EP1277685A1 - Method and device for changing the form of a stream of flat articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The object path-turning process involves crossing the input path with the output path at two crossing points (A, B), transferring the objects (4) in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B) alternately at the first or second crossing point. The objects lie in overlapped flow sections, and on the output path conveyor, these are gaps (22) between successive groups.

Description

The invention is in the field of conveyor technology and relates to a method and a Device according to the preambles of the corresponding claims. method and device are used to convert a flow of flat objects, which change, for example, from a flow in which all objects are oriented the same way, a flow is created in which the objects are oriented differently from groups alternating in the current.

For the promotion of flat objects, such as for the promotion of Printed products (e.g. newspapers, magazines, etc.) are in many cases one after the other Moving grippers, each using an object in an edge area hold, with all objects oriented substantially the same. The This means that magazines in the sector are included in such a flow its back edge is supported from above in such a way that all fronts in Direction of delivery are directed forward.

Printed products, such as the magazines mentioned, are used in the manner mentioned, for example fed to a stacking shaft, in which they are stored in a stack. If this stack should now be a cross stack, that is a stack in which the Objects are present in groups rotated 180 ° against each other (back edges of the magazines partly positioned on one side and partly on the other side of the stack), the stacking shaft with the resulting stack becomes after the storage of each Group of printed products rotated, as for example in the publication DE-2842117 (or US-4214743, F96). It is also for the same purpose known, for example from the publication DE-19530499 (Gorny), the flow to separate into two partial streams before storing the printed products in the stacking shaft and supply these two streams to the stacking shaft so differently that the pressure products fed in one partial flow relative to those in the other partial flow fed print products are rotated by 180 °. It is also known to be printed products to rotate in groups in a flow, and by stacking one converted feed stream directly to cross stacks without further measures create. A device for such a feed current conversion is for example described in publication EP-0854102 (F447). The current conversion in the case described relates to a flow in which the products are kept individually be promoted, and the change is realized through temporary Takeover of the products by the gripper of an auxiliary system.

The devices for carrying out the known methods with stack rotation are relatively easy if a performance stop for every turn of the stack can be accepted. But the performance should be high or the cycle time should be as short as possible, the supply current must be by means of a switch be divided into two stacking chutes or must be during the stack rotation supplied items are stacked between what the devices makes significantly more complex. The above methods with power sharing and different supply of the partial streams as well as the methods mentioned with power conversion are with simpler stacking devices and higher performances feasible, but require complex electricity distribution or conversion Devices and controls.

The object of the invention is now to improve in this area create. With the method and the device according to the invention is intended to promote a feed flow in which flat objects are kept individually be converted into a removal flow, with the objects at change reoriented differently in groups. The inventive The process is said to be significantly simpler than known flow rate conversions, serve similar purposes. Nevertheless, the current conversion is supposed to various sizes of the object groups can be carried out. In particular the inventive method with a very simple device and simple control can be carried out. At the same time, it is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for performing the method.

This object is achieved by the method and the device as described in the Claims are defined.

The method according to the invention is usually carried out by a feed flow going out in which the flat objects are oriented essentially the same, and generate a discharge flow in which the objects alternate with one another of the following groups are oriented so differently that, for example, without further measures are fed to a stacking shaft and stored there Result in cross stack. Of course, the method according to the invention can can also be applied to a supply flow in which the objects are already are oriented differently, and convert this feed flow into a discharge flow, in which the objects are oriented the same way or differently.

The principle of the method according to the invention is to determine the feed path, along which the objects are conveyed individually, in a changing area with a path of conveyance along which the objects are transformed Electricity are carried away, crossed twice and alternating in succession supplied groups of objects at the first and second intersection to be transferred from the feeder route to the away conveyor route. The handover exists preferably from a simple depositing of each along a gripper of the conveyed path kept conveyed objects on a conveying support (e.g. Conveyor belt), which moves along the path away.

