JPH11248552A - Member and method for control of temperature - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the temperature of an environment in which a commodity or the like is preserved, by a method wherein information which is printed or coated on a temperature-indicating member whose color is changed by reacting to a temperature is formed as a machine-readable code. SOLUTION: Commodity information 2 which is expressed by a character or a graphic such as a commodity name, a shipping date or the like and a commodity- control bar code 3 whose content is machine-readable are printed on a temperature control member 1 which is formed to be label-shaped. A commodity control code 5 as a code formed of a temperature-indicating member whose color is changed by reacting to a temperature is printed in a printing area 4, on the temperature-indicating member, which is formed additionally. Then, when the temperature control member 1 is controlled at a set temperature or lower, the commodity control code 5 is colorless or white so as not to be recognized by a bar-code scanner 6. On the contrary, when the temperature control member 1 is at the set temperature or higher, the commodity control code 5 is colored so as to be capable of being recognized by the bar-code scanner 6. As a result, it is possible to precisely discriminate in which temperature environment a commodity or the like is at this point of time. As a result, the temperature of an environment in which the commodity or the like is stored can be controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature control member formed by using a temperature indicating member which changes its color depending on temperature for use in temperature control when preserving fruits and vegetables, fresh food products, etc. The present invention relates to a temperature management member and a temperature management method in which an exposure state is machine-readable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a temperature indicating member whose color changes in response to temperature is applied to a label or the like in a required ink form (for example, dispersed with a resin or the like), or contained in a thermal transfer ink ribbon or the like. Some are printed on labels or the like and used as labels for temperature control, but in general, a certain pattern is printed or applied in advance, and the information is known by visually observing changes in colors. .

Further, as the temperature indicating member which changes its color in response to temperature, the following materials are available, and a method of using one or more kinds of temperature indicating members in an ink is known.

[0004] Thermochromic organic dyes Spiropyrans, ethylene derivatives substituted with condensed aromatic rings such as Bianthrone and dixanthiylene. Metal complex salt crystals CoCl2.2 (CH2) 6N4 / 10H2O, PbCrO4, Cu2HgI4, Ag2HgI4, etc. Liquid crystal Cholesteric liquid crystal (encapsulated in microcapsules). Combination of electron-donating color-forming compound, electron-accepting compound and polar organic compound ・ Electron-donating color-forming compound Phenylmethane compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolylphthalides, spiropyrans, Leuco auramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc.Electron-accepting compounds, compounds having phenolic hydroxyl groups, metal salts of compounds having phenolic hydroxyl groups, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc. Organics Alcohols (eg, oleyl alcohol), Amides (eg, acetoacetylanilide), Esters (eg, diphenylphthalate), primary amine salts of poorly water soluble carboxylic acids, ketones or ethers, at least one fragrance Azomethines, etc., which use group residues as bonding groups, It is used by being microencapsulated by a medium suspension method, a spray granulation method, a pan coating method, an electrostatic coalescence method, or a vacuum evaporation method.

[0005] The temperature control labels and the like using these temperature indicating members visually judge how the color changes depending on the temperature.

[0006] The temperature indicating member is roughly classified into a reversible type and an irreversible type. The reversible type is a type in which the color changes as many times as the temperature rises and falls. The irreversible type changes the color at a certain temperature. It is a type that does not return to.

[0007] In the case of the reversible type, it is used as a sign or the like when drinking beer or the like, or when it is necessary to visually call attention. In addition, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-10709, etc., temperature management of fruits and vegetables, fresh foods, and the like has a temperature history. The melted ink is allowed to permeate, and the length of the permeation makes it possible to check how long it has been exposed to a temperature higher than the set temperature.

[0008]

