EP0368116A1 - Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden Produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen Nahrungsmitteln - Google Patents

Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden Produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen Nahrungsmitteln Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0368116A1
EP0368116A1 EP89120103A EP89120103A EP0368116A1 EP 0368116 A1 EP0368116 A1 EP 0368116A1 EP 89120103 A EP89120103 A EP 89120103A EP 89120103 A EP89120103 A EP 89120103A EP 0368116 A1 EP0368116 A1 EP 0368116A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carbon dioxide
package
products
packaging
solid
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
EP89120103A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0368116B1 (de
Inventor
Geremia Orio
Marco Milani
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.)
Valle Spluga SpA
Original Assignee
Valle Spluga SpA
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
Priority claimed from IT8822543A external-priority patent/IT1227469B/it
Priority claimed from IT8920353A external-priority patent/IT1229323B/it
Application filed by Valle Spluga SpA filed Critical Valle Spluga SpA
Priority to AT89120103T priority Critical patent/ATE84757T1/de
Publication of EP0368116A1 publication Critical patent/EP0368116A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0368116B1 publication Critical patent/EP0368116B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/06Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
    • B65B25/065Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of meat
    • B65B25/067Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of meat combined with its conservation
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging products absorbing carbon dioxide, in particular perishable food products.
  • Said progressive absorption of carbon dioxide also causes a reduction of the carbon dioxide in the space surrounding the product, consequently producing a vacuum inside the package with the disadvantage of an inward collapse of the package if it is made of easily deformable material, as is usually the case for synthetic-material packaging containers.
  • the collapse of the package can cause the crushing of the products contained therein, deforming them and in some cases squeezing liquids out of them which make the appearance of said products extremely unappealing.
  • the absorption of carbon dioxide by the product furthermore modifies the percentages of gas, reducing the free carbon dioxide in the atmosphere inside the container and limiting the potential preservability of the product.
  • the deformation of the packaging container may furthermore cause the customer information, such as for example the date before which the product is to be eaten or other indications which are usually printed directly on the package or on sheets glued to the package or inserted therein, to become partially or totally unreadable.
  • the aim of the present invention is to solve the above described problems by providing a method for packaging products susceptible of absorbing carbon dioxide, in particular perishable food products, which avoids or at least considerably reduces the deformation of the package caused by vacuum after packaging.
  • an object of the invention is to provide a method which improves the preservability of products susceptible of absorbing carbon dioxide and respects the integrity of the product during packaging.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a method which does not contaminate the product with health-damaging substances.
  • the method according to the invention comprises a first step wherein a product 1 or a plurality of products is inserted into a known containment package 2 made for example of synthetic material (figure 1), and a second step in which a preset amount of solid-phase carbon dioxide is introduced inside the package 2 (figure 2).
  • the package 2 is subsequently sealed, for example by heat-welding, glueing or by other known sealing methods, so as to isolate the inside of the package from the atmospheric environment.
  • the introduction of solid-phase carbon dioxide into the package 2 may naturally precede or follow the insertion of the product 1 or be simultaneous therewith.
  • the amount of carbon dioxide to be introduced in the package 2 is preset according to the amount of carbon dioxide which can be absorbed by the product after packaging, taking also into account the mechanical resistance of the package 2 and the final result to be obtained, for example so as to avoid the collapse of the package 2 even several days after packaging.
  • the amount of solid-phase carbon dioxide to be introduced in the package 2 may be easily determined on the basis of studies of the absorption in the various products, since it has been found that most of the products susceptible of absorbing carbon dioxide absorb most of the potentially absorbable carbon dioxide within a few hours after packaging, reaching a condition of equilibrium.
  • the solid-phase carbon dioxide is introduced into the package 2 in the form of cubes or tablets 3 of dry ice with a preset weight so as to meet the absorbability requirements of the product as described above.
  • the solid-phase carbon dioxide may also be introduced in the package 2 in the form of finely flaked dry ice ("carbonic snow").
