Disclosure of Invention
The invention provides bicycle processing and welding equipment and a process, which aim to solve the problems that the welding end parts of a beam tube and an inclined tube are arranged closer at present, and in the welding process of a bicycle frame made of magnesium alloy, the welding quality is affected because the welding part of the beam tube, the inclined tube and a head tube is subjected to thermal expansion deformation easily due to heat during welding because of high heat conductivity and low melting point of the magnesium alloy.
In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the technical scheme that the bicycle processing and welding equipment is used for welding and fixing a head pipe and a side pipe, wherein the side pipe comprises a beam pipe and an inclined pipe, and comprises a workbench, wherein the workbench is provided with:
the fixing mechanism is used for fixing the head pipe and the side pipe and enabling the end part of the side pipe to be attached to the side face of the head pipe;
The pressing mechanism comprises a pressing plate capable of moving linearly, and the pressing plate is used for applying pressure to the side pipe after the side pipe is fixed, wherein the pressure is applied from the end part of the side pipe to the side surface of the head pipe and is perpendicular to the side surface of the side pipe;
the welding mechanism is used for welding and fixing the end part of the side pipe and the side surface of the head pipe;
and the turnover mechanism is used for turnover of the head pipe and the side pipe.
In a preferred embodiment, the pressing mechanism further comprises a connecting seat, the pressing plate is arranged in the connecting seat in a sliding mode, an elastic piece II is arranged at one end of the pressing plate, a power component III is fixedly installed on the workbench, a round head is installed at the output end of the power component III, a chute is formed in the front side of the pressing plate, and the round head is in movable contact with the inner wall of the chute.
In a preferred embodiment, the welding mechanism comprises a linear driving assembly III, the linear driving assembly III comprises a supporting seat, a power component IV is installed on the supporting seat, a sliding seat is installed at the output end of the power component IV, a guiding mechanism is further arranged on the sliding seat and comprises a sliding block, the sliding block transversely slides on the sliding seat, a top seat is vertically arranged on the sliding block in a sliding manner, a welding gun is installed at the end of the top seat, a vertical shaft is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the top seat, a ball is installed at the bottom end of the vertical shaft, a guiding seat is installed on the side edge of the supporting seat, a track groove is formed in the guiding seat, and the ball is arranged in the track groove in a sliding manner.
In a preferred embodiment, the guide seat is further provided with a guide groove, the guide groove is communicated with the track groove, and the guide groove is located in the middle of the track groove.
In a preferred embodiment, the fixing mechanism comprises a head pipe fixing assembly and a side pipe fixing assembly, and the head pipe fixing assembly and the side pipe fixing assembly are respectively used for fixing the head pipe and the side pipe, and enabling the end portion of the side pipe to be attached to the side face of the head pipe.
In a preferred embodiment, the head pipe fixing assembly comprises a mounting seat, the mounting seat is arranged on the surface of the workbench, the workbench is provided with a first power component, the output end of the first power component is hinged with a connecting shaft, the end part of the connecting shaft extends into the mounting seat and is fixedly provided with a retaining plate, the head pipe is arranged in the mounting seat, and the two ends of the head pipe are respectively abutted against the inner wall of the mounting seat and the retaining plate.
In a preferred embodiment, the side tube fixing assembly comprises a fixing plate, a sliding groove is formed in the fixing plate, a sliding block is arranged in the sliding groove in a sliding mode, a rubber pad is fixedly arranged on the sliding block, the side tube is arranged on the sliding block and is fixed through the rubber pad, and an elastic piece I is arranged on one side of the sliding block.
In a preferred embodiment, the turnover mechanism comprises a rotating shaft, the connecting seat is fixedly connected to one end of the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is rotatably arranged on the workbench, the other end of the rotating shaft is fixedly connected with the mounting seat, the workbench is provided with a second power component, the output end of the second power component is provided with a driving gear, the rotating shaft is fixedly sleeved with a driven gear, the driving gear is meshed with the driven gear, and the round head is collinear with the end of the rotating shaft in the horizontal direction.
