EP0437384B1 - Document processing apparatus with processing head mounted on a cover - Google Patents

Document processing apparatus with processing head mounted on a cover Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0437384B1
EP0437384B1 EP91400013A EP91400013A EP0437384B1 EP 0437384 B1 EP0437384 B1 EP 0437384B1 EP 91400013 A EP91400013 A EP 91400013A EP 91400013 A EP91400013 A EP 91400013A EP 0437384 B1 EP0437384 B1 EP 0437384B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cover
head
processing head
document
processing
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP91400013A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0437384A1 (en
Inventor
Michel Brot
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.)
Sagem SA
Original Assignee
Sagem SA
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 Sagem SA filed Critical Sagem SA
Publication of EP0437384A1 publication Critical patent/EP0437384A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0437384B1 publication Critical patent/EP0437384B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/38—Drives, motors, controls or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism
    • B41J29/387—Automatic cut-off devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for processing documents, of the known type which comprises a processing head mounted on an access cover inside the apparatus.
  • the invention applies in particular to printers, and more particularly to thermal printers. It can also apply to other devices, such as fax machines or photocopiers.
  • the cover allows access to the interior of the device, for placing the paper to be printed in the case of a printer, or, more generally, in the event of difficulties such as the paper jams, and the processing head is put into the working position only when the cover is closed.
  • a sensor is provided for detecting the closure of the cover, for example an optical sensor, or even a contact, which authorizes the operation of the device only if the closure is detected.
  • the processing head for example a thermal printing head
  • the processing head is a bar of length equal to the width of the processed document, and which processes one line of pixels at a time of the processed document.
  • this bar is arranged along the free edge of the cover when it is open and bears against a support of the document to be processed, for example a drive roller thereof, when the cover is closed.
  • a support of the document to be processed for example a drive roller thereof
  • the present invention aims to overcome this drawback.
  • an apparatus of the type defined above characterized in that it comprises means sensitive to the position of the treatment head so as to authorize the operation of the apparatus only if said head is in working position.
  • the treatment head is mounted on elastic means integral with the cover in order, in the working position against a document to be processed when the cover is closed, to be pushed back towards the cover against the action of the elastic means thus distorted and at least one sensor for, in the working position of the head, detecting the deformation of said elastic means.
  • the treatment head is elongated and means are provided which are sensitive to the position of each of its ends.
  • a document processing apparatus here a thermal printer, comprises a roller 1, for driving a document 2 to be printed, and a thermal printing head 3, mounted on a cover 4 allowing access to the interior of the printer.
  • the cover pivots about an axis 41 to pass from its open position in FIG. 1 to its closed position in FIG. 2.
  • the print head 3 is mounted on an elastic blade 5 secured to the cover 4.
  • the elastic blade 5 recalls the head 3 towards the roller 1 and, in the closed position of the cover 4 and working of head 3, this one, in abutment against the document 2 resting on the roller 1, is pushed towards the cover 4 against the action of the blade 5 thus deformed.
  • a contact 6 is mounted on the cover 4 to detect the deformation of the elastic blade 5 when the head 3 is pressurized.
  • the contact 6 is open, which prevents, thanks to an electronic circuit not shown to which it is connected, the operation of the printer.
  • the contact 6 is not sensitive to the position of the cover, but to that of the head 3 when it is in the correct working position, there is no risk of seeing the operation authorized while the head 3 is incorrectly positioned.
  • a single position sensor such as contact 6 may suffice.
  • two sensors such as contact 6, one at each of the ends of the print head, the two contacts that must be closed to allow operation.
  • the invention is not limited to a printing head and applies to any processing head whose position, in the working phase, must be well defined.
  • any other position sensor for example optical.

