EP0868350B1 - An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine - Google Patents

An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0868350B1
EP0868350B1 EP96941021A EP96941021A EP0868350B1 EP 0868350 B1 EP0868350 B1 EP 0868350B1 EP 96941021 A EP96941021 A EP 96941021A EP 96941021 A EP96941021 A EP 96941021A EP 0868350 B1 EP0868350 B1 EP 0868350B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bag
receiver
members
flange
conveyor
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
EP96941021A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0868350A1 (en
Inventor
Nicola Augello
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.)
Picsou Sah
Original Assignee
Picsou Sah
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 ITTO951011 external-priority patent/IT1281076B1/it
Priority claimed from IT96TO000839 external-priority patent/IT1288754B1/it
Application filed by Picsou Sah filed Critical Picsou Sah
Publication of EP0868350A1 publication Critical patent/EP0868350A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0868350B1 publication Critical patent/EP0868350B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
    • B65B43/262—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks opening of valve bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to plants and machines adapted for filling bags or sacks with flowable materials, particularly powder materials. More precisely the invention relates to an apparatus for delivering or supplying single valve bags to a bags filling machine or sacker.
  • valve bags or sacks i.e. bags provided with a pair of flanges folded on two edges, one of the flanges being provided with an opening or valve for introducing the material into the bag.
  • the flange equipped with the valve is sometime called “valve” and both flanges are pivotable with respect to the bag body.
  • a bag to be filled is carried to a material dispensing nozzle with the valve (flange) horizontally arranged and the bag body vertically suspended from such flange.
  • the filling operation is very quick, so that it is highly desirable a delivery apparatus capable of matching the filling rate of the bag filling machine.
  • US-A-4 128 116 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based discloses an apparatus for automatically transferring valved bags to a machine for filling the bags with a flowable material.
  • Such apparatus comprises a timed belt conveyor for intemittentely advancing a bag while several pivoting means starts to rotate the bag top, and a second conveyor along the advancing direction of the bags, that allows the bag to assume a vertical position, and a reciprocating unit comprising claws used to bring the opened bag to a filling spigot.
  • a third conveyor, perpendicular to the first conveyor supplies single bags from a reel.
  • GB-A-2 265 596 discloses an apparatus for removing bags from a stack and preparing the bags for filling.
  • the means for picking a bag from a stack comprises a suction strip that is moved exclusively in vertical direction to a clamps and piston arrangement that positions and opens the bag.
  • US-A-3 989 073 discloses means for removing the topmost bag of a stack of bags with lever-actuated clamps that hold the bag while it is mounted on the filling machine.
  • an apparatus allowing a quick and continuous transferring of the bags, practically without any dead time.
  • the invention consists in an apparatus for automatically transferring valved bags as claimed in claim 1.
  • a bag picking device using suction cups In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bag picking device using suction cups.
  • reference 1 indicates a stack of piled valve bags that are to be individually presented to the nozzle of a filling machine (not shown).
  • Each bag or sack 2 has two flanges or end portions 2a and 2b formed as bellows, and one of the flanges, e.g. flange 2a, is formed with an opening or "valve" for filling the bag.
  • the apparatus for supplying the bags to a filling machine substantially comprises: a member 3, hereinbelow called “selector”, for picking up the individual bags from the stack 1; a continuous bag conveyor 4 provided with a plurality of elements 5, hereinbelow called “receivers”, each being adapted to receive and retain a bag at a first position along the conveyor path of travel and to carry it to a second position from where it will be transferred to the filling machine; a first transfer device 6 for moving the bags from the selector 3 to the conveyor 4, and a second transfer device 7 for moving the bags from the conveyor 4 to the filling machine.
  • a pressing member such as a preloaded roll or wheel 8, that engages the stack at the flanges 2b that are farther from the first transfer device 6 to prevent the simultaneous pickup of two or more bags.
  • the conveyor 4 comprises a belt 4 ⁇ made up by a plurality of plates or the like pivotally connected to each other and movable around two pulleys 41, 42.
  • the receivers 5 formed as elongated box-like members having a C-shaped cross section and opened at their ends.
  • a longitudinal slot 51 imparts the C shape to the receiver.
