EP3784065B1 - Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating - Google Patents
Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3784065B1 EP3784065B1 EP19726497.1A EP19726497A EP3784065B1 EP 3784065 B1 EP3784065 B1 EP 3784065B1 EP 19726497 A EP19726497 A EP 19726497A EP 3784065 B1 EP3784065 B1 EP 3784065B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- continuous rod
- web
- station
- semi
- finished product
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 title claims description 53
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 title claims description 53
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 title claims description 25
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 title claims description 25
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 24
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 67
- 239000011265 semifinished product Substances 0.000 claims description 46
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002966 varnish Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 13
- 239000013528 metallic particle Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000002788 crimping Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012216 screening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/14—Machines of the continuous-rod type
- A24C5/18—Forming the rod
- A24C5/1807—Forming the rod with compressing means, e.g. garniture
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/01—Making cigarettes for simulated smoking devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
- A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
- A24C5/3412—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by means of light, radiation or electrostatic fields
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/60—Final treatment of cigarettes, e.g. marking, printing, branding, decorating
- A24C5/608—Treating cigarettes with a liquid or viscous solution
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- the object of this invention is to inspect a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry consisting of a continuous rod wrapped in a tube of wrapping material, where the wrapping material is at least partly metallic.
- a strongly felt need in the industry is that of being able to efficiently check some of the properties of the semi-finished product, such as weight or density, so as to ensure that the production process of the rod, and ultimately of the finished product, complies with one or more quality parameters associated with the properties measured.
- This need is normally satisfied by taking measurements of the rod after the rod has been formed; that is to say, when the semi-finished product has been wrapped completely in a web of wrapping material, in order to check that it has been filled correctly.
- Measuring is performed by non-invasive and/or contactless measuring means such as sensors which use electromagnetic waves that are capable of passing through the continuous rod to measure one or more properties of the semi-finished product.
- non-invasive and/or contactless measuring means such as sensors which use electromagnetic waves that are capable of passing through the continuous rod to measure one or more properties of the semi-finished product.
- machines for making continuous rods of tobacco involve the use of a substantially vertical duct which is fed from below with a continuous flow of tobacco particles and at the top end of which there is a suction belt on which a continuous mass of tobacco is formed.
- the suction belt is adapted to feed the semi-finished, continuous mass of tobacco along a predetermined path defined by the suction belt itself to a preforming device, which produces a continuous stream, and then to a station for forming a continuous tobacco rod where a web of wrapping material is wrapped around the continuous tobacco stream to form a continuous rod or cylinder of the tobacco industry, such as a cigarette rod, which is then cut into segments by a suitable cutting device.
- the continuous stream of tobacco is suitably preformed and progressively compacted by the preforming device.
- This feature guarantees that the continuous mass of tobacco can be measured without interference from metallic components applied to the web of wrapping material.
- this solution is not capable of providing an accurate measurement of the quantity/weight of the mass of tobacco which is transferred to subsequent production steps because some of the tobacco measured continues to be held by suction on the suction belt and falls off the belt by gravity or on account of the mechanical vibrations before being actually transferred to the processes downstream.
- the material held by the suction belt is, in effect, a "suspended" mass and produces a level of uncertainty which negatively affects measurement precision.
- this problem also affects other tobacco industry production processes in which a continuous rod is formed by wrapping a semi-finished product, such as a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, of aerosol-generating material or of flavour-generating material, or a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco, in a web of wrapping material comprising metallic particles.
- a semi-finished product such as a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, of aerosol-generating material or of flavour-generating material, or a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco
- the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to overcome at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- this invention has for an aim to provide a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, allowing the properties of the product to be correctly measured using an electromagnetic wave detector even when the products made are wrapped in material which is at least partly metallized or which contains metallic parts.
- This invention discloses a method of detection for articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, comprising the following steps:
- the present method allows ensuring that the properties of the semi-finished product being processed are correctly assessed by removing the risk, on the one hand, of metallic particles possibly interfering with the electromagnetic detector and, on the other, of obtaining false measurements on account of possible accidental variations which the semi-finished product might undergo immediately after being measured.
- This invention also has for an object a machine for making a continuous rod of the tobacco industry and comprising a forming station, a detection station and a processing station.
- the forming station is adapted to receive a web of wrapping material and a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry from respective feed means and comprises a forming beam on which the semi-finished product is placed on top of the web of wrapping material.
