Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a welding processing device for a steel structural member, which aims to solve the problems in the prior art.
The invention is realized in such a way that the welding processing equipment for the steel structural part comprises a base and a welding gun, and further comprises:
The transfer device passes through the upper side of the base and is used for carrying out positioning stepping conveying on the workpieces to be welded;
The sucking and placing assembly is arranged on the left side of the base and is used for sucking a to-be-welded piece on the transfer device and placing the sucked to-be-welded piece on another to-be-welded piece at a certain angle along with the movement of the transfer device;
The mobile control assembly is arranged in the right side of the base, two welding adjusting assemblies are arranged on the mobile control assembly, the two welding adjusting assemblies are respectively positioned on two sides of the transfer device, and the mobile control assembly is used for driving the two welding adjusting assemblies to move in the same direction or in opposite directions;
and the two welding guns move along with the driving of the movement control assembly to respectively weld two sides of the joint of the two workpieces to be welded.
According to the further technical scheme, the plurality of positioning strips used for positioning the to-be-welded piece are detachably arranged on the transfer device, the to-be-welded piece is placed in a space surrounded by the plurality of positioning strips, and one side surface, close to the to-be-welded piece, of the positioning strips is arranged in a downward inclined mode.
The suction and placement assembly comprises a screw shaft A, an expansion and contraction cylinder A, a supporting seat A, a power motor A, a transverse frame, an expansion and contraction cylinder B, a vacuum device, an adsorption plate and vacuum chucks, wherein a mounting groove is formed in the left side of a base, the screw shaft A is rotationally arranged in the mounting groove, the power motor A in transmission connection with the screw shaft A is fixedly arranged at the left end of the base, the supporting seat A is further slidably arranged in the mounting groove, the supporting seat A is further in threaded connection with the screw shaft A, the top of the supporting seat A is vertically fixed with the expansion and contraction cylinder A, the transverse frame is fixedly arranged at the upper end of the expansion and contraction cylinder A, one end, close to a transfer device, of the transverse frame is hinged with the adsorption plate, a plurality of vacuum chucks are uniformly distributed on one side, close to the transfer device, of the adsorption plate is provided with the vacuum device for simultaneously vacuumizing a plurality of the vacuum chucks, the expansion and contraction cylinder B is further arranged between the adsorption plate and the transverse frame, and the expansion and contraction cylinder B is used for controlling and adjusting the angle of the adsorption plate relative to the transverse frame.
According to a further technical scheme, guide rails B are further fixed on two sides of the mounting groove, the supporting seat A is in sliding connection with the two guide rails B, a vertical stabilizer bar is further vertically fixed on the supporting seat A, and the vertical stabilizer bar is further in sliding connection with the transverse frame.
According to the technical scheme, two sides of the transverse frame are respectively fixed with a side support plate, two side support plates are respectively fixed with an expansion and contraction cylinder B, the expansion and contraction cylinder B is of a circular arc structure, the circle center of the expansion and contraction cylinder B is located on the axis of a hinge shaft between the adsorption plate and the transverse frame, one end, far away from the side support plates, of the expansion and contraction cylinder B is fixedly connected with the adsorption plate, a connecting rod is further fixed between cylinder bodies of the two expansion and contraction cylinders B, an inclined support rod is further fixed in the middle of the connecting rod, and the other end of the inclined support rod is fixed on the transverse frame.
The technical scheme is that the movement control assembly comprises a supporting seat B, a screw shaft B, a driving belt A, an expansion and contraction cylinder E, an end seat, a power motor B, a driving belt disk A, a power motor C, a driving belt disk B, a driving belt B, a toggle rod and a supporting and fixing block, wherein a cavity is formed in the right side of the base, two supporting seats B are respectively arranged on two sides of the cavity in a sliding manner, two welding and adjusting assemblies are respectively fixedly arranged on the two supporting seats B, four corners of the cavity are respectively and rotatably provided with the driving belt disk A, the driving belt A is wound on the outer sides of the four driving belt disks A, the driving belt A also penetrates through the two supporting seats B, the power motor B in transmission connection with one driving belt disk A is also fixed on the inner side of the cavity, the driving belt disk is also fixedly connected with the driving belt disk B through the driving belt B, a screw shaft B is also respectively arranged on two sides of the cavity, the end seat is rotatably provided with the end seat on two ends of the screw shaft B, one end seat is fixedly connected with the inner bottom of the cavity, one end seat B of the screw shaft B is also fixedly provided with the driving belt B, one end of the driving belt disk B is fixedly connected with the driving belt disk B, the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the other end E of the driving belt B through the driving belt B, when the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the driving belt B, the driving belt B is horizontally stretched and the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the other end E, and horizontally and is fixedly connected with the driving belt E by the driving cylinder B, the other end of the supporting and fixing block is in threaded connection with the screw shaft B.
