EP3328740B1 - Machine for wrapping confectionery products - Google Patents
Machine for wrapping confectionery products Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3328740B1 EP3328740B1 EP16758272.5A EP16758272A EP3328740B1 EP 3328740 B1 EP3328740 B1 EP 3328740B1 EP 16758272 A EP16758272 A EP 16758272A EP 3328740 B1 EP3328740 B1 EP 3328740B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- wrapping
- station
- gripper
- confectionery product
- product
- 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
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 title claims description 31
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 244000299461 Theobroma cacao Species 0.000 description 3
- 235000019219 chocolate Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000006748 scratching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002393 scratching effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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
- 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
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
- B65B11/38—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a combination of straight and curved paths
-
- 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
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/54—Wrapping by causing the wrapper to embrace one end and all sides of the contents, and closing the wrapper onto the opposite end by forming regular or irregular pleats
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
- B65B35/10—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles
- B65B35/16—Feeding, e.g. conveying, single articles by grippers
-
- 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
- B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
- B65B49/02—Fixed or resiliently-mounted folders, e.g. non-driven rollers
-
- 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
- B65B49/00—Devices for folding or bending wrappers around contents
- B65B49/06—Resilient folders, e.g. brushes, diaphragms
Definitions
- This invention relates to a machine for wrapping confectionery products.
- the invention can be applied to the wrapping of confectionery products such as chocolates for example, to which this description will hereinafter refer but without losing in generality, and food products in general.
- Known from the prior art are machines for wrapping confectionery products, comprising a transfer drum for transferring a succession of products from a conveyor belt to a wrapping unit.
- the wrapping unit is the part of the wrapping machine which folds the sheet of wrapping material around the product after the sheet has been associated with the product.
- the wrapping device comprises a first and a second folder roller tangent to each other at a product transfer station where the selfsame products pass from the first folder roller to the second.
- the first folder roller places a sheet of wrapping material round the respective product and the second folder roller, which is equipped with product retaining grippers, wraps the sheet of wrapping material round the corresponding product.
- prior art machines comprise a series of fixed or movable folders, operating at the first and second folder rollers to fold the sheet of wrapping material around the product to be wrapped.
- the main technical purpose of this invention is to propose a wrapping machine for confectionery products which is free of the above mentioned disadvantages.
- One aim of this invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products which works at higher speeds than prior art solutions.
- Another aim of the invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products where the confectionery products are always positioned correctly relative to the respective sheets of wrapping material.
- a further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products which is more versatile than prior art solutions.
- the reference numeral 1 denotes an intermittently operating machine for wrapping confectionery or food products 100 such as, for example, chocolates, which this description expressly refers to but without losing in generality.
- the product 100 has a base surface 101, or base, a lateral surface 102, a top surface 103, or top, and a main axis A1 at right angles to the base surface 101.
- each product 100 is described with reference to three axes A1, A2, A3 at right angles to each other and centred in the product 100 itself.
- the machine 1 comprises a wrapping unit 2 of substantially known type for wrapping the confectionery product 100 and described only insofar as necessary for understanding this invention.
- the wrapping unit 2 is the part of the wrapping machine 1 which folds the wrapping sheet around the product after the sheet has been associated with the product.
- the unit 2 comprises a folding head 3 which is rotatable about an axis R3 and equipped with a plurality of grippers 3a for picking up the product 100.
- the machine 1 comprises a feed unit 4 for feeding the products 100 to the wrapping unit 2.
- the feed unit 4 extends upstream of the wrapping unit 2 according to a feed direction V of the products 100.
- the feed unit 4 comprises a conveyor belt 5 for the products 100.
- the conveyor belt 5 has an upper section 5a extending substantially horizontally and movable along a feed line D in the product feed direction V.
- the belt 5 feeds a succession of products 100 spaced from each other by a predetermined spacing and positioned on the section 5a by an arranging device of substantially known type and not illustrated.
- the products 100 rest on the section 5a on their bases 101 in such a way that the axis A1 is substantially at right angles to the section 5a itself and the axis A3 is parallel to the feed line D.
- the feed unit 4 has a pickup station 6 into which the belt 5 feeds the products 100.
- the feed unit 4 comprises a first gripper 7 which is movable between the pickup station 6 and an exchange station 8.
- the gripper 7 comprises a first and a second jaw 9, 10 movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position, illustrated for example in Figure 3 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example in Figure 1 , for gripping the product 100 in the pickup station 6.
- the jaws 9, 10 are rotatable about respective axes of rotation not illustrated.
- Each jaw 9, 10 comprises a respective gripping portion 9a, 10a for picking up the product 100 and which grips the product 100 by two opposite portions of its lateral surface 102.
- the gripping portions 9a, 10a for picking up the product 100 are rotatable about an axis R10, illustrated, for example, in Figures 1 and 4 , which coincides for both of the gripping portions 9a, 10a when the jaws are at the close-together position.
- the axis R10 extends substantially horizontally and at right angles to the jaws 9, 10 in the pickup station 6.