The conventional temperature control label has no choice but to visually judge how the color changes depending on the temperature, and there is no temperature control label which can be accurately read by a machine. For this reason, since the color is determined by human judgment, the error is large. In the case of the reversible method, an error in temperature judgment occurred, and in the case of the irreversible method, an error in reading the exposure time occurred. In particular, an irreversible temperature history was used for temperature control of fruits and vegetables, but this was a problem because it was not possible to accurately read the high-temperature exposure time. Also, in this case, by using a plurality of temperature-responsive inks (inks having different melting points, etc.) for the temperature control member and penetrating the plurality of permeable members, a high-temperature exposure time can be accurately read. It is possible,
In this case, there is a problem that the size is increased and the cost is increased.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, in a temperature management member on which information is printed or applied by a temperature indicating member whose color changes in response to temperature, the information is a machine-readable code. It is characterized by the following. For example, as a machine-readable temperature indicating member, a machine-readable code, that is, a code similar to a barcode generally used for a product is printed. The temperature indicating member is colorless or white at a temperature lower than a certain set temperature (for example, 25 ° C.), and changes to a color such as blue or black that can be read by a barcode reading device at a temperature higher than the set temperature. Or, conversely, colorless or white ink is used below the set temperature and above the set temperature. When a reversible ink is used as a temperature indicating member for realizing such a temperature indicating property, for example, a combination of an electron-donating color-forming compound, an electron-accepting compound, and a polar organic compound as described below is used.・ Electron-donating color-forming compounds (color formers) Phenylmethane compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolyl phthalides, spiropyrans, leuco auramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc. Compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, metal salts of compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc. Polar organic compounds alcohols (oleyl alcohol, etc.), amides (Eg, acetoacetylanilide), esters (eg, diphenylphthalate), poorly water-soluble primary amine salts of carboxylic acids, ketones or ethers, and azomethines having at least one aromatic residue as a bonding group In this method, for example, microencapsulation and use Black and white barcode readable color, i.e., using an electron-donating coloring compound to be blue or black. The set temperature will depend on the melting point of oleyl alcohol. When the microcapsules are used for a thermal transfer ink ribbon, an ink layer containing at least the above microcapsules is formed directly on the base film or on the release layer. Using the thermal transfer ink ribbon, a bar code, for example, which is readable by a machine code, is printed on a temperature management label by a thermal head. Next, when an irreversible thermodynamic system is used, a rewritable system based on non-crystal-crystal or phase separation-non-phase separation is used as described below.・ Electron-donating color-forming compounds Phenylmethane compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolylphthalides, spiropyrans, leuco-oramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc. ・ Electron-accepting compounds, phenolic Compounds with hydroxyl groups, metal salts of compounds with phenolic hydroxyl groups, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc.Reversible materials Steroids, etc.This system is heated to above its melting point by a thermal head and quenched. It is fixed to colorless and gradually develops color above the glass transition point of the ink system. An electron-donating color-forming compound whose color when developed becomes a color readable by a conventional black-and-white bar code, that is, blue or black is used. When this system is used as a thermal transfer ink ribbon, it contains at least the above-mentioned electron-donating color-forming compound, the electron-accepting compound, and a reversible material directly on the base film or on the release layer. An ink layer consisting of Using the thermal transfer ink ribbon, a bar code, for example, which is readable by a machine code, is printed on a temperature management label by a thermal head.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control member printed with a temperature indicating member that changes color in response to temperature,
A machine management code that is machine-readable with colored ink is printed or applied on the upper or lower part printed or applied with the temperature indicating member, and the color of the temperature indicating member before or after discoloration is machine-readable of the colored ink. It is characterized in that it absorbs the wavelength of the light source of the reading device that reads a simple product management code. Therefore, when the color ink is a conventional bar code, the color is blue or black, so that the temperature indicating member also emits the same color and absorbs the red light which is a reading device.

A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the temperature indicating member is irreversible in a use environment. In this system, a rewritable material system capable of reversibly performing the above-mentioned non-crystal-crystal or phase separation-non-phase separation is used.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that the machine-readable code is formed by printing or applying a plurality of temperature indicating members.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of temperature indicating members having different temperature characteristics are used. For example, when there are two types of reversible temperature indicating members and the reaction temperatures are different, the following combinations of an electron-donating color-forming compound, an electron-accepting compound, and a polar organic compound are used. -Electron-donating color-forming compound CVL (Crystal Violet Lactone)-Electron-accepting compound Bisphenol A-Polar organic substance Temperature indicating member 1 is oleyl alcohol: for setting temperature 5-7 ° C Temperature indicating member 2 is lauryl alcohol: setting temperature 20 ° C Then, as described above, a material obtained by microencapsulating the above material to form a thermal transfer ribbon is used. When two types of irreversible temperature indicating members are used and the reaction temperatures are different, a rewritable system based on non-crystal-crystal or phase separation-non-phase separation is used as described below.

-Electron-donating color-forming compound CVL-Electron-accepting compound propyl gallate-Reversible material Temperature indicating member 1: Cholesterol: Set temperature 28 ° C Temperature indicating member 2: Pregnenolone: Set temperature 44 ° C Resin Styrene methacrylic acid Coalescing / Wax (paraffin wax) In this way, a plurality of thermal transfer ink ribbons are produced, and a machine-readable code is printed on the temperature management member.

The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a machine-readable commodity management code is printed by a plurality of temperature indicating members, and the machine-readable commodity management code changes according to a set temperature.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the plurality of temperature indicating members are made of an irreversible material under the use environment.