According to a further technical scheme, guide rails A are fixed on the inner walls of the two sides of the cavity, sliding grooves which are connected with the guide rails A in a sliding mode are formed in the side, away from the supporting seats B, of the two sides of the transferring device, movable openings used for welding and adjusting assembly movement are formed in the tops of the bases, and the movable openings are communicated with the cavity.
According to the technical scheme, a rope hole and a rod hole for a transmission belt A and a screw shaft B to penetrate are formed in a supporting seat B respectively, a movable cavity C for supporting and fixing a block to move is formed in the inner side of the supporting seat B, a movable cavity B for stirring a rod to move is formed in the top of the movable cavity C, a movable cavity A for extending a telescopic mandrel of a telescopic cylinder E to move is further formed in one side of the movable cavity C, the movable cavity B is communicated with the movable cavity C and the movable cavity A respectively, an arc-shaped supporting and fixing groove matched with the surface of the transmission belt A is formed in one end of the supporting and fixing block, an anti-slip layer is arranged on the surface of the supporting and fixing groove, and an arc-shaped thread groove matched with the surface of the screw shaft B is formed in the other end of the supporting and fixing block.
According to a further technical scheme, when the supporting and fixing block is switched to be in a connection state with the driving belt A and the screw shaft B, the two supporting seats B are located at the middle position of the cavity.
Further technical scheme, welding regulation subassembly includes ball shell, extends shrink jar C, locking bolt, spin and extends shrink jar D, extend shrink jar C vertical be fixed in supporting seat B's top, extend shrink jar C's upper end and be fixed with the ball shell, the ball shell is opened towards one side of transfer device and roll and install the spin, is fixed with on the spin and extends shrink jar D, and welder installs in the tip that extends shrink jar D, still install the locking bolt that is used for locking fixed to the spin on the ball shell.
The welding processing equipment for the steel structural part has the following beneficial effects:
Through the setting of transfer device collocation absorption placement module, absorption placement module can absorb the weldment of waiting on the transfer device to along with transfer device's removal, will absorb wait the weldment and be the certain angle and place on another waiting the weldment, transfer device can guarantee to wait the steady transport of weldment, thereby realizes that the welding of two waiting the weldments is accurately placed.
Then, the position of the welding gun is controlled and regulated by the welding regulating component according to the requirement, and the driving movement mode of the movement control component to the welding gun is selected according to the requirement, namely the same-direction movement or reverse movement is flexibly selected according to the welding requirement, so that the two welding guns can carry out synchronous welding operation or reverse staggered welding operation on two sides of the joint of two to-be-welded parts, and the application is wide.
In summary, the invention can realize accurate placement of the workpieces to be welded and high-efficiency and high-quality synchronous or staggered welding operation by means of component conveying and positioning and flexible position and movement adjustment of the welding gun, thereby improving the welding efficiency and adaptability.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a steel structural member welding processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another view of the expansion and contraction cylinder B portion of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic view of the portion A in FIG. 1;
fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a right portion of a base in a welding processing apparatus for a steel structural member according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic view of the portion B of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic view of the portion C of FIG. 4;
fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a front cross-sectional structure of a support seat B in a welding and processing apparatus for steel structural members according to an embodiment of the present invention (a supporting block is abutted against a screw shaft B);
Fig. 8 is a schematic structural view of the abutting block in fig. 7 abutting against the driving belt a.
