EP1661839B1 - Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles - Google Patents

Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1661839B1
EP1661839B1 EP05111016A EP05111016A EP1661839B1 EP 1661839 B1 EP1661839 B1 EP 1661839B1 EP 05111016 A EP05111016 A EP 05111016A EP 05111016 A EP05111016 A EP 05111016A EP 1661839 B1 EP1661839 B1 EP 1661839B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
transport
discharge
path
buffer space
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP05111016A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1661839A1 (fr
Inventor
Hendrikus J.J. Van Soest
Stefan A.C.J. Winteraeken
Maurice J.C. Lemmens
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Canon Production Printing Netherlands BV
Original Assignee
Oce Technologies BV
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 Oce Technologies BV filed Critical Oce Technologies BV
Priority to EP05111016A priority Critical patent/EP1661839B1/fr
Publication of EP1661839A1 publication Critical patent/EP1661839A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1661839B1 publication Critical patent/EP1661839B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/52—Stationary guides or smoothers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/20—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/20—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders
    • B65H29/22—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by contact with rotating friction members, e.g. rollers, brushes, or cylinders and introducing into a pile
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/31—Features of transport path
    • B65H2301/312—Features of transport path for transport path involving at least two planes of transport forming an angle between each other
    • B65H2301/3122—U-shaped
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/10—Rollers
    • B65H2404/14—Roller pairs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/22—Distance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2513/00—Dynamic entities; Timing aspects
    • B65H2513/10—Speed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2801/00—Application field
    • B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
    • B65H2801/12—Single-function printing machines, typically table-top machines

