JPH01250090A - Period lapse display body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the period lapse display body which is capable of indicating the period to about one year by adding a diffusion delaying agent which is hardly affected by light, humidity, etc., and delays the diffusion of a dyeing material into an agar gel. CONSTITUTION:A sealing material 3 of the agar gel added with carrageenin as the diffusion delaying agent is packed into a body 1 and a basic dye 4 for coloring the sealing material 3 is packed into a cap body 2. A user starts display by cutting the body 1 at a cutting line 6, removing the hermetic cap of the cap body 2 and coupling both at the time of starting the period display. The dyeing material 4 of the cap body 2 diffuses into the sealing material of the body 1 and the body 1 appears as if said body is colored successively and therefore, the termination of the period is displayed from the degree of the progression of the coloring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a period indicator, and in particular, certain types of processed foods (instant IJI, oil confectionery, half-baked confectionery, etc.)
, pharmaceuticals (antibiotics, vaccines, etc.), insect repellents, deodorants,
Products with a limited shelf life, such as disinfectants, refrigerant gases, photosensitive films and photographic papers for visible light and X-rays, cosmetics, batteries, oils, chemicals, etc., or blood transfusions, which also have a limited shelf life. The present invention relates to a period elapse indicator (hereinafter referred to as a "time indicator" or simply "indicator") that can be applied to blood or blood components, etc., and allows you to know at a glance whether or not it is within its expiration period.

(Prior Art) There are methods for expressing periods such as the expiry date of a product as described below. For example, in volatile drugs,
Some products contain active ingredients in the form of solutions or waxes, and their volatilization can be visually observed from the outside of the container. This type of product cannot be applied to all products because the active ingredient itself is limited to volatile properties. Not related to the active ingredient, there are indicators that use the volatility of substances to indicate the period, and the degree of coloring decreases due to the volatilization of colored liquids (including those absorbed in gels) and the volatilization of sublimable dyes. There is something to see. However, the volatilization of substances is greatly affected by temperature and humidity, making it difficult to indicate an accurate period, and there is also a risk that the volatilized substances may pollute the surrounding air.

Another example is a time indicator that can determine the elapsed period based on color changes caused by light, temperature, humidity, or gases such as oxygen (0,) or carbon dioxide (Cot) in the atmosphere.

However, light, temperature, and humidity change significantly in daily life, so time indicators that use these may change color before the scheduled period has elapsed, or may not change color even after the scheduled period has elapsed. This makes it difficult to obtain a stable time indicator. In addition, a coloring agent such as methylene blue that changes color depending on the amount of 02 in the atmosphere is placed in a bag made of a plastic film that has a certain amount of oxygen permeability, and the coloring agent is sealed in a vacuum, and the coloring agent passes through the plastic film over time. A method of changing the color of this colorant due to the invading Ol and measuring the elapsed period of time was also considered, but -
In boat fishing, the amount of oxygen permeation through plastic film changes depending on the surrounding temperature and humidity, and for this reason, it is difficult to obtain a stable time indicator that can always measure the passage of a fixed period of time.

Furthermore, there is a method of using 008 instead of Of, and placing the colorant in a bag made of plastic film that is permeable to a certain amount of carbon dioxide, and changing the color depending on the change in the pH of the atmosphere, but this time indicator ,aromatic,
Deodorants and insect repellents have the disadvantage of not being able to indicate the effective period of several months to several years, discoloring in a much shorter period of time (several hours to several tens of hours), and being susceptible to humidity. Because it is sensitive to influence, it cannot be used as an indicator to display the passage of time in such applications.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors have discovered that a high viscosity liquid or gel-like substance (hereinafter referred to as a "gel-like substance") is placed in a container.
By enclosing a gel (also called a "gel") and having a structure in which a dyeing substance that colors or discolors the enclosed substance is localized in a part of the container, it is possible to control light, humidity, and other popular gases. We have previously developed a stable and unaffected period indicator.

This period progress indicator utilizes the diffusion of a dyed substance into a gel-like substance, and as the dyed substance moves through the gel-like substance and becomes colored, the period of time is determined by the amount of coloring, that is, the length. It is intended to display the following. However, since this time progress indicator utilizes the diffusion of dyed substances, a visible concentration gradient occurs at the leading edge of the diffusion, as shown in Figure 2 (a), and the colored leading edge cannot be clearly seen. This caused errors when reading the display.