  • the air present in the package 2 may be replaced completely with a controlled atmosphere constituted for example by a mixture of gas which predominantly contains carbon dioxide and nitrogen, sealing the package in an appropriate chamber 4 with a controlled atmosphere, as occurs in known packaging methods indeed termed "controlled-­atmosphere packaging methods".
  • the solid-phase carbon dioxide introduced in the package 2 slowly sublimates, pressurizing the interior of the package, while the product starts to absorb the gaseous-phase carbon dioxide, progressively decreasing the overpressure which has formed inside the package 2 (figure 4).
  • the pressure inside the package 2 stabilizes and the package 2 assumes a configuration which remains substantially unchanged for several days after packaging (figure 5).
  • the amount of solid-phase carbon dioxide introduced in the package 2 together with the amount of gas-­phase carbon dioxide possibly introduced when replacing the atmosphere inside the package 2 (if replacement is provided for) is slightly larger than the amount of carbon dioxide required to make the product reach the equilibrium condition, a mixture of gases, including carbon dioxide, with a slight overpressure or at ambient pressure is present inside the package 2 even several days after packaging, so as to avoid collapse even with packages which have an extremely low mechanical resistance or do not have an own form, such as soft bags.
  • both the step of introducing solid-phase carbon dioxide inside the package and the subsequent step of sealing the package 2 may occur in an atmospheric environment, since for a wide range of products correct preservation is in any case ensured by the modification of the atmosphere inside the package 2 caused by the sublimation of the solid-phase carbon dioxide.
  • an apparatus generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 in figure 6 may be used; said apparatus comprises a known packaging system with a conveyor element 11 on which the preformed packages 12 intended to contain the products 1 are placed. Said conveyor element 11 is movable along a path which traverses in sequence a station 5 for inserting the products 1 in the packages 12 and a sealing station 13 in which the packages 12 are closed by means of known devices.
  • a dispenser device 14 is arranged ahead of the sealing station 13 according to the direction of advancement of the conveyor element; said device introduces a preset amount of solid-phase carbon dioxide into the packages 12 and may be simply constituted, as illustrated, by nozzles which are fed by a known system and dispense a preset amount of finely flaked dry ice onto the product inside the package which is located in that moment below said nozzles.
  • the dispenser device may also be constituted by a means for dispensing dry ice tablets which are introduced, like the finely flaked dry ice, in the packages 12.
  • the sealing station 13 may be simply constituted by a known device which closes the open side of the packages 12 for example by heat-welding thereon a sheet of synthetic material 15.
  • the sealing station 13 may be placed inside a controlled-atmosphere chamber 16 which contains, in a known manner, a mixture of gases, for example a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, as in known controlled-atmosphere packaging devices.
  • a controlled-atmosphere chamber 16 which contains, in a known manner, a mixture of gases, for example a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, as in known controlled-atmosphere packaging devices.
  • a partial replacement of the atmosphere inside the packages 12 may be provided by arranging a dispenser 17 of inert gas, for example nitrogen, ahead of the solid-phase carbon dioxide dispensing device 14.
  • Said dispenser 17 may be simply constituted by a duct which feeds a jet of inert gas inside the packages 12.
  • a further advantage in view of the simple execution of the method according to the invention, is the fact that it can be used in both manual packaging methods and in automated packaging methods.
  • the method according to the invention has been conceived in particular for the packaging and preservation of perishable food products, it may in any case be used successfully also for any kind of product susceptible of absorbing carbon dioxide with similar problems regarding the integrity of the package and of the product after packaging.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
EP19890120103 1988-11-08 1989-10-30 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden Produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen Nahrungsmitteln Expired - Lifetime EP0368116B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89120103T ATE84757T1 (de) 1988-11-08 1989-10-30 Verfahren und vorrichtung zum verpacken von kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen nahrungsmitteln.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT8822543A IT1227469B (it) 1988-11-08 1988-11-08 Procedimento ed apparecchiatura per il confezionamento di prodotti alimentari in atmosfera controllata
IT2254388 1988-11-08
IT2035389 1989-05-03
IT8920353A IT1229323B (it) 1989-05-03 1989-05-03 Procedimento per il confezionamento di prodotti suscettibili di assorbire anidride carbonica, in particolare per prodotti alimentari deperibili.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0368116A1 true EP0368116A1 (de) 1990-05-16
EP0368116B1 EP0368116B1 (de) 1993-01-20