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a sheet handling device comprising a sheet transport path, a transport mechanism adapted to advance a sheet along the transport path with a non-uniform speed, and upper and lower discharge rollers forming a discharge mechanism arranged at the transport path for taking over the sheet from the transport mechanism and discharging it into a tray.
  • Ink jet printers for example, often work on a scanning principle. That is, a carriage which includes a number of ink jet printheads reciprocates across a sheet. In each pass of the carriage, a number of pixel lines are printed on the sheet by means of the printheads which eject droplets of ink onto the sheet in accordance with image information supplied to the printheads. Between the printing passes, a transport mechanism advances the sheet by a suitable sheet advance step. In large format printers, the sheet advance movement is simultaneously performed in different parts of the printer. For example, while a leading part of a sheet is already discharged onto the tray by the discharge mechanism, a rear part of the sheet may still be printed and advanced by the transport mechanism.
  • the sheet advance movements have to be performed as quickly as possible.
  • the printing quality depends on the accuracy of the sheet advance movements.
  • one transport means may influence the accuracy of the movement of another transport means.
  • a discharge mechanism that discharges the printed sheet onto a tray may exert a force onto the sheet portion which is still printed. This problem is even more pronounced in large format printers where the load that has to be exerted to move the sheet is higher.
  • the faster the sheet advance step is to be performed the more power is required of the transport means. This leads to a higher load on the sheet and an increased noise generation.
  • a transport mechanism for discharging a sheet that transports the sheet from a pair of fixing rollers towards a discharge tray.
  • a first driving roll is driven at a peripheral speed which is higher than that of the fixing rolls. Thereby, a waving of the sheet is to be decreased.
  • the driving roll exerts a pulling force on the sheet during the fixing process.
  • JP 08268615 A also shows a transport mechanism for discharging a sheet that transports the sheet from a pair of fixing rollers towards a discharge tray.
  • a sheet is held between the fixing rollers and first carrying rollers while a previous sheet is discharged by further carrying rollers at a speed which is higher than the paper carrying speed of the fixing rollers.
  • the first carrying rollers are driven by means of a torque limiter but nevertheless exert a pulling force on the sheet while it is held between the fixing rollers and first carrying rollers.
  • a transport mechanism which is adapted to appropriately maintain the amount of deflection of a sheet being conveyed along a curved path between two pairs of conveyance rollers.
  • the amount of deflection of the sheet is measured by a pivotable contact arm, and the peripheral speed ratio of the two pairs of conveyance rollers is controlled to appropriately maintain the amount of deflection.
  • a constant amount of deflection can only be maintained when the two pairs of conveyance rollers are continuously driven and their speed variations are small.
  • a device for delivering a printed coupon wherein a web is advanced into a reserve chamber by a transport roller which participates in printing the web.
  • the web is further advanced by a pair of discharge rollers at a discharge opening of the chamber.
  • the transport rollers and the discharge rollers are operated to hold the web under tension against a resiliently pivotable arm during the printing process and to pull the web against a cutting edge after the printing is completed.
  • a pulling force is exerted on the web during printing and also for cutting the web after printing.
  • US 6 005 687 A discloses a scanner with a separating unit, first transporting means, an intermediate transport path, second transporting means, and a reading unit.
  • a tension of a document sheet within the intermediate transport path increases above a certain limit
  • the document sheet presses a push button of a microswitch mounted at the intermediate transport path.
  • the scanning is interrupted, or the transport speed of either of the transporting means is changed to reduce the tension.
  • JP 02 292076 A discloses a sheet ejection system wherein an ejection roller is set at a higher peripheral speed than a platen roller and is provided with a torque limiter in order to eject a sheet at a higher speed than its transport speed in a printing section as soon as the sheet is released from a friction force in the printing section.
  • JP 05 319615 A discloses a paper sheet feeding mechanism for an image forming device.
  • a looseness sensor is arranged at a bent paper passage between feeding rolls and resist rollers, and the conveying speed of the feeding rolls is changed to be lower than that of the resist rollers when the paper sheet is lifted from the looseness sensor.
  • this object is achieved by a sheet handling device of the type indicated above, wherein the transport mechanism is adapted to stepwise advance the sheet, wherein the discharge mechanism is adapted to convey the sheet with a momentary speed that is different from that of the transport mechanism; wherein a portion of the transport path between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism is curved along a buffer space to allow the sheet to bend within the buffer space and thereby to absorb the speed difference between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism, a path sensor being arranged at the buffer space, and a signal of the path sensor being input to a drive controller of the discharge mechanism; wherein the path sensor is adapted to detect a distance between said portion of the transport path and the sheet when it is bent into the buffer space and wherein the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism are adapted to be driven in such a way, by the input of the path sensor to the drive controller allowing the speed of the discharge rollers to be controlled, that a section of the sheet which is within the buffer space is mechanically stress relieved, thus avoiding a tension of the sheet between
