GB2419846A

GB2419846A - Method and apparatus for dating and/or identifying time-sensitive products

Info

Publication number: GB2419846A
Application number: GB0424684A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bryan Poynton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-09
Filing date: 2004-11-09
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Also published as: GB0424684D0

Abstract

The method and apparatus involve means for providing or generating a base date (e.g., today's date), means for providing or generating a selected time period representative of the time-sensitivity of a product under the conditions it is subjected to, means for adding the selected time period to the base date to produce a new date, and means for indicating and/or recording (e.g., on a label) the new date. The new date (e.g., on a label) may be associated with the product. Preferably, a printer is provided to dispense labels (e.g., self-adhesive labels) with the new date. The labels may be affixed to a time-sensitive product (e.g., a foodstuff) or its packaging.

Description

1 2419846 Method & Apparatus for Dating and/or Identifying Time-Sensitive

Products The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dating and/or identifying time-sensitive products. The invention also relates to a method and apparatus for dating and/or identifying containers containing time-sensitive products.

Many types of product deteriorate over time. Examples of time-sensitive products include foods, medicines, agricultural products, inter alia. Packaged time-sensitive products usually have a label, normally on the container or packaging, indicating a best-before' date or use by' date. After the best before' date or the use by' date, it is prudent to discard the product. However, if the product is stored under conditions which reduce or substantially eliminate its usual time-sensitivity, the best before' date or the use by' date does not apply in the normal way. For example, if a packaged food product intended to be stored at ambient or chilled conditions is frozen (e.g., in a the freezing compartment of a refrigerator), its time-sensitivity is reduced and the relevant bestbefore' date or use by' date then depends on how long the product can be stored in the frozen condition without significant deterioration or becoming unsafe to eat.

When a packaged product labelled "use within x' days of opening" is opened, users do not often take note of the date of opening of the package, and as a result, they are then not able to determine when the use by' date occurs.

US published patent application No. US-A-2002/012983 discloses and claims a method and device for providing an accurate indication of the date and status of materials contained in a container. The method comprises the steps of: (a) determining the status of the materials; (b) entering in a data acquisition device the status of the materials; (c) printing a tag that indicates the current date in real time and the status entered; and (d) placing the printed tag upon the container. The device comprises: (a) a data entry unit for entering commands concerning the status of the material; (b) a processing unit for receiving the entered commands, maintaining the then current date in real time, and transmitting a print command; and (c) a printing unit for receiving the print command from the processing unit and printing the status and the current date on a label.

Although the system of the said US publication might be useful, it has drawbacks.

One drawback is that it operates to provide a date (e.g., on a label affixed to a food product container) which merely indicates the date on which the normal time- sensitivity period starts. For example, the system operates to produce a label showing the date on which a food package or container is opened. However, the US patent publication does not disclose, recognise, suggest or indicate in any manner the more ithportant problem of specifying or indicating or identifying the date at which a time-sensitive product should be discarded. This problem is highly significant since deterioration of a product (e.g., a food product) starts with the date of exposure to deteriorational conditions such as opening the packaging or container. The US patent publication is concerned solely with recording the date of the start of the use by' period.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus to enable a user to identify a use by' date or a best before' date in order to avoid using deteriorated product and thereby mitigate risks such as food poisoning.

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for dating and/or identifying time-sensitive products. The method is defined in claim 1 of the set of claims following the present description. Optional and/or preferred features of the method are defined in the dependent method claims in the said set of claims. The apparatus is defined in claim 8 of the said set of claims. Optional and/or preferred features of the apparatus are defined in the dependent apparatus claims of the said set of claims.

In contrast to the teachings of US-A-2002/O 129892, the present invention addresses the problem of time-sensitive products in a manner which facilitates the avoidance or reduction of risks arising from deteriorated products such as food products and/or other products. The disclosure and teachings of the US publication does not consider the problem of enabling users to avoid or reduce risks arising from deteriorated food products or suggest how such risks might be avoided or reduced.

Description

Foodstuffs, medicines and agricultural products (inter alia) are often supplied with a "use by" date printed on them, other foodstuffs detail a "use within x amount of time after opening". The date may be printed on a label, and the label may be attached directly to the product concerned or it may be attached to a container or packaging for the product.

If however a product with a "use by" date is frozen, the pre-printed date no longer applies. The relevant "use by" date now depends on how long it is safe to store the product in the freezer or other equipment for maintaining the frozen condition. The invention enables a user to label the product or its packaging with a new date based on how long it is safe to store the foodstuff (or other product) in the freezer or other equipment.

When a "use within x days of opening" product is opened, people will often not take note of the date that they opened it, and as such not know when its "use by" date should be. The invention will allow the user to label the packaging with a "use by" date based on the recommended "use within x amount of time" information and the date of opening the packaging. In the case of foodstuffs, knowing whether the food is still within the revised recommended "use by date" period should reduce the risk of food poisoning from out-of-date food, and should also enable the user to identify food that is in date, and therefore in satisfactory condition. Moreover, such information should avoid or reduce wastage arising from food being needlessly discarded prior to its revised use by' date.

