EP0286481B1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse durch Aufformen von geschmolzenem Metall - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse durch Aufformen von geschmolzenem Metall Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0286481B1
EP0286481B1 EP88400636A EP88400636A EP0286481B1 EP 0286481 B1 EP0286481 B1 EP 0286481B1 EP 88400636 A EP88400636 A EP 88400636A EP 88400636 A EP88400636 A EP 88400636A EP 0286481 B1 EP0286481 B1 EP 0286481B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pipe
metal
mould
molten metal
mold
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP88400636A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0286481A1 (de
Inventor
Patrick Herbin
Jean-Claude Lacroix
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.)
EssilorLuxottica SA
Original Assignee
Essilor International Compagnie Generale dOptique SA
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 Essilor International Compagnie Generale dOptique SA filed Critical Essilor International Compagnie Generale dOptique SA
Priority to AT88400636T priority Critical patent/ATE62849T1/de
Publication of EP0286481A1 publication Critical patent/EP0286481A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0286481B1 publication Critical patent/EP0286481B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B24—GRINDING; POLISHING
    • B24B—MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING; DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS
    • B24B13/00—Machines or devices designed for grinding or polishing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape on other work; Accessories therefor
    • B24B13/005—Blocking means, chucks or the like; Alignment devices
    • B24B13/0052—Lens block moulding devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for fixing a metal block to a face of an ophthalmic lens, comprising filling a mold cavity defined by a mold and by the lens itself, through an inlet opening of the mold, with a low-melting molten metal from a reservoir containing said molten metal and connected to said inlet port by a pipe, and cooling the mold to solidify the metal introduced into the molding cavity.
  • blocking In the field of manufacture and preparation of ophthalmic lenses, it is customary to fix on one of the faces of a lens a metal block by means of which the lens can be mounted on the lens holder of a surface, a machine to overflow or a machine to soften or polish.
  • This operation known as the "blocking” or “gliding” operation is usually carried out by means of a blocking apparatus comprising a mold having an open molding cavity and an inlet orifice which is formed in a wall of the mold and which opens into said molding cavity, and a reservoir containing a molten metal and comprising an outlet orifice for the molten metal.
  • the mold is usually filled with molten metal either by casting the metal by gravity in the mold, or by pumping the metal with by means of a pump, generally a pump actuated manually, or again by pushing the metal towards the mold by putting the tank under pressure by compressed air.
  • the flow of molten metal to the mold is usually controlled either by a tap or a movable needle associated with the outlet orifice of the tank, or by a valve placed in the pipe connecting the tank to the mold.
  • flow control devices are subject to breakdowns because their moving elements are at least partly immersed or in contact with the molten metal and therefore operate under severe conditions.
  • molten metal solidifies in the region of said movable elements or downstream of them, thus causing a blockage of the movable elements or an obstruction preventing any subsequent flow of molten metal to the mold.
  • the present invention therefore aims to provide a method for fixing a metal block on a face of an ophthalmic lens, in which use is made of entirely static means and, consequently, reliable for controlling the flow of molten metal towards the mold.
  • the method of the present invention is characterized in that it further consists in also cooling at least part of the pipe by cooling the mold, to form a metal plug solidified in said part of the pipe, in separating the block of metal solidified in the molding cavity of the metal plug solidified in the pipe, by forced ejection of said metal block and the lens attached thereto from the molding cavity, while retaining the plug of metal solidified in the pipe, and , to refill the mold cavity, to heat at least said part of the pipe to melt the solidified metal plug.