In a preferred embodiment, the welding mechanism comprises a first linear driving assembly and a second linear driving assembly, the first linear driving assembly and the second linear driving assembly form a double-shaft moving mechanism, the welding mechanism further comprises a fourth linear driving assembly, the fourth linear driving assembly comprises a supporting plate, a fifth power component is fixedly installed on the workbench, the output end of the fifth power component is fixedly connected with the supporting plate, and the first linear driving assembly is installed on the supporting plate.
A welding process of bicycle processing welding equipment comprises the following steps:
Fixing a head pipe, a beam pipe and an inclined pipe through a head pipe fixing assembly and a side pipe fixing assembly, and enabling the end parts of the beam pipe and the inclined pipe to be attached to the side surface of the head pipe;
the second step, the pressing mechanism applies pressure to the beam tube and the inclined tube through the pressing plate, so that the joint of the beam tube and the inclined tube as well as the head tube is always kept in a tightly-attached state;
step three, a welding mechanism drives a welding gun to weld the flat crossbeam pipe, the inclined pipe and the upper weld joint of the head pipe, and after the welding is finished, a turnover mechanism drives the crossbeam pipe, the inclined pipe and the head pipe to turn over;
And fourthly, driving a welding gun by a welding mechanism, and welding the beam tube, the inclined tube and the head tube with the upward lower welding seam after overturning.
The invention has the beneficial effects that:
According to the invention, the pressing mechanism is used for applying pressure vertical to the side surfaces of the cross beam pipe and the inclined pipe in the welding process, so that the joint of the cross beam pipe and the inclined pipe as well as the head pipe can always keep a close state, and the problem that the joint of the cross beam pipe and the inclined pipe as well as the head pipe is deformed due to heat during welding in the welding process, so that the joint of the cross beam pipe and the inclined pipe is separated, and the welding quality is affected is avoided.
Drawings
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of the structure of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing mechanism of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion a in fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a schematic top cross-sectional view of the pressing mechanism of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a welding mechanism according to the present invention.
Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the guide mechanism of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a guide holder according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the head pipe, cross beam pipe and inclined pipe of the present invention.
Fig. 10 is a process flow diagram of the present invention.
The device comprises a workbench, a2, a fixing mechanism, a 21, a head pipe fixing assembly, a 211, a mounting seat, a 212, a first power component, a 213, a connecting shaft, a 214, a bearing plate, a 22, a side pipe fixing assembly, a 221, a fixing plate, a 2211, a notch, a 222, a chute, a 223, a slide block, a 224, a rubber pad, a 225, a first elastic component, a3, a turnover mechanism, a 31, a rotating shaft, a 32, a second power component, a 33, a driving gear, a 34, a driven gear, a 4, a pressing mechanism, a 41, a connecting seat, a 42, a pressing plate, a 421, a chute, a 43, a second elastic component, a 44, a third power component, a 45, a round head, a5, a welding mechanism, a 51, a first linear driving assembly, a 52, a second linear driving assembly, a 53, a linear driving assembly III, a 531, a supporting seat, a 532, a fourth power component, a 533, a slide seat, a 54, a fourth linear driving assembly, a 541, a supporting plate, a fifth power component, a 55, a welding gun, a 6, a guide mechanism, a 61, a sliding block, a 62, a top seat, a 63, a vertical shaft, a ball, a track, a 631, a guide seat, a guide rail, a 641, a guide groove and a guide groove;
101. head tube, 102, side tube, 1021, beam tube, 1022, and diagonal tube.
Detailed Description
The present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein it is to be understood that the following detailed description is for the purpose of further illustrating the application only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the application, as various insubstantial modifications and adaptations of the application to those skilled in the art can be made in light of the foregoing disclosure.
