JP2007135987A - Electric vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To expand a suction port to facilitate the cleaning when an area being close to a wall or corners of a room are cleaned. <P>SOLUTION: A left cover 40 and a right cover 41 which cover a suction port body are provided to be movable in the lateral direction. When becoming closer to a wall or the like, the right cover 41 moves in a manner to project outside from a bumper 3. Thus, a part of the suction port 2 expands sideways, and an expanded space A which is covered by the right cover 41 is formed on the right side of the suction port body. Dust and dirt on a floor surface facing the space are sucked in from a main suction port 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that performs cleaning while traveling automatically.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe that in a conventional vacuum cleaner that cleans while automatically traveling, the suction port protrudes from the cleaner body so that the wall and corners of the room can be cleaned.
JP 2004-350713 A JP 2005-6857 A

  In the above-described electric vacuum cleaner, the suction port body itself is moved so as to protrude or retract from the cleaner body. Therefore, a drive mechanism such as a motor, a gear, and a belt for moving the suction port body is required. In particular, the vacuum cleaner body is generally circular in plan view for automatic running, but the suction port is rectangular in plan view.

  Therefore, in order to install the drive mechanism in the vacuum cleaner body, the vacuum cleaner body inevitably increases in size due to space restrictions. On the other hand, if the suction port body is protruded from the main body of the vacuum cleaner in order to secure a space, the suction port body hits an obstacle when moving the main body of the vacuum cleaner, thereby obstructing the movement.

  In view of the above, the present invention provides a vacuum cleaner that can clean a wall side and the like while moving smoothly by making the mechanism for projecting the suction port body from the vacuum cleaner main body to clean the wall side and the corner of the room. It is aimed.

  In the present invention, a suction port body having a suction port is provided on the front side of the cleaner body, and expansion means for expanding the suction port body toward the side when cleaning the wall is provided.

  The expansion means does not move the suction port body itself but expands a part of the suction port body to the side. By this expansion, the area that can be cleaned by the suction port extends to the wall, and the wall can be cleaned.

  The suction port body has a rotating brush, and a suction port that leads to the dust collecting portion is formed on the wall surface of the dust suction chamber of the suction port body that houses the rotating brush. Therefore, the expansion means causes a part of the suction port body to protrude from the cleaner body and extends the dust suction chamber to the side. That is, the case or cover of the suction port constituting the dust suction chamber can be extended and contracted laterally. The case or the cover is a member constituting a part of the suction port body. When cleaning the wall, the dust suction chamber is expanded by extending this member. During normal cleaning such as cleaning the center of the room, this member is shortened so that it does not protrude from the cleaner body. Therefore, this member does not hit the obstacle and does not interfere with the traveling of the cleaner body.

  And in conjunction with expansion of the suction port body, suction port variable means for displacing the suction port in the protruding direction is provided. The suction port varying means displaces the suction port by widening the suction port or shifting its position. When a part of the suction port body projects in one direction, the suction port is also displaced in one direction, and the suction port approaches the expanded region. Thereby, a sufficient suction force is obtained in the expanded region.

  An obstacle detector that detects obstacles in front and side of the vacuum cleaner main body is provided, and it is possible to detect that a wall is approaching or a corner of the room. When this is detected, the expansion means causes a part of the suction port body to protrude from the cleaner body. Further, when the wall is separated from the wall or when the cleaning by the wall is finished, the expanding means retracts a part of the suction port body into the cleaner body. Thereby, a suction inlet does not interfere with driving | running | working of a vacuum cleaner main body. The end of cleaning at the wall is determined by the fact that the traveling of the cleaner body has changed from forward to backward, or from forward to backward.

  According to the present invention, a part of the suction port is protruded from the main body of the vacuum cleaner, and the area that can be cleaned laterally is expanded, so that the wall or furniture can be cleaned. Thus, since only a part of the suction port body needs to be moved, the moving mechanism can be simplified as compared with the case where the entire suction port body is moved. In addition, a space necessary for moving the suction port is not required, and the vacuum cleaner main body can be downsized.

