EP0211372A2 - Pistolet de pulvérisation automatique - Google Patents

Pistolet de pulvérisation automatique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0211372A2
EP0211372A2 EP86110392A EP86110392A EP0211372A2 EP 0211372 A2 EP0211372 A2 EP 0211372A2 EP 86110392 A EP86110392 A EP 86110392A EP 86110392 A EP86110392 A EP 86110392A EP 0211372 A2 EP0211372 A2 EP 0211372A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spray gun
air
solenoid valve
needle valve
distance
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP86110392A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0211372A3 (en
EP0211372B1 (fr
Inventor
Yoshio Matusita
Takeshi Mochizuki
Ikuya Shiraishi
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.)
Anest Iwata Corp
Original Assignee
Anest Iwata Corp
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 Anest Iwata Corp filed Critical Anest Iwata Corp
Publication of EP0211372A2 publication Critical patent/EP0211372A2/fr
Publication of EP0211372A3 publication Critical patent/EP0211372A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0211372B1 publication Critical patent/EP0211372B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B9/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent material, without essentially mixing with gas or vapour
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B12/00—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
    • B05B12/08—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means
    • B05B12/12—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus
    • B05B12/124—Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged, of ambient medium or of target ; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
    • B05B7/02—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge
    • B05B7/08—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point
    • B05B7/0807—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point to form intersecting jets
    • B05B7/0815—Spray pistols; Apparatus for discharge with separate outlet orifices, e.g. to form parallel jets, i.e. the axis of the jets being parallel, to form intersecting jets, i.e. the axis of the jets converging but not necessarily intersecting at a point to form intersecting jets with at least one gas jet intersecting a jet constituted by a liquid or a mixture containing a liquid for controlling the shape of the latter

