaks be detected by detecting the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber, but also large-capacity leaks can be detected by utilizing the principle of product expansion under vacuum conditions, by detecting the height of the product before and after vacuum generation, calculating and comparing its expansion degree, thus achieving high-precision, fast and accurate detection, and improving the reliability of the object being detected. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a vacuum leak detection and judgment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the detection of the height before vacuum generation and the height after vacuum maintenance by the second detection unit of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the vacuum leak detection method of the present invention.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0018] 100: Vacuum ejector

[0019] 110: First vacuum line

[0020] 115: First shut-off valve

[0021] 120: Second vacuum line

[0022] 125: Second shut-off valve

[0023] 200: Main chamber

[0024] 300: Working chamber

[0025] 320: Transparent Detection Window

[0026] 400: First Detection Unit

[0027] 410: Circuit testing

[0028] 500: Second detection unit

[0029] 600: Control Unit

[0030] P. Detection Object Detailed Implementation

[0031] The vacuum leak detection and judgment device according to the present invention relates to a vacuum leak detection and judgment device capable of detecting both small leaks and large leaks, with reference to... Figure 1 It is composed of: a vacuum ejector 100, a main chamber 200, a working chamber 300, a first detection unit 400, a second detection unit 500, and a control unit 600.

[0032] The vacuum ejector 100 is connected to the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 through the first vacuum line 110 and the second vacuum line 120 respectively, so that the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 are either vacuumed or the vacuum is broken. Its operation is controlled by the control unit 600.

[0033] The control unit 600 can open the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125 respectively installed on the first vacuum line 110 and the second vacuum line 120, and operate the vacuum ejector 100 to draw in air from the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 to generate a vacuum. Then, when the vacuum degree inside the chamber reaches a predetermined reference value, the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125 are closed, thereby maintaining the interior in a vacuum state.

[0034] In addition, after completing the leakage detection of the object P, the control unit 600 will open the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125, and control the vacuum ejector 100 to provide compressed air to break the vacuum inside the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300, and discharge the object P to the outside of the chamber.

[0035] At this time, the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125 can be a vacuum control valve and a vacuum breaking valve integrated into one valve.

[0036] The main chamber 200 is connected to the vacuum ejector 100 via a first vacuum line 110 equipped with a first shut-off valve 115, and the vacuum inside can be generated and maintained by the operation of the vacuum ejector 100.

[0037] The working chamber 300 is in which the object to be tested, P, is placed. It is connected to the vacuum ejector 100 through a second vacuum line 120 equipped with a second shut-off valve 125. It can generate and maintain a vacuum and is equipped with a transparent detection window 320.

[0038] The main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 are each connected to a pressure gauge (not shown) to measure the vacuum level inside the chamber and transmit the measured value to the control unit 600.

[0039] The first detection unit 400 is installed on the detection pipeline 410 connecting the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300. After a vacuum is generated inside the chamber and the vacuum state is maintained, the pressure displacement between the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 is detected and transmitted to the control unit 600.

[0040] More specifically, the test object P, such as a packaged product, placed inside the working chamber 300 expands due to the internal pressure of the test object P during the vacuum period. If there is a leak in the test object P, the air contained inside the test object P leaks into the working chamber 300, causing the expansion of the test object to gradually decrease. This results in a slight change in the pressure inside the working chamber 300, creating a pressure difference with the main chamber 200. The first detection unit 400 detects this pressure difference, i.e., detects the pressure displacement, and sends the detection value to the control unit 600 so that the control unit 600 can determine whether the test object P is leaking. As an example, the first detection unit 400 can be a differential pressure sensor. The leak detected by the first detection unit 400 can be a small-volume leak, which is a common occurrence. If the pressure displacement detection value is greater than a preset reference value, it can be determined that a small-volume leak has occurred.

[0041] The second detection unit 500 is installed inside the working chamber 300 and outside the transparent detection window 320, so that the height of the object P placed in the working chamber 300 before vacuum generation and the height after vacuum maintenance are detected through the transparent detection window 320 and transmitted to the control unit 600. As an example, the transparent detection window 320 can be installed on the upper surface of the working chamber 300, and the second detection unit 500 can be installed on the upper side of the transparent detection window 320.