The crossing angle between the feed path and the path away is for the two Crossroads, for example, 90 °, but can also be larger or smaller than 90 °. In both deliveries, the printed products delivered are determined by the Crossing angle reoriented, for example by 90 ° (e.g. conversion of cross conveying for longitudinal conveying for rectangular flat objects). Because the feed path in the two crossroads from opposite sides on the way away hits, there is also a rotation in addition to the above-mentioned reorientation 180 ° of the items handed in at the second intersection compared to the Items handed in at the first crossroads. With the current conversion according to The method according to the invention thus becomes the subject of every second Group placed 180 ° more rotated than the objects of the first groups.

The objects in the feed flow are advantageously transverse to their flat surface Expansion promoted, for example held at an upper edge and substantially free hanging, the distances between the products are smaller than their expanse. Likewise advantageously, those supplied in this way Objects overlapping each other on the conveyor support of the path away stored so that the converted away flow is a shingled stream that but has a gap at least after every second group of items.

The device according to the invention has a feed path defining it Feed means arranged one behind the other and along in a feed direction of the feed path movable grippers and a path away defining means of conveyance that is at least in one area of change extending along the path of removal and moving in a direction of removal Has funding requirement. The feed path and intersect in the area of change Path two times. Furthermore, the device has control means with which the grippers in the conversion area for the group-wise delivery of the held supplied Objects selectively opened at the first and second intersection can be.

As will be shown in detail, it is advantageous to use the grippers of the feed means form independently of each other, such that the distances between them Grippers can be varied and the grippers stopped immediately before the crossroads and can be buffered.

Figur 1

eine schematische, dreidimensionale Darstellung einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung mit einem Zufördermittel, einem Wegfördermittel und zwei Wegkreuzungen (Kreuzungswinkel von 90°) und mit Greiferpufferung vor den beiden Wegkreuzungen;

Figur 2

ein Schema einer Stromwandlung nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren mit einem Zuförderweg und zwei Wegförderwegen (vier Wegkreuzungen mit Kreuzungswinkeln von 90°);

Figur 3

ein Schema einer Stromwandlung nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren, in dem der Kreuzungswinkel nicht 90° beträgt;

Figuren 4 bis 6

Schemas von Stromwandlungen nach dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren ohne Greiferpufferung vor den Wegkreuzungen (Figur 4: ein Zuförderweg, ein Wegförderweg, zwei Wegkreuzungen; Figur 5: ein Zuförderweg, zwei Wegförderwege, vier Wegkreuzungen);

Figur 7

eine beispielhafte Anwendung der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss Figur 1.

The method and the device according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following figures. Show:

Figure 1

is a schematic, three-dimensional representation of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a feeder, a conveyor and two crossroads (crossing angle of 90 °) and with gripper buffer before the two crossroads;

Figure 2

a diagram of a current conversion according to the inventive method with a feed path and two path ways (four crossroads with crossing angles of 90 °);

Figure 3

a diagram of a current conversion according to the inventive method, in which the crossing angle is not 90 °;

Figures 4 to 6

Schemes of current conversions according to the method according to the invention without gripper buffering in front of the crossroads (FIG. 4: one feed path, one feed path, two crossings; FIG. 5: one feed path, two feed paths, four crossings);

Figure 7

an exemplary application of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a very schematic and three-dimensional exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, on the basis of which the method according to the invention is to be explained.

The device has a rail 2 as feed means 1 (as a dash-dotted line shown), along the grippers 3 in a feed direction Z independently of one another, that is, they can be moved at variable distances from one another. With help the gripper 3 becomes the flat objects 4 (for example rectangular printed products) on upper edge areas (e.g. longer folded edges of rectangular, folded printed products) held and essentially hanging down fed. The device also has a conveying means 10 with an in Moving away direction W advantageously moved at a constant speed Funding 11.

The path defined by the path 10 is straight and essentially horizontally through a conversion region 20 and is in this Conversion area 20 twice from that defined by the feed means 1 Crossed feed path (crossroads A and B). The feed path points between the two crossroads turn 180 ° and it runs at least in the conversion area 20 above the conveying support 11 of the conveying means 10 that the objects 4 held by the grippers 3 are conveyed by simple The grippers 3 can be easily opened on the conveyor support 11 of the conveying means 10 can be filed.