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for spraying an object with a coating fluid such as a paint. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a spray gun which is so designed that the need for a manually-­operated gun trigger is eliminated in a spraying operation.
  • Paint spray guns are well known as means for spraying various objects with liquid substances.
  • a typical spray gun of this type is arranged such that an operator holds it in his hand and actuates a trigger or any other similar means such as a push-button provided on the spray gun to start and stop spraying of a liquid substance, thereby effecting the required spraying operation.
  • the operator In this type of operation, however, the operator must repeatedly move his hand and finger to control and trigger the spray gun, and this leads to injury or physical handicap. Threfore, efforts have been made to devise a measure for coping with this situation.
  • the distance between the spray gun and the object is a important factor in a spraying operation, and it is necessary to hold the spray gun at an appropriate distance when spraying a coating on the object. In painting, this distance has a particularly significant effect on the grade or quality of finish, and it is necessary for the operator to conduct painting while constantly maintaining an appropriate spraying distance.
  • the operator must estimate the distance from an object with the naked eye and actuate the trigger of the spray gun accurately and effectively on the basis of his own experience and skill, which means that technical skill is needed to effectively handle the conventional spray guns.
  • the present invention provides an automatic spray gun which is provided with means for judging or measuring the distance between the spray gun and an object, and a solenoid valve which is activated in response to a control signal delivered from the distance measuring means, thereby allowing spraying to be automatically effected when the object is within a predetermined range.
  • the spray gun has a liquid atomizing means provided at the front end thereof, a needle valve adapted to control the amount of liquid sprayed, and an air piston received in a cylinder at the rear end of the needle valve, the piston being controlled such as to be selectively advanced and withdrawn by means of compressed air.
  • the spray gun further has a sensor incorporated therein, the sensor being adapted to transmit a signal toward an object and receive the signal reflected therefrom so as to measure the distance from the object.
  • the spray gun is provided with a solenoid valve which allows compressed air to be blown off when the measured distance is within a predetermined range.
  • the piston is adapted to control the needle valve so as to selectively start and stop a spraying operation.
  • the piston is activated by compressed air, and in a pneumatic atomiza­tion type spray gun, the atomizing compressed air is employed to activate the piston.
  • the opening and closing operation of the solenoid valve replaces the trigger operation of the spray gun.
  • the control of the solenoid valve is automatically effected on the basis of a value measured by the distance measuring means. Therefore, spraying is performed only when the distance between an object and the spray gun is within a predetermined appropriate range while the latter is pointed toward the object. Thus, spraying is automatically effected only when necessary without the need to actuate a manually-­operated trigger or the like.
  • the accompanying drawing is a sectional view of a spray gun in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a paint spray gun in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
  • the atomizing means of this spray gun is of the pneumatic atomization type and therefore adopts a conventional arrangement which is composed of an air cap 1, a paint nozzle 2 and a needle valve 3.
  • An air piston 4 is operatively secured at the rear end of the needle valve 3, so that the needle valve 3 is selectively opened and closed by the action of the air piston 4.
  • the air piston 4 is received in a cylinder 5, and a packing 6 for keeping the cylinder 5 airtight is provided on the sliding part of the air piston 4.
  • a knob 7 is provided at the rear end portion of the piston 4.
  • the knob 7 is fitted through a threaded portion 9 thereof into the central portion of a cap 8 which closes the rear end of the cylinder 5 in such a manner that the knob 7 is movable longitudinally for adjustment, thereby limiting the amount of movement (withdrawal) of the piston 4, and thus adjusting the degree of opening of the needle valve 3.
  • the forward portion of the piston 4 is communicat­ed with an air passage 12 which is connected to a compressed air supply source AS.
  • the air passage 12 is selectively opened and closed by the action of a solenoid valve 11 which is provided at the lower end of a handle 10 of the spray gun.
  • the arrangement is such that, when the solenoid valve 11 is opened, compressed air is introduced into the cylinder 5, thus causing the piston 4 to be withdrawn.
  • Air passages 14 and 15 for sending the compressed air from the solenoid valve 11 to the atomizing means extend towrad the front end of the spray gun. A part of the air supplied through these passages 14 and 15 is jetted out from an atomizing nozzle 1a so as to cause a paint to be atomized, and the remaining air is blown off from a spray pattern adjusting orifice 1b so as to adjust the pattern of the atomized paint.
  • the flow rate of both the atomizing air and the spray pattern adjusting air is varied by the operation of a spray pattern adjusting valve 16.
  • a distance measuring means 17 is provided in such a manner as to face the same direction as that of the atomizing means.
  • the distance measuring means 17 is composed of an ultrasonic transmitting transducer and an ultrasonic receiving transducer and is adapted to measure the distance from an object which is located in the forward direction from the spray gun.
  • This type of means is adapted to measure the distance from an object on the basis of the period of time which it takes for an ultrasonic wave to travel from the point where it is transmitted to the object and then to return to a point where it is received on being reflected back from the object. Since this structure is known and its detailed structure per se does not constitute any part of the present invention, description thereof is omitted.
  • the distance measuring means 17 includes a power supply and an arithmetic unit so that a control signal is delivered to the solenoid valve 11 from the means 17.
  • the distance measuring means 17 employs an ultrasonic sensor for detection of the spray distance because this type of sensor works substantially irrespectively of the kind of material of which the object is formed and it is not readily affected by coatings such as paint which are sprayed and become undesirably attached to the sensor.
  • the ultrasonic sensor is not necessarily limitative, and other types of known measuring means, e.g., optical and electrical means, may also be employed, provided that the measuring means employed meets particular conditions. It should be noted that a paint is supplied from a paint supply source PS in a manner similar to that in the conven­tional spray guns, and description of the paint supply method is therefore omitted.
  • the power supply for the distance measuring means 17 is first turned ON to make the spray gun operative.
  • the spray gun is immediately brought into a state wherein its spray coating operation is kept under control. More specifically, when the spray gun is directed toward an object, the distance measuring means 17 starts measurement of the distance from the object by means of constant pulses, and when the spray gun comes within a spraying distance of a predetermined range, the solenoid valve 11 is immediately opened and the compressed air is thereby sent to the air cap 1 which constitutes a part of the atomizing means of the spray gun.
  • the compressed air is also supplied to the air cylinder 5, and the piston 4 is withdrawn by virtue of the pressure of the compressed air, thus causing the needle valve 3 connected directly to the piston 4 to also be withdrawn.
  • the paint 2 is jetted out from the paint nozzle 2 and atomized by the compressed air from the air cap 1 before being sprayed on the object. Accordingly, it is possible to effect spray coating simply by moving the spray gun along the object without the need to actuate a manually-operated trigger as in the case of conventional spray guns.
  • painting is conducted only when the object is in front of the spray gun and is located at an appropriate distance from the spray gun.
  • the spray gun according to the present invention is capable of automatically painting while recognizing the configuration of the object at any time during the spray coating operation.
  • the amount of paint jetted out from the spray gun and the pattern of the sprayed paint are adjusted by actuating the manually-­operated knob. It is therefore only necessary for the distance measuring means to be able to generate an ON-OFF signal to control the spraying operation on the basis of the predetermined spraying distance range.
  • the spray gun is only required to have a simple structure such as that exemplified in the embodiment which enables the needle valve to be activated by the action of the air piston.
  • the spray gun according to the present invention enables painting to be automatical necessarilyly conducted only when an object is located within an appropriate range from the spray gun by confirming the distance from the object with the distance measuring means provided on the spray gun. It is therefore possible for the operator to effect an optimal painting operation simply by pointing the spray gun toward an object and moving the spray gun along the surface of the object, or fixing the spray gun and moving an object relative to it.
  • a surface of an object which needs to be painted is automatical­ly judged on the basis of the configuration of the object, and the spraying operation is automatically started and stopped. Accordingly, even an unskilled person can effect excellent painting without experiencing hand fatigue and without any fear of a painting failure due to misjudged spraying distance.