- the forming station is configured to progressively wrap the web of wrapping material round the semi-finished product, thereby defining a continuous rod of material of the tobacco industry.
- the detection station located downstream of the forming beam comprises at least one electromagnetic detector to detect one or more properties of the continuous rod.
- the processing station is located downstream of the detection station and is configured to apply an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod.
- the present machine provides an efficient and effective inspection tool for accurately assessing the structural integrity and inherent properties of the semi-finished product being processed, thus guaranteeing that the end product made using that semi-finished product attains an optimum quality level.
- the numeral 100 in the accompanying drawings denotes in its entirety a machine for making at least one continuous rod of the tobacco industry.
- the machine 100 comprises a forming station 10, adapted to receive a web of wrapping material 11 from means for feeding the web of wrapping material 11 and a semi-finished product 12 of the tobacco industry from means for feeding the semi-finished product, located preferably upstream of the forming station 10.
- the forming station 10 in turn comprises a forming beam 13 on which the semi-finished product 12 is placed on the web of wrapping material 11, preferably to rest thereon.
- the semi-finished product 12 may comprise a continuous stream of tobacco fibre, a stream obtained by crimping a web of tobacco, a stream of filter material, of aerosol-generating material or of flavour-generating material, or more generally speaking, a preferably continuous stream intended to be wrapped in the web of wrapping material 11.
- the forming station 10 is configured to receive the web of wrapping material 11 and the semi-finished product 12 in such a way that these are fed together to the forming beam 13, specifically with the semi-finished product 12 placed on top of the web of wrapping material 11.
- the forming beam 13 is configured to progressively wrap the web of wrapping material 11 round the semi-finished product 12 to define a continuous rod "B" of material of the tobacco industry.
- the web of wrapping material 11 is made of materials that do not in any way generate any interference, distortion or noise in the electromagnetic signals used to inspect the properties of the semi-finished product 12, even after the latter has been wrapped completely in the web of wrapping material 11.
- the machine 100 also comprises a detection station 20 located downstream of the forming beam and comprising at least one electromagnetic detector 21 to detect one or more properties of the continuous rod "B".
- property is meant one or more features of interest, depending on the type of filling material being measured.
- These properties may comprise, for example, those in the following, non-exhaustive list: weight, density, humidity, correct inclusion of additional elements.
- electromagnetic detector 21 is used to denote any detector capable of performing a non destructive measurement through the thickness of the semi-finished product 12 using electromagnetic waves, specifically electromagnetic waves whose frequency is such as to be susceptible of interference from, or to be masked/distorted by, interaction with metallic particles.
- the electromagnetic detector 21 is a microwave detector operating at a wavelength of between 10 9 and 10 12 Hz.
- the detection station 20 is located immediately downstream of the forming station, that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them.
- the machine 100 also comprises a processing station 30 configured to apply an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod "B".
- the processing station 30 is located downstream of the detection station 20 and is thus configured to receive the continuous rod "B" therefrom and to apply the coating on the rod.
- the machine 100 comprises the forming station 10, the detection station 20 and the processing station 30 in sequence.
- the forming station 10 receives the web of wrapping material 11 and the semi-finished product 12 and, by means of the forming beam 13, wraps the web of wrapping material 11 completely round the semi-finished product 12 to make the continuous rod "B" which is then fed into the detection station 20.
- the electromagnetic detector 21 performs a non-destructive measurement on the continuous rod "B" to detect/measure one or more of its characteristic properties and then sends it on to the processing station 30.
- the machine 100 for making at least one continuous rod of the tobacco industry of this invention allows overcoming the drawbacks of prior art devices because it can accurately and precisely measure the properties of the continuous rod "B" without the risk of the measurement being influenced or distorted by the presence of metallic particles and performing the measurement only after it is certain that the semi-finished product 12 will not undergo unwanted/unpredictable variations.
- the processing station 30 is located immediately downstream of the detection station 20, that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them.
- processing station 30 and the detection station 20 may be separated from each other by the presence of further processing units of the tobacco industry adapted to subject the continuous rod "B" to further processes before the coating is applied by the processing station 30.
- the detection station 20 and the processing station 30 might be separated from each other by an intermediate processing unit configured to cut the continuous rod "B" into a plurality of segments which are then fed into the processing station 30 where the coating is applied on each individual segment.