Family

ID=26327502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19890120103 Expired - Lifetime EP0368116B1 (de) 1988-11-08 1989-10-30 Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden Produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen Nahrungsmitteln

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0368116B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH0487926A (de)
AR (1) AR245582A1 (de)
AU (1) AU622236B2 (de)
BR (1) BR8905725A (de)
CA (1) CA2002411A1 (de)
DE (1) DE68904526T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2037371T3 (de)
GR (1) GR3007200T3 (de)
HU (1) HU208241B (de)
NZ (1) NZ231274A (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0931723A1 (de) 1998-01-21 1999-07-28 Marilisa Tellatin Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Konservieren und Verpacken von Nahrungsmitteln
FR2792611A1 (fr) * 1999-04-26 2000-10-27 Remy Boussuge Dispositif automatique pour le remplissage et la distribution de sachets destines a la conservation par le froid notamment de denrees perissables
WO2004045951A1 (en) * 2002-11-19 2004-06-03 Ilapak Machine Automatiche S.A. Plant and device for the continous packing of food products in modified atmosphere
WO2005063594A2 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-07-14 Da Vinci Association For Inventors' Rights System and method for packaging coffee or tea
CN100417578C (zh) * 2002-11-19 2008-09-10 伊拉帕克机器机械自动装置股份有限公司 在改进气氛中连续包装食品的设备和装置
CN105010503A (zh) * 2015-08-31 2015-11-04 国家农产品保鲜工程技术研究中心(天津) 一种采用软包装对树莓贮藏保鲜的方法
WO2016156336A1 (de) * 2015-03-31 2016-10-06 Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh Vorrichtung und verfahren zur dosierung von trockeneis in eine verpackungsmulde

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2008230594B2 (en) 2007-03-23 2011-08-04 Kureha Corporation Tightly packaged food and method of packaging food
US10925300B2 (en) 2017-10-03 2021-02-23 Tyson Foods, Inc. Packaging with pressure driven oxygen egress
DE102019129446A1 (de) * 2019-10-31 2021-05-06 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Kopfrauminertisierung und Produktrestentfernung bei Flaschen

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2838403A (en) * 1957-05-06 1958-06-10 George K Notter Packaging of dehydrated foods
US3659393A (en) * 1970-05-28 1972-05-02 Royal Packaging Equipment Inc Apparatus for and method of forming vacuum packages
US3987209A (en) * 1973-08-09 1976-10-19 Central Properties Company Limited Method of preparing flesh-containing products such as roast meat or fowl and pork-butcher's products such as hams and pies
US4653643A (en) * 1986-06-07 1987-03-31 501 Safety Container Corp. Tamper resistant package

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU602030B2 (en) * 1987-07-27 1990-09-27 Wilson Foods Corporation Method of treating fresh meat cuts

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2838403A (en) * 1957-05-06 1958-06-10 George K Notter Packaging of dehydrated foods
US3659393A (en) * 1970-05-28 1972-05-02 Royal Packaging Equipment Inc Apparatus for and method of forming vacuum packages
US3987209A (en) * 1973-08-09 1976-10-19 Central Properties Company Limited Method of preparing flesh-containing products such as roast meat or fowl and pork-butcher's products such as hams and pies
US4653643A (en) * 1986-06-07 1987-03-31 501 Safety Container Corp. Tamper resistant package

