EP1778571B1 - A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions - Google Patents

A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1778571B1
EP1778571B1 EP05771308A EP05771308A EP1778571B1 EP 1778571 B1 EP1778571 B1 EP 1778571B1 EP 05771308 A EP05771308 A EP 05771308A EP 05771308 A EP05771308 A EP 05771308A EP 1778571 B1 EP1778571 B1 EP 1778571B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
machine
hoppers
driven wheels
along
belt
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP05771308A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1778571A1 (en
Inventor
Fulvio Boldrini
Daniele Coi
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.)
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Original Assignee
Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA 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 Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA filed Critical Azionaria Costruzioni Macchine Automatiche ACMA SpA
Publication of EP1778571A1 publication Critical patent/EP1778571A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1778571B1 publication Critical patent/EP1778571B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/52—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using roller-ways or endless conveyors
    • 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
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B1/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow
    • 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
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/005—Packaging other articles presenting special problems packaging of confectionery
    • 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
    • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
    • B65B39/14—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers movable with a moving container or wrapper during filling or depositing
    • B65B39/145—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers movable with a moving container or wrapper during filling or depositing in an endless path
    • 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
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/02—Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions.
  • the invention finds application in the food industry for packaging loose sweets or candies in rigid containers furnished ideally with a lid allowing the consumer to open and close the container when taking out the contents.
  • Conventional machines for packaging loose sweets or candies in rigid containers comprise a conveyor belt affording a plurality of pockets by which single diecut blanks are accommodated and directed along a predetermined path through a plurality of operating stations.
  • EP 0878400 discloses a machine according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the blanks are engaged by folder mechanisms operating alongside the pockets and formed into respective open-topped boxes.
  • the pockets and the relative partly formed boxes pass through a filling station occupiable by a plurality of hoppers loaded with the sweets or candies.
  • the hoppers are carried by a second conveyor belt partially overhanging the first.
  • the hoppers advance directly above the pockets along a predetermined filling leg of the path, proceeding at the same speed as the pockets, so that the sweets or candies can drop down into the boxes.
  • the machine also presents an aperture of varying width and selectively contoured outline, extending along the predetermined filling leg between the hoppers and the pockets.
  • the aperture is formed in a plate partly occluding the outlets of the hoppers along an initial portion of the filling leg. Proceeding along the feed direction followed by the pockets, the aperture widens gradually until the outlets of the hoppers are entirely exposed; thus, the sweets or candies can be introduced by degrees into each box, exploiting the full length of the filling leg.
  • the two belts advance at the same peripheral speed along their entire developable length and the sweets are loaded into the hoppers from above, either from a special reservoir or direct from the outfeed of a production unit, along a leg of the second conveyor belt remote from the predetermined filling leg.
  • machines of conventional type are equipped with intermediate chutes mounted to a reciprocating carriage.
  • the intermediate chutes can thus accompany the movement of the hoppers during the loading step.
  • the intermediate chutes advance with a first group of hoppers along the leg of the second conveyor belt opposite to the predetermined filling leg, thereupon returning and aligning with a successive group of hoppers to repeat the loading cycle.
  • the carriage On completing the return stroke, the carriage will pause for a duration sufficient to reload the intermediate chutes.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the problems typical of the prior art by providing a machine for packaging small items in boxes such as will be unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above.
  • the object of the present invention is to set forth a machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions, in which down time is minimized and of which the design is constructionally simple and compact.