- the processing station 30 is adapted to receive a web of an at least partly metallic or metallized overwrapping material 31 from means for feeding the web of overwrapping material and the continuous rod "B" from the detection station 20.
- the processing station 30 also comprises a forming beam 32 on which the continuous rod "B" is placed on the web of overwrapping material 31 and which progressively wraps the continuous rod "B” in the web of overwrapping material "31".
- the processing station 30 performs a function similar to that of the forming station 10 in that it wraps the semi-finished product 12 in a wrapping material, specifically a second web of overwrapping material 31 which is at least partly metallic or metallized.
- the forming station 10 and the processing station 30 are provided with respective forming beams 13, 32 which, as shown in detail in Figure 1 , may be adjacent to each other and separated only by the detection station 20 so that the latter receives the continuous rod "B" immediately after the semi-finished product 12 has been wrapped completely in the web of wrapping material 11 and feeds the rod to the processing station 30 immediately after one or more of its characteristic properties have been detected.
- the processing station 30 is a spraying station configured to spray an at least partly metallic or metallized varnish on the continuous rod "B" to coat the latter at least partly.
- This invention also has for an object a method of detection for articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- the method comprises forming a continuous rod "B" of material of the tobacco industry; as described above, the continuous rod "B” is defined by a semi-finished product 12 of the tobacco industry, wrapped in a tube of wrapping material 11.
- an electromagnetic detector 21 is used to detect at least one property of at least one portion of the continuous rod "B”.
- step of detecting is performed after the web of wrapping material 11 has been completely wrapped around the semi-finished product 12.
- an at least partly metallic or metallized coating is applied on the continuous rod "B" in such a way as to make it unsuitable for combustion.
- the method disclosed herein allows dividing the process of wrapping the semi-finished product 12 into two or more distinct steps separate from the measuring process.
- This technical feature ensures obtaining a precise and accurate measurement of the properties of the semi-finished product 12 because the measurement is performed before the metallic particles are applied, thus eliminating the risk of the metallic particles interfering with the electromagnetic detector 21, and after wrapping in a first web of wrapping material 11 which does not interfere with measuring operations, thus substantially eliminating the risk of the semi-finished product 12 undergoing unwanted, unpredictable changes/variations after being measured.
- the method of this invention is directed to performing measurements on semi-finished products of the tobacco industry such as: a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, aerosol- or flavour-generating material, a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco.
- the measuring process is performed by an electromagnetic detector 21 such as, for example, a microwave detector, preferably configured to operate between 10 9 and 10 12 Hz.
- an electromagnetic detector 21 such as, for example, a microwave detector, preferably configured to operate between 10 9 and 10 12 Hz.
- use of the electromagnetic detector 21 makes it possible to obtain multiple data values of interest regarding the semi-finished product 12 being processed, as for example: weight, humidity, density and correct inclusion of additional elements in the semi-finished product 12.
- the metallic particle coating is applied on the continuous rod "B" immediately after performing the step of measuring it.
- the continuous rod "B" is immediately sent on to the next step of applying the at least partly metallic or metallized coating.
- the step of detecting is followed by a step of cutting the continuous rod "B" into a plurality of segments before the coating is applied.
- the coating is not applied on the continuous rod "B" but on each individual segment.
- this invention achieves the preset aims and overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing the user with a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating to guarantee correctly analysing the quality of the product being processed.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analysing Materials By The Use Of Chemical Reactions (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates to a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- More specifically, the object of this invention is to inspect a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry consisting of a continuous rod wrapped in a tube of wrapping material, where the wrapping material is at least partly metallic.
- In many different situations in the tobacco industry, it is necessary to wrap a suitable semi-finished product in a wrapping material to make a continuous rod which, at later stages in the production process, is divided into separate segments to form the finished product to be made.
- A strongly felt need in the industry is that of being able to efficiently check some of the properties of the semi-finished product, such as weight or density, so as to ensure that the production process of the rod, and ultimately of the finished product, complies with one or more quality parameters associated with the properties measured.
- This need is normally satisfied by taking measurements of the rod after the rod has been formed; that is to say, when the semi-finished product has been wrapped completely in a web of wrapping material, in order to check that it has been filled correctly.
