EP0375369A2 - Laminating belts or blankets - Google Patents

Laminating belts or blankets Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0375369A2
EP0375369A2 EP89313298A EP89313298A EP0375369A2 EP 0375369 A2 EP0375369 A2 EP 0375369A2 EP 89313298 A EP89313298 A EP 89313298A EP 89313298 A EP89313298 A EP 89313298A EP 0375369 A2 EP0375369 A2 EP 0375369A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blanket
coating
woven
silicone rubber
laminating
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
EP89313298A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0375369A3 (en
EP0375369B1 (en
Inventor
Frank Brookfield
Allan Geoffrey Ashworth
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.)
Scapa Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Scapa Group Ltd
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 Scapa Group Ltd filed Critical Scapa Group Ltd
Publication of EP0375369A2 publication Critical patent/EP0375369A2/en
Publication of EP0375369A3 publication Critical patent/EP0375369A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0375369B1 publication Critical patent/EP0375369B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06NWALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06N3/00Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
    • D06N3/0002Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof characterised by the substrate
    • D06N3/0015Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof characterised by the substrate using fibres of specified chemical or physical nature, e.g. natural silk
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D03WEAVING
    • D03DWOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS
    • D03D15/00Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used
    • D03D15/50Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads
    • D03D15/513Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads heat-resistant or fireproof
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06NWALL, FLOOR, OR LIKE COVERING MATERIALS, e.g. LINOLEUM, OILCLOTH, ARTIFICIAL LEATHER, ROOFING FELT, CONSISTING OF A FIBROUS WEB COATED WITH A LAYER OF MACROMOLECULAR MATERIAL; FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06N3/00Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof
    • D06N3/12Artificial leather, oilcloth or other material obtained by covering fibrous webs with macromolecular material, e.g. resins, rubber or derivatives thereof with macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. gelatine proteins

Definitions

  • the invention concerns improvements in or relating to laminating or like belts or blankets.
  • a flat woven base cloth is brought into endless form, a batt of Nomex fibres is needled to the base cloth and a heat resistant coating is applied to the free surface of the batt.
  • a batt of Nomex fibres is needled to the base cloth and a heat resistant coating is applied to the free surface of the batt.
  • the very thickness of the batt does itself give rise to a spongy blanket, and this has an adverse effect on blanket performance.
  • a further disadvantage of this construction is that the blanket is endless, and its application to the laminating machine is thereby inconvenient.
  • the blanket comprises a combination of Kevlar and glass yarns, the yarns usually being coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the blanket being woven either flat or endless.
  • PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene
  • the nature of the Kevlar and glass yarns is such that fabric stability requires the use of a PTFE coating material.
  • the ends are joined, as by sewing, and the blankets embodying the same exhibit a tendency towards joint mark-off on the laminated product.
  • the effectively non-elastic character of the Kevlar yarn gives rise to tension problems in the running direction of the blanket, any imperfection introduced in joining manifesting itself in the laminated product made using the blanket.
  • endless-woven blankets whilst these avoid the "mark off” and tension problems of flat-woven blankets, loom considerations preclude the manufacture of endless-woven blankets of a circumference in excess of, say 6-7 metres, on a truly circular loom.
  • Flat circular fabrics can be woven to greater dimensions, but tension irregularities arise in such fabrics as a result of pirn changes in the manufacturing process, and other inherent problems exist.
  • a laminating or like blanket comprising high-temperature resistant polyaryletherketone monofilament yarns.
  • a monofilament yarn particularly suitable for use in the context of the invention is one comprising polyether-ether-ketone.
  • polyether-ether-ketone for example as sold by ICI plc under the trade mark ZYEX.
  • the blanket further includes a silicone rubber coating at the support surface at least of the blanket.
  • the blanket is woven flat, and the respective fabric ends are joined.
  • the said fabric ends are provided with respective sets of side-by-side loops, the loops at the said respective ends being interdigitatable to receive a pintle wire into the tunnel thus formed.
  • a laminating blanket is produced by providing a flat-woven structure of duplex form and comprising Zyex monofilament yarns in both warp and weft directions, heat setting such fabric, and applying a silicone rubber coating to the intended support surface thereof.
  • the fabric may be made endless as by splicing, or the respective opposite ends thereof may include respective sets of side-by-side loops for interdigitation and receipt of a pintle wire.
  • continuity of the support surface along the line of the join is effected by introducing a strip of silicone rubber into the gap between the opposing ends of the coating layer.
  • the coating can be provided as a continuous layer extending across the line of the intended seam and cut transversely of the fabric and normal to the plane thereof at a position spaced from said line, the coating further being separated from the fabric between the cut and the line of intended seam to provide access thereto.
  • the monofilament base fabric may be metallised and the coating layer may include, for example, carbon black and metal powders such as aluminium and metal oxides to improve the conductivity of the blanket, the carbon black serving also to impart an anti-static characteristic.
  • a thick belt including high heat capacity materials is required, and such capacity can be provided by inclusion of appropriate additives in the coating layer.
  • the film release characteristics of the belt can be enhanced by inclusion of, for example, micro-fine beads at the surface of the coating.
  • Such single layer fabric may be made endless as by splicing, and may contain high temperature filler yarns, such as Kevlar, to facilitate the obtaining of an even coating layer thereon. Furthermore, it may be found desirable in some instances to provide a needled batt of fibres at the surface of the woven structure, whether of duplex form or otherwise, and to apply the silcone coating to that needled batt.
  • a calendering belt consists of a flat woven structure, of Zyex monofilament yarns, made endless by means of a seam including spirals of like monofilament, such belt being devoid of a silicone rubber coating. It has been found that non-woven products calendered and thermally bonded using the belt exhibit a silky feel not apparent in such products as produced by means of conventional belts having a continuous coating layer thereto.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Treatments For Attaching Organic Compounds To Fibrous Goods (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

