WO1999042293A1 - Systeme de distribution de fluide en boucle a equilibrage de pression - Google Patents

Systeme de distribution de fluide en boucle a equilibrage de pression Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999042293A1
WO1999042293A1 PCT/US1998/013827 US9813827W WO9942293A1 WO 1999042293 A1 WO1999042293 A1 WO 1999042293A1 US 9813827 W US9813827 W US 9813827W WO 9942293 A1 WO9942293 A1 WO 9942293A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fluid
print head
loop
pressure
delivery system
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/013827
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jia Hu
Charles C. Lee
Bruce H. Koehler
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company filed Critical Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority to AU82852/98A priority Critical patent/AU8285298A/en
Publication of WO1999042293A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999042293A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
    • B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
    • B41J2/17506—Refilling of the cartridge
    • B41J2/17509—Whilst mounted in the printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
    • B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a fluid delivery system, principally for inkjet printers.
  • Image graphics are omnipresent in modern life. Images and data that warn, educate, entertain, advertise, etc. are applied on a variety of interior and exterior, vertical and horizontal surfaces. Nonlimiting examples of image graphics range from advertisements on walls or sides of trucks, posters that advertise the arrival of a new movie, warning signs near the edges of stairways.
  • thermal and piezo inkjet inks have greatly increased in recent years with accelerated development of inexpensive and efficient inkjet printers, ink delivery systems, and the like.
  • Thermal inkjet hardware is commercially available from a number of multinational companies, including without limitation, Hewlett-Packard Corporation of Palo Alto, CA, USA; Encad Corporation of San Diego, CA, USA; Xerox Corporation of Rochester, NY, USA; LaserMaster Corporation of Eden Prairie, MN, USA; and Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan.
  • the number and variety of printers changes rapidly as printer makers are constantly improving their products for consumers. Printers are made both in desk-top size and wide format size depending on the size of the finished image graphic desired.
  • Nonlimiting examples of popular commercial scale thermal inkjet printers are Encad's NovaJet Pro and Pro E printers and H-P's 650C, 750C, and 2500CP printers.
  • Nonlimiting examples of popular wide format thermal inkjet printers include H-P's DesignJet printers, where the 2500CP is preferred because it has 600X600 dots/inch (dpi) resolution with a drop size in the vicinity of about 40 picoliters.
  • Piezo inkjet hardware is commercially available from a number of multinational companies, including without limitation, Olympus Optical Co. of Tokyo, Japan; Idanit Technologies Ltd of RishonLe Zion 75150 Israel; Seiko Epson Corp. of Nagano, Japan; Calcomp, Inc. of Anaheim, CA, USA; Raster Graphics, Inc. of San Jose, C A, USA; and Vutek of Concord, NH, USA.
  • 3M markets Graphic Maker Inkjet software useful in converting digital images from the Internet, ClipArt, or Digital Camera sources into signals to thermal inkjet printers to print such image graphics.
  • Inkjet inks are also commercially available from a number of multinational companies, particularly 3M which markets its Series 8551 ; 8552; 8553; and 8554 pigmented inkjet inks.
  • the use of four principal colors: cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (generally abbreviated "CMYK") permit the formation of as many as 256 gray levels per color or more in the digital image.
  • CMYK cyan, magenta, yellow, and black
  • Inkjet printers have come into general use for wide-format electronic printing for applications such as, engineering and architectural drawings. Because of the simplicity of operation and economy of inkjet printers, this image process holds a superior growth potential promise for the printing industry to produce wide format, image on demand, presentation quality graphics.
  • the computer, software, and printer will control the size, number and placement of the ink drops and will transport the receptor medium through the printer.
  • the ink will contain the colorant which forms the image and carrier for that colorant.
  • the receptor medium provides the repository which accepts and holds the ink.
  • the quality of the inkjet image is a function of the total system. However, the composition and interaction between the ink and receptor medium is most important in an inkjet system.
  • Image quality is what the viewing public and paying customers will want and demand to see. From the producer of the image graphic, many other obscure demands are also placed on the inkjet media/ink system from the print shop. Also, exposure to the environment can place additional demands on the media and ink (depending on the application of the graphic).
  • Inkjet receptor media are direct coated with a dual layer receptor according to the disclosure contained in PCT International Patent Publication WO97/17207 (Warner et al.) and are marketed by 3M under the brands 3MTM ScotchcalTM Opaque Imaging Media 3657-10 and 3MTM ScotchcalTM Translucent Imaging Media 3637-20.
  • Another inkjet receptor media is disclosed in PCT Publication WO97/33758 which combines a hygroscopic layer on a hydrophilic microporous media.
  • Inkjet inks are typically wholly or partially water-based, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,271.765, or solvent based or ultraviolet curable.
  • Typical receptors for these inks are plain papers or preferably specialist inkjet receptor papers which are treated or coated to improve their receptor properties or the quality of the images resulting therefrom, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,873.
  • ink delivery from a reservoir to an inkjet print head is presently preferred because the ability to store larger volumes of ink than contained in the print head is critical to the printing of large images typically as wide as 1-1.25 meters.
  • An example of an ink delivery system is disclosed in PCT Publication WO97/10106 (Lee et aL).
