EP2768763B1 - Filling valve for filling machine - Google Patents
Filling valve for filling machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2768763B1 EP2768763B1 EP12794495.7A EP12794495A EP2768763B1 EP 2768763 B1 EP2768763 B1 EP 2768763B1 EP 12794495 A EP12794495 A EP 12794495A EP 2768763 B1 EP2768763 B1 EP 2768763B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- filling
- stem
- shutter body
- main body
- filling valve
- 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.)
- Active
Links
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 7
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000813 microbial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000015205 orange juice Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000004321 preservation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007790 solid phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
-
- 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
- B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
- B65B39/004—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves moving linearly
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/28—Flow-control devices, e.g. using valves
- B67C3/281—Profiled valve bodies for smoothing the flow at the outlet of the filling nozzle
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a filling valve.
- the invention relates to a batcher for a filling machine and adapted to dose a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, with which a container is filled.
- such a filling station is fed with aseptic or ultra-clean containers (for example containers which have previously been sterilised) and is adapted to provide containers filled with a sterilised product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
- aseptic or ultra-clean containers for example containers which have previously been sterilised
- a filling station usually comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about a rotation axis, a tank containing the product, and a plurality of filling valves which are fluidically connected with the tank and are supported by the carousel conveyor in a radially external position with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel conveyor.
- Each filling valve substantially comprises a portion for fixing to the carousel defining a filling chamber fluidically connected with the tank, and a filling head arranged along a relative direction parallel to the rotation axis of the carousel.
- the filling valve must be designed so as to allow, in every moment in time, to maintain the environment, within which the pourable product is handled, free from contamination sources.
- the batcher must typically be compatible with this kind of operation conditions.
- the filling head of a flow rate doser generally comprises a shutter mobile, within the relative filling chamber, between a closed configuration, in which the shutter prevents the product from reaching the mouth of the relative container to be filled, and an open configuration, in which the chamber and the container mouth are fluidically connected, thus allowing the product to fill the container.
- filling valves are known comprising shutters displaying different geometries (for example spherical, butterfly etc.) associated to relative actuating means which can be of different kinds. Whether these filling valves are suitable for specific uses generally depends on the type of product and on the actual operation conditions.
- pourable products such as fruit juices containing fibres or fruit pieces, or milk based products with the addition of fruit.
- these products comprise an aqueous liquid phase and contain solid particles having an average size in the range between 0.1 and 10 mm, for example formed by pieces of fruits.
- the solid particles suspended in the two-phase pourable products can easily obstruct the ducts defined internally by the filling valves provided with shutters having a conventional geometry.
- liquid phase and the solid phase (particles) were fed along respective separate ducts, for example arranged coaxially one inside the other.
- each phase substantially flows through a dedicated duct and because, by independently adjusting the flows of the two phases, the frequency of the obstruction can be reduced.
- the single flow-rates of the two distinct flows must be controlled with precision so as to ensure that the ratio between the two phases, within the filled containers, is at the desired nominal value. Furthermore, guaranteeing the aseptic conditions required by the process results more complex and expensive because it is necessary to maintain them along two hydraulic circuits which are for the most part independent of one another. Accordingly, the sterilising cycles are also substantially doubled.
- EP0436214A1 discloses a filling valve as defined in the preamble of claim 1.
- numeral 1 shows as a whole a filling valve adapted to be incorporated in a filling station in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions (not shown) of a filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product.
- filling valve 1 disclosed herein is suitable for carrying out filling operations which imply a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, as for example fruit juices containing fibres and pieces of fruit, or beverages containing milk which contain pieces of fruit or the like.
- a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase
- these are products comprising an aqueous liquid phase, in which average size particles on the order of 0.1 ⁇ 10 mm are suspended.
- This filling station is typically fed with sterilised empty containers and fills these containers with the pourable product in aseptic conditions.
- the filling station typically comprises a tank containing the product; a carousel rotating about a vertical axis and protrudingly bearing a plurality of dosers 1 and support elements for respective containers.
- filling valve 1 comprises:
- batcher 1 comprises actuating means 50 of shutter body 12.
- actuating means 50 are completely external to main body 11.
- main body 11 extends from a first end 13 connectable to the tank to a second end 14 defining a mouth 15 for filling a container. Between two ends 13 and 14, main body 11 comprises a tubular segment 16 having axis A and internal diameter D1 and defining therein a cavity 17 fluidically connected with tank 3.
- body 11 comprises, downstream of tubular segment 16 with respect to a feeding direction of the product, a portion 18 having a narrowed section, having diameter D2 smaller than diameter D1 of cylindrical segment 16.
- main body 11 defines therein a seat 19 for shutter body 12 at which, as will be disclosed in greater detail hereinafter, the closed condition between main body 11 and shutter body 12 (see figure 1 ) of the duct, through which the product passes, occurs.
- actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 are magnetically coupled.
- shutter body 12 advantageously comprises a pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127', arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially.