- the axis of rotation R10 is at right angles to the axis A1 of the product 100 and to the aforementioned line D, that is to say, it is parallel to the axis A2 of the product 100 in the pickup station 6.
- the portions 9a, 10a are rotatable by 90 sexagesimal degrees about the axis R10 so that at the end of one rotation of the gripping portions 9a, 10a, the axis A1 is parallel to the line of feed D.
- the gripper 7 is movable along a first circular arc 11 between a first operating position at the pickup station 6 and a second operating position in the exchange station 8 to grip the product 100 in the pickup station 6 and feed it to the exchange station 8.
- the gripper 7 is movable along the arc 11 about an axis of rotation R7 preferably parallel to the axis R3.
- the gripper 7 is movable from the exchange station 8 to the pickup station 6 along the same arc 11. In other words, in use, the gripper 7 oscillates along the arc 11.
- the gripper 7, in one work cycle travels the arc 11 clockwise from the pickup station 6 to the exchange station 8 and travels the arc 11 anticlockwise from the exchange station 8 to the pickup station 6 to pick up another product 100 to be wrapped.
- the arc 11 is hereinafter referred to as a first trajectory followed by the product 100 in the movement of the gripper 7 about the axis R7..
- the axis R10 extends radially relative to the axis R7 when the jaws 9, 10 are in the close-together position.
- gripping portions 9a, 10a are rotatable about the axis R10, they rotate about the axis R10 through 90° along the arc 11 from the pickup station 6 to the exchange station 8 and return to the initial position during the return of the gripper 7 from the exchange station 8 to the pickup station 6.
- the feed unit 4 comprises a second gripper 13 which is movable between the exchange station 8 and a delivery station 14 where the product 100 is delivered to the wrapping unit 2.
- the gripper 13 comprises a first and a second jaw 15, 16 movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position, illustrated for example in Figure 4 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example in Figures 1 and 2 , for gripping the product 100.
- the jaws 15, 16 are rotatable about respective axes of rotation not illustrated.
- Each jaw 15, 16 comprises a respective gripping portion for picking up the product 100 and which grips the product 100 by two opposite portions of its lateral surface 102.
- the gripper 13 is movable along a second circular arc 17 between a first operating position at the exchange station 8 and a second operating position in the delivery station 14 to pick up the product 100 from the gripper 7 in the exchange station 8 and feed it to the delivery station 14.
- the gripper 13 is movable along the arc 17 about an axis of rotation R13 preferably parallel to the axis R3.
- the gripper 13 is movable from the delivery station 14 to the exchange station 8 along the same arc 17. In other words, in use, the gripper 13 oscillates along the arc 17.
- the gripper 13 in one work cycle, travels the arc 17 clockwise from the exchange station 8 to the delivery station 14 and travels the arc 17 anticlockwise from the delivery station 14 to the exchange station 8 to pick up another product 100 from the gripper 7.
- the arc 17 is hereinafter referred to as a second trajectory followed by the product 100 in the movement of the gripper 13 about the axis R.
- the gripper 7 and the gripper 13 rotate about the same main axis of rotation R to which express reference is hereinafter made without losing in generality and corresponding to the axes R7 and R13.
- the gripper 7 and the gripper 13 are rotatable about the same main axis of rotation and the arcs 11 and 17 are concentric.
- the arcs 11 and 17 are contiguous.
- the circular arc 11 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees.
- the circular arc 11 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle of 45 sexagesimal degrees.
- the circular arc 17 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees.
- the circular arc 17 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle of 45 sexagesimal degrees.
- the arc 11 and the arc 17, that is, the first and the second trajectory, are preferably consecutive.
- the arcs 11 and 17 together subtend an angle of 90 sexagesimal degrees at the centre on the main axis R.
- the product 100 is therefore transferred from the pickup station 6 to the delivery station 14 by a rotation of 90 sexagesimal degrees performed partly by the gripper 7 and partly by the gripper 13.
- the product 100 follows a trajectory having the shape of a circular arc subtending in its entirety an angle of 90 sexagesimal degrees.
- the second gripper 13 picks up the product 100 held by the first gripper 7 (which at that moment opens) and feeds it along the second trajectory 17. With reference in particular to Figure 2 , it may be observed that the gripper 13 picks up the product 100 by two opposing portions of the lateral surface 102 alternated with the portions of the lateral surface 102 by which the product 100 is picked by the gripper 7.
- the product 100 is centred by the gripper 7 relative to the machine 1 along the axis A2 and in the station 8, it is centred by the gripper 13, again relative to the machine 1 along the axis A3.
- the product 100 is correctly centred relative to a sheet of wrapping material, as explained in more detail below.
- the gripper 13 picks the product 100 up by the base 101 and by the top 103 following rotation of the gripping portions 9a, 10a about the axis R10, that is, following rotation of the product 100 about the axis A2.
- the product 100 is centred by the gripper 7 relative to the machine 1 along the axis A2 and in the station 8, it is centred by the gripper 13, again relative to the machine 1 along the axis A1.
- the product 100 is centred relative to the axis of rotation R3 of the wrapping head 3.
