JP2005154093A - Transferring device for resin vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems wherein a resin vessel stopped by a stopper at a downstream end jumps on the opposite side to the conveying direction by a collision to shift the stop position, and, when a resin vessel of which travelling is stopped is stopped again with the position shifted by moving of the stopper, the behavior of the resin vessel becomes unstable to generate swing in the direction crossing the conveying direction and speed increase of the handling because reduction of the swing must be waited for. <P>SOLUTION: This transferring device comprises an intermediate stopper for separating a preceding resin vessel group from the following group, a stopping stopper for stopping the preceding resin vessel group, a moving means for moving the intermediate stopper back and forth, a passing sensor for detecting passing of a resin vessel between the resin vessel stopped by the intermediate stopper and the rearmost resin vessel in an accumulated state, an abutting stopper that is operated by the detection by the passing sensor and abuts on the rearmost resin vessel in the accumulated state from the back side, and a transferring means for holding and simultaneously transferring the resin vessels lying between the stopping stopper and the abutting stopper all at once. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin container transfer device for taking out a predetermined number of resin containers (resin containers) such as PET bottles filled with an internal solution such as a beverage from a conveyor for boxing. .

In the filling line of the inner solution into the container, the container is filled and capped while continuously transporting the container in one row by the transport conveyor. In the final boxing process, a predetermined number of containers are taken out from the transport conveyor and placed in the box. Transfer and box.
When taking out a predetermined number of containers from the conveyor that is continuously transported in this way, the containers being transported are separated into a predetermined number of groups from the top, and the subsequent containers are kept moving during the transfer operation. It is necessary to stop. For this reason, conventionally, a stopper for preventing the progress of the container is provided every time a predetermined number of containers pass, and when the predetermined number of containers pass, the stopper is operated to prevent the subsequent containers from proceeding, The preceding container groups were grouped at intervals, and stopped by a stopper at the downstream end.
In addition, a conveyor for conveying articles such as plastic containers and glass bottles, a stopper device provided at the end of the conveyor, and a stopper for stopping the transfer of articles when a predetermined number of articles are transferred at the entrance of the conveyor When a predetermined number of articles accumulate between the stopper device provided at the end and the stopper device at the inlet portion, the stopper device at the inlet portion closes to stop the transfer of the article, and the stopper device at the end portion The grouped containers are moved to the alignment device on the side of the conveyor, and moved to the direction of the article's moving direction, spaced from the article stopped by the stopper device at the inlet portion. After a plurality of times, an article boxing device that shifts the support plate of the alignment apparatus that supports the bottom of the articles and drops the articles into a box positioned below the alignment apparatus (Patent Document 1) Irradiation) are present.
Further, a series / parallel rearrangement mechanism for extruding every other discharged container in a single column and rearranging it from a single column to a three column, an end for receiving and collecting the containers being conveyed Integration completion detection sensor (integration completion detection means) composed of a phototube for counting the number of containers passing through the stopper, and detecting that a predetermined number of containers are accumulated at the end stopper position, end Gate mechanism for partitioning containers accumulated in the stopper position into a predetermined number of boxes that form a group for boxing, mechanical hand that grabs and lifts the separated containers at once, and packs them in a collection box such as a cardboard box (boxing 3) × 1 assuming that the containers are arranged in contact with the stop plate of the end stopper as an initial state. When the containers are lined up, the gate mechanism is controlled to rotate the gate plate for partitioning, and the gate plate is inserted between the containers of the eighth container and the ninth container, so that one group for packing is formed. A group of 24 (three rows × 8) containers to be formed is partitioned from the containers that are sent thereafter. Subsequently, the end stopper is controlled, and the 24 containers forming one group for boxing partitioned by the gate plate are separated from the partition gate plate by a predetermined distance, and the 24 containers are predetermined from the gate plate. When separated by a distance, the mechanical hand is controlled to descend, grabs the heads of 24 containers at once, lifts them, and then transports them to a storage box such as a cardboard box prepared on the side of the conveyor, etc. There is a container alignment device (see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-64004 (Description of Examples in the Claims, Detailed Description of the Invention on the second page, upper right column, second line to third page, upper column, right column, seventh line, FIG. 1) ) JP 2000-326916 (Claims, Detailed Description of the Invention {0012} to {0034}, FIGS. 1 and 4)