- actuating means 50 of shutter body 12 advantageously comprise at least one pair of permanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially, and oriented, with respect to permanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets of shutter body 12, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially.
- a pole S (N) of a permanent magnet 127, 127' radially faces a pole N (S) of permanent magnet 52, 52'.
- magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially there is intended that the poles are, with respect to the axial direction, substantially aligned to one another, although they are materially separate, in the radial direction, at least from the wall of tubular segment 16 of main body 11.
- permanent magnets 52, 52' result arranged in respective positions radially external with respect to main body 12. More in particular, permanent magnets 52 and 52' are arranged at a radial distance with respect to axis A such as to exert, through the walls of main body 11, a magnetic attraction on shutter body 12 such as to conveniently draw the latter in a translation motion parallel to axis A.
- Shutter module 12 advantageously comprises (also see Figure 2 ):
- annular duct 124 adapted to allow the flow of a pourable product comprising suspended solid particles is advantageously defined between stem 121 of shutter body 12 and the internal wall of main body 11.
- pairs of magnets 127, 127'; 52, 52' can be spaced so as to easily allow the passage of a two-phase liquid containing particles of a given average size without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 loosing in efficacy.
- shutter body 12 further comprises a projecting portion 123 having a diameter in the range between diameter D s of stem 121 and internal diameter D1 of tubular segment 16, and adapted to sealingly cooperate with seat 19 in the closed position.
- Each fin 122 extends radially by a length substantially equal to (D1-D s )/2.
- diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 10 and 50 mm and the ratio (D1-D s )/2 is in the range between 1 and 20 mm.
- diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 15 and 40 mm and the ratio (D1-D s )/2 is in the range between 3 and 15 mm. More preferably, diameter D s of stem 121 is in the range between 20 and 30 mm and the ratio (D1-D s )/2 is in the range between 5 and 10 mm.
- guide fins 122 are arranged equally spaced angularly about axis A of stem 121.
- shutter body 12 comprises at least two guide fins 122.
- guide fins 122 extend in a longitudinal direction parallelly to axis A by an overall length shorter than the overall length of stem 121.
- shutter body 12 comprises first and second fins 122, 122' arranged according to the same angular distribution about axis A. Thereby, the stability of shutter body 12 within main body 11 results advantageously increased.
- each fin 122, 122' has a substantially hexagonal right section elongated in an axial direction, so as to display two inclined faces to the flow of two-phase product which passes through duct 124, so that the two-phase product is conveniently deviated so as to flow around fins 122.
- Other geometries of fins 122 can be similarly advantageous.
- stem 121 of shutter body 12 comprises (see Figures 1 and 2 ) a tubular portion 125 defining internally a cavity 126 having a substantially cylindrical development, in which the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127' is housed, arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnet poles facing each other axially.
- stem 121 further comprises an upstream end portion 121M, for example a conical or frustoconical portion, which may be fixed, preferably in a releasable manner (for example by means of an appropriate threading, not shown in detail), to tubular portion 125 so as to stably contain in cavity 126 the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127'.
- upstream end portion 121M for example a conical or frustoconical portion, which may be fixed, preferably in a releasable manner (for example by means of an appropriate threading, not shown in detail), to tubular portion 125 so as to stably contain in cavity 126 the pair of permanent magnets 127 and 127'.
- stem 121 also comprises a downstream end portion 121V adapted to cooperate, in the closed position of Figure 1 , with filling mouth 15 of main body 11.
- downstream end portion 121V extends from projection portion 123 facing towards mouth 15 and comprises a substantially frustoconical portion 128 having an increasing diameter from projection portion 123 towards mouth 15 and a substantially conical portion 129 with the vertex facing mouth 15.
- it is the conical portion 129 that cooperates to close mouth 15 ( Figure 1 ).
- Shutter body 12 is slidingly housed within cavity 17 of main body 11 and is in particular mobile, within cavity 17, between a relative closed position (see Figure 1 ), in which shutter body 12 cooperates, at least at relative projecting portion 12, with seat 19 defined by main body 11; and a relative maximum open position (see Figure 2 ), in which shutter body 12 leaves the passage in main body 11 at seat 19 free at the maximum.
- shutter body 12 cooperates with main body 11 also at mouth 15 by means of downstream end portion 121V.
- actuating means 50 of shutter body 12 comprise:
- External tubular body 51 is mobile integrally with the actuator and is therefore also mobile between relative upstream (see Figure 2 ) and downstream (see Figure 1 ) stop positions, which correspond to the maximum closed and open positions of aseptic batcher 1.
- the at least one pair of permanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially is advantageously housed within external tubular body 51, permanent magnets 52 and 52' being coupled magnetically with shutter body 12 (i.e. with permanent magnets 127 and 127'). More in particular, permanent magnets 52 and 52' of the at least one pair of magnets of external tubular body 52 are arranged with respect to permanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets internal to stem 121, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially.