Referring to fig. 1 to 6 of the drawings, a bicycle processing and welding device for welding and fixing a head pipe 101 and a side pipe 102, wherein the side pipe 102 comprises a beam pipe 1021 and a diagonal pipe 1022, and comprises a workbench 1, wherein the workbench 1 is provided with:
A fixing mechanism 2, wherein the fixing mechanism 2 is used for fixing the head pipe 101 and the side pipe 102, and bonding the end part of the side pipe 102 and the side surface of the head pipe 101;
A pressing mechanism 4, the pressing mechanism 4 including a linearly movable pressing plate 42, the pressing plate 42 for applying a pressure to the side pipe 102 from an end of the side pipe 102 toward a side of the head pipe 101, the pressure being perpendicular to the side of the side pipe 102 after the side pipe 102 is fixed;
a welding mechanism 5, wherein the welding mechanism 5 is used for welding and fixing the end part of the side pipe 102 and the side surface of the head pipe 101;
and the turnover mechanism 3, wherein the turnover mechanism 3 is used for turnover of the head pipe 101 and the side pipe 102.
It should be noted that, the fixing mechanism 2 may be mainly used to fix the head tube 101 and the side tube 102, and the side tube 102 includes a beam tube 1021 and an inclined tube 1022, where the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 are required to be attached to the side of the head tube 101, so as to ensure the attachment between the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101, avoid displacement of the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the side of the head tube 101 to affect the welding quality, and the welding mechanism 5 may be driven by a robot arm, and perform welding along the track movement of the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the side of the head tube 101, and the turnover mechanism 3 is mainly used to turn over the fixed beam tube 1021, the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101, and may be driven by a motor, and the linear movement of the pressing plate 42 may be driven by a hydraulic cylinder, so as to ensure stable connection of the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the side of the head tube 101.
The implementation scene is specifically as follows: during welding, the fixing mechanism 2 is used for fixing the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 with the head tube 101, the end parts of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 are attached to the side surface of the head tube 101, then the pressing plate 42 is driven to move linearly, pressure is applied to the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022, the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 with the head tube 101 is always kept in an attached state, then the welding mechanism 5 is used for welding the joint part between the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101, as shown in fig. 1, the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 are in a flat state when being fixed, so that the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 with the head tube 101 is welded and fixed by the welding mechanism 5, then the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 are overturned with the head tube 101 by the overturning mechanism 3, and the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 are welded by the other part of the head tube 101, and the welding mechanism 4 is used for welding the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022, and the joint part of the head tube 101, and the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 can be prevented from being detached from the head tube 101 due to the fact that the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 101 is deformed, and the joint part of the head tube 101 is always in the welding state is affected when the joint part of the transverse beam 1021 and the joint part of the welding tube 1022 is caused by the welding mechanism is in the welding state.
Further, referring to fig. 3 of the drawings, the fixing mechanism 2 includes a head pipe fixing assembly 21 and a side pipe fixing assembly 22, and the head pipe fixing assembly 21 and the side pipe fixing assembly 22 are respectively used for fixing the head pipe 101 and the side pipe 102, and attaching the end of the side pipe 102 to the side surface of the head pipe 101.
Further, referring to fig. 3 of the specification, the head pipe fixing assembly 21 includes a mounting seat 211, the mounting seat 211 is disposed on the surface of the workbench 1, a first power component 212 is mounted on the workbench 1, an output end of the first power component 212 is hinged with a connecting shaft 213, an end of the connecting shaft 213 extends into the mounting seat 211 and is fixedly provided with a retaining plate 214, the head pipe 101 is disposed in the mounting seat 211, and two ends of the head pipe 101 are respectively abutted against an inner wall of the mounting seat 211 and the retaining plate 214.
The first power component 212 is an air cylinder, and the head pipe 101 is fixed by placing the head pipe 101 in the mounting seat 211 and then driving the retaining plate 214 to move in a direction approaching to the head pipe 101 by the air cylinder, so that the retaining plate 214 abuts against the head pipe 101.