As in the conventional case, when a predetermined number of containers have passed, the stopper is operated to prevent the subsequent containers from progressing, and a space is formed between the containers that have passed, and these preceding container groups are grouped downstream. In the configuration where the stopper is stopped at the end stopper, when the container is a resin container filled with the inner solution, the resin container swells due to the inner solution and becomes elastic. Therefore, the stop position is shifted by bounce to the opposite side of the transport direction. Therefore, when trying to hold these individually, the holder is pushed up by the resin container because it is displaced from the predetermined holding position, and cannot be held.
This is a resin container with a large capacity, and particularly in the case of hot filling in which the inner solution is filled in a high temperature state, the resin container tends to swell and the generation is remarkable.
Moreover, in the structure described in patent document 1 and patent document 2, after stopping progress of a container with the stopper apparatus and end stopper which were provided in the edge part, the stopper apparatus of an entrance part and the gate plate of a gate mechanism were followed. Since the stopper is moved in the state of being partitioned from the container so as to open the gap, there is no positional displacement due to the elastic force of the resin container as in the above-described conventional configuration, but the resin once stopped from progressing Since the container is moved again by stopping the position by moving the stopper, the behavior of the resin container becomes unstable, and the shaking in the direction crossing the transport direction occurs. Since it cannot be held, there is a problem that it is necessary to wait until the shaking is stopped, which hinders the speeding up of processing. In particular, a long resin container having a large capacity tends to have a long waiting time.

A first invention of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is a resin container transfer device as described in claim 1, and is as follows.
An intermediate unit that is provided in the transport path of a conveyor that aligns and transports resin containers, operates every predetermined number of passes to prevent the progress of the resin containers, and separates the preceding predetermined number of resin container groups from the subsequent grouping Stopped by the stopper, the stop stopper which stops the grouped preceding resin containers and puts the front and rear resin containers into contact with each other, the moving means for moving the stop stopper back and forth, and the intermediate stopper A passage sensor that detects the passage of the resin container between the resin container and the last resin container in the integrated state, and is activated by detection of the passage sensor, and comes into contact with the rearmost resin container in the integrated state from the rear side A contact stopper, and a transfer means for holding and transferring the resin containers in an integrated state located between the stop stopper and the contact stopper, and the transfer means is a stop stop. While releasing the contact stopper is spaced a path, it is configured to transfer the held resin container.

Since the resin container transfer device according to the present invention has the configuration as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) After the operation of the intermediate stopper, immediately after the resin container group is stopped by the stop stopper, the contact stopper is brought into contact with the rearmost resin container in the stacked state from the rear side in the transport direction. Each resin container can be securely held and transferred at high speed without causing displacement or shaking.

  An intermediate unit that is provided in the transport path of a conveyor that aligns and transports resin containers, operates every predetermined number of passes to prevent the progress of the resin containers, and separates the preceding predetermined number of resin container groups from the subsequent grouping Stopped by the stopper, the stop stopper which stops the grouped preceding resin containers and puts the front and rear resin containers into contact with each other, the moving means for moving the stop stopper back and forth, and the intermediate stopper A passage sensor that detects the passage of the resin container between the resin container and the last resin container in the integrated state, and is activated by detection of the passage sensor, and comes into contact with the rearmost resin container in the integrated state from the rear side A contact stopper, and a transfer means for holding and transferring the resin containers in an integrated state located between the stop stopper and the contact stopper, and the transfer means is a stop stop. While releasing the contact stopper is spaced a path, a transfer device of a resin container for transferring the held resin container.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an embodiment of a resin container transfer device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the same.
In this embodiment, for example, a plastic container 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as a resin container) such as a PET bottle filled with a beverage as an internal solution is continuously transported, and a predetermined number thereof is separated from the subsequent grouping and grouped. Are stacked in the downstream end portion of the transport line and are individually held by the transfer means one by one and transferred into a box (not shown).

  Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail. The transport conveyor 2 in the transport line transports the resin container 1 from the left to the right in the state where the resin container 1 is placed on the transport surface. Further, the transport conveyor 2 is configured with a plurality of (three in this embodiment) single row conveyors 3, side guides 4 are provided on both sides of each single row conveyor 3, and the resin container 1 is disposed laterally. It is regulated by the guide 4 and is conveyed in a line. Each of the single row conveyors 3 is driven by a common drive motor 31, and the conveyance state is controlled simultaneously.

First, the intermediate stopper will be described.
An intermediate stopper 5 is provided at a predetermined position in the transport path of the transport conveyor 2. The intermediate stopper 5 is provided for each single-line conveyor 3 and is arranged in a position so that the resin container 1 can be stopped on the same line.
The intermediate stopper 5 includes a rotation shaft 6 that protrudes from below the conveyance surface of each single-line conveyor 3 to the outside of one side guide 4, a stopper member 7 provided on the rotation shaft 6, and a rotation shaft. It is comprised from the rotation mechanism which is not shown in figure which rotates 6 by a predetermined angle width.

  The stopper member 7 is rotated from the outside in a state where it does not interfere with the side guide 4, and comes into contact with the resin container 1 from the front in the advancing direction to prevent the advancing (in FIG. Inactive state is indicated by a dotted line.) In the present embodiment, the operation range of the stopper member 7 is formed by narrowing the vertical width of the side guide 4, and the stopper member 7 is formed so as to be rotated up and down.

  The rotation shaft 6 is inserted into a cylindrical member 8 serving as an output part of the rotation mechanism in a rotational direction, and is fixed by a bolt so as to be detachable, and according to a change in the height of the resin container 1. Can be exchanged.

  The cylindrical member 8 is provided with a lever at its lower portion, and this lever is rotated by an air cylinder (not shown).

  A side guide 4 ′ (see FIG. 1) opposite to the side where the intermediate stopper 5 is provided is predetermined from the resin container 1 with which the intermediate stopper 5 abuts so that the resin container 1 does not fall down due to the operation of the intermediate stopper 5. It is set high for several minutes.

  Next, the count sensor 9 is provided for each column so as to be positioned above the resin container 1 with which the intermediate stopper 5 abuts and to count the number of resin containers 1 that pass therethrough. The signal of the count sensor 9 is input to a control device (not shown), and the control device operates the intermediate stopper 5 of the corresponding row every time it counts a preset number (12 in this embodiment) and has already passed. The movement of the subsequent resin container 1 with respect to the preceding resin container group is prevented, and the preceding resin container group is separated from the subsequent resin container 1, whereby the predetermined number of resin container groups are grouped. As the count sensor 9, a known sensor such as an optical sensor that irradiates inspection light onto the top surface of the cap of the resin container 1 to receive and counts reflected light, or a contact sensor that counts in contact with the cap can be employed.

A stop stopper mechanism 32 for stopping the advance of the group of preceding resin containers grouped above the transport surface is disposed at the downstream end portion of the transport conveyor 2.
The stop stopper mechanism 32 is formed of a stop stopper member 10 positioned between the side guides 4 for each row so that the stop stopper member 10 can be brought into contact with the leading resin container 1 of the resin container 1 to be conveyed, and the stop stopper member 10. An air cylinder 11 is provided as a moving means for moving the container 1 back and forth in the transport direction.
Each stop stopper member 10 is fixed to the tips of three support rods 13 extending from a support plate 12 provided at the tip of the piston rod of the air cylinder 11, and is advanced and retracted by a predetermined amount by the operation of the air cylinder 11. In FIG. 2, it is positioned at either the forward position indicated by the solid line or the reverse position indicated by the dotted line. Thereby, after stopping the advance of the resin container group at the advance position, when each single-line conveyor 3 is stopped, it is retracted (moves forward in the transport direction of the resin container 1) so that it can be separated from the resin container 1 in contact. It has become.

  The air cylinder 11 is fixed on a slide plate 14 that is advanced and retracted forward and backward in the transport direction of the resin container 1 by a manual operation, and according to the number and the diameter of the resin containers 1 accumulated at the downstream end of the transport conveyor 2. The position of the stop stopper member 10 can be changed before and after the transport direction.