  • numeral 1 denotes a machine according to the present invention, in its entirety, for packaging loose items of small dimensions.
  • the machine comprises a plurality of pockets 2, each accommodating a respective box S to be filled with items of small dimensions such as sweets or candies.
  • the pockets 2 are set in motion, advancing in a predetermined direction denoted D, along a feed path that includes a predetermined filling leg T.
  • the pockets 2 appear as cradles mounted to a transport belt 3, illustrated schematically in figure 2 , looped over two pulleys 4a and 4b rotatable about vertical axes of rotation, of which one at least is power driven.
  • the belt 3 describes a closed loop including a first rectilinear branch 3a, a second rectilinear branch 3b, and two interconnecting curvilinear branches 3c and 3d associated with the pulleys 4a and 4b.
  • a first machine station is installed along the path followed by the belt 3, at which flat diecut blanks taken from a relative magazine are bent to three-dimensional form and placed each in a respective pocket 2, as the first step in fashioning a box S destined to serve as container.
  • the machine 1 also comprises a second folding station P2 located downstream of the filling leg T, by which the lid of each box is formed and closed.
  • the machine also presents a plurality of movable hoppers 5 alignable along the filling leg T, carried by a transport belt 6 looped around a pair of driven wheels 7a and 7b rotatable about vertical axes ( figures 1 and 2 ).
  • the transport belt 6 consists in a timing belt of which the teeth mesh with first sets of teeth afforded by each of the driven wheels 7a and 7b.
  • the hoppers 5 are mounted to the side of the belt 6 opposite to the toothed side, through the agency of conventional fastening means, and cantilevered thus from the selfsame belt 6 ( figure 4 ).
  • each hopper 5 comprises a first top portion 8 presenting a duct 9 delimited by four side walls.
  • the duct 9 extends from a top opening 10 toward an intermediate opening 11 of the hopper 5 and is downwardly tapered. More exactly, the duct 9 is delimited by a rear wall 12 offered to the belt 6, two flank walls 13 and 14 associated with the opposite ends of the rear wall 12, and a front wall 15 interconnecting the forwardmost edges of the flank walls 13 and 14.
  • the rear wall 12 and the flank walls 13 and 14 are inclined from the vertical to give the duct 9 its tapered appearance.
  • the hopper 5 further comprises a second portion 16 mounted below the first portion 8, which presents a rear wall 17 and two flank walls 18 delimiting a channel 19 and functioning as a continuation of the duct 9.
  • the channel 19 likewise is downwardly tapered and terminates at the bottom in an opening 20 of dimensions smaller than those of the aforementioned intermediate opening 11.
  • the transport belt 6 describes a closed loop that includes a first rectilinear branch 6a, a second rectilinear branch 6b, and two interconnecting curvilinear branches 6c and 6d associated with the driven wheels 7a and 7b.
  • the hoppers 5 are loaded along the first branch 6a with sweets or candies from one or more fixed outlets of suitable feed means, not illustrated, discharging into the top opening 10 of each hopper 5.
  • the second rectilinear branch 6b establishes a branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload, extending substantially above the predetermined leg T along which the boxes S in their turn are filled.
  • each hopper 5 is positioned over a corresponding pocket 2, advancing at the same speed as the pocket 2 as will shortly be described.
  • the machine 1 will also be equipped with an aperture A of variable width and selectively contoured outline, extending between the hoppers 5 and the pockets 2 along the predetermined filling leg T.
  • the aperture A in question is formed in a plate 22 that occludes the bottom opening 20 of the hoppers 5 in part, along an initial portion of the leg. Proceeding along the feed direction followed by the pockets 2, the aperture A widens gradually to the point of exposing the outlet of the hoppers 5 completely, so that the sweets or candies can drop into the box S utilizing the whole of the filling leg T ( figure 2 ).
  • the hoppers 5, the transport belt 6 and the driven wheels 7a and 7b are operated by motion-inducing means 23 consisting advantageously in a drive belt 24 looped around the wheels 7a and 7b and presenting a first branch 24a and a second branch 24b extending between the selfsame wheels 7a and 7b.
  • the motion-inducing means 23 further comprise at least one drive wheel 25 having a fixed axis of rotation and engaging the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24, which therefore is looped partially around the selfsame wheel 25.
  • the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 is associated with the second branch 6b of the transport belt 6, that is to say the branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload. "Associated” signifies that the second branch 6b of the transport belt 6 and the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 extend between similar points on the first driven wheel 7a and similar points on the second driven wheel 7b; during the rotation of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, accordingly, the two branches advance as one from the first wheel 7a toward the second wheel 7b or from the second toward the first.
