EP0111107B1 - Dispositif pour le transport de récipients remplis de cigarettes vers une machine d'empaquetage - Google Patents

Dispositif pour le transport de récipients remplis de cigarettes vers une machine d'empaquetage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0111107B1
EP0111107B1 EP83110317A EP83110317A EP0111107B1 EP 0111107 B1 EP0111107 B1 EP 0111107B1 EP 83110317 A EP83110317 A EP 83110317A EP 83110317 A EP83110317 A EP 83110317A EP 0111107 B1 EP0111107 B1 EP 0111107B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
station
receiving
cigarettes
receiving station
cigarette
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83110317A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0111107A1 (fr
Inventor
Alfred Dr. Brinker
Hans Peter Pitz
Iain Graham Stewart
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CESSIONE;NIEPMANN TRAYLIFT TRASPORT SYSTEME GMBH &
Original Assignee
Maschinenfabrik Fr Niepmann GmbH and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Maschinenfabrik Fr Niepmann GmbH and Co filed Critical Maschinenfabrik Fr Niepmann GmbH and Co
Publication of EP0111107A1 publication Critical patent/EP0111107A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0111107B1 publication Critical patent/EP0111107B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24CMACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/35Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine
    • A24C5/352Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine using containers, i.e. boats

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a device for supplying cigarette-filled trays from the shipping station of at least one tray filling device to the filling funnel of at least one cigarette packing machine receiving station, with a rail system arranged between the shipping station and the receiving station of a container conveyor system with a plurality of electrically driven undercarriages each carry a receptacle designed to hold at least one tray, to which the filled trays are fed in the normal position and in the horizontal direction in the shipping station.
  • the cigarettes are fed to the hopper of a cigarette packing machine either directly from one or more cigarette manufacturing machines assigned to the packing machine or with the aid of so-called trays which are filled in a tray filling device connected downstream of the cigarette manufacturing machines.
  • the use of trays has the advantage that cigarettes manufactured on any manufacturing machine can be packed on any packaging machine set for the same format and that different capacities or downtimes of manufacturing and packaging machines are thereby compensated can be that the trays in circulation represent intermediate buffers and that additional trays can optionally be used for the intermediate storage of the cigarettes.
  • the packing machines can be loaded with the cigarettes temporarily stored in the trays.
  • the number of manufacturing and packaging machines can be selected according to their individual performance, so that all machines can work at optimal speeds. After all, there is no brand change cost when changing brands with the same cigarette format.
  • the conveyor system comprises a rail system arranged above the ground and a plurality of electrically driven undercarriages, each of which carries a receptacle designed to receive at least one slant.
  • the filled trays are fed to this receptacle in the shipping station in the normal position and in the horizontal direction. Because the trays, which are open on the front and on the top, can only be transported in the normal position and only in the horizontal direction in the known device, a complicated automatic loading system is required to move the trays by 180 ° before they are fed to the hopper of a cigarette packing machine to twist a horizontal axis so that the cigarettes can get from the trays into the hopper.
  • the receptacles In the device known from DE-A-20 18442, the receptacles must be removed from the trolley of the monorail, rotated by 90 ° about a vertical axis and fed to a turning device.
  • the turning device has two pockets, in each of which a tray to be emptied is inserted.
  • the turning device is then rotated by 180 ° about a horizontal axis, so that the filled tray with its open top goes down over the hopper of the cigarette packing machine. It must be ensured that the cigarettes do not fall apart in the tray so that an orderly supply of the cigarettes is ensured.
  • the emptied tray is then removed from the turning device before the turning device is rotated again by 180 ° and is available for receiving another filled tray.
  • the object of the invention is to create a fully automatic working device which, using a simple transport system, delivers the filled trays with the open top down to the hopper and at the same time to return the empty trays.
  • the advantage is achieved that the filled trays in the shipping station can be easily transferred from the tray filling device into the receptacle and that these trays arrive in the receiving station already in the position rotated by 180 ° relative to the normal position, so that the complex and disruptive swiveling process in the area of the hopper of the cigarette packing machine is omitted, it being possible to convey one or more trays at the same time with each receptacle, regardless of whether the trays are parallel or transverse to the direction of travel of the trolleys within the Receptacle are aligned.
  • the rail system comprises at least one siding for returning the empty trays from the receiving station to the tray filling device.
  • the rail system can also be arranged between the tray filling devices of several cigarette manufacturing machines and the filling funnels of several cigarette packing machines and can be equipped with computer-controlled switches for the target-controlled trolleys, so that all machines work at their respective optimal speeds and any downtimes of individual machines can be compensated for.
  • the rail system is installed above the cigarette manufacturing and packaging machines and comprises at least two curve pieces, each about 90 ° about a horizontal axis, for rotating the position of the receptacles between the shipping and receiving stations by 180 °, so that on the one hand special pivoting devices for the trays omitted and the device according to the invention does not have its own footprint, which in the. Cigarette industry exists only to a limited extent.
  • each receptacle is equipped with a holding device which fixes the uppermost layer of the cigarettes located in the filled trays.