  As an embodiment of the vacuum cleaner according to the present invention, a self-propelled vacuum cleaner that moves independently in a space surrounded by an obstacle such as a wall of a room, furniture, or a bed will be described as an example. To do. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum cleaner body 1, a suction port body 2 that sucks dust such as dust and dust on the floor, and a bumper disposed on the front side of the vacuum cleaner body 1. 3, a dust collector 4 as a dust collecting unit detachably attached to the cleaner body 1, a traveling means for traveling on the floor surface, and a steering means for controlling the traveling direction.

  The vacuum cleaner main body 1 has a semicylindrical housing recess 7 formed on the upper surface of an oval casing, and a capsule dust collector 4 is detachably mounted in the housing recess 7. The storage recess 7 is formed with an introduction port 8 that guides dust sucked together with air from the suction port body 2 to the dust collector side, and the air discharged from the dust collector 4 is directed to the electric blower 9 side of the rear portion of the casing. An exhaust port 10 for discharging is formed. The dust collector 4 is connected to the introduction port 8 on the upstream side in the air flow direction, and connected to the exhaust port 10 on the downstream side.

  The dust collector 4 is detachably accommodated in an accommodation recess 7 formed on the upper surface of the cleaner body 1. The dust collector 4 is a cyclone type. Intake air containing dust such as dust and dirt sucked into the dust collection chamber 4a from the suction port body 2 swirls in the dust collection chamber 4a. Air and dust are separated by the filter of the exhaust cylinder 4b. Dust is collected in the dust collection chamber 4a. The sucked air is discharged out of the dust collection chamber 4a.

  The bumper 3 is attached movably in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction by a spring (not shown) so as to relieve an impact when it collides with an obstacle, a wall surface or the like on the front side of the cleaner body 1. Thus, the cleaner body 1 including the bumper 3 has a shape in which the front side is square. The suction port body 2 is provided on the front side of the cleaner body 1. The vacuum cleaner main body 1 can approach the corners of the walls, furniture, and rooms, so that these places can be easily cleaned.

  Further, below the storage recess 7, a control unit 12 including a control wheel for controlling the drive wheels 11 that drive the cleaner body 1 and the electric blower 9 is provided. An obstacle detection sensor 13 that detects surrounding obstacles is disposed on the front and side surfaces of the bumper 3. An obstacle detection sensor 13 is also provided on the front side of the dust collector 4. The obstacle detection sensor 13 is a reflection type optical sensor or an ultrasonic sensor, and detects the presence or absence of an obstacle without contact.

  The traveling means for traveling the cleaner body 1 includes a drive wheel 11 and a motor that rotationally drives the drive wheel 11. The drive wheels 11 rotate independently on the left and right. The motor of each drive wheel 11 is controlled by the control unit 12. Therefore, the driving wheel 11 and the control unit 12 constitute steering means for controlling the traveling direction. Then, the control unit 12 drives and controls each motor while detecting front and side obstacles based on the detection signal from the obstacle detection sensor 13. Thereby, the cleaner main body 1 can run straight and turn while avoiding obstacles. Moreover, the cleaner body 1 can also move along the wall.

  Next, the suction inlet 2 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the suction port body 2 is provided with a cleaning means for cleaning the floor surface, and is disposed in a recess 14 formed in the front bottom surface of the cleaner body 1, and its rear end portion is The vacuum cleaner body 1 is supported so as to be swingable around the vertical axis 15. In addition, shock absorbers are installed on the left and right sides of the rear end portion of the suction port body 2 with the vertical axis 15 interposed therebetween, so that the shock is alleviated when the suction port body 2 comes into contact with the rear surface 14a of the recess 14. As a result, the suction port body 2 can be swung with respect to the cleaner body 1 in a swing range of about 30 degrees around the vertical axis 15. Therefore, the cleaner body 1 can go straight while balancing left and right.