- a pole S (N) of a permanent magnet 127, 127' radially faces a pole N (S) of permanent magnet 52, 52'.
- this specific reciprocal arrangement determines a considerably increased attraction force between shutter body 12 and external tubular body 51, such that a distance can be interposed between pair of magnets 127, 127' and the at least one pair of magnets 52, 52', the distance being given, as well as by the wall of tubular segment 16, by the radial development of fins 122, without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 and shutter body 12 seizing.
- the permanent magnets can be advantageously formed by sets of smaller magnets stacked so that in each set there is in any case an overall orientation of the polarities equivalent to that of a single larger magnet. It will be understood that this alternative solution can be advantageously extended to any pair of magnets in filling valve 1, comprising that of magnets 127, 127' internal to stem 121 of shutter body 12.
- the external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one cavity 53 adapted to house a corresponding pair of magnets 52, 52', and comprises a main portion and a covering portion fixable to the main portion, preferably in a releasable manner, so as to stably contain, within the at least one cavity 53, the corresponding at least one pair of permanent magnets 52, 52'.
- external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one plurality of cavities 53 within which a corresponding plurality of pairs of permanent magnets 52, 52' is housed, arranged preferably equally spaced angularly about axis A.
- actuation for example pneumatic actuation
- actuating means - i.e., for example, the resulting translating motion of the above said piston within the relative cavity - conveniently determines a corresponding axially directed translating motion of shutter body 12 within main body 11.
- filling valve 1 can be conveniently inserted in a filling station advantageously also comprising control means (not shown) adapted to actuate batcher 1 according to the desired filling procedure.
- filling valve 1 can also be used to implement a filling procedure which provides the steps of fast and slow filling, at which the degree of opening of filling valve 1 (i.e. the position of shutter body 12) can be appropriately adjusted providing a partial opening configuration, corresponding to slow filling, in which shutter body 12 is conveniently brought to an intermediate position between the closed position ( Figure 1 ) and the maximum open position ( Figure 2 ) which corresponds to the rapid filling.
- filling valve 1 allows to carry out the filing of a container with a two-phase pourable product according to the typical needs of the sector of the filling machines for the food sector, ensuring the desired aseptic conditions and very short response times to switch between different degrees of opening/closing of the batcher.
- filling valve 1 allows to easily fill containers with a two-phase pourable product, providing for this purpose a duct having a size appropriately compatible with that of the particles contained in the pourable product that flows along the duct.
- the filling valve according to the invention allows to considerably reduce the occurrence of obstructions, even partial ones, thus limiting accordingly the need for maintenance intervention and, as a consequence, down times.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a filling valve.
- In particular, the invention relates to a batcher for a filling machine and adapted to dose a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, with which a container is filled.
- In the food industry, in order to prevent the deterioration and the degradation by microbial contamination of the products and to prolong the maximum preservation times, it is often necessary to use filling stations which fill containers in aseptic or so-called ultra-clean conditions.
- In general, such a filling station is fed with aseptic or ultra-clean containers (for example containers which have previously been sterilised) and is adapted to provide containers filled with a sterilised product in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions.
- A filling station usually comprises a carousel conveyor rotating about a rotation axis, a tank containing the product, and a plurality of filling valves which are fluidically connected with the tank and are supported by the carousel conveyor in a radially external position with respect to the rotation axis of the carousel conveyor.
- Each filling valve substantially comprises a portion for fixing to the carousel defining a filling chamber fluidically connected with the tank, and a filling head arranged along a relative direction parallel to the rotation axis of the carousel.
- In particular, the filling valve must be designed so as to allow, in every moment in time, to maintain the environment, within which the pourable product is handled, free from contamination sources.
- Furthermore, as the duct where the pourable product flows must be sterilised typically by a steam or hot water flow before the containers are filled, the batcher must typically be compatible with this kind of operation conditions.
- The filling head of a flow rate doser generally comprises a shutter mobile, within the relative filling chamber, between a closed configuration, in which the shutter prevents the product from reaching the mouth of the relative container to be filled, and an open configuration, in which the chamber and the container mouth are fluidically connected, thus allowing the product to fill the container. filling valves are known comprising shutters displaying different geometries (for example spherical, butterfly etc.) associated to relative actuating means which can be of different kinds. Whether these filling valves are suitable for specific uses generally depends on the type of product and on the actual operation conditions.
- There are in particular situations in which the filling valves of the conventional type are not completely satisfactory from the operative point of view. This occurs for example when the container must be filled with a pourable product containing two phases, i.e. a product comprising a liquid phase in which solid particles are suspended.
- This is the case, for example, of pourable products such as fruit juices containing fibres or fruit pieces, or milk based products with the addition of fruit. Typically, these products comprise an aqueous liquid phase and contain solid particles having an average size in the range between 0.1 and 10 mm, for example formed by pieces of fruits.
- The solid particles suspended in the two-phase pourable products can easily obstruct the ducts defined internally by the filling valves provided with shutters having a conventional geometry.