Landscapes

  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Facsimile Heads (AREA)
  • Facsimile Scanning Arrangements (AREA)
  • Common Mechanisms (AREA)
  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • User Interface Of Digital Computer (AREA)

Abstract

At least one position sensor (6) is provided for detecting the position of the processing head (3) when the cover (4) is closed and allowing operation only if the processing head (3) is in the working position. The invention is applied in particular to thermal printers and to fax machines. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention est relative à un appareil pour traiter des documents, du type connu qui comprend une tête de traitement montée sur un capot d'accès à l'intérieur de l'appareil.The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing documents, of the known type which comprises a processing head mounted on an access cover inside the apparatus.

L'invention s'applique notamment aux imprimantes, et plus particulièrement aux imprimantes thermiques. Elle peut également s'appliquer à d'autres appareils, comme les télécopieurs ou photocopieurs.The invention applies in particular to printers, and more particularly to thermal printers. It can also apply to other devices, such as fax machines or photocopiers.

On connaît déjà des appareils du type défini ci-dessus. Dans ces appareils le capot permet l'accès à l'intérieur de l'appareil, pour la mise en place du papier à imprimer dans le cas d'une imprimante, ou, d'une manière plus générale, en cas de difficultés telles que le bourrage du papier, et la tête de traitement est mise en position de travail seulement lors de la fermeture du capot. En général, il est prévu un capteur pour détecter la fermeture du capot, par exemple un capteur optique, ou encore un contact, qui n'autorise le fonctionnement de l'appareil que si la fermeture est détectée.Apparatuses of the type defined above are already known. In these devices, the cover allows access to the interior of the device, for placing the paper to be printed in the case of a printer, or, more generally, in the event of difficulties such as the paper jams, and the processing head is put into the working position only when the cover is closed. In general, a sensor is provided for detecting the closure of the cover, for example an optical sensor, or even a contact, which authorizes the operation of the device only if the closure is detected.

Le plus souvent, la tête de traitement, par exemple une tête d'impression thermique, est une barrette de longueur égale à la largeur du document traité, et qui traite une ligne de pixels à la fois du document traité. En général, cette barrette est disposée le long du bord libre du capot lorsqu'il est ouvert et vient en appui contre un support du document à traiter, par exemple un rouleau d'entraînement de celui-ci, lorsque le capot est fermé. Compte tenu de la valeur relativement grande de la largeur du document traité, et donc de celle du bord libre du capot, il est prévu en général deux organes de verrouillage du capot en position fermée, disposés à chacune des extrémités du bord libre.Most often, the processing head, for example a thermal printing head, is a bar of length equal to the width of the processed document, and which processes one line of pixels at a time of the processed document. In general, this bar is arranged along the free edge of the cover when it is open and bears against a support of the document to be processed, for example a drive roller thereof, when the cover is closed. Given the relatively large value of the width of the document processed, and therefore that of the free edge of the cover, there are generally provided two locking the cover in the closed position, arranged at each end of the free edge.

Dans ces conditions il arrive qu'une fermeture incorrecte du capot, par exemple pour laquelle un seul des organes de verrouillage est enclenché, soit détectée comme fermeture par le capteur de fermeture. Le fonctionnement est donc autorisé, mais comme la tête de traitement est mal mise en place, le traitement n'est pas effectué convenablement. Par exemple, dans le cas d'une tête d'impression thermique, celle-ci est mal appliquée contre le document à imprimer, et l'impression est partielle.Under these conditions it happens that an incorrect closing of the cover, for example for which only one of the locking members is engaged, is detected as closing by the closing sensor. Operation is therefore authorized, but since the treatment head is incorrectly installed, the treatment is not carried out properly. For example, in the case of a thermal print head, it is badly applied against the document to be printed, and the printing is partial.

La présente invention vise à pallier cet inconvénient.The present invention aims to overcome this drawback.