  A suction flow path 17 surrounded by the lower case 2 a and the upper case 2 b is formed in the suction port body 2. And the front side bottom face of the lower case 2a is recessed, and this space with a semicircular cross section serves as the dust collection chamber 18. A rotating brush 19 as a cleaning means is accommodated in the dust collection chamber 18 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis 19a. A main suction port 20 for sucking dust together with air from the floor surface is formed on the front wall surface of the dust suction chamber 18. The main inlet 20 is located in the center of the front wall surface in the left-right direction.

  The rotary brush 19 is formed by arranging flocks on the peripheral surface in a spiral shape, and is driven by an electric motor and a belt (both not shown) provided in the suction port body 2. The electric motor is disposed on the cleaner body side in the vicinity of the vertical axis 15 that is the rotation center of the suction port body 2, and the power on the cleaner body side is transmitted by a belt to drive the rotary brush 19. Also good. The rotation direction of the rotary brush 19 is controlled to rotate in the direction opposite to the forward direction of the drive wheel 11. As a result, the rotating brush 19 strikes the floor surface to raise the dust, and guides the raised dust to the center in the left-right direction.

  Further, a partition wall is formed at the center position in the left-right direction of the dust suction chamber 18, and a main suction port 20 is formed in the vicinity thereof. Dust conveyed to the center side by the rotating brush 19 is sucked into the suction flow path 17 from the main suction port 20.

  The main suction port 20 is formed in a tangential direction on the upper front side of the dust suction chamber 18 and communicates with the suction flow path 17. Accordingly, a swirl flow is generated in the dust suction chamber 18 due to the rotation of the rotary brush 19, and the dust suction capacity is enhanced in combination with the tangential suction flow acting on the main suction port 20 by driving the electric blower 9. It has become.

  Furthermore, a front suction port 22 that opens to the floor surface and communicates with the suction flow path 17 is formed on the front side of the main suction port 20 so that dust on the front wall can be sucked. The downstream side of the suction path 17 communicates with the inlet 8 of the housing recess 7 through a flexible elbow pipe 23. The elbow pipe 23 is located on one side in the left-right direction.

  The dust sucked from the main suction port 20 and the front suction port 22 is guided to the dust collector 4 through the suction port 17 inside the elbow pipe 23 through the introduction port 8 together with the air. The dust flowing into the dust collector 4 is separated into dust and air by the swirling flow inside the dust collecting chamber 4a, the dust is collected in the dust collecting chamber 4a, and the air passes through the exhaust port 10 from the exhaust cylinder 4b, It is discharged out of the room by the blower 9.

  The front suction port 22 is opened at the front end of the suction port body 2 with substantially the entire left and right width, and an opening / closing body 27 for opening and closing the front suction port 22 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening / closing body 27 is composed of a plate-like member that is supported by the suction port body 2 so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis 28. An auxiliary wheel 29 is provided at the lower end of the opening / closing body 27 so as to be rotatable around the horizontal axis. The auxiliary wheel 29 rolls in contact with the floor surface in a closed posture of the opening / closing body 27 and closes the front suction port 22, and leaves the floor surface in an opening posture of the opening / closing body 27 to open the front suction port 22. By the opening / closing body 27 with the auxiliary wheel 29, the step on the floor can be smoothly climbed and traveled. Moreover, since the auxiliary wheel 29 is used as a closing means for the front suction port 22, the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, on the front surface of the opening / closing body 27, a protrusion 30 that contacts the bumper 3 when the bumper 3 is retracted is formed in the left-right direction. When the bumper 3 and the protrusion 30 come into contact with each other, the opening / closing body 27 is pivoted around the horizontal axis 28 and the front suction port 22 is opened. Further, the front end surface of the opening / closing body 27 is an inclined surface 31 that is inclined downward from the front end toward the rear end, so that it is easy to get over the step on the floor surface.

