System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators

摘要

A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators, a barcode indicator reader and a product type responsive indication interpreter, each of the barcoded quality indicators including a first barcode including at least one first colorable area, the first barcode being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, at least a second barcode including at least one second colorable area, the second barcode not being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator and a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable.

主权项

1. A barcoded quality indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least two different thresholds, the barcoded indicator comprising:
a first barcode including at least one first colorable area, said first barcode being machine-readable before exceedance of said at least two different thresholds; a second barcode including at least one second colorable area, said second barcode not being machine-readable before exceedance of a first one of said at least two different thresholds; a third barcode including at least one third colorable area, said third barcode being not being machine-readable before exceedance of a second one of said at least two different thresholds; at least one first coloring agent located at at least one first location on said indicator; at least one second coloring agent located at at least one second location on said indicator; at least one first coloring agent pathway operative to allow said at least one first coloring agent to move from said at least one first location to said at least one first and at least one second colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of said first one of said at least two different thresholds, thereby causing said first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing said second barcode to become machine-readable; at least one second coloring agent pathway operative to allow said at least one second coloring agent to move from said second location to said at least one second and at least one third colorable areas simultaneously for simultaneous coloring thereof upon exceedance of said second one of said at least two different thresholds, thereby causing said second barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing said third barcode to become machine-readable.