Patent ID: 8544315

Claim:
A method of testing completely or partially liquid product filled or dry product filled rigid and semi-rigid nonporous containers for leaks, including headspace gas leaks and/or vapor leaks derived from package contents, using at least one or both an absolute pressure transducer and a differential pressure transducer in a testing system that includes a vacuum source and wherein the testing system may be selectively isolated from a test chamber in which a container is received for testing, wherein the method comprises the steps of: A. Placing a container in an airtight test chamber and sealing the chamber; B. Maintaining an at rest reduced vacuum pressure within the testing system prior to communicating the testing system to the test chamber; C. Starting a test by connecting the testing system, while at the reduced vacuum pressure, to the test chamber and applying a reduced pressure to the test chamber utilizing the vacuum source; D. Closing the vacuum source from the test chamber if a predetermined pressure is reached within a predetermined time period; and subsequently E. Monitoring any decay in the vacuum created in the test chamber by using a differential pressure transducer to monitor any increase in pressure within the test chamber during another predetermined period of time such that increases in pressure may reflect small leaks in the container.