A cet effet, elle a pour objet un appareil du type défini ci-dessus, caractérisé par le fait qu'il comprend des moyens sensibles à la position de la tête de traitement pour n'autoriser le fonctionnement de l'appareil que si ladite tête de traitement est en position de travail.To this end, it relates to an apparatus of the type defined above, characterized in that it comprises means sensitive to the position of the treatment head so as to authorize the operation of the apparatus only if said head is in working position.

Dans l'appareil de l'invention, si le fonctionnement est autorisé, c'est que la tête de traitement elle-même est en position correcte. La sécurité de fonctionnement est donc accrue par rapport aux appareils connus où c'est la fermeture du capot qui est détectée.In the apparatus of the invention, if operation is authorized, it is because the treatment head itself is in the correct position. Operational safety is therefore increased compared to known devices where it is the closing of the cover which is detected.

Dans la forme de réalisation préférée, la tête de traitement est montée sur des moyens élastiques solidaires du capot pour, en position de travail contre un document à traiter lorsque le capot est fermé, être repoussée vers le capot contre l'action des moyens élastiques ainsi déformés et il est prévu au moins un capteur pour, en position de travail de la tête, détecter la déformation desdits moyens élastiques.In the preferred embodiment, the treatment head is mounted on elastic means integral with the cover in order, in the working position against a document to be processed when the cover is closed, to be pushed back towards the cover against the action of the elastic means thus distorted and at least one sensor for, in the working position of the head, detecting the deformation of said elastic means.

Avantageusement, la tête de traitement est allongée et il est prévu des moyens sensibles à la position de chacune de ses extrémités.Advantageously, the treatment head is elongated and means are provided which are sensitive to the position of each of its ends.

La présente invention sera mieux comprise grâce à la description suivante de la forme de réalisation préférée de l'appareil de l'invention, faite en se référant aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels,

  • la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe, partielle et schématique, d'un appareil conforme à l'invention, dont le capot est ouvert,
  • la figure 2 représente l'appareil de la figure 1, le capot étant en position fermée.
The present invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
  • FIG. 1 represents a partial and schematic sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention, the cover of which is open,
  • Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1, the cover being in the closed position.

En se référant aux figures 1 et 2, un appareil de traitement de documents, ici une imprimante thermique, comprend un rouleau 1, d'entraînement d'un document 2 à imprimer, et une tête d'impression thermique 3, montée sur un capot 4 permettant l'accès à l'intérieur de l'imprimante.Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a document processing apparatus, here a thermal printer, comprises a roller 1, for driving a document 2 to be printed, and a thermal printing head 3, mounted on a cover 4 allowing access to the interior of the printer.

A cet effet, le capot pivote autour d'un axe 41 pour passer de sa position d'ouverture de la figure 1 à sa position de fermeture de la figure 2.To this end, the cover pivots about an axis 41 to pass from its open position in FIG. 1 to its closed position in FIG. 2.

La tête d'impression 3 est montée sur une lame élastique 5 solidaire du capot 4. En position d'ouverture du capot, la lame élastique 5 rappelle la tête 3 vers le rouleau 1 et, en position de fermeture du capot 4 et de travail de la tête 3, celle-ci, en butée contre le document 2 en appui sur le rouleau 1, est repoussée vers le capot 4 contre l'action de la lame 5 ainsi déformée.The print head 3 is mounted on an elastic blade 5 secured to the cover 4. In the open position of the cover, the elastic blade 5 recalls the head 3 towards the roller 1 and, in the closed position of the cover 4 and working of head 3, this one, in abutment against the document 2 resting on the roller 1, is pushed towards the cover 4 against the action of the blade 5 thus deformed.

Un contact 6 est monté sur le capot 4 pour détecter la déformation de la lame élastique 5 lors de la mise en pression de la tête 3. Lorsque le capot est ouvert, le contact 6 est ouvert, ce qui interdit, grâce à un circuit électronique non représenté auquel il est relié, le fonctionnement de l'imprimante.A contact 6 is mounted on the cover 4 to detect the deformation of the elastic blade 5 when the head 3 is pressurized. When the cover is open, the contact 6 is open, which prevents, thanks to an electronic circuit not shown to which it is connected, the operation of the printer.