According to the present invention, a product management code capable of machine-reading information of a product or the like and a product management code machine-readable by one or more temperature indicating members whose color changes with temperature are printed or applied. The temperature range is managed by the product management code using the temperature management member. Therefore, the temperature management member is constituted by one or a plurality of temperature indicating members (in a plurality of cases, the reaction temperature of the temperature indicating member is different). By reading the code, the temperature range is limited. For example, when there is one temperature indicating member, it is possible to determine whether the temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature by reading the code. Also, when there are a plurality of temperature indicating members,
Printing a plurality of codes with a plurality of temperature indicating members. For example, the code 1 is printed on the temperature indicating member 1 having the set temperature of 28 ° C. The code 2 is printed by the temperature indicating member 2 having the set temperature of 44 ° C. If code 1 and code 2 cannot be recognized, the temperature is 2
If stored at less than 8 ° C. and only code 1 is recognized, 2
If it is 8 ° C. or more and less than 44 ° C., and if both Code 1 and Code 2 can be recognized, it is understood that the data was stored at 44 ° C. or more.
Further, as another method, for example, using a JAN8 code, a temperature indicating member 1 that is colorless at a set temperature of 25 ° C. or less and develops a color above it, and a temperature indicating member 2 that is colorless at a set temperature of 35 ° C. or less and develops a color above it. Form the machine code. As the machine code, for example, [the bar cannot be recognized] at 25 ° C. or less, and [4900 when the temperature is 25 ° C. or more and less than 35 ° C.]
0009], it is printed so as to become [6730307] at 35 ° C. or higher.

[0018]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given based on FIGS. First, what is shown in FIG. 1 is a temperature management member 1 formed in a label shape. The temperature management member 1 includes a product represented by characters or figures such as a product name, a shipping date, a manufacturing date, and a manufacturer. Information 2 and a bar code 3 for product management as a product management code that makes the contents of the product information 2 machine-readable are printed.
The temperature management member 1 is provided with a temperature member printing area 4. Such a temperature management member 1 is used by being attached to a product, but the one shown in FIG. 2 shows a state where the temperature is controlled below a set temperature, and nothing appears in the temperature member printing area 4. Not. As shown in FIG. 3, a product management code 5 is printed on the temperature indicating member printing area 4 as a code formed by a temperature indicating member having a property of changing color in response to temperature. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the product management code 5
Indicates a state in which the color has changed.

Therefore, a description will be given of a case where a reversible temperature indicating member whose color changes as many times as the temperature rises and falls is used. First, as a reversible temperature indicating member, for example,
A combination of an electron-donating color-forming compound, an electron-accepting compound, and a polar organic compound is used.

Electron-donating color-forming compounds (color formers) Phenylmethane-based compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolylphthalides, spiropyrans, leuco auramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc.・ Electron-accepting compounds (developers) Compounds having phenolic hydroxyl groups, metal salts of compounds having phenolic hydroxyl groups, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc. ・ Polar organic alcohols (lauryl alcohol, etc.) ), Amides (such as acetoacetylanilide), esters (such as diphenylphthalate), primary amine salts of poorly water-soluble carboxylic acids, ketones or ethers, and at least one aromatic residue as a bonding group. Azomethines, etc., where the electron-donating color-forming compound determines the color, Compound determines the concentration, which polar organic compound to determine the color change temperature, Metamo color (manufactured by Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.) is known as a reversible material using this method. The temperature indicating member used in the present invention has a color of blue, which can be used by the same reading device as the barcode 3 for merchandise management,
Alternatively, since black is preferable, crystal violet (CVL: blue), 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, or the like can be used as the electron-donating color-forming compound.

A specific example will be described. * Electron-donating color-forming compound: 1 part by weight of CVL * Electron-accepting compound: 1 part by weight of propyl gallate (PGE) * Polar organic compound: 25 parts by weight of n-lauryl alcohol is dissolved by heating and homogenized. It is obtained by encapsulation by a well-known coacervation method. * 1 part by weight of obtained microcapsules * 1 part by weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA-210) * 3 parts by weight of carnauba wax * 3 parts by weight of paraffin wax * 1 part by weight of other (dispersant, etc.) while heating 6um P which diffuses and has a heat resistant layer on the back
An ET (polyethylene terephthalate) film obtained by applying a heat transfer ink ribbon by applying while heating with an ink coater was used.