  • this holding device comprises a plurality of pressure pieces, which are aligned parallel to the cigarettes, can be lowered with their pressing surface onto the top layer of cigarettes in the shipping station, can be returned to their starting position in the receiving station and can be fixed in both positions.
  • the pressure pieces in the shipping and receiving station displaceable by gravity and to fix them on their opposite side surfaces by means of a pair of spring-loaded clamping levers which can be brought out of engagement with the pressure pieces in the shipping and receiving station via an actuating lever .
  • the pressure pieces are preferably essentially T-shaped with toothed side surfaces.
  • Fig. 1 the filling funnel 1 of a cigarette packing machine 2, which is only indicated, to which the cigarettes to be packed are fed by means of trays 3 can be seen in a schematic representation.
  • these trays 3 are transported individually in receptacles 4 of a container conveyor system, the rail system 5 of which can be seen in FIG. 1.
  • the rail system 5 In the rails of this rail system 5 run electrically driven trolleys 6, each of which carries a receptacle 4.
  • these receptacles 4 and thus the trays 3 transported by them are aligned parallel to the running direction of the drives 6.
  • the trays 3 are filled with cigarettes in a tray filling device which is connected downstream of a cigarette manufacturing machine.
  • the tray filling device and the cigarette manufacturing machine are not shown in the drawing. 1, however, shows a filled tray 3.
  • This tray 3 has a bottom, two end walls and a front side, whereas the other broad side and the top of the tray 3 are open, so that the uppermost layer of the cigarettes Z can be seen in the tray 3 recognizable in the right part of FIG. 1.
  • this shipping station V is formed by a vertical rail section 7, which is connected to the rail system 5 via a curve section 8 extending over 90 °.
  • the open side of the storage container 4 points in the direction of the filled tray 3 to be inserted horizontally, so that it can be inserted into the storage container 4 without difficulty and in a simple manner.
  • the filled tray 3 located in the storage container 4 is then fed via the rail system 5 to a receiving station E, which in turn consists of a vertical rail section 7 which is connected to the rail system 5 via a curve section 8 extending over 90 °.
  • the actual rail system 5 is only shown in simplified form in FIG. 1 and can extend over considerable distances and comprise different switches, for example if several cigarette manufacturing machines are connected to several cigarette packing machines 2 via the rail system 5 of the container conveyor system.
  • the receptacle 4 is rotated during its movement from the shipping station V to the receiving station E about a horizontal axis by 180 °, so that in the receiving station E the open top of the filled tray 3 points downward.
  • the filled tray 3 is thus in its transfer to the cigarette packing machine 2 in a position rotated by 180 ° with respect to the normal position, in which the open top of the tray 3 points downward. It is therefore only necessary to move the filled tray 3 horizontally out of the receptacle 4 located in the receiving station E and to transport it over the hopper 1 of the packaging machine 2 in order to feed the cigarettes Z to the packaging machine 2.
  • the rail system 5 of the container conveyor system which is only shown schematically, comprises at least one siding, not shown in the drawing, via which the empty trays 3 are transported back from the receiving station E to the shipping station V in the area of the tray filling device.
  • switches, branches and siding for the intermediate storage of filled trays 3 are also missing in the drawing.
  • These parts are known components of a container conveyor system which, for the sake of simplification in the drawing, have been omitted, as have the control parts of the system, with which it is possible to feed filled trays 3 from any shipping station V to any receiving station E, if necessary with the intermediate storage of the filled trays 3 on a kind of siding or in an intermediate storage facility.
  • each receptacle 4 is equipped with a holding device by means of which the uppermost layer of the cigarettes Z located in the filled tray is fixed during transport.
  • An embodiment of such a holding device is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6.
  • the holding device comprises a plurality of pressure pieces 9 which, according to FIG. 6, are essentially T-shaped and with their pressure surface 9a can act on the cigarettes Z of the uppermost layer, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • the pressure pieces 9 are lowered from a starting position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by gravity onto the cigarettes Z as soon as there is a filled tray 3 in the receptacle 4. The resulting operative position of the pressure pieces 9 results from FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • a pair of clamping levers 10 are arranged in the receptacle 4, which act on the toothed side surfaces 9b of the pressure pieces 9 with protruding clamping strips 10a.
  • the clamping strips 10a are pulled towards one another by at least one tension spring 11, so that the pressure pieces 9 remain in the active position once assumed during the entire transport.
  • the clamping strips 10a are moved apart against the force of the tension spring 11.
  • the clamping strips 10a disengage from the side surfaces 9b of the pressure pieces 9, the pressure pieces 9 fall due to the gravity back to its initial position, since the receiving container 4 is in the receiving station E in an upside-down position.
  • the pressure pieces 9 thus reach their initial position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which they are held in place by the terminal strips 10a as soon as the actuating lever 12 returns to its normal position, because also the piston rod of the actuating cylinder 13 has returned to its initial position.
  • the trays 3 arriving in the receiving station E in a position rotated by 180 ° with respect to the normal position can thus be pushed and emptied over the hopper 1 of the packing machine 2 without difficulty.
  • the receiving container 4 is transported back to the shipping station V, which takes place via a siding (not shown) in order not to hinder the supply of further filled trays 3 to the paching machine 2.