At the intersections A and B, the device has a control means 21, optionally opened with the gripper 3, which are conveyed via the crossroads can be such that an affected object from an open gripper in the most controlled manner possible on the conveying support 11 of the conveying means 10 stored or with a gripper not open over them is promoted.

The device also has storage means, the function of which, for example, depends on Control means 21 are taken over, with the help of crossroads A and B conveyed grippers 3 immediately before the intersections A and B or in front the point at which the gripper 3 is opened, optionally stopped on the rail 2 and trailing grippers can be stowed behind a stopped gripper.

The supplied objects 4 are alternately in groups at the crossroads A put down or pass the intersection A and are at the intersection B stored. The deposit cycle is matched to the feed rate in such a way that the average filing rate is the same as the feed rate. The conveying speed is possibly from further processing of the away flow determined and is advantageously chosen such that the as a group deposited objects 4 are overlapped on the conveyor support 11 become.

At the intersection A, object groups to be deposited or to be deposited one after the other are labeled 1A, 2A etc. in FIG. 1, one after the other at the crossroads B filed or to be filed groups with 1B, 2B etc., where the groups 1A, 1B and 2A are already filed, the group 2B the intersection A already has happened, but has not yet filed and groups 3A, 3B and 4A are still are on the feed path before junction A.

For the implementation of the method according to the invention, groups of for example, four objects 4 at the intersection A on the conveyor support 11 filed (A groups) and alternating with these A groups become groups also promoted by, for example, four items each at intersection A. and deposited at the intersection B (B groups). The objects are obvious of the B groups relative to the objects of the A groups on the conveyor 11 of the conveyor 10 rotated by 180 °. If the supplied items rectangular, folded printed products that are longer on the one Edge to be fed, which is the folded edge, will be the printed products conveyed away in the longitudinal direction, with the folded edges of the viewer in the A groups 1 facing away, but facing the viewer in the B groups.

The accumulation means of the intersection A is controlled in such a way that the gripper 3 is also passed objects to be promoted (B groups) are freely conveyed past that Gripper continues unimpeded while depositing the objects of an A group are promoted and that grippers with objects of a subsequent A group be stowed for so long that between A groups deposited at the intersection A. There are gaps on the conveyor support of the away conveyor that are large enough to place a B group at intersection B.

The stowage means of the intersection B is controlled such that the gripper 3, the objects have already released from A groups, unhindered happen that gripper with objects to be put away from B groups and that grippers are stowed with objects of a subsequent B group for so long be that the B group in a subsequent drop gap between two A groups can be placed.

Without additional measures with which objects deposited at the intersection B 4 among the following, but already deposited items 4 of the following A group are pushed, it is not possible to have a continuous Shed stream on the conveyor pad 11 to deposit. The smallest possible gaps, which are to be provided in this case between A groups are about the extent of an object 4 in the conveying direction longer than the effective space requirement the group would be in a seamless stream. In such a gap can the last item 4 of a B group before the first item of the following A group. B groups can precede A groups are stored with a gap (larger than normal scale flow distance) or without a gap (as shown in Figure 1). In the latter case arise on the conveyor support 11 of the conveyor 10 regular scale flow sections A / B, each containing an A group and a B group of objects 4, which scale stream sections A / B by scale stream gaps 22 from each other are separated. The scale flow gaps 22 are at least so large that the trailing one Edge of the object in front of the gap 22 in front of the leading edge following object is positioned (no overlap). These stream flow gaps without overlap can continue in size based on events be tuned downstream. But you can with known means subsequently closed again.

For the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG Device, it is not essential how long the feed path and the path away between the intersections A and B. It’s also not a requirement that the A groups include as many items as the B groups. It is also no condition that the intersection B downstream in the conveying direction from the intersection A is arranged. It could just as well be relative to the direction of removal be arranged upstream from the intersection A, the generated Scale stream sections then consist of a B group and a subsequent one A group would exist.