  Here, the suction inlet 2 can be expanded in the left-right direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a part of the suction port body 2 protrudes from the cleaner body 1 in either of the left and right directions. Thereby, the suction inlet body 2 will be expanded to the side rather than the cleaner body 1, and the suction inlet body 2 can be brought close to the wall or furniture.

  As an expanding means for expanding the suction port body 2 toward the side, as shown in FIG. 6, covers 40 and 41 covering the suction port body main body composed of the upper case 2a and the lower case 2b of the suction port body 2 are A moving portion 42 is provided that is movable in the direction and moves the covers 40 and 41. The left and right directions are directions when the cleaner body 1 is viewed from the front side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the covers 40 and 41 are divided into left and right parts and are composed of a left cover 40 and a right cover 41. And constitutes a part of the suction port body 2. Each cover 40, 41 covers the front surface, side surface, and rear surface of the lower case 2b from the upper surface of the upper case 2a. Between each cover 40,41 and the side surface of the suction inlet body 2, there is a gap for moving each cover 40,41. The lower ends of the covers 40 and 41 are located above the floor surface. The upper surfaces of the covers 40 and 41 are positioned lower than the lower end of the bumper 3 so that the covers 40 and 41 can enter and leave the gap between the bumper 3 and the floor surface. The left cover 40 has a long hole 43 through which the elbow pipe 23 is inserted, and the left cover 40 can move in the left-right direction without being obstructed by the elbow pipe 23.

  The moving unit 42 includes a cam 44, a motor (not shown), and a spring 45. The egg-shaped cam 44 is disposed between the left cover 40 and the right cover 41 and is always in contact with the covers 40, 41. A rotating shaft 46 of the cam 44 is rotatably supported by the upper case 2a, and the rotating shaft 46 of the cam 44 is rotated by a motor. When the cam 44 rotates, the covers 40 and 41 move in the same direction in conjunction with each other according to the shape of the cam 44. The motor is driven and controlled by the control unit 12. When the cleaner body 1 approaches the wall or furniture, the control unit 12 moves the covers 40 and 41 in a direction to approach the wall or the like.

  A pair of left and right springs 45 are provided between the covers 40 and 41. One end of each spring 45 is attached to each of the covers 40 and 41, and the other end is attached to a column 47 erected on the upper case 2a. Each cover 40, 41 is urged by a spring 45 so as to approach the center. In addition, the rotating shaft 46 and the support | pillar 47 are on the center line CL orthogonal to the left-right direction, and this center line CL is invariable with respect to the cleaner body 1 and the suction inlet body.

  Further, in conjunction with the expansion of the suction port body 2, suction port variable means for displacing the main suction port 20 in the left-right direction is provided. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the main suction port 20 of the suction port body 2 is provided with a pair of left and right shutters 50 and 51. The shutters 50 and 51 are movably supported inside the lower case 2b and are moved in the same direction by a motor or a solenoid. These constitute a suction port varying means. The interval between the shutters 50 and 51 is always constant. Even if the shutters 50 and 51 move, the opening area of the main suction port 20 does not change, but the position of the main suction port 20 shifts to the left and right.

  The shutters 50 and 51 are driven and controlled by the control unit 12 so as to move in the same direction as the covers 40 and 41 in conjunction with the covers 40 and 41. The covers 40 and 41 and the shutters 50 and 51 move in either the left or right direction with respect to the center line CL.

  When the side of a wall or furniture is cleaned by the electric vacuum cleaner described above, the cleaner body 1 travels along, for example, the right side of the wall, and approaches the wall or the like. Detected. Then, the control unit 12 moves the covers 40 and 41 and the shutters 50 and 51 to the right. As shown in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the cam 44 rotates and the right cover 41 is pushed by the cam 44 and moves to the right. The left cover 40 is pulled by the spring 45 and moves to the right. At the same time, the shutters 50 and 51 move in the right direction.

  The right cover 41 is located outside the bumper 3 and protrudes from the cleaner body 1. That is, a part of the suction port body 2 is expanded laterally. As described above, when the right cover 41 is displaced in the right direction with respect to the suction port main body, the right cover 41 is positioned closer to the wall or the like than the cleaner main body 1. And the expansion space A covered with the right cover 41 is formed in the right side of a suction inlet main body, and the area | region which can be cleaned was expanded to the side. Dust on the floor surface facing the expansion space A is sucked together with air from the main suction port 20. Since the main suction port 20 is displaced rightward and approaches the expansion space A, a sufficient suction force can be obtained even if a part of the suction port body 2 is expanded. Therefore, it is possible to automatically clean the wall or the like without bringing the cleaner body close to the wall or the like.

  On the contrary, when the cleaner body 1 approaches the wall on the left side or the like, the left cover 40 is similarly pushed by the cam 44 and moves to the left as shown in FIGS. The right cover 41 is pulled by the spring 45 and moves to the left. At the same time, the shutters 50 and 51 move leftward. An expansion space A covered with the left cover 40 is formed on the left side of the suction port body, and the main suction port 20 is also displaced leftward. Also by this, the dust on the floor surface facing the expansion space A is sucked, and cleaning of the wall side or the like can be performed.

  In this way, when a part of the suction port body 2 is expanded in either the left or right direction, the cleaner body 1 can shift the area that can be cleaned while moving forward, and can easily clean the wall or the like. it can.

  Here, when the cleaner body 1 approaches a wall or the like, the wall or the like is detected by the obstacle detection sensor 13. The distance from the cleaner body 1 to the wall at the time of detection is set to be longer than the length in which the covers 40 and 41 protrude from the bumper 3. When the covers 40 and 41 protrude, they can be prevented from hitting the wall. Further, when a distance measuring sensor is used as the obstacle detection sensor 13, the distance to the wall can be known. Therefore, the control unit 12 controls the rotation of the cam 44 according to the distance to the wall, and controls the movement amounts of the covers 40 and 41 and the shutters 50 and 51. When the cleaner body 1 approaches the wall, the amount of movement of each cover 40, 41 is reduced. This also prevents the covers 40 and 41 from hitting the wall.

  Further, when the vacuum cleaner is moving forward, the front suction port 22 is closed by the opening / closing body 27. At this time, the dust hit by the rotating brush 19 rises, is sucked together with air from the main suction port 20, and is introduced into the dust collector 4. Dust is collected in the dust collection chamber 4a.

  When the bumper 3 collides with a wall or the like, the bumper 3 moves backward and comes into contact with the protrusion 30 of the opening / closing body 27, and the opening / closing body 27 is rotated upward around the horizontal axis 28. If it does so, the auxiliary wheel 29 which obstruct | occluded the front inlet 22 will rotate upwards, and the front inlet 22 will be open | released.

  When the blower 9 and the rotating brush 19 are driven in this state, the dust is guided to the center by the swirling flow generated by the rotating brush 19, and the dust is sucked from the main suction port 20. Dust on the wall is also sucked from the front suction port 22.

  When the vacuum cleaner leaves the wall, the external force is removed from the bumper 3, so that the bumper 3 is returned to the original front position by a spring (not shown), and the opening / closing body 27 is closed by its own weight or a spring (not shown). To turn. The auxiliary wheel 29 closes the front suction port 22.

  Thus, since dust can be sucked together with air from the front suction port 22 in front of the main suction port 20, even when the cleaner body 1 hits a wall or the like and cannot move forward any more, the front suction port 22 can approach the wall. The dust can be easily sucked and the cleaning efficiency can be improved. Moreover, since the opening / closing body 27 is provided at the front suction port 22, when the center of the room is cleaned, the front suction port 22 can be closed to increase the suction capability at the main suction port 20.

