EP0970350B1 - Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection - Google Patents

Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0970350B1
EP0970350B1 EP98911836A EP98911836A EP0970350B1 EP 0970350 B1 EP0970350 B1 EP 0970350B1 EP 98911836 A EP98911836 A EP 98911836A EP 98911836 A EP98911836 A EP 98911836A EP 0970350 B1 EP0970350 B1 EP 0970350B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
fluid
compliant
valve
impulse
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
EP98911836A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0970350A1 (en
EP0970350A4 (en
Inventor
Ronald L. Green
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.)
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
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 Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Publication of EP0970350A1 publication Critical patent/EP0970350A1/en
Publication of EP0970350A4 publication Critical patent/EP0970350A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0970350B1 publication Critical patent/EP0970350B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
    • B41J2/17509—Whilst mounted in the printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/015—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process
    • B41J2/04—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
    • B41J2/045—Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand by pressure, e.g. electromechanical transducers
    • B41J2/055—Devices for absorbing or preventing back-pressure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/135—Nozzles
    • B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a drop-on-demand or impulse fluid jets which eject a droplet of fluid such as ink in response to the energization of a transducer, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • An impulse fluid jet apparatus of this type is known from US-A- 4 575 738. It shows a module including a print head. Ink entering the module flows through a check valve, which functions as a low frequency ink transient suppressor mechanism; thereafter through a compliant chamber, which functions as a high frequency ink transient suppressor mechanism; and then through a passageway to an ink jet chamber of the print head.
  • Said compliant chamber includes a filter and a diaphragm.
  • Impulse fluid or ink jets are designed and driven so as to eject a droplet of fluid such as ink on demand from a chamber through an orifice in the chamber.
  • impulse jets are utilized in many applications including industrial applications, it is important that the impulse ink jets operate reliably. Such reliability can be jeopardized where the impulse jets can be deprimed due to fluid disturbances in the supply of ink to and through the impulse jet. Such depriming can occur as a result of brief disturbances to the fluid supply as well large, longer disturbances caused by, for example, bumping the apparatus.
  • an apparatus for preventing depriming of an impulse jet.
  • an apparatus for preventing depriming of an impulse jet in response to small and/or brief disturbances in the ink or fluid supply line to the impulse ink jet or elsewhere.
  • an apparatus for preventing depriming of an impulse jet in response to large and/or longer disturbances in fluid supply line or elsewhere.
  • an impulse ink fluid apparatus comprises a transducer, and a fluid jet chamber coupled to the transducer, the chamber having an orifice through which droplets of fluid are ejected in response to the energization of the transducer.
  • a fluid supply is coupled to the fluid jet chamber through a compliant chamber which forms at least part of a low pass filter substantially attenuating fluid disturbances having a duration substantially less than time constant of the low pass filter formed by the compliant chamber.
  • the time constant represented by the product of the fluidic capacitance of the compliant chamber and at least a portion of the fluidic resistance of the fluid supply substantially attenuates pressure disturbances having a duration less than 0.01 the value of the time constant. In the preferred embodiment, disturbances of less than 0.01 and preferably less than 0.05 seconds will be attenuated.
  • the compliant chamber comprises a compliant member for absorbing pressure waves.
  • the compliant chamber comprises a flexible diaphragm which is nonplanar in the undisturbed state such that deformation is nonlinear with respect to changes in pressure.
  • pressure waves are absorbed without pressure increases in the compliant chamber.
  • the compliant chamber comprises an air passage allowing ambient air pressure to flow through and reach the compliant member.
  • the compliant chamber may also include a filter permitting the flow of ink through the filter from the ink supply to the fluid jet chamber.
  • the apparatus further comprises at least one check valve located between the fluid jet or a manifold serving a plurality of fluid jets and the compliant chamber for preventing the reverse flow of ink flow of ink from the ink jet chambers to the compliant chamber while permitting ink to flow from the compliant chamber to the ink jets.
  • Each check valve includes passageways permitting the passage of air through the check valves.
  • the check valve comprises a valve seat, a valve member, a valve support comprising at least one passage permitting fluid flow between the valve seat and the valve member and through the fluid passage toward the fluid chamber.
  • the check valve includes a valve body forming the valve seat and containing the valve member and the valve support such that the fluid passage in the valve support is located adjacent to the valve body.
  • the valve support comprises a plurality of passages located adjacent to the valve body.
  • an impulse fluid or ink jet print head 10 comprises a chamber plate 12 and an orifice plate 14 forming a plurality of ink jet chambers 16 coupled to a transducer 18 through a foot 20 and a diaphragm 22 shown in enlarged form in Fig. 5.
  • the transducer 18 is energized and de-energized by applying a voltage transverse to the longitudinal axis of the transducer 18 so as to operate the transducer in an expander mode, i.e., the transducer expands and contracts along the longitudinal axis parallel to arrows 19 to cause volumetric changes in the chamber 16 to jet droplets from orifices 15 in the plate 14.
  • fluid in the form of ink is supplied to each chamber 16 through restricted inlets 24 formed in a restrictor plate 26 between the chamber plate 12 and a spacer plate 27 which is sandwiched up against the diaphragm 22 best shown in Fig. 5.
  • restricted inlets 24 are shown in Fig. 6 which depicts the restrictor plate 26 having enlarged openings 28 as explained in co-pending application Serial No. 08/823,718, filed March 25, 1997 which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • the foregoing structure including the size of the chambers 16 in conjunction with the resonant frequency of the transducers 18 produce a high performance ink jet.
  • each of the restricted inlets 24 is supplied by a manifold 30 shown in Figs. 1 and 5 as well as Fig. 2.
  • the manifold 30 is supplied with fluid in the form of ink through two check valves 32 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.
  • the check valves 32 are designed in a manner so as to prevent the reverse flow of ink from the chamber 24 back through the fluid supply lines in the print head 10.