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)

Claims (8)

1. Dispositif pour l'amenée de casiers remplis de cigarettes à partir de la station d'envoi (V) d'au moins un dispositif de remplissage de casiers à la trémie de remplissage (1) d'au moins une station de réception (E) adjointe à une machine d'empaquetage de cigarettes, comportant un système de rails (5) d'une installation de convoyage de récipients qui est disposé entre la station d'envoi (V) et la station de réception (E) et qui comporte une pluralité de mécanismes de déplacement (6) entraînés électriquement et qui portent chacun en récipient de recueil (4) conformé pour recevoir au moins un casier (3) et auquel on amène dans la station d'envoi (V), les casiers remplis (3) en position normale et en direction horizontale, caractérisé en ce que, chaque récipient de recueil (4) avec les casiers (3) qui se trouvent à l'intérieur atteint la station de réception (E), après le parcours du trajet de rails (5) en une position pivotée de 180° autour d'un axe horizontal par rapport à la position normale des casiers (3), de telle manière que les casiers (3) peuvent être retirés du récipient de recueil (4) dans la station de réception (E) avec leur face supérieure ouverte vers le bas.
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le système de rails (5) comprend au moins une voie secondaire pour guider en retour les casiers vides (3) à partir de la station de réception (E) vers le dispositif de remplissage de casiers.
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le système de rails (5) est disposé entre les dispositifs de remplissage de casiers du plusieurs machines de fabrication de cigarettes et les trémies de remplissage (1) de plusieurs machines (3) d'empaquetage de cigarettes et est équipé d'aiguillages commandés par calculateur pour les mécanismes de déplacements (6) qui sont commandés vers leur but.
4. Dispositif selon au moins une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le système de rails (5) est décalé au-dessus des machines de fabrication de cigarettes et d'empaquetage et comprend au moins deux parties courbes (8) se déployant chacune sur 90° autour d'un axe sensiblement horizontal en vue de faire tourner la position des récipients de recueil (4) entre la station d'envoi (V) et la station de réception (E).
5. Dispositif selon au moins une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que chaque récipient de recueil (4) est équipé d'un dispositif de maintien fixant la couche supérieure des cigarettes (Z) se trouvant dans le casier rempli (3).
6. Dispositif selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de maintien comprend une pluralité de pièces de pression (9) qui sont dirigées parallèlement aux cigarettes (Z), qui peuvent être abaissées avec leur surface d'appui (9a) sur les cigarettes (Z), de la couche supérieure dans la station d'envoi, qui peuvent être ramenées dans leur position de départ dans la station de réception (E) et qui peuvent être fixées dans les deux positions.
7. Dispositif selon la revendication 5 ou 6, caractérisé en ce que les pièces de pression peuvent coulisser sous l'effet de leur poids dans les stations d'envoi (V) et de réception (E) et peuvent être fixées sur leurs faces latérales (9b) disposées en opposition au moyen d'une paire de barrettes de verrouillage (10a) soumises à l'action d'un ressort et qui peuvent être mises hors de prise avec les pièces d'appui (9) dans les stations d'envoi (V) et de réception (E) par l'intermédiaire d'un levier d'actionnement (12).
8. Dispositif selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que les pièces d'appui (9) sont conformées essentiellement sous la forme d'un T avec des surfaces latérales dentées (9b).
EP83110317A 1982-11-10 1983-10-15 Dispositif pour le transport de récipients remplis de cigarettes vers une machine d'empaquetage Expired EP0111107B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19823241558 DE3241558A1 (de) 1982-11-10 1982-11-10 Vorrichtung zur zufuhr von mit zigaretten gefuellten schragen zu einer zigaretten-packmaschine
DE3241558 1982-11-10