  The slide plate 14 is sandwiched from above and below by guide members 15 provided on both sides of the conveyor 2 so as to be guided in the above-described forward and backward directions, and a nut member 16 is attached to the lower surface side. The nut member 16 is screwed to the screw shaft 17 that is rotatably supported by the machine body of the transport conveyor 2. Therefore, the nut member 16 is moved by rotating the handle 18 provided at the end of the screw shaft 17, and the position of the stop stopper member 10 can be adjusted by moving the air cylinder 11 fixed to the slide plate 14. ing.

On the downstream side of the intermediate stopper 5, when the resin container group that is prevented from advancing by the stop stopper member 10 is in an integrated state where the front and rear resin containers 1 are in contact with each other, An abutting stopper 19 that abuts from the rear side in the transport direction is provided. Similar to the intermediate stopper 5, the contact stopper 19 is provided for each single-line conveyor 3, and is positioned so that the resin container 1 can be stopped on the same line.
The contact stopper 19 is configured in the same manner as the intermediate stopper 5, and a rotation shaft 20 that protrudes from the lower side of the conveyance surface of each single-line conveyor 3 to the outside of one side guide 4 and a rotation shaft. 20 includes a stopper member 21 provided at 20 and a rotation mechanism (not shown) that rotates the rotation shaft 20 at a predetermined angular width.

  The stopper member 21 is rotated from the outside without interfering with the side guide 4, and is in contact with the resin container 1 from the rear in the advancing direction contrary to the intermediate stopper 5. The moving stopper member 21 is positioned at a distance from the intermediate stopper 5 so as not to interfere with the stopper member 7 of the intermediate stopper 5 and the resin container 1 stopped by the intermediate stopper 5.

In FIG. 2, the non-operating state is indicated by a solid line, and the state is rotated from this state to the position of the operating state indicated by the dotted line. In the operating state, each stopper member 21 is located on the rear side of the resin container 1 which is the last in the stacked state where the resin container group prevented from advancing by the stop stopper member 10 is in contact with the front and rear resin containers 1. The contact surface of each stopper member 21 is positioned on a straight line orthogonal to each single row conveyor 3.
At this time, the stopper member 7 of the intermediate stopper 5 rotates about 45 ° and comes into contact with the resin container 1 obliquely forward in the transport direction, whereas the stopper member 21 of the contact stopper 19 is close to 90 °. Since it rotates and comes into contact with the end of the resin container 1 in the transport direction, each stopper member 21 acts to push the resin container 1 in progress forward.
Thereby, the movement of the resin container groups in each row to the rear in the transport direction is prevented, and the positions of the resin containers 1 that are the last of the resin container groups can be aligned and aligned.

As in the case of the intermediate stopper 5, the operation range of the stopper member 21 is formed by narrowing the vertical width of the side guide 4, and the stopper member 21 is divided and formed so as to rotate up and down. . Similarly to the case of the intermediate stopper 5, the rotation shaft 20 is also inserted into the cylindrical member 8 serving as the output portion of the rotation mechanism so as to be aligned in the rotation direction, and is fixed by a bolt so as to be detachable. It can be exchanged according to the change in the height of the container 1.
Similarly to the description of the intermediate stopper 5, the cylindrical member 8 is provided with a lever at its lower part, and this lever is rotated by an air cylinder (not shown).

  The rotation mechanisms (not shown) of the intermediate stopper 5 and the contact stopper 19 are both housed in the drive box 22 with the cylindrical member 8 protruding upward, and the drive box 22 is screwed onto the screw shaft 23 on the lower surface thereof. The nut member 24 is attached, and the screw shaft 23 is connected to the orthogonal rotation shaft 25 via a bevel gear. Therefore, by rotating the rotating shaft 25, the drive box 22 can be moved back and forth in the transport direction of the resin container 1, and the positions of the intermediate stopper 5 and the contact stopper 19 on the transport path of the resin container 1 can be adjusted. It has become. As a result, as in the case of the stop stopper member 10, the position of each stopper member 21 can be changed back and forth in the transport direction according to the number of resin containers 1 to be accumulated at the downstream end of the transport conveyor 2 and the body diameter. it can.