  • the sheet is buffered between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism.
  • the sheet does not couple the transport mechanism to the discharge mechanism.
  • the discharge mechanism does not exert a force on the transport mechanism through the sheet, because a tension of the sheet between the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism is avoided.
  • the buffer space is situated in the sheet transport path between a sheet support element and the discharge mechanism; the sheet support element supports the sheet during the printing process.
  • the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism are adapted to be driven in such a way that the sheet section in the buffer space is mechanically stress relieved.
  • the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism may be driven in such a way that the length of the sheet section in the buffer space is always larger than a minimal length, unless a leading or a trailing edge of the sheet is yet within the buffer space.
  • the curved portion of the transport path comprises a curved guide plate, said guide plate passing in approximately a half turn around the buffer space.
  • the transport mechanism and the discharge mechanism are controlled to have like average speeds.
  • a path sensor is arranged at the buffer space; the path sensor being adapted to detect a distance between the portion of the transport path and the sheet when it is bent into the buffer space; and a signal of the path sensor is input to a drive controller of the discharge mechanism.
  • the path sensor is sensitive to the length of the sheet section that is within the buffer space.
  • the path sensor may detect a situation where the path of the sheet section within the buffer space has reached a certain minimum length, or the path sensor may detect a situation where the sheet section within the buffer space has reached a certain tension.
  • the discharge mechanism is operated as long as a further reduction of the length of the sheet section between the sheet support element and the discharge mechanism is possible without inducing an unallowable tension in the sheet.
  • the transport mechanism is adapted to stepwise advance the sheet. This applies to printers or copiers that work on a scanning principle as has been described above.
  • the discharge mechanism is adapted to continuously convey the sheet while the transport mechanism stepwise advances the sheet over the sheet support element during the printing process.
  • the power of the discharge mechanism can be reduced as compared to the requirements for stepwise advancing the sheet.
  • a continuous discharging of the sheet into the tray is more convenient and gives an impression of a higher printing speed.
  • the speed of the discharge mechanism is adapted or adaptable to different printing modes and average sheet advance speeds of the transport mechanism for each printing mode.
  • an ink jet printer comprises a platen which is intermittently driven to rotate in order to advance a sheet 12, e. g. a sheet of paper, in a direction indicated by an arrow A over the top surface of a sheet support plate.
  • a number of transport rollers are rotatably supported in a cover plate and form a transport nip with the platen.
  • the transport rollers and the platen form a transport mechanism for stepwise advancing the sheet 12.
  • the sheet 12, which is supplied from a reel via a guide plate is paid out through a gap formed between an edge of the cover plate and the surface of the sheet support plate.
  • a carriage which includes a number of ink jet print heads (not shown) is mounted above the sheet support plate so as to reciprocate in a direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing across the sheet 12.
  • a number of pixel lines are printed on the sheet 12 by means of the print heads which eject droplets of ink onto the sheet in accordance with image information supplied to the print heads.
  • guide and drive means for the carriage, ink supply lines and data supply lines for the print heads, and the like, have not been shown in the drawing.
  • the top surface of the sheet support plate has a regular pattern of suction holes (not shown) through which the sheet 12 is sucked against the flat surface of the support plate and is thereby held in a flat condition, especially in the area which is scanned by the carriage, so that a uniform distance between the nozzles of the printheads and the surface of the sheet 12 is established over the whole width of the sheet, and a high print quality can be achieved.
  • the sheet 12 is further advanced along a curved guide plate 112 that turns the sheet upside down and reverses the transport direction of the sheet 12. As is shown in Fig. 1 and, in more detailed view, in Fig. 2 , the sheet 12 is guided to a discharge nip formed between a plurality of upper discharge rollers 116 and lower discharge rollers, that are mounted on common axles, respectively.
  • the discharge rollers form a discharge mechanism for continuously conveying the sheet, as will be described below.
  • the sheet 12 is discharged onto a tray 124.
  • the tray 124 has a top surface 126 for supporting the sheets and has stops at which the trailing edges of the sheets 12 will be aligned.
  • a discharge sensor is arranged near the discharge nip to indicate when the trailing edge of the sheet 12 has been discharged from the discharge nip.
  • the discharge sensor is of conventional design and comprises an arm that is pivotable about an axis.
  • a top frame member of the tray 124 carries a tray-full sensor which is also of conventional design comprising an arm that is pivotably mounted on the frame member.
  • the curved guide plate 112 surrounds a buffer space 160 for the sheet 12 and passes in approximately a half turn around the buffer space 160.
  • the discharge rollers engage the sheet 12 and may advance the sheet 12 towards the tray 124.
  • sheet 12 may be lifted from the guide plate 112 when its trailing portion is still held on the sheet support plate.