- the movement of the first and second grippers 7, 13 about the axis R is obtained by a system of oscillating conjugate cams, not described in detail, which also controls the opening and closing of the jaws 9, 10 and of the jaws 15, 16.
- a first cam is provided to open and close the first gripper 7
- a second cam causes the first gripper 7 to rotate about the axis R
- a third cam is provided to open and close the second gripper 13
- a fourth cam causes the second gripper 13 to rotate about the axis R.
- the feed unit 4 comprises a transfer device 18 operating at the delivery station 14 to transfer the product 100 from the gripper 13 to the wrapping unit 2 and to deliver it in substantially known manner to one of the aforementioned grippers 3a.
- the transfer device 18 is movable between the delivery station 14 and the wrapping unit 2 preferably along a rectilinear path P at right angles to the axis of rotation R3 of the head 3.
- the transfer device 18 comprises a pusher 19 and a counter-pusher 20 movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position, illustrated for example in Figure 2 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example in Figure 1 , where the product 100 is picked up in the delivery station 14.
- the transfer device 18 picks the product 100 up by two opposite portions of its lateral surface 102 and the axis A3 is parallel to the transfer path P of the products 100 following rotation of the product about the axis R10.
- the transfer device 18 picks the product 100 up by the base 101 and by the top 103 and the axis A1 is parallel to the transfer path P of the products 100.
- the transfer device 18 with the pusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 in the close-together position is movable in a straight line along the path P which, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, is substantially horizontal.
- the machine 1 in particular the wrapping unit 2, comprises a feeder device 21 for feeding a sheet 200 of wrapping material and operating along the path P to associate the sheet 200 of wrapping material with the confectionery product 100.
- the device 21 is located in the delivery station 14.
- the delivery station 14 defines an infeed station of the wrapping unit 2, substantially where a sheet 200 is associated with each product 100.
- the product 100 Once the product 100 is provided with the sheet 200 of wrapping material, it enters the wrapping unit 2 proper which folds the sheet 200 around the product 100 in substantially known manner.
- the device 21 is schematically represented as a block and is positioned relative to the path P in such a way as to feed the sheet 200 in a transverse direction, preferably at right angles to the path P itself.
- the sheet 200 is fed vertically, preferably from the top down with reference to the drawings; that is to say, the plane of the paper is vertical.
- the feeder device 21, the pusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 are positioned relative to each other and coordinated in such a way that the pusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 hold the sheet of wrapping material 200 together with the confectionery product 100 along the path P.
- the sheet 200 is positioned relative to the product 100 which is held by the gripper 13 at a predetermined position.
- the pusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 move into the close-together position while holding both the product 100 and the sheet 200 in order to feed them to the folding head 3.
- the wrapping unit 2 comprises a first and a second abutment 22, 23, or fixed folders, located along the path P in such a way as to fold the sheet 200 substantially into the shape of a U around the product 100 during a stroke of the transfer device 18 from the delivery station 14 towards the folding head 3.
- the device 18 thus delivers the product 100 provided with the sheet 200 folded into a U to a corresponding gripper 3a..
- the product 100 and the sheet 200 are correctly positioned relative to each other at all times since the product 100 is always exactly centred on all the axes.
- the machine 1 comprises a brush element 24, of substantially known type, defining a channel 25 for the passage of the product 100 and the sheet 200 in such a way as to stretch the sheet 200 on the corresponding product before they are delivered to the gripper 3a.
- the brush element 24 is positioned along the rectilinear path P in such a way that the product 100 and the corresponding sheet 200 cross the channel 25 during transfer by the transfer device 18 between the delivery station 14 and the wrapping unit 2.
- first and second grippers to position the product for the transfer device and for the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material means that product movements require less accelerations than in prior art solutions and hence operating speeds are increased very significantly.
- the product is fed along the delivery path of the conveyor belt to the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material and to the wrapping unit 2, in particular to the folding head, by two grippers instead of, for example, the pair of rollers normally used in continuously operating machines of known type.
- first gripper and the second gripper to move the product from the conveyor belt to the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material causes the product to be precisely centred relative to the sheet of wrapping material.
- the grippers When particularly fragile products such as filled chocolates, for example, are being wrapped, use of the grippers when a product breaks guarantees that the machine will remain clean and, above all, allows the machine to continue working because the product simply drops out without soiling or clogging up cavities or pockets used to hold the products.
- the grippers hold the product without scratching or scraping it, which means, in practice, that the machine remains cleaner than in known solutions and that the product is handled very gently at all times, without being damaged.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to a machine for wrapping confectionery products.
- More specifically, the invention can be applied to the wrapping of confectionery products such as chocolates for example, to which this description will hereinafter refer but without losing in generality, and food products in general.
- Known from the prior art are machines for wrapping confectionery products, comprising a transfer drum for transferring a succession of products from a conveyor belt to a wrapping unit.
- Generally speaking, the wrapping unit is the part of the wrapping machine which folds the sheet of wrapping material around the product after the sheet has been associated with the product.
