Indicating label for freshness of dairy products

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of dairy products, and discloses a dairy product freshness indicating label which comprises an annular indicating shell arranged on a dairy product bottle opening and further comprises a connecting groove formed in an inner cavity of the annular indicating shell, and a pH sensitive gel sheet material is arranged in the connecting groove. Threaded strips are arranged in the annular indicating shell. Firstly, a transparent acrylic observation ring is integrated at the top of an annular indication shell, and is matched with a built-in pH sensitive gel sheet material, so that visual monitoring of the freshness of the dairy product is realized, and the working principle is as follows: when microorganisms metabolize to produce acid in the product storage process, the headspace COconcentration in a bottle is increased, acid gas permeates a special PTFE microporous membrane, and the pH sensitive gel sheet material is detected; when the product is in use, the product reacts with a pH sensitive gel sheet formed by compounding agarose / gelatin and bromcresol purple, a consumer can visually judge the state of the product through an observation window only by opening a sealing cover, purple represents freshness, yellowish purple indicates that the product is close to the shelf life, and yellow represents that the product is deteriorated.

Description

A label indicating the freshness of dairy products. Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of dairy product technology, specifically to an indicator label for the freshness of dairy products. Background Technology

[0002] The food supply chain is a complex and dynamic chain, facing enormous challenges due to the complexity of processing, changes in consumer demand and behavior, the enforcement of new laws and regulations, and safety-related issues. Today, food packaging is no longer limited to extending product shelf life; it also possesses intelligent features. Smart packaging can detect, track, record, and communicate attributes to provide consumers with information about the status of food and its surrounding environment. pH indicators are currently used to monitor and indicate the freshness of stored food because spoilage is often accompanied by pH changes. The shelf life of milk largely depends on its storage conditions, and milk freshness can be represented by many variables, such as taste, odor, bacterial count, protein concentration, and pH. All variables are related to the presence of bacteria in milk. For monitoring milk spoilage, pH is considered one of the ideal indicators because it has the least dependence on bacterial growth and bacterial type. Fresh milk typically has a pH of 6.8. As milk spoils, lactic acid bacteria metabolize lactose into lactic acid, causing the pH to drop from 6.8 to 4.0. Therefore, detecting milk freshness through pH is one of the most convincing methods for monitoring milk freshness.

[0003] Existing dairy product freshness indicator labels mostly use simple stickers, directly exposing pH-sensitive materials inside the packaging. Although this is inexpensive, it has obvious drawbacks: the stickers need to come into contact with liquid to react quickly, are easily soaked and contaminated by milk, causing them to become ineffective, and cannot be repeatedly observed; at the same time, the exposed indicators may migrate into the food, posing a safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an indicator label for the freshness of dairy products, so as to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a label indicating the freshness of dairy products, comprising an annular indicator shell screwed onto the mouth of a dairy product bottle, and further comprising:

[0006] A connecting groove is provided in the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing. A pH-sensitive gel sheet material is provided inside the connecting groove. A threaded strip is provided inside the annular indicator housing. A hydrophobic and breathable membrane is provided inside the annular indicator housing.

[0007] Preferably, the pH-sensitive gel sheet material is composed of agarose or gelatin and bromocresol purple, and the hydrophobic and breathable membrane is a PTFE microporous membrane.

[0008] Preferably, the annular indicator housing has a slot inside for use with a hydrophobic and breathable membrane. There are two hydrophobic and breathable membranes, and both are bonded to the inside of the annular indicator housing by ultraviolet-cured adhesive.

[0009] Preferably, an acrylic ring is fixedly connected to the top of the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing, and an annular sticker is adhered to the top of the annular indicator housing.

[0010] Preferably, the annular indicator housing has an annular groove inside, and a sealing cover is fixed to one side of the top of the annular indicator housing by a plastic strip.

[0011] Preferably, a pull ring is fixedly connected to the top of the sealing cover, and a rubber retaining ring that matches the annular groove is fixedly connected to the bottom of the sealing cover.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0013] This invention first integrates a transparent acrylic observation ring on the top of the annular indicator shell, combined with a built-in pH-sensitive gel sheet, to achieve visual monitoring of the freshness of dairy products. Its core working principle is as follows: when microorganisms produce acid during product storage, the CO2 concentration in the headspace of the bottle increases. The acidic gas passes through a special PTFE microporous membrane and reacts with the pH-sensitive gel sheet, which is composed of agarose / gelatin and bromocresol purple, causing a color change in the material. Consumers can simply open the sealed cap to intuitively judge the product status through the observation window: purple indicates freshness, yellowish-purple indicates that the expiration date is approaching, and yellow indicates that it has spoiled. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dairy product freshness indicator label provided by this utility model;

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure provided by this utility model from a bottom view;

[0016] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the annular indicator housing provided by this utility model;

[0017] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure provided by this utility model.

[0018] In the diagram: 1. Ring-shaped indicator housing; 2. Connecting groove; 3. pH-sensitive gel sheet material; 4. Threaded strip; 5. Hydrophobic and breathable membrane; 6. Card slot; 7. Ring-shaped sticker; 8. Ring-shaped groove; 9. Sealing cap; 10. Pull ring; 11. Rubber retaining ring; 12. Acrylic ring. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1-4. A label indicating the freshness of dairy products includes a ring-shaped indicator shell 1 that screws onto the mouth of the dairy product bottle, and further includes:

[0021] The connecting groove 2 is set in the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing 1. The pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3 is set inside the connecting groove 2. The threaded strip 4 and the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 5 are set inside the annular indicator housing 1. The pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3 can be pre-embedded through the connecting groove 2 inside the annular indicator housing 1. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane 5 can be used to realize the indicator label. The threaded strip 4 can be used to easily seal the annular indicator housing 1 with the bottle.

