Pallet Temperature Tags for Targeted Excursion Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for quality monitoring of pallets of goods during transit lack efficiency in identifying temperature excursions that affect only specific parts of a shipment, leading to unnecessary rejection of entire shipments.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes temperature performance tags with chemical indicators on each pallet, combined with wireless RF loggers and a cloud-based portal, allows for real-time monitoring and visualization of temperature data, enabling targeted inspection and decision-making.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If wireless RF loggers are used to monitor temperature during transit, then temperature data can be collected, but it is difficult to identify which specific pallets or goods were compromised, leading to unnecessary rejection of entire shipments
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the shipment into individual pallet-level units by placing unique identifiers and temperature indicators on each pallet. This segmentation allows tracking of temperature excursions at the pallet level rather than treating the entire shipment as a single unit, enabling precise identification of compromised pallets only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-changing indicators (such as thermal indicators or chemical indicators) that visually change color when temperature thresholds are exceeded. This provides immediate, easy-to-detect visual information about which specific pallets experienced temperature excursions, eliminating the need for complex data analysis and enabling rapid identification of compromised goods.
2Reliability
If entire shipments are rejected when temperature excursions are detected, then food safety is ensured, but economic losses occur due to rejection of uncompromised goods
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing pallet-level temperature monitoring with unique identifiers and visual indicators on each pallet, the system enables selective rejection of only those specific pallets that experienced temperature excursions. This segmentation approach maintains food safety by ensuring compromised pallets are rejected while preserving economically viable uncompromised pallets for continued use.
3Measurement precision
If visual inspection of each pallet is performed after temperature excursion detection, then compromised pallets can be identified, but time and labor resources are wasted inspecting pallets that were not compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The color-changing indicators provide immediate visual confirmation of temperature excursions on specific pallets. Quality control personnel can rapidly scan for color changes rather than performing detailed inspections of each pallet, dramatically reducing inspection time while maintaining high accuracy in identifying compromised pallets through the obvious visual signal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables precise identification of temperature-compromised pallets within a shipment, allowing for reduced inspection efforts, improved inventory management, and cost savings by avoiding unnecessary rejection of entire shipments.
Implementation Method 1
The chemical indicator's first portion may change to a first color (e.g., green, etc.) to indicate that the allowed temperature/time range was not exceeded
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of systems and methods for quality monitoring of pallets of goods (e.g., fresh seafood, other perishable goods, nonperishable goods, etc.) in a cargo.