- The obstruction of these ducts, which could even only occur partially, determines an undesired local increase of load losses and accordingly alters the precision of the adjustment of the flow of pourable product fed in the container to be filled. In general, therefore, in case of two-phase products, the operation of the conventional flow-rate adjusting members is complicated and the latter can have a reduced efficiency.
- Furthermore, in view of the high probability of obstruction of the ducts and the relative undesirable consequences, it is necessary to often clean and maintain the filling valves. This not only translates into added costs, but frequently is the cause for down times which reduce the overall productivity.
- In the past, to fill the containers with a two-phase pourable product in aseptic conditions, the liquid phase and the solid phase (particles) were fed along respective separate ducts, for example arranged coaxially one inside the other.
- Thereby, feeding each phase towards the container is easier, since each phase substantially flows through a dedicated duct and because, by independently adjusting the flows of the two phases, the frequency of the obstruction can be reduced.
- On the other hand, the single flow-rates of the two distinct flows must be controlled with precision so as to ensure that the ratio between the two phases, within the filled containers, is at the desired nominal value. Furthermore, guaranteeing the aseptic conditions required by the process results more complex and expensive because it is necessary to maintain them along two hydraulic circuits which are for the most part independent of one another. Accordingly, the sterilising cycles are also substantially doubled.
- There is therefore the need in the sector to provide a filling valve which allows to effectively obtain the filling of the containers with a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions, thus limiting the obstruction of the ducts within which the product flows.
- Furthermore, the need is felt in the sector to provide a filling valve allowing to reduce maintenance costs and limit the frequency of the down times.
-
EP0436214A1 discloses a filling valve as defined in the preamble of claim 1. - At least one of the above needs is satisfied in a simple and cost-effective manner by the present invention, as it relates to a batcher according to claim 1.
- A preferred embodiment is hereinafter disclosed for a better understanding of the present invention, by mere way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a filling valve according to the invention in a closed configuration; -
Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the filling valve ofFigure 1 in an open configuration; and -
Figure 3 shows a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the shutter body of the filling valve ofFigures 1 and2 . - In
Figures 1 and2 , numeral 1 shows as a whole a filling valve adapted to be incorporated in a filling station in aseptic or ultra-clean conditions (not shown) of a filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product. - In particular, filling valve 1 disclosed herein is suitable for carrying out filling operations which imply a pourable product of the type comprising suspended solid particles in a liquid phase, as for example fruit juices containing fibres and pieces of fruit, or beverages containing milk which contain pieces of fruit or the like. Typically, these are products comprising an aqueous liquid phase, in which average size particles on the order of 0.1÷10 mm are suspended.
- This filling station is typically fed with sterilised empty containers and fills these containers with the pourable product in aseptic conditions. For this purpose, the filling station typically comprises a tank containing the product; a carousel rotating about a vertical axis and protrudingly bearing a plurality of dosers 1 and support elements for respective containers. filling valve 1 comprises:
- a
main body 11 adapted to be fixed to the carousel of the filling station; and - a
shutter body 12 housed withinmain body 11 mobile between a relative closed position (seeFigure 1 ) and a relative maximum open position (seeFigure 2 ). - Furthermore, batcher 1 comprises actuating means 50 of
shutter body 12. Advantageously, these actuating means 50 are completely external tomain body 11. - In greater detail,
main body 11 extends from afirst end 13 connectable to the tank to asecond end 14 defining amouth 15 for filling a container. Between twoends main body 11 comprises atubular segment 16 having axis A and internal diameter D1 and defining therein acavity 17 fluidically connected with tank 3. - Furthermore,
body 11 comprises, downstream oftubular segment 16 with respect to a feeding direction of the product, aportion 18 having a narrowed section, having diameter D2 smaller than diameter D1 ofcylindrical segment 16. - Thereby,
main body 11 defines therein aseat 19 forshutter body 12 at which, as will be disclosed in greater detail hereinafter, the closed condition betweenmain body 11 and shutter body 12 (seefigure 1 ) of the duct, through which the product passes, occurs. - Advantageously, actuating means 50 and
shutter body 12 are magnetically coupled. - In particular,
shutter body 12 advantageously comprises a pair ofpermanent magnets 127 and 127', arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially. - Furthermore, actuating means 50 of
shutter body 12 advantageously comprise at least one pair ofpermanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially, and oriented, with respect topermanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets ofshutter body 12, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially. - In other words, a pole S (N) of a
permanent magnet 127, 127' radially faces a pole N (S) ofpermanent magnet 52, 52'. - In this context, by the expression "magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially" there is intended that the poles are, with respect to the axial direction, substantially aligned to one another, although they are materially separate, in the radial direction, at least from the wall of
tubular segment 16 ofmain body 11. - In practice,
permanent magnets 52, 52' result arranged in respective positions radially external with respect tomain body 12. More in particular,permanent magnets 52 and 52' are arranged at a radial distance with respect to axis A such as to exert, through the walls ofmain body 11, a magnetic attraction onshutter body 12 such as to conveniently draw the latter in a translation motion parallel to axis A. - As is known, when different poles (N and S) of two magnets are brought in contact to one another, the magnetic poles at their facing surfaces cancel each other.
