High Pressure Processing Pressure Sensor

• US 20190011318A1
• Filed: 09/12/2018
• Published: 01/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ChromaticTechnologies lncoporated
• Original Assignee: ChromaticTechnologies lncoporated
• Inventors: Wang, Ruizheng, Owen, Timothy J., Small, Lyle D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,605,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-125. -125. (canceled)

126. 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.

127. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is in admixture with at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

128. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is incorporated into at least of portion of said thermoplastic material.

129. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is integrated with at least of portion of said thermoplastic material.

130. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is suspended in at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

131. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is embedded in at least a portion of said thermoplastic material.

132. The container component of claim 126, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is applied to an external surface of said container component.

133. The container component of claim 132, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is printed on said external surface of said container component.

134. The container component of claim 133, wherein said contained reversible thermochromic color-changing system is incorporated into an ink which is printed on said external surface of said container component.

135. The container component of claim 126, wherein said container component comprises a closure.

136. The container component of claim 135, wherein said container component comprise a cap.

137. The container component of claim 135, wherein said container component comprise a lid.

138. The container component of claim 135, wherein said container component comprise an end piece.

139. The container component of claim 126, wherein said container component comprises a container body.

140. The container component of claim 126, wherein said container component comprises a portion of a container body.