WO2016118025A1

WO2016118025A1 - Logistics hub with traceability of the condition of package contents and transport packaging with temperature monitoring for temperature sensitive products

Info

Publication number: WO2016118025A1
Application number: PCT/PL2016/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zbigniew BIGAJ
Original assignee: Blulog Sp. Z O . O.
Priority date: 2015-01-21
Filing date: 2016-01-18
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Also published as: EP3311338A1; PL411015A1

Abstract

The transport packaging (1) for temperature sensitive products, made as a cardboard box, fitted with a seal (3) that prevents its opening without damaging the seal (3) or the transport packaging (1). The wall of the transport packaging (1) is fitted with the recorder (2) forming an integral part thereof. A recorder (2) comprises a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time fitted with a temperature measuring sensor (T), a microprocessor (M) equipped with an external and / or internal memory (P) such as RAM, wherein the microprocessor (M) is connected to a real-time clock (Z) equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor (R) with the key (K) that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors (R) with their supporting keys (K) are connected by the thermistor circuit (T) which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor (M), moreover, the real-time clock (Z) has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides the microprocessor (M) is connected with at least an internal and / or external RAM memory (P). A part of the surface of the recorder (2) responsible for temperature measurement is located on the interior and/or exterior side of the transport packaging (1).

Description

Logistics hub with traceabiiity of the condition of package contents and transport packaging with temperature monitoring for temperature sensitive products

The invention relates to the logistics hub with traceabiiity of the condition of package contents and transport packaging with temperature monitoring for temperature sensitive products.

In the logistics processes for temperature sensitive products as regards storage and transport a common technical problem is the need to register temperature changes in the contents of the package over time. Products that are considered to be the most sensitive to temperature are food products and pharmaceuticals, especially vaccines for which the two main storage temperature ranges from 2°C to 8°C, and from 5°C to 25°C are dedicated for specific specifics.

There is a known logistics hub where the unit package carrying identification data indicating the product manufacturer, product type, batch number is placed in a transport packaging. When a product is being packed, the wall of a transport packaging is fitted by means of an adhesive tape with a transparent pocket containing a waybill with product identifier code representing a graphic code affixed on the unit package and product identifying data and as well as the sender and the recipient. The packing process ends with sealing of the packaging that prevents its opening without damaging the seal or packaging. Before shipment, the wall of the package is fitted with a thermal regime indicator in the form of a strip with an ampoule of liquid or electronic indicator showing excess temperature which, after exceeding the temperature range required for the safe storage of the product amounting to e.g. from 2°C to 8°C permanently changes its color or symbol. The end user, as one of the participants of the logistics hub, upon receiving the transport packaging, based on a visual assessment of the thermal regime indicator, decide on the subsequent handling of the received product.

There are known transport packages used in the logistics of products sensitive to temperature changes in the form of a cardboard box or a box made of wood or plastic, which are equipped with a seal that prevents its opening without destroying the seal or the package and with the regime thermal indicator in the form of a strip with an ampoule of liquid which after exceeding the temperature range required for the safe storage of a product e.g. from 2°C to 8°C permanently changes the color.

A transport package of the same intended use may also be sheets of cardboard or plastic material formed during the packaging process. These sheets are also equipped with a seal that prevents its opening without breaking the seal or the packaging and the thermal regime indicator in the form of a strip with an ampoule of liquid which after exceeding the temperature range required for the safe storage of a product e.g. from 2°C to 8°C or 15°C to 25°C, depending on the type of product, permanently changes the color.

From the Polish patent application No. P.404746 of the invention known is a method for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time and a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time. The performed experiments show that the arrangement according to the invention comprises a temperature sensor for the range of measured temperatures equal to or greater than monitored temperature range e.g. from -10°C to +30°C, a microprocessor equipped with an external and / or internal memory RAM and / or Flash and / or EEPROM, wherein the microprocessor is connected to a real-time clock equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator. The total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor with the key that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors with their supporting keys are connected by the thermistor circuit which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor, moreover, the realtime dock has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides the microprocessor is connected with at [east an internal and / or external memory RAM and / or FLASH and / or EEPROM. The system for measuring and recording the temperature in the time function according to the patent application No. P.404746 allows the miniaturization thereof so that after its assembly it would occupy a space comparable to or smaller than a typical credit card with a thickness increased to about 4 mm.

The purpose of the invention is a solution to increase the quality of logistics of products sensitive to temperature changes, which is mainly evidenced by the safety area of distributed product along the way from the manufacturer to the end user in the logistics hub. A decisive impact on the security area of distributed product have both full traceability of the product and full traceability of temperature conditions to which the product is exposed in the course of the logistics process.