- Generally speaking, the wrapping device comprises a first and a second folder roller tangent to each other at a product transfer station where the selfsame products pass from the first folder roller to the second.
- More specifically, the first folder roller places a sheet of wrapping material round the respective product and the second folder roller, which is equipped with product retaining grippers, wraps the sheet of wrapping material round the corresponding product.
- Depending on the shape of the product and the type of wrapping required - for example a "bunch-fold" wrap or a "boero" style single twist wrap - prior art machines comprise a series of fixed or movable folders, operating at the first and second folder rollers to fold the sheet of wrapping material around the product to be wrapped.
- An example of a machine for making a "boero" style single wrappers is described in patent application
WO2014076627 in the name of the same Applicant as this application. - Another example of a wrapping machine for confectionery products having two sets of gripping means to transfer a product to be wrapped together with a corresponding wrapping sheet from a pickup station on a infeed conveyor onto a delivery station on a wrapping wheel, via an intermediate exchange station, can be found in
patent document EP 1 671 885 A1 . - One disadvantage of prior art wrapping machines is due to the complexity of the movements to be imparted to the product to be wrapped in order to position it correctly relative to the wrapping device.
- Another disadvantage of prior art wrapping machines is that owing to the presence of the transfer roller and of the moving folder rollers and the need to transfer the products to be wrapped from one roller to the other, the maximum operating speed of the machine is limited.
- Furthermore, changeover to a different product size or wrapping style is a time-consuming procedure requiring adjustments and changes involving not only the transfer drum but also the retaining grippers and folders.
- In this context, the main technical purpose of this invention is to propose a wrapping machine for confectionery products which is free of the above mentioned disadvantages.
- One aim of this invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products which works at higher speeds than prior art solutions.
- Another aim of the invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products where the confectionery products are always positioned correctly relative to the respective sheets of wrapping material.
- A further aim of the invention is to provide a machine for wrapping confectionery products which is more versatile than prior art solutions.
- The technical purpose and aims specified are substantially achieved by a wrapping machine according to
claim 1. - Further features of the invention and its advantages are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a wrapping machine for confectionery products, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing a wrapping machine according to this invention in a first operating configuration; -
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing the machine ofFigure 1 in a second operating configuration; -
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing the machine ofFigure 1 in a third operating configuration; -
Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing the machine ofFigure 1 in a fourth operating configuration; -
Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view, with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing a second embodiment of a wrapping machine according to this invention. - With particular reference to the accompanying drawings, the
reference numeral 1 denotes an intermittently operating machine for wrapping confectionery orfood products 100 such as, for example, chocolates, which this description expressly refers to but without losing in generality. With reference in particular toFigure 5 , theproduct 100 has abase surface 101, or base, alateral surface 102, atop surface 103, or top, and a main axis A1 at right angles to thebase surface 101. - For convenience, each
product 100 is described with reference to three axes A1, A2, A3 at right angles to each other and centred in theproduct 100 itself. - The
machine 1 comprises awrapping unit 2 of substantially known type for wrapping theconfectionery product 100 and described only insofar as necessary for understanding this invention. - As will become clearer as this description continues, the
wrapping unit 2 is the part of thewrapping machine 1 which folds the wrapping sheet around the product after the sheet has been associated with the product. - The
unit 2 comprises a foldinghead 3 which is rotatable about an axis R3 and equipped with a plurality ofgrippers 3a for picking up theproduct 100. - The
machine 1 comprises afeed unit 4 for feeding theproducts 100 to thewrapping unit 2. - The
feed unit 4 extends upstream of thewrapping unit 2 according to a feed direction V of theproducts 100. - The
feed unit 4 comprises aconveyor belt 5 for theproducts 100. - The
conveyor belt 5 has anupper section 5a extending substantially horizontally and movable along a feed line D in the product feed direction V. - More specifically, the
belt 5 feeds a succession ofproducts 100 spaced from each other by a predetermined spacing and positioned on thesection 5a by an arranging device of substantially known type and not illustrated. - The
products 100 rest on thesection 5a on theirbases 101 in such a way that the axis A1 is substantially at right angles to thesection 5a itself and the axis A3 is parallel to the feed line D. - The
feed unit 4 has apickup station 6 into which thebelt 5 feeds theproducts 100. - The
feed unit 4 comprises afirst gripper 7 which is movable between thepickup station 6 and an exchange station 8. - The
gripper 7 comprises a first and asecond jaw Figure 3 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example inFigure 1 , for gripping theproduct 100 in thepickup station 6. - The
jaws - Each
jaw respective gripping portion product 100 and which grips theproduct 100 by two opposite portions of itslateral surface 102. - In one embodiment of the