The implementation of a device as shown in FIG. 1 provides Knowledge of the invention is no problem for the person skilled in the art. As a conveying means A suitable funding system that he can use is in the publication, for example WO-99/33731 (F475).

FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention from a bird's eye view and again shown very schematically. The same parts of the corresponding device are identified by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Two conveying means 10 and 10 'are provided. The feed means 1 essentially consists of a primary feed means 1.1 and two intermediate feed means 1.2 and 1.2 '. The intermediate conveying means 1.2 and 1.2 ', like the primary conveying means 1.1, have grippers 3 (represented by dots) and take over the objects 4 from the primary conveying means 1.1, in order to transport them in two changing areas 20 and 20' at two intersections A and B or A ' and B 'to be transferred to the conveying means 10 and 10'.

In both change areas 20 and 20 ', the process proceeds as it does in context was described with Figure 1 above, with half, for example the objects are taken over by the intermediate conveyor 1.2 and placed on the conveyor 10 are deposited and the other half pass the intermediate conveyor 1.2, taken from the intermediate conveyor 1.2 'and placed on the conveyor 10' become. The grippers are either by the primary feed 1.1 or jammed by intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 '.

The intermediate conveyor 1.2 and 1.2 ', which advantageously as small round runs with a limited number of, for example, independently movable Grippers 4 are formed, can also be omitted and the primary feed 1.1 are crossed directly with the two conveying means 10 and 10 '. It is but it can be clearly seen from FIG. 2 that an embodiment with intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 ', in particular for objects fed in in the center 4, which are taken over laterally by the grippers of the intermediate conveyor and so that it can be deflected around smaller deflection radii, a very space-saving arrangement allowed. Furthermore, in the embodiment with intermediate conveyors 1.2 and 1.2 'the primary feeder 1.1 more easily connected to each other to form a chain Grippers 3, that is, constant gripper distances.

FIG. 3 again shows a bird's eye view of another exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a feed means 1 and a path 10. The feed path and path do not intersect at right angles but at an angle. For this purpose, the grippers 3 are designed to be rotatable relative to the rail 2, so that the objects 4 can be aligned parallel to the removal path before being placed on the support surface 11 of the removal means 10. This is necessary if the objects 4 have edges which are at right angles to one another and these edges are to be aligned parallel or transversely to the direction of removal W when they are conveyed away. If this is not the case, the objects can also be deposited in their position oriented transversely to the feed direction Z and the crossing angle can be selected specifically for a specific deposit.

Figures 4 to 6 show two further embodiments of the device according to the invention, in which the feed means 1 (without intermediate conveyor) is not equipped with mutually independent grippers 4, but with grippers 3 which can only be conveyed from one another at regular intervals (for example, chain 2.1 with equidistant therefrom) mounted grippers 3). It can be seen that in these embodiments, the distances of the feed path and the path away between the two intersections A and B are to be matched to the size of the A groups and the B groups and to the scale flow gaps 22 to be produced between scale flow sections.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with an infeed means 1 deflected by 180 ° between the intersections A and B and an essentially rectilinear outfeed means 10. The A and B groups to be put down each have five objects. The A groups and the B groups are stored simultaneously. Groups 1A, 1B and 2A have already been deposited at the time shown, groups 2B and 3A are depositing the third item in each case, group 3B is still on the feed path between intersections A and B.

It can be seen from FIG. 4 that each A group and the subsequent B group together form a closed and regular scale flow section and that the shingled stream gaps 22 between successive sections are reduced to a minimum. It can also be seen that after the filing of the last items of an A and a B group and after the Objects from another B group at intersection A and the empty grippers an A group at the intersection B either the feed for the present If four cycles are stopped or the transport is accelerated accordingly must be started before objects can be deposited again. Just this way it can be ensured that the last A group that has been deposited reaches a place has where another B group can be placed on it.