In the drawing, a 1-screw shaft A, a 2-expansion and contraction cylinder A, a 3-vertical stabilizer, a 4-supporting seat A, a 5-base, a 6-power motor A, a 7-mounting groove, a 8-transverse frame, a 9-expansion and contraction cylinder B, a 10-part to be welded, a 11-transfer device, a 12-positioning bar, a 13-control frame, a 14-control plate, a 15-cavity, a 16-movable opening, a 17-ball shell, a 18-expansion and contraction cylinder C, a 19-supporting seat B, a 20-side supporting plate, a 21-connecting rod, a 22-diagonal brace, a 23-vacuum device, a 24-adsorption plate, a 25-vacuum chuck, a 26-guide rail A, a 27-locking bolt, a 28-ball, a 29-expansion and contraction cylinder D, a 30-welding gun, a 31-screw shaft B, a 32-driving belt A, a 33-expansion and contraction cylinder E, a 34-end seat, a 35-power motor B, a 36-driving belt A, a 37-power motor C, a 38-power motor bracket, a 39-driving belt B, a 40-driving belt B, a 41-sliding groove, a 42-driving belt B, a 43-driving belt B, a movable hole, a 45-driving belt B, a movable hole, a 45-driving belt B, a 46-driving groove, a movable hole, a 46-driving groove B, a 46-driving groove and a movable hole are arranged.
Detailed Description
The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings and examples, in order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Specific implementations of the invention are described in detail below in connection with specific embodiments.
As shown in fig. 1 to 4, a welding processing apparatus for a steel structural member according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base 5 and a welding gun 30, and further includes:
a transfer device 11 passing through the upper side of the base 5, wherein the transfer device 11 is used for carrying out positioning stepping conveying on the to-be-welded piece 10;
The sucking and placing component is arranged on the left side of the base 5 and is used for sucking the to-be-welded piece 10 on the transfer device 11 and placing the sucked to-be-welded piece 10 on another to-be-welded piece 10 at a certain angle along with the movement of the transfer device 11;
the mobile control assembly is arranged in the right side of the base 5, two welding adjusting assemblies are arranged on the mobile control assembly, the two welding adjusting assemblies are respectively positioned on two sides of the transfer device 11, and the mobile control assembly is used for driving the two welding adjusting assemblies to move in the same direction or in opposite directions;
And the two welding guns 30 move along with the driving of the movement control assembly, and welding operation is carried out on two sides of the joint of the two workpieces 10 to be welded respectively.
In the embodiment of the invention, through the arrangement of the transfer device 11 and the sucking and placing component, the sucking and placing component can suck the to-be-welded piece 10 on the transfer device 11, and the sucked to-be-welded piece 10 is placed on another to-be-welded piece 10 at a certain angle along with the movement of the transfer device 11, and the transfer device 11 can ensure the stable conveying of the to-be-welded piece 10, so that the accurate placement of the welding of the two to-be-welded pieces 10 is realized. Then, the welding gun 30 is controlled and regulated by the welding regulating component according to the requirement, and the driving movement mode of the movement control component for the welding gun 30 is selected according to the requirement, namely the same-direction movement or reverse movement is flexibly selected according to the welding requirement, so that the two welding guns 30 can perform synchronous welding operation or reverse staggered welding operation on two sides of the joint of the two workpieces 10 to be welded, and the application is wide.
As shown in fig. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transfer device 11 is not limited, and the weldment 10 may be stably conveyed in steps.
The positioning function of the transfer device 11 is mainly to the positioning of the to-be-welded piece 10, specifically, the transfer device 11 is detachably provided with a plurality of positioning strips 12 used for positioning the to-be-welded piece 10, the to-be-welded piece 10 is placed in a space surrounded by the positioning strips 12, so that the positioning is realized, the position of the positioning strips 12 can be flexibly adjusted according to the shape, the size and the like of the to-be-welded piece 10, and one side surface of the positioning strips 12, which is close to the to-be-welded piece 10, is arranged in a downward inclined mode, thereby being beneficial to the rapid placement and positioning of the to-be-welded piece 10 and improving the efficiency.