machine 1, designed to make "boero" style single twist wraps, the grippingportions product 100 are rotatable about an axis R10, illustrated, for example, inFigures 1 and4 , which coincides for both of the grippingportions - The axis R10 extends substantially horizontally and at right angles to the
jaws pickup station 6. - In practice, the axis of rotation R10 is at right angles to the axis A1 of the
product 100 and to the aforementioned line D, that is to say, it is parallel to the axis A2 of theproduct 100 in thepickup station 6. - Preferably, the
portions gripping portions - The
gripper 7 is movable along a firstcircular arc 11 between a first operating position at thepickup station 6 and a second operating position in the exchange station 8 to grip theproduct 100 in thepickup station 6 and feed it to the exchange station 8. - The
gripper 7 is movable along thearc 11 about an axis of rotation R7 preferably parallel to the axis R3. - Preferably, the
gripper 7 is movable from the exchange station 8 to thepickup station 6 along thesame arc 11. In other words, in use, thegripper 7 oscillates along thearc 11. - In practice, with reference to
Figures 1 to 4 , thegripper 7, in one work cycle, travels thearc 11 clockwise from thepickup station 6 to the exchange station 8 and travels thearc 11 anticlockwise from the exchange station 8 to thepickup station 6 to pick up anotherproduct 100 to be wrapped. - For convenience, the
arc 11 is hereinafter referred to as a first trajectory followed by theproduct 100 in the movement of thegripper 7 about the axis R7.. - In use, during the rotation of the
gripper 7, the axis R10 extends radially relative to the axis R7 when thejaws - During one rotation of the
gripper 7 about the axis R7, clockwise looking at the accompanying drawings, thejaws pickup station 6 to the spaced-apart position in the exchange station 8. - If the
gripping portions arc 11 from thepickup station 6 to the exchange station 8 and return to the initial position during the return of thegripper 7 from the exchange station 8 to thepickup station 6. - The
feed unit 4 comprises asecond gripper 13 which is movable between the exchange station 8 and a delivery station 14 where theproduct 100 is delivered to thewrapping unit 2. - The
gripper 13 comprises a first and asecond jaw Figure 4 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example inFigures 1 and2 , for gripping theproduct 100. - The
jaws - Each
jaw product 100 and which grips theproduct 100 by two opposite portions of itslateral surface 102. - The
gripper 13 is movable along a secondcircular arc 17 between a first operating position at the exchange station 8 and a second operating position in the delivery station 14 to pick up theproduct 100 from thegripper 7 in the exchange station 8 and feed it to the delivery station 14. Thegripper 13 is movable along thearc 17 about an axis of rotation R13 preferably parallel to the axis R3. - Preferably, the
gripper 13 is movable from the delivery station 14 to the exchange station 8 along thesame arc 17. In other words, in use, thegripper 13 oscillates along thearc 17. - In practice, with reference to
Figures 1 to 4 , thegripper 13, in one work cycle, travels thearc 17 clockwise from the exchange station 8 to the delivery station 14 and travels thearc 17 anticlockwise from the delivery station 14 to the exchange station 8 to pick up anotherproduct 100 from thegripper 7. - For convenience, the
arc 17 is hereinafter referred to as a second trajectory followed by theproduct 100 in the movement of thegripper 13 about the axis R. - In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the
gripper 7 and thegripper 13 rotate about the same main axis of rotation R to which express reference is hereinafter made without losing in generality and corresponding to the axes R7 and R13. - The
gripper 7 and thegripper 13 are rotatable about the same main axis of rotation and thearcs - More specifically, the
arcs - Preferably, the
circular arc 11 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees. - Preferably, the
circular arc 11 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle of 45 sexagesimal degrees. - Preferably, the
circular arc 17 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees. - Preferably, the
circular arc 17 subtends at the centre, on the main axis of rotation R, an angle of 45 sexagesimal degrees. - The
arc 11 and thearc 17, that is, the first and the second trajectory, are preferably consecutive. - In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the
arcs - The
product 100 is therefore transferred from thepickup station 6 to the delivery station 14 by a rotation of 90 sexagesimal degrees performed partly by thegripper 7 and partly by thegripper 13. - The
product 100 follows a trajectory having the shape of a circular arc subtending in its entirety an angle of 90 sexagesimal degrees. - In the exchange station 8, a point is defined where the
first gripper 7 meets thesecond gripper 13. - The
second gripper 13 picks up theproduct 100 held by the first gripper 7 (which at that moment opens) and feeds it along thesecond trajectory 17. With reference in particular toFigure 2 , it may be observed that thegripper 13 picks up theproduct 100 by two opposing portions of thelateral surface 102 alternated with the portions of thelateral surface 102 by which theproduct 100 is picked by thegripper 7. - Advantageously, in the
station 6, theproduct 100 is centred by thegripper 7 relative to themachine 1 along the axis A2 and in the station 8, it is centred by thegripper 13, again relative to themachine 1 along the axis A3. - More specifically, from the
pickup station 6 to the delivery station 14, theproduct 100 is correctly centred relative to a sheet of wrapping material, as explained in more detail below. - With reference to the embodiment designed to make "boero" style single twist wraps, the
gripper 13 picks theproduct 100 up by thebase 101 and by the top 103 following rotation of thegripping portions product 100 about the axis A2. Advantageously, in thestation 6, theproduct 100 is centred by thegripper 7 relative to themachine 1 along the axis A2 and in the station 8, it is centred by thegripper 13, again relative to themachine 1 along the axis A1. - More specifically, from the
pickup station 6 to the delivery station 14, theproduct 100 is centred relative to the axis of rotation R3 of the wrappinghead 3. - Generally speaking, the movement of the first and
