PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL OF TIGHTNESS OF PACKAGES

The tightness of sealed packages is monitored by means of a process and an apparatus system which utilize and incorporate a first system section, which includes at least one reservoir and a pressure measuring cell, a second system section, which includes a rigid measuring chamber, and means for adjusting pressure of the system sections via the first system section. The first system section is first pressurized to a predetermined pressure, which may be either above or below atmospheric pressure, and then the first and second system sections are brought into communication for establishing a second pressure for the first and second system sections combined. Major leaks in the sealed packages, absence of a sample in the measuring chamber and leaks in the measuring chamber then may be detected with the aid of the pressure measuring cell. For detecting other than major leaks, the first and second system sections then are isolated and a differential pressure cell detects the pressures of the first and second system sections for a timing sufficient to detect differences in pressure between the first and second system sections for detecting if the package being tested has leaks.