JP2515623Y2 - Electromotive force checker for dry batteries - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an electromotive force checker for dry batteries.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional technology and its problems As an electromotive force checker for dry batteries (hereinafter simply referred to as a checker), one using liquid crystal is known (for example, US Pat. No. 4,006,414). In this type of checker, the liquid crystal heated by the conductive resistor that generates heat by contacting with both electrodes of the dry battery changes its optical properties depending on the heating temperature and appears or develops color. Thus, the residual energy of the dry battery represented by electromotive force can be known. However, this liquid crystal type checker has the following points to be improved.

(A) Since the coloring or discoloration is unclear, it is difficult to accurately determine the electromotive force.

(B) Also, the color tone changes depending on the viewing angle, and the determination result varies.

(C) Since the color is monotonous and the types of colors are extremely limited, people with color blindness may not be able to use it.

(D) Since the color change temperature is determined by the type of liquid crystal, it is not possible to freely adjust the combination of color change temperature and color.

(E) Since it cannot be mixed with pigments, paints, etc.,
You cannot adjust the color tone.

(F) High cost.

(G) Although the liquid crystal is inferior in light resistance, the light resistance cannot be improved because it is impossible to add an ultraviolet absorber or the like.

Means for Solving Problems The present inventor has conducted various studies in view of the above problems of known checkers that use liquid crystals, and as a result, so-called reversible heat that changes its color at a constant temperature. The idea of using a color-changing material was used, and further research was conducted to finally complete the present invention. That is, the present invention provides the following checkers: (i) a film-shaped substrate, (ii) a conductive layer formed on one surface of the film-shaped substrate, (iii) both ends of the conductive layer are connected to a dry battery electrode. A protective layer provided on the conductive layer, leaving the both ends so as to serve as a contact portion, and (iv) a heat-invariant color layer provided on the other surface of the film substrate, and (v) a heat-invariant color A reversible thermochromic layer provided on the layer, wherein the reversible thermochromic layer contains a color former, a developer and a desensitizer, and reversibly changes from colored to colorless and transparent above a specific set temperature. An electromotive force checker for a dry battery, comprising a coloring material composition that changes color.

Embodiment Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an example of the checker of the present invention,
2 shows its bottom view and FIG. 6 shows its plan view. However, the dimensions of the components in the drawings do not accurately indicate the actual relative sizes.

The present invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 is a conductive layer (3) formed on one surface of a film-like substrate (1) so as to have different resistances at a central portion and both end portions. And a protective layer (5) provided on the conductive layer (3). However, no protective layer is provided on both ends of the conductive layer (3) as contact portions (11) and (13) with both electrodes of the dry battery. On the other surface of the film substrate (1), for example, 100
A thermo-invariant color layer (7) that does not change color at a temperature of not more than 0 ° C. and a thermo-color change layer that reversibly changes color at a constant temperature [hereinafter simply referred to as a thermo-color change layer] (9) are provided. If necessary, a second protective layer (not shown) made of a transparent resin can be provided on the thermochromic layer (9).

The material of the film substrate (1) is not particularly limited as long as it has an insulating property, but it has good heat resistance, is unlikely to cause heat shrinkage or thermal deformation, has good flexibility, and can be easily bent and restored. Also, those having good thermal conductivity are preferable,
Usually, polyimide, polyester and the like are used. The thickness is preferably about 0.05 to 0.8 mm.

The conductive layer (3) may be formed by any known method such as application of a conductive ink and deposition of a conductive metal. The conductive layer (3) may have any shape such that the central portion and the both end portions have different resistance values. For example, the width of the central portion is in contact with the dry cell provided at both end portions (11). And smaller than the width of (13) (see Fig. 2). Alternatively, although not shown, for example, the entire conductive layer (3) may have the same width, and the thickness of the central portion may be reduced. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the contact portions (11) and (13) may have a shape in which the width thereof is gradually reduced. Furthermore, the conductive layer (3)
Is for dry batteries of the type with both positive and negative electrodes on the top,
The shape shown in FIG. 4 may be used.

The protective layer (5) is for preventing oxidation and disconnection of the conductive layer (3), and at least the contact portion (11) of the conductive layer (3).
Although it is necessary to cover the portions other than (1) and (13), it may extend onto the film-like substrate (1) on which the conductive layer is not formed. As long as the material of the protective layer (5) has excellent adhesion to the conductive layer (3) and the film-like substrate (1),
It is not particularly limited, and it is made of synthetic resin such as polyamide, xylene resin, cyclopentadiene resin or the like which is usually used for paint, or natural resin, and is formed by applying a resin solution. The protective layer (5) may be formed by laminating a polyethylene film or the like. The thickness is not particularly limited, but is usually about 0.01 to 0.04 mm.

The thermo-invariant color layer (7) is a colored layer that does not change color by the heat transmitted from the conductive layer (3) through the film substrate (1). This colored layer is formed by a coating layer made of a mixture of a colorant that does not discolor at temperatures up to about 100 ° C. and a resin having excellent adhesiveness to the film-like substrate (1). As such a colorant, phthalocyanine blue,
Examples include general pigments or fluorescent pigments used in paints and inks such as fast yellow, carmine red, and red pattern. Examples of the resin include synthetic resins such as polyamide, xylene resin, and cyclopentadiene resin, which are usually used for paints, and natural resins. The thickness of the heat invariant layer (7) is not particularly limited, but is usually
It is about 0.05 to 0.3 mm. The heat-invariant color layer (7) does not necessarily have to be made of a single coloring material, and two or more coloring materials of the same color may be used, or the lengthwise central portion to both end portions may be used. It is also possible to apply two or more coloring materials of different colors in a pattern.