  • the transit of the inkjet print heads across a wide format inkjet printer typically employs some type of ink supply support system, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,201 (Erickson et al.).
  • some problems in ink delivery from reservoir to print head develop in such ink supply support systems.
  • the present invention solves problems unrecognized in the art of ink supply systems in an unexpected way.
  • ink i.e., a fluid
  • ink is delivered from stationary supply tanks to the print heads (i.e., reciprocating dispensers) via flexible tubing (i.e., fluid lines).
  • the tubing is protected and directed in its motion by enclosing the tubing in a segmented plastic chain type cable guide. This fluid line configuration is common to all the fluid delivery systems mentioned above.
  • a drawback of this configuration in conventional fluid delivery systems is that the fluid pressure at the print head varies due to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid lines as the print head starts, stops, or changes direction. If the head is stationary, the fluid supply line is also stationary, and if the head is not printing, the fluid flow is zero. In this case, the pressure in the print head is determined by the density of the fluid, and by the height difference between the fluid surface in the supply tank and the print head orifice plate.
  • the reservoir is to the left of the print head such as that seen in Fig. 1 described below
  • fluid will be forced into the print head because the print head is accelerating toward the fluid in the line.
  • the pressure inside the print head will rise during acceleration to the right. If the print head is accelerated to the left, fluid will be drawn out of the print head because the print head is accelerating away from the fluid in the line, and the internal pressure will drop.
  • the fluid surface in the supply tank is below the print head orifice (nozzle) plate, so the pressure in the print head is slightly below atmospheric pressure. This slight negative pressure helps keep fluid from dripping out of the print head nozzles and flooding the orifice plate. Capillary forces between the fluid and the nozzles keep the fluid from being pulled out of the nozzles and back into the supply tank. However, if the fluid surface in the supply tank is so low that the negative pressure in the print head exceeds the capillary forces between the fluid and the nozzles, the fluid will be pulled out of the nozzles where air can enter, and the fluid will flow back into the supply tank.
  • the relationship between the negative pressure in the print head and the capillary forces between the fluid and the nozzles also affects the refill rate of the nozzles. Even if the negative pressure in the print head is not enough to draw fluid out of the nozzles, it could be enough to slow the nozzle refill rate, thereby significantly lowering the maximum firing frequency of the print head. Pressure fluctuations inside the print head due to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid lines can cause momentary problems with orifice plate flooding, nozzle refill rate and nozzle evacuation during printing. These anomalies will seriously affect the quality of the printed image. In fluid delivery systems that use the conventional approach, the pressure fluctuations in the print head due to acceleration and deceleration can be reduced by keeping a pocket of air inside the print head.
  • the print head cartridge itself may have an air bladder inside, which serves to dampen pressure fluctuations.
  • the air pocket works because air is compressible.
  • the fluid inlet to the cartridge is typically quite small (approximately 2mm diameter) which restricts the flow rate into or out of the cartridge. If the cartridge is accelerating to the right, fluid is forced into the cartridge but at a relatively low flow rate. If the fluid is flowing into the cartridge at 2 c Vsec during a 1 second acceleration, 2 cm 3 of fluid will enter the cartridge if there is an air pocket in the cartridge.
  • a print head cartridge typically has a filter screen at the bottom that filters large particles from the fluid before it enters a small chamber between the screen and the nozzles.
  • the air in this chamber can never be completely removed, because air bubbles in the small chamber float up and rest against the underside of the screen. These air bubbles can restrict the flow of fluid through the screen and affect areas of the image where the fluid demand is high. If the air pocket in the print head cartridge were not required, it would be much easier for the user to prime the system by pressure, without getting air trapped in the filtered chamber. For example, if no air pocket is required, priming is done by connecting the fluid line to the cartridge, holding the cartridge upside down (nozzles up), and then forcing fluid into the cartridge by pressurizing the supply tank. As fluid enters the cartridge, air escapes from the nozzles. When fluid starts coming out of the nozzles, the cartridge is full with little or no air trapped in the filtered chamber.
  • an external reservoir that moves with the print head is used to reduce pressure transients due to acceleration and deceleration of the fluid lines.
  • Some of these systems use float switches or level sensors to keep constant the fluid in the reservoirs by controlling fluid pumps that refill the reservoirs when the level is low.
  • These systems use more components that are in contact with the fluid, and each of these components has to be compatible with the fluid. This is particularly troublesome with solvent based fluids.
  • the present invention provides a pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system.
  • One aspect of the invention is a fluid line configuration for supplying fluid to reciprocating fluid dispensers from stationary fluid supply tanks.
  • the balanced loop fluid line configuration of the present invention substantially reduces pressure transients at the reciprocating dispensers due to acceleration or deceleration of the dispensers and tubing.
  • the fluid delivery system comprises a pressure balanced loop of tubing containing fluid therein.
