High pressure processing pressure sensor

• US 10,605,681 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChromaticTechnologies lncoporated
• Original Assignee: Chromatic Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Ruizheng, Owen, Timothy J., Small, Lyle D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jenkins, Jermaine L
• Application Number:
  US16/129,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20190011318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/165 characterised by the use of microcapsules; Special solvents for incorporating the ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/287 using microcapsules or microspheres only
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/24 Adaptations for preventing deterioration or decay of contents; Applications to the container or packaging material of food preservatives, fungicides, pesticides or animal repellants with thermal insulation B65D81/38
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/72 for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/24 by measuring variations of optical properties of material when it is stressed, e.g. by photoelastic stress analysis using infrared, visible light, ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/247 using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules along a single optical fibre G01L1/242

Abstract

A pressure sensor and its use for visually determining whether a preselected pressure threshold has been achieved, for example during high pressure processing treatment of a foodstuff. The pressure sensor includes a contained color-changing system having a dye, a developer, and a solvent; upon achievement of the preselected pressure threshold, the dye and the developer interact, resulting in a visible color change. Further, the visible color change can be retained upon a decrease in pressure and upon an increase in temperature, thereby effectively recording the achievement of the preselected pressure threshold during the high pressure processing treatment.

Claims

1. A container component comprising:

a pressure sensor for visually determining whether a pressure threshold has been achieved, said pressure sensor comprising;

a contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprising;

a dye;

a developer; and

a solvent;

wherein said developer variably interacts with said dye according to the pressure of said color-changing system;

wherein upon achievement of said pressure threshold, said dye and said developer interact, resulting in a visible color change;

wherein said reversible thermochromic color-changing system comprises a color-memory property which facilitates retention of said visible color change upon a decrease in pressure from said pressure threshold to record said achievement of said pressure threshold; and

at least one thermoplastic material.

2. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is in admixture with at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

3. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is incorporated into at least of portion of said thermoplastic material.

4. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is integrated with at least of portion of said thermoplastic material.

5. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is suspended in at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

6. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is embedded in at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

7. The container component of claim 1, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is applied to an external surface of said container component.

8. The container component of claim 7, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is printed on said external surface of said container component.

9. The container component of claim 8, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is incorporated into an ink which is printed on said external surface of said container component.

10. The container component of claim 1, wherein said container component comprises a closure.

11. The container component of claim 10, wherein said container component comprise a cap.

12. The container component of claim 10, wherein said container component comprise a lid.

13. The container component of claim 10, wherein said container component comprise an end piece.

14. The container component of claim 1, wherein said container component comprises a container body.

15. The container component of claim 1, wherein said container component comprises a portion of a container body.