A product management code 5 was printed on the thermal transfer ink ribbon by a bar code printer (B-600 manufactured by TEC Co., Ltd.) to obtain a label-like temperature control member 1. The temperature management member 1 thus obtained has a slight hysteresis before and after the set temperature of the product management code as shown in FIG. 4, but can be judged more accurately than visually. For example, assuming that machine reading is possible when the relative value of density is 0.5 or more, reading is possible at about 16.5 ° C. when the temperature rises, and about 11 ° C. when the temperature drops.

Next, as the irreversible temperature indicating member, the following rewritable materials based on non-crystal-crystal or phase separation-non-phase separation were used.・ Electron-donating color-forming compounds Phenylmethane compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolylphthalides, spiropyrans, leuco-oramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc. ・ Electron-accepting compounds, phenolic Compounds having a hydroxyl group, metal salts of compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc., reversible materials, steroids, etc. * Electron donating color former: CVL 1 part by weight * Electron acceptor Compound: 1 part by weight of propyl gallate * Reversible material: 5 parts by weight of cholesterol * Resin: 5 parts by weight of styrene methacrylic acid copolymer (A-14P, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) in a 1: 1 solvent of toluene and cyclohexanone Dissolve completely.

* A mixture obtained by dissolving a mixture of 5 parts by weight of paraffin wax while heating with a ball mill is added (solid content: 20%), and dispersed while cooling naturally. A 6 μm PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film having a heat-resistant layer on the back surface was coated with an ink coating machine to obtain a thermal transfer ink ribbon.

In the irreversible method, as shown in FIG. 5, when the temperature exceeds a set temperature, the color gradually develops, and finally reaches a saturation density. This set temperature corresponds to the glass transition point of the ink system, and the non-crystalline and colorless system gradually crystallizes and develops color above the Tg point. The system is shown in FIG. When the product management code 5 is printed after heating and quenching with a thermal head or the like, it is fixed in a colorless state. The product management code 5 gradually develops its color when it warms above the glass transition point Tg, and its density varies with time as shown in FIG. Therefore, if machine reading can be performed when the relative value reaches 0.5, it can be understood that the device has been exposed to an environment having a temperature equal to or higher than the transition point Tg for 38 hours or more. The Tg of the ink is about 28 ° C. Needless to say, the visual management time becomes ambiguous. Here, A is a coloring material (leuco dye), B is a developer (phenolic compound), and C is a reversible agent. Therefore, the colorless state is a state in which A and B are separated and B and C are combined, the colored state is a state in which A and B are combined and C is separated, and the flow state is , A, B, and C are separated.

FIG. 7 shows a temperature management member 1 managed at a temperature lower than a set temperature. The product management code 5 of the temperature indicating member is colorless or white and cannot be recognized by the barcode scanner 6. On the other hand, if the temperature is higher than the set temperature,
As shown in (1), the product management code 5 is colored, and can be recognized by the barcode scanner 6. When it becomes possible, it is possible to know exactly what temperature environment it is in.

FIGS. 9 to 1 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
3 will be described. In the present embodiment, unlike the case of the first embodiment, the temperature indicating member printing area 4 is located in the same area as the barcode 3 for product management.
At this time, the same ink as in the above-described embodiment can be used for the temperature indicating member, and the solid pattern 7 may be used. The solid pattern 7 may be printed on either the upper surface or the lower surface of the barcode 3 for product management. When the temperature indicating ink printed in this manner is printed with a reversible temperature indicating member, and when the temperature is controlled at a set temperature or lower, the state becomes as shown in FIG. 10, and as shown in FIG. Although the barcode 3 is readable, if the temperature is controlled at a set temperature or higher, the solid pattern 7 is colored as shown in FIG. 11 and the barcode 3 for product management cannot be read as shown in FIG. (Because an electron-donating color-forming compound is used such that the light absorption wavelength bands when the management barcode 3 and the solid pattern 7 are colored are substantially the same.) Similarly, when printed with an irreversible member, as shown in FIG. 5 of the first embodiment, the irreversible temperature indicating member has a characteristic of gradually developing color at Tg or higher, and after a certain time elapses, FIG. , And cannot be read by the barcode reader 7 (because the contrast between the bar portion and the space portion of the product management barcode 3 cannot be obtained).

The temperature control member 1 thus obtained can be read by a machine as shown in FIG. That is, what is shown in FIG. 12 is a case where the bar code is managed at a temperature lower than the set temperature, and since the solid pattern 7 is colorless, the barcode 3 for merchandise management is readable and the bar code 3 is managed at a temperature higher than the set temperature. As shown in FIG. 13, the solid pattern 7 is colored and the barcode 3 for merchandise management cannot be recognized by the barcode scanner 6, so that the environmental temperature and the high-temperature exposure time can be known. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information as a machine-readable code is the barcode 3 for managing products, and the solid pattern 7 is a medium that makes the barcode 3 for managing products readable or unreadable.