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0931723A1 (de) 1998-01-21 1999-07-28 Marilisa Tellatin Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Konservieren und Verpacken von Nahrungsmitteln
FR2792611A1 (fr) * 1999-04-26 2000-10-27 Remy Boussuge Dispositif automatique pour le remplissage et la distribution de sachets destines a la conservation par le froid notamment de denrees perissables
WO2004045951A1 (en) * 2002-11-19 2004-06-03 Ilapak Machine Automatiche S.A. Plant and device for the continous packing of food products in modified atmosphere
US7328555B2 (en) 2002-11-19 2008-02-12 Ilapak Macchine Automatiche S.A. Plant and device for the continuous packing of food products in modified atmosphere
CN100417578C (zh) * 2002-11-19 2008-09-10 伊拉帕克机器机械自动装置股份有限公司 在改进气氛中连续包装食品的设备和装置
WO2005063594A2 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-07-14 Da Vinci Association For Inventors' Rights System and method for packaging coffee or tea
WO2005063594A3 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-10-20 Fedor Gouverneur System and method for packaging coffee or tea
WO2016156336A1 (de) * 2015-03-31 2016-10-06 Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh Vorrichtung und verfahren zur dosierung von trockeneis in eine verpackungsmulde
CN105010503A (zh) * 2015-08-31 2015-11-04 国家农产品保鲜工程技术研究中心(天津) 一种采用软包装对树莓贮藏保鲜的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AR245582A1 (es) 1994-02-28
EP0368116B1 (de) 1993-01-20
CA2002411A1 (en) 1990-05-08
AU4455489A (en) 1990-05-31
DE68904526T2 (de) 1993-06-03
BR8905725A (pt) 1990-06-05
JPH0487926A (ja) 1992-03-19
NZ231274A (en) 1991-09-25
HUT55609A (en) 1991-06-28
HU208241B (en) 1993-09-28
ES2037371T3 (es) 1993-06-16
DE68904526D1 (de) 1993-03-04
GR3007200T3 (de) 1993-07-30
HU895814D0 (en) 1990-01-28
AU622236B2 (en) 1992-04-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5731023A (en) Method for packaging carbon dioxide absorbing food products
US4631899A (en) Method of dispensing a metered quantity of snuff and of packaging the individual, metered quantities of snuff
US5698250A (en) Modifield atmosphere package for cut of raw meat
US3360382A (en) Method of packaging meat
US7610736B2 (en) Method and system for the gas-tight packing of objects
US5514392A (en) Packaging for perishable goods
EP0368116A1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Verpacken von Kohlenstoffdioxid absorbierenden Produkten, vorzugsweise verderblichen Nahrungsmitteln
US5477660A (en) Process and apparatus for maximizing vacuum packaging machine cycle rate
AU748122B2 (en) System and method of making a modified atmosphere package
GB1587534A (en) Method of providing a controlled atmosphere around perishable products
US3508373A (en) Method and apparatus for evacuating and gas-flushing packages
US20020020151A1 (en) Method and apparatus for inserting an oxygen scavenger into a modified atmosphere package
US5744182A (en) Aromatisation process used in food packaging
US4069349A (en) Process for vacuum packaging of roasted, ground coffee
US9180991B2 (en) Apparatus and method for packaging a liquid product
US5737905A (en) Method and apparatus for packaging products absorbing carbon-dioxide, in particular perishable food products
IE65522B1 (en) Method and apparatus for packaging products absorbing carbon-dioxide in particular perishable food products
US6481185B1 (en) System for modifying the atmosphere within the interior of a package
US6061998A (en) Method of packaging meat products
US2394936A (en) Packaging apparatus
WO2022031766A1 (en) Content stabilizer
CA2250887C (en) Modified atmosphere package
NL1012346C2 (nl) Gedifferentieerde atmosferische verpakking.
JPH03187821A (ja) 食品の包装方法
JPH05500348A (ja) 改良された梱包

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 BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19900611

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19911018

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 84757

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19930215

Kind code of ref document: T

ET Fr: translation filed
REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68904526

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19930304

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: MODIANO & ASSOCIATI S.R.L.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2037371

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: FG4A

Free format text: 3007200

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

EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
26N No opposition filed
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 89120103.0

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

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 19951001

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: GR

Payment date: 19951002

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 19951010

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 19951018

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 19951023

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 19951024

Year of fee payment: 7

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

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 19961030

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19961030

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

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19961031

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19961031

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19961031

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19961031

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: VALLE SPLUGA S.P.A.

Effective date: 19961031

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

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 19970430

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: MM2A

Free format text: 3007200

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 89120103.0

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20010919

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20011022

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20011228

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20021022

Year of fee payment: 14

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20021031

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20021031

Year of fee payment: 14

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: 20030501

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: 20030630

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: GB

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

Effective date: 20031030

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20031112

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

Ref country code: NL

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

Effective date: 20040501

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

Effective date: 20031030

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20040501

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20080819

Year of fee payment: 20