The essence of the logistics hub with traceable condition of the package contents, wherein according to the invention the transport packaging contains a unit package fitted with product identification data, specifying the manufacturer, product type, batch number, whereas the packaging operation ends up with sealing of the transport packaging that prevents its opening without destruction of the seal or the packaging material, characterized in that the wall of the transport packaging is fitted with a recorder, wherein the universal UTC time can be set only once, preferably at the factory in the recorder manufacturing process, and the recorder on the wall of the transport packaging is mounted so that the recorder forms an integral part of the wall of the transport packaging and a part of the surface of the recorder responsible for the temperature measurement is on the interior side of the transport packaging, while during packaging of the product the recorder's memory is loaded with the product identifier, besides anywhere in the course of the logistics hub a person equipped with an application made available by the manufacturer or the manufacturer's representative, by means of a reader, reads out from the recorder the data which are available to the person regardless of the condition of a proper closing and sealing of the transport packaging. According to another preferred feature of the invention, the recorder is a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time and for recording the temperatures as a function of time, comprising a sensor for measuring temperature within the temperature range set by the user, at least within the range from -10°C to +25°C, a microprocessor equipped with an external and / or internal memory RAM and / or FLASH and / or EEPROM, wherein the microprocessor is connected to a real-time clock equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the UTC time is factory set, preferably in the recorder manufacturing process, wherein in the recorder the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor with the key that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors with their supporting keys are connected by the thermistor circuit which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor, moreover, the real-time clock has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides the microprocessor is connected with at least an internal and / or external memory RAM and / or FLASH and / or EEPROM. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the recorder is a system where the range of measured temperatures has measuring sections to cover individual measuring sections in their final fragments. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the transistors are the keys in the recorder. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, in the recorder a microprocessor circuit is connected to a radio transmitter. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, in the recorder a radio transmitter is connected to a separate ceramic capacitor battery powered from the system power supply source. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, in the recorder's microprocessor circuit the NFC infrared link is enabled. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the transport packaging is a cardboard box. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the transport packaging is a box made of wood and / or plastic. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the transport packaging is made of either a sheet of some kind of a material, such as cardboard and/or a sheet of plastic. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the recorder is mounted by gluing and/or pressing in. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the recorder is installed so that a portion of the recorder's surface designed for readouts thereof is positioned outside or inside the transport package. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, used as a reader is a mobile phone equipped with a communication module, preferably a Bluetooth or NFC or another, and the application made available by the manufacturer or its representative. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, a person equipped with an application to operate the recorder made available by the manufacturer or the manufacturer's representative receives it by connecting to the website www. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, a product identifier uploaded during packaging of the product into the recorder memory takes the form of a data set containing at least data such as product type, batch number and the time of packaging. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the product identification data entered into the recorder memory are scanned beforehand from the code stamped on the unit package. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the transport packaging is fitted with an indicator of exceeded desired temperature, so that it is visible on the outside of the transport packaging. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the indicator of exceeded desired temperature is part of the recorder.

The essence of the transport packaging for temperature sensitive products which according to the present invention is a box and / or a sheet of cardboard and / or plastic, provided with a seal that prevents its opening without destroying the seal or the package, characterized in that its wall is fitted with a recorder forming its integral part, wherein the recorder comprises a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time with a temperature measuring sensor within the range of measured temperatures falling within the temperature range set by the user, for example within the range at least from -5°C to +30°C, wherein the microprocessor is connected to a real-time clock equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the UTC time may be set only once, preferably factory set in the recorder manufacturing process, and the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor with the key that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors with their supporting keys are connected by the thermistor circuit which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor, moreover, the realtime clock has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides the microprocessor is connected with at least an internal and / or external memory RAM and / or FLASH and / or EEPROM, besides a part of the surface of the recorder responsible for the temperature measurement is on the inside and/or outside of the transport packaging. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the recorder contains system known from the Polish patent application No. P.404746 or a similar system. According to a further preferred feature of the invention, a part of the recorder is the indicator of exceeded desired temperature visible from the outside of the transport packaging.

A preferred result of using the invention for products sensitive to temperature changes is obtaining information indicating the responsibility of a specific entity participating in the course of logistics hub for the temperature conditions of the product in the course of this process.

The present invention relating to the package is further illustrated by the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, where Fig. 1 is an axonometric view of a package according to the first embodiment, Fig. 2 an enlarged detail of its cross-section, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the another embodiment of the package, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of cross-section of the package according to this embodiment, moreover Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the system contained in a package according to the exemplary embodiments. The logistics hub according to the invention will be further presented by means of exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing of exemplary embodiments of the package according to the invention.