It can be understood that the two to-be-welded parts 10 shown in fig. 1 have the same structure, and the two to-be-welded parts 10 with different shapes can be alternately conveyed by the conveying device 11 according to welding requirements, so that the positioning strips 12 can be adaptively adjusted in an staggered manner, and the welding requirements can be met as well, and the description is omitted.
As shown in fig. 1 and 2, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the suction placement component includes a screw shaft A1, an expansion and contraction cylinder A2, a supporting seat A4, a power motor A6, a transverse frame 8, an expansion and contraction cylinder B9, a vacuum device 23, an adsorption plate 24 and a vacuum chuck 25, a mounting groove 7 is formed on the left side of the base 5, a screw shaft A1 is rotationally disposed in the mounting groove 7, the power motor A6 in driving connection with the screw shaft A1 is fixed on the left end of the base 5, a supporting seat A4 is further slidably disposed in the mounting groove 7, the supporting seat A4 is further in threaded connection with the screw shaft A1, an expansion and contraction cylinder A2 is vertically fixed on the top of the supporting seat A4, a transverse frame 8 is fixed on the upper end of the expansion and contraction cylinder A2, an adsorption plate 24 is hinged to one end of the transverse frame 8 near the transfer device 11, a plurality of vacuum chucks 25 are uniformly distributed on one side of the adsorption plate 24 near the transfer device 11, a plurality of vacuum chucks 25 are simultaneously pumped by the vacuum chuck 25 are mounted on one side of the adsorption plate 24 far from the transfer device 11, an angle between the adsorption plate 24 and the transverse frame 8 is further used for controlling the angle of the expansion and contraction cylinder B9.
Preferably, in order to ensure the stability of the movement of the support seat A4, the two sides of the installation groove 7 are also fixed with guide rails B, and the support seat A4 is slidably connected with the two guide rails B.
Preferably, in order to promote the stability of the cross frame 8, the supporting seat A4 is further vertically fixed with a vertical stabilizer bar 3, and the vertical stabilizer bar 3 is further slidably connected with the cross frame 8.
Preferably, for the installation mode of the expansion and contraction cylinder B9, the two sides of the transverse frame 8 are respectively fixed with a side support plate 20, two side support plates 20 are respectively fixed with an expansion and contraction cylinder B9, the expansion and contraction cylinder B9 adopts a circular arc structure, the circle center of the expansion and contraction cylinder B9 is positioned on the axis of the hinge shaft between the adsorption plate 24 and the transverse frame 8, one end of the expansion and contraction cylinder B9, which is far away from the side support plate 20, is fixedly connected with the adsorption plate 24, and can carry and regulate and control the angle of the adsorption plate 24 stably through the two expansion and contraction cylinders B9, a connecting rod 21 is further fixed between the cylinder bodies of the two expansion and contraction cylinders B9, the middle part of the connecting rod 21 is further fixed with an inclined strut 22, and the other end of the inclined strut 22 is fixed on the transverse frame 8, so that the stability of the expansion and contraction cylinder B9 is further improved.
In specific application, the screw shaft A1 is driven to rotate by the power motor A6, the position of the supporting seat A4 can be adjusted, so that the lateral position of the adsorption plate 24 relative to the transfer device 11 is changed, the longitudinal distance of the adsorption plate 24 relative to the transfer device 11 can be controlled by the expansion and contraction cylinder A2, and the angle of the adsorption plate 24 can be controlled by the expansion and contraction cylinder B9, so that the requirements that the vacuum chuck 25 absorbs the to-be-welded piece 10 and places the to-be-welded piece at a certain angle are met, and the vacuum chuck is flexible and convenient.
