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What is an active label?
- a data aquisition system with
analog input for temperature measurement, in the size of a credit
card, self-adhesive for attachment on packaging
units
- means of transport for additional produce specific data
Why data have to be collected?
- for detection of weak points in the postharvest chain from producer to consumer,
where high losses occur
- to take effective action to initiate effective counter measures
What is the aim?
- shelf life extension of fruits and vegetables after harvest and quality enhancement
- improved consumer information
- traceability of produce- and process informations
What means traceability in the case of horticultural products?
- knowledge of: - provenance (including
specifications on the preharvest period)
- processing of the product and loads during postharvest
- distribution and disposition of the product after its delivery
Which data should be collected?
- temperature-time-data sets
- product specific data such as producer, product type, variety, grade
of goods, preharvest conditions
Schematic design
Operating mode
- storage of temperatures in selectable intervals
- reading and writing user specific information in data memory
- internal processes on sensor card and temperature measurment is supplied by an
integrated special battery
- data transfer between write/read unit and sensor card is realised by aerials via radio waves
Performance parameters
| Dimensions |
86 x 54 x 1.5 mm |
| Storage capacity |
max. 64 temperature-time-data
sets, alternatively 48 temperature-time-data sets + other relevant
produce facts (encrypted) |
| Frequency |
13,56 MHz |
| Data access |
write, read, write
protection |
| Measuring interval |
adjustable between 5
sec and 43200 sec (12 hours) |
| Measuring accuracy |
± 1,0 K (within a 20K
range of application) |
| Measuring range |
-20°C ... +50°C |
| Monitoring area |
2 limit values (without
recording temperatures) |
| Battery life time |
about 10 month (depending
on usage and environmental conditions) |
Test of active labels under practical conditions at ATB
- functionally questions
-
reliability of temperature measurements
-
battery life time at changing environmental
conditions
-
boundary conditions for data transfer
- approach
- integration possibility in existing organisation
systems
- enhancement of existing models for keeping quality and application of the active
labels
Example of temperature recording in the course of a
real postharvest chain
thermal load of ecological produced broccoli
along the post harvest chain from producer to consumer, recorded by
means of datalogger
and active label
Applications in practice
- controling fresh products along the chain from producer
to consumer
- supplying informations on the degree of internal quality
degradation on each point along the postharvest chain based on models
for keeping quality
What kind of produce is suited?
- products with high natural transpiration protection such
as apples or tomatoes
- products with high artificial transpiration protection such as products packaged
in cartons or covered with foils
- convenient products as fresh-cut salad or salad mixtures
What kind of produce is not suited?
- highly perishable products with low natural and without artificial transpiration
protection
Handling of active labels in practice?
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Start of measurement and
read in of other data |
Attachment of active
labels on a packaging
unit |
Filling of the packaging
unit and measurement
of the
thermal treatment |
Read out of temperature and produce data |
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