WO2009129998A1

WO2009129998A1 - Device for measuring the time frame between a first opening and/or closing after filling a package and a predetermined later time, and the use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009129998A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/002897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Kirchner; Theodor Doll; Michael Paasch
Original assignee: Ki-Si-Co
Priority date: 2008-04-21
Filing date: 2009-04-21
Publication date: 2009-10-29
Also published as: DE102008020599B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for measuring the time frame between a first opening and/or closing after filling a package and a predetermined later time, having a diffusion path (1) integrated into a closure cap, a releasing device (5) allowing access into the diffusion path (1) for components of the atmosphere during the first opening or during the closing after filling of the package, a compensating device for compensating for the changes in the diffusion speed of components of the atmosphere in the diffusion path (1) caused by temperature changes, and a display device (4).

Description

Apparatus for measuring the time between first opening and / or closing after filling a package and a predetermined later time and their use

The invention relates to a device for indicating the passage of a predetermined period of time, for example, from the opening and / or filling of a package.

The quality tracking of consumer goods, in particular of medicines, cosmetics, food and drugstore articles, is already enshrined in many countries by law. Often the indication of the durability after opening the packaging is already prescribed. This useful life is usually printed on the packaging so that the consumer is forced to remember or note the date of opening.

Technically similar is the theme of the original closures, which guarantee the integrity of the contents after bottling. These are currently based on a kind of tear-off, in which a connected via plastic webs with the lid ring breaks. However, this tear-off mechanism can be bypassed on skillful opening and is therefore associated with a large uncertainty factor, e.g. when buying food, tainted.

Great customer benefit would therefore be a technical innovation that allows the active and reliable indication of originality and useful life of packaging contents. On the other hand, for economic reasons, such a display may only have low production costs. Furthermore, this display must be easy to use and to interpret.

Sensors and indicators for monitoring the quality of packaging contents are already known. These are mainly used for freshness indication used perishable goods. They usually serve to demonstrate the integrity of the package, eg as leak indicators, and are usually affixed to the inside of the package.

Oxygen indicators have so far prevailed on the market, especially in Japan. These are used in the field of refrigerated, long-life finished products in transparent plastic or glass packaging.

For the indication of a correct sterilization process, there are stickers which are adhered to the packaging, preferably a carton or bag, and indicate the successful sterilization after the sterilization process by color change. However, this type of ad is not intended for end use.

Oxygen absorber systems and oxygen indicator systems have also been developed which can be incorporated into packaging films. These are films with a complex structure, which on the one hand extend the shelf life of oxygen-sensitive foods and on the other hand indicate whether the food has been stored under suitable conditions.

Another product is marketed under the name TIME-Strip ^® . This is a one-way time display showing elapsed time after activation. Scaling variants are available from 24 hours up to 6 months. The operation of this time control system is based on the capillary behavior of ink in a porous material. However, the product has not yet been able to find its way into the market, because of the temperature dependence of the processes used Products can be used only for specific and relatively narrow ranges of service temperatures. However, this is not sufficient as a technical approach to the task.

Another currently pursued approach to time displays in the packaging sector is the use of RFID. The cost of RFID-driven displays are higher compared to the solution proposed in the present description and, moreover, an electronic device is always required for reading the information, which is generally not available to consumers of bulk goods.

GB-A-2,344,101 discloses a container closure with built-in timing device. The closure may be activated upon first opening or closing by the manufacturer. Described is a variant in which a first material moves from a reservoir - triggered by the activation - to a second material, for example by diffusion or by capillary forces, and causes a color change of the second material after a certain period of time. A temperature compensation of the diffusion rate or the use of a virtually inexhaustible reservoir of first material is not described.

US-A-3,768,976 discloses a container with an oxygen indicator which is triggered after a certain temperature-dependent period of time. The container has oxygen-permeable walls and a dye whose color changes upon contact with oxygen. A temperature compensation of the diffusion rate is not described.