  • the check valves 32 comprise a diaphragm 34 which seats against a valve seat 36 in the print head 10 when the valve is closed as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.
  • the diaphragm 34 when open permits the flow of ink into the chamber 16 as shown in Fig.
  • FIG. 5 when seated against the end 38 of a check valve insert or support 40 as shown in full in Fig. 5.
  • Details of the support 40 can be best appreciated by reference to Fig. 7 wherein flow channels 42 leading away from the end 38 and toward the manifold 30 are provided and a flange 44 through which the channels 42 pass is also provided for engaging a seat 46 in the print head in the valve body for the diaphragm 34 as best shown in Fig. 5.
  • the check valves 32 are located in the print head at the end of supply channels 48.
  • the supply channels 48 are terminated in a compliant chamber 49 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and best shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
  • the compliant chamber is provided to attenuate brief disturbances which might otherwise deprime the print head.
  • the compliant chamber comprises a flexible membrane 50 which is capable of movement in the direction shown by the arrows 52 in an amount sufficient to absorb ink pressure disturbances in the supply line through the print head so as to prevent depriming of the head.
  • the membrane 50 is held in place between a stainless steel member 54 and a filter assembly 56.
  • the stainless steel member 54 is in turn held in place between the membrane 50 and another gasket 58.
  • a vent hole 60 is provided in the print head juxtaposed to the membrane 50 so as to allow air to escape which is displaced by the membrane 50.
  • the filter assembly 66 includes a filter 62. As will be appreciated with reference to Figs. 1-4, ink is free to flow into the compliant chamber 49 from an inlet 66 on the membrane side of the filter 62.
  • the membrane displacement be non-linear with respect to changes in pressure.
  • the membrane 50 is shown as concave with respect to the interior of the chamber 49 such that resistance to deformation increases concavity of the diaphragm. In other words, deformation of the diaphragm is non-linear with respect to changes in pressure within the compliant chamber.
  • the inlet 66 of the print head is supplied with ink through a flexible tube 70 leading to a reservoir 72.
  • the reservoir 72 as shown is including another filter 74 to assure that no agglomerations in the ink greater than the filler rating pass into the print head 10.
  • the level of ink 76 in the reservoir 72 is maintained below the height of the ink jet chamber 14 so as to assure that no ink pressure at the chamber 16 thus avoiding weeping of ink from the orifices 15 in the orifice plate 14.
  • Fig. 8 wherein an electrical circuit is shown which is equivalent to the fluidic circuit of the ink jet apparatus shown in Fig. 1.
  • the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is depicted in equivalent electrical circuit form using capacitance, resistance and inductance and a pressure disturbance equivalent to a voltage pulse being simulated by a pulse generator.
  • the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 1 comprises a capacitance 80 and a resistance 82 corresponding to the capacitance and resistance of the orifice 15 in the orifice plate 14 respectively.
  • a resistance 84 corresponds to the resistance of the restrictor 24.
  • a capacitance 86 and a resistance 88 correspond to the fluidic capacitance and resistance of the manifold 30 including the feed lines 46.
  • a capacitance 90 corresponds to the fluidic capacitance of the compliant chamber.
  • a resistance 92 and a resistance 94 correspond to the fluidic resistance of the feed line 72 while an inductance 96 and an inductance 98 correspond to the fluidic inductance of that feed line 72.
  • a capacitance 102 corresponds to the fluidic capacitance of the reservoir 72 and a voltage source 104 corresponds to the fluidic voltage or pressure generated by the reservoir 72. Any pressure disturbance in the feed line which is of a nature which could otherwise deprime the ink jet is depicted by a signal generator 106 located between the resistances 92 and 94 and the inductances 96 and 98 of the feed line.
  • a first low pass filter is provided by sub-circuit 108 comprising the fluidic capacitance 80 and the fluidic resistances 82 and 84.
  • a second sub-circuit 110 comprises fluidic capacitance 86 and fluidic resistance 88.
  • a third sub-circuit 112 comprises fluidic capacitance 90 of the compliant chamber and fluidic resistance 92 which is part of the feed line 70 resistance.
  • each of the sub-circuits 108, 110 and 112 effectively form a classic first order low pass filter where v i (t) is an input voltage corresponding to the disturbance in the feed line and the v o (t) is the output voltage.
  • the output voltage v o (t) corresponding to the output effect of the pressure disturbance represented by the v i (t) may be severely attenuated if the duration of the disturbance is less than the time constant T corresponding to the product RC.
  • disturbances which are sufficiently brief in time will be severely attenuated by the low pass filter represented by the sub-circuit 112 corresponding to the low pass filter represented by the RC combination of the compliant chamber capacitance 90 and the line resistance 92. More specifically, disturbances having a duration shorter than 10% of T equal to the product of RC will be sufficiently attenuated so as not to have any material affect on the operation of the print head: i . e ., will not deprime the print head or cause weeping through the orifices.
  • the flexible membrane is chosen so as to produce a time constant T of at least .1 second and preferably more than .5 seconds such that disturbances less than 1/10 or 10% of the time constant T will be substantially attenuated by the low pass filter formed by the compliant chamber in conjunction with the feed line resistance. More specifically, for a time constant of .1 seconds, the disturbance of less than .01 seconds or less than 1/10 or 10% of .1 seconds will have no effect on depriming or weeping. Similarly, for a time constant of at least .5 seconds, a disturbance of .05 seconds in duration will have little or no effect on depriming or weeping. It should be understood that in order for the compliant chamber to function as part of a low pass filter to serve the foregoing purpose, it is important that the compliant chamber be large enough to handle the volumetric disturbance without an undue increase in pressure.
  • the check valves 32 will only prevent depriming in gross overpressure situations where they are useful in preventing back flow of ink.
  • very small pressure changes which would otherwise produce depriming will not have that effect where the compliant chamber is utilized to provide the low pass filter characteristic.
  • the check valves do tend to pressurize the manifold section and prevent an unobjectionable massive deprime at the expense of some slightly objectionable orifice weeping.
  • the compliant chamber may take on different shapes and sizes.
  • the flexible membrane may take on a different shape although it is preferred that the membrane provide a non-linear change in deformation with respect to changes in pressure.
  • Fluids other than ink may be utilized where the fluidic jets are used, for example, as meters.
  • alternative ink jet configurations may be utilized where different types of transducers are used including the ink itself as in a bubble jet.