As shown in figures 4-8, as a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movement control assembly comprises a supporting seat B19, a screw shaft B31, a driving belt A32, an extension and contraction cylinder E33, an end seat 34, a power motor B35, a driving belt disk A36, a power motor C37, a driving belt disk B39, a driving belt B40, a toggle rod 45 and a supporting and fixing block 47, wherein a cavity B15 is formed in the right side of the base 5, two sides of the cavity 15 are respectively and slidably provided with a supporting seat B19, two welding and adjusting assemblies are respectively and fixedly arranged on the two supporting seats B19, four corners of the cavity 15 are respectively and rotatably provided with a driving belt disk A36, the driving belt A32 passes through the outer sides of the four driving belt disks A36 respectively, the driving belt A32 also passes through the two supporting seats B19, the inner side of the cavity 15 is also fixedly provided with a power motor B35 in driving connection with one driving belt disk A36, two screw shafts B31 are respectively arranged on two sides of the cavity B40 respectively, two screw shafts B31 respectively pass through the two supporting seats B19 respectively, two ends of the driving belt B37 are respectively and fixedly connected with the driving belt B37, two ends of the driving belt B37 are fixedly connected with the two driving belt B37C 37, one end of the driving belt B37 is fixedly connected with the two driving belt B37 is fixedly connected with the inner side of the driving belt B37, one end of the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the driving belt B37, the two driving belt B45 is fixedly connected with the two driving belt B37B 45, one end of the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the driving belt B37 is fixedly connected with the inner side of the driving belt B37, and the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the end B3, and the end of the driving belt B is fixedly connected with the driving belt B3B is fixedly connected with the driving belt B and the end B3, and the end is fixedly connected with the end B and the end B3, the other end of the supporting and fixing block 47 is separated from the screw shaft B31, and when the expansion and contraction cylinder E33 controls one end of the supporting and fixing block 47 to be separated from the transmission belt A32, the other end of the supporting and fixing block 47 is in threaded connection with the screw shaft B31.
Preferably, the inner walls of the two sides of the cavity 15 are respectively fixed with a guide rail a26, one side, away from the supporting seats B19, of each supporting seat is provided with a sliding groove 41 in sliding connection with the guide rail a26, each sliding groove 41 is in a T shape, the stable reliability of the sliding connection between the supporting seat B19 and the guide rail a26 is ensured, the two sides of the transfer device 11 are further provided with movable ports 16 for the movement of the welding adjusting assembly at the top of the base 5, the movable ports 16 are communicated with the cavity 15, and the welding adjusting assembly can be adaptively moved to perform welding operation through the movable ports 16.
Preferably, the contact surface of the driving belt A32 and the driving belt disk A36 is made of an anti-slip material, the power motor B35 is embedded and fixed at the inner bottom of the cavity 15, the installation stability is ensured, and the contact surface of the driving belt B40 and the driving belt disk B39 is made of an anti-slip material.
Preferably, as shown in fig. 7-8, the supporting seat B19 is provided with a rope hole 42 and a rod hole 43 for passing through the driving belt a32 and the screw shaft B31, the inner side of the supporting seat B19 is provided with a movable cavity C50 for moving the supporting block 47, the top of the movable cavity C50 is provided with a movable cavity B46 for moving the toggle rod 45, one side of the movable cavity C50 is further provided with a movable cavity a44 for moving the telescopic mandrel of the expansion and contraction cylinder E33, the movable cavity B46 is respectively communicated with the movable cavity C50 and the movable cavity a44, one end of the supporting block 47 is provided with an arc-shaped supporting groove 48 matched with the surface of the driving belt a32, the surface of the supporting groove 48 is provided with an anti-slip layer (not shown) for improving the reliability of the supporting belt a32, and the other end of the supporting block 47 is provided with an arc-shaped thread groove 49 matched with the surface of the screw shaft B31 for enabling the supporting block 47 to achieve the function of connection switching and the stable driving control through the expansion and contraction cylinder E33.
Preferably, in order to ensure the reliability of operation, when the abutting block 47 switches the connection state with the driving belt a32 and the screw shaft B31, both the supporting seats B19 are located at the middle position of the cavity 15, so that the driving belt a32 is conveniently driven to move by the power motor B35, so that the two supporting seats B19 move reversely, or the screw shaft B31 is conveniently driven to rotate by the power motor C37, so that the driving of the driving belt disc B39 and the driving belt B40 is utilized, so that the two supporting seats B19 move in the same direction.