The temperature control member 1 obtained as described above
Is not limited to a system using an electron-donating color-forming compound and an electron-accepting compound, but may be another system.
The set temperature, the set color development time, and the like are not limited to these. Further, it is sufficient that the reading device has a light source that absorbs the discolored color and the like by the discolored color. Further, the printing method is not limited to the thermal transfer ink ribbon, and it goes without saying that a method such as screen printing or hot stamping may be used.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case of colorlessness at a temperature lower than a certain set temperature and color development at a temperature higher than the set temperature has been described. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this and may be reversed.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
18 through FIG. The temperature management member 1 according to the present embodiment includes a product name 2 such as a product name, a shipping date, a manufacturing date, and a manufacturer, and a product management barcode 3 in which the product information 2 is machine-readable using, for example, a JAN code. And are printed. The temperature management member 1 is provided with a plurality (two in FIG. 14) of temperature member printing areas 4. A temperature management code 5 is printed on these temperature indicating member printing areas 4 by a temperature indicating member that changes color according to a set temperature. In the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-1 and the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-2, a temperature management code 5 that is machine-readable with a temperature indicating member having a different reaction temperature or reaction time is used.
Is printed or applied.

Here, the temperature management member 1 has the same system as the product management code 3, for example, a JAN code.
When a reversible temperature indicator is used (two or more temperature indicators having different reaction temperatures are used), for example, the following combination of an electron-donating color-forming compound, an electron-accepting compound, and a polar organic compound is used. Used.

Electron-donating color-forming compounds Phenylmethane compounds (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolyl phthalides, spiropyrans, leuco auramines, acyl or aryl auramines, etc. Compounds Compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, metal salts of compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc. ・ Polar organic organic alcohols (lauryl alcohol, etc.), amides (acetoacetylanilide, etc.) ), Esters (such as diphenylphthalate), primary amine salts of water-insoluble carboxylic acids, ketones or ethers, and azomethines having at least one aromatic residue as a bonding group. The color-forming compound determines the color, and the electron-accepting compound determines the concentration. Polar organic compound is intended to determine discoloration temperature, Metamo color as reversible material using this method (manufactured by Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.) is known. The temperature indicating member used in the embodiment of the present invention is preferably blue or black, which can be used by a reading device having the same color as the barcode 3 for merchandise management. Therefore, the electron donating color forming compound is crystal violet ( CVL: blue) or 3-
Diethylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran (black) and the like can be used.

Next, a specific example will be described. The temperature indicating member to be printed in the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-1. Set temperature to 5 ℃
And * Electron-donating color-forming compound: 1 part by weight of CVL * Electron-accepting compound: 1 part by weight of propyl gallate (PGE) * Polar organic compound: 25 parts by weight of oleyl alcohol is homogenized by heating and dissolving. It is obtained by encapsulation by the coacervation method. * 1 part by weight of obtained microcapsules * 1 part by weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA-210) * 3 parts by weight of carnauba wax * 3 parts by weight of paraffin wax * 1 part by weight of other (dispersant, etc.) while heating Diffuse, 4.5μ with heat-resistant layer on the back
m was applied to a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film while being heated by an ink coater to obtain a thermal transfer ink ribbon. Similarly, the temperature indicating member printing area 4:
The temperature indicating member to be printed in 4-2 has a set temperature of 16 ° C. * Electron-donating color-forming compound: 1 part by weight of CVL * Electron-accepting compound: 1 part by weight of propyl gallate (PGE) * Polar organic compound: 25 parts by weight of n-lauryl alcohol is dissolved by heating and homogenized. It is obtained by encapsulation by a well-known coacervation method. * 1 part by weight of obtained microcapsules * 1 part by weight of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA-210) * 3 parts by weight of carnauba wax * 3 parts by weight of paraffin wax * 1 part by weight of other (dispersant, etc.) while heating Diffuse, 4.5μm with heat-resistant layer on the back
The PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film was coated while heating with an ink coating machine to obtain a thermal transfer ink ribbon.