Landscapes

  • Nozzles (AREA)
EP86110392A 1985-08-05 1986-07-28 Pistolet de pulvérisation automatique Expired - Lifetime EP0211372B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60172214A JPS6233572A (ja) 1985-08-05 1985-08-05 自動的に吹付け、停止を行なうスプレ−ガン
JP172214/85 1985-08-05

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0211372A2 true EP0211372A2 (fr) 1987-02-25
EP0211372A3 EP0211372A3 (en) 1987-07-15
EP0211372B1 EP0211372B1 (fr) 1990-06-13

Family

ID=15937708

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86110392A Expired - Lifetime EP0211372B1 (fr) 1985-08-05 1986-07-28 Pistolet de pulvérisation automatique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0211372B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS6233572A (fr)
KR (1) KR930001502B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE3671848D1 (fr)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4919967A (en) * 1987-07-09 1990-04-24 Behr Industrieanlagen Gmbh & Co. Method and apparatus for coating parts in series
US4972798A (en) * 1988-03-25 1990-11-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Drawing machine
EP0408786A1 (fr) * 1989-07-19 1991-01-23 SATA-FARBSPRITZTECHNIK GmbH & Co. T˻te de buse
FR2682306A1 (fr) * 1991-10-15 1993-04-16 Glaverbel Procede de soudure ceramique et dispositif pour la mise en óoeuvre de ce procede.
EP0990468A1 (fr) * 1996-12-30 2000-04-05 University of Northern Iowa Foundation Pistolet pulvérisateur à peinture avec dispositif à laser
WO2007079274A2 (fr) * 2005-10-25 2007-07-12 Wagner Spray Tech Corporation Pistolet de pulverisation a telemetre acoustique
WO2008017592A1 (fr) * 2006-08-10 2008-02-14 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc Appareil de pulvérisation comprenant des moyens de détection de distance
WO2009091489A1 (fr) * 2008-01-15 2009-07-23 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pistolet de pulvérisation commandé en fonction d'une distance par rapport à une cible
WO2011006933A1 (fr) * 2009-07-15 2011-01-20 Robert Bosch Gmbh Dispositif d'application de peinture avec capteur d'accélération
ITUB20161100A1 (it) * 2016-02-26 2017-08-26 3D Res Srl Dispositivo per verniciatura manuale
EP3345682A1 (fr) * 2017-01-10 2018-07-11 Exel Industries Système d'alarme, ensemble comprenant un dispositif de pulvérisation et un tel système d'alarme et procédé de pulvérisation pneumatique
CN111451017A (zh) * 2020-04-23 2020-07-28 中铁四局集团第五工程有限公司 一种可伸缩的多通道喷枪装置

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6170760B1 (en) * 1999-01-25 2001-01-09 Precision Valve & Automation, Inc. Compact spray valve
KR100580601B1 (ko) * 2004-07-07 2006-05-17 (주)계림메디칼 수동가압식 스프레이장치
KR101662488B1 (ko) * 2014-12-19 2016-10-07 삼성중공업(주) 수동 분사 장치

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0061342A1 (fr) * 1981-03-23 1982-09-29 Nordson Corporation Combinaison pistolet pulvérisateur-régulateur de pression
FR2517567A1 (fr) * 1981-12-05 1983-06-10 Paragerm France Dispositif pour controler la distance entre un dispositif de pulverisation, notamment un pistolet de pulverisation, et un objet destine a recevoir le produit pulverise, notamment un mur.

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0061342A1 (fr) * 1981-03-23 1982-09-29 Nordson Corporation Combinaison pistolet pulvérisateur-régulateur de pression
FR2517567A1 (fr) * 1981-12-05 1983-06-10 Paragerm France Dispositif pour controler la distance entre un dispositif de pulverisation, notamment un pistolet de pulverisation, et un objet destine a recevoir le produit pulverise, notamment un mur.