[0042] That is, when a small-volume leak of a normal size occurs, the first detection unit 400 can detect pressure displacement and determine the leak. However, in the case of a large-volume leak in the test object P, such as a packaged product, due to severe surface scratches or poor sealing, almost all the air in the test object P is expelled and the vacuum is maintained during the vacuum period in the working chamber 300. Therefore, there is almost no pressure displacement between the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300. Thus, it is difficult for the first detection unit 400 to detect the large-volume leak. In particular, in packaged products containing food, there is a problem that the contents may deteriorate or be circulated in a deteriorated state due to the failure to detect the leak.

[0043] In addition, the test object P, such as packaged products, placed in the working chamber 300 will expand during the maintenance of vacuum. If the test object P has a large volume leakage, its expansion will be much smaller than if it has a small volume leakage.

[0044] In response, the second detection component 500 detects the height of the object P before and after the vacuum is generated, based on the principle that the object P will expand under the vacuum state after the vacuum is generated. The detection value is transmitted to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 calculates the degree of expansion based on this. If the calculated degree of expansion is less than the preset reference value, it can be determined that a large-capacity leak has occurred.

[0045] refer to Figure 2 The second detection component 500 measures the height h1 (ab) of the object P to be detected before a vacuum is generated, and measures the height h2 (ac) of the object P' after the vacuum is maintained. The measured values ​​are transmitted to the control unit 600. The control unit 600 calculates the expansion degree S according to the following mathematical formula 1. If the expansion degree S is smaller than the preset reference value, it is determined that a large-capacity leak has occurred.

[0046] [Mathematical Expression 1]

[0047] or

[0048] The control unit 600 controls the operation of the vacuum ejector 100 and the opening and closing of the valves, and receives detection values ​​from the first detection unit 400 and the second detection unit 500 to determine whether the detected object P has a small-capacity leak or a large-capacity leak.

[0049] The vacuum leak detection and judgment method according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0050] refer to Figure 3 According to the vacuum leak detection and judgment method of the present invention, the first step S10 is to put the object to be detected P into the working chamber 300. The object to be detected P can be a packaged product, which can be conveyed and automatically put into the working chamber 300 after weighing and sorting.

[0051] Then, the control unit 600 opens the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125 installed on the first vacuum line 110 and the second vacuum line 120 respectively connected to the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300, and operates the vacuum ejector 100 to generate a vacuum in the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300. When the vacuum level in the chamber received from each pressure gauge reaches a preset reference value, the second step S20 is performed to maintain the vacuum by closing the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125.

[0052] Then, the first detection unit 400 installed on the detection line 410 connecting the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 performs the third step S30 of detecting the pressure displacement between the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 and transmitting it to the control unit 600.

[0053] Additionally, the second detection unit 500 installed in the working chamber 300 detects the height h1 of the object P placed in the working chamber 300 before a vacuum is generated and the height h2 after the vacuum is maintained by the transparent detection window 320 formed in the working chamber 300, and performs the fourth step S40 of transmitting it to the control unit 600.

[0054] Then, the control unit 600 receives the detection values ​​from the first detection unit 400 and the second detection unit 500, and performs the fifth step S50 of determining whether the object P being detected has a small-capacity leak or a large-capacity leak.

[0055] At this time, when the detected value of pressure displacement received from the first detection unit 400 is greater than the preset reference value, the control unit 600 can determine that a small-capacity leak has occurred.

[0056] In addition, the control unit 600 uses the measured values ​​of the height h1 of the object P before vacuum generation and the height h2 after vacuum maintenance received from the second detection unit 500 to calculate the expansion degree S according to the above mathematical formula 1. If it is less than the preset reference value, it can be determined that a large-capacity leak has occurred.

[0057] Finally, the control unit 600 opens the first shut-off valve 115 and the second shut-off valve 125, and controls the vacuum ejector 100 to supply compressed air to break the vacuum in the main chamber 200 and the working chamber 300 and execute the sixth step S60 to discharge the object P to the outside.