It should be further noted that, since the output end of the cylinder is hinged to the connecting shaft 213, when the beam tube 1021, the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101 are turned over after being primarily welded, the cylinder can be kept still by the hinged arrangement of the output end of the first power component 212 and the connecting shaft 213, so that the problem that the normal use of the cylinder is affected due to the synchronous movement of the cylinder along with the turning over is avoided.
Further, referring to fig. 3 of the specification, the side tube fixing assembly 22 includes a fixing plate 221, a sliding groove 222 is formed in the fixing plate 221, a sliding block 223 is slidably disposed in the sliding groove 222, a rubber pad 224 is fixedly disposed on the sliding block 223, the side tube 102 is disposed on the sliding block 223 and is fixed by the rubber pad 224, and an elastic member one 225 is disposed on one side of the sliding block 223.
It should be noted that, when the first elastic member 225 is a spring, the slider 223 is pulled first to stretch the spring, then the side tube 102 is placed in the slider 223, the side tube 102 is fixed by the rubber pad 224, the end of the side tube 102 is attached to the slider 223, then the slider 223 is released, the side tube 102 is reset by elastic deformation of the spring, and is driven to move in a direction close to the head tube 101, the end of the side tube 102 can be attached to the side surface of the head tube 101, and in addition, a notch 2211 is formed in the fixing plate 221, so that after the cross beam tube 1021, the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101 are turned over, the joint between the cross beam tube 1021, the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101 can leak through the notch 2211, so that the welding operation is not hindered.
It should be noted that, since the side tube 102 includes the cross beam 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022, the cross beam 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022 can be fixed by the side tube fixing assembly 22, and the ends thereof can be attached to the head tube 101.
Further, referring to fig. 4 of the specification, the turnover mechanism 3 includes a rotation shaft 31, the rotation shaft 31 is rotatably disposed on the workbench 1, one end of the rotation shaft 31 is fixedly connected with the mounting seat 211, the workbench 1 is provided with a second power component 32, an output end of the second power component 32 is provided with a driving gear 33, a driven gear 34 is fixedly sleeved on the rotation shaft 31, and the driving gear 33 is meshed with the driven gear 34.
It should be noted that, the second power component 32 is a motor, drives the driving gear 33 to rotate through the motor, and drives the rotating shaft 31 to rotate through the meshing transmission of the driving gear 33 and the driven gear 34, and the end of the rotating shaft 31 is fixedly connected with the mounting seat 211, and the side tube fixing assembly 22 is arranged on the fixing plate 221 fixedly arranged between the side tube fixing assembly and the mounting seat 211, so that the beam tube 1021, the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101 can be turned simultaneously when the motor is driven.
In the above technical solution, the pressure plate 42 capable of moving linearly applies pressure to the beam tube 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022, so that the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022 can be always kept in close contact with the side of the head tube 101, but after the beam tube 1021, the diagonal tube 1022 and the head tube 101 are initially welded, the beam tube 1021, the diagonal tube 1022 and the head tube 101 are also required to be turned over, so that the welding of the other part of the beam tube 1021, the diagonal tube 1022 and the head tube 101 is facilitated, if the pressure plate 42 is driven by the hydraulic cylinder to move, the hydraulic cylinder is required to turn over along with the turning of the beam tube 1021, the diagonal tube 1022 and the head tube 101, but in the use process, because the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a pipeline of the hydraulic system, if the pipeline moves along with the movement of the hydraulic cylinder, fatigue and abrasion are generated in continuous bending and twisting of the pipeline, and the risk of leakage or breakage are required to be always kept in a fixed state.
