GB2435632A

GB2435632A - Manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label

Info

Publication number: GB2435632A
Application number: GB0604367A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Uffindell; Graham Henry Prince
Original assignee: Canon Europa NV
Current assignee: Canon Europa NV
Priority date: 2006-03-03
Filing date: 2006-03-03
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: GB0604367D0

Abstract

A system for and method of manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label, comprising the steps of selecting an environmental sensitivity characteristic such as temperature, determining a chemical composition required to give the selected characteristic, mixing inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and printing a label having a portion 4 with the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic. This provides an indicator system which is easy and economical to manufacture and is able to monitor reliably the history of an associated article. Portion 4 is printed using a bubble jet printer with separate reservoirs 18, 20 for the chemical components 22,24. These may comprise an enzyme and an indicator with a base chemical. Chemical selection may be under software control. The colour of portion 4 varies with temperature and time.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

INDICATOR SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method, apparatus and computer program for manufacturing labels, and more particularly for manufacturing environmentally sensitive labels.

Description of the Related Art

Perishable commodities, for example foodstuffs or silver halide based photographic film, undergo unacceptable degradation or spoilage on exposure to certain conditions such as unsuitable temperatures or passing of time. Perishable foods are sometimes packaged in a modified gas atmosphere which, under certain temperature conditions, allow pathogens to grow without noticeable signs of spoilage. The consumption of a product with a high concentration of pathogens can cause food poisoning and lead to serious health consequences. Food display cabinets are usually provided with a thermometer, but these are unable to detect temperature variations within the cabinet or to record the thermal history of individual articles.

In another field, there may be a requirement for information contained in security documents to become invisible after a predetermined period of time, for example name badges which prevent re-use or credit card PIN notifications.

It is therefore advantageous for indicator systems to be used which are capable of monitoring the handling of goods and of signalling when an associated article has been exposed beyond acceptable temperature and/or time conditions, Indicator systems of this nature are important to ensure the quality of perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and other such sensitive items.

A number of indicator systems have previously been proposed, such as GB2345879, which comprise liquid crystal or thermochromic ink temperature sensors.

However, these are susceptible to temperature gradients and time exposure between the time of their manufacture and the time of attachment to the article to be monitored.

Some such indicator systems are cooled or frozen to prevent initiation of their response reaction and a false indication of environmental history. The indicator systems require careful handling and storage conditions similar to those of the perishable products themselves and the desired reliability of the indicator system can be easily compromised.

Some prior art indicator systems are configured in an inactive state and are activated only at the time of attachment to the article. For example, W003/07727 and WOO1/64430 (US6544925) disclose the provision of co-reactants in separate areas on a substrate, the separate areas being brought into contact with each other at the time the label is affixed to the perishable product.

In other systems configured for activation at the time of application to the perishable product, for example that described in JP2004184920, potential co-reactant components are located in close proximity, and are isolated from each other by means of additional segregating layers or encapsulating films. These isolating means, however, introduce additional expenses for resources and manufacturing. Furthermore, these indicator products continue to be susceptible to inadvertent, premature activation, due to the close proximity of the potential reactants, such as where pressure-rupturable encapsulations are mishandled.

Such activatable indicator systems do not provide a ready and economical means for preventing premature initiation of the indicator reaction. The requirement for indicator compositions and activating means to be individually formulated and assembled, and the use of isolation means leads to excessive economic expenditures in materials and manufacturing operations.

No previous indicator system provides an accurate indication of environmental history whilst being easy and economical to manufacture and use. There is therefore a need for an indicator system which is easy and economical to manufacture and is able to reliably monitor the history of an associated article.

Throughout this specification, environmentally sensitive label will be understood to mean a label having a portion that is sensitive to at least one environmental characteristic, such as temperature, time, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to solve at least one of the problems mentioned above.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label, comprising the steps of selecting an environmental sensitivity characteristic, determining a chemical composition required to give the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic, mixing inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and printing a label having a portion with the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic.

Such an easy and cheap method of manufacturing environmentally sensitive labels enables individual or larger quantities or labels to be produced by the individual home user or by manufacturing lines.

The method may further comprise the step of selecting a colour change required on exposure to the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic.

The user may wish the environmentally sensitive portion to change from and to specified colours.

The environmental sensitivity characteristic may be time, temperature or a time-temperature integral.

