Carousel formula label thermoprint equipment
Technical Field
The invention relates to the technical field of automobile sun shield processing equipment, in particular to rotary disc type label thermoprinting equipment.
Background
The automobile sun shield is a plate which is arranged above a driving position and a copilot and used for preventing sunlight from dazzling, shielding of sunlight is achieved by turning over the plate, and the automobile sun shield is made of plastic, EPP, PU foaming, paper board and the like and can be divided into a front shield, a side shield and a rear shield. The existing automobile sun visor label hot stamping is still produced mostly in a manual mode, and the method mainly comprises the steps of sticking a warning label on the surface of an automobile sun visor through a hot stamping process, fixing a label heat transfer mold, then manually placing the warning label and the surface of the sun visor, and finishing hot stamping.
The utility model of China with publication number CN209127132U discloses a labeling device for a car sun visor, which improves the hot stamping precision of labels but takes manpower as the main step in the whole process, and has low production efficiency.
Disclosure of Invention
The utility model provides a carousel formula label thermoprint equipment, includes carousel module, material loading module, punching a hole module, heat transfer module and unloading module, the carousel module including the carousel platform of connecting rotating electrical machines, be equipped with four pay-off platforms that become the cross and distribute on the carousel platform, material loading module, punching a hole module, heat transfer module and unloading module become the cross in proper order and distribute around the carousel platform.
Further, the material loading module include material loading horizontal cylinder, material loading vertical cylinder, material loading horizontal track, material loading vertical track, material loading sucking disc module and material loading carrier, material loading sucking disc module include material loading profile modeling sucking disc, sucking disc first linkage piece and sucking disc second linkage block, the first linkage piece sliding connection material loading horizontal track of sucking disc, material loading horizontal cylinder connect sucking disc first linkage piece for drive the first linkage piece of sucking disc and slide along material loading horizontal track, the vertical setting of material loading vertical track on sucking disc first linkage piece, sucking disc second linkage piece one end sliding connection vertical track, the other end connection material loading profile modeling sucking disc, material loading vertical cylinder connect sucking disc second linkage piece for drive sucking disc second linkage piece and reciprocate along material loading vertical track, the material loading carrier be located the one end of material loading horizontal cylinder and be located the below of material loading profile modeling sucking disc, when the carousel platform rotates to working position, the material loading platform is on being on a parallel with the material loading carrier to be located the other end of material loading horizontal track.
Further, the feeding module also include roughness detecting element, this roughness detecting element is located between carousel platform and the material loading carrier and is on a parallel with the material loading carrier, roughness detecting element include detection platform and detection sensor, detection sensor set up in four corners of detecting the platform, material loading profile modeling sucking disc have two parallel sucking discs, when carousel platform rotated working position, the interval of material loading platform, detection platform and material loading platform each other is the same to this interval is the same with the interval between two sucking discs.
Further, the feeding carrier comprises a lifting plate, a lifting cylinder and a shell, wherein the shell is a container with an opening at the upper end, the lifting plate is arranged in the shell, and the lifting cylinder is connected with the lifting plate to drive the lifting plate to move up and down in the shell.
Further, the module of punching a hole including the horizontal track that punches a hole, the vertical track that punches a hole, the horizontal cylinder that punches a hole, the vertical cylinder that punches a hole, the support that punches a hole, the first connecting plate that punches a hole and needle unit and clamp plate unit punch a hole, the horizontal cylinder that punches a hole connect the support that punches a hole for drive the support that punches a hole along the horizontal track that punches a hole and slide, the vertical track setting that punches a hole on the support that punches a hole, the needle unit that punches a hole through the vertical track that punches a hole of first connecting plate sliding connection that punches a hole install on the support and connect the needle unit that punches a hole, the vertical cylinder that punches a hole drives the needle unit that punches a hole along the vertical track that punches a hole and reciprocates, clamp plate unit including pressure flitch, fixed plate connection needle unit that punches a hole, the pressure flitch be located under the fixed plate is connected through the pressure material cylinder.