WO-A-99 / 24.329 discloses a safety cap having a display device, wherein the first time this cap is opened, a reservoir filled with a colorant is broken and the colorant passes over an absorbing material is supplied to the visible display window. This hard-to-manipulate cap allows the consumer immediately after opening a package to recognize their use. In this device, the diffusion of a separately held substance is used. Also, there is no possibility in the device for temperature compensation of the diffusion rate.

GB-A-2,253,287 discloses a closure cap for containers. After the container has been opened, a clock is activated and the cap shows a time elapsed after opening by means of a digital display.

US-A-4,195,058 describes an indicator which can be used to display the temperature and time history of articles of limited shelf life. The indicator works with a vapor-permeable barrier, which is fed by a reservoir. The permeation of steam to the other side activates a display device. Neither temperature compensation of the rate of permeation nor the use of a virtually inexhaustible reservoir for the vapor are described. Another device operating on this principle is known from US-A-4, 195,055.

Other time-temperature integrating devices for displaying the expiration dates of products are known from OE 698 17 138 T2 and from OE 696 33 071 T2. These devices require a comparatively complicated construction or the use of special materials.

Closure systems with color change systems are described in OE 691 17 758 T2 and in DE-693 24 516 T2. These allow the display of the first opening of a package or the monitoring of a negative pressure in the container. DE 10 2005 055 634 A1 describes an oxygen scavenger indicator. This allows the visual display when a limit on oxygen in the environment to be monitored is exceeded.

Starting from the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive to produce device, with the consumption of packaging contents calculated from the first opening of the package and / or the period between the filling of the package and the first opening can be determined by the consumer in a simple way. Thus, this device should allow the display of the minimum shelf life and be triggered by the first opening of the package or by closing after filling. The device is separate from the package contents and can be integrated in an opening device or even be part of the package itself.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, in addition to the indication of the minimum shelf life, further consumption periods specified by the manufacturer, for example a period of expiration, are to be displayed and / or a time interval between the filling of the packaging and the first opening is to be displayed. In addition, preferably also the originality should be displayed to indicate to the consumer whether, for example, a package was opened after filling.

The invention relates to a device for measuring the time between first opening and / or closing after filling a package and a predetermined later time with the features:

a) diffusion path, which communicates at least when the package is open on one side with the atmosphere surrounding the packaging, which is on the other side in communication with a display device, and before is inaccessible to the first opening and / or closing prior to filling of the atmosphere component;

b) tripping device, which upon first opening or closing after the filling of the packaging access for components of the atmosphere in the

Diffusion path allowed,

c) compensation means for compensating for the changes in the diffusion rate of components of the atmosphere in the diffusion path caused by temperature changes, and

d) display device which indicates a predetermined first state prior to the entry of predetermined portions of the atmosphere, is triggered by access of predetermined portions of the atmosphere, and then indicates a predetermined second state.

The device according to the invention can be designed in different ways. On the one hand, it can be integrated in the wall of a packaging, for example in foil bags. However, it is preferably the part of a closure device for the packaging.

The present invention is based on the idea that at least one of the following three functions can be displayed by the display device for a consumer: the durability after onset, the durability after filling (so-called minimum shelf life) and the originality. Preferably, several or even all of these three functions are readable by one or more display devices. According to the invention, a diffusion path, a triggering device, possibly a compensation device and a display device can be provided for each of these functions. However, it is also possible that several of these functions, for example, by a common display device can be represented or that, for example, a triggering device and / or a compensation device for a plurality of functions can be used.

Shelf life after onset indicates the period of time that the product contained in the package is stable after the first opening of the package. This shelf-life after onset can be very short, for example in the case of foods or medicines, or even for cosmetics, for example, for a few months. On the other hand, the shelf-life after bottling is the length of time that the product contained in the package is stable when unopened. For many applications, a combination of the indication of shelf-life after bottling and the shelf-life after it appears useful. In particular, this combination allows a consumer to determine if a product is still usable. Additionally or alternatively, the originality may be displayed, allowing a consumer to determine if a product has been opened and / or contaminated by an unauthorized third party, if any.