Example no. 1

In the logistics hub with traceable condition of the contents of the package according to one of the many possible embodiments, the wall of the transport packaging1 is fitted with a recorder 2, where UTC can be set only once, preferably at the factory during the manufacturing process of the recorder 2. The recorder 2 in the wali of the transport packaging 1 is mounted so that the recorder 2 forms an integral part of the wall of the transport packaging 2, and the part of the surface of the recorder 2 responsible for temperature measurement is located on the interior side of the transport packaging I while the part of the surface of the recorder 2 intended for readouts thereof is positioned on the outer side of the transport package ±. The recorder 2 is mounted into the wall of the transport packaging by gluing. In the transport packaging I unit packages are placed that carry identification data specifying the product manufacturer, product type, batch number, and the packing operation ends up with sealing the transport packaging 1 that prevent its opening without damaging the seal 3 or transport packaging 1 During packaging of the product the product identifier is uploaded into the in the memory recorder 2. The product identifier having the form of a set of data identifying the product, such as product type, batch number and the packing time. Product identification data are scanned beforehand from the text and graphics code placed on the unit package of the product. On the transport packaging I an indicator of exceed desired temperature 4 is mounted, which is an integral part of the recorder 2 so that it is visible on the outside of the transport packaging1. Anywhere in the course of the logistics hub a person equipped with an application made available by the manufacturer or its representative, by means of a reader, reads out from the recorder 2 the data which are available to the person regardless of the condition of a proper closing and sealing of the transport packaging 1. The recorder 2 is a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time and for recording temperatures as a function of time, comprising a sensor for measuring temperature T within the temperature range set by the user, within the range from -5°C to +30°C, a microprocessor JM equipped with an external and / or internal RAM memory, wherein the microprocessor M is connected to a real-time clock Z equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the UTC time is factory set, preferably in the recorder 2 manufacturing process. In the recorder 2 the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor R with the key K that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors R with their supporting keys K are connected by the thermistor circuit T which is connected to the 8-bit microprocessor M, moreover, the real-time clock Z has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time. The recorder 2 is a system where the range of measured temperatures has measuring sections to cover individual measuring sections in their final fragments. The transistors are the keys K in the recorder 2, and the microprocessor M circuit is connected to a radio transmitter NR. Furthermore, in the recorder 2 a radio transmitter NR is connected to a separate ceramic capacitor battery BK powered from the system power supply source ZU. In another equivalent embodiment of the recorder 2 in the microprocessor M circuit an infrared link ]R is enabled. A transport packaging 1 used in the course of the logistics process is a box made of cardboard, in alternative embodiments the transport package 1 can be a box made of wood and / or plastic or sheet of material such as various types of cardboard and / or plastic sheet. At any stage of the logistics hub, a person equipped with the application made available by the manufacturer or its representative, by means of a connection with the website www, uses as the reader a mobile phone equipped with the NFC communication module. In the recorder 2 a UTC real-time clock (Universal Time Clock) is set at the factory in the manufacturing process of the recorder 2. No possibility to change the time during operation of the recorder 2 guarantees security of data recorded by the recorder 2, and therefore the recorder 2 can be archived as a document proving in an undeniably reliable manner the course of the logistics process.

Example no. 2

The transport packaging 1 for temperature sensitive products, made as a cardboard and / or plastic box, fitted with a seal 3 that prevents its opening without damaging the seal 3 or the transport packaging I. The wall of the transport packaging 1 is fitted with the recorder 2 forming an integral part thereof. The recorder 2 contains a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time, equipped with a sensor for measuring temperature T within the temperature range set by the user, from -5°C to +30°C, a microprocessor M equipped with an external and / or internal memory P such as RAM and/or FLASH and/or EEPROM, wherein the microprocessor M is connected to a real-time clock Z equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, where the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor R with the key K that supports it. All the connections of individual resistors R with their supporting keys K are connected by the thermistor T circuit which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor M. The real-time clock Z has the functions of specifying the time or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, and a part of the surface of the recorder 2 responsible for the temperature measurement is on the interior side and on the exterior side of the transport packaging I. The recorder 2 contains a system known from the Polish patent application No. P.404746. A part of the recorder 2 is the indicator of exceeded desired temperature 4 visible from the outside of the transport packaging JL In the recorder 2 a UTC real-time clock (Universal Time Clock) is set at the factory in the manufacturing process of the recorder 2. No possibility to change the time during operation of the recorder 2 guarantees security of data recorded by the recorder 2, and therefore the recorder 2 can be archived as a document proving in an undeniably reliable manner the course of the logistics process.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A logistics hub with traceable condition of the package contents, wherein according to the invention the transport packaging (1) contains a unit package (2), fitted with product identification data, specifying the manufacturer, product type, batch number, whereas the packaging operation ends up with sealing of the transport packaging (1) that prevents its opening without destruction of the seal (3) or the transport packaging

(1) , characterized in that the wall of the transport packaging (1) is fitted with a recorder (2), wherein the universal UTC time can be set only once, preferably at the factory in the recorder (2) manufacturing process, and the recorder (2) on the wall of the transport packaging (i) is mounted so that the recorder (2) forms an integral part of the wall of the transport packaging (1.) and a part of the surface of the recorder (2) responsible for the temperature measurement is on the interior side of the transport packaging (1), while during packaging of the product the memory of the recorder (2) is loaded with the product identifier, besides anywhere in the course of the logistics hub a person equipped with an application made available by the manufacturer or its representative, by means of a reader, reads out from the recorder (2) the data which are available to the person regardless of the condition of proper closing and sealing of the transport packaging (1).