Further, the needle unit that punches a hole include connecting block, telescopic link, bracing piece, two L type pieces and two needles, the bracing piece level set up, both ends are fixed on punching a hole first connecting plate through the connecting block respectively, are equipped with through-hole and fixed orifices on every L type piece, the bracing piece pass the through-hole, the telescopic tube includes first sleeve pipe and second sleeve pipe, the fixed orifices of two L type pieces of first sleeve pipe and second sleeve pipe difference fixed connection, two needles set up the lower extreme at two L type pieces respectively.
Further, heat transfer module include heat transfer horizontal track, heat transfer horizontal motor, base, volume mark installation unit, punching press unit and punching press support, base sliding connection heat transfer horizontal track and connect heat transfer horizontal motor, the punching press support be factory word type support, the punching press support is installed on the base, the punching press unit include pressure head, pressure head cylinder and pressure head support, the pressure head support fix in the horizontal pole below of punching press support, the pressure head passes through the pressure head support of pressure head cylinder connection top, volume mark installation unit include volume mark motor, first pivot, second pivot, third pivot and fourth pivot, first pivot and second pivot install in the vertical pole of punching press support, three pivots and fourth pivot install respectively in pressure head one end oblique top and oblique below, volume mark motor connect first pivot or second pivot, the one end of volume mark is connected first pivot, the other end passes the second pivot behind third pivot, the fourth pivot in proper order, the pressure head.
Further, the stamping unit also comprises a pressing cylinder and a pressing block, wherein the pressing block is connected with the pressing head bracket above through the pressing cylinder.
Further, the blanking module comprises a blanking first horizontal cylinder, a blanking vertical cylinder, a blanking first horizontal rail, a blanking vertical rail, a blanking sucker module and a blanking placing unit, wherein the blanking sucker module comprises a blanking profiling sucker, a blanking sucker first connecting block and a blanking sucker second connecting block, the blanking sucker first connecting block or the blanking sucker second connecting block is in sliding connection with the blanking first horizontal rail, the blanking first horizontal cylinder is in force connection with the blanking sucker first connecting block and is used for driving the blanking sucker first connecting block to slide along the blanking first horizontal rail, the blanking vertical rail is vertically arranged on the blanking sucker first connecting block, one end of the blanking sucker second connecting block is in sliding connection with the blanking vertical rail, the blanking profiling sucking disc is connected to the other end, the blanking vertical cylinder connect blanking sucking disc second connecting block for drive blanking sucking disc second connecting block along the vertical track reciprocates of unloading, the unloading place the unit including unloading second horizontal cylinder, unloading second horizontal track and two unloading carrier, unloading second horizontal track be located the first horizontal orbital one end of unloading, and with unloading first horizontal track is perpendicular, two unloading carriers are installed on unloading second horizontal track, and all connect unloading second horizontal cylinder, unloading carrier is located the below of unloading profiling sucking disc, when the carousel platform rotates working position, the pay-off platform on the carousel platform is on a parallel with unloading second horizontal track, is located the first horizontal orbital other end of unloading.
Further, the blanking module also comprises a hot pressing unit, wherein the hot pressing unit comprises a portal frame, a hot pressing cylinder and a hot pressing block, the hot pressing block is connected with the portal frame through the hot pressing cylinder, and the hot pressing block is positioned right above a feeding table at a working position.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following advantages:
1. according to the automatic transfer printing device, the full-automatic operation of the automobile sun visor labels is completed through the combination of the turntable module, the feeding module, the punching module, the heat transfer printing module and the discharging module, the transfer of the automobile sun visor in each process is realized through the feeding table on the turntable module, the working efficiency can be remarkably improved, and the production beat is accelerated. Meanwhile, the devices of the equipment are distributed in a cross mode around the turntable template, so that a large amount of space can be saved, and the equipment has better applicability.
2. The feeding module is provided with the flatness detection unit, so that the automobile sun visor can be effectively detected in advance in flatness, invalid thermoprints are prevented, and synchronous transportation is realized through the design of the feeding sucker and the position design of the flatness detection unit and the feeding carrier, so that the running efficiency of equipment is not affected.
3. According to the invention, the punching module is used for positioning the automobile sun visor in advance, the relative positions of the label thermoprints are all based on the positioning holes, instead of the traditional positioning of the edges of the automobile sun visor, so that the precision and consistency of the label thermoprints are greatly improved, and the quality of finished products is improved.