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4919967A (en) * 1987-07-09 1990-04-24 Behr Industrieanlagen Gmbh & Co. Method and apparatus for coating parts in series
US4972798A (en) * 1988-03-25 1990-11-27 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Drawing machine
EP0408786A1 (fr) * 1989-07-19 1991-01-23 SATA-FARBSPRITZTECHNIK GmbH & Co. T˻te de buse
FR2682306A1 (fr) * 1991-10-15 1993-04-16 Glaverbel Procede de soudure ceramique et dispositif pour la mise en óoeuvre de ce procede.
BE1006252A3 (fr) * 1991-10-15 1994-07-05 Glaverbel Procede de soudure ceramique et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procede.
US5378493A (en) * 1991-10-15 1995-01-03 Glaverbel Ceramic welding method with monitored working distance
TR26766A (tr) * 1991-10-15 1995-05-15 Glaverbel SERAMIK KAYNAK YAPMA USULü VE CIHAZI
EP0990468A1 (fr) * 1996-12-30 2000-04-05 University of Northern Iowa Foundation Pistolet pulvérisateur à peinture avec dispositif à laser
US7724609B2 (en) 2004-03-25 2010-05-25 Wagner Spray Tech Corporation Sonic cup gun
WO2007079274A3 (fr) * 2005-10-25 2007-09-20 Wagner Spray Tech Corp Pistolet de pulverisation a telemetre acoustique
WO2007079274A2 (fr) * 2005-10-25 2007-07-12 Wagner Spray Tech Corporation Pistolet de pulverisation a telemetre acoustique
WO2008017592A1 (fr) * 2006-08-10 2008-02-14 Crown Packaging Technology, Inc Appareil de pulvérisation comprenant des moyens de détection de distance
WO2009091489A1 (fr) * 2008-01-15 2009-07-23 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Pistolet de pulvérisation commandé en fonction d'une distance par rapport à une cible
WO2011006933A1 (fr) * 2009-07-15 2011-01-20 Robert Bosch Gmbh Dispositif d'application de peinture avec capteur d'accélération
ITUB20161100A1 (it) * 2016-02-26 2017-08-26 3D Res Srl Dispositivo per verniciatura manuale
EP3345682A1 (fr) * 2017-01-10 2018-07-11 Exel Industries Système d'alarme, ensemble comprenant un dispositif de pulvérisation et un tel système d'alarme et procédé de pulvérisation pneumatique
CN111451017A (zh) * 2020-04-23 2020-07-28 中铁四局集团第五工程有限公司 一种可伸缩的多通道喷枪装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6233572A (ja) 1987-02-13
EP0211372A3 (en) 1987-07-15
DE3671848D1 (de) 1990-07-19
KR870001875A (ko) 1987-03-28
KR930001502B1 (ko) 1993-03-02
JPH0356099B2 (fr) 1991-08-27
EP0211372B1 (fr) 1990-06-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0211372B1 (fr) Pistolet de pulvérisation automatique
US4925101A (en) Wax spray gun and nozzle
US4817872A (en) Adjustable fluid spray gun
US4759502A (en) Spray gun with reversible air/fluid timing
CA1147140A (fr) Atomiseur a air sous pression
US5419491A (en) Two component fluid spray gun and method
US4108382A (en) Spraying device
US5074466A (en) Fluid valve stem for air spray gun
US4544100A (en) Liquid spray gun having quick change pattern control
US4437614A (en) Electrostatic air atomization spray coating system
EP2127758B1 (fr) Pistolet de pulvérisation pour peinture
JPH08229457A (ja) 流体用バルブを備えたスプレーガン
US4982897A (en) Spraying method and apparatus employed therefor
EP3265242B1 (fr) Système de distribution de liquide à régulation de pression améliorée
CA1039334A (fr) Appareil atomiseur
US4934602A (en) Adjustable fluid spray gun with air transition nozzle
US3219279A (en) Spray gun using high pressure coating material
IES58774B2 (en) A spray bar assembly
FR2406480A1 (fr) Dispositif de nettoyage pour pistolets pulverisateurs
US4000856A (en) Fog/spray system and apparatus
US20080111000A1 (en) Device for Electrostatically Projecting a Coating Material and a Method for Controlling Power Supply to Voltage Increasing of Said Device
KR20210157050A (ko) 자동차 보수 도장용 스프레이 장치
WO1991003320A1 (fr) Pistolet pulverisateur
JPH0368741B2 (fr)
JPH02233162A (ja) スプレーガン吐出量制御装置

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

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19871001

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19880505

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3671848

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900719

ET Fr: translation filed
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
ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970714

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19970723

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970730

Year of fee payment: 12

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: 19980728

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

Effective date: 19980728

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

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 19990331

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: 19990501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

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

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050728