Claims

1. A vacuum leak detection and judgment device for detecting small-capacity leaks and large-capacity leaks, characterized in that, include: A vacuum ejector is connected to the main chamber and the working chamber to create or break a vacuum state within the chamber. The main chamber is connected to the vacuum ejector via a first vacuum line equipped with a first shut-off valve to generate and maintain a vacuum. The working chamber contains the object to be tested, and is connected to the vacuum ejector through a second vacuum line equipped with a second shut-off valve to generate and maintain a vacuum. It is also equipped with a transparent detection window. The first detection unit is installed on the detection line connecting the main chamber and the working chamber. It is used to detect the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber after maintaining the vacuum, and transmit it to the control unit. The second detection unit is installed in the working chamber and is used to detect the height of the object to be detected before vacuum is generated and the height after vacuum is maintained when the object is put into the working chamber through the transparent detection window, and transmit the height to the control unit. as well as The control unit controls the operation of the vacuum ejector and the opening and closing of the valves, receives detection values ​​from the first and second detection units, and determines whether the detected object has a small-capacity leak or a large-capacity leak. The control unit opens the first and second shut-off valves respectively installed on the first and second vacuum lines connecting the main chamber and the working chamber, and operates the vacuum ejector to generate a vacuum inside the main chamber and the working chamber. When a vacuum is generated inside the working chamber, air inside the object being tested, which has a large-capacity leak, is expelled. When the vacuum level reaches a predetermined reference value, the first and second shut-off valves are closed to maintain the vacuum. The control unit calculates the degree of expansion based on the height of the object being detected before vacuum generation and the height after vacuum maintenance, received from the second detection unit. This calculation is based on the principle that when the object expands under vacuum maintenance in the working chamber, the expansion degree when a large-capacity leak occurs is smaller than when a small-capacity leak occurs. If the calculated degree of expansion is less than a preset reference value, a large-capacity leak is determined to have occurred. After the judgment is completed, the control unit opens the first and second shut-off valves and controls the vacuum ejector to provide compressed air to break the vacuum in the main chamber and the working chamber, and discharges the object to be detected to the outside.

2. A vacuum leak detection and judgment method for detecting small-capacity leaks and large-capacity leaks, comprising a device including a vacuum ejector that converts the interior of a chamber into a vacuum state, a main chamber that generates and maintains a vacuum through the vacuum ejector, and a working chamber equipped with a transparent detection window that generates and maintains a vacuum through the vacuum ejector, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The first step is to place the object to be tested into the working chamber; In the second step, the control unit opens the first and second shut-off valves installed on the first and second vacuum lines respectively connected to the main chamber and the working chamber, and operates the vacuum ejector to generate a vacuum inside the main chamber and the working chamber. When a vacuum is generated inside the working chamber, the air inside the detection object with a large-capacity leak is discharged. When the vacuum degree reaches the pre-reference value, the first and second shut-off valves are closed to maintain the vacuum. The third step involves a first detection unit installed on the detection line connecting the main chamber and the working chamber to detect the pressure displacement between the main chamber and the working chamber and transmit it to the control unit. The fourth step involves the second detection unit installed in the working chamber detecting the height of the object being tested before vacuum is generated and the height after vacuum is maintained through a transparent detection window formed in the working chamber, and transmitting the height to the control unit. The fifth step is that the control unit receives the detection values ​​from the first detection unit and the second detection unit to determine whether the object being detected has a small-capacity leak or a large-capacity leak. as well as In the sixth step, the control unit opens the first and second shut-off valves and controls the vacuum ejector to provide compressed air to break the vacuum in the main chamber and the working chamber, and discharge the object to be detected to the outside. In the fifth step, the control unit calculates the degree of expansion based on the height of the object to be detected before vacuum generation and the height after vacuum maintenance received from the second detection unit. This calculation is based on the principle that the degree of expansion when the object to be detected expands under vacuum maintenance in the working chamber is less than the degree of expansion when the object to be detected expands under vacuum maintenance. If the calculated degree of expansion is less than a preset reference value, it is determined that a large-capacity leak has occurred.

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