It is advantageous for a label to be provided with a portion sensitive to time and/or temperature. Such a label is able to provide an indication of whether an associated article is been exposed to conditions which would result in unacceptable degradation of quality.

Conveniently, the method further comprises the step of printing a label having more than one environmentally sensitive portion, the environmental sensitivity characteristic of each portion being different.

This enables a label to provide a warning that it is nearing the end of its acceptable life, in addition to a warning that the expiry date has been reached.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label for use on an article with an expiry date, comprising the steps of inputting an article identification code, inputting the expiry date, determining an environmental sensitivity characteristic required to alter a portion of the environmentally sensitive label at a predetermined time prior to the expiry date, determining a chemical composition required to give the determined environmental sensitivity characteristic, mixing inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and printing a label having a portion with the determined environmental sensitivity characteristic.

In this way, articles may be provided with labels which automatically indicate a discounted price when the article enters a predetermined time period prior to its expiry date.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a software application for printing an environmentally sensitive label, arranged such that when executed it performs the steps of requesting input of an environmental sensitivity characteristic by a user, determining a chemical composition required to give the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic, and sending a control instruction to control the mixing of inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition.

The software application may perform the further steps of requesting input of a colour change by a user, and determining the chemical composition required to give the selected colour change.

Preferably, the software application performs the further steps of determining the environmental sensitivity characteristics and/or colour changes available to the user, and offers to the user only the available environmental sensitivity characteristics and/or colour changes.

It is advantageous for the user to be provided with an indication of the environmental sensitivity characteristics and/or colour changes available, to prevent the user inputting desired characteristics only to be told they are not available.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a software application for printing an environmentally sensitive label for use on an article with an expiry date, arranged such that when executed it performs the steps of requesting input of an article identification code, requesting input of an expiry date, determining an environmental sensitivity characteristic required to alter a portion of the environmentally sensitive label at a predetermined time prior to the expiry date, determining a chemical composition required to give the environmental sensitivity characteristic, and sending a control instruction to control the mixing of inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition.

Preferably, the environmentally sensitive portion comprises the discounted price marking.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the software application is provided stored on a storage medium.

According to a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for printing an environmentally sensitive label.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an environmentally sensitive label comprising a standard price marking and a discounted price marking, wherein the discounted price marking is printed in an environmentally sensitive ink which is arranged to change to a readable state at a predetermined time period.

Optionally, the standard price marking is arranged to change to a state of

inapplicability.

An indication of the inapplicability of the standard price marking avoids confusion as to whether an article is being sold at the standard price or the discounted price.

The discounted price marking may be unreadable after sale.

It is preferable for the discounted price to remain invisible if the article is bought before the predetermined time period prior to the expiry date is entered into.

Conveniently, the label further comprises a bar code, and scanning of the bar code causes a change in the standard price marking and/or discounted price marking state.

It will be understood that throughout this specification that price marking can mean a written indication of the price and/or a price code, such as a bar code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an environmentally sensitive label in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a printing apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows an environmentally sensitive label having multiple environmentally -6 -sensitive portions in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a printing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the process involved in printing an environmentally sensitive label as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6a shows an expiry date label in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6b shows the expiry date label of Figure 6a after entry into a predetermined time period prior to the expiry date.

Figure 6c shows the printed regions of the expiry date label shown in Figure 6a.

Figure 6d shows the expiry date label of Figure 6a after sale of the article prior to entry into the predetermined time period.

Figure 6e shows the expiry date label of Figure 6a after sale of the article after entry into the predetermined time period.

Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the process involved in printing an expiry date label as shown in Figure 6c.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following, a detailed description will be given of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanied drawings.

Figure 1 shows a label 2 having an environmentally sensitive portion 4 printed on a substrate 6 having an adhesive backing (not shown) for quick and easy application to an article (not shown). The environmentally sensitive portion 4 provides an indication of the history of the article associated with the label 2. A colour key 8, printed in insensitive ink, provides a means of comparison to facilitate reading of the environmental history indicator.

A first colour portion 10 of colour key 8 shows the colour of environmentally sensitive portion 4 when the associated article has not been subjected to predetermined unacceptable conditions. A second colour portion 12 of colour key 8 shows the colour of environmentally sensitive portion 4 after exposure to unacceptable conditions.

Explanatory information regarding the first and second colour portions 10, 12 is detailed in text portion 14. Other text or graphics 16, for example a company logo or product information, is included on the label 2.