Next, the passage sensor 26 and the presence sensor 27 will be described. Between the intermediate stopper 5 and the contact stopper 19, a passage sensor 26 for detecting the passage of the resin container 1 is provided near the contact stopper 19, and whether the presence or absence of the resin container 1 is detected near the intermediate stopper 5. A sensor 27 is provided.
These are common to each single-line conveyor 3 and are composed of a light emitting part provided on one side of the conveyor 2 and a light receiving part provided on the other side, and the passage sensor 26 changes from a light shielding state to a light receiving state so that the resin container 1 is detected, and the presence / absence sensor 27 detects the presence of the resin container 1 by being in a light shielding state.

  After the count sensor 9 counts the predetermined number of resin containers 1, the passage sensor 26 passes through the last resin container 1 of the resin container group, and when the light shielding state becomes the light receiving state and detects this, A signal is output to the control device, and the control device outputs an operation command to the contact stopper 19 immediately after the input of the signal.

  The presence / absence sensor 27 outputs this signal to the control device when the intermediate stopper 5 is in a light-shielded state after the operation of the intermediate stopper 5, and the control device indicates that the intermediate stopper 5 has not been able to block the resin container 1. Judgment is made and an alarm signal is output.

  In this embodiment, the passage sensor 26 and the presence / absence sensor 27 are provided side by side immediately above the conveying surface, and the presence / absence sensor 27 is blocked by the stopper member 7 when the intermediate stopper 5 is in the non-operating position. A part of the stopper member 21 located below the contact stopper 19 is cut away so that the sensor 26 is not blocked even when the contact stopper 19 is in an inoperative state.

  Next, the distance between the stoppers will be described. The arrangement positions of the intermediate stopper 5 and the contact stopper 19 are the same as that of the resin container 1 in which the intermediate stopper 5 is in contact with the intermediate stopper 5 and the progress is stopped. The interval between the last resin containers 1 of the group of resin containers 19 in contact with 19 is set to be one or more and less than two in the body diameter of the resin container 1 to be processed. The

The distance between the contact stopper 19 and the stop stopper member 10 is between the contact stopper 19 in the activated state and the stop stopper member 10 in the advanced state (the state where the air cylinder 11 is advanced rearward in the transport direction of the resin container 1). A predetermined number of resin containers 1 to be transferred are adjusted so as to have an interval at which the front and rear resin containers 1 are maintained in an integrated state where they are in contact with each other.
In this embodiment, 12 resin containers 1 are positioned while being maintained in an integrated state.

  Next, the transfer means 28 includes a holding head 30 including a holding means 29 that holds the upper portion of the resin container 1 and a moving mechanism (not shown) that moves the holding head 30. The holding head 30 is provided with a predetermined number of holding means 29 corresponding to the resin containers 1 to be accumulated (in this embodiment, 12 for each row and 36 for 3 rows). The holding means 29 are arranged at the same pitch as the resin containers 1 in each row so that the resin containers 1 in the integrated state can be individually held. A moving mechanism (not shown) is configured so that the holding head 30 can be moved three-dimensionally by raising and lowering by a conventionally known industrial robot or the like, horizontal operation, and a combined operation thereof. The transfer means 28 is configured to hold the resin container 1 positioned at the holding position on the transport conveyor 2 by the holding means 29, move the resin container 1 into a box (not shown), release the holding, and transfer.