  • the invention also provides a blocking device for fixing a metal block to one face of an ophthalmic lens, comprising a reservoir containing a molten metal and comprising an outlet orifice for the molten metal, a mold having an open cavity of molding and an inlet for the molten metal, and a pipe connecting the outlet of the tank to the inlet of the mold, said mold comprising at least one cooling channel, in which one can circulate a coolant, characterized in that the pipe is made of a material which is a good conductor of heat and at least part of the pipe is in thermal contact with the soft, the arrangement being such that, in service, when circulating a coolant in the cooling channel after the mold cavity has been filled with molten metal, the latter is caused to solidify in the mold and in said part of the pipe to form a bl metallic oc adhering to the lens placed on the mold and to form a solidified metal plug in said part of the pipe; and in that a heating means is associated with the pipe, said heating means having the function
  • the pipe is made of an electrically conductive metal
  • said heating means is constituted by a low intensity high current current source, which is electrically connected to the ends of the conductive pipe.
  • the mold entry orifice has a frustoconical shape, the small base of the truncated cone being situated on the side of the mold cavity and the large base on the side of the pipe.
  • the blocking device represented in FIG. 1, which can constitute a sub-assembly of a more complex machine for the preparation and gliding of ophthalmic lenses, comprises a mold 1, a tank 2, which is heated in a known manner and who contains a molten metal, and a level adjustment device 3 for adjusting the level of the molten metal contained in the tank 2.
  • the mold 1 comprises a molding cavity 4, which is open upwards and in the bottom of which is provided an inlet orifice 5 for the molten metal, which is connected by a pipe 6 to the outlet orifice 7 tank 2.
  • the mold 1 can be cooled in a known manner by a cooling fluid, for example cold water.
  • a cooling fluid for example cold water.
  • the mold 1 comprises, in the region of the bottom of the molding cavity 4, an annular channel 8 into which cold water can be admitted through a passage 9 connected by a fitting 11 and by a pipe not shown in a cold water source, the water coming out of the channel 8 through another passage and another fitting (not shown) similar to the passage 9 and to the fitting 11.
  • the mold 1 further comprises, in known manner, an ejection rod 12, movable vertically, which is normally held in a low position by a spring 13 and which can be moved to a high position, against the return force of the spring 13, by a pusher 14, which can be actuated for example by means of a pneumatic cylinder.
  • the ejection rod 12 can also be cooled by a cooling fluid such as cold water, which is allowed to circulate in the cooling channels of the rod 12 through a connector 15, and which exits through a fitting 16.
  • the mold may have a general structure similar to that of any previously known mold for gluing ophthalmic lenses, it is preferably produced in accordance with what is described in the European patent application of the same applicant, filed March 11, 1988 under number 88.400578.6, and entitled “mold for fixing a metal block on one of the faces of a lens ophthalmic ".
  • the mold cavity 4 has a larger internal diameter than the largest existing diameter of ophthalmic lens, and a membrane 17 made of large cylindrical and made of an elastically deformable material, for example latex, is arranged concentrically with the interior of the cavity 4. The lower and upper ends of the membrane 17 are fixed to the mold 1 respectively in the region of the bottom and in the region of the opening of the cavity 4.
  • the membrane 17 defines with the side wall of the molds a variable volume chamber 18, such that the inside diameter of the membrane 17 can be alternately enlarged and narrowed, for example by creating a vacuum in the chamber 18 and then restoring atmospheric pressure in said chamber.
  • the membrane 17 occupies the position corresponding to its maximum internal diameter, a lens L supported by an appropriate transfer device 19 known per se, can be easily inserted and maintained in the molding cavity 4 by said transfer device 19.
  • the membrane 17 is then brought into the position corresponding to its minimum internal diameter, so that it comes to grip the edge elastically peripheral of the lens L while the mold cavity 4 is filled with molten metal as will be described later.
  • the level adjustment device 3 is constituted by a plunger 21, which can be moved vertically inside the tank 2 by an actuating means 22, for example a mechanism with screw 25 and nut 23 driven in rotation by a motor-reducer assembly 26 with two directions of rotation.
  • the plunger 21 can be lowered inside the tank 2 in order to raise the level 33 of the metal in fusion contained in tank 2, or raised, in order to lower level 33.
  • the level 33 of the molten metal in the tank 2 is lower than the inlet orifice 5 of the mold 1.
  • the level 33 of the molten metal in the tank 2 is raised by moving the plunger 21 downwards by means of the mechanism 22 and the motor-reducer assembly 26.
