EP1384530B1 - Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux - Google Patents

Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1384530B1
EP1384530B1 EP20020425484 EP02425484A EP1384530B1 EP 1384530 B1 EP1384530 B1 EP 1384530B1 EP 20020425484 EP20020425484 EP 20020425484 EP 02425484 A EP02425484 A EP 02425484A EP 1384530 B1 EP1384530 B1 EP 1384530B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pipe
cleaning
base frame
cleaning device
along
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
EP20020425484
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1384530A1 (fr
Inventor
Aurelio Crippa
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.)
Fabbrica Macchine Curvatubi Crippa Agostino SpA
Original Assignee
Fabbrica Macchine Curvatubi Crippa Agostino 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
Application filed by Fabbrica Macchine Curvatubi Crippa Agostino SpA filed Critical Fabbrica Macchine Curvatubi Crippa Agostino SpA
Priority to EP20020425484 priority Critical patent/EP1384530B1/fr
Priority to DE60200400T priority patent/DE60200400D1/de
Publication of EP1384530A1 publication Critical patent/EP1384530A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1384530B1 publication Critical patent/EP1384530B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/023—Cleaning the external surface

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a pipe-cleaning device.
  • the present invention relates to a device for external cleaning of pipes that are subsequently to be submitted to bending operations.
  • bent metal pipes are used in many application fields.
  • bent pipes are employed for making hydraulic and pneumatic circuits, in the braking system, air-conditioning system or cooling system for engines.
  • Bent pipes are also utilized for accomplishing the exhaust system in motor-vehicles.
  • Pipes are for example obtained by drawing and, in order to avoid dangerous inconveniences in the subsequent bending process, cleaning of same at their outer surface is required.
  • pipes are held during bending by a head provided with a bending die and a presser element active on the pipe against the die action.
  • the die is pivotally movable relative to the presser element and rotation of same gives rise to pipe bending.
  • the requirement of externally cleaning the pipes mainly arises from the fact that possible metal scraps such as burrs or dust remaining on the pipe after drawing can penetrate into the soft material of which both the die and presser element are made and consequently cause scratching of all pipes that are subsequently bent by the die itself.
  • the devices of the known art while ensuring an excellent pipe cleaning, are very bulky and therefore not very suitable to be inserted in a pipe manufacturing and bending line.
  • the equipment comprises a frame to support the pipe and a scraper provided with blades fitted thereto movable along the pipe.
  • the scraper comprises a lower scraper in the shape of a lower half circle, obtained by horizontally dividing into two halves a circle with a bore slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pipe, and an upper scraper, being disposed right above said lower scraper and facing it correspondingly.
  • the scraper is defined by a pipe hole in a cylinder plate and by an hollow portion, on the inner surface of the cylinder plate, having a cutter disposed coaxially with the pipe hole.
  • document DE3324353 discloses a device for cleaning rotating and other round workpieces, as tubes, rods or sections, from oil or dirt.
  • the device comprises a pair of jaws, with blade scrapers made of plastic, rubber or felt, movable between an open position, in which they are spaced one from the other, and a working position, in which they are closed on the tube to be cleaned.
  • the technical task underlying the present invention is to conceive a pipe-cleaning device capable of obviating the mentioned drawbacks.
  • the present invention also aims at providing a compact pipe-cleaning device.
  • the invention aims at proposing a pipe-cleaning device which is adapted to be inserted in a pipe production line along which subsequent working operations such as bending of the pipes themselves are contemplated.
  • a pipe-cleaning device in accordance with the present invention has been generally identified by reference numeral 1.
  • Device 1 essentially consists of a base frame 2 on which a support member 3 for a pipe T to be cleaned and at least one cleaning head 4 are mounted.
  • the support member 3 and cleaning head 4 are movable with respect to each other and they move close to and away from each other along a first direction X which is coincident with the longitudinal axis Y of pipe T held by the support member 3 itself.
  • the support member 3 is integral with the base frame 2 and the cleaning head 4 is slidably in engagement with the base frame 2 along the first direction X.
  • the cleaning head 4 can be integral with the base frame 2, the support member 3 being slidably in engagement with the base frame 2 along the first direction X.
  • the cleaning head 4 is provided with a surface 5 for engagement with pipe T, which surface when brought into contact with pipe T, defines a substantially tubular shape surrounding the pipe to fully adhere to a portion of the outer pipe surface to be cleaned (Fig. 3).
