Method For Verifying A Time-Sensitive And/Or Temperature-Sensitive Indicator

• US 20100051707A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bizerba SE & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Bizerba GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Conzelmann, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,757,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/494
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/00 Testing or calibrating of thermometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 15/007 Testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/04 for conservation purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/04 in respect of time

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for verifying a time-sensitive and/or temperature-sensitive indicator for marking perishable products. According to said method, the time at which the indicator is activated is detected and stored, the time difference between the stored activation time and a verification time is determined, and verification is made as to whether the change of the indicator occurring during the determined time difference exceeds or falls short of a desired value that depends on the determined time difference. The invention further relates to an indicator for carrying out such a method.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method for the checking of a time-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive indicator (12) for the marking of perishable products, wherein

the time of the activation of the indicator (12) is detected and stored;

the time difference between the stored activation time and an inspection time is determined; and

a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which occurred in the determined time difference is greater or less than a desired value dependent on the determined time difference.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which has occurred in the determined time difference corresponds to that change which is characteristic for the respective indicator (12), in particular at a preset temperature.

21. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a first error message characterizing an insufficient cooling and/or too old an age of the product provided with the indicator (12) is generated when the expected change of the indicator (12) (desired value) is exceeded by at least a preset degree.

22. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a second error message marking the functionality of the indicator (12) is generated when the expected change of the indicator (12) (desired value) is not reached by at least a preset degree.

23. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a code marking the activation time is associated with the indicator (12);

in that the code (14), and thus the respective activation time, is read at the inspection time; and

in that subsequently the time difference between the activation point and the inspection point is determined,

with the code in particular still containing at least one of the pieces of information named in the following;

type of indicator, manufacturer ID, indicator-specific operational data and/or sensor data of the application device, product type.

24. A method in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that a code (14) clearly identifying the marked product is associated with the indicator (12) and is stored in a database together with the activation time associated with the respective product;

in that the clear code (14) associated with the indicator (12) is read at the inspection time and the respective activation time is read out of the database via this code (14); and

in that subsequently the time difference between the activation point and the inspection point is determined.

25. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) is applied, in particular overprinted, onto a product to be marked substantially simultaneously with the indicator (12).

26. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are applied to a common carrier layer.

27. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked.

28. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) contains a clear identification code marking the respective product.

29. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) is made as a miniature barcode or as a data matrix code.

30. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) and an indicator change are read with a single sensor (26).

31. A method in accordance with claim 23, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are illuminated either actively by the sensor (26) or only by ambient light in the reading process.

32. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) is applied, in particular overprinted, onto a product to be marked substantially simultaneously with the indicator (12).

33. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are applied to a common carrier layer.

34. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked.

35. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) contains a clear identification code marking the respective product.

36. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) is made as a miniature barcode or as a data matrix code.

37. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) and an indicator change are read with a single sensor (26).

38. A method in accordance with claim 24, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are illuminated either actively by the sensor (26) or only by ambient light in the reading process.

39. A method for the checking of a time-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive indicator (12) for the marking of perishable products, wherein

the stored time of the activation of the indicator (12) is called up or read;

the time difference between the stored activation time and an inspection time is determined; and

a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which occurred in the determined time difference is greater or less than a desired value dependent on the determined time difference.

40. :

A method in accordance with claim 39, characterized in that a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which has occurred in the determined time difference corresponds to that change which is characteristic for the respective indicator (12), in particular at a preset temperature.

41. A method in accordance with claim 39, characterized in that a first error message characterizing an insufficient cooling and/or too old an age of the product provided with the indicator (12) is generated when the expected change of the indicator (12) (desired value) is exceeded by at least a preset degree.

42. A method in accordance with claim 39, characterized in that a second error message marking the functionality of the indicator (12) is generated when the expected change of the indicator (12) (desired value) is not reached by at least a preset degree.

43. A method in accordance with claim 39, characterized in that a code marking the activation time is associated with the indicator (12);

in that the code (14), and thus the respective activation time, is read at the inspection time; and

in that subsequently the time difference between the activation point and the inspection point is determined,

with the code in particular still containing at least one of the pieces of information named in the following;

type of indicator, manufacturer ID, indicator-specific operational data and/or sensor data of the application device, product type.

44. A method in accordance with claim 39, characterized in that a code (14) clearly identifying the marked product is associated with the indicator (12) and is stored in a database together with the activation time associated with the respective product;

in that the clear code (14) associated with the indicator (12) is read at the inspection time and the respective activation time is read out of the database via this code (14); and

in that subsequently the time difference between the activation point and the inspection point is determined.

45. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) is applied, in particular overprinted, onto a product to be marked substantially simultaneously with the indicator (12).

46. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are applied to a common carrier layer.

47. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked.

48. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) contains a clear identification code marking the respective product.

49. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) is made as a miniature barcode or as a data matrix code.

50. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) and an indicator change are read with a single sensor (26).

51. A method in accordance with claim 43, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are illuminated either actively by the sensor (26) or only by ambient light in the reading process.

52. A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) is applied, in particular overprinted, onto a product to be marked substantially simultaneously with the indicator (12).

53. A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are applied to a common carrier layer.

54. A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked.

55. A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) contains a clear identification code marking the respective product.

56. :

A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) is made as a miniature barcode or as a data matrix code.

57. :

A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) and an indicator change are read with a single sensor (26).

58. :

A method in accordance with claim 44, characterized in that the code (14) and the indicator (12) are illuminated either actively by the sensor (26) or only by ambient light in the reading process.

59. :

An indicator (12) for the carrying out of a method for the checking of a time-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive indicator (12) for the marking of perishable products, wherein

the time of the activation of the indicator (12) is detected and stored;

the time difference between the stored activation time and an inspection time is determined; and

a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which occurred in the determined time difference is greater or less than a desired value dependent on the determined time difference, said indicator having at least one time-sensitive marking and a temperature-sensitive marking (16) which can in particular be activated via light and having a code (14) marking the activation time.

61. :

An indicator in accordance with claim 59, characterized in that the code (14) additionally contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked and/or a clear identification code identifying the respective product.

63. :

An indicator in accordance with claim 59, characterized in that the marking (16) and the code (14) are applied to a common carrier layer or to a product or to product packaging.

60. :

An indicator (12) for the carrying out of a method for the checking of a time-sensitive and/or temperature sensitive indicator (12) for the marking of perishable products, wherein

the stored time of the activation of the indicator (12) is called up or read;

the time difference between the stored activation time and an inspection time is determined; and

a check is made whether the change of the indicator (12) which occurred in the determined time difference is greater or less than a desired value dependent on the determined time difference, said indicator having at least one time-sensitive marking and a temperature-sensitive marking (16) which can in particular be activated via light and having a code (14) marking the activation time.

62. :

An indicator in accordance with claim 60, characterized in that the code (14) additionally contains an identification key of the manufacturer of the product to be marked and/or a clear identification code identifying the respective product.

64. :

An indicator in accordance with claim 60, characterized in that the marking (16) and the code (14) are applied to a common carrier layer or to a product or to product packaging.