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0111107A1 EP0111107A1 (fr) 1984-06-20
EP0111107B1 true EP0111107B1 (fr) 1986-02-26

Family

ID=6177778

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83110317A Expired EP0111107B1 (fr) 1982-11-10 1983-10-15 Dispositif pour le transport de récipients remplis de cigarettes vers une machine d'empaquetage

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4565203A (fr)
EP (1) EP0111107B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS59113881A (fr)
DE (2) DE3241558A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3638538A1 (de) * 1986-11-11 1988-05-26 Niepmann Traylift Transport Vorrichtung zur zwischenlagerung und/oder pufferung von schragen
DE4404929C2 (de) * 1994-02-16 1995-12-14 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Anlage zum Herstellen und Verpacken von Cigaretten
US7565818B2 (en) * 2005-06-01 2009-07-28 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes
US7537013B2 (en) 2005-06-01 2009-05-26 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes
WO2006130367A2 (fr) * 2005-06-01 2006-12-07 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Appareil et procede de fabrication de cigarettes
US7597105B2 (en) * 2005-06-01 2009-10-06 R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes
US7325382B2 (en) 2005-06-01 2008-02-05 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Method and apparatus for loading finished cigarettes into package
ITBO20050450A1 (it) * 2005-07-04 2007-01-05 Gd Spa Metodo ed apparecchiatura per la movimentazione ed il trasferimento a lotti di articoli da fumo
DE102011054310A1 (de) * 2011-10-07 2013-04-11 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Anordnung zum Herstellen, Speichern und Transportieren von Produkten der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie
DE102011055603A1 (de) * 2011-11-22 2013-05-23 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Anordnung, ausgebildet und eingerichtet zum Handhaben von Transportbehältern für stabförmige Artikel der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie, Umlaufkassette, insbesondere zur Verwendung in einer solchen Anordnung sowie Verfahren zum aufeinander folgenden Verändern des Füllstandes von leeren oder mit stabförmigen Artikel gefüllten Transportbehältern
CN114104377B (zh) * 2021-12-16 2023-11-21 河南中烟工业有限责任公司 一种异形烟包快速填充装置及包装机