Next, the operation will be described.
(1) With the intermediate stopper 5 and the contact stopper 19 in the non-actuated state and the stop stopper member 10 positioned at the forward position by the air cylinder 11, the transport conveyor 2 is in contact with the resin container 1 in the front-rear direction. Transport the top.
(2) When the resin container 1 to which the count sensor 9 is transported is counted from the top and a predetermined number (12 in this embodiment) is counted for each row, an operation command is output from a control device (not shown) to respond. Actuate the middle stopper 5 of the row. Thereby, the advance of the resin container 1 following the predetermined number of resin containers 1 that have passed through the intermediate stopper 5 is prevented, and the preceding resin container group is separated and grouped.
(3) If the passage sensor 26 is activated simultaneously with the operation command to the intermediate stopper 5 and the predetermined number of rearmost resin containers 1 pass through the detection range, the control device is switched from the light shielding state to the transmission state. An operation command is output from each of the contact stoppers 19 to simultaneously operate the contact stoppers 19. At this time, the top of the predetermined number of resin containers 1 is immediately before contacting each stop stopper member 10, and when the contact stopper 19 is activated, the top resin container 1 contacts the stop stopper member 10. Progress is prevented.
(4) Since the abutting stopper 19 abuts from the rear side in the transport direction, the rearmost resin container 1 of the resin container group is restricted from moving rearward, so that a predetermined number of grouped resin containers 1 are obtained. Is in an integrated state where they are in contact with each other between the front and rear, and is positioned between the stop stopper member 10 and the stopper member 21 of the contact stopper 19.
(5) Then, after stopping the operation of each single-row conveyor 3, the stop stopper members 10 are simultaneously retracted by the air cylinder 11 and the contact stoppers 19 are all inactivated. Thereby, when the resin container 1 is raised in the subsequent transfer process, it is possible to prevent the resin container 1 from being caught or scratched by the stop stopper member 10 and the contact stopper 19.
(6) In this state, the holding head 30 of the transfer means 28 is lowered, the upper portions of the resin containers 1 are individually held by the holding means 29, and the holding heads 30 are moved so that a predetermined number of resin containers 1 are obtained. Transfer to the box.

  Depending on the shape of the resin container 1, the stopper member 7 of the intermediate stopper 5 may interfere with the passing resin container 1, and in such a case, the resin container 1 transported on the upstream side from that. An interval is provided at a predetermined pitch.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the passage sensor 26 is common to each single-row conveyor 3, and the resin container 1 that is the last in each row passes through the light receiving state, but the count sensor 9 Similarly, it is also possible to provide each column, detect the passage of the last resin container 1 and output an operation command, and operate the corresponding contact stopper 19.

  When transferring resin containers, etc. in various devices, the resin containers that are transported at high speed can be positioned in the holding position smoothly while preventing misalignment and shaking, and each resin container can cause misalignment and shaking. And can be used as a transfer device such as a resin container for securely holding each resin container.

It is a schematic front view which shows the transfer apparatus of the resin container which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the transfer apparatus of the resin container.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Resin container 2 ... Conveyor 3 ... Single row conveyor 4 ... Side guide 4 '... Side guide 5 ... Intermediate stopper 6 ...・ Rotary shaft 7 ・ ・ ・ ・ Stopper member 8 ・ ・ ・ ・ Cylindrical member 9 ・ ・ ・ ・ Count sensor 10 ・ ・ ・ ・ Stop stopper member 11 ・ ・ ・ ・ Air cylinder 12 ・ ・ ・ ・ Support plate 13 ・ ・··· Support rod 14 ··· Slide plate 15 ··· Guide member 16 ··· Nut member 17 ··· Screw shaft 18 · · · Handle 19 · · · Contact stopper 20 ···・ Rotary shaft 21 ・ ・ ・ ・ Stopper member 22 ・ ・ ・ ・ Drive box 23 ・ ・ ・ ・ Screw shaft 24 ・ ・ ・ ・ Nut member 25 ・ ・ ・ ・ Rotary shaft 26 ・ ・ ・ ・ Passing sensor 27 ・ ・ ・ ・Presence sensor 28... Transfer means 29... Holding means 30. · Holding head 31 ... drive motor 32 ... Stop stopper mechanism

Claims (1)

An intermediate unit that is provided in the transport path of a conveyor that aligns and transports resin containers, operates every predetermined number of passes to prevent the progress of the resin containers, and separates the preceding predetermined number of resin container groups from the subsequent grouping Stopped by the stopper, the stop stopper which stops the grouped preceding resin containers and puts the front and rear resin containers into contact with each other, the moving means for moving the stop stopper back and forth, and the intermediate stopper A passage sensor that detects the passage of the resin container between the resin container and the last resin container in the integrated state, and is activated by detection of the passage sensor, and comes into contact with the rearmost resin container in the integrated state from the rear side A contact stopper, and a transfer means for holding and transferring the resin containers in an integrated state located between the stop stopper and the contact stopper, and the transfer means is a stop stop. While releasing the contact stopper is spaced a path, the transfer apparatus of the resin container, characterized in that for transferring the held resin container.

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