  • the engagement surface 5 of tubular shape is axially aligned with the support member 3 along the first direction X. Movement of the cleaning head 4 relative to pipe T while the engagement surface 5 is brought into contact with the pipe T itself, enables removal of the metal dust, lubricating oil film or other dirt particles still present on the outer surface of pipe T after the drawing operation or subsequent working/handling operations.
  • the base frame 2 mainly extends along the first direction X and, at an upper portion thereof 2a, carries a conveyor belt 6 looped around respective pulleys 7 rotatably linked to the base frame 2 itself around respective horizontal rotation axes Z 1 , Z 2 .
  • An actuating means 8 to move the conveyor belt 6 is operatively active on one of pulleys 7 to cause rotation of same in either way and move the belt 6 in one way or in the opposite way along the first direction X.
  • the actuating means 8 is defined by a motor, preferably of the electric type, connected to one of pulleys 7.
  • the conveyor belt 6 has an upper stretch 9 extending along the first direction X and carrying the cleaning head 4 which is integral therewith.
  • the support member 3 comprises a support structure 12 mounted on the base frame 2 through posts 11 and a grip element 13 linked to the support structure 12.
  • the grip element 13 is in turn made up of a first shoe 14a having a first active surface 15a, and a second shoe 14b having a second active surface 15b.
  • the first 14a and second 14b shoes are movable with respect to each other along a second direction W orthogonal to the first direction X between a position at which they are close to each other (Fig. 4) and a position at which they are spaced apart from each other (Fig. 6).
  • first 14a and second 14b shoes are mutually spaced apart from each other to enable removal of an already cleaned pipe T or setting of a pipe T to be cleaned.
  • the active surfaces 15a, 15b each have a hemi-cylindrical concave shape and, once they are close to each other, form an overall active surface 15 the shape of which matches that of the pipe T to be clamped.
  • shoes 14a, 14b can be dismantled from the support structure 12 and replaced with other shoes 14a, 14b having active surfaces 15a, 15b of different sizes, in this context "sizes" meaning the bending radii of same - or even different shapes, to clean pipes T of non circular section.
  • the cleaning head 4 is therefore movable together with the conveyor belt 6, for displacement close to and away from the support member 3.
  • the cleaning head 4 comprises a support structure 16 installed on the base frame 2 across belt 6, and a clamp 17 mounted on the support structure 16.
  • Clamp 17 has a first jaw 18a provided with a first active surface 19a and a second jaw 18b provided with a second active surface 19b.
  • the first and second jaws 18a and 18b are movable with respect to each other along a third direction V, orthogonal to the first direction X, between a position of mutual approaching (Fig. 3) and a position of mutual spacing (Fig. 5).
  • the first jaw 18a lies close to the second jaw 18b, to put the respective active surfaces 19a, 19b in a contact relationship with pipe T interposed therebetween.
  • the first jaw 18a is moved away from the second jaw 18b to enable removal of a cleaned pipe T or setting of a pipe T to be cleaned.
  • each of the active surfaces 19a, 19b of clamp 17 has a hemi-cylindrical form so that, when jaws 18a, 18b are close to each other, the engagement surface 5 can take a substantially tubular shape matching the shape of pipe T to be cleaned.
  • jaws 18a, 18b too can be dismantled from the support structure 17 and replaced with other jaws 18a, 18b having active surfaces 19a, 19b of different sizes, in this context "sizes" meaning the bending radii of same - or even different shapes, to clean pipes T of non circular section.
  • the cleaning head 4 further comprises a sheet F of cleaning, preferably absorbing, material, paper or fabric material for example, disposed on the engagement surface 5 and therefore intended for association in contact relationship with pipe T.
  • sheet F directly coats the engagement surface 5 forming a unitary body therewith.
  • sheet F is positioned between the first and second jaws 18a, 18b.
  • jaws 18a, 18b are in the moved-apart position (Fig. 5) sheet F only lays on the active surfaces 19a, 19b, going under the pipe and forming a loop that partly surrounds the pipe T itself. Closing of jaws 18a, 18b around pipe T causes entrapping of sheet F between the outer pipe surface and the engagement surface 5.
  • sheet F is part of a ribbon N of cleaning material running along a predetermined feeding path H extending between the first and second jaws 18a, 18b to form the above mentioned loop.
  • the ribbon of cleaning material N is wound on a supply reel 20 and extends along the predetermined feeding path H until a receiving reel 21, shown in Fig. 2.