  • the drive belt 24 likewise will consist in a timing belt meshing with second sets of teeth afforded by each of the driven wheels 7a and 7b and by the drive wheel 25.
  • the machine 1 further comprises a device 26 by which the driven wheels 7a and 7b can be set in motion to and fro along a direction X parallel to the predetermined filling leg T at a variable speed of translation Vt.
  • the device 26 comprises a carriage 27 supporting the shafts of the driven wheels 7a and 7b and capable of reciprocating linear motion along the aforementioned direction X.
  • the wheels 7a and 7b will roll on the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 associated with the branch 21 along which the hoppers 5 unload.
  • the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 remain stationary while the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 and the first branch 24a of the drive belt 24, which is not engaged by the drive wheel 25, will advance at a speed twice the speed Vt at which the driven wheels 7a and 7b are translated.
  • the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 will advance likewise at the first speed V1 matching the speed induced by the drive wheel 25, whilst the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 and the first branch 24a of the drive belt 24 will advance at the second speed V2, which is the sum of the first speed V1 induced by the rotation of the drive wheel 25 and double the speed of translation Vt of the driven wheels 7a and 7b.
  • the speed at which the hoppers 5 are carried by the transport belt 6 along the first rectilinear branch 6a is similarly not constant, but alternates between a maximum and a minimum.
  • the hoppers 5 can be made to stop once or more than once along the loading branch, beneath the fixed outlets of the aforementioned feed means.
  • the device 26 serving to reciprocate the driven wheels 7a and 7b might have an independent motor connected to the carriage, it will be operated preferably and advantageously by the drive wheel 25, through the agency of a cam mechanism denoted 28.
  • the cam mechanism 28 is connected to the drive wheel 25 and to the carriage 27 and thus able to convert the angular motion of the wheel 25 into alternating linear motion of the carriage 27. Any given type of mechanism might be adopted, according to the law of motion required, in particular on the leg of the transport loop along which the hoppers 5 are loaded.
  • the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 will be aligned along the direction X parallel to the predetermined filling leg T.
  • the drive wheel 25 carries a rigidly associated pin 29 positioned parallel to and offset from its axis of rotation.
  • the pin 29 locates in a track 30 afforded by the carriage 27, fashioned preferably as a slot or a pair of parallel ridges extending perpendicularly to the predetermined filling leg T.
  • the drive belt 24 is routed around two fixed idle pulleys 31 positioned on opposite sides of the drive wheel 25.
  • the axes of rotation of the two pulleys 31 and of the drive wheel 25 occupy fixed positions one relative to another.
  • the drive belt 24 is also routed around two movable idle pulleys 32 positioned on opposite sides of the drive wheel 25 and mounted to the carriage 27.
  • the axes of rotation of the two pulleys 32 occupy positions fixed in relation to those of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, and movable relative to that of the drive wheel 25.
  • the drive belt 24 is looped around the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 compassing an arc to a circle greater than 180°, thereby increasing the number of teeth of the drive belt 24 in mesh both with the drive wheel 25 and with the driven wheels 7a and 7b, while keeping the developable length of the drive belt 24 within the peripheral boundary of the transport belt 6.
  • the drive wheel 25 is set in rotation anticlockwise at a first predetermined angular velocity ⁇ 1, with the result that the driven wheels 7a and 7b are set likewise in motion by the drive belt 24.
  • the angular velocity of the driven wheels 7a and 7b, rotating devoid of any translational component, is identical to the first angular velocity ⁇ 1, assuming the driven wheels 7a and 7b and the drive wheel 25 to be of the same diameter.
  • the second branch 24b of the drive belt 24 and the second rectilinear branch 6b of the transport belt 6 advance at speed V1
  • the speed V2 of the hoppers 5 advancing along the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 is less than speed V1.
  • the speed V2 of the hoppers 5 advancing along the first rectilinear branch 6a of the transport belt 6 is greater than speed V1.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)
EP05771308A 2004-08-03 2005-07-29 A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions Not-in-force EP1778571B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000497A ITBO20040497A1 (it) 2004-08-03 2004-08-03 Macchina per il confezionamento di aticoli sfusi di piccole dimensioni
PCT/IB2005/002551 WO2006016268A1 (en) 2004-08-03 2005-07-29 A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1778571A1 EP1778571A1 (en) 2007-05-02
EP1778571B1 true EP1778571B1 (en) 2008-07-02