- On the contrary, if different poles (N and S) of two magnets are brought near to each other, but not in direct contact, a magnetic flow from pole N of a magnet to pole S of the other magnet is generated. However, this magnetic flow is weak and, in these circumstances, the attraction force between pole N of this first magnet and pole S of a third magnet which faces it is weak.
- If, instead, adjacent magnets face each other with the same polarity, stronger magnetic flows are generated.
- From two identical facing poles in a first pair of magnets, for example the two poles N of
pair 127, 127' ofshutter body 12, magnetic flows which are considerably stronger are generated directed towards the poles having opposite sign of a second pair of magnets facing the first - for example of two poles S of the at least one pair ofmagnets 52, 52' external tomain body 11. -
Shutter module 12 advantageously comprises (also seeFigure 2 ): - a
stem 121 having a diameter Ds smaller than the internal diameter D1 of thecylindrical segment 16, coaxial withmain body 11 and extending along axis A by a segment of length shorter than the longitudinal overall development ofcavity 17 defined internally bymain body 11; and - a plurality of
guide fins 122, which radially project fromstem 121 and which are adapted to slidingly guideshutter body 12 withinmain body 11. - Thereby, an
annular duct 124 adapted to allow the flow of a pourable product comprising suspended solid particles is advantageously defined betweenstem 121 ofshutter body 12 and the internal wall ofmain body 11. - In virtue of the above disclosed increased intensity magnetic coupling, the inventors have surprisingly found that pairs of
magnets 127, 127'; 52, 52' can be spaced so as to easily allow the passage of a two-phase liquid containing particles of a given average size without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 andshutter body 12 loosing in efficacy. - In the case shown,
shutter body 12 further comprises a projectingportion 123 having a diameter in the range between diameter Ds ofstem 121 and internal diameter D1 oftubular segment 16, and adapted to sealingly cooperate withseat 19 in the closed position. - Each
fin 122 extends radially by a length substantially equal to (D1-Ds)/2. - Preferably, diameter Ds of
stem 121 is in the range between 10 and 50 mm and the ratio (D1-Ds)/2 is in the range between 1 and 20 mm. - More preferably, diameter Ds of
stem 121 is in the range between 15 and 40 mm and the ratio (D1-Ds)/2 is in the range between 3 and 15 mm. More preferably, diameter Ds ofstem 121 is in the range between 20 and 30 mm and the ratio (D1-Ds)/2 is in the range between 5 and 10 mm. - Preferably, guide
fins 122 are arranged equally spaced angularly about axis A ofstem 121. Preferably,shutter body 12 comprises at least twoguide fins 122. - In the case shown, guide
fins 122 extend in a longitudinal direction parallelly to axis A by an overall length shorter than the overall length ofstem 121. Preferably,shutter body 12 comprises first andsecond fins 122, 122' arranged according to the same angular distribution about axis A. Thereby, the stability ofshutter body 12 withinmain body 11 results advantageously increased. - Preferably, as shown in
Figure 3 , eachfin 122, 122' has a substantially hexagonal right section elongated in an axial direction, so as to display two inclined faces to the flow of two-phase product which passes throughduct 124, so that the two-phase product is conveniently deviated so as to flow aroundfins 122. Other geometries of fins 122 (for example an ogival section) can be similarly advantageous. - Advantageously, stem 121 of
shutter body 12 comprises (seeFigures 1 and2 ) atubular portion 125 defining internally acavity 126 having a substantially cylindrical development, in which the pair ofpermanent magnets 127 and 127' is housed, arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnet poles facing each other axially. - Advantageously, stem 121 further comprises an
upstream end portion 121M, for example a conical or frustoconical portion, which may be fixed, preferably in a releasable manner (for example by means of an appropriate threading, not shown in detail), totubular portion 125 so as to stably contain incavity 126 the pair ofpermanent magnets 127 and 127'. - Preferably, stem 121 also comprises a
downstream end portion 121V adapted to cooperate, in the closed position ofFigure 1 , with fillingmouth 15 ofmain body 11. - In the case shown in
Figures 1 and2 ,downstream end portion 121V extends fromprojection portion 123 facing towardsmouth 15 and comprises a substantiallyfrustoconical portion 128 having an increasing diameter fromprojection portion 123 towardsmouth 15 and a substantiallyconical portion 129 with thevertex facing mouth 15. In practice, in the case shown, it is theconical portion 129 that cooperates to close mouth 15 (Figure 1 ). -
Shutter body 12 is slidingly housed withincavity 17 ofmain body 11 and is in particular mobile, withincavity 17, between a relative closed position (seeFigure 1 ), in which shutterbody 12 cooperates, at least at relative projectingportion 12, withseat 19 defined bymain body 11; and a relative maximum open position (seeFigure 2 ), in which shutterbody 12 leaves the passage inmain body 11 atseat 19 free at the maximum. - Preferably, in the closed position of
Figure 1 ,shutter body 12 cooperates withmain body 11 also atmouth 15 by means ofdownstream end portion 121V. - In greater detail, actuating means 50 of