2. The logistics hub according to claim 1 , characterized in that the recorder

(2) is a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time and for recording the temperature as a function of time, comprising a temperature measuring sensor (T) within the temperature range set by the user, at least within the range from -5°C to +30°C, wherein the microprocessor (M) is connected to a real-time clock (Z) equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the UTC time is factory set, preferably in the recorder (2) manufacturing process, wherein in the recorder (2) the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor (R) with the key that supports it (K), whereas all the connections of individual resistors (R), with their supporting keys (K) are connected by the thermistor circuit (T) which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor (M)_> moreover, the real-time clock (Z) has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides the microprocessor (M) is connected with at least an internal and / or externa! memory (P) such as RAM and / or FLASH and / or EEPROM.

3. The logistics hub according to claim 2, characterized in that the recorder (2) is a system where the range of measured temperatures has measuring sections to cover individual measuring sections in their final fragments.

4. The logistics hub according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that transistors are the keys (K) in the recorder (2).

5. The logistics hub according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that in the recorder (2) a microprocessor (M) circuit is connected to a radio transmitter (NR).

6. The logistics hub according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that in the recorder (2) a radio transmitter (NR) is connected to a separate ceramic capacitor battery (BK) powered from the system power supply source ( U).

7. The logistics hub according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that in the recorder (2) the microprocessor (M) circuit has an infrared link (]R) enabled.

8. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that the transport packaging (1) is a cardboard box.

9. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that the transport packaging (1) is a box made of wood and/or plastic.

10. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that the transport packaging (1) is made of either a sheet of some kind of material, such as cardboard and/or a sheet of plastic.

11. The logistics hub according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the recorder (2) is mounted by gluing or pressing in.

12. The logistics hub according to ciaim 1 characterized in that the recorder (2) is installed so that a portion of the surface of the recorder (2) intended for readouts thereof is positioned outside the transport package

(1).

13. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that used as a reader is a mobile phone equipped with a communication module, Bluetooth or NFC or another, and with the application made available by the manufacturer or its representative.

14. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that a person equipped with an application to operate the recorder (2) made available by the manufacturer or its representative receives it by connecting to the website www.

15. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that a product identifier uploaded during packaging of the product into the recorder (2) memory takes the form of a data set containing at least data such as product type, batch number and the time of packaging.

16. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that the product identification data entered into the recorder (2) memory are scanned beforehand from the code stamped on the unit package.

17. The logistics hub according to claim 1 characterized in that the transport packaging (1) is fitted with an indicator (4) of exceeded desired temperature, so that it is visible on the outside of the transport packaging.

18. The logistics hub according to claim 1 or 11 characterized in that indicator (4) of exceeded desired temperature is part of the recorder (2).

19. The transport packaging for temperature sensitive products which as a box and / or a sheet of cardboard and / or plastic, provided with a seal that prevents its opening without destroying the sea! or the package, characterized in that its wall is fitted with a recorder (2) forming its integral part, wherein the recorder (2) comprises a system for measuring and recording temperatures as a function of time fitted with a temperature measuring sensor (T) within the range of measured temperatures failing within the temperature range set by the user within the range set by the user at least from -5°C to +30°C, a microprocessor (M) equipped with an external and / or internal memory (P) such as RAM and / or Flash and / or EEPROM, wherein the microprocessor (M) is connected to a real-time clock (Z) equipped with an internal or external quartz oscillator, wherein the total range of measured temperatures is divided into measuring sections, each measuring section being attributed to a combination of individual resistor (R) with the key (K) that supports it, whereas all the connections of individual resistors (R) with their supporting keys (K) are connected by the thermistor (T) circuit which is connected to at least 8-bit microprocessor (M), moreover, the real-time clock (Z) has the functions of specifying the time and / or time intervals and determining a precise UTC time in a system comprising at least records of the start date and time + n times the interval and the end date of the recording time, besides a part of the surface of the recorder (2) responsible for the temperature measurement is inside and/or outside of the transport packaging (1).

20. A transport packaging according to the claim 19, characterized in that the recorder (2) contains a system known from the Polish patent application No. P.404746 or a similar system.

21. A transport packaging according to the claim 19 or 20, characterized in that a part of the recorder (2) is the indicator of exceeded desired temperature range (4) visible from the outside of the transport packaging (I).