  • the molding cavity 4 fills with molten metal by the principle of communicating vessels, the level of molten metal being the same in the tank 2 and in the molding cavity 4.
  • the level of molten metal in the molding cavity 4 reaches a level desired, that is to say so that the underside of the lens L is completely immersed in the molten metal, it suffices to control the level 33 of the molten metal in the tank 2 so that this level reaches the desired value.
  • This can be obtained by means of a float 34 supported by the molten metal in the tank 2, and by means of a detector 35 mounted in a fixed, but adjustable position.
  • the detector 35 produces a signal having a first state when the float 34 is at a level below a predetermined level corresponding to the desired level of molten metal in the mold cavity 4, and a second state when the float 34 reaches said level. predetermined level.
  • the detector 35 which can be a proximity detector of any known type, for example an induction detector, is electrically connected to a control circuit of the motor-reducer assembly 26 so that it is activated and moves the plunger 21 down in response to the first signal state of the detector 35, and such so that it is stopped in response to the second signal state of said detector.
  • the mold cavity 4 Once the mold cavity 4 has been filled with molten metal, this is cooled in order to solidify the metal block contained in the mold cavity.
  • this cooling operation could be carried out by natural cooling of the mold 1, the latter is preferably cooled by circulating a cold fluid, for example cold water, in the cooling channel 8 and in the cooling channel of the ejection rod 12, as described above, in order to accelerate the cooling and the solidification of the metal contained in the molding cavity 4.
  • the pipe 6 is made of a material which is a good conductor of heat and at least the part of the pipe 6 which is close to the inlet orifice 5 of the mold 1 is in thermal contact with the body of the mold. Consequently, when the latter is cooled by the coolant circulating in the channel 8 and in the cooling channel of the ejection rod 12, said part of the pipe 6 is also cooled and a plug forms therein. solidified metal.
  • the metal block and the adjoining lens L will be ejected from the mold cavity 4 and evacuated by means of the transfer device 19, while the solidified metal plug is retained in the pipe 6.
  • the solidified metal plug is retained in the pipe 6 on the one hand by the fact that the latter is bent and , on the other hand, by the fact that the inlet orifice 5 of the mold 1 preferably has a frustoconical shape, the small base of the truncated cone being located on the side of the molding cavity 4 and the large base of the side of the pipe 6.
  • This frustoconical shape facilitates the rupture and the separation between the block of metal solidified in the molding cavity and the plug of metal solidified in the pipe 6, under the action of the ejection rod 12.
  • the pipe 6 is made of an electrically conductive metal, for example copper, and its ends are electrically connected to an appropriate current source, for example a low current high intensity source (for example 3 V 400 A).
  • the electrical connection between the pipe 6 and the voltage source can be carried out for example by means of two conductors 39 and 41 fixed respectively to the body 42 of the mold 1 and to the outlet nozzle 43 of the tank 2, the two elements 42 and 43 being of an electrically conductive material and being in electrical contact with the ends of the pipe 6.
  • the mold 1 and the tank 2 are electrically insulated from the chassis 38 of the device by suitable insulating fittings like the lining 44 shown in FIG. 1 for the mold 1.
  • the pipe 6 and the metal contained therein are heated by Joule effect which has the effect of melting the plug. of solidified metal present in said pipe.
  • the molding cavity 4 can then be again filled with molten metal in a manner similar to that described above.
  • heating the pipe 6 by passing a current through it, it is of course possible to use other heating means.
  • a heating element 45 electrically connected to a suitable voltage source 46 by conductors 47 and 48 and by a switch 49.
  • the heating element 45 can be constituted by an electric heating resistance or by an induction coil.
  • the induction coil forms the primary of a transformer, the secondary of which is formed by the pipe 6 and / or by the metal contained therein, the electrical energy induced in the secondary of the transformer being entirely dissipated in the form of heat by Joule effect, in the pipe 6 and / or the metal contained therein.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Moulds For Moulding Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)