- Measuring is performed by non-invasive and/or contactless measuring means such as sensors which use electromagnetic waves that are capable of passing through the continuous rod to measure one or more properties of the semi-finished product. An example of prior art in this field is given by
US2003/0137312 A1 . - This solution is not, however, applicable in some production contexts: for example, if the web of wrapping material has metallic or at least partly metallized portions because these interfere with the measuring process by screening or distorting the radiation and thus preventing measurements from being taken correctly through the thickness of the semi-finished product.
- This problem is all the more evident in the following example of machines for the production of continuous rods of tobacco.
- Generally speaking, machines for making continuous rods of tobacco involve the use of a substantially vertical duct which is fed from below with a continuous flow of tobacco particles and at the top end of which there is a suction belt on which a continuous mass of tobacco is formed.
- The suction belt is adapted to feed the semi-finished, continuous mass of tobacco along a predetermined path defined by the suction belt itself to a preforming device, which produces a continuous stream, and then to a station for forming a continuous tobacco rod where a web of wrapping material is wrapped around the continuous tobacco stream to form a continuous rod or cylinder of the tobacco industry, such as a cigarette rod, which is then cut into segments by a suitable cutting device.
- More specifically, before being sent into the forming channel of the forming beam, the continuous stream of tobacco is suitably preformed and progressively compacted by the preforming device.
- In this context, to ensure that the articles resulting from this production process have the right amount of tobacco in them, it is essential to measure the quantity of tobacco that is transferred into the infeed end of the forming channel.
- It is obvious that the properties of the semi-finished product cannot be measured in the manner mentioned above if the paper used to wrap it comprises metal components.
- In this specific context, machines are known in the prior art in which the detection station is disposed along the suction belt.
- This feature guarantees that the continuous mass of tobacco can be measured without interference from metallic components applied to the web of wrapping material.
- The Applicant has found, however, that this solution has considerable operational disadvantages which make it very inefficient in the performance of its functions.
- In particular, this solution is not capable of providing an accurate measurement of the quantity/weight of the mass of tobacco which is transferred to subsequent production steps because some of the tobacco measured continues to be held by suction on the suction belt and falls off the belt by gravity or on account of the mechanical vibrations before being actually transferred to the processes downstream.
- For this reason, even a measurement that indicates a correct amount of tobacco might result in a finished product that is not properly filled.
- The material held by the suction belt is, in effect, a "suspended" mass and produces a level of uncertainty which negatively affects measurement precision.
- Generally speaking, this problem also affects other tobacco industry production processes in which a continuous rod is formed by wrapping a semi-finished product, such as a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, of aerosol-generating material or of flavour-generating material, or a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco, in a web of wrapping material comprising metallic particles.
- In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to overcome at least some of the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- In particular, this invention has for an aim to provide a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, allowing the properties of the product to be correctly measured using an electromagnetic wave detector even when the products made are wrapped in material which is at least partly metallized or which contains metallic parts.
- The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, comprising the technical features set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.
- This invention discloses a method of detection for articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, comprising the following steps:
- forming a continuous rod of material of the tobacco industry, defined by a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry, wrapped in a tube defined by a web of wrapping material;
- detecting, with an electromagnetic detector, at least one property of at least one portion of the continuous rod; more specifically, the step of detecting is performed after the web of wrapping material has been completely wrapped around the semi-finished product;
- after the step of detecting, applying an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod in such a way as to make it unsuitable for combustion.
- Advantageously, the present method allows ensuring that the properties of the semi-finished product being processed are correctly assessed by removing the risk, on the one hand, of metallic particles possibly interfering with the electromagnetic detector and, on the other, of obtaining false measurements on account of possible accidental variations which the semi-finished product might undergo immediately after being measured.
- This invention also has for an object a machine for making a continuous rod of the tobacco industry and comprising a forming station, a detection station and a processing station.
- The forming station is adapted to receive a web of wrapping material and a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry from respective feed means and comprises a forming beam on which the semi-finished product is placed on top of the web of wrapping material.
- The forming station is configured to progressively wrap the web of wrapping material round the semi-finished product, thereby defining a continuous rod of material of the tobacco industry.
- The detection station located downstream of the forming beam comprises at least one electromagnetic detector to detect one or more properties of the continuous rod.
- The processing station is located downstream of the detection station and is configured to apply an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod.