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1170054A (en) * 1966-02-17 1969-11-12 Molins Machine Co Ltd Improvements relating to Conveying Systems
GB1209745A (en) * 1966-12-12 1970-10-21 Molins Machine Co Ltd Improvements in conveyor systems
BE755517A (fr) * 1970-04-17 1971-02-01 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Machine d'alimentation pour empaqueteuses de cigarettes
DE2107825A1 (de) * 1971-02-18 1972-09-07 Hauni Werke Korber & Co KG, 2050 Hamburg Bez Magazinfuller fur Zigarettenweiter verarbeitende Maschinen
GB1516521A (en) * 1974-06-11 1978-07-05 Focke Pfuhl Verpack Automat Wrapping rod-like articles
IT1023641B (it) * 1974-12-11 1978-05-30 Gd Spa Apparecchiatura automatica per il trasferpimento dei comtenitori di sigarette dai dispositivi preposti al loro riempimento ai meccanismi di caricamento telle tramogge delle macchine condizionatrici di sigarette in pacchetti
US4181212A (en) * 1975-01-31 1980-01-01 Molins, Ltd. Method and apparatus for feeding containers for rod-like articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0472504B2 (fr) 1992-11-18
DE3241558A1 (de) 1984-05-10
US4565203A (en) 1986-01-21
DE3362339D1 (en) 1986-04-03
JPS59113881A (ja) 1984-06-30
EP0111107A1 (fr) 1984-06-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE3615309C2 (de) Automatisierte Anlage zum Zuführen von Produktions- und/oder Verpackungsmaterial von einem Lager zu Fertigungsstraßen
DE2500569C2 (de) Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Gegenständen in ein Hüllmaterial
DE4243008C1 (de) Packmaschine
DE2803884C2 (de) Einrichtung zur Abgabe und Verteilung von Gegenständen
EP0111107B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le transport de récipients remplis de cigarettes vers une machine d'empaquetage
DE2022602C3 (de) Automatische Verpackungsanlage, insbesondere für Zigaretten, mit mehreren Abgabemaschinen, einer Sammelpackmaschine und einem Zwischenspeicher
DE3924098A1 (de) Behaelterfoerdervorrichtung
EP0150511B1 (fr) Dispositif d'emballage d'objets, spécialement des cigarettes
DE2119311A1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Entnehmen von stabförmigen Artikeln
DE3638806A1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zum beschicken einer verpackungsmaschine, z.b. eines kartonierers mit im stapel gelagerten zuschnitten aus karton oder dergleichen
DE3808963A1 (de) Foerderanlage fuer stabfoermige gegenstaende der tabakverarbeitenden industrie
EP0811327B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif pour manipuler des récipients à cigarettes
DE2500786A1 (de) Foerderanlage
EP0909706B1 (fr) Procédé et dispositif pour la manutention de poches souples
DE3425040C2 (fr)
DE3607423C2 (de) Anlage zum Fördern von stabförmigen Gegenständen
DE19645596A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Zuführung von Packungsmänteln in eine Füllmaschine zur Abfüllung flüssiger Lebensmittel in Mehrschichtverbundpackungen
DE69725799T2 (de) Einheit zum Bilden von Zigarettengruppen
DE2954474C2 (fr)
DE3013014C2 (fr)
DE10027799A1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Zigarettenpäckchen
DE3723013A1 (de) Foerdervorrichtung fuer stabfoermige artikel der tabakverarbeitenden industrie
DE3602076C2 (fr)
DE10127109A1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Entnahme und Vereinzelung von Beuteln aus Stapelträgern
DE3725157C2 (fr)

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19840427

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): CH DE FR GB IT LI NL

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3362339

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19860403

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: ING. ZINI MARANESI & C. S.R.L.

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PUE

Owner name: NIEPMANN TRAYLIFT TRANSPORTSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

ITPR It: changes in ownership of a european patent

Owner name: CESSIONE;NIEPMANN TRAYLIFT TRASPORT SYSTEME GMBH &

NLS Nl: assignments of ep-patents

Owner name: NIEPMANN TRAYLIFT TRANSPORTSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG T

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 19901031

Year of fee payment: 8

ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19920501

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PUE

Owner name: NIEPMANN TRAYLIFT TRANSPORTSYSTEME GMBH & CO. KG -

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19960916

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19971031

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19990920

Year of fee payment: 17

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19991116

Year of fee payment: 17

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19991116

Year of fee payment: 17

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001015

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001031

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20001031

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20001015

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010703