  • a section 12p of the sheet 12 traverses the buffer space 160 on a bent path that has a shorter length than the path along the guide plate 112.
  • the buffer space 160 is adapted to accommodate varying lengths of the sheet section 12p between the sheet support plate and the discharge rollers.
  • the sheet 12 is buffered so that speed differences between the transport rollers and the platen on the one side and the discharge rollers on the other side are absorbed, so that the sheet section 12p is mechanically stress relieved.
  • the discharge rollers will not exert a force on that part of the sheet that is held on the sheet support plate nor on the platen and the transport rollers.
  • a path sensor is mounted having a pivotable arm that extends into the buffer space 160.
  • a rod 162b extends transverse to the plane of the drawing of Fig. 2 .
  • the path sensor shown in figure 2 is a contact sensor, as a mechanical contact is established to detect a distance between the portion of the transport path and the sheet 12.
  • a contactless sensor (not shown) may be provided, such as a magnetic, optical or capacitive sensor.
  • an optical sensor may be used.
  • Such a sensor can be composed of a modulated infrared light emitting diode at the light-emitting side and a modulating photosensitive integrated circuit at the light receiving side of the sensor. By modulating the emitted signal disturbing external light influences and noise can be filtered.
  • An advantage of the contactless path sensor is that mechanical contact of the sensor with the paper is avoided, in particular damaging the medium by mechanical interaction of the pivoting arm is avoided.
  • a further advantage is the increased reliability and accuracy of the sensor measurements compared to the contact sensor. In a contact sensor, paper dust can be generated due to mechanical interaction with the medium, which may negatively influence the reliability of the measurements.
  • a signal of the path sensor is input to a drive controller 164 for the discharge rollers.
  • the discharge rollers are continuously driven to convey the sheet 12 with a speed corresponding to an average advance speed of the sheet along the sheet support plate. Thereby, a continuous discharge movement of the sheet 12 is combined with the stepwise advancing of the sheet over the sheet support plate during the printing process.
  • the speed of the discharge rollers can be controlled to assure that the sheet section 12p is always lifted from the guide plate 112 in a degree so as to be mechanically stress relieved.
  • the speed of the discharge rollers is reduced, and vice versa. Thereby, the sheet 12 is discharged onto the tray 124 with an almost constant speed.
  • the discharge rollers may be driven via free wheel clutches, so that they may temporarily rotate at a higher speed when the leading edge of a new sheet is pushed into the discharge nip.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Dispositif de manutention de feuille comprenant un trajet de transport de feuille, un mécanisme de transport adapté de manière à faire avancer une feuille (12) le long du trajet de transport avec une vitesse non uniforme, et des rouleaux de déchargement supérieur (116) et inférieur formant un mécanisme de déchargement agencé au niveau du trajet de transport afin de prélever la feuille (12) sur le mécanisme de transport et de la décharger, dans lequel le mécanisme de transport est adapté afin de faire avancer la feuille (12) pas à pas ; le mécanisme de déchargement étant adapté afin de transférer la feuille (12) avec une vitesse instantanée qui est différente de celle du mécanisme de transport ; une partie du trajet de transport entre le mécanisme de transport et le mécanisme de déchargement étant incurvée le long d'un espace tampon (160) afin de permettre à la feuille (12) de s'incurver à l'intérieur de l'espace tampon (160) et ainsi d'absorber la différence de vitesse entre le mécanisme de transport et le mécanisme de déchargement ; un capteur de trajet étant agencé au niveau de l'espace tampon (160), et un signal du capteur de trajet étant délivré à une unité de commande d'entraînement (164) du mécanisme de déchargement,
    dans lequel le capteur de trajet est adapté de manière à détecter une distance entre ladite partie du trajet de transport et la feuille (12) lorsqu'elle est incurvée dans l'espace tampon (160), le mécanisme de transport et le mécanisme de déchargement étant adaptés afin d'être entraînés d'une telle manière, par l'entrée du capteur de trajet sur l'unité de commande d'entraînement (164) permettant la commande de la vitesse des rouleaux de déchargement, qu'une section (12p) de la feuille (12) qui est à l'intérieur de l'espace tampon (160) soit libérée de contraintes mécaniques, évitant ainsi une traction sur la feuille (12) entre le mécanisme de transport et le mécanisme de déchargement, et
    dans lequel le mécanisme de déchargement est adapté de manière à faire avancer la feuille en continu lorsque le mécanisme de transport fait avancer la feuille pas par pas.
  2. Dispositif de manutention de feuille selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite partie incurvée du trajet de transport comprend une plaque de guidage courbe (112) passant approximativement sur un demi-tour autour de l'espace tampon (160).
  3. Dispositif de manutention de feuille selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le mécanisme de transport et le mécanisme de déchargement sont commandés de manière à présenter des vitesses moyennes identiques.
  4. Dispositif de manutention de feuille selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit capteur de trajet est sans contact.
  5. Imprimante comprenant le dispositif de manutention de feuille selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
  6. Imprimante selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle ladite imprimante est une imprimante à jet d'encre.
EP05111016A 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles Ceased EP1661839B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05111016A EP1661839B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04106077 2004-11-25
EP05111016A EP1661839B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1661839A1 EP1661839A1 (fr) 2006-05-31
EP1661839B1 true EP1661839B1 (fr) 2010-06-09