An embodiment of the invention is now briefly described by way of a nonlimiting Example and with reference to the drawings. The device is illustrated in fig 1. The device enables a user to enter a time period in days, weeks, months or years, via a series of buttons. The device stores the current date, and when these buttons are pressed, it adds the relevant amount of days, weeks, or months to the current date, and may store and/or display the future date. This future date is transmitted or passed to a printing device, where it is printed onto a label. The label is then affixed to whatever container holds the food product (or it might be attached directly to the product if the product is not in a container), such that a user can see when the product must be used by. The system described may be used for food products that are stored in a freezer, refrigerator or a food storage cupboard.

The device may be a stand alone device or it may be incorporated into another appliance such as a refrigerator, freezer, or control console.

A label with a future date printed on it may be affixed to any container that the food or other time-sensitive product is stored in.

The following is a brief description of the drawings: Figure 1 is a simplified view of one embodiment (given by way of a non-limitative example) of a device or apparatus according to the invention.

Date Display This displays today's date, e.g., as a default - fig 2.

When one of the time period buttons is pressed it will display the amount of time entered, and the future date, e.g.: User presses the "day" button five times, display is as fig 3.

User presses the "month" button 6 times, display is as fig 4.

Buttons There are six buttons in this embodiment (however, more buttons or less may be employed).

Day: Pressing the "day" button will add one day to the Date Display, the maximum number of days that can be entered is seven. If the button is pressed more than six times, the Date Display is programmed to report the message Use Weeks' - fig 5.

The user must then press the Cancel button to proceed. This clears the Display back to today's date.

Week: Pressing the "week" button adds one week to the Date Display, the maximum number of weeks that can be entered is four (in this embodiment). If the button is pressed more than four times, the Date Display is programmed to report the message Use Months'.

Month: Pressing the "month" button once adds one month to the Date Display, the maximum number of months that can be entered (in this embodiment) is 12. If the button is pressed more than 12 times, the Date Display is programmed to report the message Use Years'.

Year: Pressing the "year" button once adds one year to the Date Display. The maximum number of years that can be entered may be (e.g.) ten. If the button is pressed more than ten times, the Date Display is programmed, in this embodiment, to report the message Maximum 10 Years' - fig 6.

Cancel: Pressing the "cancel" button returns the Date Display to Today's Date.

Print: Pressing "Print" sends a signal of the Future Date to the printer.

Printer: The printer operates to print the date onto a specified size of label, which may be a self-adhesive label. The user may affix this label to a container for the time-sensitive product (e.g., a food) or (in suitable instances) directly to the product.

The apparatus or device may be arranged so that depressing one or more of the various buttons mentioned herein adds different numbers of days, weeks, months or years to those specified above, according to the requirements of the users of the apparatus.

The manner in which the device may be constructed and operate will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the relevant field of technology.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A manual or automated method of dating and/or identifying time-

sensitive products comprising the steps of: (a) providing or indicating a base date (e.g., today's date); (b) operating a date entry means for providing a selected time period; (c) adding the selected time period to the base date; (d) indicating and/or recording a new date which is the result of adding the selected time period to the base date.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the base date is the date from which significant time-sensitivity of the product is considered to start.
3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the base date is selected from the date of purchase, the date of manufacture or preparation, the date of exposure of the product to a deteriorating environment, the date of opening or unsealing of a closure or container or packaging associated with the product.
4. The method of any preceding claim wherein the selected time period is the period in which deterioration and/or spoilage of the product is considered to be significant.
5. The method of any preceding claim wherein the new date is the last date on which the product may be, or should be, used prior to being discarded.
6. The method of any preceding claim wherein step (d) produces a written record, such as a date stamp and/or a label and/or a diarised or computer record, which may be attached to or associated with the product.
7. The method of any preceding claim substantially as described and/or substantially as shown in the drawings.
8. Apparatus for dating and/or identifying time-sensitive products comprising: (a) means for providing, generating or indicating a base date; (b) means for providing a date entry means for a selected time period; (c) means for adding the selected time period to the base date; (d) means for indicating and/or recording a new date which is the result of adding the selected time period to the base date.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the base date is the date from which significant time-sensitivity of the product is considered to start.
10. The apparatus of any of claims 8 or 9 wherein the base date is selected from the date of purchase of the product, the date of manufacture or preparation, the date of exposure to a deteriorational environment, the date of opening or unsealing of a container or packaging for the product.
11 The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 10 wherein the selected time period is the period in which deterioration and/or spoilage is considered to be significant.
12. The apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the new date is the date by which the product should be used prior to being discarded.
13. The apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the means (d) is operative to produce a written record (such as a date stamp and/or a label) and/or a diary entry and/or a computer entry.
14. The apparatus of any of claims 8 to 13 comprising means serving as a source of labels.
15. The apparatus of any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein the base date is the date when the apparatus is used.
16. A hand-held and/or manually operated apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 15.
17 Apparatus as in any one of claims 8 to 16 comprising a source of power to operate the apparatus.
18. Apparatus as in any of claims 8 to 17 substantially as described and/or substantially as shown in the drawings.