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IPC Class
B65

CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL

Classification Context

Section:
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:
CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL

Description

Class B65 encompasses machinery and apparatus for conveying, packing, storing, and handling materials with thin or elongated profiles, including textiles, paper, films, wire, rope, and similar filamentary substances. The class covers the mechanical systems, structures, and control methods for these operations across industrial production and logistics environments. It includes conveyor systems, winding and unwinding equipment, packaging machinery, and specialized storage solutions designed for materials that would be damaged or become tangled if handled by conventional bulk-handling methods. Adjacent classes address general conveying systems (B65G for conveyor belts and similar), while B65 focuses specifically on the unique technical requirements of thin and filamentary material streams.

Filing statistics

IPC B65 recorded 2,394,086 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 6 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 105,867 in 2013 to 297,634 in 2023 (+181%), peaking at 328,692 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B65 are CANON (3,755 applications), SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) (3,721 applications) and YOSHINO KOGYOSHO COMPANY (3,659 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

B65 comprises 6 subclasses with filings; the largest is B65D with 32.5% of the class's 2,394,086 applications between 2013 and 2023.

Subclasses of class B65 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1B65D, Containers for Storage or Transport of Articles or Materials, e.g. Bags, Barrels, Bottles, Boxes, Cans, Cartons, Crates, Drums, Jars, Tanks, Hoppers, Forwarding Containers; Accessories, Closures, or Fittings Therefor; Packaging Elements; PackagesContainers for Storage or Transport of Articles or Materials, e.g. Bags, Barrels, Bottles, Boxes, Cans, Cartons, Crates, Drums, Jars, Tanks, Hoppers, Forwarding Containers; Accessories, Closures, or Fittings Therefor; Packaging Elements; Packages778,31632.5%
2B65G, Transport or Storage Devices, e.g. Conveyors for Loading or Tipping, Shop Conveyor Systems or Pneumatic Tube ConveyorsTransport or Storage Devices, e.g. Conveyors for Loading or Tipping, Shop Conveyor Systems or Pneumatic Tube Conveyors773,57732.3%
3B65H, Handling Thin or Filamentary Material, e.g. Sheets, Webs, CablesHandling Thin or Filamentary Material, e.g. Sheets, Webs, Cables387,78216.2%
4B65B, Machines, Apparatus or Devices For, or Methods Of, Packaging Articles or Materials; UnpackingMachines, Apparatus or Devices For, or Methods Of, Packaging Articles or Materials; Unpacking334,73114.0%
5B65F, Gathering or Removal of Domestic or Like RefuseGathering or Removal of Domestic or Like Refuse89,1753.7%
6B65C, Labelling or Tagging Machines, Apparatus, or ProcessesLabelling or Tagging Machines, Apparatus, or Processes30,5051.3%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

6 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CANON 3,755
  2. SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 3,721
  3. YOSHINO KOGYOSHO COMPANY 3,659
  4. DNP (DAINIPPON PRINTING COMPANY) 3,573
  5. KRONES DE 3,114
  6. P&G (PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY) US 2,777
  7. TOPPAN PRINTING COMPANY 2,720
  8. SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 2,574
  9. KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS 2,371
  10. RICOH COMPANY 2,349