The patent has been granted The patent has been granted, Grant of patent is intended, Request for examination was made, The application has been published EP Register Verified

METHOD AND UNIT FOR INSPECTING MULTISEGMENT ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES

Publication No. EP4529778

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App No. EP24197703

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Filed by G.D S.p.A.

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Filed on 2024-08-30

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Issued/Published on 2025-10-15

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP4529778 A1

Application No. EP24197703 Filed: 2024-08-30

Grant Date 2025-10-15 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

A unit (1) for inspecting multisegment, rod-shaped articles (100) comprises at least one supporting element (2) having at least one containment compartment for a plurality of articles (100), at least one emitting device (3) configured to emit a light beam (F) in the direction of the lateral surface of at least one article (100), at least one detecting device (4) configured to capture the light emitted by an end surface of the article (100) to generate an identification signal identifying the intensity of the light captured, and a control unit (5) configured to receive and process the identification signal in order to obtain information relating to the orientation of each article (100). The unit (1) comprises at least one light guide (500) at least partly surrounding the containment compartment and configured to receive the light produced by the light beam (F) and to convey the light around the plurality of articles (100) positioned in the containment compartment.

IPC Classifications

A24C5/34

Priority Claims

IT 20230018198 Date: 2023-09-05

Designated Contracting States (39 EPC States)

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 ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

G.D S.p.A.

Via Battindarno, 91, 40133 Bologna

Inventors (3)

CASAGRANDE, Alberto

Bologna

CESARINI, Maria Eleonora

Bologna

FOGHETTI, Claudio

Bologna

Representatives / Agents

Bianciardi, Ezio

Bugnion S.p.A. Via di Corticella, 87, 40128 Bologna

Aulich, Martin, et al

Meissner Bolte Patentanwälte, Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2025-04-09

Mention Of Grant Published 2025-10-15

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2025-05-08

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

44 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2025-04-02	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-02-28	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2025-02-28	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-04-11	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-05-14	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2025-05-08	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2025-05-08	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-05-28	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2025-06-11	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2025-09-12	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2025-09-05	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2025-09-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2025-10-08	P01	OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2025-10-15	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2025-10-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-10-30	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2025-11-05	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-02-18	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-03-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-03-17	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-10	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-04-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-13	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-14	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-17	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-20	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-23	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-24	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-28	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-04-30	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-06-29	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-03	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-09	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-10	PLBI	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2026-07-10	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-15	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-07-17	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-21	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-06	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-07-25	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-08-06	PG25	LAPSED IN A CONTRACTING STATE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP
2026-07-29	PLAX	NOTICE OF OPPOSITION AND REQUEST TO FILE OBSERVATION + TIME LIMIT SENT	EP
2026-08-12	26	OPPOSITION FILED	EP
2026-10-10	PGFP	ANNUAL FEE PAID TO NATIONAL OFFICE [ANNOUNCED VIA POSTGRANT INFORMATION FROM NATIONAL OFFICE TO EPO]	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

6 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

WO2021165303

Espacenet

US2023073296 2023-03-09

Espacenet

DE19753333 1999-06-10

Espacenet

WO2007086744 2007-08-02

Espacenet

US5127737 1992-07-07

Espacenet

US4511045 1985-04-16

Espacenet

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

3 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP4529778A1	A1	2025-04-02	Espacenet
EP	EP4529778B1	B1	2025-10-15	Espacenet
IT	IT202300018198A1	A1	2025-03-05	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP24197703 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

Date: 2025-09-12 Procedure: Grant 0009210

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METHOD AND UNIT FOR INSPECTING MULTISEGMENT ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (39 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (3)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co. KG)

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Patent Application with Search Report (A1)

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

New entry: Communication of a notice of opposition and request to file observations + time limit

Invitation to proprietor to file observations on the notice of opposition

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Opposition filed

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

Lapse of the patent in a contracting state

(Expected) grant

New entry: Payment of fee for grant

New entry: Payment of fee for publishing/printing

New entry: Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)

New entry: Communication of intention to grant a patent

Intention to grant the patent

Change - classification

The date on which the examining division becomes responsible, has been established

Request for examination filed

Date on which the examining division has become responsible

Publication in section I.1 EP Bulletin

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Language of the procedure

International searching authority