Test apparatus
First Claim
1. A test sample adapted to test correct operation of measuring and monitoring equipment of a production line, comprising a contaminant specimen including a contaminant or simulated contaminant and having at least one pre-selected property selected from composition, dimensions and mass, said test sample further comprising machine-readable identification identifying said test sample and corresponding to said pre-selected property of the contaminant specimen, wherein the test sample is co-locatable with a product passing along the production line, such that the test sample and said product pass together through the measuring and monitoring equipment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test sample is provided for testing performance of measuring and monitoring equipment for production lines, for example for foodstuffs or pharmaceuticals, and in particular, contamination monitoring equipment employing X-rays and/or metal detectors to spot foreign bodies in packaged products. The test sample may comprise a laminated card enclosing a standardised test piece such as a metal particle of specified size. The card or other sample may bear at least one identification containing a barcode, readable by an optical scanner. To test the equipment, a card is placed on a product package passing through the equipment, the optical scanner reads the barcode to confirm that the correct test sample has been submitted, and the results for the test sample are recorded in a computer log. If the results do not match those expected from the particular test sample submitted, the equipment fails the test and requires recalibration or repair.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A test sample adapted to test correct operation of measuring and monitoring equipment of a production line, comprising a contaminant specimen including a contaminant or simulated contaminant and having at least one pre-selected property selected from composition, dimensions and mass, said test sample further comprising machine-readable identification identifying said test sample and corresponding to said pre-selected property of the contaminant specimen, wherein the test sample is co-locatable with a product passing along the production line, such that the test sample and said product pass together through the measuring and monitoring equipment.
- 4. Measuring and monitoring equipment for a production line, comprising contamination monitoring equipment to determine a presence or absence of a preselected contaminant, means to report the determination of the presence or absence of said preselected contaminant, and means adapted to read identification of a test sample comprising a contaminant specimen including a contaminant or simulated contaminant and having at least one pre-selected property selected from composition, dimensions and mass, and comprising machine-readable identification identifying said test sample and corresponding to said pre-selected property of the contaminant specimen, when said test sample is submitted together with a product passing along the production line to the measuring and monitoring equipment so as to confirm correct operation of the measuring and monitoring equipment.
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11. A method for testing correct operation of measuring and monitoring equipment for a production line, said measuring and monitoring equipment comprising contamination monitoring equipment, comprising the steps of:
- providing a test sample comprising a contaminant specimen including a contaminant or simulated contaminant and having at least one pre-selected property selected from composition, dimensions and mass, said test sample further comprising machine-readable identification identifying said test sample and corresponding to said pre-selected property of the contaminant specimen, providing measuring and monitoring equipment comprising means to read said identification, placing said test sample together with a product passing along the production line, submitting said test sample and said product together to said measuring and monitoring equipment, recording a response of said measuring and monitoring equipment to the test sample, reading the identification of the test sample to determine an identity of the test sample, and recording said identity of the test sample in association with said response.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification