DE7441285U - Packaging with display device for the integrity of the airtight seal of the packaging - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys

Df. Ing.Waiter Abitz
Dr, D later F. M ο rf
Dr. Hans-A. f:, e.: jns

8 Munich ü, Γ, -ίϋ. «..— · & νΓ. 28 December 11th

BMS 25 DW

ΒΙΟ-MEDICAL SCIENCES, INC.

New Dutch Lane, Pairfield, New Jersey ! ■■ * V. St. A.

Packaging with display device for the integrity of the airtight Ver the end of the packaging

The present invention relates to a packaging, an envelope, a container or the like with a display device for the integrity of the airtight seal of the packaging, wrapping or container. Numerous objects and substances are produced under special conditions in the course of their manufacture packaged that maintain their original quality

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should receive or extend. surgical instruments are for example packed under aseptic conditions or after packing by heat or irradiation sterile lized. Substances subject to oxidation can be packaged in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen will. Such packaging should of course retain its intactness when it is transported from the manufacturer to the consumer or users arrive. In addition, there should be security that the products have not been altered or falsified became. Pharmaceuticals, perfumes, alcoholic beverages and the like can have special properties that . are associated with very well-known product labels, and it is necessary from the manufacturer's point of view to be sure = to ensure that the packaged product has not been opened and the contents have not been diluted or replaced if the Ver = consumer purchases the product. Various guarantees often depend on installation by a trained operator, such as it is the case, for example, with sophisticated electronic elements, and it is important to provide a facility to to ensure that the element to be installed is in the same state as it was when it left the Her = Position company owned.

The present invention provides a system for determining whether the integrity of a package has been preserved or whether the packaging has been opened intentionally or accidentally.

The system is intended for use with a normally closed package that acts as a component of the system is being used. A sensor is arranged in such a way that it communicates with the interior of the packaging but is visible from the outside of the packaging. The sensor can simply be packed in a transparent package be pushed, printed on the packaging material or integrated into the structure of the packaging. The sensor ent = holds a pH-sensitive dye, which in normal,

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atmospheric pH-Wex * t shows a first coloration and ent = neither slightly above or below normal, atmosphere = see pH shows a second coloration. One of the first or second colorations can be a colorless state, such as it follows from the following. Since the normal, atmo = spherical see pH value depending on various factors, in particular the carbon dioxide content in the air, of about can fluctuate five to just above seven, the coloring pH at which the color change occurs is ge = slightly above or below this range.

The pH sensitive dye can be picked up by the sensor in any desired manner. He can in a simple way on a support such as a small flake and / or strip of paper. Alternatively it can be printed or stamped in the form of a mark on a strip of the carrier. The carrier can be colorless (white) or in the same or a different color than one of the two or more colors of the pH-sensitive color = dyed with the fabric. For example, if the dye changes from blue to yellow, the carrier can use the same blue hue, so that the blue sign becomes invisible when the dye is in its blue form and becomes visible when the dye is in its yellow form. The sensor can be a simple print on the inside of clear packaging material using appropriate printing formulation. Such an imprint can also be a simple point or a similar area, with the explanation on the other Surface of the film (outside) is printed.

The last component of the system is an artificial atmosphere that contains a small amount of either an acidic or a basic, Contains gaseous material. This atmosphere is introduced into a package in an amount that is at least sufficient to keep the sensor's dye in its second color

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For example, if the dye takes on its second color above normal atmospheric pH, an artificial atmosphere contains a basic gaseous material. When the sensor's dye takes on its second color below normal atmospheric pH, it becomes an artificial atmosphere is used, which contains an acidic, gaseous material. The atmosphere need only be "artificial" in the sense that the acidic or basic gaseous material is present at the indicated level, although it can also be artificial in other respects. The acidic or basic gaseous material can, for example, simply be mixed with air to form the artificial atmosphere or can be added to an already artificial atmosphere, such as nitrogen.

Suitable acidic, gaseous materials include carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Suitable basic, gaseous i = ge materials include ammonia and simple amines. Carbon dioxide and ammonia are suitable for most applications suitable and are preferred.