Specifically, referring to fig. 5 of the specification, the pressing mechanism 4 further includes a connecting seat 41, the connecting seat 41 is fixedly connected to the other end of the rotating shaft 31, the pressing plate 42 is slidably disposed in the connecting seat 41, an elastic member second 43 is disposed at one end of the pressing plate 42, a third power member 44 is fixedly mounted on the workbench 1, a round head 45 is mounted at an output end of the third power member 44, a chute 421 is formed at a front side of the pressing plate 42, the round head 45 is movably contacted with an inner wall of the chute 421, and the round head 45 is collinear with an end of the rotating shaft 31 in a horizontal direction.
It should be noted that, the third power component 44 is a hydraulic cylinder, the second elastic component 43 is a spring, the round head 45 is driven to move towards the direction close to the connecting seat 41 by the hydraulic cylinder, so that the round head 45 stretches into the connecting seat 41, and the round head 45 contacts with the chute 421 formed on the pressing plate 42, and meanwhile, the pressing plate 42 is pushed to move towards the direction close to the head pipe 101, so that the pressing plate 42 applies a force perpendicular to the head pipe 101 to the beam pipe 1021 and the inclined pipe 1022, so that the end parts of the beam pipe 1021 and the inclined pipe 1022 can always keep a close state with the side surface of the head pipe 101, and meanwhile, the spring can be compressed.
Further, referring to fig. 6 of the specification, the welding mechanism 5 includes a first linear driving assembly 51, a second linear driving assembly 52, and a welding gun 55, where the first linear driving assembly 51 and the second linear driving assembly 52 form a biaxial movement mechanism.
It should be noted that, the first linear driving assembly 51 and the second linear driving assembly 52 may both use driving components for driving linear motion, such as a screw-nut device or a linear motor, and through the linear driving, the position of the welding gun 55 may be adjusted, so as to ensure that during welding, the output end of the welding gun 55 may achieve accurate welding.
In the above technical solution, as shown in fig. 9, the joints between the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022 and the side of the head tube 101 are welding tracks, and because the beam tube 1021 is horizontally disposed, the diagonal tube 1022 is obliquely disposed, and the head tube 101, the beam tube 1021 and the diagonal tube 1022 are all tubes, the welding tracks at the joints are complex, and although the welding gun 55 can be driven to move along the welding tracks to perform welding operation by the programming of the mechanical arm, the welding gun is not suitable for small-sized engineering due to the high price and maintenance cost of the mechanical arm, therefore, the invention also provides a linear driving assembly three 53 and a guiding mechanism 6 for guiding the welding gun 55, so that the welding gun 55 can perform complex welding track movement without the programming operation of the mechanical arm, thereby greatly reducing the production cost.
Specifically, referring to fig. 6 to 8 of the specification, the welding mechanism 5 further includes a third linear driving assembly 53, the third linear driving assembly 53 includes a supporting seat 531, a fourth power component 532 is mounted on the supporting seat 531, a sliding seat 533 is mounted at an output end of the fourth power component 532, a guiding mechanism 6 is further disposed on the sliding seat 533, the guiding mechanism 6 is used for guiding the welding gun 55 to enable the welding gun 55 to move along a welding track, the guiding mechanism 6 includes a sliding block 61, the sliding block 61 slides laterally on the sliding seat 533, a top seat 62 is vertically sliding on the sliding block 61, a vertical shaft 63 is fixedly disposed at a bottom of the top seat 62, a ball 631 is mounted at a bottom end of the vertical shaft 63, a guiding seat 64 is mounted at a side edge of the supporting seat 531, a track groove 641 is formed in the guiding seat 64, and the ball 631 slides in the track groove 641.
It should be noted that, the fourth power component 532 may be a cylinder, in the process of driving the welding gun 55 to move linearly through the cylinder, the vertical shaft 63 is driven to move synchronously through the top seat 62, because the ball 631 at the end of the vertical shaft 63 is slidably disposed in the track groove 641, and the track groove 641 and the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the side surface of the head tube 101 are the same, the ball 631 can be driven to move in the track groove 641, meanwhile, because the sliding block 61 is laterally slidably disposed on the sliding seat 533, the top seat 62 is vertically slidably disposed on the sliding block 61, and the welding gun 55 is fixedly disposed with the top seat 62, so that the welding gun 55 can move up and down and left and right under the joint of the sliding seat 533, the sliding block 61 and the top seat 62, and the ball 631 at the end of the vertical shaft 63 slides in the track groove 641, so that the welding gun 55 can be driven to move along the track of the track groove 641, thereby realizing the operation along the track movement of the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the side surface of the head tube 101.