The thermal transfer ink ribbon was printed with a temperature control code 5 using a color barcode printer (CB-418, manufactured by Tech Co., Ltd .: four color barcode printers) to obtain a temperature control label 1. The temperature management label 1 thus obtained can be classified into the following temperatures with the characteristics shown in FIGS. (A) When T <5 ° C. The temperature management code 5 printed on the temperature indicating member printing areas 4: 4-1 and 4-2 cannot be read as shown in FIG. Use a reading device that can read 5 or more). (B) When 5 ° C. ≦ T <16 ° C. Only the temperature management code 5 in the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-1 can be read as shown in FIG. (C) When T ≧ 16 ° C. Both the temperature management codes 5 in the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-1 and the temperature indicating member printing area 2: 4-2 become readable as shown in FIG.

By using the reversible temperature indicating member, the range of the current control temperature can be specified mechanically. Here, two types of temperature indicating members are used. However, if the number of the temperature indicating members is increased, the control temperature range can be further specified.

Next, when an irreversible temperature indicating member is used (a plurality of temperature indicating members having different reaction temperatures or a combination of temperature indicating members is used), a rewritable system by crystal-amorphous or phase separation-non-phase separation is used. Available.

[0038] Temperature indicating members having different reaction temperatures <Temperature indicating member 1>-Electron-donating color-forming compound Phenylmethane-based compound (various fluorans, phenylphthalides, etc.), various indolylphthalides, spiropyrans, leuco-olamines, acyl or aryl Auramines, etc. ・ Electron-accepting compounds Compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, metal salts of compounds having a phenolic hydroxyl group, various triazoles, carboxylic acids, metal salts of carboxylic acids, etc. ・ Reversible materials Steroids, etc. * Electron donating Coloring compound: CVL 1 part by weight * Electron accepting compound: propyl gallate 1 part by weight * Reversible material: cholesterol 5 parts by weight * Resin: styrene methacrylic acid copolymer (A-14P, manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) 5 parts by weight Part is completely dissolved with a 1: 1 solvent of toluene and cyclohexanone.

20 parts by weight of wax (No. 3) * A mixture of 5 parts by weight of paraffin wax dissolved while heating with a ball mill is added (solid content: 20%), the above-mentioned dissolved material is added, and the mixture is dispersed while cooling naturally. do. 4.5μm PE with heat-resistant layer on back
A T (polyethylene terephthalate) film was coated with an ink coater to obtain a thermal transfer ink ribbon. The glass transition point is around 28 ° C., and at 28 ° C. or higher, color gradually develops.

<Temperature Display Member 2> * Electron-donating color-forming compound: 1 part by weight of CVL * Electron-accepting compound: 1 part by weight of propyl gallate * Reversible material: 5 parts by weight of pregnenolone * Resin: styrene-methacrylic acid copolymer 10 parts by weight are completely dissolved in a 1: 1 solvent of toluene and cyclohexanone.

20 parts by weight of wax (No. 3) * A mixture of 5 parts by weight of paraffin wax dissolved while heating with a ball mill is added (solid content: 20%), and the above-mentioned dissolved material is added, followed by natural cooling and dispersion. do. 4.5μm PE with heat-resistant layer on back
A T (polyethylene terephthalate) film was coated with an ink coater to obtain a thermal transfer ink ribbon. Tg of the temperature indicating member 2 was 44 ° C.

Color barcode printer (CB-418: 4 color barcode printers manufactured by Tech Co., Ltd.)
As a result, the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-1 becomes <temperature indicating member 1>.
> The temperature control code 5 was printed on the temperature indicating member printing area 4: 4-2 using <temperature indicating member 2>, and the temperature controlling member 1 was obtained.

As can be seen from FIG. 18, <temperature indicating member 1>.
Becomes readable at 30 ° C. in about 1 hour (relative value of color density is 0.5 or more), and <temperature indicating member 2> becomes readable in about 1 hour at 46 ° C. By reading the temperature management code 5 for the one-hour temperature management status, it can be grasped in the same manner as in the case of using the reversible method.

This is a system in which the color development time and color development temperature are determined by the glass transition point. Since the glass transition point depends on the material and the mixing ratio, the same material can be controlled by the mixing ratio.

In the irreversible method, as shown in FIG. 5, when the temperature becomes higher than the set temperature (Tg or more), the color gradually develops, and finally reaches the saturation density. This set temperature corresponds to the glass transition point of this ink system, and the amorphous and colorless system has a Tg
Above the point, it gradually crystallizes and develops color.
That is, when the temperature management code 5 is printed after heating and quenching with a thermal head or the like, the color is fixed to be colorless. The temperature management code 5 gradually develops color when it is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than the glass transition point (Tg), and the density varies depending on time as shown in FIG. If it can be read when this concentration reaches a relative value of 0.5, it can be understood that it was exposed to the environment of Tg + 2 ° C. for 1 hour or more. (The temperature and the time for color development can be controlled by the concentration of a reversible material or the like, and are not limited thereto.)