Preferably, the device according to the invention is designed in the form of a closure cap in which diffusion path, triggering device, compensation device and display device are integrated.

As a triggering device, any device can be used which is suitable to open the diffusion path upon opening of the package to the environment of the package. Usually, these will be seals which close off the diffusion route to the surroundings of the package and which are destroyed when the package is first opened, filled or at another intended triggering event and thus at least during the opening phases of the package, the diffusion path to the environment open the packaging. Typically, these are plastic webs at the intended triggering event crushed under pressure or destroyed in conjunction with elements of the package at the intended triggering event.

Preferably, the triggering device is designed so that it opens the diffusion path to the environment of the package during filling of the package or after closing the package after filling and then does not close again, so that the diffusion distance after the triggering event to the environment of the package out remains open, regardless of whether the packaging is then closed again or is open.

The diffusion path can have any shapes and lengths and can be dimensioned by the skilled person depending on the desired period of time between opening and display. A diffusion path may include one or more display devices, or a display device may respond to multiple atmospheric components. This is particularly advantageous if these components move at different speeds in the diffusion path. This can be achieved by suitable selection of the compensation devices, which in addition to the compensation of the temperature dependence of the diffusion can also cause a delay of the diffusion and thus a reduction of the diffusion rate.

In addition, it is possible to design the device with a plurality of diffusion paths, which are each equipped with triggering device, compensation device and display device. This also makes it possible to represent different time periods and / or triggering events.

In a preferred embodiment, the diffusion path is integrated in a closure cap in the form of a spiral, meandering or labyrinthine channel, is at the end in contact with the environment closed with a triggering device and connected at the other end with an optical display device which before the first opening or before closing after filling the package has a predetermined first color, is triggered by access of predetermined portions of the atmosphere and then a predetermined second Indicates staining.

The invention is based on the finding that, in a diffusion path in contact with a non-exhaustible reservoir, such as the atmosphere surrounding the packaging, a sigmoidal diffusion front is formed, the shape of which practically does not change as a result of temperature influences, which therefore only slows or accelerates temperature effects becomes. A temperature compensation of the diffusion rate can be achieved in a simple manner in that the diffusion path is in contact with a material which consumes or binds the diffusing constituents, the speed being dependent on the respective temperature. Considering, for example, the diffusion of oxygen in the presence of an oxygen adsorbing or consuming material through the diffusion path, it will be noted that although increasing the temperature would increase the rate of diffusion (without substantially changing the shape of the diffusion front), this would be increased Reactivity in the adsorption / consumption of oxygen is compensated or reduced. As a result, by combining the diffusion path with contact with a non-exhaustible reservoir with an oxygen-consuming or oxygen-binding material, the temperature dependence of the diffusion can be compensated or at least reduced. Another way of compensating for the temperature dependence of the diffusion is that the diffusion path is provided in the form of a channel in a polymer. As the temperature increases, the polymer compresses and the cross section of the channel decreases; thus results in a lower mass transport with temperature increase, since less cross-section is available. at Reducing the temperature widens the cross section again; the effect is reversible. Preferably, both methods of temperature compensation are used in the device according to the invention, namely a diffusion path in the form of a channel in a polymer and the use of materials which consume and / or bind one or more of the diffusing constituents.

As a trigger for the display of a predetermined period of time, a selected component of the atmosphere is used according to the invention. This is usually a component that reacts with the material of the display device or causes a change in state of this material. The material changes from a first property, for example a certain initial coloration, as a result of contact with the atmospheric constituent into a second property, for example a changed coloration. Preferred constituents are water, carbon dioxide or, in particular, oxygen.

