U.S. patent application number 10/582022 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-29 for packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sentronic GMBH Gesellschaft Fur Optische Messssysteme. Invention is credited to Matthias Lau.
Application Number | 20070272582 10/582022 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34672530 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070272582 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lau; Matthias |
November 29, 2007 |
Packaging
Abstract
The invention relates to packages for materials or the mixture
thereof, in particular for perishable products such as food or
pharmaceutical products. The aim of said invention is to deliver
means to make it possible to check the state of said for materials
or the mixture thereof without destroying the package thereof. For
this purpose, the inventive packaging comprises an optically
sensitive element which is embodied in the form of a sensitive
membrane or film or exhibits the properties thereof. As a result,
the specific variations of the film thicknesses, scattered light
variations, optical refractive index and spectral variations are
used.
Inventors: |
Lau; Matthias; (Dresden,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & BASILE, P.C.
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084
US
|
Assignee: |
Sentronic GMBH Gesellschaft Fur
Optische Messssysteme
Dresden
DE
|
Family ID: |
34672530 |
Appl. No.: |
10/582022 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 7, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE04/02733 |
371 Date: |
April 2, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2203/10 20130101;
B65D 79/02 20130101; B65D 2203/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 2003 |
DE |
10357597.9 |
Claims
1. A package for substances or mixtures of substances,
characterized in that the package contains an optically sensitive
element.
2. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that a
sensitive membrane or layer is present on the sensitive element or
is the sensitive element.
3. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer is subject to specific layer thickness changes,
scattered light changes, changes of optical refractive index,
spectral changes.
4. The package according to claim 3, characterized in that the
layer thickness changes can be measured by the method of
interferometry, surface plasmon resonance, spectroscopy.
5. The package according to claim 3, characterized in that the
layer thickness change is effected dependently on one of oxygen
concentration, hydrocarbon concentration, hydrogen concentration,
H.sub.2O content, and dependently on temperature or pressure.
6. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer contains one or more dyes or selective
markers.
7. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that state
changes within the package are detectable by surface plasmon
resonance, spectroscopy or luminescence changes on the membrane or
layer.
8. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that a marker
or dye is changeable dependently on concentration (pH, O.sub.2) or
dependently on temperature or pressure.
9. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that a
detection is effected through the package without damaging the
same.
10. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer is applied directly to the inner side of the
package.
11. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer is fixed to an adhesive film adapted to be bonded
into the package.
12. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer is connected to the package on or in a
transparent element which is also fixable in a frame.
13. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sensitive element is inserted into the package.
14. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that
calibration of the sensitive layer or membrane can be effected upon
closing by at least one of vacuum or excess pressure, supply of
gas, supply of calibrating liquid and temperature variation.
15. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that a
calibration of the sensitive layer or membrane can be effected by
an external calibration before incorporation into the package.
16. The package according to claim 15, characterized in that an
external calibrating module is adapted to be calibrated by pressure
changes.
17. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that a
sensitive membrane or layer has at least one of an optical,
mechanical and chemical protective layer applied thereto.
18. The package according to claim 17, characterized in that the
protective layers are formed of by one of permeable metal,
dielectric, PTFE or PTFE-base layers.
19. The package according to claim 17, characterized in that the
protective layers are formed of at least one of reflective and
absorbent layers, in particular based on at least one of synthetic
resins and acrylic.
20. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the
package is transparent to electromagnetic waves or has a window
transparent to electromagnetic waves.
21. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that a
membrane or layer indicates a fault or leak by color change without
additional measuring technology.
22. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the
sensitive element can detect multiparameters.
23. The package according to claim 22, characterized in that the
multiparameters are dependent on concentration, pressure, moisture
or temperature.
24. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that a
sensitive membrane or layer has at least one piece of information
applied thereto.
25. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that a
sensitive membrane or layer has a least one radio frequency
identification (RFI) chip applied thereto or thereon.
26. The package according to claim 25, characterized in that
information is stored and retrievable by electromagnetic waves in
the RFI.
27. The package according to claim 24, characterized in that the
information comprises calibrating data, batch information and
identifications.
28. The package according to claim 2, characterized in that the
membrane or layer has a signal evaluation unit present thereon.
29. The package according to claim 28, characterized in that
measuring data, control messages are transferable by means of
electromagnetic waves and an energy supply is thus effected.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to packages for substances or
mixtures of substances, in particular perishable goods such as
foods or drugs.
[0002] It is intended to open up possibilities for checking the
content of the package without destroying the latter. For example,
a possibility should be provided for checking foods which are
contained in packages as to whether they can still be consumed or
their state has deteriorated such that they can result in damage to
organisms.
[0003] It is hitherto customary to print expiration dates on
packages or to take samples of the ingredients out of a package at
certain places and subject them to a subsequent external analysis.
In the last-named case it is necessary to open the package or at
least make a small opening which cannot always be completely closed
after sampling.
[0004] It is therefore the problem of the invention to propose a
possibility for checking the state of substances or mixtures of
substances contained in packages without destroying the
package.
[0005] According to the invention, an optically readable sensitive
element is therefore contained within the package.
[0006] The optically sensitive element used here may be a sensitive
layer or membrane alone or such a membrane or layer attached to the
sensitive element.
[0007] Thus, such a membrane or layer can change its layer
thickness, refractive index, scattered light properties as well as
spectral properties in the UV, VIS, NIR, IR through corresponding
physical and/or chemical state changes within the package, but also
time-dependently, and the particular change then be used as a
measure of the particular state.
[0008] By optical means for example, one or simultaneously several
such changes can be determined by means of interferometry,
spectroscopy but also by surface plasmon resonance.
[0009] Layer thickness changes can occur for example dependently on
concentration. Thus, an oxygen concentration, the hydrocarbon
concentration, the hydrogen concentration or water contained within
the package can affect the layer thickness, for example by
reversible swelling.
[0010] In some cases, however, a temperature- or pressure-dependent
change can also lead to layer thickness changes.
[0011] It is also possible to use per se known membranes or layers
containing or exhibiting one or more dyes or selective markers.
Such dyes or markers can luminesce, for example, and a
state-dependent change in intensity, phase or decay time of
luminescence can be used as a measure of the state of substances or
mixtures of substances contained in packages.
[0012] For example, it is known that certain luminescence dyes
luminesce to varying degrees under the influence of oxygen in
dependence on the concentration thereof or the oxygen partial
pressure, or the luminescence decay time behavior changes
accordingly, so that this can be utilized with an optical detector
from outside upon simultaneous or sequential irradiation with a
light source emitting light in a: wavelength range exciting
luminescence.
[0013] The invention can also be used to detect changing pH values
within the package.
[0014] It is possible to immobilize or fix a sensitive membrane or
layer directly onto the inner wall of the package, possibly using
for example a transparent adhesive film which can be bonded into
the package.
[0015] The membrane or layer can also be attached or fixed on a
separate element which is for example fixed in a frame, and said
frame can in turn be connected to the package.
[0016] In some cases, and with suitable substances or mixtures of
substances contained in packages, it is also possible to simply
insert sensitive elements into the package.
[0017] Further, the sensitive element can be directly part of the
package, for example by bonding or welding, or be the package
itself.
[0018] For detection by optical means, at least a partial area of
an inventive package should be transparent for the measurement
procedure, for example optically in the corresponding wavelength
range, or have a transparent window. This permits for example a
color change occurring because of a fault or a leak in the package
to be readily recognized from outside.
[0019] The layers or membranes can be provided with optical,
mechanical or chemical protective layers to prevent undesirable
influences on the layers or membranes.
[0020] Such protective layers should if possible be permeable to
substances to be detected, which can be achieved for example by
accordingly thin metal layers. Such thin metal layers, preferably
consisting of noble metals, particularly preferably of silver,
provide protection from extraneous light and moisture, but are
still sufficiently permeable to many gases if accordingly thin.
[0021] Further, information can be applied. It can comprise for
example calibrating data, batch numbers.
[0022] Said information can also be transmitted by a radio
frequency identification (RFI) chip mounted on the
membrane/layer.
[0023] Extending the membrane/layer by an integrated, compact
evaluation unit permits direct processing of the measuring signals.
Said evaluation unit can be supplied with energy or transfer the
signals (measuring data/control commands) for example by means of
electromagnetic waves.
[0024] With aggressive media, protective layers of PTFE or
PTFE-based layers can be formed on membranes or layers.
[0025] Further, protective layers can advantageously be made of
dielectric material. For example, a SiO2 sol-gel is to be stated
here.
[0026] Further, it is possible to construct protective layers from
optically reflective or absorbent lacquer layers, preferably based
on synthetic resin lacquers or acrylic lacquers.
[0027] It is also possible to dispose a plurality of such layers
one above the other.
[0028] A calibration of the sensitive elements can be done when the
package is being closed by adjusting specific pressures, a vacuum
and a corresponding excess pressure being adjustable.
[0029] It is also possible to perform a selective supply of a
calibrating gas of known gas composition or supply of calibrating
liquid or a temperature variation for calibration.
[0030] Calibration can also already be done before the sensitive
element is incorporated into the package. For this purpose it is
possible to use an external calibrating module in which defined
changes of the measurand, for example defined pressure changes, can
be adjusted.
[0031] The inventive solution can be used to carry out a monitoring
of the substances or mixtures of substances contained in packages
repeatedly over long time periods, without there being any possible
influence of the environment from outside into the package.
[0032] The monitoring can correspondingly be carried out over the
entire transport and storage chain up to the final consumer, so
that increased consumer protection is attainable.
[0033] It is unnecessary to take samples from the package, and no
corresponding additional sampling elements are required for this
purpose.
[0034] For detection of the state it is possible to use per se
known, preferably optical, measuring technology, which can for
example be placed against a transparent area of the particular
package from outside.
[0035] It is thus possible that a suitable optical system with a
light source whose light is guided for example by a flexible
optical waveguide is placed against the particular package from
outside and the light of the light source directed onto a membrane
or layer, and an optical change occurring on or in the layer can be
directed onto an optical detector for example by said optical
waveguide or a further optical waveguide.
[0036] A measuring head from which excitation light and/or
reflected or emitted light can be directed onto the optical
detector should be so formed that the influence of scattered light
is at least reduced or constant.
* * * * *