  • the supply reel 20 is mounted on a first rotating shaft 22 rotatable about a respective axis I parallel to the first direction X and the receiving reel 21 is mounted on a second rotating shaft 23 rotatable about a respective axis J also parallel to the first direction X.
  • the first and second rotating shafts 22, 23 are installed on a support frame 24 integral with the support structure 16 of the cleaning head 4.
  • the support frame 24 has an inverted-U conformation the two ends of which 24a, 24b carry respective slides 25a, 25b slidably linked to two rails 26a, 26b, formed in the base frame 2 and extending parallel to the first direction X.
  • the support frame 24 is placed across the base frame 2 and the first and second rotating shafts 22, 23 lie at the ends 24a, 24b of same.
  • the predetermined feeding path H takes a substantially U-shaped conformation around the base frame 2.
  • Device 1 further comprises actuating means 27 for the second rotating shaft 23, to cause running of ribbon N from the supply reel 20 to the receiving reel 21.
  • actuating means 27 is defined by a motor, preferably of the electric type, connected to the second rotating shaft 23 that, once operated, causes unwinding of the ribbon N from the supply reel 20 and rewinding of the same ribbon N on the receiving reel 21.
  • Device 1 finally comprises a plurality of support elements 28 for pipe T integrally mounted on the conveyor belt 6 and spaced apart from each other.
  • the support elements 28 each extend transversely of the conveyor belt 6 and carry, at a free end 28a thereof, a seat 29 on which pipe T rests, said seat being disposed at the same height as the grip element 13 and clamp 17.
  • each support element 28 has a base 30 integral with the conveyor belt 6 from which two wings 31 spaced apart from each other extend at right angles, the seat 29 being interposed therebetween.
  • the seat 29 is defined by two frustoconical pieces 29a, 29b abutting against each other at their minor bases and pivoting on wings 31 at a respective rotation axis K.
  • the support elements 28 are placed along the whole extension of the conveyor belt 6 so that part of same always lies on the upper stretch 9 of belt 6 to support pipe T, irrespective of the position of the cleaning head 4.
  • the two jaws 18a, 18b of clamp 17 are closed around pipe T, the cleaning head 4 being positioned either close to the grip element 13 or at the pipe end opposite to that clamped by the grip element 13.
  • the two jaws 18a, 18b are associated with the outer surface of pipe T without tightening the pipe itself, to enable the relative movement between pipe T and the cleaning head 4.
  • the sheet N of cleaning material placed between jaws 18a, 18b is associated with a circumferential portion of the outer surface of pipe T, by "circumferential portion” being intended a portion of the pipe surface, taken along the longitudinal extension, extending through 360° around axis Y of pipe T.
  • Head 4 may also be moved first in one way and then in the other way to travel along pipe T several times and carry out several cleaning cycles.
  • the actuating means 27 connected to the second rotating shaft 23 causes unwinding of ribbon N from the supply reel 20, so that the ribbon N portion in contact with pipe T can be replaced.
  • Movement of ribbon N can be either continuous and simultaneous with displacement of the cleaning head 4 in order that the ribbon N portion in contact with pipe T can be replaced in a continuous manner, or it can be carried out after each passage, depending on the dirt amount to be eliminated, the length of pipe T and the type of ribbon N used.
  • the invention achieves important advantages.
  • the pipe-cleaning device in accordance with the present invention enables the metal dust, oil film and other dirt particles present on the outer surface of each pipe to be eliminated in an efficient and quick manner. Therefore, by use of the inventive device the pipe can be submitted to further working operations without running into the dangerous inconveniences resulting from the presence of foreign particles. In particular, the device enables the subsequent bending process to be carried out in a completely safe manner.
  • the pipe-cleaning device in accordance with the present invention is compact and has a structure suitable to be inserted in a production and bending line for pipe manufacture.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux comprenant:
    un bâti de base (2);
    un élément support (3) pour un tuyau (T) à nettoyer, monté sur le bâti de base (2);
    au moins une tête de nettoyage (4) montée sur le bâti de base (2) et ayant une surface (5) pour l'engagement avec le tuyau (T); l'élément support (3) et la tête de nettoyage (4) étant mobiles l'un par rapport à l'autre et effectuant un mouvement de rapprochement et d'éloignement réciproque le long d'une première direction;
    caractérisé en ce que ladite surface d'engagement (5) a une forme essentiellement tubulaire alignée en sens axial avec l'élément support (3) le long de la première direction (X), la tête de nettoyage (4) comprenant en outre une feuille (F) de matière de nettoyage absorbante disposée sur la surface d'engagement tubulaire (5) et susceptible d'être associée, en relation de contact, au tuyau (T) à nettoyer.