Lorsque le capot 4 est fermé, la lame 5 se déforme donc et ferme le contact 6, ce qui autorise le fonctionnement de l'appareil.When the cover 4 is closed, the blade 5 therefore deforms and closes the contact 6, which authorizes the operation of the device.

Du fait que le contact 6 n'est pas sensible à la position du capot, mais à celle de la tête 3 lorsqu'elle est en position de travail correcte, il n'y a pas de risque de voir le fonctionnement autorisé alors que la tête 3 est mal positionnée.Because the contact 6 is not sensitive to the position of the cover, but to that of the head 3 when it is in the correct working position, there is no risk of seeing the operation authorized while the head 3 is incorrectly positioned.

Si la tête est suffisamment rigide, un seul capteur de position comme le contact 6 peut suffire. Toutefois, dans la plupart des cas pratiques, où la dimension de la tête d'impression perpendiculairement aux dessins est relativement grande, il est préférable de prévoir deux capteurs comme le contact 6, un à chacune des extrémités de la tête d'impression, les deux contacts devant être fermés pour autoriser le fonctionnement.If the head is sufficiently rigid, a single position sensor such as contact 6 may suffice. However, in most practical cases, where the dimension of the print head perpendicular to the drawings is relatively large, it is preferable to provide two sensors such as contact 6, one at each of the ends of the print head, the two contacts that must be closed to allow operation.

Naturellement, l'invention n'est pas limitée à une tête d'impression et s'applique à toute tête de traitement dont la position, en phase de travail, doit être bien définie.Naturally, the invention is not limited to a printing head and applies to any processing head whose position, in the working phase, must be well defined.

De même, on peut utiliser, au lieu du contact 6, tout autre capteur de position, par exemple optique.Similarly, it is possible to use, instead of contact 6, any other position sensor, for example optical.

Claims (3)

  1. Apparatus for processing documents in which a processing head (3) is mounted on a cover (4) for gaining access to the inside of the apparatus, characterised by the fact that it comprises means (6) sensitive to the position of the processing head (3) for allowing the operation of the apparatus solely if said processing head (3) is in the correct working position.
  2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the processing head (3) is mounted on spring means (5) integral with the ccver (4), in order, in the working position against a document (2) to be processed when the ccver (4) is closed, to be pushed back towards the cover (4) against the action of the spring means (5) thus deformed and at least one sensor (6) is provided in order, in the working position of the head, to detect the deformation of said spring means (5).
  3. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 or 2, in which the processing head (3) is elongated and means (6) are provided which are sensitive to the position of each of its ends.
EP91400013A 1990-01-09 1991-01-04 Document processing apparatus with processing head mounted on a cover Expired - Lifetime EP0437384B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9000157 1990-01-09
FR9000157A FR2656832B1 (en) 1990-01-09 1990-01-09 DOCUMENT PROCESSING APPARATUS USING A PROCESSING HEAD MOUNTED ON A COVER.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0437384A1 EP0437384A1 (en) 1991-07-17
EP0437384B1 true EP0437384B1 (en) 1994-06-15

Family

ID=9392593

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91400013A Expired - Lifetime EP0437384B1 (en) 1990-01-09 1991-01-04 Document processing apparatus with processing head mounted on a cover