Show it;

Fig. 1 and 2 in perspective view a typical Ver =

pack using the present system, the sensor from the contents of the pack is separate and isolated,

Fig. 3 __ a perspective view of a further execution = form in which the sensor and the contents of the packaging are in this, and

4 and 5 enlarged in partial views the character of FIG. 3, the change in the character in the event of loss the integrity of the package is shown.

Fig. 3 shows a package 10 within which an object is sealed or closed. Located in the packaging

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a sensor 12, which is printed with an inscription 13 is. The material with which the lettering is printed

j contains a dye that is active in normal atmospheric conditions

pH is yellow, but is blue at pH higher than normal atmospheric pH. The packaging • is sealed, containing an atmosphere that Ammonia in just enough concentration to keep the sensor's dye in its blue form. This value is sufficiently low that it is normally not recognizable with the human sense of smell.

If the integrity of the packaging is lost, as in the case of = play by breaking the packaging wall 14 in Fig. 4, as shown at 15 in Fig. 5, the ammonia escapes and the partial pressure of the ammonia falls. When the pH value drops inside the packaging, the sensor dye reverses back to its first coloring. Accordingly, the user receives immediate knowledge that the integrity The package has been lost, even if the break may be too small for visual inspection is or · is hidden from such.

Figures 1 and 2 show a further embodiment. A A conventional container such as a bottle 20 is filled with the desired amount of any substance 21. The atmosphere above the fabric can be chosen arbitrarily, since the atmosphere with which the integrity is perceived is separated from the contents of the container. The container will closed by a conventional cap 22, for example. A heat-shrinkable film 23 with a suitable on which Inside printed sign 24 for the intactness (the sign is dashed in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2 by from = solid lines) is then drawn around the lower circumference of the cap and the upper part of the container body in her = sealed in a convenient way. Before sealing, an atmosphere that contains carbon dioxide, for example, is introduced into the

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richly inserted between the foil and the container. at
Use of a dye such as phenolphthalein
in the form of an alkali metal salt, will be the imprinted mark

invisible in the presence of carbon dioxide / but turns to ';

its red color back when the seal is broken: and the carbon dioxide escapes.

The type of sign can obviously be selected I.

and depends on whether the dye is from a coloring in j

a colorless state, a colorless state in a color = |

exercise or changes from one color to another. |

Suitable dyes of the used for the present invention = 1 deten type are known, for example phenolphthalein, xylenol =

blue, nile blue A, m-cresol purple, bromocresol green, o-cresol red, j

Cyanidine chloride, bromocresol purple, alizarin, thymol blue, j

Bromophenol red, methyl red, acid fuchsine, brilliant yellow, blue =]

wood extract, bromothymol blue, phenol red, phenolphthalexone and | the like, as well as the alkali and alkaline earth metal salts thereof.

In another embodiment, the sensor includes a j

Buffer that in the absence of acidic or basic, gas = |

granular material has a pH outside the normal atmo = |

maintains spherical pH range. This allows for a slightly wider selection of dyes. With carbon dioxide as
acidic gas can, for example, contain a dye such as Nilbl & u A
Sodium carbonate to be mixed. In the presence of coals =

dioxide, the dye takes on its blue color, while |

under the influence of normal atmospheric pH- |

Value the basicity of the buffer the dye in. Its j

converts to magenta coloring. Other buffers, such as |

Alkali metal phosphates and salts of amines can be used together with]

strong acids can be used in a similar manner. j

The dye is produced by a simple printer =; color applied, for example by adding a

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Alcohol, such as butanol, including polyols, such as glycerin, Polyethylene glycol and the like. The carrier means is not critical and can according to the practice of Printing technique. If the active form of the dye is sufficiently soluble, it can be used immediately be formulated. The dye can also be in the form of a salt or the free acid or base, depending on which form is most suitable for solubility, and then after printing by back titration with acid or base, whichever is most suitable, can be converted to the desired pH form.

The minimum content of acidic, gaseous material depends on the respective dye. Some dyes, such as ethyl bis (2,4-dinitrophenyl) acetate, for example, have a ge = low sensitivity and can only be used when the partial pressure of the acidic, gaseous material is high, that is to say at about 80 percent of the total pressure. Other dyes such as thymol blue or thymolphthalein are sensitive rather and can be used at lower partial pressures for example, at seven to ten percent of the total pressure or less. The acidic, gaseous material is im generally not disadvantageous and often contributes to the durability of the product, such as with certain meat = Sorts.