4. The blanking module is also provided with a hot pressing unit, so that the secondary thermoprinting of the label is realized, and the thermoprinting quality is improved.
5. According to the invention, the automobile sun visor is transported through the feeding module and the discharging module, so that the manual moving time is reduced, and the cost is reduced.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the feeding module and the turntable module.
Fig. 4 is a schematic structural view of the flatness detecting unit.
Fig. 5 is a schematic structural view of a loading carrier.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an internal structure of the loading carrier.
Fig. 7 is a schematic structural view of a punching module.
Fig. 8 is a partially exploded view of a punch module.
Fig. 9 is a schematic structural view of a thermal transfer module.
Fig. 10 is a partially exploded view of a thermal transfer module.
Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of a blanking module structure.
Fig. 12 is a schematic structural view of the heat pressing unit.
Reference numerals:
1. The rotary table comprises a rotary table module 11, a rotary motor 12, a rotary table platform 13, a feeding table 14 and a pressing plate frame;
2. The feeding device comprises a feeding module, 21, a feeding horizontal cylinder, 22, a feeding vertical cylinder, 23, a feeding horizontal track, 24, a feeding vertical track, 25, a feeding sucker module, 251, a feeding profiling sucker, 252, a sucker first connecting block, 253, a sucker second connecting block, 26, a feeding carrier, 261, a lifting plate, 262, a lifting cylinder, 263, a shell, 27, a flatness detecting unit, 271, a detecting table, 272, a detecting sensor, 273, a locating pin, 274, a connecting frame motor, 275, a connecting frame, 276, a detecting track, 277 and a detecting pressing plate;
3. The punching module, 31, the punching horizontal rail, 32, the punching vertical rail, 33, the punching horizontal cylinder, 34, the punching vertical cylinder, 35, the punching support, 36, the punching first connecting plate, 37, the punching needle head unit, 371, the connecting block, 372, the telescopic rod, 372a, the first sleeve, 372b, the second sleeve, 372c, the adjusting knob, 373, the supporting rod, 374, the L-shaped block, 375, the needle head, 38, the pressing plate unit, 381, the pressing plate, 382, the fixing plate, 383 and the pressing cylinder;
4. The device comprises a heat transfer printing module 41, a heat transfer printing horizontal track 42, a heat transfer printing horizontal motor 43, a base 44, a label mounting unit 441, a label motor 442, a first rotating shaft 443, a second rotating shaft 444, a third rotating shaft 445, a fourth rotating shaft 446, a rotating shaft 45, a punching unit 451, a pressure head 452, a pressure head cylinder 453, a pressure head bracket 454, a pressure cylinder 455, a pressure block 46 and a punching bracket;
5. The blanking module, 51, the first horizontal blanking cylinder, 52, the vertical blanking cylinder, 53, the first horizontal blanking track, 54, the vertical blanking track, 55, the blanking sucker module, 551, the blanking profiling sucker, 552, the first blanking sucker connecting block, 553, the second blanking sucker connecting block, 56, the blanking placing unit, 561, the second horizontal cylinder, 562, the second horizontal blanking track, 563, the blanking carrier, 57, the hot pressing unit, 571, the portal frame, 572, the hot pressing cylinder, 573 and the hot pressing block.
Detailed Description
The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings and specific examples. The present embodiment is implemented on the premise of the technical scheme of the present invention, and a detailed implementation manner and a specific operation process are given, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the embodiment provides a turntable type label thermoprinting device, which comprises a turntable module 1, a feeding module 2, a punching module 3, a thermal transfer module 4 and a discharging module 5. The turntable module 1 comprises a turntable platform 12 connected with a rotary motor 11, and four feeding tables 13 distributed in a cross shape are arranged on the turntable platform 12. The feeding module 2, the punching module 3, the thermal transfer module 4 and the discharging module 5 are distributed around the turntable platform 12 in a cross mode in sequence. The car sun visor is placed and is realized rotating on the pay-off platform 13, still can be provided with clamp plate frame 14 at every pay-off platform 13, and clamp plate frame connects micro motor realization at last, unloading and is automatic opening, the other time is tight closed.