Family

ID=35134173

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05771308A Not-in-force EP1778571B1 (en) 2004-08-03 2005-07-29 A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1778571B1 (es)
AT (1) ATE399732T1 (es)
DE (1) DE602005007910D1 (es)
ES (1) ES2309782T3 (es)
IT (1) ITBO20040497A1 (es)
WO (1) WO2006016268A1 (es)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE502008002566D1 (de) 2008-08-13 2011-03-24 Uhlmann Pac Systeme Gmbh & Co Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum getakteten Befüllen einer Mehrzahl von Behältern
ITUB20151128A1 (it) * 2015-05-27 2016-11-27 Marchesini Group Spa Apparecchiatura per il trasferimento di articoli farmaceutici da una macchina contatrice all’interno di contenitori in avanzamento in continuo
FR3046999A1 (fr) * 2016-01-26 2017-07-28 C E R M E X Constructions Etudes Et Rech De Materiels Pour L'emballage D'expedition Dispositif et methode de transfert de produits
CN116674796B (zh) * 2023-08-03 2023-09-29 金洲精工科技(昆山)有限公司 棒状料定量装盒装置

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1267468B1 (it) * 1994-10-27 1997-02-05 Hitech Systems Srl Macchina perfezionata per il raggruppamento, a scopo di confezionamento, di prodotti convogliati singolarmente,
US5918445A (en) * 1996-05-24 1999-07-06 Stevan Tisma Automatic packaging machine for inserting a few small items with desired orientation into a carton

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITBO20040497A1 (it) 2004-11-03
DE602005007910D1 (de) 2008-08-14
ATE399732T1 (de) 2008-07-15
EP1778571A1 (en) 2007-05-02
WO2006016268A1 (en) 2006-02-16
ES2309782T3 (es) 2008-12-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3879920A (en) Machine for forming wrap-around shipper packages
CN108454960B (zh) 装料装置
CA2028563C (en) Continuous to intermittent feeding interface
EP1778571B1 (en) A machine for packaging loose items of small dimensions
US9346631B2 (en) Device for transferring blister packs
ES2231487T3 (es) Aparato y metodo para ordenar y embalar unidades de producto.
US7621109B2 (en) Carrier loading cartoner
CN110356639A (zh) 一种自动化盒装设备
JP2014169091A (ja) パン包装装置及びパン搬送システム
US4191005A (en) Case opening apparatus
CN108298303B (zh) 用于传送泡罩包装的方法
EP1778546B1 (en) A device for folding the lids of rigid packets in machines for making such packets, and a machine incorporating such a device
EP1652774A1 (en) Unit for feeding stacked packing material to a packing machine
US2340835A (en) Packaging apparatus
US3532387A (en) Method and means for automatically feeding a parcelling machine through an automatically loaded and unloaded package magazine
US4621725A (en) Apparatus for feeding articles to a packaging station
US3777453A (en) Intermediate conveyor system for use with bagging and cartoning machines
US4565203A (en) Apparatus for conveying cigarette-filled trays to a cigarette-packaging machine
CN108298133B (zh) 用于传送泡罩包装的方法
GB1487140A (en) Apparatus for supplying cigarettes to a packeting machine
CN110027749A (zh) 一种自动化盒装设备、封口装置及其盒盖压折机构
US6000201A (en) Device for transferring filled tea bags from a single track tea bag packaging machine to a processing machine
JP3678956B2 (ja) 包装機
US3583130A (en) Cigarette packers
US3502194A (en) Conveyor system

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: 20070301

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 HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
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): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: BUGNION S.A.

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 602005007910

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20080814

Kind code of ref document: P

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: SI

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: 20080702

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2309782

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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

Ref country code: LT

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: 20080702

Ref country code: IS

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: 20081102

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

Effective date: 20080702

Ref country code: LV

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: 20080702

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: 20081202

Ref country code: BG

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: 20081002

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: 20080702

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

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: 20080702

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20080731

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

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: 20080702

Ref country code: EE

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: 20080702

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

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

Ref country code: CZ

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: 20080702

Ref country code: RO

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: 20080702

Ref country code: SK

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: 20080702

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20090403

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: 20080729

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

Effective date: 20081002

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

Ref country code: PL

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: 20080702

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

Ref country code: CY

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: 20080702

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 20080729

Ref country code: HU

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: 20090103

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

Ref country code: GR

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: 20081003

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20150726

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20150729

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20150914

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20150727

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20150727

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20150717

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: TR

Payment date: 20150713

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20150727

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602005007910

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20160801

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

Effective date: 20160729

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

Ref country code: NL

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

Effective date: 20160801

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20160801

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20160731

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20160731

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20170201

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20170331

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: 20160729

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: 20160729

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: 20160730

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20180628

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

Ref country code: TR

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

Effective date: 20160729