A laminating blanket comprising a structure woven from polyether-ether-ketone monofilament yarns and having a silicone rubber coating at the support surface thereof. The woven structure being heat set prior to application of the coating and the coating embodying additives to provide enhanced thermal transmission, heat capacity, anti-static or other requisite characteristics. A needled batt may be provided between the coating layer and woven structure.

Description

  • The invention concerns improvements in or relating to laminating or like belts or blankets.
  • Various forms of laminating belts or blankets (hereinafter called 'blankets') are known, but, whilst such blankets are satisfactory in operation, the materials used and the method of manufacture impose limitations on the dimensions of the available end product.
  • In a typical structure, a flat woven base cloth is brought into endless form, a batt of Nomex fibres is needled to the base cloth and a heat resistant coating is applied to the free surface of the batt. In order to avoid sleaziness in the end product, it is necessary to utilise a thick batt, but the very thickness of the batt does itself give rise to a spongy blanket, and this has an adverse effect on blanket performance. A further disadvantage of this construction is that the blanket is endless, and its application to the laminating machine is thereby inconvenient.
  • In another known arrangement, the blanket comprises a combination of Kevlar and glass yarns, the yarns usually being coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the blanket being woven either flat or endless. The nature of the Kevlar and glass yarns is such that fabric stability requires the use of a PTFE coating material. In the case of a flat-woven fabric the ends are joined, as by sewing, and the blankets embodying the same exhibit a tendency towards joint mark-off on the laminated product. Furthermore the effectively non-elastic character of the Kevlar yarn gives rise to tension problems in the running direction of the blanket, any imperfection introduced in joining manifesting itself in the laminated product made using the blanket. As regards endless-woven blankets, whilst these avoid the "mark off" and tension problems of flat-woven blankets, loom considerations preclude the manufacture of endless-woven blankets of a circumference in excess of, say 6-7 metres, on a truly circular loom. Flat circular fabrics can be woven to greater dimensions, but tension irregularities arise in such fabrics as a result of pirn changes in the manufacturing process, and other inherent problems exist.
  • It is an object of the present invention to provide a blanket capable of use in laminating, fusing, calendering or transfer printing, which avoids some, at least, of the problems inherent in known structures.
  • According to the present invention there is proposed a laminating or like blanket comprising high-temperature resistant polyaryletherketone monofilament yarns.
  • A monofilament yarn particularly suitable for use in the context of the invention is one comprising polyether-ether-ketone. For example as sold by ICI plc under the trade mark ZYEX.
  • According to a preferred feature, the blanket further includes a silicone rubber coating at the support surface at least of the blanket.
  • According to a preferred feature, the blanket is woven flat, and the respective fabric ends are joined.
  • According to a still further preferred feature, the said fabric ends are provided with respective sets of side-by-side loops, the loops at the said respective ends being interdigitatable to receive a pintle wire into the tunnel thus formed.
  • In a typical arrangement, a laminating blanket is produced by providing a flat-woven structure of duplex form and comprising Zyex monofilament yarns in both warp and weft directions, heat setting such fabric, and applying a silicone rubber coating to the intended support surface thereof.
  • The fabric may be made endless as by splicing, or the respective opposite ends thereof may include respective sets of side-by-side loops for interdigitation and receipt of a pintle wire.
  • In the case of a 'seamed' structure, continuity of the support surface along the line of the join is effected by introducing a strip of silicone rubber into the gap between the opposing ends of the coating layer. Alternatively, the coating can be provided as a continuous layer extending across the line of the intended seam and cut transversely of the fabric and normal to the plane thereof at a position spaced from said line, the coating further being separated from the fabric between the cut and the line of intended seam to provide access thereto.
  • The inherent textile stability of the woven Zyex structure after heat setting makes possible the use of a silicone rubber coating material, in contradistinction to the prior art structures incorporating Kevlar/glass yarns wherein PTFE is required to impart a requisite degree of stability, whilst the inherent capability of the Zyex yarns to accommodate temperatures of up to, say, 250°C fits fabrics embodying such yarns for use in the context of laminating, fusing, calendering and transfer printing.
  • The use of silicone rubbers as a coating material provides the opportunity to include additives of a kind appropriate to the characteristics required of the blanket. Thus, for a high thermal transmission belt, the monofilament base fabric may be metallised and the coating layer may include, for example, carbon black and metal powders such as aluminium and metal oxides to improve the conductivity of the blanket, the carbon black serving also to impart an anti-static characteristic.
  • In the case of a pre-heated blanket, as is used in some instances, a thick belt including high heat capacity materials is required, and such capacity can be provided by inclusion of appropriate additives in the coating layer.
  • The film release characteristics of the belt can be enhanced by inclusion of, for example, micro-fine beads at the surface of the coating.
  • Although the invention is described in the context of duplex fabrics, it is to be understood that such invention is also of application to the context of single layer fabrics. Such single layer fabric may be made endless as by splicing, and may contain high temperature filler yarns, such as Kevlar, to facilitate the obtaining of an even coating layer thereon. Furthermore, it may be found desirable in some instances to provide a needled batt of fibres at the surface of the woven structure, whether of duplex form or otherwise, and to apply the silcone coating to that needled batt.
  • In another embodiment of the invention, a calendering belt consists of a flat woven structure, of Zyex monofilament yarns, made endless by means of a seam including spirals of like monofilament, such belt being devoid of a silicone rubber coating. It has been found that non-woven products calendered and thermally bonded using the belt exhibit a silky feel not apparent in such products as produced by means of conventional belts having a continuous coating layer thereto.