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0437384B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE107233T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69102437T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0437384T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2057788T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2656832B1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3009001C2 (en) * 1980-03-08 1988-07-28 Adlerwerke Vorm. Heinrich Kleyer Ag, 6000 Frankfurt Cover for the writing area of printers, typewriters or devices of a similar type
GB2159770B (en) * 1984-03-10 1988-01-06 Control Systems Ltd Thermal printer
JPS60260374A (en) * 1984-06-08 1985-12-23 Canon Inc Recorder
US4718785A (en) * 1987-02-12 1988-01-12 Eastman Kodak Company Compliant head loading mechanism for thermal printer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69102437T2 (en) 1995-02-02
ES2057788T3 (en) 1994-10-16
ATE107233T1 (en) 1994-07-15
DE69102437D1 (en) 1994-07-21
FR2656832B1 (en) 1994-12-23
DK0437384T3 (en) 1994-10-24
FR2656832A1 (en) 1991-07-12
EP0437384A1 (en) 1991-07-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6501498B2 (en) Thermal printer
EP1295727B1 (en) Accessible and lockable thermal printing device
FR2697776A1 (en) Opening thermal printing device.
EP0437384B1 (en) Document processing apparatus with processing head mounted on a cover
JP2690659B2 (en) Label printer
EP0013292B1 (en) Paperguiding screen with integral ribbon guide for an impact printer
CA2352980A1 (en) Thermal printing device with fast closure
FR2817796A1 (en) DEVICE FOR PRINTING A PAPER TAPE AND CUTTING THE TAPE FROM PRINTED TICKETS
CH661810A5 (en) DEVICE FOR COUNTING FLAT OBJECTS ARRANGED IN TABLECLOTH.
WO2015182620A1 (en) Printer
EP1218200B1 (en) Device for unlocking a compartment of an opening mechanism
EP0094904A1 (en) End-of-ribbon sensor device for typewriters
FR2701896A1 (en) Method and device for correcting an obliquity of a cut sheet.
EP0266679B1 (en) Thermal printer with a document pinch and feed roller
FR2530043A1 (en) ELECTROSTATIC COPIER WITH SUPPORT DEVICE FOR COPY SHEET
EP0518712A1 (en) Ergonomic printer on board aircraft cockpit
FR2773547A1 (en) Paper feed for office machinery with automatic double-sided printing or scanning
EP0483008B1 (en) Lenses alignment device with rotating table
FR2677210A1 (en) Mode of protecting a face plate for an electrical apparatus, and corresponding face plate and electrical apparatus
EP0640485B1 (en) Thermal printer
FR2464503A1 (en) DEVICE FOR PROJECTING AN IDENTIFICATION IMAGE ON A FILM
EP0288396A1 (en) Slide-changing mechanism for slide projectors, and projector comprising such a mechanism
FR2641229A1 (en) PAPER FEEDING DEVICES FOR PRINTING APPARATUSES AND LIFT MECHANISM FOR SUCH DEVICES
EP0582938A1 (en) Telecopier with pivotably mounted image pick-up device
CH639898A5 (en) Device for inserting documents into an appliance for printing characters

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 CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920117

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19930831

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 107233

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19940715

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69102437

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19940721

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: STUDIO TORTA SOCIETA' SEMPLICE

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19940831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2057788

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: T3

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GR

Ref legal event code: FG4A

Free format text: 3013226

EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 91400013.8

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

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20001218

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20001218

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: DK

Payment date: 20001218

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20001218

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: GR

Payment date: 20001221

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20010115

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20010129

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20010209

Year of fee payment: 11

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20010223

Year of fee payment: 11

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

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: 20020104

Ref country code: AT

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

Effective date: 20020104

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020105

Ref country code: ES

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

Effective date: 20020105

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

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20020131

Ref country code: DK

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

Effective date: 20020131

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20020131

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20020131

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: SOC. D'APPLICATIONS GENERALES D'ELECTRICITE ET DE

Effective date: 20020131

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: 20020801

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 NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020812

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed

Ref document number: 91400013.8

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20020801

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DK

Ref legal event code: EBP

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20041223

Year of fee payment: 15

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

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050104

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20050107

Year of fee payment: 15

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20050131

Year of fee payment: 15

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: 20060104

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

Ref country code: FR

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

Effective date: 20060131

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: 20060801

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

Effective date: 20060104

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20060929