second grippers jaws jaws - For example, a first cam is provided to open and close the
first gripper 7, a second cam causes thefirst gripper 7 to rotate about the axis R, a third cam is provided to open and close thesecond gripper 13, and a fourth cam causes thesecond gripper 13 to rotate about the axis R. - The
feed unit 4 comprises atransfer device 18 operating at the delivery station 14 to transfer theproduct 100 from thegripper 13 to thewrapping unit 2 and to deliver it in substantially known manner to one of theaforementioned grippers 3a. - The
transfer device 18 is movable between the delivery station 14 and thewrapping unit 2 preferably along a rectilinear path P at right angles to the axis of rotation R3 of thehead 3. - The
transfer device 18 comprises apusher 19 and a counter-pusher 20 movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position, illustrated for example inFigure 2 , and a close-together position, illustrated for example inFigure 1 , where theproduct 100 is picked up in the delivery station 14. - With reference to the machine embodiment for making "boero" style single twist wraps, the
transfer device 18 picks theproduct 100 up by two opposite portions of itslateral surface 102 and the axis A3 is parallel to the transfer path P of theproducts 100 following rotation of the product about the axis R10. - In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the
transfer device 18 picks theproduct 100 up by thebase 101 and by the top 103 and the axis A1 is parallel to the transfer path P of theproducts 100. - As mentioned, the
transfer device 18 with thepusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 in the close-together position is movable in a straight line along the path P which, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, is substantially horizontal. - The
machine 1, in particular thewrapping unit 2, comprises afeeder device 21 for feeding asheet 200 of wrapping material and operating along the path P to associate thesheet 200 of wrapping material with theconfectionery product 100. Preferably, thedevice 21 is located in the delivery station 14. - In practice, the delivery station 14 defines an infeed station of the
wrapping unit 2, substantially where asheet 200 is associated with eachproduct 100. - Once the
product 100 is provided with thesheet 200 of wrapping material, it enters thewrapping unit 2 proper which folds thesheet 200 around theproduct 100 in substantially known manner. - In the example illustrated, the
device 21 is schematically represented as a block and is positioned relative to the path P in such a way as to feed thesheet 200 in a transverse direction, preferably at right angles to the path P itself. - In other words, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the
sheet 200 is fed vertically, preferably from the top down with reference to the drawings; that is to say, the plane of the paper is vertical. - Advantageously, that way, if the
sheet 200 were to fall, it would drop freely without interfering with the operation of themachine 1. - The
feeder device 21, thepusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 are positioned relative to each other and coordinated in such a way that thepusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 hold the sheet of wrappingmaterial 200 together with theconfectionery product 100 along the path P. - In practice, in the delivery station 14, the
sheet 200 is positioned relative to theproduct 100 which is held by thegripper 13 at a predetermined position. - The
pusher 19 and the counter-pusher 20 move into the close-together position while holding both theproduct 100 and thesheet 200 in order to feed them to thefolding head 3. - The
wrapping unit 2 comprises a first and asecond abutment sheet 200 substantially into the shape of a U around theproduct 100 during a stroke of thetransfer device 18 from the delivery station 14 towards the foldinghead 3. - The
device 18 thus delivers theproduct 100 provided with thesheet 200 folded into a U to acorresponding gripper 3a.. - Thus, the
product 100 and thesheet 200 are correctly positioned relative to each other at all times since theproduct 100 is always exactly centred on all the axes. - As illustrated in
Figure 5 , themachine 1 comprises abrush element 24, of substantially known type, defining achannel 25 for the passage of theproduct 100 and thesheet 200 in such a way as to stretch thesheet 200 on the corresponding product before they are delivered to thegripper 3a. Thebrush element 24 is positioned along the rectilinear path P in such a way that theproduct 100 and thecorresponding sheet 200 cross thechannel 25 during transfer by thetransfer device 18 between the delivery station 14 and thewrapping unit 2. - The invention as described above brings important advantages.
- Using the first and second grippers to position the product for the transfer device and for the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material means that product movements require less accelerations than in prior art solutions and hence operating speeds are increased very significantly. The product is fed along the delivery path of the conveyor belt to the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material and to the
wrapping unit 2, in particular to the folding head, by two grippers instead of, for example, the pair of rollers normally used in continuously operating machines of known type. - Using the first gripper and the second gripper to move the product from the conveyor belt to the device which feeds the sheet of wrapping material causes the product to be precisely centred relative to the sheet of wrapping material.
- When particularly fragile products such as filled chocolates, for example, are being wrapped, use of the grippers when a product breaks guarantees that the machine will remain clean and, above all, allows the machine to continue working because the product simply drops out without soiling or clogging up cavities or pockets used to hold the products. Advantageously, the grippers hold the product without scratching or scraping it, which means, in practice, that the machine remains cleaner than in known solutions and that the product is handled very gently at all times, without being damaged.