FIG. 5 shows a further, exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention with a feed means 1, the grippers 3 of which are conveyed at equal intervals from one another and whose conveyance means 10 is operated at a constant speed. The scale flow gaps 22 that are necessary between deposited groups are generated in this case by the use of auxiliary conveying means 40 on the conveying side and / or auxiliary conveying means 41 on the conveying away side, for example corresponding conveyor belts, which are operated at speeds different from the conveying speed or the conveying away speed.

The auxiliary conveyor means 40 on the conveyor side take over the objects from the conveyor means and delay what the described in connection with Figure 1 Congestion equals. The auxiliary conveyor 41 on the conveyor side allows one Placing an A group at a low conveying speed and moving it the dropped group at a higher speed.

Another measure to enable funding and removal with constant speeds even with constant gripper distances the supply consists of A groups when depositing opposite the removal conveyor to brake with means known per se (reduction of the distance between objects).

FIG. 6 shows a device according to the invention again with a gripper chain (chain 2.1 with grippers 3) or an equivalent conveying means as the conveying means 1 and with two conveying means 10 and 10 'and conveying directions W and W', which means of conveyance from the gripper chain in two crossings A and B or A 'and B' are crossed. The method proceeds in the same way as described for FIG. 4, but the device is designed and controlled in such a way that the feed means 1 and the away means 10 and 10 'can be operated at constant speeds. Deposits in the intersections A and A 'take place simultaneously and alternately with simultaneous deposits in the intersections B and B'. During the conveyance of objects 4 to be deposited at the intersections B and B 'at the intersections A and A' and of empty grippers 3 at the intersections B and B ', the last-deposited A groups are moved over the intersections B and B', so that B groups can be placed on it. The resulting scale streams in the present case have scale stream gaps 22 between scale stream sections (one A and one B group each) and enlarged scale distances 23 between A and subsequent B groups.

FIG. 7 shows, as an exemplary and very advantageous application and extension of the method and the device, as described in connection with FIG. 1, a production of cross stacks 30 from a conveying flow conveyed away by the current conversion according to the invention. This discharge flow has scale stream sections 31, each with two groups of articles, in which the articles are rotated through 180 ° relative to one another, the scale flow sections A / B being separated from one another by scale flow gaps 22. The discharge flow is guided, via a reversal of direction 32, for which the objects and onto a further conveying support 33, diagonally from above over a stacking shaft 34, from where the objects 4 fall into the stacking shaft and are stacked there. An ejection means (not shown), with the aid of which a finished stack 30 is ejected from the stack shaft, is movable in an ejection direction X opposite the conveying direction of the further conveyor support 33 and pushes the stack out of the stack shaft on the feed side. The ejection means is designed in such a way that it is moved outside of the stacking shaft (under the stacking shaft or past the stacking shaft) to its starting position.

With the described arrangement of feeding, further conveyor support 33 and Ejection means must interrupt the feed for the stack ejection be, but can already be resumed if the stack 30 is still is not completely ejected from the stacking shaft 34, but its trailing one Page is conveyed past a point at which the leading edges of the fed Objects 4 would hit the stack to be ejected. This means in other words, the interruption of feeding for the batch ejection is very short and the scale flow gaps 22 or at least part of it for this purpose can be used. This means that neither for the manufacture of the stack still further measures on the stacking shaft for its ejection fed scale flow are necessary.

The method shown in FIG. 7 is particularly suitable for use on folded printed products (e.g. single folded tabloids or double folded newspapers) that are usually in feed streams on their longer ones Folded edges are kept on top. These printed products are used in power conversion, as already described above, converted into a discharge flow, in where they are conveyed parallel to the folded edges and the folded edges of product groups alternately lie on one or the other side of the stream. Since these products are stiffer parallel to their folded edges than perpendicular to them, they can they are also brought into the stacking shaft 34 with a relatively long free fall, so the ejection line that is up to resuming the feeder for the following stack can still be shortened. In addition, the stacks become parallel ejected to the folded edges, which is due to the higher stacking stability the stacking stability across the fold edges at an increased speed can be done. Each sub-step of the method shown in Figure 7 is So performed in its most optimal way and still the combination of Partial steps very easy.