[0022] The pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3 is composed of agarose or gelatin and bromocresol purple. The hydrophobic and breathable membrane 5 is a PTFE microporous membrane. The annular indicator housing 1 has a slot 6 inside for use with the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 5. There are two hydrophobic and breathable membranes 5, both bonded to the inside of the annular indicator housing 1 by UV-cured adhesive. The pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3, composed of agarose or gelatin and bromocresol purple, can detect the pH value of dairy products by color changes from purple to yellow. The hydrophobic membrane 5, made of PTFE, forms a barrier between the gel and milk, allowing acidic gases (CO2 and lactic acid) to pass through, but blocking liquids and microorganisms, protecting the gel sheet from direct contamination and maintaining its freshness. The label works by using a special PTFE microporous membrane to react with a pH-sensitive gel sheet made of agarose / gelatin and bromocresol purple during product storage. This reaction causes a color change in the material. Consumers can easily check the product's condition by opening the sealed cap 9 and observing through the window: purple indicates freshness, yellowish-purple indicates the expiration date is approaching, and yellow indicates spoilage. The slot 6 allows for easy positioning of the hydrophobic and breathable membrane 5, which is then fixed with UV-curing adhesive. The two hydrophobic and breathable membranes 5 provide double protection, effectively blocking liquids and microorganisms from directly contaminating the pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3.

[0023] An acrylic ring 12 is fixedly connected to the top of the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing 1. An annular sticker 7 is adhered to the top of the annular indicator housing 1. An annular groove 8 is formed inside the annular indicator housing 1. A sealing cover 9 is fixed to one side of the top of the annular indicator housing 1 by a plastic strip. A pull ring 10 is fixedly connected to the top of the sealing cover 9. A rubber retaining ring 11 that matches the annular groove 8 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the sealing cover 9. The acrylic ring 12 and the annular sticker 7 on the top of the annular indicator housing 1 form a cooperative observation system: the acrylic ring 12 provides a high-transmittance observation window, and the annular sticker... 7 can be printed with markings and explanatory text indicating how to open the closure 9 to check for freshness, greatly enhancing consumer recognition. The double limiting structure of the annular groove 8 and the rubber retaining ring 11 ensures precise locking of the closure 9 and prevents accidental detachment due to transportation vibration. The specially designed closure 9 uses a light-blocking material to effectively block the photochemical effects of ultraviolet and visible light on the pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3. The user-friendly pull ring 10 design allows the closure 9 to be easily opened with one finger. Combined with the wide-view design of the acrylic ring 12, it achieves a convenient "pull and look" operation experience.

[0024] Working principle: First, the ring-shaped indicator shell 1 is screwed onto the dairy product bottle. Then, a transparent acrylic observation ring is integrated on the top of the ring-shaped indicator shell 1. Together with the built-in pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3, the freshness of the dairy product can be visually monitored. Its core working principle is: when microorganisms produce acid during product storage, the CO2 concentration in the headspace of the bottle increases. The acidic gas passes through a special PTFE microporous membrane and reacts with the pH-sensitive gel sheet composed of agarose / gelatin and bromocresol purple, causing the material to change color. When the user needs to observe the freshness index, he pulls the pull ring 10 to disengage the sealing cap 9 from the inside of the ring groove 8. At this time, the color on the pH-sensitive gel sheet material 3 can be observed with the acrylic ring 12. Purple indicates freshness, yellowish-purple indicates that the expiration date is approaching, and yellow indicates that it has spoiled.

[0025] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A label indicating the freshness of dairy products, comprising an annular indicator shell (1) disposed on the mouth of a dairy product bottle, characterized in that, Also includes: A connecting groove (2) is provided in the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing (1). A pH-sensitive gel sheet material (3) is provided inside the connecting groove (2). A threaded strip (4) is provided inside the annular indicator housing (1). A hydrophobic and breathable membrane (5) is provided inside the annular indicator housing (1).

2. The dairy product freshness indicator label according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pH-sensitive gel sheet material (3) is composed of agarose or gelatin and bromocresol purple, and the hydrophobic and breathable membrane (5) is a PTFE microporous membrane.

3. The dairy product freshness indicator label according to claim 1, characterized in that: The annular indicator housing (1) has a slot (6) inside for use with a hydrophobic and breathable membrane (5). There are two hydrophobic and breathable membranes (5), and both are bonded to the inside of the annular indicator housing (1) by UV-cured adhesive.

4. The dairy product freshness indicator label according to claim 1, characterized in that: An acrylic ring (12) is fixedly connected to the top of the inner cavity of the annular indicator housing (1), and an annular sticker (7) is adhered to the top of the annular indicator housing (1).

5. A label indicating the freshness of dairy products according to claim 1, characterized in that: The annular indicator housing (1) has an annular groove (8) inside, and a sealing cover (9) is fixed to one side of the top of the annular indicator housing (1) by a plastic strip.

6. A label indicating the freshness of dairy products according to claim 5, characterized in that: The top of the closed cover (9) is fixedly connected with a pull ring (10), and the bottom of the closed cover (9) is fixedly connected with a rubber retaining ring (11) that works with the annular groove (8).

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