  • the pressure balanced loop fluid delivery is built by constructing a loop of tubing carried by a loop of cable/hose carriers. At the top and the bottom of the loop, there is a tee in the tubing. The top tee goes to the reciprocating dispenser, and the bottom tee goes to the stationary fluid supply tank. Fluid is free to circulate within the loop, thereby substantially reducing pressure surge transients in the reciprocating dispensers when the dispensers and tubing are accelerated or decelerated.
  • This construction solves the problems in the prior art fluid delivery systems described above.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is an inkjet printer comprising a pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system described above.
  • Yet another aspect of the present invention is a method of using the inkjet printer containing a pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system described above.
  • a feature of the present invention is presence of a loop in the fluid delivery system that compensates changes in pressure, regardless of the configuration of the ink reservoir or the print head.
  • An advantage of the present invention is that pressure is compensated during acceleration or deceleration without need for complicated or expensive equipment.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is an improved jetting performance of ink through the delivery system and the print head, typically most pronounced at the edges of the printed media, at which edges the delivery system is undergoing greatest change in acceleration as the print head slows, stops, and reverses direction in the printer.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to print images in both directions of the print head across the imaged media without difficulty at the edges of such media.
  • Fig. 1 is a prior art fluid delivery system, shown diagrammatically.
  • Fig. 2 is a fluid delivery system of the present invention, shown diagrammatically.
  • Embodiments of Invention Fig. 1 is a view of the prior art fluid delivery system 10 described above.
  • the system 10 includes a reservoir 12 containing ink 13 that is delivered through a tube 14 protected in a chain guide 15 to a print head 16 that moves in both directions A and B along the printer width 17.
  • Fig. 2 is a view of the pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system
  • Tube 14 of system 10 is replaced by inlet tube 22, a first tee intersection 23, two loop tubes 24 and 25, protected by chain guides 26 and 27, respectively, to a second tee intersection 28, and a outlet tube 29 from intersection 28 to print head 16.
  • the pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system 20 eliminates the need for an air pocket or bladder inside the print cartridge or an external reservoir to absorb pressure fluctuations due to acceleration and deceleration. This is done by using a continuous loop of fluid line (the combination of tubes 24 and 25) with a tee 23 for the inlet from inlet tube 22 connected to reservoir 12, and another tee 28 for the outlet to final tube the print head cartridge 16.
  • fluid is free to circulate within the loop of tubes 24 and 25 when set in motion by acceleration or deceleration of the print cartridge 16. If the print head 16 is at rest and then suddenly accelerates to the right (Direction B), the fluid will circulate counter clockwise through the loop of tubes 24 and 25 and tees 23 and 28. Likewise if the print head 16 accelerates to the left (Direction A), the fluid will circulate clockwise through the loop of tubes 24 and 25 and tees 23 and 28. There will be little or no pressure change in the print head cartridge
  • Another benefit of the balanced loop system 20 is that the fluid resistance within the loop (23-25, 28) is less, because there are two fluid lines 24 and 25 in parallel in the loop section (23-25,28). This can reduce pressure drops caused by high flow rates when printing image areas with a high fluid demand.
  • the additional cost of the balanced loop system is very small. Only an additional length of hose carrier guide chain 27, fluid line 25, and two tee fittings 23 and 28 are needed.
  • FIG. 2 shows the loop (23-25,28) in a vertical orientation, there is no reason why the loop could not be laid out horizontally. In some printer configurations, the horizontal loop configuration would be easier to implement than the vertical loop configuration.
  • ⁇ P (a/g) * L
  • P pressure measured in height of water in meters
  • a acceleration of the fluid measured as m/sec 2
  • g gravitational acceleration also in m/sec 2
  • L length of fluid in the tubing measured in m at the moment of acceleration.
  • the length of fluid in the tubing is about 0.1 m when the print head 16 is fully moved in direction B but is about 1 m when the print head 16 is fully moved in direction A.
  • the acceleration is 1.0 m/sec 2 which is 1/10 of gravitational acceleration on Earth.
  • the change in pressure, ⁇ P will be -0.01 (m of water).
  • the change in pressure, ⁇ P will be 0.1 (m of water).
  • one change in pressure is a negative number, while the opposite direction reversal provides a positive change in pressure that is ten times higher.
  • an inkjet ink fluid line comprises polymeric tubing having an ink- contacting surface of poly(ethylene) or poly(tetrafluoroethylene).
  • the system 20 as seen in Fig. 2 has been implemented in an Olympus IJP3600 inkjet printer together with an ink delivery system disclosed in PCT Publication WO97/10106 (Lee et al.). Printing results were compared between this system 20 and a conventional system 10 as seen in Fig. 1. The above analysis was confirmed.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système de distribution de fluide en boucle à équilibrage de pression permettant de neutraliser des variations de pression tandis qu'une tête d'imprimante à jet d'encre se déplace, entraînant ainsi une accélération ou un ralentissement. La boucle de fluide empêche d'atteindre des pressions positive ou négative indésirables pour des fluides étant acheminés vers la tête d'impression qui sont présentes dans des systèmes classiques de distribution de fluide déplaçant les tubes dans les deux sens d'une tête d'impression sur la largeur d'une imprimante à jet d'encre.
PCT/US1998/013827 1998-02-18 1998-07-02 Systeme de distribution de fluide en boucle a equilibrage de pression WO1999042293A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU82852/98A AU8285298A (en) 1998-02-18 1998-07-02 Pressure balanced loop fluid delivery system and method for using same