FIG. 7 therefore shows impressively how simple the method according to the invention is for flow conversion is how easy it is to produce cross stacks below Use of the method according to the invention for converting flow is and how space-saving the device for converting flow with integrated stacking device is executable.

Claims (19)

Method for converting a feed flow, in which flat objects (4), individually held along a feed path, are conveyed to a conversion area (20), into a discharge flow, in which the objects (4) are oriented differently relative to one another than in the feed flow and loosely along a discharge path are conveyed on the surface, characterized in that the feed path and the path away from one another cross at a first crossroads (A) and at a second crossroads (B) and that the objects (4) in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ... ) are transferred alternately at the first and second crossroads (A and B) from the feed path to the removal path, the transfer being controlled in such a way that the flat objects (4) in the discharge flow in scale flow sections (A / B) consisting of one or several successive groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) and scale gaps (22) between scale sections (A / B). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat objects (4) for the transfer from the feed path to the path of discharge are released by grippers (3) and placed on a conveyor support (11) Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the conveying speed is constant and that the objects (4) are conveyed at variable distances from one another and optionally stopped and buffered in front of the intersections (A and B). A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removal speed is constant, that the objects (4) are fed in at regular intervals and that the scale flow gaps are created by using auxiliary conveyors (40) and / or auxiliary conveyors (41). A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removal speed between transfers of groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) is increased and that the objects (4) are fed in at regular intervals. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two or more conveying paths with a further two intersections (A ', B') are provided with the feeding path, that the conveying speeds along all the conveying paths are constant and that the objects (4) are clocked regularly be promoted. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the path of conveyance from the first to the second intersection (A and B) is essentially straight and the feed path between the first and the second intersection (A and B) a deflection of 180 ° having. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the feed path and the path away intersect at right angles in the two crossroads (A and B). Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the discharge flow is fed to a stacking shaft (34) in which the objects (4) are stacked to form a cross stack (30). A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the cross stack (30) is ejected from the stacking chute (34) in an ejection direction (X), the ejection direction (X) being opposite to the direction in which the objects are fed. Device for converting a feed flow, in which flat objects (4), individually held along a feed path, are fed to a conversion area (20) into a discharge flow, in which the objects (4) are oriented differently relative to one another than in the feed flow and conveyed away along a discharge path Which device has a feed means (1) with grippers (3) movable along the feed path and a removal means (10) with a conveyor support (11) extending along the removal path and movable in a removal direction, characterized in that the feed path and the Conveyor path cross at a first crossroads (A) and at a second crossroads (B) that control means (21) are provided at the two crossroads (A and B) for optionally opening the grippers (3) and that the control means can be controlled in this way that by opening predetermined grippers (3) objects (4) in groups (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B ...) are transferred alternately at the first and at the second intersection from the conveying means (1) to the conveying means (10). Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the feed means (1) has a rail (2) along which the grippers (3) can be moved independently of one another, and that the device further comprises a stowage means at the two crossroads (A and B) Stopping and jamming grippers (3). Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the feed means (1) has a primary conveying means (1.1) with grippers (3) and an intermediate conveying means (1.2) with grippers (3), at least the grippers (3) of the intermediate conveying means (1.2) or the primary feed means (1.2) can be moved independently of one another. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the grippers (3) of the feed means (1) can be moved at constant distances from one another. Device according to Claim 14, characterized in that auxiliary conveying means (40) on the conveying side and / or auxiliary conveying means (41) on the conveying away side are additionally provided. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the feed means (1) or the removal means (10) can be operated at variable speeds. Device according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the conveying means (10) between the crossroads (A and B) runs essentially straight and the feed means (1) between the crossroads (A and B) has a deflection by 180 ° , Device according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized in that a stacking shaft (34) is connected to the conveying away means (10), which stacking shaft (34) has an ejection means with an ejection direction (X) which is against a supply side of the stacking shaft (34). is directed. Application of the method according to one of claims 1 to 10 or the device according to one of claims 11 to 18 for folded, rectangular printed products, which are held at the top on longer folded edges in the feed stream.

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