Claims (9)

1. A laminating or like blanket comprising a structure woven from high-temperature resistant polyaryletherketone monofilament yarns.
2. A blanket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyaryletherketone is a polyether-ether-ketone.
3. A blanket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the blanket is of flat-woven construction and the respective ends thereof are joined.
4. A blanket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fabric ends are provided with respective sets of side-by-side loops, the loops at the respective ends being interdigitatable to receive a pintle wire into the tunnel thus formed.
5. A blanket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including a silicone rubber coating at the intended support surface thereof, the woven structure having been heat set prior to application of the coating.
6. A blanket as claimed in claim 5 when dependant upon claim 3 or 4, wherein the silicone rubber coating extends across the line of seam and is slitted to provide access to the seam.
7. A blanket as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the coating includes additives to impart requisite characteristics thereto.
8. A blanket as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the coating includes microfine beads at the free surface thereof, thereby to enhance the film release characteristic of the blanket.
9. A blanket as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, further including a needled batt intermediate the woven structure and the silicone rubber coating.
EP89313298A 1988-12-20 1989-12-19 Laminating belts or blankets Expired - Lifetime EP0375369B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8829677 1988-12-20
GB888829677A GB8829677D0 (en) 1988-12-20 1988-12-20 Improvements in or relating to laminating or like belts or blankets

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0375369A2 true EP0375369A2 (en) 1990-06-27
EP0375369A3 EP0375369A3 (en) 1991-08-21
EP0375369B1 EP0375369B1 (en) 1995-12-27

Family

ID=10648795

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89313298A Expired - Lifetime EP0375369B1 (en) 1988-12-20 1989-12-19 Laminating belts or blankets

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0375369B1 (en)
DE (1) DE68925273T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2081856T3 (en)
GB (2) GB8829677D0 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0836930A1 (en) * 1996-10-16 1998-04-22 INDUSTRIE TESSILI BRESCIANE S.p.A. A transport and support means for heavy, high temperature articles and its manufacturing process
WO1999004656A1 (en) * 1997-07-26 1999-02-04 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Tobacco rod suction conveyor for cigarette rod making machine
EP1033631A2 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Image forming apparatus, and fixing device for use with the same
FR2919630A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-02-06 Pennel Et Flipo COATED TEXTILE SUPPORT AND USES
CN112593414A (en) * 2020-12-31 2021-04-02 浙江双箭橡胶股份有限公司 Blending canvas core conveyer belt

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2825114A1 (en) * 1977-07-14 1979-01-25 Rationalisierung Konfekt Veb Endless conveyor for bonding presses - has belt of temp. resistant elastic polyester distensible in three dimensions and coated with silicone rubber
EP0077901A2 (en) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-04 Albany International Corp. Hydrolysis resistant fabric for paper making and like uses
US4820571A (en) * 1983-07-12 1989-04-11 Asten Group, Inc. High temperature industrial fabrics