The present inventors have found a combination of agar gel and a basic dye, such as methylene blue, as a combination of a gel-like substance and a staining substance that can clearly identify the tip. Figure 2 (
Shown in b). The display period of the period elapsed indicator can be adjusted by changing the length of the cylindrical body, the concentration of the dye, and the density of the gel. However, when trying to adjust the diffusion rate by the density of the gel, it is practical to add only about 4 to 6% agar due to the dissolution viscosity of agar. It is appropriate for the distance to be within 10 cm, and for agar gel in this range, the display limit was about 3 to 4 months.

(Object of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention is an indicator that is not easily affected by light, humidity, and other atmospheric factors.A gel-like substance is sealed in a container, and a part of the container is filled with the gel-like substance. The object of the present invention is to set a long display period by adding a diffusion retardant to the gel-like substance in a time elapse display comprising a localized dyeing substance that colors or discolors the gel.
The shelf life of products such as insect repellents, fragrances, and deodorants, i.e.
It is designed to display the progress over a period of several months to several years.

(Means for Solving the Problems) That is, the present invention involves sealing agar gel as a gel-like substance in a container, and localizing a basic dye that colors or discolors the sealed substance in a part of the container. This period elapsed indicator is characterized in that carrageenan or albumin is mixed in the encapsulated substance as a discoloration retardant.

The aim is thus to provide an indicator that can retard the diffusion of dye and allow display of periods of months to years in a relatively small form factor.

(Detailed Description of the Invention) Hereinafter, in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, an example in which a cylindrical container is used will be explained using drawings.

FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are cross-sectional explanatory views for explaining the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner.
indicates a cylindrical body. The inside of the main body (1) is filled with an encapsulating substance (3) of agar gel containing carrageenan as a diffusion retardant, and the inside of the lid body (2) is filled with a dyeing substance that colors the encapsulating substance (3). A certain basic dye (4) is loaded.

The main body (1) of the cylindrical body is provided with a cut line (6) for exposing the enclosed substance (3), and the lid of the cylindrical body is provided with a cut line (6) for sealing the filled dye substance (4). A sealing cap (5) is included.

At the start of period display, the user cuts the main body (1) along the perforation line (6), and the lid body (
Display can be started by removing the sealing cap 2) and assembling the caps as shown in FIG. 1(b). Furthermore, at the end of the period, the dyeing substance (4) of the fluid (2) diffuses into the enclosed substance (3) of the main body (1), so that the main body (1) appears to be colored. The end of the period can be indicated when coloring is completed or when a mark is placed on the main body (1) and that part has been colored.

This period progress indicator can be widely used in deodorants, insect repellents, etc., but considering the size of the product to be carried, it is desirable that it be relatively small. However, when trying to set the display period to several months, the delay in diffusion due to the concentration of agar gel alone puts a limit on the period. For example, inner diameter 3mmφ
Figure 3 shows the change in the migration distance of the dye over time when a 0.5% methylene blue solution was diffused as a dye when a cylindrical body with a length of 8 cm was filled with an encapsulating substance with a gel concentration of about 1 to 6%. It was shown to. From Figure 3, even at a gel concentration of about 6%, it is about 3 to 4
It turns out that months is the limit.

The present inventors have discovered a method that allows setting an arbitrary period up to about one year to meet the needs of all kinds of products using these time period indicators. That is, by adding carrageenan as a diffusion retardant to the agar gel sealed in the cylindrical body to retard the diffusion of the dye, it was possible to set a long display period. It is not known in detail why the addition of carrageenan retards diffusion in this way, but carrageenan, like agar, has structural units of galactose and 3,6-anhydrogalactose as its main components. It is presumed that because the structural unit contains several sulfate groups, the basic dye undergoes interaction and diffusion is delayed.

Similarly, by adding albumin to agar gel, the display period could be set for a long time.

It is not known in detail why diffusion is delayed by the addition of albumin, but since albumin contains an amino group, it is presumed that the basic dye interacts with it, thereby retarding diffusion.

By adjusting the amount of carrageenan or albumin added to the agar gel, it is possible to create a period indicator that can indicate any period up to about one year.