  • One of the pulleys, e.g. pulley 42, is positioned in such a manner that when a receiver 5 moving around it assumes a vertical configuration, the end opening of such receiver 5 is facing the first transfer device 6.
  • the location in the conveyor path of travel at which the receiver assumes a vertical configuration corresponds to the above mentioned first position.
  • the second position is located in the lower horizontally extending path of the conveyor.
  • the second position is selected before the middle point of such horizontal path.
  • the spacing between the longitudinal axes of two subsequent receivers 5 depends on one transversal dimension (the shorther one) usually selected for the valve (flange) in the bags designed for a given material, and preferably corresponds to the maximum allowable size. By means of a proper choice of the cross section shape of the receivers, these latter will be capable of accepting valve bags of any transversal size.
  • the selector 3 comprises an arm 9 formed as a metal sheet substantially folded at 9 ⁇ ° and located for example near the flanges 2a, the width of the arm being sligthly smaller than that of the bags.
  • the arm 9 comprises a horizontal part 9a and a vertical part 9b, this latter being secured to a support member 1 ⁇ connected to means (not shown) imparting to the arm 9 a reciprocating (rectilinear) longitudinal movement that is parallel to the surface of the stack 1, along a direction orthogonal to the flanges 2a and 2b.
  • the first transfer device 6 comprises a pair of rolls or wheels 11, 12 rotatable about vertical axes, one of the rolls being driven by a motor while the other is an idle roll.
  • the rolls 11, 12 are located near the end of the run of the selector 3, so that the flange 2a, in the course of the rotation, can be inserted into the nip between the pair of rolls 11, 12.
  • One of the two rolls (roll 11 in the drawings) can be horizontally displaced and pressed against the other roll for clamping the bag flange between them.
  • the surfaces of both rolls 11, 12 are machined for a strong friction engagement with the flange (for example they are knurled), so that the bag can be moved along the direction of the peripheral speed of roll 11, and thrown into the vertically positioned receiver 5.
  • a side stop wall 13 ( Figure 2) is provided on the side opposite to that of the bag's introduction, for preventing the outcoming of the bag from the receiver.
  • the second transfer device 7 is located on one side of the lower path of the conveyor 4 and consists of a member 15 rotatable about a horizontal axis and adapted to engage the flange 2a of a bag carried by a receiver 5, in a similar manner to that of the first transfer device.
  • the member 15 comprises a roll equipped with peripheral flanges of larger diameter, or a pair of small wheels supported on a common shaft.
  • the member 15 is carried at the lower end of a rod of a piston 16 mounted to a support 17 postioned below the upper horizontal path of the conveyor 4. In the extended position, the rod of piston 16 presses the rotating roll 15 against the upper face of the flange 2a of a bag which is thus ejected from the receiver 5 due to the friction engagement with the rotating roll 15.
  • the wall 5 ⁇ of the receiver 5 provided with the receiving slot 51 is longer than the opposite continuous wall 52, thus defining a pair of projections 53 against which the member 15 presses the flange 2a of the bag.
  • idle rolls or wheels 18 can be located in such projections to contrast the force applied by the member 15.
  • the stack 1 of bags is carried to a position adapted to their transfer onto the conveyor 4.
  • the selector 3 previously brought near the flanges 2b of the stack, is moved towards the flanges 2a so that the part 9a is inserted under the flange 2a of the bag laying at the top of the stack, and such bag is removed from under the roll 8.
  • the flange 2a is rotated by the selector 3 with respect of the bag body and is inserted in the space between the two rolls 11, 12 of the device 6.
  • the roll 11 is pressed against roll 12 for grasping the bag and throw it toward the facing receiver 5 which is in a vertical position at this time.
  • the bag flange enters the receiver passing through the end opening and the slot 51.
  • the conveyor 4 is advanced to bring another receiver 5 into the vertical position, and then the above illustrated operations for picking up a bag 2 are repeated.
  • the conveyor belt advances, the bag 2 is suspended through the slot 51 in the receiver, retained by the flange 2a resting on the walls 5 ⁇ on the sides of slot 51.
  • the rod of piston 16 is lowered to push the member 15 against the upper part of the flange 2a and the bag, (now at the right position for being filled) can be extracted from receiver 5 and transferred to the filling machine.
  • the transfer is accomplished through the rotating movement of the member 15 engaging the flange 2a by friction.
  • the flange engaged by the selector can be the one opposed to that carrying the valve, i.e. flange 2b;