- Advantageously, the present machine provides an efficient and effective inspection tool for accurately assessing the structural integrity and inherent properties of the semi-finished product being processed, thus guaranteeing that the end product made using that semi-finished product attains an optimum quality level.
- The dependent claims, which are incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments of the invention.
- Further features of the invention and its advantages are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a device for inspecting smoking articles, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a machine suitable for implementing the method of this invention. - The
numeral 100 in the accompanying drawings denotes in its entirety a machine for making at least one continuous rod of the tobacco industry. - The
machine 100 comprises a formingstation 10, adapted to receive a web of wrappingmaterial 11 from means for feeding the web of wrappingmaterial 11 and asemi-finished product 12 of the tobacco industry from means for feeding the semi-finished product, located preferably upstream of the formingstation 10. - The forming
station 10 in turn comprises a formingbeam 13 on which thesemi-finished product 12 is placed on the web of wrappingmaterial 11, preferably to rest thereon. - In the context of this invention, the
semi-finished product 12 may comprise a continuous stream of tobacco fibre, a stream obtained by crimping a web of tobacco, a stream of filter material, of aerosol-generating material or of flavour-generating material, or more generally speaking, a preferably continuous stream intended to be wrapped in the web of wrappingmaterial 11. - In other words, the forming
station 10 is configured to receive the web of wrappingmaterial 11 and thesemi-finished product 12 in such a way that these are fed together to the formingbeam 13, specifically with thesemi-finished product 12 placed on top of the web of wrappingmaterial 11. - The forming
beam 13 is configured to progressively wrap the web of wrappingmaterial 11 round thesemi-finished product 12 to define a continuous rod "B" of material of the tobacco industry. - It is stressed that the web of wrapping
material 11 is made of materials that do not in any way generate any interference, distortion or noise in the electromagnetic signals used to inspect the properties of thesemi-finished product 12, even after the latter has been wrapped completely in the web of wrappingmaterial 11. - The
machine 100 also comprises adetection station 20 located downstream of the forming beam and comprising at least oneelectromagnetic detector 21 to detect one or more properties of the continuous rod "B". - By "property" is meant one or more features of interest, depending on the type of filling material being measured.
- These properties may comprise, for example, those in the following, non-exhaustive list: weight, density, humidity, correct inclusion of additional elements.
- The term "electromagnetic detector" 21 is used to denote any detector capable of performing a non destructive measurement through the thickness of the
semi-finished product 12 using electromagnetic waves, specifically electromagnetic waves whose frequency is such as to be susceptible of interference from, or to be masked/distorted by, interaction with metallic particles. - For example, the
electromagnetic detector 21 is a microwave detector operating at a wavelength of between 109 and 1012 Hz. - Preferably, the
detection station 20 is located immediately downstream of the forming station, that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them. - The
machine 100 also comprises aprocessing station 30 configured to apply an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod "B". - More specifically, the
processing station 30 is located downstream of thedetection station 20 and is thus configured to receive the continuous rod "B" therefrom and to apply the coating on the rod. - In other words, the
machine 100 comprises the formingstation 10, thedetection station 20 and theprocessing station 30 in sequence. - The forming
station 10 receives the web of wrappingmaterial 11 and thesemi-finished product 12 and, by means of the formingbeam 13, wraps the web of wrappingmaterial 11 completely round thesemi-finished product 12 to make the continuous rod "B" which is then fed into thedetection station 20. - In the
detection station 20, theelectromagnetic detector 21 performs a non-destructive measurement on the continuous rod "B" to detect/measure one or more of its characteristic properties and then sends it on to theprocessing station 30. - Lastly, in the
processing station 30 another coating, which is at least partly metallic or metallized, is applied on the continuous rod "B". - Advantageously, the
machine 100 for making at least one continuous rod of the tobacco industry of this invention allows overcoming the drawbacks of prior art devices because it can accurately and precisely measure the properties of the continuous rod "B" without the risk of the measurement being influenced or distorted by the presence of metallic particles and performing the measurement only after it is certain that thesemi-finished product 12 will not undergo unwanted/unpredictable variations. Preferably, theprocessing station 30 is located immediately downstream of thedetection station 20, that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them. - It is not, however, excluded that the
processing station 30 and thedetection station 20 may be separated from each other by the presence of further processing units of the tobacco industry adapted to subject the continuous rod "B" to further processes before the coating is applied by theprocessing station 30. - For example, the