It will be understood that the change in the environmentally sensitive portion of the label may be a reversible change if an indication of the current status of the attached article is required. However, if a record of the article history is needed, the change in the environmentally sensitive portion of the label should be an irreversible change; for example, if the article is moved from unacceptable conditions to an environment that does not meet or exceed the threshold characteristics, the environmentally sensitive portion 4 should record and retain the information that the article has been subjected to unacceptable conditions.

The environmentally sensitive label is printed just prior to use, thereby avoiding the need to ensure the environmentally sensitive label is stored in specific conditions, similar to those required by the article to which it is to be attached.

The environmentally sensitive portion 4 is printed by applying inactive chemical components to the substrate 6 using a bubblejet printer. Figure 2 shows a pair of reservoirs 18, 20, each of which is attached to a printer head (not shown) which ejects droplets of a component 22, 24 such that the droplet paths coincide at the substrate 6.

The components 22, 24 combine together on the substrate 6 to form a product which is sensitive to a time/temperature integral. If the attached article is subjected to an unacceptable temperature or is held at an acceptable temperature for longer than a prescribed period, the environmentally sensitive portion 4 of the label 2 changes colour, from the hue shown in first colour portion 10 to that shown in second colour portion 12, to indicate that the article is no longer fit for use.

Chemical component 22 comprises an enzyme, such as catalase, amylase, lipase and pepsin. Chemical component 24 comprises an indicator and a base chemical. Base chemicals, for example sugars, proteins, fats and starch, are converted from one substance to another by the action of enzymes. The enzymes act as catalysts and control the reaction rates of the base chemicals. Indicators change colour depending on the presence of certain chemicals or on the pH of the mixed chemical components. Iodine, for example, is blue-black in the presence of starch, and yellow when starch is absent.

Benedict's solution changes from blue, through green, yellow and orange, to red depending on sugar concentration.

In another embodiment shown in Figure 3, a label 2 has multiple environmentally sensitive portions 4a, 4b, 4c each having different environmental sensitivity characteristics, arranged to indicate different states of the attached article (not shown).

The text portion 14 of the colour key 8 comprises instructions 26 associated with colour portions 28 to aid the consumer in the use of the indicator system so that the consumer correctly interprets the desired assurance of article quality. The instructions 26 comprise descriptions of action the consumer should take, for example, remove to a cool place', use within one day' or throw away'.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the printing apparatus 30 used to produce an environmentally sensitive label 2. CPU 32 of computer 34 controls each unit of the computer 34. A label printing software application is stored in read only memory (ROM) 36 and executes the steps of the process shown in the flowchart of Figure 5, in response to instructions from the user inputted via a user interface displayed on display 44. A table of chemical component 22, 24 mixtures and their associated environmental sensitivity characteristics is also stored in ROM 36. Random access memory (RAM) 38 functions, inter alia, as a main memory and a work area of CPU 32. CPU 32 sends print instructions to printer 40 via printer driver 42.

Figure 5 shows the process involved in printing an environmentally sensitive label 2.

A list of environmental sensitivity characteristics and colour changes available with printing apparatus 30 is displayed (S2) on monitor 44, from which a user selects a required environmental sensitivity characteristic (S4). Available colour changes for the environmentally sensitive portion 4 are displayed (S6) on monitor 44 and the user selects (S8) the desired colour change. The user then designs (SlO) the label 2, inputting text and/or graphics in the required layout. CPU 32 references the table stored on ROM 36 and determines (S12) the chemical composition required to give the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic and colour change. CPU 32 sends (S16) an instruction to control the mixing (S16) of the inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and the environmentally sensitive label 2 is printed (S18) according to the inputted design.

In a further embodiment, a label is provided with environmentally sensitive portions which change on expiry of time and on exposure to infra red (IR) light. It is usual for store managers to decrease the price of goods when they are close to their expiry date, in an attempt to encourage customers to buy the goods. Shop workers have to monitor the expiry date of the individual goods and, when the expiry date is within a certain time period, apply stickers to the goods indicating the discounted price. This is a very time consuming task and it would therefore be advantageous for labels attached to goods to be environmentally sensitive in such a way that a discounted price automatically appears when the expiry date is within a predetermined time period.