Claims (4)

1. Verfahren zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse bzw. eines Brillenglases (L), bei welchem ein Formhohlraum (4), der durch eine Form (1) und das Glas selber quer über einer Eingangsöffnung (5) der Form begrenzt ist, gefüllt wird mit einem am niedrigen Schmelzpunkt geschmolzenem Metall von einem Behälter (2) aus, der das Metall in Schmelze enthält und mit der Eingangsöffnung durch ein Rohr (6) verbunden ist, und bei welchem die Form gekühlt wird, um das in den Formhohlraum eingeführte Metall erstarren zu lassen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß außerdem auch wenigstens ein Teil des Rohres (6) beim Kühlen der Form (1) gekühlt wird, um einen Pfropfen aus erstarrtem Metall in dem Teil des Rohres zu formen, der Klotz erstarrten Metalls in dem Formhohlraum (4) von dem Pfropfen erstarrten Metalls in dem Rohr (6) getrennt wird durch erzwungenen Ausstoß des Metallklotzes und des daran außerhalb des Formhohlraumes angrenzenden Glases, während der Pfropfen erstarrten Metalls in dem Rohr zurückgehalten wird, und um den Formhohlraum erneut zu füllen, zumindest der Teil des Rohres (6) geheizt wird, um den Pfropfen erstarrten Metalls zu schmelzen.
2. Einspannvorrichtung zur Befestigung eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse bzw. eines Brillenglases mit einem Behälter (2), der Metall in Schmelze enthält und eine Ausgangsöffnung (7) für das Metall in Schmelze aufweist, einer Form (1), die einen offenen Formhohlraum (4) und eine Eintrittsöffnung (5) für das Metall in Schmelze aufweist, und einem Rohr (6), der die Ausgangsöffnung (7) des Behälters (2) mit der Eintrittsöffnung (5) der Form (1) verbindet, wobei die Form (1) zumindest einen Kühlkanal (8) umfaßt, in welchem ein Kühlfluid zirkuliert werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Rohr (6) aus einem gut wärmeleitenden Material besteht und wenigstens ein Teil des Rohres (6) in thermischem Kontakt mit der Form (1) steht, wobei die Anordnung so getroffen ist, daß im Betrieb, wenn ein Kühlfluid in dem Kühlkanal (8) zirkuliert wird, nachdem der Hohlraum (4) der Form (1) mit geschmolzenem Metall gefüllt worden ist, letzteres dazu gebracht wird, in der Form und in dem Teil des Rohres zu erstarren, um einen Metallklotz zu bilden, der an der Linse (L), die auf der Form angeordnet ist, anhaftet, und einen Pfropfen aus erstarrtem Metall in dem Teil des Rohres zu bilden, und daß ein Heizmittel (45) dem Rohr (6) zugeordnet ist, wobei das Heizmittel, wenn es aktiviert wird, die Funktion hat, das Schmelzen des Pfropfens aus erstarrtem Metall in dem Teil des Rohres (6) hervorzurufen, wenn der Hohlraum (4) der Form (1) erneut mit geschmolzenem Metall gefüllt werden soll.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Rohr (6) aus einem elektrisch leitenden Metall besteht und daß das Heizmittel von einer Stromquelle mit niedriger Spannung und hoher Stärke gebildet wird, das elektrisch mit den Enden des leitenden Rohres (6) verbunden ist.
4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Eingangsöffnung (5) der Form (1) eine kegelstumpfförmige Form aufweist, wobei die kleine Basis des Kegelstumpfes auf der Seite des Formhohlraumes (4) und die große Basis auf der Seite des Rohres (6) gelegen ist.
EP88400636A 1987-03-30 1988-03-17 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse durch Aufformen von geschmolzenem Metall Expired - Lifetime EP0286481B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88400636T ATE62849T1 (de) 1987-03-30 1988-03-17 Verfahren und vorrichtung zum befestigen eines metallklotzes auf einer oberflaeche einer ophthalmischen linse durch aufformen von geschmolzenem metall.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8704376 1987-03-30
FR8704376A FR2613263B1 (fr) 1987-03-30 1987-03-30 Procede et appareil pour fixer un bloc metallique sur une face d'une lentille ophtalmique, par surmoulage de metal en fusion