  • the first transfer device could comprise two or more pairs of rolls, with a roll of the pair driven so as to be translated and the other roll of the pair being driven to rotate;
  • the second transfer device could comprise more than one member 15 (and more than one pair of rolls 18);
  • the selector 3 could be be operated through a rotating movement, and so on.
  • Fig.s 9 and 1 ⁇ illustrate an alternate embodiment of the device for picking up one bag at a time from the stack 1.
  • This picking device is generally indicated by reference 6 ⁇ and comprises a frame 61 in which there are mounted a group of suction cup members 62 for picking up the bags, these cups being vertically movable from a lower position in which they engage a bag, to an upper position in which the bag can be released, and then again to the lower position.
  • each suction cup 62 cooperates with a drilled plate 63 located under the cups for causing the detachment of the bag from the cups 62 during the lifting of the cups, the number of which is such as to maintain the flange 2a substantially horizontal during the lifting.
  • the picking device 6 ⁇ further comprises endless belt means 64 movable at high speed around pulleys 81, 82 (at least one of them being a driven pulley) for engaging a bag released by the suction cups and transfer it to the conveyor 4 (not shown in Fig.s 9 and 1 ⁇ ).
  • belt means preferably comprises two spaced apart rubber belts 64a and 64b running side by side.
  • Each belt 64a, 64b is adapted to engage the upper face of the flange 2a of a bag 2 and to this aim the lower face of each belt is substantially flush with the drilled plate 63.
  • the picking device 6 ⁇ further comprises a linkage assembly, hereinbelow also called “lever assembly” that comprises arms for supporting the bags collected by the belt means 64. More particularly the lever assembly comprises two linkages 65a and 65ba and since their construction is identical, only one of them will be illustrated in detail, with the refences of the other being within brackets.
  • the linkage 65a comprises a shaft 71a (71b) supported by a bearing 72a (72b) in turn carried by a support 73a (73b) fixed to the frame 61 and connected by a traverse 74a (74b) to a bar or tube 75 (see Fig. 1) housing an arm 76a (76b).
  • Each arm carries at the end an idle roll 77a (77b) provided with a support shaped so as to be inserted, when picking up a bag, between the valve (flange) and the body of the bag, and to push the bag body downwards for making easier its rotation with respect to the valve flange 2a.
  • the two linkages 65a, 65b are connected to a support frame 67 vertically movable through a pneumatic cylinder 68 or other rectilinear actuator for raising and lowering the suction cups. More particularly the support frame 67 is guided by of rods 69 fastened thereto and slidable within sleeves 7 ⁇ . The movement of the cylinder 68 is controlled in the two directions by means of an electrovalve (not shown)
  • each linkage 65a, 65b is movable from a raised and inoperative position (shown for the right linkage 65b in Fig. 1 ⁇ ) to an operative position (shown to the left in Fig. 1 ⁇ for link 65a) in which the rolls carried by the arms engage the lower face of the flange 2a carrying the valve.
  • This rotation is caused by the shift movement of the above mentioned support frame 67 to which a pair of rods 79a, 79b are secured, that in turn are pivotally connected with a short lever arm 8 ⁇ a, 8 ⁇ b rotatably secured to the shaft 71a, 71b.
  • the suction cups 62 communicate with a duct 66 wherein a permanent vacuum is generated through suitable means, such as a Venturi tube.
  • suitable means such as a Venturi tube.
  • the duct 66 is fastened to the support frame 67.
  • the working of the disclosed picking device is as follows. After the bags (for example arranged in a stack 1) have been carried to a position in which their flanges 2a carrying the valve are located under the suction cups 62, cylinder 68 is activated for lowering the support 67. After the suction cups have come into contact with the valve flange of the first bag, this latter is sucked and made to adhere to the suction cups by the permanent vacuum created in duct 66. Moreover the lowering of the structure 67 causes the spreading of the linkages 65a, 65b, and their arms 76a, 76b are consequentely displaced away from the belts 64a, 64b and from the bag 2.
  • the invention is applicable in the field of filling valve bags with flowable materials.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Package Closures (AREA)
EP96941021A 1995-12-15 1996-11-21 An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine Expired - Lifetime EP0868350B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO951011 1995-12-15
ITTO951011 IT1281076B1 (it) 1995-12-15 1995-12-15 Caricatore per sacchi a valvola.
IT96TO000839 IT1288754B1 (it) 1996-10-14 1996-10-14 Dispositivo di prelievo e trasferimento di sacchi a valvola.
ITTO960839 1996-10-14
PCT/EP1996/005201 WO1997022522A1 (en) 1995-12-15 1996-11-21 An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0868350A1 EP0868350A1 (en) 1998-10-07
EP0868350B1 true EP0868350B1 (en) 1999-09-01