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2516698A 1998-02-18 1998-02-18
US09/025,166 1998-02-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999042293A1 true WO1999042293A1 (fr) 1999-08-26

Family

ID=21824437

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/013827 WO1999042293A1 (fr) 1998-02-18 1998-07-02 Systeme de distribution de fluide en boucle a equilibrage de pression

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU8285298A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999042293A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1164021A2 (fr) * 2000-06-15 2001-12-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Procédé de chargement de liquide, conteneur de liquide, et procédé de fabrication
US6729184B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2004-05-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Detector of liquid consumption condition
US6745626B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-06-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member
US6793305B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2004-09-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting consumption of ink

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3373435A (en) * 1967-01-30 1968-03-12 Honeywell Inc Recorder with flexible loop support for ink supply tubing
US4422086A (en) * 1981-01-20 1983-12-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Limited Device for feeding constant pressure fluid
US4527175A (en) * 1981-12-02 1985-07-02 Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Limited Ink supply system for nonimpact printers
US4929963A (en) * 1988-09-02 1990-05-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink delivery system for inkjet printer
US5159348A (en) * 1990-10-29 1992-10-27 Xerox Corporation Ink jet printing apparatus
US5469201A (en) * 1993-10-20 1995-11-21 Lasermaster Corporation Ink supply line support system for a continuous ink refill system for disosable ink jet cartridges
US5719608A (en) * 1995-05-04 1998-02-17 Calcomp Inc. Constant flow ink delivery system