detection station 20 and theprocessing station 30 might be separated from each other by an intermediate processing unit configured to cut the continuous rod "B" into a plurality of segments which are then fed into theprocessing station 30 where the coating is applied on each individual segment. - In a possible preferred embodiment, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the
processing station 30 is adapted to receive a web of an at least partly metallic or metallizedoverwrapping material 31 from means for feeding the web of overwrapping material and the continuous rod "B" from thedetection station 20. - The
processing station 30 also comprises a formingbeam 32 on which the continuous rod "B" is placed on the web ofoverwrapping material 31 and which progressively wraps the continuous rod "B" in the web of overwrapping material "31". - In other words, in this particular embodiment, the
processing station 30 performs a function similar to that of the formingstation 10 in that it wraps thesemi-finished product 12 in a wrapping material, specifically a second web ofoverwrapping material 31 which is at least partly metallic or metallized. - As a result, the forming
station 10 and theprocessing station 30 are provided with respective formingbeams Figure 1 , may be adjacent to each other and separated only by thedetection station 20 so that the latter receives the continuous rod "B" immediately after thesemi-finished product 12 has been wrapped completely in the web of wrappingmaterial 11 and feeds the rod to theprocessing station 30 immediately after one or more of its characteristic properties have been detected. - In a further possible embodiment, the
processing station 30 is a spraying station configured to spray an at least partly metallic or metallized varnish on the continuous rod "B" to coat the latter at least partly. - This invention also has for an object a method of detection for articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating.
- The method comprises forming a continuous rod "B" of material of the tobacco industry; as described above, the continuous rod "B" is defined by a
semi-finished product 12 of the tobacco industry, wrapped in a tube of wrappingmaterial 11. - Once the continuous rod "B" has been formed, an
electromagnetic detector 21 is used to detect at least one property of at least one portion of the continuous rod "B". - It is stressed that the step of detecting is performed after the web of wrapping
material 11 has been completely wrapped around thesemi-finished product 12. - After the step of detecting, an at least partly metallic or metallized coating is applied on the continuous rod "B" in such a way as to make it unsuitable for combustion.
- In other words, the method disclosed herein allows dividing the process of wrapping the
semi-finished product 12 into two or more distinct steps separate from the measuring process. - This technical feature ensures obtaining a precise and accurate measurement of the properties of the
semi-finished product 12 because the measurement is performed before the metallic particles are applied, thus eliminating the risk of the metallic particles interfering with theelectromagnetic detector 21, and after wrapping in a first web of wrappingmaterial 11 which does not interfere with measuring operations, thus substantially eliminating the risk of thesemi-finished product 12 undergoing unwanted, unpredictable changes/variations after being measured. - The method of this invention is directed to performing measurements on semi-finished products of the tobacco industry such as: a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, aerosol- or flavour-generating material, a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco.
- The measuring process is performed by an
electromagnetic detector 21 such as, for example, a microwave detector, preferably configured to operate between 109 and 1012 Hz. - Advantageously, use of the
electromagnetic detector 21 makes it possible to obtain multiple data values of interest regarding thesemi-finished product 12 being processed, as for example: weight, humidity, density and correct inclusion of additional elements in thesemi-finished product 12. - According to a first aspect of this invention, the metallic particle coating is applied on the continuous rod "B" immediately after performing the step of measuring it.
- In other words, after being analysed with the
electromagnetic detector 21, the continuous rod "B" is immediately sent on to the next step of applying the at least partly metallic or metallized coating. - Alternatively, in another possible embodiment, the step of detecting is followed by a step of cutting the continuous rod "B" into a plurality of segments before the coating is applied.
- In this embodiment, the coating is not applied on the continuous rod "B" but on each individual segment.
- Advantageously, this invention achieves the preset aims and overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing the user with a method and a machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating to guarantee correctly analysing the quality of the product being processed.
Claims (10)
- A method of detection for articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating, comprising the following steps:- forming a continuous rod (B) of material of the tobacco industry, the continuous rod (B) being defined by a semi-finished product (12) of the tobacco industry, wrapped in a tube defined by a web of wrapping material;- detecting, with an electromagnetic detector (21), at least one property of at least one portion of the continuous rod (B), the step of detecting being performed after the web of wrapping material (11) has been completely wrapped around the semi-finished product (12);- after the step of detecting, applying an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod (B) in such a way as to make the continuous rod (B) unsuitable for combustion.