shutter body 12 comprise: - an actuator (not shown for simplicity but of the type disclose, for example, in co-pending patent application in the name of the same Applicant, by the title "magnetically actuated flow-rate selector member, flow-rate regulator and filling machine"), for example of the pneumatic type and comprising a sliding piston within a cavity defined internally by a fixed body with respect to
main body 11, the piston being mobile between relative upstream and downstream stop positions corresponding to the maximum closed and open positions of the aseptic batcher 1; and - a tubular body 51 external to, coaxial with and sliding along
main body 11. - External tubular body 51 is mobile integrally with the actuator and is therefore also mobile between relative upstream (see
Figure 2 ) and downstream (seeFigure 1 ) stop positions, which correspond to the maximum closed and open positions of aseptic batcher 1. - Furthermore, the at least one pair of
permanent magnets 52 and 52' arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially, is advantageously housed within external tubular body 51,permanent magnets 52 and 52' being coupled magnetically with shutter body 12 (i.e. withpermanent magnets 127 and 127'). More in particular,permanent magnets 52 and 52' of the at least one pair of magnets of externaltubular body 52 are arranged with respect topermanent magnets 127, 127' of the pair of magnets internal to stem 121, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially. - In other words, a pole S (N) of a
permanent magnet 127, 127' radially faces a pole N (S) ofpermanent magnet 52, 52'. - As previously stated, this specific reciprocal arrangement determines a considerably increased attraction force between
shutter body 12 and external tubular body 51, such that a distance can be interposed between pair ofmagnets 127, 127' and the at least one pair ofmagnets 52, 52', the distance being given, as well as by the wall oftubular segment 16, by the radial development offins 122, without the magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 andshutter body 12 seizing. - According to a variant, as shown in particular in
Figure 1 with specific reference to a pair ofmagnets 52, 52', the permanent magnets can be advantageously formed by sets of smaller magnets stacked so that in each set there is in any case an overall orientation of the polarities equivalent to that of a single larger magnet. It will be understood that this alternative solution can be advantageously extended to any pair of magnets in filling valve 1, comprising that ofmagnets 127, 127' internal to stem 121 ofshutter body 12. - Moreover, similarly to stem 121, in the case shown, also the external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one cavity 53 adapted to house a corresponding pair of
magnets 52, 52', and comprises a main portion and a covering portion fixable to the main portion, preferably in a releasable manner, so as to stably contain, within the at least one cavity 53, the corresponding at least one pair ofpermanent magnets 52, 52'. Preferably, external tubular element 51 defines therein at least one plurality of cavities 53 within which a corresponding plurality of pairs ofpermanent magnets 52, 52' is housed, arranged preferably equally spaced angularly about axis A. - By the effect of magnetic coupling between actuating means 50 and
shutter body 12, the actuation (for example pneumatic actuation) of actuating means - i.e., for example, the resulting translating motion of the above said piston within the relative cavity - conveniently determines a corresponding axially directed translating motion ofshutter body 12 withinmain body 11. - For this purpose, filling valve 1 can be conveniently inserted in a filling station advantageously also comprising control means (not shown) adapted to actuate batcher 1 according to the desired filling procedure.
- Furthermore, filling valve 1 can also be used to implement a filling procedure which provides the steps of fast and slow filling, at which the degree of opening of filling valve 1 (i.e. the position of shutter body 12) can be appropriately adjusted providing a partial opening configuration, corresponding to slow filling, in which shutter
body 12 is conveniently brought to an intermediate position between the closed position (Figure 1 ) and the maximum open position (Figure 2 ) which corresponds to the rapid filling. - In particular, by appropriately controlling actuating means 50 - for example in response to a predetermined signal which is a function of the degree of filling of the container - filling valve 1 can be rapidly switched between the respective maximum open configuration (
Figure 2 ) and totally closed configuration (Figure 1 ) and guarantee at every moment in time an aseptic environment in which the pourable product flows. - From an analysis of the characteristics of filling valve 1 according to the present invention, the advantages it allows to obtain are apparent.
- In particular, filling valve 1 allows to carry out the filing of a container with a two-phase pourable product according to the typical needs of the sector of the filling machines for the food sector, ensuring the desired aseptic conditions and very short response times to switch between different degrees of opening/closing of the batcher.
- In particular, at the preferred ranges of values determined for the diameter of stem Ds and for ratio (D1-Ds)/2, especially satisfactory results have obtained as regards the response of filling valve 1 to a relative actuation signal issued by the control unit, together with an optimum functionality in case of the dosage of fruit juices containing fibres and fruit pulp (for example orange juice).