Family

ID=26332306

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96941021A Expired - Lifetime EP0868350B1 (en) 1995-12-15 1996-11-21 An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine

Country Status (14)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0868350B1 (ko)
KR (1) KR20000064417A (ko)
AT (1) ATE183976T1 (ko)
BR (1) BR9612129A (ko)
CZ (1) CZ186398A3 (ko)
DE (1) DE69604086D1 (ko)
EA (1) EA199800447A1 (ko)
HR (1) HRP960586A2 (ko)
HU (1) HUP0000195A2 (ko)
IL (1) IL124892A0 (ko)
PL (1) PL327448A1 (ko)
SK (1) SK77698A3 (ko)
TR (1) TR199801092T2 (ko)
WO (1) WO1997022522A1 (ko)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008049255A1 (de) * 2008-09-26 2010-04-01 Haver & Boecker Ohg Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE20318956U1 (de) * 2003-12-06 2004-02-19 Haver & Boecker Vorrichtung zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken auf die Füllrohre einer Füllmaschine
DE102007046776A1 (de) * 2007-09-29 2009-04-02 Haver & Boecker Ohg Vorrichtung zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken
RU2440392C2 (ru) 2010-03-24 2012-01-20 Закрытое акционерное общество "Институт прикладной нанотехнологии" Способ модификации полимерных материалов и способ получения ингибитора деструкции полимерных материалов
JP6286633B2 (ja) * 2013-05-10 2018-03-07 ゼネラルパッカー株式会社 包装機における包装袋供給装置
ES2690746T3 (es) * 2014-09-01 2018-11-22 Fillshape S.R.L. Dispositivo y procedimiento para suministrar bolsitas a un carrusel
DE102015005664A1 (de) 2015-04-27 2016-10-27 Beumer Gmbh & Co. Kg Vorrichtung zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken
DE102015113650B4 (de) 2015-08-18 2017-07-06 Haver & Boecker Ohg Vorrichtung zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken und Verfahren zum Betreiben