- The method according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic detector (21) is configured to detect at least one property of the continuous rod (B) selected from the following: weight, humidity, density.
- The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the semi-finished product (12) is selected from the following: a mass of tobacco fibre, a stream of filter material, a uniform or non-uniform succession of segments of filter material, aerosol- or flavour-generating material, a stream of homogenized or regenerated tobacco.
- The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the electromagnetic detector (21) is a microwave detector, the microwave detector being preferably configured to operate between 109 and 1012 Hz.
- The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising, after the step of detecting, a step of separating the continuous rod (B) into a plurality of segments of continuous rod (B) and the step of applying an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod (B) being accomplished by applying the coating on each segment of continuous rod (B).
- A machine for the production of a continuous rod (B) of the tobacco industry, comprising:- a forming station (10), adapted to receive a web of wrapping material (11) from means for feeding the web of wrapping material (11) and a semi-finished product (12) of the tobacco industry from means for feeding the semi-finished product (12), wherein the station comprises a forming beam (13) on which the semi-finished product (12) is placed on the web of wrapping material (11), the forming station (10) being configured to progressively wrap the web of wrapping material (11) around the semi-finished product (12) to form a continuous rod (B) of material of the tobacco industry;- a detection station (20) located downstream of the forming beam and comprising at least one electromagnetic detector (21) to detect one or more properties of the continuous rod (B);characterized in that it comprises a processing station (30) configured to apply an at least partly metallic or metallized coating on the continuous rod (B), the processing station (30) being located downstream of the detection station (20).
- The machine according to claim 6, wherein the processing station (30) is adapted to receive a web of an at least partly metallic or metallized overwrapping material (31) from means for feeding the web of overwrapping material (31) and the continuous rod (B) from the detection station (20), the processing station (30) comprising a forming beam (32) on which the continuous rod (B) is placed on the web of overwrapping material (31), the processing station (30) being configured to progressively wrap the continuous rod (B) in the web of overwrapping material (31).
- The machine according to claim 6, wherein the processing station (30) is a spraying station configured to spray an at least partly metallic or metallized varnish on the continuous rod (B) to coat the latter at least partly.
- The machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the processing station (30) is located immediately downstream of the detection station (20), that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them.
- The machine according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the detection station (20) is located immediately downstream of the forming station (10), that is to say, without other processing units being interposed between them.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT102018000004724A IT201800004724A1 (en) | 2018-04-24 | 2018-04-24 | Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles in the tobacco sector having an at least partially metallic coating |
PCT/IB2019/053255 WO2019207442A1 (en) | 2018-04-24 | 2019-04-19 | Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3784065A1 EP3784065A1 (en) | 2021-03-03 |
EP3784065B1 true EP3784065B1 (en) | 2022-06-08 |
Family
ID=62952258
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19726497.1A Active EP3784065B1 (en) | 2018-04-24 | 2019-04-19 | Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3784065B1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT201800004724A1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL3784065T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019207442A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5469871A (en) * | 1992-09-17 | 1995-11-28 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Cigarette and method of making same |
ITBO20020038A1 (en) * | 2002-01-24 | 2003-07-24 | Gd Spa | METHOD FOR DETECTION AND ELIMINATION OF FOREIGN BODIES IN A TOBACCO FLOW |
DE102011082625A1 (en) * | 2011-09-13 | 2013-03-14 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Control device for controlling at least one parameter of an article of the tobacco processing industry |
-
2018
- 2018-04-24 IT IT102018000004724A patent/IT201800004724A1/en unknown
-
2019
- 2019-04-19 WO PCT/IB2019/053255 patent/WO2019207442A1/en unknown
- 2019-04-19 PL PL19726497.1T patent/PL3784065T3/en unknown
- 2019-04-19 EP EP19726497.1A patent/EP3784065B1/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2019207442A1 (en) | 2019-10-31 |
EP3784065A1 (en) | 2021-03-03 |
IT201800004724A1 (en) | 2019-10-24 |
PL3784065T3 (en) | 2022-09-19 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JP6235803B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for detecting strand heterogeneity of material strands in the tobacco processing industry | |
US9743689B2 (en) | Method and a system for production of rod-shaped articles | |
US6768317B2 (en) | Method of and apparatus for testing a first material for potential presence of second materials | |
CN104643283B (en) | Method and device for detecting strand inhomogeneities in a rod of material in the tobacco processing industry | |
JP6253908B2 (en) | Inspection method for long elements made of fibrous material | |
JP7145615B2 (en) | Method and Apparatus for Monitoring and Manufacturing Filter Strands in the Tobacco Processing Industry | |
CN109564192B (en) | Measuring device and method for detecting electrically conductive elements in articles and machine for producing articles of the tobacco processing industry | |
EP3784065B1 (en) | Method and machine for detecting at least one property of articles of the tobacco industry having an at least partly metallic coating | |