  2. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément support (3) est solidaire du bâti de base (2) et la tête de nettoyage (4) est engagée de manière coulissante audit bâti de base (2) le long de la première direction (X).
  3. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la tête de nettoyage (4) est solidaire du bâti de base (2) et l'élément support (3) est engagé de manière coulissante audit bâti de base (2) le long de la première direction (X).
  4. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément support (3) pour le tuyau (T) à nettoyer comporte:
    une structure support (12) montée sur le bâti de base (2);
    un premier sabot (14a) monté sur la structure support (12) et ayant une première surface active (15a);
    un deuxième sabot (14b) monté sur la structure support (12) et ayant une deuxième surface active (15b);
    lesdits premier (14a) et deuxième (14b) sabots étant mobiles l'un par rapport à l'autre le long d'une deuxième direction (V), perpendiculaire à la première direction (X), entre une position de rapprochement réciproque à laquelle le premier sabot (14a) est disposé proche du deuxième sabot (14b) pour serrer le tuyau (T), et une position d'éloignement réciproque à laquelle le premier sabot (14a) est écarté du deuxième sabot (14b).
  5. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la tête de nettoyage (4) comporte:
    une structure support (16) montée sur le bâti de base (2);
    une première mâchoire (18a) montée sur la structure support (16) et ayant une première surface active (19a);
    une deuxième mâchoire (18b) montée sur la structure support (16) et ayant une deuxième surface active (19b); lesdites première (18a) et deuxième (18b) mâchoires étant mobiles l'une par rapport à l'autre le long d'une troisième direction (W), perpendiculaire à la première direction (X), entre une position de rapprochement à laquelle la première mâchoire (18a) est disposée proche de la deuxième mâchoire (18b) et les première (19a) et deuxième (19b) surfaces actives définissent ensemble ladite surface d'engagement (5) de forme essentiellement tubulaire, et une position d'éloignement à laquelle la première mâchoire (18a) est écartée de la deuxième mâchoire (18b).
  6. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la feuille (F) de matière de nettoyage absorbante est disposée entre la première (18a) et la deuxième (18b) mâchoires et est susceptible d'être associée au tuyau (T) en relation de contact avec ce dernier.
  7. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre:
    une bobine d'alimentation (20) pour fournir un ruban de matière de nettoyage absorbante (N) le long d'un parcours d'alimentation prédéterminé (H) s'étendant entre les première (18a) et la deuxième (18b) mâchoires pour définir ladite feuille de matière de nettoyage absorbante (F); et
    une bobine de réception (21) pour réenrouler le ruban de matière de nettoyage absorbante (N) en provenance du parcours d'alimentation prédéterminé (H).
  8. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre:
    un bâti support (24) solidaire de la structure support (16) de la tête de nettoyage (4);
    un premier arbre tournant (22) monté sur le bâti support (24) pour soutenir la bobine d'alimentation (20);
    un deuxième arbre tournant (23) monté sur le bâti support (24) pour soutenir la bobine de réception (21); et
    des moyens d'entraínement (27) destinés au mouvement du deuxième arbre tournant (23), pour déterminer le passage du ruban (N) de la bobine d'alimentation (20) à la bobine de réception (21) et entre les première (18a) et deuxième (18b) mâchoires.
  9. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre:
    une bande transporteuse (6) entourant des poulies respectives (7) liées rotativement au bâti de base (2) autour des axes de rotation respectifs (Z1, Z2) et ayant un brin supérieur (9) s'étendant le long de ladite première direction (X), la tête de nettoyage (4) étant liée de manière solidaire audit brin supérieur (9) de la bande transporteuse (6); et
    des moyens d'entraínement (8) pour le mouvement de la bande transporteuse (6).
  10. Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre une pluralité d'éléments support (28) pour le tuyau (T) montés de manière solidaire sur la bande transporteuse (6) et écartés les uns des autres.
  11. Procédé pour le nettoyage de tuyaux comprenant l'étape de bloquer le tuyau (T) à nettoyer à l'une de ses extrémités,
    caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte les étapes de:
    associer une feuille (F) de matière de nettoyage absorbante à une portion circonférentielle de la surface extérieure du tuyau (T), à définir une forme tubulaire adhérant complètement à ladite portion de la surface extérieure du tuyau (T);
    causer le mouvement de la feuille (F) par rapport au tuyau (T) le long d'une direction (X) qui est coïncidente avec l'axe longitudinal (Y) dudit tuyau.
EP20020425484 2002-07-24 2002-07-24 Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux Expired - Lifetime EP1384530B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20020425484 EP1384530B1 (fr) 2002-07-24 2002-07-24 Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux
DE60200400T DE60200400D1 (de) 2002-07-24 2002-07-24 Vorrichtung zum Reinigen von Rohren