Landscapes

  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Insulators (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
EP98911836A 1997-03-25 1998-03-20 Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection Expired - Lifetime EP0970350B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82875897A 1997-03-25 1997-03-25
US828758 1997-03-25
PCT/US1998/005420 WO1998043050A1 (en) 1997-03-25 1998-03-20 Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0970350A1 EP0970350A1 (en) 2000-01-12
EP0970350A4 EP0970350A4 (en) 2001-03-07
EP0970350B1 true EP0970350B1 (en) 2005-06-08

Family

ID=25252666

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98911836A Expired - Lifetime EP0970350B1 (en) 1997-03-25 1998-03-20 Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0970350B1 (no)
JP (1) JP2001519039A (no)
AU (1) AU741027B2 (no)
CA (1) CA2283666C (no)
DE (1) DE69830481T2 (no)
ES (1) ES2242998T3 (no)
IL (1) IL131910A0 (no)
NO (1) NO994644D0 (no)
WO (1) WO1998043050A1 (no)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107548360A (zh) * 2015-07-14 2018-01-05 惠普发展公司，有限责任合伙企业 可喷射材料喷发腔室的止回阀

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6209997B1 (en) * 1997-03-25 2001-04-03 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection
US6394589B1 (en) 1999-12-01 2002-05-28 Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd. Ink jet printhead with reduced crosstalk
US20080129810A1 (en) * 2006-12-01 2008-06-05 Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Compliant chamber with check valve and internal energy absorbing element for inkjet printhead