Since the temperature management code 5 is printed by a plurality of temperature indicating members, if the temperature indicating member 2 is not colored, 1
It can be seen that the temperature after the lapse of time is 30 ° C. or more and less than 46 ° C. It goes without saying that if the temperature setting range of the temperature indicating member is narrow, it is possible to specify the number of measurement environment temperatures. Needless to say, when viewed visually, the management time becomes ambiguous. Here, the reaction temperature is different, the example of the temperature indicating member showing the substantially same characteristics of the coloring time is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.For example, when a plurality of temperature indicating members having different coloring speeds at a certain temperature are used, Exposure time can be specified. Further, it is needless to say that the measurement environment can be grasped by providing a plurality of temperature indicating members having different coloring speeds and coloring temperatures.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. In each of the above embodiments, the state in which the temperature management member 1 is formed as a label is described. However, in this embodiment, the product management barcode 3 and the temperature management code are provided on the packaging box 8 made of corrugated cardboard or the like. 5 is directly printed. Therefore, the history of the state stored in the refrigerator or the like for each packaging box 8 can be directly known, and further, machine reading by the bar code reader 6 or the like is possible.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a plurality of machine-readable temperature management codes 5 are provided in the temperature management member 1 with a plurality of temperature indicating members. That is, by providing a portion printed with a plurality of temperature indicating members in one temperature management code 5, the resource saving of the temperature management member 1 is achieved.

First, FIG. 20 shows a JAN 8 used as a machine-readable code. That is, specifically, JAN8 is as follows: 0: (0001101) 1: (0011001) 2: (0010011) 3: (0111101) 4: (01000011) 5: (01100001) 6: (01011111) 7 : (0111011) 8: (0110111) 9: (0001011), and the print pattern on which this is printed is shown in FIG. Using the JAN8 print pattern, printing is performed by a plurality of temperature indicating members. The temperature indicating member used in the third embodiment can be used as it is.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 21 (a), 21 (b) and 21 (c), the temperature indicating member 1 which reacts at the set temperature T1 is blacked out, and the hatched portion is connected by the temperature indicating member 2 to the area. Print. However, it is assumed that T1 <T2.
In the printing pattern thus obtained, when the environmental temperature T satisfies T2>T> T1, a portion where the temperature indicating member 1 is printed develops a color. That is, FIG. 21 (b) is 9 and FIG. 21 (c) is 0. Then, when the environmental temperature T becomes T> T2, FIG.
Changes to 6. FIG. 21 (b) changes to 7 and FIG. 21 (c)
Changes to 3. According to this principle, a detailed reason will be described later. However, when the environmental temperature T is T2>T> T1, the bar code “49000009” shown in FIG. The bar code is “67303
007 ”.

Using this, the following combinations are possible in the JAN8 code (x is not readable). Environmental temperature: T1> T T2>T> T1 T> T2 × 03 × 06 × 13 × 17 × 27 × 28 × 46 × 47 × 48 × 57 × 58 × 97 × 97 In FIG. 22A, the JAN8 code is <4900009>, but actually, the following printing is performed.
(Incidentally, it is shown from 4 on the left.) Corresponding to FIG. 11 (a) Corresponding to FIG. 11 (b) Environmental temperature T <T1 T2>T> T1 T> T2 4: Printing that changes from colorless to 4 to 6 Pattern 9: Print pattern changing to colorless → 9 → 7 0: Print pattern changing to colorless → 0 → 3 0: Print colorless → 0 → 0 Print 0 only with temperature indicator 1 0: Colorless → Change to 0 → 3 Print pattern 0: colorless → 0 → 0 Print 0 only with temperature indicator 1 0: Colorless → 0 → 0 Print 0 only with temperature indicator 1 9: Colorless → print pattern that changes to 9 → 7 Changes as above Thus, it can be seen that by printing with the temperature indicating member 1 or 2, it is possible to specify the temperature range with one temperature management code. That is, T <T
When it is 1, reading is impossible, and when T2>T> T1, it is <49000.
009>. When T> T2 <673030
07>. The environmental status can be grasped based on which code is recognized by the machine code reader.

Here, JAN8 is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. JAN, code 39, NW7,
Needless to say, TF, code 128, code 49, code 93, an original code, etc., and not only a one-dimensional code but also a two-dimensional code may be used. Further, the system does not have to be the same system as the product management code 3 only in the sense of managing the temperature.

Although the example in which the color is blue or black has been described, any color may be used as long as the reading device corresponds to the color.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, an example of the thermal transfer ink ribbon has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, a method using a color developing compound, a color developer, a reversible material, or the like was used as the temperature indicating material, but is not limited thereto.