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3373435A (en) * 1967-01-30 1968-03-12 Honeywell Inc Recorder with flexible loop support for ink supply tubing
US4422086A (en) * 1981-01-20 1983-12-20 Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Limited Device for feeding constant pressure fluid
US4527175A (en) * 1981-12-02 1985-07-02 Matsushita Electric Industrial Company, Limited Ink supply system for nonimpact printers
US4929963A (en) * 1988-09-02 1990-05-29 Hewlett-Packard Company Ink delivery system for inkjet printer
US5159348A (en) * 1990-10-29 1992-10-27 Xerox Corporation Ink jet printing apparatus
US5469201A (en) * 1993-10-20 1995-11-21 Lasermaster Corporation Ink supply line support system for a continuous ink refill system for disosable ink jet cartridges
US5719608A (en) * 1995-05-04 1998-02-17 Calcomp Inc. Constant flow ink delivery system

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6745626B2 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-06-08 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid detecting piezoelectric device, liquid container and mounting module member
US6799820B1 (en) 1999-05-20 2004-10-05 Seiko Epson Corporation Liquid container having a liquid detecting device
US6793305B2 (en) 2000-05-18 2004-09-21 Seiko Epson Corporation Method and apparatus for detecting consumption of ink
EP1164021A2 (fr) * 2000-06-15 2001-12-19 Seiko Epson Corporation Procédé de chargement de liquide, conteneur de liquide, et procédé de fabrication
EP1164021A3 (fr) * 2000-06-15 2003-04-02 Seiko Epson Corporation Procédé de chargement de liquide, conteneur de liquide, et procédé de fabrication
US6729184B2 (en) 2000-07-28 2004-05-04 Seiko Epson Corporation Detector of liquid consumption condition

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU8285298A (en) 1999-09-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1938994B1 (fr) Dégazage d'encre pour la circulation de système d'alimentation en encre dans des imprimantes à jet d'encre
CN1511087A (zh) 用于喷墨打印的双串联压力调节器
US5988801A (en) High performance tubing for inkjet printing systems with off-board ink supply
US8444259B2 (en) Recirculating ink system for inkjet printing
EP0508125B1 (fr) Système d'approvisionnement d'encre pour imprimantes à jet d'encre
EP1602488B1 (fr) Cartouche de liquide et imprimante l'utilisant
US8480213B2 (en) Liquid containing tank, liquid-jet head unit, and image forming apparatus
JP2004148826A (ja) 再循環式インクジェットプリント方法および再循環式インクジェットプリントシステム
US6273560B1 (en) Print cartridge coupling and reservoir assembly for use in an inkjet printing system with an off-axis ink supply
CN102001228A (zh) 图像形成设备
AU2002254072A1 (en) Dual serial pressure regulator for ink-jet printing
AU2002300819B2 (en) Liquid Ejection Head and Image-forming Apparatus Using the Same
US6971741B2 (en) Liquid storage container
US7111930B2 (en) Fluid supply having a fluid absorbing material
WO1999042293A1 (fr) Systeme de distribution de fluide en boucle a equilibrage de pression
JPH11334099A (ja) インクジェット用インク封止装置
JP3363760B2 (ja) インク供給装置およびプリント装置
US20050276650A1 (en) Method and apparatus for printing with multiple recording mechanisms
JP2003341090A (ja) 往復動インキジェット印刷ヘッドへの供給用インクタンク
US7102793B2 (en) Image filtering method
JP7214330B2 (ja) インクジェット記録方法及びインクジェット記録装置
US7090327B1 (en) Water-based ink jet printer
CN102145586B (zh) 流体喷射装置以及清洁方法
JP2007160861A (ja) インク収納容器及びインク収納容器を用いたインク撹拌システム
EP4338969A1 (fr) Procédé d'impression avec un générateur de gouttelettes de liquide

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH GM GW HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH GM KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

WA Withdrawal of international application
122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase