IP Library Granted Patent US 11,397,115
Granted Patent B2
US 11,397,115 · App. 16/763,655 · Granted Jul 26, 2022

Temperature detection label and article management device using same

Inventors: Shigetaka Tsubouchi (Tokyo, JP); Kohhei Aida (Tokyo, JP); Shunsuke Mori (Tokyo, JP); Masahiro Kawasaki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
G01K11/12G01K3/04G01K11/06B41M3/14B41M3/142G01N31/229
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,397,115
App. No.
16/763,655
Granted
Jul 26, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a temperature detection label capable of preventing falsification using a simple structure. To solve this problem, the present invention provides a temperature detection label that is characterized by comprising a supporting member and a temperature detection part provided on the supporting member and in that: the temperature detection part has a temperature detection material that, in a heating process, starts color development at temperature T 1 and starts losing color as a result of melting at temperature T 2 and, in a cooling process, solidifies while remaining colorless by being cooled to temperature T 1 or lower; the temperature detection material includes a leuco dye, decolorizer, and developer; and the temperature detection label also comprises a member having an appearance that changes between T 1 and T 2 , inclusive, or a high-melting-point material having a melting point or glass transition temperature higher than T 2 .

Claims (42)

1. A temperature detection label comprising:

a supporting member;

a temperature detection part provided in the supporting member; and

a protective layer provided to cover the temperature detection part, wherein

the temperature detection part includes a temperature detection material that in a heating process, starts color development at a temperature T 1 and starts decoloring by being melted at a temperature T 2 and, in a cooling process, solidifies while remaining decolored by being cooled to the temperature T 1 or lower,

the temperature detection material includes a leuco dye, a decolorant, and a developer, and

the temperature detection label further comprises a member having an appearance that changes at a temperature equal to or higher than T 1 and equal to or lower than T 2 , or a high-melting-point material having a melting point or glass transition point higher than T 2 and 150° C. or higher.

2. The temperature detection label according to claim 1 , wherein a change in the appearance of the member is one of a color change, a change in transparency, and a change in shape.

3. The temperature detection label according to claim 1 , wherein the member is provided at the protective layer.

4. The temperature detection label according to claim 3 , wherein the member is a thermo-sensitive sheet that irreversibly changes color thereof at a temperature equal to or higher than T 1 and equal to or lower than T 2 .

5. An article management device comprising:

an information acquisition unit that acquires an image before use and an image after the use of the temperature detection label according to claim 4 affixed to an article; and

a processor that determines presence or absence of temperature deviation from a management environment, from color of the temperature detection material in the image after the use,

the processor being configured to determine presence or absence of initialization of the temperature detection material based on color of the thermo-sensitive sheet in the image before the use and color of the thermo-sensitive sheet in the image after the use when the temperature deviation is determined to be absent.

6. The temperature detection label according to claim 3 , wherein the member is a film that irreversibly shrinks at a temperature equal to or higher than T 1 and equal to or lower than T 2 .

7. An article management device comprising:

an information acquisition unit that acquires an image before use and an image after use of the temperature detection label according to claim 6 affixed to an article; and

a processor that determines presence or absence of temperature deviation from a management environment, from color of the temperature detection material in the image after the use,

the processor being configured to determine presence or absence of initialization of the temperature detection material based on a shape of the protective layer in the image before the use and a shape of the protective layer in the image after the use when the temperature deviation is determined to be absent.

8. The temperature detection label according to claim 6 , wherein the member is made of a material having a melting point or glass transition point that is equal to or higher than T 1 and equal to or lower than T 2 .

9. The temperature detection label according to claim 3 , wherein the member is made of a material having a melting point or glass transition point that is higher than T 2 .

10. The temperature detection label according to claim 1 , wherein the high-melting-point material is disposed in the temperature detection part and mixed with the temperature detection material.

11. An article management device comprising:

an information acquisition unit that acquires an image before use and an image after the use of the temperature detection label according to claim 10 affixed to an article; and

a processor that determines presence or absence of temperature deviation from a management environment, from color of the temperature detection material in the image after the use,

the processor being configured to determine presence or absence of initialization of the temperature detection material based on a location of the high-melting-point material in the image before the use and a location of the high-melting-point material in the image after the use when the temperature deviation is determined to be absent.

12. The temperature detection label according to claim 1 , wherein

the temperature detection part has a first region made of the temperature detection material and a second region made of the member,

the second region is formed of a temperature detection material that is identical to the temperature detection material forming the first region, and

in an initial state at a temperature lower than T 1 , the first region is in a decolored state, and the second region is in a colored state.

13. A temperature detection label comprising:

a supporting member;

a temperature detection part provided in the supporting member; and

a protective layer provided to cover the temperature detection part, wherein

the temperature detection part includes a temperature detection material that in a heating process, starts color development at a temperature T 1 and starts decoloring by being melted at a temperature T 2 and, in a cooling process, solidifies while remaining decolored by being cooled to the temperature T 1 or lower,

the temperature detection material includes a leuco dye, a decolorant, and a developer,

the temperature detection part further has voids in the temperature detection material, and

the temperature detection label further comprises a member having an appearance that changes at a temperature equal to or higher than T 1 and equal to or lower than T 2 , or a high-melting-point material having a melting point or glass transition point higher than T 2 and 150° C. or higher.

14. An article management device comprising:

an information acquisition unit that acquires an image before use and an image after the use of the temperature detection label according to claim 13 affixed to an article; and

a processor that determines presence or absence of temperature deviation from a management environment, from color of the temperature detection material in the image after the use,

the processor being configured to determine presence or absence of initialization of the temperature detection material based on shape or number of the voids in the image before the use and shape or number of the voids in the image after the use when the temperature deviation is determined to be absent.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 14, 2020
From: TSUBOUCHI, SHIGETAKA; AIDA, KOHHEI; MORI, SHUNSUKE; KAWASAKI, MASAHIRO
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 052662/0927 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-007802 · Jan 22, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200278263A1 · Sep 3, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,699,011