Claims (13)
- A wrapping machine for wrapping a confectionery product (100) having at least a base surface (101) and a lateral surface (102), the machine comprising- a wrapping unit (2) for wrapping the confectionery product (100);- a feed unit (4) for feeding the confectionery product (100) to the wrapping unit (2), located upstream of the wrapping unit (2) according to a feed direction (V) of the confectionery product (100), to move the confectionery product (100) from a pickup station (6) to a delivery station (14),- a feeder device (21) for feeding a sheet (200) of wrapping material, located in the delivery station (14), to associate the sheet (200) of wrapping material with the confectionery product (100),
the machine being characterized in that the feed unit (4) comprises- a first gripper (7) movable about a first axis of rotation (R7) from the pickup station (6) to an exchange station (8) and vice versa along a first circular arc (11) to grip the confectionery product (100) in the pickup station (6), feed it to the exchange station (8) and return to the pickup station (6);- a second gripper (13) movable about a second axis of rotation (R13) from the exchange station (8) to the delivery station (14) and vice versa along a second circular arc (17) to grip the confectionery product (100) in the exchange station (8), feed it to the delivery station (14) and return to the exchange station (8). - The machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second axes of rotation (R7, R13) are coincident, the first and second circular arcs (11, 17) being concentric.
- The machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the feed unit (4) comprises a transfer device (18) operating at the delivery station (14) and movable between the delivery station (14) and the wrapping unit (2) along a rectilinear path (P) to transfer the confectionery product (100) from the second gripper (13) to the wrapping unit (2).
- The machine according to claim 3, wherein the wrapping unit (2) comprises a feeder device (21) for feeding a sheet (200) of wrapping material and operating along the rectilinear path (P) to associate the sheet (200) of wrapping material with the confectionery product (100) along a direction transversal to the rectilinear path (P).
- The machine according to claim 4, wherein the transfer device (18) comprises a pusher (19) and a counter-pusher (20) movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the confectionery product (100) is picked up by the second gripper (13) in the delivery station (14).
- The machine according to claim 5, wherein the feeder device (21), the pusher (19) and the counter-pusher (20) are positioned relative to each other and coordinated in such a way that the pusher (19) and the counter-pusher (20) hold the sheet (200) of wrapping material together with the confectionery product (100) along the rectilinear path (P).
- The machine according to any one of claims 3 to 6, comprising at least one brush element (24) defining a channel (25) for the passage of the confectionery product (100) and defined along the rectilinear path (P), for spreading a sheet (200) of wrapping material over the confectionery product (100) between the delivery station (14) and the wrapping unit (2).
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed unit (4) comprises a conveyor belt (5) for feeding the product (100) to the pickup station (6), the first gripper (7) picking up the product (100) from the conveyor belt (5) in the pickup station (6).
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first circular arc (11) subtends at the centre, on the first axis of rotation (R7), a first angle of between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees, the first angle at the centre being preferably 45 sexagesimal degrees.
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second circular arc (17) subtends at the centre, on the second axis of rotation (R13), a second angle of between 30 sexagesimal degrees and 60 sexagesimal degrees, the second angle at the centre being preferably 45 sexagesimal degrees.
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first circular arc (11) subtends a first angle at the centre on the first axis of rotation (R7) and the second circular arc (17) subtends a second angle at the centre on the second axis of rotation (R13), the sum of the first and second angles at the centre being 90 sexagesimal degrees, the first and the second axes of rotation (R7, R13) being coincident.
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first gripper (7) comprises a first and a second jaw (9, 10) movable relative to each other between a spaced-apart position and a close-together position where the confectionery product (100) is gripped by a respective first gripping portion (9a) and a second gripping portion (10a), both rotatable about a third axis of rotation (R10) coinciding for the first portion (9a) and for the second portion (10a) and extending radially relative to the first axis of rotation (R7) when the first and second jaws (9, 10) are in the close-together position, the first and second gripping portions (9a, 10a) being preferably rotatable by at least 90 sexagesimal degrees about the third axis (R10).