The device according to the invention is designed such that the speed of the selected atmospheric components moving through the diffusion path and intended to bring about a change of state of the display device is as far as possible independent of the temperature. Since the diffusion rate is known to depend on the temperature, the device according to the invention has a compensation device. This may be a material introduced in the diffusion path and / or a material which is part of the composition forming the diffusion path. The diffusibility can also be reduced by reducing the pore size when the temperature increases. The material may be a chemical which reacts with the selected atmospheric constituent which is intended to cause the change of state of the display device and thereby loses its effect; it can work out though also be a material that undergoes enhanced interaction with temperature changes with the diffusing component and thereby compensates for the increase in the diffusion rate, without being consumed. Examples of chemicals which can react with diffusing atmospheric constituents are oxygen-reactive chemicals, for example oxidizable substances such as metal particles, in particular those having an electrochemically activated oxidation rate, preferably iron, aluminum, magnesium and / or zinc; moisture-responsive chemicals, for example moisture-responsive metal particles such as iron, aluminum, magnesium and / or zinc particles, or metal oxide particles; and silica or water-absorbent polymers. Examples of materials that can interact intensively with diffusing atmospheric constituents when the temperature increases without being consumed are thermally switchable polymers.

Preferably, the compensation means is a chemical reacting with an atmospheric constituent, preferably oxygen, which is a component constituting the diffusion path-forming composition. For example, it is an injection molded article having a diffusion path formed therein made of material containing at least one oxygen-reactive chemical.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the display device responds to the ingress of oxygen and / or moisture and / or carbon dioxide and the compensation device is located within the diffusion path or is a component of the diffusion path forming material and is an oxygen and / or or water and / or carbon dioxide adsorbing material or a material reactive with oxygen and / or with water and / or with carbon dioxide. In a further preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention the triggering device is a plastic seal, which is arranged at the end in contact with the environment end of the diffusion path, which closes the diffusion path from the environment of the package and by the first opening or by closing the packaging after the filling is broken.

In another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a sealing unit is provided in the direction of diffusion behind the triggering device, which seals off the diffusion path from the environment when the package is sealed and allows the atmosphere to be admitted from the environment when the package is open. Particularly preferably, the sealing unit is in the direction of diffusion in connection with a reservoir in connection, which forms the one side of the diffusion path.

Any device which is suitable for signaling the access of the selected atmosphere component diffused by the diffusion section into the display device can be used as the display device. In this case, a wide variety of physical changes in the display device can be used, for example, changes in the dielectric constant, the acidity, the electrical or thermal conductivity or in particular the color.

The latter property is particularly preferred since it is particularly easy to recognize for the consumer. Display systems of this type are known to the person skilled in the art.

In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a device in which the display device is a responsive to the access of oxygen with color change polymer and in which the compensation device with a Oxygen-reactive finely divided material is that has been introduced into the diffusion path and fills or that is part of the diffusion path forming material.

In a further particular embodiment, the display device is a polymer which responds to the access of different atmospheric constituents with different property changes, for example with different color changes. This allows the determination of different time periods, depending on the diffusion rate of the individual atmospheric constituents. Their rate of diffusion can be delayed to varying degrees by selecting the material for the compensator.

The invention preferably relates to a device whose display device is a polymer reacting to the access of different constituents of the atmosphere with different color changes and whose compensation device consists of finely divided materials which have been introduced into the diffusion path or materials which form part of the diffusion path forming composition These materials delay the diffusion of the constituents of the atmosphere, which cause the display device, to different extents, so that these constituents move at different speeds within the diffusion path.

With such a device, for example, the minimum durability and the expiration date of a packaged product can be easily displayed.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device according to the invention allows the display of a predetermined period of time from filling and / or from the first opening of the packaging. In a first embodiment of this preferred embodiment, the device includes a diffusion path with first and second display device, of which the second display device is arranged at the end remote from the environment of the container end of the diffusion path and the first Anzeigevor- direction between the second display device and in contact with the environment the diffusion path has at least one first and one second triggering device, of which the first triggering device between the end of the diffusion path in contact with the environment and the first display device and the second triggering device between the first and the second display device arranged is.