Figure 6a illustrates a label 50 for attachment to an article (not shown). The label 50 comprises an adhesive-backed substrate 6 on which is printed a bar code 52 and a standard price 54. After entry into a predetermined time period before the expiry date, a discounted price 56 becomes visible, as shown in Figure 6b, the ink having been transparent at the time of printing the label. A second bar code 58 also becomes visible such that the point of sale can recognise the article is for sale at the discounted price. A cross 60 appears over the price 54 indicating the inapplicability of the standard price marking, so as to avoid confusion as to the price at which the article is for sale, while not preventing customers from seeing the discount offered. The original bar code 52 is blackened out by area 62, so that the original bar code 52 cannot be read by a point of sale.

If the article is bought before the expiry date enters the predetermined time period, it is preferable to prevent the discounted price becoming visible to the customer at a later date. The label is therefore provided with a printed region 64, as shown in Figure 6c. The chemicals used are chosen such that the ink is transparent until exposed to infra red (IR) light. When the article is bought by a customer, the article is passed through a point of sale where the bar code 52 is scanned using an IR bar code scanner. As the bar code 52 is placed in proximity to the region 64, scanning the bar code 52 causes region 64 to be exposed to lR light. On such exposure to IR light, the ink in region 64 changes to a dark colour as shown in Figure 6d. A label attached to an article sold after the expiry date enters the predetermined time period will, therefore, proceed through the stages illustrated in Figures 6a, 6b and 6e.

When the predetermined time period prior to the expiry date is entered, the ink used to print the discounted price 56 and second bar code 58 changes colour, but the discounted price 56 and second bar code 58 will not become visible due to the dark colour of region 64. Cross 60 appears over the standard price 54 and area 62 becomes -10 -dark thereby hiding bar code 52, as shown in Figure 6e. This provides the user with an indication that the expiry date is within the predetermined time period, and therefore the article should be used in the near future. A label attached to an article sold before the expiry date enters the predetermined time period will, therefore, proceed through the stages illustrated in Figures 6a, 6d and 6e.

Figure 7 illustrates steps involved in the process of printing an environmentally sensitive label for use with products having an expiry date. A label printing software application is stored in read only memory (ROM) 36 of printing apparatus 30 and executes the steps of the process shown in the flowchart of Figure 7, in response to instructions from the user inputted via a user interface displayed on display 44. A user inputs an article ID (S20) and the expiry date (S22) of the article, as requested by the expiry date label printing software application, via the user interface displayed on monitor 44. The date at which the discounted price is to be applied is inputted (S24), as is the price (S26) and discounted price (by price or ratio of the original price) (S28) of the article.

The barcodes 52, 58 are determined S30 from a database stored on ROM 36 of computer 34. Additional text and graphics are inputted S32 as required by the user, and the label design previewed (S34) on the monitor 44. Any necessary/required changes are made (S36), and once the label design is acceptable to the user, the print button is selected (S38). CPU 32 determines (S40) the chemical composition required to produce the changes to the environmentally sensitive portions of the environmentally sensitive label 50 at the inputted discount date, and sends (S42) instructions to the printer 40 via printer driver 42. The inactive chemical components 22, 24 are mixed (S44) according to the determined chemical composition and the environmentally sensitive label 50 printed (S46).

Having now described various embodiments of the invention, numerous modifications will become apparent to the skilled person.

The environmentally sensitive portion of the label may be text or graphics, and may change colour several times to indicate different conditions reached.

The colour key instructions could be made visible to the consumer by a colour or density change when the threshold environmental characteristic is reached.

The text portion may provide an indicator of specific temperatures reached or descriptions of the unacceptable storage conditions reached (for example, too hot').

-11 -Environmental conditions typically comprise, but are not limited to, temperature, humidity, and/or light of a predetermined wavelength range.

Different chemical components and/or different concentrations are used to provide different ranges of characteristics. Any chemical component suitable for use with the method of printing and which, after combination with another chemical component, provides a colour or density change on exposure to certain environmental conditions may be used.

While the embodiments have been described as having the enzyme in one reservoir and the base chemical and indicator in another, it will be understood that the chemicals may be arranged differently, for example with each of the three components in a separate reservoir, provided the enzyme and the base chemical are stored separately.

The printing apparatus may comprise only one printer head arranged to eject at least two fluids from separate ports.

While it is possible for the components to be combined prior to leaving the print head, it is preferable for the combination to occur afterwards, for example on the substrate, due to some printing mechanisms utilising a heater element in the printing head which may affect the environmentally sensitive combination.