EP3720304B1 (en) | Machine for the production of a continuous rod of the tobacco industry | |
US20170238598A1 (en) | Measuring apparatus and measuring method for multi-segment rod-like articles of tobacco industry | |
EP3806666B1 (en) | Detection unit and method for the tobacco industry | |
EP3468392B1 (en) | Apparatus for determination of the position of an insert in rod-like articles of the tobacco industry | |
EP3768099B1 (en) | A station for the conveying and inspection of a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry | |
JP7313371B2 (en) | Inspection unit and method for quality control of disposable cartridges for electronic cigarettes | |
EP3047739A1 (en) | Transport jet adapter and method for forming rods | |
RU2808967C2 (en) | Feeder device for feeding tobacco product segment | |
US20210112850A1 (en) | Feeding apparatus for feeding a tobacco industry segment | |
WO2019162831A1 (en) | A processing method and unit for processing a web of the tobacco industry | |
WO2020058897A1 (en) | Apparatus for the conveying and inspection of a semi-finished product of the tobacco industry | |
EP4196774A1 (en) | Method and device for inspecting tubular elements, in particular multi-layer tubular elements | |
CN115736329A (en) | Method for monitoring the quality of a process in a processing machine in the tobacco industry | |
CN112740022A (en) | Electromagnetic detector for detecting properties of products of the tobacco industry |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE |
|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20201020 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Extension state: BA ME |
|
DAV | Request for validation of the european patent (deleted) | ||
DAX | Request for extension of the european patent (deleted) | ||
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R079 Ref document number: 602019015701 Country of ref document: DE Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: A24C0005180000 Ipc: A24C0005010000 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: A24C 5/34 20060101ALI20211119BHEP Ipc: A24C 5/60 20060101ALI20211119BHEP Ipc: A24C 5/18 20060101ALI20211119BHEP Ipc: A24C 5/01 20200101AFI20211119BHEP |
|
INTG | Intention to grant announced |
Effective date: 20211208 |
|
GRAS | Grant fee paid |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: REF Ref document number: 1496313 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20220615 Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: EP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R096 Ref document number: 602019015701 Country of ref document: DE |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: FG4D |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: NL Ref legal event code: FP |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: LT Ref legal event code: MG9D |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 Ref country code: NO Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220908 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: 20220608 Ref country code: HR Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 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: 20220909 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: 20220608 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: 20220908 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: AT Ref legal event code: MK05 Ref document number: 1496313 Country of ref document: AT Kind code of ref document: T Effective date: 20220608 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: RS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 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: 20220608 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SM Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 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: 20220608 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: 20220608 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: 20221010 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: 20220608 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: 20220608 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: 20220608 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: 20220608 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IS Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20221008 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: DE Ref legal event code: R097 Ref document number: 602019015701 Country of ref document: DE |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 |
|
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: 20220608 |
|
26N | No opposition filed |
Effective date: 20230310 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 |
|
P01 | Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered |
Effective date: 20230527 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20230425 Year of fee payment: 5 Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20230427 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: PL Payment date: 20230403 Year of fee payment: 5 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20230419 |
|
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: 20230419 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: BE Ref legal event code: MM Effective date: 20230430 |
|
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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 |
|
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: 20230419 |
|
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 FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT Effective date: 20220608 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230430 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: 20220608 Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230419 Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230430 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: IE Ref legal event code: MM4A |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20230430 |
|
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: 20230419 |
|
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: 20230419 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 20240426 Year of fee payment: 6 |