As shown in fig. 3, the feeding module 2 includes a feeding horizontal cylinder 21, a feeding vertical cylinder 22, a feeding horizontal rail 23, a feeding vertical rail 24, a feeding suction cup module 25, and a feeding carrier 26. The feeding sucker module 25 comprises a feeding profiling sucker 251, a sucker first connecting block 252 and a sucker second connecting block 253. The first connecting block 252 of the sucking disc is connected with the feeding horizontal rail 23 in a sliding manner, and the feeding horizontal cylinder 21 is connected with the first connecting block 252 of the sucking disc and used for driving the first connecting block 252 of the sucking disc to slide along the feeding horizontal rail 23. The vertical track 24 of material loading is vertical to be set up on sucking disc first connecting block 252, and sucking disc second connecting block 253 one end sliding connection vertical track, the other end is connected with the material loading profile modeling sucking disc 251. The feeding vertical cylinder 22 is connected with the sucker second connecting block 253 and is used for driving the sucker second connecting block 253 to move up and down along the feeding vertical rail 24. The loading carrier 26 is located at one end of the loading horizontal cylinder 21 and below the loading profiling suction cup 251, and when the turntable platform 12 rotates to the working position, the feeding table 13 on the turntable platform 12 is parallel to the loading carrier 26 and located at the other end of the loading horizontal rail 23. The sucking disc adopts a vacuum sucking disc. The structure realizes the up-and-down movement and the horizontal movement of the feeding profiling sucker 251, and can smoothly suck the car sun visor in the feeding carrier 26.
A flatness detection unit 27 is further provided between the turntable platform 12 and the loading carrier 26, the flatness detection unit 27 being parallel to the loading carrier 26. As shown in fig. 4, the flatness detecting unit 27 includes a detecting stage 271, a detecting sensor 272, a positioning pin 273, a connection frame motor 274, a connection frame 275, a detecting rail 276, and a detecting platen 277. The detection sensors 272 are disposed at four corners of the detection table 271, a connection frame motor 274 is disposed below the detection table 271, and a connection frame 275 is fitted over the detection table 271 and connected to the connection frame motor 274 so as to be slidable along the detection rail 276 at the detection table 271. The connecting frame 275 is provided with a connecting frame motor 274 and a detecting pressing plate 277, and the connecting frame motor 274 drives the detecting pressing plate 277 to downwards press the automobile sun visor on the detecting table 271, so that the longitudinal adjustment of the automobile sun visor is realized. A positioning pin 273 is arranged on one side of the detection table 271, and the positioning pins 273 are connected with a micro motor together to realize the transverse adjustment of the automobile sun visor. The detection sensors 272 are provided at four corners of the detection stand 271 for detecting whether or not the upper car visor is curled.
The feeding profiling sucker 251 is provided with two parallel suckers. When the turntable platform 12 is rotated to the working position, the feeding stage 13, the detecting stage 271 and the feeding stage 13 are spaced apart from each other the same, and the spacing is the same as the spacing between the two suction cups. The loading profiling suction cup 251 enables synchronous transport from the loading carrier 26 to the detection stage 271 and from the detection stage 271 to the feed stage 13.
As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the loading carrier 26 includes a lifting plate 261, a lifting cylinder 262 and a housing 263. The shell 263 is a container with an opening at the upper end, the lifting plate 261 is arranged in the shell 263, and the lifting cylinder 262 is connected with the lifting plate 261 to drive the lifting plate 261 to move up and down in the shell 263. The shell 263 is further provided with a middle plate 264 with a hollow center, the middle plate 264 is positioned below the lifting plate 261, and the lifting cylinder 262 on the shell 263 penetrates through the hollow part of the middle plate 264 to be connected with the lifting plate 261. The intermediate plate 264 plays a supporting and limiting role on the lifting plate 261. The structure ensures that the lifting plate 261, the detection table 271 and the feeding table 13 in the feeding carrier 26 always keep the same horizontal plane, and the feeding profiling sucker 251 is convenient to grasp.