[0055]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a temperature control member on which information is printed or applied by a temperature indicating member whose color changes in response to temperature, since the information is a machine-readable code, it can be used for personal use. There is no error due to a visual recognition, and the environmental temperature at which a product or the like is stored can be managed by machine reading.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a temperature control member printed with a temperature indicating member that changes color in response to temperature,
A machine-readable temperature management code is printed or applied with colored ink on the upper or lower part printed or applied with the temperature indicating member, and the color of the temperature indicating member before or after discoloration is machine readable of the colored ink. Since the wavelength of the light source of the reading device that reads the temperature control code is absorbed, the temperature control code can be printed in a small area.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the temperature indicating member is made irreversible under the use environment, there is an effect that the history of the environmental state in which the temperature control member is placed can be reliably obtained. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the machine-readable code is formed by printing or applying a plurality of temperature indicating members, a plurality of temperature regions can be easily managed. Having.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since a plurality of temperature indicating members having different temperature characteristics are used, there is an effect that a plurality of temperature regions can be easily managed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, since a machine-readable temperature management code is printed by a plurality of temperature indicating members and the machine-readable temperature management code changes in accordance with the set temperature, the temperature management code is changed numerically. Has the effect of being able to perform

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of temperature indicating members are made of an irreversible material under the use environment, the effect that the history in the environment of the plurality of temperature ranges can be obtained accurately can be obtained. Have.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, a product management code capable of machine-readable information on a product or the like and a temperature management code machine-readable by one or more temperature indicating members whose color changes with temperature are printed or applied. Since the temperature range is managed by the temperature management code using the temperature management member set as above, there is no error due to the judgment by the individual visual recognition, and the temperature and the exposure time can be managed by the machine reading. Has an effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a temperature management member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a temperature management member showing a state where the temperature is controlled below a set temperature.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a temperature management member showing a state where the temperature is controlled at a set temperature or higher.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature and the concentration of a reversible temperature indicating member.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between elapsed time and concentration at a predetermined temperature of a temperature indicating member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a physical transformation state of the temperature indicating member.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where only a product code can be read by machine reading.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where both a product code and a temperature management code can be read by machine reading.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view of a temperature management member.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the temperature management member showing a state where the temperature is controlled below a set temperature.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a temperature management member showing a state where the temperature is controlled at a set temperature or higher.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which only a product code can be read by machine reading.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state where both a product code and a temperature management code can be read by machine reading.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a temperature management member according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the temperature management member when the environmental temperature is equal to or lower than T1.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the temperature management member when the environmental temperature is in a range from T1 to T2.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the temperature management member when the environmental temperature is equal to or higher than T2.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a physical transformation state of the temperature indicating member.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which 0
9 is a pattern diagram showing JAN codes No. 9 to No. 9. FIG.

FIGS. 21A and 21B show a state in which a cord is changed by two types of temperature indicating members, wherein FIG. 21A shows a change from 4 to 6, and FIG.
(C) shows a change from 0 to 3.

FIGS. 22A and 22B show a state of changing as a bar code by two kinds of temperature indicating members, where FIG. 22A shows “49000009” and FIG. 22B shows “67303007”.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Temperature management member 3 Product management code 5 Temperature management code

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A temperature management member on which information is printed or applied by a temperature indicating member whose color changes in response to temperature, wherein the information is a machine-readable code. 2. A temperature management member printed with a temperature indicating member whose color changes in response to temperature, wherein a product management code readable by machine with colored ink is provided above or below a portion printed or applied with the temperature indicating member. Printed or coated,
A temperature management member, wherein a color before or after the color change of the temperature indicating member absorbs a wavelength of a light source of a reader for reading a machine-readable commodity management code of the colored ink. 3. The temperature control member according to claim 1, wherein the temperature indicating member is irreversible in a use environment. 4. The temperature management member according to claim 1, wherein the machine-readable code is formed by printing or applying a plurality of temperature indicating members. 5. The temperature management member according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of temperature indicating members having different temperature characteristics are used. 6. The temperature management member according to claim 4, wherein a machine readable product management code is printed by a plurality of temperature indicating members, and the machine readable product management code changes according to a set temperature. . 7. The temperature control member according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of temperature indicating members are made of an irreversible material under a use environment. 8. A temperature management member printed or coated with a product management code capable of machine-readable information such as a product and a product management code machine-readable by one or more temperature indicating members whose color changes with temperature. A temperature management method, wherein a temperature range is managed by the product management code.