Patent ID: 6578407
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
A system for leak testing industrial components comprising:a conveyor system for transporting the industrial components to and from a test area having a support surface, a robot operable in said test area, said robot having a manipulator which engages and moves the industrial components, at least two leak test units, each leak test unit having means for receiving the industrial component from said robot, means at said leak unit for thereafter subjecting said industrial component to a leak test, each leak test unit generating a failure output signal in response to a failed leak test on the industrial component, means for movably mounting each of said leak test units to said test area support surface between an operable position in which each said leak test unit is positioned in said test area to receive the industrial components from said robot, and an inoperable position in which the leak test unit is positioned outside of said test area, a robot control means for controlling the movement of the industrial components by said robot between said conveyor system and one or more selected leak test units in response to at least one control factor, said at least one control factor including said failure output signal wherein said robot control means controls the movement of the robot to transfer the industrial component from one leak test unit to another leak test unit in response to a failure output signal received by said robot control means from said one leak test unit following a leak test on the industrial component.