Abstract: A tube sealing positioning apparatus has a tube holder slidable on a vertical guide from a lower to an upper portion of a sealing chamber for positioning adjacent a heating apparatus and a clamping apparatus. The heating apparatus may have a nozzle to direct heated air on an open end of a plastic tube. The clamping apparatus may have two clamping devices slidably disposed to clamp the heated open end of the plastic tube to fuse the tube wall adjacent the open end. A control processor may be connected to control movement and dwell time of the tube holder, and to control heat application and clamp spacing and time. A sealed tube may be attached to a top cover to be positioned in a test container. A sealing disk may close the top cover and may direct fluid pressure into the tube and apply a vacuum to the test container.

Abstract: A tube sealing positioning apparatus has a tube holder slidable on a vertical guide from a lower to an upper portion of a sealing chamber for positioning adjacent a heating apparatus and a clamping apparatus. The heating apparatus may have a nozzle to direct heated air on an open end of a plastic tube. The clamping apparatus may have two clamping devices slidably disposed to clamp the heated open end of the plastic tube to fuse the tube wall adjacent the open end. A control processor may be connected to control movement and dwell time of the tube holder, and to control heat application and clamp spacing and time. A sealed tube may be attached to a top cover to be positioned in a test container. A sealing disk may close the top cover and may direct fluid pressure into the tube and apply a vacuum to the test container.

Abstract: A heating apparatus may have a nozzle to direct heated air on an open end of a plastic tube. A clamping apparatus may have two clamping devices slidably disposed to clamp the heated open end of the plastic tube to fuse the tube wall adjacent the open end. A control processor may be connected to control movement and dwell time of the tube holder, and to control heat application and clamp spacing and time. A graph of a clamping force as a function of the dwell time can be displayed for comparison of successive tube sealing operations.