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0286481A1 EP0286481A1 (de) 1988-10-12
EP0286481B1 true EP0286481B1 (de) 1991-04-24

Family

ID=9349551

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88400636A Expired - Lifetime EP0286481B1 (de) 1987-03-30 1988-03-17 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse durch Aufformen von geschmolzenem Metall

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4852631A (de)
EP (1) EP0286481B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE62849T1 (de)
DE (1) DE3862498D1 (de)
ES (1) ES2021846B3 (de)
FR (1) FR2613263B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8808186D0 (en) * 1988-04-08 1988-05-11 Wilson R Continuous casting
US5170835A (en) * 1991-02-08 1992-12-15 Eberle Equipment Inc. Method and apparatus for manufacturing batteries
DE4447739B4 (de) * 1993-09-07 2006-01-05 Gerber Coburn Optical, Inc. (n.d.Ges.d. Staates Delaware), South Windsor Vorrichtung zum Aufblocken eines Linsenrohlings
JP3055401B2 (ja) * 1994-08-29 2000-06-26 信越半導体株式会社 ワークの平面研削方法及び装置
DE4442181C1 (de) * 1994-11-26 1995-10-26 Loh Optikmaschinen Ag Werkzeug zur Feinbearbeitung optischer Flächen

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2397512A (en) * 1943-07-08 1946-04-02 Lester Engineering Co Automatic metal measuring and feeding device
US2660769A (en) * 1950-12-18 1953-12-01 Dow Chemical Co Die casting
US3049766A (en) * 1960-01-27 1962-08-21 Textron Inc Process and apparatus for blocking lenses
FR1384277A (fr) * 1964-01-18 1965-01-04 Bbc Brown Boveri & Cie Dispositif pour couler des doses exactes de métal liquide
US3605863A (en) * 1966-07-06 1971-09-20 Battelle Development Corp Apparatus for manufacturing wire and the like
US3468366A (en) * 1967-02-20 1969-09-23 Coburn Mfg Co Inc Lens blocker
US4025033A (en) * 1974-07-07 1977-05-24 Hodges Lee R Apparatus for dispensing a bonding agent
US4136727A (en) * 1977-07-08 1979-01-30 Vogt Albert B Optical lens blocking method and apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3862498D1 (de) 1991-05-29
US4852631A (en) 1989-08-01
ATE62849T1 (de) 1991-05-15
ES2021846B3 (es) 1991-11-16
EP0286481A1 (de) 1988-10-12
FR2613263B1 (fr) 1991-01-18
FR2613263A1 (fr) 1988-10-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
FR2660738A1 (fr) Installation permettant de realiser la refrigeration (ou rechauffement) rapide de produits emballes, notamment de bouteilles.
EP0091634A1 (de) Haushaltskaffeemaschine
EP0041975B1 (de) Verbesserte spritzpistole zum warmspritzen von farben
EP0286481B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Befestigen eines Metallklotzes auf einer Oberfläche einer ophthalmischen Linse durch Aufformen von geschmolzenem Metall
EP0088253B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Beschickung eines Schachtofens
EP0019291A1 (de) Haushalts-Kaffeemaschine
US3468366A (en) Lens blocker
EP0520114A1 (de) Unterbrechbarer Spülmechanismus mit gesicherter Minimalspülung
EP0202517A1 (de) Automatische Kaffeemaschine
EP0616786B1 (de) Kaffeemaschine mit Wasserrückführungsschacht
EP0327526B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum Kühlen eines Metalls während des Giessens
FR2543990A1 (fr) Dispositif d'evacuation a commande par bouton-poussoir, pour reservoir de chasse d'eau
EP0416974A1 (de) Flüssigkeitsverteiler mit elektrischer Heizung, insbesondere zur Bereitung von Kaffee
EP1631445B1 (de) Ventil und zufuhrvorrichtung zum füllen eines formhohlraums mit einem polymerisierbaren material
FR2681891A1 (fr) Perfectionnements aux dispositifs d'evacuation et de vidange rapide de liquide d'un reservoir de cuvette de w.c..
EP0783261B1 (de) Kaffeemaschine mit einer vorrichtung zum auswählen einer sprühweise
EP0343059B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Einnehmen einer Flüssigkeit, wie Quellwasser
FR2494842A1 (fr) Distributeur automatique pour boissons
EP1881942B1 (de) Spendevorrichtung zur bereitstellung von gekühltem wasser
FR2703836A3 (fr) Dispositif de flotteur amélioré pour vérifier le niveau d'eau distillée dans les batteries électriques.
WO2001043610A1 (fr) Groupe d'infusion pour machine a cafe du type espresso
FR2509659A2 (fr) Dispositif de fabrication de pieces moulees a partir de composes aptes a s'ecouler tels que des ceramiques et dispositif pour sa mise en oeuvre
FR2785022A3 (fr) Dispositifs a flotteurs pour le controle de pompes submersibles
FR2727706A1 (fr) Mecanisme simplifie de commande de chasse d'eau
FR2495515A1 (fr) Dispositif d'alimentation en plomb liquide de moules pour connexions de plaques de batteries d'accumulateurs au plomb

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: A1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES GB NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19881014

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19900306

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES GB NL

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

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19910424

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19910424

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 62849

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19910515

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3862498

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19910529

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
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
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 19970303

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19970310

Year of fee payment: 10

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19970528

Year of fee payment: 10

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: 19980317

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

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 19980318

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

Effective date: 19980317

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: 19981201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20000201