Inkjet printers are designed to work with liquids and provide a plurality of fluid channels to allow for colour printing, and are therefore ideal for the necessary combination of inactive components. However, any printing technology, eg. letterpress or dye sublimation, may be used to apply the inactive chemical components to the substrate.

The invention has a variety of uses. For example, the authenticity of articles may be verified by using chemical components to produce an ink invisible under normal conditions which becomes visible under predetermined conditions such as elevated temperature, in order to reveal information identifying the article as acceptable. Similarly, the invention may be used to produce game cards, whereby warming of the card by rubbing or placing adjacent to a hot item, causes the ink to become colourless, revealing results printed in permanent ink underneath.

The expiry date label software application may request the user to input the price of the article or may, for example, determine the price from a database stored on ROM 36 via the article ID. The software application may enable the user to customise the expiry date label, for example by defining what happens at the discount date and/or the expiry -12 -date.

The state of inapplicability of a price marking may be indicated by one of, but is not limited to, a cross, a black-out or invisibility.

The expiry date label may change further when the expiry date is reached to indicate that the product should not be consumed.

The environmentally sensitive label may be printed onto a substrate for attachment to an article or may be printed directly onto an article.

Claims

-13 -WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method of manufacturing an

environmentally sensitive label, comprising the steps of: -selecting an environmental sensitivity characteristic; -determining a chemical composition required to give the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic; -mixing inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and -printing, with the determined composition of chemical components, a label having a portion with the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic.

2. A method according to Claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting a colour change required on exposure to the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the environmental sensitivity characteristic is time, temperature or a time-temperature integral.

4. A method according to any preceding claim comprising the step of printing a label having more than one environmentally sensitive portion, the environmental sensitivity characteristic of each portion being different.

5. A method of manufacturing an environmentally sensitive label for use on an article with an expiry date, comprising the steps of: -inputting an article identification code; -inputting the expiry date; -determining an environmental sensitivity characteristic required to alter a portion of the environmentally sensitive label at a predetermined time prior to the expiry date; -determining a chemical composition required to give the determined -14 -environmental sensitivity characteristic; - mixing inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition, and -printing, with the determined composition of the chemical components, a label having a portion with the determined environmental sensitivity characteristic.

6. A software application for printing an environmentally sensitive label, arranged such that when executed it performs the steps of: -requesting input of an environmental sensitivity characteristic by a user; -determining a chemical composition required to give the selected environmental sensitivity characteristic, and -sending a control instruction to control the mixing of inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition.

7. A software application according to Claim 6 further comprising the steps of: -requesting input of a colour change by a user, and -determining the chemical composition required to give the selected colour change.

8. A software application according to Claim 5 or 6 further comprising the steps of: -determining the environmental sensitivity characteristics and/or colour changes available to the user, -offering to the user only the available environmental sensitivity characteristics and/or colour changes.

9. A software application for printing an environmentally sensitive label for use on an article with an expiry date, arranged such that when executed it performs the steps of: -requesting input of an article identification code; -requesting input of an expiry date; -determining an environmental sensitivity characteristic required to alter a portion of the environmentally sensitive label at a predetermiiied time prior to the expiry -15 -date; -determining a chemical composition required to give the determined environmental sensitivity characteristic, and -sending a control instruction to control the mixing of inactive chemical components according to the determined chemical composition.

10. A software application according to Claim 9, wherein the environmentally sensitive portion comprises the discounted price marking.

11. A software application according to any of Claims 6 to 10 wherein the application is stored on a storage medium.

12. A device for printing an environmentally sensitive label comprising a software application as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 11.

13. An environmentally sensitive label comprising a standard price marking and a discounted price marking, wherein the discounted price marking is printed in an environmentally sensitive ink which is arranged to change to a readable state at a predetermined time period.

14. An environmentally sensitive label according to Claim 13 wherein the standard price marking is arranged to change to a state of inapplicability at the predetermined time.

15. An environmentally sensitive label according to Claim 13 or 14 wherein the discounted price marking is unreadable after sale of an attached article.

16. An environmentally sensitive label according to any of Claims 13 to 15 further comprising a bar code, wherein scanning of the bar code causes a change in the standard price marking and/or discounted price marking state.

17. A method substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

-16 - 18. A software application substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A device substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. An environmentally sensitive label substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.