- The machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the feed unit (4) is made up of the first gripper (7) and the second gripper (13) and comprises a transfer device (18) which is movable between the delivery station (14) and the wrapping unit (2) along a rectilinear path (P) to transfer the confectionery product (100) from the second gripper (13) to the wrapping unit (2).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL16758272T PL3328740T3 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2016-07-29 | Machine for wrapping confectionery products |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITUB2015A002575A ITUB20152575A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2015-07-29 | Wrapping machine for confectionery products. |
PCT/IB2016/054569 WO2017017652A1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2016-07-29 | Machine for wrapping confectionery products |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3328740A1 EP3328740A1 (en) | 2018-06-06 |
EP3328740B1 true EP3328740B1 (en) | 2019-06-26 |
Family
ID=54329960
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16758272.5A Active EP3328740B1 (en) | 2015-07-29 | 2016-07-29 | Machine for wrapping confectionery products |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3328740B1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITUB20152575A1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL3328740T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017017652A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102017127156A1 (en) * | 2017-11-17 | 2019-05-23 | Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg | Rotary head with longitudinally movable folding channel |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB542574A (en) * | 1938-12-30 | 1942-01-16 | Lauenstein & Co G M B H | Improvements in or relating to a system of wrapping articles |
CH313274A (en) * | 1950-04-08 | 1956-03-31 | G D Societa Anonima | Mechanism of feeding objects to a machine |
ITBO20040766A1 (en) * | 2004-12-14 | 2005-03-14 | Fima Srl | POWER SUPPLY IN LINE WITH FOLDING STAR OF MACHINES FOR PACKAGING |
ES2373413T3 (en) * | 2008-04-18 | 2012-02-03 | Theegarten-Pactec Gmbh & Co. Kg | PRODUCT CONTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND CORRESPONDING PROCEDURE. |
EP2942293B8 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2017-11-29 | M.C. AUTOMATIONS S.r.l. | Apparatus for wrapping confectionery products |
-
2015
- 2015-07-29 IT ITUB2015A002575A patent/ITUB20152575A1/en unknown
-
2016
- 2016-07-29 WO PCT/IB2016/054569 patent/WO2017017652A1/en unknown
- 2016-07-29 EP EP16758272.5A patent/EP3328740B1/en active Active
- 2016-07-29 PL PL16758272T patent/PL3328740T3/en unknown
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2017017652A1 (en) | 2017-02-02 |
EP3328740A1 (en) | 2018-06-06 |
PL3328740T3 (en) | 2019-10-31 |
ITUB20152575A1 (en) | 2017-01-29 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2920095B2 (en) | Wrapping machine for confectionery products | |
EP1889785B1 (en) | Method and unit for heat-shrinking overwrappings of heat-shrink plastic material of a succession of products | |
CN105083613B (en) | Method and packaging machine for confectionery products | |
CN107253553B (en) | Packaging method for packaging small-sized products and packaging apparatus for carrying out the method | |
EP1640274A2 (en) | Method and unit for applying a label to an article | |
US20050169740A1 (en) | Method and device for transferring packets | |
EP3328740B1 (en) | Machine for wrapping confectionery products | |
EP1671885B1 (en) | Feeder arranged in line with folding star conveyor of packaging machines | |
GB2220187A (en) | Apparatus for transferring and applying wrappers to articles | |
EP4037977B1 (en) | Packaging machine for making filter bags with infusion products | |
EP1361158B1 (en) | A unit for overwrapping packets | |
EP2989009B1 (en) | Machine for wrapping confectionery products | |
US7104032B2 (en) | Method and machine for wrapping an article | |
AU765062B2 (en) | Method to produce printed articles by inserting at least one part-product into a main product and device to carry out the method | |
US6557324B1 (en) | Method and device for continuously wrapping products | |
EP1150886B1 (en) | Method and machine for wrapping articles | |
EP0900730B1 (en) | Method and unit for supplying flat articles | |
WO2020240349A1 (en) | A device for grouping blanks of wrappers of smoking articles | |
GB2053835A (en) | Sweet Wrapping apparatus | |
ITTO980093A1 (en) | PACKAGING MACHINE FOR SWEETS, IN PARTICULAR FOR PANETTONI. | |
ITBO20130555A1 (en) | METHOD AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE WRAPPING OF SWEET PRODUCTS |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
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 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20180223 |
|
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 |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: VITALI, ANTONIO Inventor name: PIAZZI, STEFANO Inventor name: PASSERINI, MAURO |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: B65B 11/38 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 49/06 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 49/02 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 11/06 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 35/16 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 25/00 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 11/54 20060101AFI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65G 29/02 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65B 11/40 20060101ALI20181203BHEP Ipc: B65G 47/90 20060101ALI20181203BHEP |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20190116 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
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: CH Ref legal event code: NV Representative=s name: BUGNION S.A., CH Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1148016 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190715 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602016016001 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: FP |
|
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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20190926 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: 20190626 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG4D |
|
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: 20190927 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: 20190926 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: 20190626 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: 20190626 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1148016 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20190626 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20190626 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: 20191028 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
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: 20191026 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: 20190626 Ref country code: IT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20190626 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: 20190626 |
|
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: 20190626 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: 20190626 |
|
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: 20190626 |
|
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: 20190729 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: 20200224 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602016016001 Country of ref document: DE |
|
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 |
|
PG2D | Information on lapse in contracting state deleted |
Ref country code: IS |
|
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: 20190729 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20200603 |
|
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: 20190626 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20200729 |
|
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: 20200729 |
|
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: 20190626 |
|
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: 20160729 Ref country code: MT 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: 20190626 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FI Payment date: 20210728 Year of fee payment: 6 |
|
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: 20190626 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20220729 |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230527 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 20230726 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 20230802 Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Payment date: 20230707 Year of fee payment: 8 Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20230725 Year of fee payment: 8 Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20230727 Year of fee payment: 8 Ref country code: BE Payment date: 20230727 Year of fee payment: 8 |