In a preferred embodiment of the selected device described above, the first triggering device is a plastic seal located in the direction of diffusion in front of the first display device, which is broken when filling the packaging and thus allows access of components of the environment to the first display device; the second triggering device is a plastic seal which is broken upon first opening of the packaging and thus allows the access of constituents of the environment into those parts of the diffusion path which are arranged between the second triggering device and the second indicating device.

In a preferred embodiment of the selected device described above, the compensation device is oxygen and / or moisture and / or carbon dioxide reactive material which is finely divided and located in the part of the diffusion path between the first triggering device and the first indicating device the part of the diffusion path located between the second triggering device and the second indicating device or which is part of the composition comprising the formed between the first triggering device and the first display device located part of the diffusion path and the located between the second triggering device and the second display device part of the diffusion path.

In a second embodiment of this preferred embodiment, the device has a first diffusion path, which is connected at the end facing away from the environment of the container with a first display device, and has a second diffusion path, which at the end abgegewaπdten from the environment of the container with a second Display device is connected, wherein the first diffusion path has at least one first triggering device, which allows the admission of constituents of the atmosphere in the first diffusion path during filling of the package, and wherein the second diffusion path has at least one second triggering device, which access the first opening of the package allows for components of the atmosphere in the second diffusion path, and at least the second diffusion path has a compensation device.

The device according to the invention is particularly preferably integrated into a screw cap, a snap closure or a crimp cap.

Another preferred device according to the invention is produced by injection molding.

The invention also relates to the use of one of the devices described above for displaying the course of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the first opening of a package or from the filling of the package and in particular display the expiration of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the first opening of the package in combination with the display of the expiration of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the filling of the packaging. The device according to the invention is preferably used in packaging of ingredients with a limited service life, in particular in packaging of foods, medicaments or cosmetics.

In the figures, embodiments of the device according to the invention and their operation are described by way of example.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Figures 2 to 4 show the function of a triggering device.

Figures 5 to 6 show the function of a sealing mechanism, which is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In Figure 1, the schematic diagram of a device according to the invention is shown in plan view. This is integrated in a cap, not shown. Shown is a diffusion path 1 with a spiral course. On one side 2, the diffusion path 1 communicates with the atmosphere and on the other side 3 with a not shown in Figure 1 display device 4. Shown is still a triggering device 5, which closes diffusion path 1 and display device 4 before opening from the atmosphere , Upon first opening of the package, the triggering device 5 is broken and allows access for constituents of the atmosphere in the diffusion path 1. Not shown separately in the figure is the compensation device 6, which consists of an oxygen-reactive material contained in the composition, from which the diffusion path 1 is constructed and from the diffusion path 1, which decreases in temperature increase in cross-section. During the diffusion of the atmospheric Components through the diffusion path 1 oxygen comes into contact with the present in the walls with oxygen-reacting material and this material is thus slowly consumed. This reaction serves to compensate for the changes in the diffusion rate of oxygen in the diffusion path 1 caused by temperature changes. After the entire diffusion path 1 has been traversed by the atmospheric constituents, oxygen reaches the display device 4. This has a certain color before the admission of oxygen. After the access of oxygen, the color reverses and thereby signals the passage of a predetermined time period, calculated from the opening of the diffusion path 1. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the triggering device 5 in side view and before the first closure of a packaging. Shown are an upper element 10, which represents the part of a closure cap and an edge element of the opening of a packaging, for example a mouth edge 11 of a bottle.

The upper element 10 is composed of seal 12 and cap body 13. In the cap body 13, a channel 14a, 14b is incorporated, which is divided by a plastic web 15 into a part 14a opening to the atmosphere and a part 14b opening into the diffusion path 1. Plastic web 15 separates both parts 14a, 14b of the channel before the first closure of the package and thus closes the diffusion path 1 from access of atmospheric constituents.