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20020425484 EP1384530B1 (fr) 2002-07-24 2002-07-24 Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1384530A1 EP1384530A1 (fr) 2004-01-28
EP1384530B1 true EP1384530B1 (fr) 2004-04-21

Family

ID=29797367

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20020425484 Expired - Lifetime EP1384530B1 (fr) 2002-07-24 2002-07-24 Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1384530B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60200400D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN103752567A (zh) * 2013-12-09 2014-04-30 成都科盛石油科技有限公司 自动推进式输油管道表面冲洗系统
CN111974758A (zh) * 2020-06-30 2020-11-24 黄荣 一种建筑搭架钢管外表水泥快速清理装置
CN112854727A (zh) * 2021-01-13 2021-05-28 丽水市育达机械设备制造有限公司 一种建筑用满堂脚手架的养护装置
CN113458094A (zh) * 2021-07-29 2021-10-01 陈俊伟 一种模拟假人操作式的油水井修井作业清洁生产平台
CN115055451A (zh) * 2022-05-25 2022-09-16 安徽万方管业集团有限公司 一种用于生产ppr管件的高效清洗设备
CN116780383B (zh) * 2023-07-27 2024-09-03 东莞赋安实业有限公司 一种折臂式隔离开关的检修设备

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1692028A (en) * 1926-07-16 1928-11-20 Texas Co Pipe-cleaning apparatus
DE3324353A1 (de) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-17 MKV Maschinen GmbH, 7251 Winsheim Abstreif- und putzeinrichtung fuer rotierende und andere und profilierte und runde werkstuecke (z.b. rohre, stangen, profile)
US6061861A (en) * 1998-07-21 2000-05-16 Yazaki Industrial Chemical Co., Ltd. Equipment for removing a resin joint from the pipe fitted with the resin joint, and equipment for removing a resin joint or resin ribs from the pipe fitted with such a joint or ribs
US6158074A (en) * 1999-03-15 2000-12-12 Castille; Alan J. Pipe cleaning machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60200400D1 (de) 2004-05-27
EP1384530A1 (fr) 2004-01-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1384530B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le nettoyage de tuyaux
CN112008515B (zh) 一种pe电缆保护管加工设备
JPH05208395A (ja) トイレット・ペーパー及びその他の物品の製造用カッターにおける圧力によるロールまたはロッグ保持装置
US6855287B1 (en) Method of manufacturing flexible resin hose
JPH10118863A (ja) プラスチック被覆鋼管の自動管端処理装置
US7958762B1 (en) Apparatus and method for forming straight tubes from coiled tubing
CN109604269B (zh) 一种适用于管材内壁处理装置
RU2177577C2 (ru) Устройство для автоматического производства труб
JPH08336219A (ja) シールド線の端末処理方法
FR2520664A1 (fr) Procede de fabrication de tuyaux souples de raccordement
JPH07299725A (ja) 湾曲細管の外周面研磨装置
KR101858215B1 (ko) 이중관 제조 장치
US7841850B2 (en) Method and apparatus for shaping thermoplastic profiles
JP2000202920A (ja) 曲管ホ―スの製造方法及び曲管ホ―ス
KR960012340B1 (ko) 파이프 단면가공 커팅장치를 갖는 조관기
KR980008385A (ko) 에어콘 콘덴서용 냉매관 절단가공 장치
US3126134A (en) Hose seam flattening device
DE2545058A1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zur herstellung von gummischlaeuchen gekruemmter form
BR0200652A (pt) Processo e dispositivo para a fabricação de tubos de material sintético termoplástico com perfilamento transversal
TWM606902U (zh) 全自動彎管與鋸切複合系統
CN112092035A (zh) 一种pe电缆保护管加工工艺
KR970000799Y1 (ko) 파이프의 자동절단 및 면취장치
US7036410B2 (en) Transversely cutting and conveying a web
WO1998042467A1 (fr) Dispositif de dechargement
JPH07267358A (ja) 環状物の着脱装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

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: 20030728

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

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

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

Effective date: 20040421

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60200400

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20040527

Kind code of ref document: P

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

Effective date: 20040722

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

Effective date: 20040801

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20040421

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): DE ES FR IT

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

EN Fr: translation not filed
26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050124

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: IT

Payment date: 20060731

Year of fee payment: 5

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: 20070724