As shown in fig. 7, the punching module 3 includes a punching horizontal rail 31, a punching vertical rail 32, a punching horizontal cylinder 33, a punching vertical cylinder 34, a punching bracket 35, a punching first connection plate 36, and a punching spike unit 37 and a platen unit 38. The punching support 35 is slidably connected to the punching horizontal rail 31. The punching horizontal cylinder 33 is connected with the punching support 35 and is used for driving the punching support 35 to slide along the punching horizontal rail 31. The punching vertical rail 32 is provided on the punching support 35, and the punching head unit 37 is slidably connected to the punching vertical rail 32 through the punching first connecting plate 36. The vertical punching cylinder 34 is arranged on the punching support 35 and is connected with the punching needle head unit 37, and the vertical punching cylinder 34 drives the punching needle head unit 37 to move up and down along the vertical punching track 32. The pressing plate unit 38 comprises a pressing plate 381, a fixing plate 382 and a pressing cylinder 383, wherein the fixing plate 382 is connected with the punching needle unit 37, the pressing plate 381 is positioned right below the fixing plate 382, and the fixing plate 382 is connected through the pressing cylinder 383. The pressing plate unit 38 firstly presses down the car sun visor through the pressing cylinder 383, and then the punching vertical cylinder 34 drives the punching needle unit 37 to descend for punching, so that the car sun visor is prevented from being carried up after the punching needle unit 37 is lifted.
As shown in fig. 8, the punch needle unit 37 includes a connection block 371, a telescopic rod 372, a support rod 373, two L-shaped blocks 374, and two needles 375. The supporting bar 373 is horizontally arranged, and both ends are respectively fixed on the punched first connecting plate 36 through connecting blocks 371. Each L-shaped block 374 is provided with a through hole and a fixing hole, the supporting rod 373 penetrates through the through hole, the telescopic tube comprises a first sleeve 372a and a second sleeve 372b, and the first sleeve 372a and the second sleeve 372b are respectively fixedly connected with the fixing holes of the two L-shaped blocks 374. Two needles 375 are respectively disposed at the lower ends of the two L-shaped blocks 374. The second sleeve 372b is provided with an adjustment knob 372c through the connection block 371 for adjusting the distance between the two needles 375.
As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the thermal transfer module 4 includes a thermal transfer horizontal rail 41, a thermal transfer horizontal motor 42, a base 43, a label mounting unit 44, a punching unit 45, and a punching bracket 46. The base 43 is slidably connected to the thermal transfer horizontal rail 41 and to the thermal transfer horizontal motor 42. The punching support 46 is a factory-shaped support, and the punching support 46 is mounted on the base 43. The pressing unit 45 includes a ram 451, a ram cylinder 452, and a ram bracket 453. The ram bracket 453 is fixed below the horizontal bar of the ram bracket 46, and the ram 451 is connected to the ram bracket 453 above by a ram cylinder 452. The tag mounting unit 44 includes a tag motor 441, a first shaft 442, a second shaft 443, a third shaft 444, and a fourth shaft 445. The first rotating shaft 442 and the second rotating shaft 443 are installed in the vertical rod of the punching support 46, the third rotating shaft 446 and the fourth rotating shaft 445 are respectively installed above and below one end of the pressing head 451, and the label motor 441 is connected to the first rotating shaft 442 or the second rotating shaft 443. One end of the label for hot stamping is connected with the first rotating shaft 442, and the other end sequentially passes through the third rotating shaft 444, the fourth rotating shaft 445 and the second rotating shaft 443 after being directly under the pressure head 451. Two spindles 446 may also be added between the first spindle 442 and the third spindle 444, and between the second spindle 443 and the fourth spindle 445 for increased stability of roll motion. The ram bracket 453 further includes two end plates, a plurality of links, and a sliding plate. The plurality of connecting rods are parallel to each other, the two ends of the connecting rods are connected with the punching support 46 through the two end plates, and the connecting rods pass through the sliding plate, so that the sliding plate can slide between the two end plates along the connecting rods, thereby realizing fine adjustment of the position of the pressing head 451.
The pressing unit 45 further includes a pressing cylinder 454 and a pressing block 455. The pressing block 455 is connected to the upper pressing head bracket 453 through a pressing cylinder 454, specifically, a sliding plate on the pressing head bracket 453.