FIG. 3 shows the triggering device 5 of FIG. 2 after the first closure of the packaging. Seal 12 and cap body 13 are pressed onto the mouth edge 11 of the bottle and plastic web 15 is thereby compressed or broken. Depending on the configuration of the plastic web 15, an undefined state can result from the first closing by the separation between the parts 14 a, 14 b of the Channel is already canceled by the breaking of the plastic web 15 or the plastic web 15 is only compressed, but the separation still exists. By the sealing unit shown in Figures 5 and 6, a defined state can be achieved for each time after the first closure of the container.

FIG. 4 shows the triggering device 5 of FIGS. 2 and 3 after opening the packaging. The pressing pressure through the mouth edge of the bottle 11 is eliminated, so that seal 12 and cap body 13 resume their original position and the compressed or broken plastic web 15 clears the way for components of the atmosphere in the part 14 b of the channel. By reclosing the packaging, it may happen that the passage between the parts 14a, 14b is interrupted again by the pressure built up by the mouth edge of the bottle 12. This can be prevented for example by appropriate dimensioning of the plastic web or in the part 14a of the channel downstream parts, a reservoir can be provided, which ensures the supply of the diffusion path 1 with constituents of the atmosphere in the closure phases after the first opening.

FIG. 5 shows a sealing unit 15 in the closed state, which can be attached downstream of the channel part 14b behind the triggering device 5 described in FIGS. This sealing unit 15 allows the setting of a defined initial state after the first closure of the package. Shown are a mouth edge 11 of a bottle, a seal 12 and a cap body 13, in which a channel 14b, 14c is incorporated. Also shown is a plastic lip 16 which, in the illustrated closed state, obstructs the path between the parts 14b, 14c of the channel. The lower part of the cap body 13 is missing in the region of the plastic lip 16 and allows this on closing a direct contact with seal 12th channel 14c opens into the diffusion path 1 and channel 14b is connected to the tripping device shown in Figures 2 to 4.

FIG. 6 shows the sealing unit 15 of FIG. 5 with the packaging open. The mouth edge of the bottle 12 is removed and plastic lip 16 moves with the upper part of the cap body 13 to the starting position, so that the path between both channel parts 14b, 14c is free, the access of components of the atmosphere in the diffusion path is made possible.

Sealing unit 15 seals the diffusion path safely after the first closure of the package. This is independent of whether plastic web 15 releases the path between the channel parts 14a, 14b or not.

In the closed state of the container, however, there is always a closure of the diffusion path 1, regardless of whether it is the first or a subsequent closing. In order to change the shape of the diffusion front as little as possible during the diffusion of atmospheric constituents in the diffusion section 1 after the first opening of the packaging, it is preferable to provide a reservoir at the beginning of the diffusion section 1. This may preferably be provided directly behind the plastic lip 16. This reservoir is filled when the package is first opened and serves as a supplier of atmospheric constituents in the closure phases.

Claims

claims:

1. A device for measuring the time between first opening and / or closing after filling a package and a predetermined later time with the features:

a) diffusion path (1), which is integrated in a closure cap and at least when the package is open on one side (2) with the atmosphere surrounding the packaging in connection, on the other side (3) with a display device (4) in Is inaccessible, prior to initial opening and / or closing, after filling the atmosphere component packing;

b) triggering device (5), which allows access to constituents of the atmosphere in the diffusion path (1) upon first opening or closing after filling the packaging,

c) compensation means (6) for compensating for the changes in the diffusion speed of constituents of the atmosphere in the diffusion path (1) caused by temperature changes, and