Here, the cylindrical body that can be used in the present invention refers to polyethylene 1. Non,
Examples include Teflon, acrylic resin, polycarbonate, silicone tubes, or glass tubes, and preferably transparent or light-colored tubes that allow the contents to be viewed from the outside.

<Example> [Example 1] A dyeing substance prepared in a ratio of 0.5 parts of methylene blue (ratios by weight: hereinafter referred to as parts by weight) and 99° 5 parts of water was prepared with an inner diameter of 5 mmφ and a length of 2 On the other hand, kappa carrageenan (trade name: Soagina, manufactured by Mitsubishi Acetate Co., Ltd.) was added to 3 parts of agar (Kanto Kagaku ■) and 100 parts of water as the encapsulating material in the proportions shown in Table 1. Each was sealed in a polyethylene tube with a diameter of 3 mm and a length of 8 cm. When these two are combined and brought into contact at the start of display, the dyeing substance diffuses and stains the encapsulated substance, making it possible to display a period of time. Table 1 also shows the display period when the dye moved 8 cm.

This indicator can also indicate intermediate periods shown in Table 1 by marking a scale on the cylindrical body containing the encapsulated substance. Figure 4 shows the daily changes in the diffusion movement of each indicator.

Table 1 No. tt5 ghee ton addition amount Display period 1 0
．． 0 copies about 2 months 2 0.1 copies about 3.5 months 3 0.2
Parts Approximately 5 months 4 0.4 parts Approximately 10 months 5 0.6 parts Approximately 1.6 years [Example 2] 0.5 parts of methylene blue as a dyeing substance (parts by weight: hereinafter, ratios are expressed in parts by weight), A mixture of 99° and 5 parts of water was sealed in a polyethylene tube with an inner diameter of 5 mm and a length of 2° and 5 cm, while a solution containing 2 parts of agar (Kanto Kagaku ■) and 100 parts of water was used as the encapsulating material. A solution of 2 parts of albumin (Kanto Kagaku ■) and 100 parts of water was prepared at 50°C in a ratio of 14 parts, and the inner diameter was 3 mmφ and the length was 8.
Enclose in a cm polyethylene tube and further heat at 80°C.
After heating to room temperature to denature albumin,
For comparison, an encapsulation material prepared by adjusting 100 parts of water to 6 parts of agar (Kanto Kagaku ■) was prepared.

Figure 5 shows how these indicators are displayed (distance traveled by the staining substance over time), but the E indicator according to the present invention, in which albumin is added to agar gel, is better (Figure 5 (2)). It can be seen that the dyeing speed is slow.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, by adding a diffusion retardant to the agar gel, which is less susceptible to the effects of light, humidity, and other popular factors, and which retards the diffusion of dyeing substances, 1. It was possible to create a period elapsed indicator that can indicate any period up to about one year.

As an additional note, the expiry date indicator of the present invention tends to display the expiry date faster at high temperatures than at low temperatures, but this is just right since the speed of deterioration of products for which you want to measure the expiration date often increases at high temperatures. become.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the period elapsed display of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing an example of use. FIG. 2(a) is a schematic diagram showing the state of diffusion of a dye substance in an example of a conventional period elapsed indicator, and FIG. 2(b)
) is a similar schematic diagram according to the invention. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the change over time in the diffusion of a staining substance when only agar gel is used as the encapsulating substance for diffusing the staining substance. 4 and 5 are graphs showing oral changes in the diffusion of the dye of the time course indicator of the present invention.5. . (1) Cylindrical body (main body) (2) Cylindrical body (lid body) (, 3) Encapsulating substance (4) Staining substance (5) Sealing cap (6) Cutting line (7) Special features of the dispersion tip of staining substance Applicant Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. Representative Kazuo Suzuki Figure 1 (b) Figure 2 (a) Figure 2 (b) Figure 3 040 80 120 /60 200d
a, y Thread amount past days

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) Enclose agar gel as a gel-like substance in a container,
A period indicator comprising a localized basic dye that colors or discolors the enclosed substance in a part of the container, characterized in that carrageenan is mixed in the enclosed substance as a discoloration retardant. Period elapsed indicator. (2) The period elapsed indicator according to claim 1, wherein the container is a cylindrical body. (3) The period elapsed indicator according to claim 1, wherein the basic dye is methylene blue. (4) The period elapsed indicator according to claim 1, wherein albumin is mixed in place of carrageenan.