Family Cites Families (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2311383C2 (de) * 1973-03-08 1975-04-30 Olympia Werke Ag, 2940 Wilhelmshaven Anordnung zum Reduzieren von Druckanstiegen und -abfallen in der Schreibflüssigkeit eines Tintenspritz-Schreibwerkes
JPS5574885A (en) * 1978-11-30 1980-06-05 Sharp Corp Liquid feeder
US4514742A (en) * 1980-06-16 1985-04-30 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Printer head for an ink-on-demand type ink-jet printer
US4347524A (en) * 1980-08-07 1982-08-31 Hewlett-Packard Company Apparatus for absorbing shocks to the ink supply of an ink jet printer
JPS57156262A (en) * 1981-03-19 1982-09-27 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Ink jet type recording device
JPS58131071A (ja) * 1982-01-25 1983-08-04 Konishiroku Photo Ind Co Ltd インクジエツト記録装置
DE3209947C1 (de) * 1982-03-18 1983-12-15 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Vorrichtung zur Entlüftung und zur Dämpfung von Druckschwankungen in einem Tintenschreibkopf
IT1157119B (it) * 1982-12-03 1987-02-11 Olivetti & Co Spa Dispositivo stampante a getto di inchiostro
US4575738A (en) * 1984-07-20 1986-03-11 Tektronix, Inc. Ink jet printing apparatus having an ink pressure transient suppressor system
JPH01257058A (ja) * 1988-04-07 1989-10-13 Seiko Epson Corp インクジェットヘッド
US5650811A (en) * 1993-05-21 1997-07-22 Hewlett-Packard Company Apparatus for providing ink to a printhead

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107548360A (zh) * 2015-07-14 2018-01-05 惠普发展公司，有限责任合伙企业 可喷射材料喷发腔室的止回阀

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2283666C (en) 2006-08-15
ES2242998T3 (es) 2005-11-16
CA2283666A1 (en) 1998-10-01
DE69830481T2 (de) 2005-11-03
EP0970350A1 (en) 2000-01-12
EP0970350A4 (en) 2001-03-07
WO1998043050A1 (en) 1998-10-01
DE69830481D1 (de) 2005-07-14
AU741027B2 (en) 2001-11-22
IL131910A0 (en) 2001-03-19
NO994644L (no) 1999-09-24
NO994644D0 (no) 1999-09-24
JP2001519039A (ja) 2001-10-16
AU6570098A (en) 1998-10-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4575738A (en) Ink jet printing apparatus having an ink pressure transient suppressor system
US4183031A (en) Ink supply system
EP1028852B1 (en) Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection
US6206515B1 (en) Double compartment ink-jet cartridge with optimum snout
US7303271B2 (en) Ink jet printer
US5489930A (en) Ink jet head with internal filter
US20080043076A1 (en) Vacuum Pump and Low Pressure Valve Inkjet Ink Supply
EP0506232A1 (en) Valve assembly for ink jet printer
GB1578962A (en) Ink jet printers
EP0297753A1 (en) Valve and nozzle system for ink jet printing apparatus
US20040233259A1 (en) Ink tank
JP4557641B2 (ja) 液滴吐出装置
EP0970350B1 (en) Impulse fluid jet apparatus with depriming protection
JP6987548B2 (ja) 液体吐出ヘッド及び液体吐出装置
US20220194089A1 (en) Liquid ejection apparatus
JP6028513B2 (ja) 液滴吐出ヘッド、画像形成装置、及び液滴吐出ヘッドの製造方法
US4823149A (en) Ink jet apparatus employing plate-like structure
JPS6382752A (ja) インクジェット印刷ヘッド
JPH0499634A (ja) インクジェットヘッド
JP4655753B2 (ja) インクジェットヘッド
JPS625855A (ja) インクジエツト記録装置
EP0076708A2 (en) Multi-nozzle ink-jet print head of drop-on-demand type
US10639902B2 (en) Inkjet printhead
US20100045754A1 (en) Fluid reservoir with compliant wall
JPS61233545A (ja) ドロツプオンデマンド型インクジエツトヘツド

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: 19991006

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20010119

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A4

Designated state(s): CH DE ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Free format text: 7B 41J 2/055 A, 7B 41J 2/045 B

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20030409

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): CH DE ES FI FR GB IE IT LI NL SE

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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050608

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: 20050608

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: 20050608

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69830481

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20050714

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2242998

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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: IE

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

Effective date: 20060320

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

Effective date: 20060309

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20100330

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20100329

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: EUG

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

Ref country code: FI

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

Effective date: 20110320

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

Ref country code: SE

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

Effective date: 20110321

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 18

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 19

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20170327

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20170327

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20170324

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20170329

Year of fee payment: 20

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20170328

Year of fee payment: 20

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R071

Ref document number: 69830481

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

Expiry date: 20180319

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 EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20180319

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20201202

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: 20180321