When the support block 47 is in butt joint with the transmission belt A32 in specific application, the support block 47 is separated from the screw shaft B31 (namely, the support block is not in threaded connection), the support block B19 can reversely move under the drive of the transmission belt A32 through the stable guide of the guide rail A26, the support block 47 is separated from the transmission belt A32, the support block 47 is in threaded connection with the screw shaft B31, the support block B19 can move in the same direction under the drive of the screw shaft B31 through the stable guide of the guide rail A26, the whole is stable and reliable, the switching is convenient, and the welding requirements of different modes are met.
As shown in fig. 1 and 3, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the welding adjustment assembly includes a ball housing 17, an expansion and contraction cylinder C18, a locking bolt 27, a ball 28, and an expansion and contraction cylinder D29, wherein the expansion and contraction cylinder C18 is vertically fixed to the top of a support base B19, the ball housing 17 is fixed to the upper end of the expansion and contraction cylinder C18, the ball housing 17 is opened toward one side of the transfer device 11 and is rollably mounted with the ball 28, the expansion and contraction cylinder D29 is fixed to the ball 28, a welding gun 30 is mounted to the end of the expansion and contraction cylinder D29, and a locking bolt 27 for locking and fixing the ball 28 is further mounted to the ball housing 17.
In specific application, the initial height of the welding gun 30 can be adjusted through the expansion and contraction cylinder C18, then the expansion and contraction cylinder D29 is rotated according to the loosening of the locking bolt 27, and the expansion and contraction cylinder D29 is matched, so that the welding gun 30 is matched with a welding part, the requirement of flexible adjustment welding is met, and the reliable welding of the joint of two to-be-welded parts 10 is realized by matching with the movement of the supporting seat B19.
As shown in fig. 1, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control board 14 disclosed in the prior art may be used for controlling each component, the control board 14 is mounted and fixed on the control frame 13, the control frame 13 is mounted and fixed on the base 5, and the model and circuit connection of each component are not particularly limited, and can be flexibly set in practical application.
The related circuits, electronic components and modules are all in the prior art, and can be completely implemented by those skilled in the art, and needless to say, the protection of the present invention does not relate to improvements of software and methods.
The embodiment of the invention provides a steel structural part welding processing device, which has the following working principle:
the transfer device 11 penetrates through the upper side of the base 5, and positions and stepwise conveys the workpiece 10. A plurality of positioning bars 12 with adjustable positions are arranged on the transfer device 11 and are used for adjusting the positions of the workpieces 10 according to the shape and the size of the workpieces 10 so as to ensure the stable placement of the workpieces 10.
The sucking and placing component is positioned at the left side of the base 5, can suck the to-be-welded piece 10 on the transferring device 11, and places the to-be-welded piece 10 on another to-be-welded piece 10 according to a set angle along with the movement of the transferring device 11. The process is completed cooperatively by the power motor A6, the screw shaft A1, the expansion and contraction cylinder A2, the expansion and contraction cylinder B9 and other parts, so that the accurate placement of the to-be-welded part 10 is ensured.
The welding adjusting assembly is mounted on the supporting seat B19, and the position of the welding gun 30 is flexibly adjusted through the expansion and contraction cylinder C18, the ball shell 17, the locking bolt 27, the ball 28 and the expansion and contraction cylinder D29, so that the welding gun 30 can be accurately aligned with the joint of the to-be-welded piece 10.
The movement control assembly is positioned inside the right side of the base 5 and comprises a screw shaft B31, a driving belt A32, an expansion and contraction cylinder E33 and the like, and can drive the two welding adjustment assemblies to move in the same direction or in opposite directions so as to adapt to different welding requirements (synchronous welding operation or staggered welding operation).
In summary, the steel structural member welding processing equipment realizes stable conveying, positioning and efficient and high-quality welding operation of the to-be-welded member 10, thereby improving the welding efficiency and adaptability.
The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined, and all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are not described for brevity of description, however, as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features, they should be considered as the scope of the description.
The foregoing examples illustrate only a few embodiments of the invention and are described in detail herein without thereby limiting the scope of the invention. It should be noted that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which are all within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present invention is to be determined by the appended claims.