- At the same time, filling valve 1 allows to easily fill containers with a two-phase pourable product, providing for this purpose a duct having a size appropriately compatible with that of the particles contained in the pourable product that flows along the duct. Thereby, the filling valve according to the invention allows to considerably reduce the occurrence of obstructions, even partial ones, thus limiting accordingly the need for maintenance intervention and, as a consequence, down times.
Claims (6)
- A filing valve (1) comprising:- a main body (11) at least partially defining a feeding duct for a pourable product;- a shutter body (12) mobile, within said main body (11), between a relative closed position, in which said shutter body (12) sealingly engages a passage section (19) of said feeding duct, and a relative maximum open position in which said body (12) leaves said passage section (19) free at the maximum; and- actuating means (50) of said shutter body (12); wherein said shutter body (12) comprises a stem (121) and a plurality of fins (122, 122') radially projecting from said stem (121) and adapted to slidingly guide said shutter body (12) within said main body (11), and said main body (11) comprises a tubular segment (16) within which said shutter body (12) slides, the diameter (Ds) of said stem (121) being smaller than the internal diameter (D1) of said tubular segment (16);the filling valve further comprising an annular duct (124) adapted to allow the flow of a pourable product comprising suspended solid particles being defined between said stem (121) and the internal wall of said main body (11); characterised in that said actuating means (50) comprise at least one first pair of magnets (52, 52') external to said main body (11), arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially and movable in an axial direction; said shutter body (12) comprises a second pair of magnets (127, 127') arranged adjacent to one another with identical magnetic poles facing each other axially, magnetically coupled with said at least first pair of magnets (52, 52') to move in an axial direction together therewith and arranged, with respect thereto, with different magnetic poles reciprocally facing radially; and in that said diameter (Ds) of the stem is comprised in the range between 10 and 50 mm, the ratio (D1-Ds)/2 is in the range from 1 to 20.
- The filling valve according to claim 1, wherein said shutter body (12) comprises a projecting portion (123) having a diameter in the range between the diameter (Ds) of said stem (121) and the internal diameter (D1) of said tubular segment (16), and adapted to sealingly cooperate with said passage section (19) when the shutter body (12) is in the relative closed position.
- The filling valve according to claim 2, wherein said stem (121) comprises a downstream end portion (121V) which extends from said projecting portion (123) facing towards a filling mouth (15) of said main body (11) and is adapted to cooperate with said filling mouth (15) when the shutter body (12) is in the relative closed position.
- The filling valve according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said fins (122, 122') are at least two and are arranged equally spaced angularly about the axis (A) of said stem (121).
- The filling valve according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said fins (122, 122') has a hexagonal right section elongated in the axial direction.
- A filling machine comprising a filling valve (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000936A ITTO20110936A1 (en) | 2011-10-18 | 2011-10-18 | DOSING BODY FOR FILLING MACHINE |
PCT/IB2012/055701 WO2013057695A1 (en) | 2011-10-18 | 2012-10-18 | Batcher for filling machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2768763A1 EP2768763A1 (en) | 2014-08-27 |
EP2768763B1 true EP2768763B1 (en) | 2017-04-12 |
Family
ID=45470649
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP12794495.7A Active EP2768763B1 (en) | 2011-10-18 | 2012-10-18 | Filling valve for filling machine |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2768763B1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITTO20110936A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2013057695A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11374480B2 (en) | 2016-12-28 | 2022-06-28 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Magnetic coupler with force balancing |
Families Citing this family (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2015140186A (en) * | 2014-01-27 | 2015-08-03 | 秋元産機株式会社 | Cut nozzle of filler filling machine |
DE102014106582B4 (en) * | 2014-05-09 | 2017-08-17 | Groninger GmbH & Co. KG | Filling needle for filling a container with a fluid |
CN104048145A (en) * | 2014-06-10 | 2014-09-17 | 苏州柏德纳科技有限公司 | Support for milk filling machine |
DE102015110063A1 (en) * | 2015-06-23 | 2016-12-29 | Khs Gmbh | Filling element and filling system as well as filling machine for filling of packaging materials |
EP3165500A1 (en) | 2015-11-06 | 2017-05-10 | Sidel Participations | A flow control valve for a filling machine |
CN105257833B (en) * | 2015-11-10 | 2018-03-30 | 江苏新美星包装机械股份有限公司 | A kind of magnetic force filling apparatus |
EP3176126B1 (en) * | 2015-12-04 | 2018-08-08 | Sidel Participations | A filling device for a filling machine |
EP3323773A1 (en) | 2016-11-21 | 2018-05-23 | Sidel Participations | A filling machine for filling receptacles with a pourable product |
GB2610341B (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2023-06-07 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Magnetic coupler with force balancing |
EP3473590B1 (en) | 2017-10-19 | 2020-02-12 | Sidel Participations | Improved filling device for a filling machine |
CN110500434B (en) * | 2019-09-25 | 2024-05-28 | 江西鸥迪铜业有限公司 | Valve core for electronic expansion valve |
JP7395743B2 (en) * | 2019-12-19 | 2023-12-11 | シデル パルティシパション | Filling equipment for filling articles with injectable products |
CN112169633A (en) * | 2020-09-22 | 2021-01-05 | 安徽安丰堂动物药业有限公司 | Dispensing device of animal remedy |
CN112265949B (en) * | 2020-09-23 | 2022-03-25 | 广东十长生化妆品制造有限公司 | Cosmetic quantitative discharging device capable of automatically adjusting according to flow |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPH0651519B2 (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1994-07-06 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Aseptic filling valve |
DE4040148A1 (en) * | 1990-11-16 | 1992-05-21 | Asys Gmbh | VALVE |
