Ultraviolet ray fault detector for plastic bottles of similar liquid containers, use internal and external electrodes former to ionize container air, latter to detect escaping ionized air

摘要

The detector includes internal rod electrode (22) inserted through stopper (32) fitted into containers opening (16). The electrode has pointed end (30), and alternating or continuous high voltage is applied to internal and external terminals so that air inside the container is ionized by corona effect. External electrodes (24,26,28) are in the form of plane grills, electrically isolated from each other, and arranged so that total external container surface is surrounded. An Independent claim is also included for a fault detection method. The fault detector includes: (a) an internal electrode (22); external electrodes (24,26,28) separated from the container exterior by gaps (33,34,35); a voltage source connected to the electrodes; EXCIMER ultra violet lamps (48,50,52) which ionizes the air inside the container and if a fault (18) is detected ionized air escapes and is picked up by the exterior electrodes; a current measurement system (36,40,42,44,46).