d) display device (4) which indicates a predetermined first state prior to the entry of predetermined portions of the atmosphere, is triggered by access of predetermined portions of the atmosphere, and then indicates a predetermined second state.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that in the closure cap, the triggering device (5), compensation device (6) and display device (4) are integrated.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the diffusion path (1) spirally, meandering or labyrinthine extending channel in the cap extends and is closed at the end in contact with the environment end (2) with a triggering device (5) and the am the other end (3) is connected to an optical display device (4), which before the first opening or before closing after filling the package has a predetermined first color, is triggered by access of predetermined portions of the atmosphere, and then a predetermined second Indicates staining.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the compensation device (6) is a material in contact with the diffusion path, which consumes or binds selected components in the diffusion path (1) and / or a diffusion path (1), in in the form of a channel in a polymer.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the display device (4) responds to the ingress of oxygen and / or moisture and / or carbon dioxide and that the compensation device (6) is located within the diffusion path or a part of is the diffusion path (1) forming material and is an oxygen and / or water and / or carbon dioxide adsorbing material or a reacting with oxygen and / or with water and / or with carbon dioxide material.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the triggering device (5) is a plastic seal, which is arranged at the end in contact with the environment end (2) of the diffusion path (1) and the diffusion path (1) of closes the environment of the packaging and which is broken by the first opening or by closing the package after filling.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that viewed in the diffusion direction behind the triggering device (5) a sealing unit (15) is provided, which closes the diffusion path (1) in a sealed package from the environment and with the package open Admission of the atmosphere from the environment allows.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing unit (15) viewed in the diffusion direction with a reservoir (16) in

Connection stands, which forms the one side (2) of the diffusion path (1).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the display device (4) is a responsive to the access of oxygen with color change polymer and that the compensation device (6) is an oxygen-reactive finely divided material, in the diffusion path (1) has been introduced and it fills or is an oxygen-reactive material which is a component of the diffusion path (1) forming composition.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the display device (4) is a responsive to the access of different components of the atmosphere with different color changes polymer and that the compensation device (6) consists of finely divided materials, the introduced into the diffusion path (1) are materials or materials which are part of the composition forming the diffusion path (1), which materials delay the diffusion of the constituents of the atmosphere which trigger the display device (4) to different extents, so that these constituents are within the diffusion distance (1 ) move at different speeds.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the diffusion path (1) has a first and a second display device (4), of which the second display device at the end facing away from the environment of the container end of the diffusion path (1) is arranged and the first display device between the second display device and the environment in contact with the end (2) of the diffusion path (1) is arranged, that the diffusion path (1) at least a first and a second triggering device (5), of which the first Triggering device between see the standing in contact with the environment end (2) of the diffusion path and the first display device is arranged and the second triggering device between the first and the second display device is arranged.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the first triggering device is a plastic seal, which is seen in the direction of diffusion in front of the first display device, which is broken when filling the package and thus allows the access of components of the environment to the first display device that the second triggering device is a plastic seal which is broken when the package is first opened and thus permits access of components of the environment to those parts of the diffusion path which are arranged between the second triggering device and the second indicating device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the compensation device (6) with oxygen and / or moisture and / or carbon dioxide is reactive material, which is finely divided and located in between the first triggering device and the first display device located part of the diffusion path ( 1) is located in the part of the diffusion path (1) located between the second triggering device and the second indicating device, or is part of the composition comprising the part of the diffusion path (1) located between the first triggering device and the first indicating device and that between the second triggering device and the second indicating device Part of the diffusion path (1) forms.

14. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a first diffusion path, which is connected at the end remote from the environment of the container with a first display device, and having a second diffusion path, the on from the environment of Container remote end is connected to a second display device, that the first diffusion path has at least a first triggering device, which allows the admission of constituents of the atmosphere in the diffusion path when filling the package, that the second diffusion path has at least one second triggering device, which upon first opening the packaging allows access for components of the atmosphere in the diffusion path, and that at least the second diffusion path has a compensation device.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it is designed in the form of a screw cap, a snap closure or a crimp cap.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that it has been produced by injection molding.

17. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 16 for displaying the expiration of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the first opening of a package.

18. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 16 for displaying the expiration of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the filling of the packaging.

19. Use according to claim 17, characterized in that additionally lent the expiration of a predetermined period of time, calculated from the filling of

Packaging is displayed.

20. Use according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the packaging is a packaging of foods, medicines or cosmetics.