Further, referring to fig. 6 of the present disclosure, the welding mechanism 5 further includes a fourth linear driving assembly 54, the fourth linear driving assembly 54 includes a support plate 541, the fifth power component 542 is fixedly mounted on the table 1, an output end of the fifth power component 542 is fixedly connected to the support plate 541, and the first linear driving assembly 51 is mounted on the support plate 541.
It should be noted that the number of the track grooves 641 is two, and the two track grooves 641 are mirror images, after the welding of the joints of the ends of the beam tube 1021 and the chute 1022 and the side face up of the head tube 101 is completed, the beam tube 1021, the chute 1022 and the head tube 101 are turned over again, after the turning over is completed, the welding gun 55 is driven to retract to the initial position by the driving of the supporting plate 541 by the cylinder, then the welding gun 55 is driven to move by the driving of the third linear driving component 53 and the guiding mechanism 6, and the welding treatment is performed on the joint of the other part.
In the above technical solution, although the distance between the beam tube 1021 and the end of the chute 1022 is relatively short, but there is still a certain distance, so during the movement of the welding gun 55 in this distance, in order to avoid the damage of the welding gun 55 to the side of the head tube 101, this problem may be avoided by closing the welding gun 55 and restarting the welding gun 55 during the movement in this distance, but the repeated switching may cause the welding area to undergo thermal cycling many times, resulting in the change of microstructure in the heat affected zone, so that the problem of deformation of the side of the head tube 101 may be solved, so that the welding gun 55 may be moved away from the head tube 101 by moving the beam tube 1021, the chute 1022 and the head tube 101, or by moving the welding gun 55 in this distance, but if the beam tube 1021, the chute 1022 and the head tube 101 are moved, this series of operations need to be driven by driving components, and at the same time, it is also ensured that the driving components are not easy to move along with these operations, and the movement of the beam tube 1021, the chute 1022 and the head tube 101 are moved away from the head tube 101 by the distance 55.
Specifically, referring to fig. 8 of the specification, the guide holder 64 is further provided with a guide groove 642, the guide groove 642 is in communication with the track groove 641, and the guide groove 642 is located in the middle of the track groove 641.
It should be noted that, by providing the guide groove 642 communicating with the track groove 641 on the guide holder 64, when the welding gun 55 moves along the track groove 641, the welding gun 55 can be far away from the head pipe 101 in the moving process of the distance through the guide groove 642, so as to avoid the damage of the welding gun 55 to the side surface of the head pipe 101.
Referring to fig. 10 of the drawings, a welding process of a bicycle machining welding device comprises the following steps:
Step one, fixing the head pipe 101, the cross beam pipe 1021 and the inclined pipe 1022 through the head pipe fixing assembly 21 and the side pipe fixing assembly 22, and attaching the end parts of the cross beam pipe 1021 and the inclined pipe 1022 to the side surface of the head pipe 101;
step two, the pressing mechanism 4 applies pressure to the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 through the pressing plate 42, so that the joint of the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 and the head tube 101 is always kept in a tightly-attached state;
Step three, the welding mechanism 5 drives the welding gun 55 to weld the flat transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 with the upper welding seam of the head tube 101, and after the welding is finished, the turnover mechanism 3 drives the transverse beam 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 as well as the head tube 101 to turn over;
and fourthly, finally, the welding mechanism 5 drives the welding gun 55 to weld the beam tube 1021 and the inclined tube 1022 with the upward lower welding seam after the head tube 101 is turned over.
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.