As shown in fig. 11, the discharging module 5 includes a discharging first horizontal cylinder 51, a discharging vertical cylinder 52, a discharging first horizontal rail 53, a discharging vertical rail 54, a discharging suction cup module 55, and a discharging placing unit 56. The blanking suction cup module 55 includes a blanking profiling suction cup 551, a blanking suction cup first connection block 552, and a blanking suction cup second connection block 553. The first connection block 552 of the blanking sucker and the second connection block 553 of the blanking sucker are slidingly connected with the first horizontal track 53 of the blanking. The first horizontal blanking cylinder 51 is in force connection with the first blanking sucker connecting block 552 and is used for driving the first blanking sucker connecting block 552 to slide along the first horizontal blanking track 53. The blanking vertical track 54 is vertically arranged on the blanking sucker first connecting block 552, one end of the blanking sucker second connecting block 553 is connected with the blanking vertical track 54 in a sliding manner, and the other end of the blanking sucker second connecting block is connected with the blanking profiling sucker 551. The blanking vertical cylinder 52 is connected with the blanking sucker second connecting block 553, and is used for driving the blanking sucker second connecting block 553 to move up and down along the blanking vertical rail 54.
The blanking placement unit 56 includes a blanking second horizontal cylinder 561, a blanking second horizontal rail 562, and two blanking carriers 563. The second horizontal blanking track 562 is located at one end of the first horizontal blanking track 53 and is perpendicular to the first horizontal blanking track 53. Two unloading carriers 563 are installed on unloading second horizontal track 562 to all connect unloading second horizontal cylinder 561, unloading carrier 563 is located the below of unloading profile modeling sucking disc 551, and when carousel platform 12 rotated to the operational position, the pay-off platform 13 on carousel platform 12 is parallel to unloading second horizontal track 562, is located the other end of unloading first horizontal track 53.
As shown in fig. 12, the blanking module 5 further includes a hot pressing unit 57, and the hot pressing unit 57 includes a portal frame 571, a hot pressing cylinder 572, and a hot pressing block 573. The hot pressing block 573 is connected to the portal frame 571 through the hot pressing cylinder 572, and the hot pressing block 573 is located right above the feeding table 13 in the working position. The hot pressing cylinder 572 is provided with a hole and the hot pressing block 573 carries out secondary thermoprinting on the labels on the automobile sun shield on the feeding table 13, so that thermoprinting quality is improved.
The working principle of the embodiment is as follows:
The material pieces of the automobile sun visor are put into the loading carrier 26 in batches, the loading profiling sucker 251 sucks a piece of material and is placed on the detection table 271 for detection, if the quality is qualified, the material performs the subsequent step of thermoprinting, and if the quality is unqualified, the material does not perform thermoprinting. The loading profile modeling suction cup 251 continues to suck material from the loading carrier 26 while the material on the detection table 271 is sucked and moved onto the feeding table 13.
The turntable platform 12 rotates, so that the material tool on the feeding table 13 moves to the punching module 3, and the punching module 3 completes punching the material tool.
The turntable platform 12 rotates, so that the material tool on the feeding table 13 moves to the thermal transfer module 4, and the thermal transfer module 4 completes the primary thermoprinting of the material tool.
The turntable platform 12 rotates to enable the material tools on the feeding platform 13 to move to the blanking module 5, the hot pressing unit 57 in the blanking module 5 firstly completes secondary thermoprinting on the material tools, the thermoprinting quality is improved, then materials are sucked from the feeding platform 13 through the blanking profiling sucking disc 551, meanwhile, two blanking carriers 563 on the blanking placing unit 56 move on the blanking second horizontal track 562, the detecting platform 271 detects that the materials which are qualified and carry out the thermoprinting step fall into one blanking carrier 563, and the detecting platform 271 detects that the materials which are unqualified and do not carry out the thermoprinting step fall into the other blanking carrier 563.
The equipment can realize the processes of feeding, punching, heat transfer printing, hot pressing and discharging, and effectively improves the working efficiency. The whole equipment is controlled by a PLC controller, and the positioning and the movement of the equipment are controlled by the existing control method, so that the equipment is not unfolded in the embodiment.
The foregoing describes in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that numerous modifications and variations can be made in accordance with the concepts of the invention by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue burden. Therefore, all technical solutions which can be obtained by logic analysis, reasoning or limited experiments based on the prior art by the person skilled in the art according to the inventive concept shall be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.