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK124248B (da) * 1967-09-06 1972-10-02 Haver & Boecker Sækketilføringsapparat til en pakkemaskine.
GB1418131A (en) * 1972-02-19 1975-12-17 Nakashima S Automatic package bag feeding device for use with an automatic charging device
DE2507214A1 (de) * 1975-02-20 1976-09-09 Beumer Maschf Bernhard Vorrichtung zum aufstecken von ventilsaecken auf fuellstutzen einer fuellmaschine
DE2549264C3 (de) * 1975-11-04 1980-01-17 Greif-Werk Ernst Mahlkuch Gmbh & Co, 2400 Luebeck Vorrichtung zum Vereinzeln von gestapelten Ventilsäcken
US4128116A (en) * 1976-08-26 1978-12-05 Haver & Boecker Drahtweberei Und Maschinenfabrik Method and apparatus for opening and stacking bags
DK145177C (da) * 1978-12-05 1983-02-21 O A Larsen Fremgangsmaade ved transport af ventilsaekke mellem en saekke-forraadsstabel og en paafyldningstud paa en godspaafyldningsmaskinesamt anlaeg til udoevelse af denne fremgangsmaade
US4577454A (en) * 1984-05-31 1986-03-25 Douglas & Lomason Company Valve bag placing machine and method
DE4211089C2 (de) * 1992-04-03 1997-08-07 Haver & Boecker Vorrichtung zur Vereinzelung von gestapelten Ventilsäcken und zum Aufstecken der Ventilsäcke auf den oder die Füllstutzen einer Ventilsackfüllmaschine
IT1269899B (it) * 1994-03-22 1997-04-16 Ronchi Mario Srl Officine Mecc Macchina automatica a dischi coassiali per il confezionamento di contenitori flessibili trasportati con moto continuo

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102008049255A1 (de) * 2008-09-26 2010-04-01 Haver & Boecker Ohg Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Aufstecken von Ventilsäcken

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1997022522A1 (en) 1997-06-26
TR199801092T2 (xx) 1998-08-21
HUP0000195A2 (hu) 2000-06-28
ATE183976T1 (de) 1999-09-15
KR20000064417A (ko) 2000-11-06
SK77698A3 (en) 1998-12-02
PL327448A1 (en) 1998-12-07
BR9612129A (pt) 1999-12-28
HRP960586A2 (en) 1997-12-31
DE69604086D1 (de) 1999-10-07
EA199800447A1 (ru) 1998-12-24
CZ186398A3 (cs) 1999-02-17
IL124892A0 (en) 1999-01-26
EP0868350A1 (en) 1998-10-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4457124A (en) Bag-packaging machine for bread
CA2469927C (en) Pack opening apparatus and method
KR920703394A (ko) 포대를 자동으로 준비하는 방법과 포대 거는 장치
US4141392A (en) Apparatus for automatic insertion of valved bags on bag-filling machines
EP0397680B1 (en) Method and apparatus for debanding mail bundles
EP0868350B1 (en) An apparatus for transferring valved bags to a filling machine
EP1249400A2 (en) An empty bag supplying apparatus and a filled bag extraction apparatus in a continuous bag filling machine
US5738478A (en) Automatic wicketing apparatus
JPH10503456A (ja) シート状生産物のスタックの収集点からの移動装置
CA2069613C (en) Article stopping apparatus
EP1621321A2 (en) A machine and method for forming tubular lengths of packaging film
CN113879617B (zh) 软袋真空封口装置
CN106467182B (zh) 用于插放阀口袋的设备和操作方法
JP2610778B2 (ja) 帯封を持つブランクの堆積物を処理する装置
JPH07315559A (ja) 袋詰めし、詰めた袋を閉じる装置
US5013213A (en) Automatic denesting machine
US4457657A (en) Integral paper collection and transfer assembly
US5720156A (en) Case packing apparatus and method
US4548243A (en) Apparatus for automatically placing bags
JPH034461B2 (ko)
US5689931A (en) Case erector with A-B detection
US6318052B1 (en) Apparatus for removing and further conveying a bag from a stack of bags
EP0155956B1 (en) Method of and apparatus for separating and transporting fabric pieces
CN110002034B (zh) 手套横向夹取装置
US5704197A (en) Bag filling and closing machine

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19980602

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19981015

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

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 DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

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

Ref country code: SE

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

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;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: 19990901

Ref country code: GR

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

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: FI

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

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990901

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 183976

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19990915

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69604086

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19991007

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

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: 19991121

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

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19991201

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

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19991202

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19991202

EN Fr: translation not filed
NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20000531

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

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

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

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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: IE

Payment date: 20031013

Year of fee payment: 8

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

Ref country code: IE

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

Effective date: 20041122

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20051124

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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

Effective date: 20061121

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: 20061121