The following examples serve to further illustrate the invention without representing a restriction.

example 1

One part by volume of Brornkresolpurpux becomes 20 parts by volume Glycerine given. Eight parts by volume of a 10-normal potassium = hydroxide: solution are then used to completely dissolve the Dye added. This printer color is then used for this

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turns, / like to print a sign labeled "with yellow indicator back to the manufacturer" on a piece of paper. The printed paper is then treated with gaseous HCl in order to just neutralize the dye, and then introduced into plastic packaging in such a way that it is visible from the outside. A small amount of ammonia gas, sufficient to convert the dye to its basic color, about 10 ~ ³ mm partial pressure, is then introduced and the package is sealed. As long as the package is undamaged, the lettering remains blue. If the package is broken, the lettering will revert to its yellow color.

Example 2

The dye prepared according to Example 1 is used for this purpose turns to printing a suitable character in reverse letters on a heat-sealable plastic film. In an artificial Chen atmosphere, which contains a small amount of ammonia, the objects are then sealed in the foil where = where the imprint is on the inside of the film.

Example 3

A printing ink is made from one part by weight of cresol red, 20 parts by volume of glycerine and up to 5 parts by volume of one 10-norinal aqueous potassium hydroxide solution is made. These Ink is used in the same way as described in Example 1 «

Example 4

A dispersion of 31.8 parts by weight of phenolphthalein in 250 parts by volume of methanol is treated with a solution of 11.22 Ge = parts by weight of potassium hydroxide in 100 parts by volume of methanol mixed «The mixture is then treated with petroleum ether,

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to precipitate the potassium salt of phenolphthalein, which is briefly held in vacuo to remove most of the solvent. One part by weight of this material is then mixed with 10 parts by weight of glycerine. This phrase is used to denote the caption "open" on Whatman No. 1 filter paper and is covered with a heat-shrinkable plastic film. The film is then used to wrap the lower periphery of the cap of the bottle and the bottle neck. This is done in an atmosphere that contains enough carbon dioxide _(to make the print colorless. As long as the seal is intact, the print is invisible. If the seal is broken, the carbon dioxide escapes and the print becomes visible as the dye is red to turns pink.

Example 5

One part by weight of T.hymol blue is mixed with five parts by weight of polyethylene glycol 200. This mixture is titrated with 10 normal aqueous potassium hydroxide solution until the pH of the solution reaches 14. Five parts of de = still water are then added and a Whatman no. 1 filter paper of 1 cm is soaked with this solution. The impregnated disc is placed in a heat-sealable bag made of coextruded polyvinylidene chloride ¹ . ^and 0.127 mm (5 mil) thick polyethylene. Carbon dioxide is then introduced into the bag until the disc takes on an orange-yellow color, and the bag is sealed by ultrasound. This sensor turns blue when the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide falls significantly below the initial value. Appropriate warning signs can be printed in connection with the sensor.

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Claims (5)

G 71 Ii 285. 4 28 · May Bio-Medical Sciences, Inc. BMS 35 DW / G protection claims 1. Packaging with display device for the integrity the tight closure of the packaging, characterized by a sensor arranged inside the packaging (12) in the form of a layer of a pH-sensitive dye printed or glued onto the inside of the packaging, the first color at normal atmospheric pH and slightly above or below the normal, atmospheric pH value one second color shows, and an artificial atmosphere inside the package, the pH of which is below normal atmospheric pH when the u dye its second coloration below normal, atmospheric pH and its pH is above normal atmospheric pH when the dye takes its second color above the normal, atmospheric pH value, as well as the fact that the packaging in the area of the sensor (12) made of transparent material. 2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the artificial atmosphere contains carbon dioxide, 3. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the artificial atmosphere contains ammonia. Yy. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging (10) consists of transparent material and the sensor (12) is printed on the inside of the packaging is. 5. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the dye is pH-sensitive and contains a buffer. 7441285 ii.rn.7S