The thermochromic layer (9) is composed of a coloring material composition containing a color former, a developer and a desensitizer. Such a coloring material composition can be discolored (developed or decolored) at any temperature by appropriately selecting the type of desensitizer. These coloring materials are known materials and are not particularly limited. For example, those disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-52189 can be mentioned as preferable ones. The thermochromic layer (9) is a coating layer made of a mixture of such a coloring material and a resin having excellent adhesiveness to the thermochromic layer (7) or a printing layer containing a coloring material microencapsulated with a resin. Is formed by. Examples of the resin include vinyl acetate resins, acrylic emulsion resins, copolymer emulsion resins thereof, synthetic resins such as polyamide, and the like. As a thermochromic coloring material,
It is not always necessary to use a single material. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, two kinds of coloring materials (9a) and (9b) of the same color or different colors having different discoloration temperatures, or two different colors are used. You may paint separately (not shown) with the above coloring materials. The thickness of the thermochromic layer can vary depending on the different covering power required by the type of colorant, but is usually 0.05.
It is about 0.5 mm.

In order to measure the electromotive force of a dry battery using the checker of the present invention, the contact parts (11) and (13) of the flexible checker are brought into contact with both electrodes of the dry battery and pressed. The heat generated in the conductive layer (3) is transferred to the thermochromic layer (9) through the film-like substrate (1) and the thermochromic layer (7) to discolor it. This discoloration becomes extremely sharp because the thermochromic layer (9) is composed of a coloring material composition containing especially a color former, a developer and a desensitizer. Thus, before and after heating by the dry cell, the electromotive force of the dry cell is manifested because the color shown as the combined effect of the thermochromic layer (7) and the thermochromic layer (9) changes clearly. More specifically, for example, in the conductive layer (3) shown in FIG. 2, since the central narrow portion has the highest temperature, heat is transmitted from here in the length direction of the checker, and the thermochromic layer (9 The color of) sequentially changes in the length direction according to the degree of heating. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG.
By dividing and displaying as in 5), (17), and (19), when the electromotive force is sufficiently high, the color changes to the area of (19), and when the electromotive force drops slightly, When the area (17) is discolored and the electromotive force is drastically reduced to make it unusable, only the area (15) can be discolored.

When the thermochromic layer (9) contains a coloring material that becomes colorless or transparent by heating, the color of the lower thermoinvariant layer (7) itself is directly recognized at the time of measurement and the color change region, that is, The electromotive force of the dry battery will be displayed.

Furthermore, as described above, when the thermochromic layer (7) and / or the thermochromic layer (9) are composed of two or more kinds of coloring materials, the display color changes depending on the degree of residual electromotive force. It is preferable because the check becomes easy.

Effect of the Invention According to the present invention, the following remarkable effects are achieved.

(A) Since the color of the thermochromic layer clearly emerges as the color of the thermochromic layer changes sharply due to heat generation in the conductive layer, the electromotive force can be accurately determined.

(B) Since the color of the thermochromic layer can be freely selected, the color difference from the thermochromic layer can be increased, and accurate determination can be made regardless of the viewing angle or the like.

(C) By forming the heat-invariant color layer in a pattern or devising a combination of colors of the heat-invariant color layer and the heat-invariant color layer, it is possible to make the product recognizable to people with color blindness.

(D) By selecting the type of desensitizer in the thermochromic coloring material, the coloring or erasing temperature can be adjusted arbitrarily.

(E) Since the thermochromic material can be freely mixed with other coloring materials such as dyes and pigments, the color tone can be adjusted and multi-step coating is also possible.

(F) Since the thermochromic material is extremely inexpensive as compared with liquid crystal, the cost of the checker itself is significantly reduced, and the thermochromic color can be reversibly changed.

(G) Since an ultraviolet absorber or the like can be added to the thermochromic layer and the thermochromic layer, the weather resistance can be significantly enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a side surface of an example of the checker of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the checker shown in FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are drawings showing a modified example of a conductive layer, FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a thermochromic layer using two or more thermochromic coloring materials having different colors or different color changing temperatures, and FIG. The figure is a plan view of the checker of FIG. (1) ...... Film substrate, (3) ...... Conductive layer (5) ...... Protective layer (7) ...... Thermal invariant layer (9) ...... Thermochromic layer (11), (13) ...... Contact Parts (15), (17), (19) …… Color display

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-62-273472 (JP, A) JP-A-53-128586 (JP, A) JP-A-57-76072 (JP, A) JP-A-57-76072 167380 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 57-153275 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 60-156468 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-3493 (JP, B1) Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-44707 (JP, B2) Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-30271 (JP, B2)

Claims (4)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An (i) film-like substrate, (ii) a conductive layer formed on one surface of the film-like substrate, (iii) leaving both ends of the conductive layer so that both ends become contact parts to dry cell electrodes. A protective layer provided on the conductive layer; (iv) a thermo-invariant color layer provided on the other surface of the film-like substrate; and (v) a reversible thermo-discolorable layer provided on the thermo-invariant color layer. The reversible thermochromic layer comprises a coloring material composition that contains a color former, a developer and a desensitizer and reversibly changes from colored to colorless and transparent at a specific set temperature or higher. An electromotive force checker for dry batteries. 2. An electromotive force checker for a dry battery according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is formed so as to have different resistance values at the central portion and at both end portions. 3. The electromotive force checker for a dry battery according to claim 1, wherein the reversible thermochromic layer is separately coated with coloring materials having different discoloring temperatures. 4. The electromotive force checker for a dry battery according to claim 1, wherein the thermo-invariant color layer is separately coated with coloring materials having different colors.