Family

ID=36204568

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05111016A Ceased EP1661839B1 (fr) 2004-11-25 2005-11-21 Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1661839B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3686136B1 (fr) * 2017-09-22 2023-03-01 FUJIFILM Corporation Dispositif de transport et procédé de transport

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0780604B2 (ja) 1986-03-10 1995-08-30 カシオ計算機株式会社 用紙搬送装置
JPH02292076A (ja) * 1989-05-02 1990-12-03 Ricoh Co Ltd 記録紙搬送装置
JP3207509B2 (ja) * 1992-05-18 2001-09-10 株式会社リコー 用紙搬送装置
JPH08268615A (ja) 1995-04-04 1996-10-15 Ricoh Co Ltd 画像形成装置の記録紙搬送機構
US6005687A (en) * 1996-04-12 1999-12-21 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Imaging apparatus having different motors for separating and reading documents
FR2846595B1 (fr) 2002-11-04 2005-02-11 Denis Montagutelli Dispositif de delivrance d'un coupon imprime destine a equiper un mecanisme d'impression thermique notamment
JP4141244B2 (ja) 2002-12-18 2008-08-27 シャープ株式会社 用紙搬送機構

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1661839A1 (fr) 2006-05-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP4244960B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP4551719B2 (ja) インクジェット記録装置およびインクジェット記録装置の制御方法
JP2003095501A (ja) シート材搬送装置及び画像形成装置
US10787009B2 (en) Printing apparatus
JP7073971B2 (ja) 印刷装置
US8424870B2 (en) Sheet handling device
JP3935310B2 (ja) プリンタの媒体形状制御用内部紙案内
JP4764073B2 (ja) シート供給装置及び記録装置
JP2007223790A (ja) 搬送装置
JP5112626B2 (ja) シート排出システム
JP2008246803A (ja) 画像記録装置
EP1661839B1 (fr) Dispositif de manipulation de feuilles
JP2005335919A (ja) 記録装置
JP4795168B2 (ja) 記録装置
JP4174534B2 (ja) 記録装置
JP2021014340A (ja) 搬送装置及び画像形成装置
JP2004002017A (ja) 記録装置
JP2007119172A (ja) 記録装置
JP2001277618A (ja) インクジェット画像形成装置
JPH11138928A (ja) インクジェット記録装置
JP2010202305A (ja) 記録紙ガイド機構およびロール紙プリンター
JP2006044060A (ja) 記録装置
JP2004249536A (ja) 給紙装置および画像形成装置
JP4292384B2 (ja) 記録装置
JP2001058738A (ja) 印字用紙搬送機構

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

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20061130

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20070108

AKX Designation fees paid

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

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

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

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 602005021742

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20100722

Kind code of ref document: P

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: T3

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

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20100609

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: 20100609

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20100609

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

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20100910

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: 20100609

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

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: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20101011

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20100609

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: 20100609

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: 20101009

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

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20100609

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: 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: 20100609

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20110310

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

Ref country code: MC

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

Effective date: 20101130

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602005021742

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20110309

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

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20101130

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20101130

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: 20101121

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

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: 20100609

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20101210

Ref country code: LU

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

Effective date: 20101121

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: 20100609

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

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: 20100909

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

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20100920

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20171121

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20171121

Year of fee payment: 13

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20171121

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20171123

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602005021742

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20181201

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

Effective date: 20181121

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

Ref country code: NL

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

Effective date: 20181201

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

Ref country code: DE

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

Effective date: 20190601

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20181130

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: 20181121