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE795256A (en) * 1972-02-28 1973-08-09 Champion Paper Co Ltd NON-ADHESIVE SYSTEM
CA1248799A (en) * 1984-02-23 1989-01-17 Asten, Inc. Abrasion and hydrolysis resistant joining wire and coil material for fabric seams

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2825114A1 (en) * 1977-07-14 1979-01-25 Rationalisierung Konfekt Veb Endless conveyor for bonding presses - has belt of temp. resistant elastic polyester distensible in three dimensions and coated with silicone rubber
EP0077901A2 (en) * 1981-10-28 1983-05-04 Albany International Corp. Hydrolysis resistant fabric for paper making and like uses
US4820571A (en) * 1983-07-12 1989-04-11 Asten Group, Inc. High temperature industrial fabrics

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0836930A1 (en) * 1996-10-16 1998-04-22 INDUSTRIE TESSILI BRESCIANE S.p.A. A transport and support means for heavy, high temperature articles and its manufacturing process
US5840635A (en) * 1996-10-16 1998-11-24 Industrie Tessili Bresciane S.P.A. Transport and support means for heavy, high temperature articles and its manufacturing process
WO1999004656A1 (en) * 1997-07-26 1999-02-04 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Tobacco rod suction conveyor for cigarette rod making machine
EP1033631A2 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-09-06 Seiko Epson Corporation Image forming apparatus, and fixing device for use with the same
EP1033631A3 (en) * 1999-03-03 2000-10-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Image forming apparatus, and fixing device for use with the same
US6505028B1 (en) 1999-03-03 2003-01-07 Seiko Epson Corporation Image forming apparatus and fixing device for use with the same
US6574449B2 (en) 1999-03-03 2003-06-03 Seiko Epson Corporation Image forming apparatus, and fixing device for use with the same
FR2919630A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-02-06 Pennel Et Flipo COATED TEXTILE SUPPORT AND USES
WO2009034269A1 (en) * 2007-07-30 2009-03-19 Pennel & Flipo Sprl Textile substrate coated with a silicone elastomer and use thereof
CN112593414A (en) * 2020-12-31 2021-04-02 浙江双箭橡胶股份有限公司 Blending canvas core conveyer belt

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8928594D0 (en) 1990-02-21
DE68925273T2 (en) 1996-09-05
ES2081856T3 (en) 1996-03-16
GB8829677D0 (en) 1989-02-15
EP0375369A3 (en) 1991-08-21
DE68925273D1 (en) 1996-02-08
GB2226340A (en) 1990-06-27
GB2226340B (en) 1992-09-16
EP0375369B1 (en) 1995-12-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4731283A (en) Waterproof cloth and process for production thereof
EP0837014B1 (en) Conveying belt and method of forming the belt
JP2690798B2 (en) Open-ended press fabric
KR840007388A (en) Heat recoverable member and sealing method
JPH04212841A (en) Flexible graphite laminate and its manufacture
EP0758765B1 (en) A cleaning sheet, a cleaning member and a cleaning apparatus for a fuser roll
US6385956B1 (en) Packing yarn made of graphite foil and metal foil and method of manufacturing a packing yarn
EP0305888A3 (en) Coated sheet material and process for producing same
CA1044088A (en) Nonwoven electrical base insulating fabrics
GB2041784A (en) Waterproof weldable fabric
EP0375369B1 (en) Laminating belts or blankets
EP0171891B1 (en) Laminated soft faced-spiral woven papermakers fabric
US2620851A (en) Inorganic sheet material
US4678703A (en) Nonwoven sheet having smooth filmy surface layer
ES2032729T1 (en) PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A SEALED COMPLEX SHEET IN ANY FORM, INCLUDING AN INTERNAL ARMOR, AND A SHEET SO OBTAINED.
US4741924A (en) Method of making a polymeric coated fabric layer
EP0367614A2 (en) Jointing of fabric ends
US5941172A (en) Transfer printing and laminating blanket
JPS58179640A (en) Air-permeable sheet
JPH08294982A (en) Primary web and high function web obtained by burning the same
JPH06209824A (en) Conductive fiber product and its production
JPS622063B2 (en)
JPS6226902B2 (en)
TW408008B (en) Belt constructions
GB2071722A (en) Bonding yarn for veneers

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 ES FR GB IT NL

RTI1 Title (correction)
PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): DE ES FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920109

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE ES FR IT NL

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19931208

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR IT NL

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 68925273

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19960208

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2081856

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19970701

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

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19970829

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

Effective date: 19970701

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

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19970902

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: ES

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

Effective date: 19971220

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 19980113

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

Effective date: 20051219