FR2785598B1 (en) * | 1998-11-09 | 2000-12-01 | Sidel Sa | METHOD FOR PRECISION FILLING A CONTAINER WITH A LIQUID AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING IT |
JP2002054763A (en) * | 2000-08-11 | 2002-02-20 | Shibuya Kogyo Co Ltd | Magnet valve |
FR2951445B1 (en) * | 2009-10-15 | 2011-12-02 | Serac Group | VALVE FILLING FILLER AND SECONDARY SHUTTER WITH INTERCALATING ACTUATOR |
-
2011
- 2011-10-18 IT IT000936A patent/ITTO20110936A1/en unknown
-
2012
- 2012-10-18 WO PCT/IB2012/055701 patent/WO2013057695A1/en active Application Filing
- 2012-10-18 EP EP12794495.7A patent/EP2768763B1/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11374480B2 (en) | 2016-12-28 | 2022-06-28 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Magnetic coupler with force balancing |
NO347768B1 (en) * | 2016-12-28 | 2024-03-18 | Halliburton Energy Services Inc | Magnetic coupler with force balancing |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2768763A1 (en) | 2014-08-27 |
ITTO20110936A1 (en) | 2013-04-19 |
WO2013057695A1 (en) | 2013-04-25 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2768763B1 (en) | Filling valve for filling machine | |
US11148924B2 (en) | Filling valve and filling machine for filling receptacles | |
EP2768764B1 (en) | Magnetically actuated flow-rate selector | |
US20170130860A1 (en) | Flow control valve for filling machine | |
EP3176126B1 (en) | A filling device for a filling machine | |
EP3543205B1 (en) | Filling valve, filling machine and method for filling receptacles | |
JP2019500281A (en) | Low splash fluid shut-off valve assembly | |
WO2019121151A1 (en) | Method for controlling a modulating filling valve and filling device for performing such method | |
US9114969B2 (en) | Filling device having a flow regulation system | |
WO2018091291A1 (en) | A filling machine for filling receptacles with a pourable product | |
US11970382B2 (en) | Filling device configured to fill articles with a pourable product | |
EP3925928A1 (en) | Filling device for filling a receptacle | |
EP3898496B1 (en) | A filling device for filling a receptacle and a filling machine | |
WO2021121592A1 (en) | Filling device for filling articles with a pourable product | |
US9976669B2 (en) | Container treatment plant and method for displacing a valve or a diverting unit of a container treatment plant | |
EP3795533A1 (en) | Valve for a pourable product and filling machine having a valve for a pourable product | |
CN113557208B (en) | Filling device for filling containers and sterilization method therefor | |
WO2024041801A1 (en) | Filling device with a valve comprising a magnetic shutter | |
WO2023208605A1 (en) | Filling device for filling containers with a pourable product | |
CN103183300A (en) | Contactless filling device and control method thereof | |
CN113795456A (en) | Filling valve for filling a container with a pourable product | |
WO2013057696A1 (en) | Magnetically actuated flow- rate selector |
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: 20140416 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20161012 |
|
GRAJ | Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
INTC | Intention to grant announced (deleted) | ||
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20170210 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM 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: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 883654 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20170515 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602012031119 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: MP Effective date: 20170412 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 883654 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20170412 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
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: 20170412 |
|
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: 20170713 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: 20170412 Ref country code: HR 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 Ref country code: NO 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: 20170712 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: 20170412 |
|
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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170812 Ref country code: RS 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170712 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602012031119 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 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: 20170412 |
|
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: SM 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: 20170412 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20180115 |
|
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: 20170412 Ref country code: MC 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: 20170412 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20171018 |
|
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: LU Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171018 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171031 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171031 Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171018 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20171031 |
|
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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171031 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: FR Ref legal event code: PLFP Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20171018 |
|
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: 20171018 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
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; INVALID AB INITIO Effective date: 20121018 |
|
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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20170412 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: MK 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: 20170412 |
|
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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20170412 |
|
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: 20170412 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL 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: 20170412 |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230306 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20230920 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20230920 Year of fee payment: 12 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20230920 Year of fee payment: 12 |