  When the vacuum cleaner moves forward along a wall or the like and approaches a wall or furniture, the obstacle detection sensor 13 on the front surface detects the wall or the like. During this advancement, one of the covers 40 and 41 is in a protruding state. And when approaching a front wall etc., the cleaner body 1 may turn. Therefore, the control unit 12 performs control so that the protruding covers 40 and 41 are retracted when the front and side obstacle detection sensors 13 detect walls and the like. The shutters 50 and 51 also return to their original positions in conjunction with each other. Thereby, when the cleaner body 1 turns, the covers 40 and 41 are in the state of entering the cleaner body 1 and do not interfere with the turning.

  Further, when the vacuum cleaner advances along the wall or the like and approaches the front wall or the like, the cleaning of the wall or the like is finished. When the front obstacle detection sensor 13 detects that the cleaner body 1 is moving away from the front wall or the like when the vehicle moves backward without turning, the side obstacle detection sensor 13 is laterally moved. Even if the wall or the like is detected, the control unit 12 performs control so that the covers 40 and 41 and the shutters 50 and 51 are restored. Thereby, when the cleaner body 1 moves backward, the covers 40 and 41 do not protrude and do not obstruct the progress.

  As described above, by causing a part of the suction port body 2 to appear and disappear from the cleaner body 1, the mechanism of the moving part 42 can be simplified and a large space is not necessary. As a result, a rectangular suction port body 2 can be built in the front side of the vacuum cleaner main body 1 that is square. Normally, the suction port body 2 is in the cleaner body 1 and does not protrude to the outside, so that it does not get in the way when the cleaner body 1 travels.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, correction and a change can be added within the scope of the present invention. Although the self-propelled vacuum cleaner has been described as an example in the above embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to a manually operated vacuum cleaner.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, side suction ports 52 are provided on the left and right sides of the suction port body. The side suction port 52 is an L-shaped nozzle made of rubber or the like and sucks side dust. Even if such a side suction port 52 is provided, it is also possible to provide each cover so as to cover it.

  The rotating brush can be moved in the left-right direction and is moved by a motor or solenoid. Alternatively, the rotating brush may be extendable in the left-right direction. By moving or extending the rotating brush in either the left or right direction in conjunction with each cover or shutter, the suction ability at the wall or the like is enhanced.

  Each cover may be moved independently instead of moving together. A drive unit such as a motor is provided for each cover, and only the cover on the wall side is protruded when approaching the wall. Moreover, it is good also as one cover which covers a suction inlet main body entirely, without dividing | segmenting a cover into two. Move one cover left and right. Alternatively, the lower case forming the dust collection chamber may be extendable, and a cover that can move in the left-right direction is attached to the lower case. The cover protrudes outward from the bumper to expand the dust collection chamber.

  As the cover drive unit, a link mechanism or a rack and pinion mechanism may be used in addition to the cam. Then, the amount of movement of the cover is controlled according to the distance to the wall or the like so that the cover does not hit the wall or the like.

The perspective view of the self-propelled electric vacuum cleaner which is embodiment of this invention Top view of self-propelled vacuum cleaner Side sectional view of self-propelled vacuum cleaner The suction port body is shown, (a) is a side sectional view when the opening and closing body is in the open position, (b) is a side sectional view when the opening and closing body is in the closed position. Top view of a vacuum cleaner when cleaning the wall It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the expansion means of a suction inlet body, (a) is when a suction inlet body is a normal state, (b) is when a suction inlet body expands rightward, (c) is a suction inlet. When the body expands to the left It is a top view of a suction port body, (a) is when the suction port body is in a normal state, (b) is when the suction port body is expanded in the right direction, (c) is expanded with the suction port body in the left direction. When The figure which shows the inside of a suction mouth when a suction mouth is expanded rightward

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vacuum cleaner main body 2 Suction inlet 3 Bumper 4 Dust collector 12 Control part 13 Obstacle detection sensor 19 Rotating brush 20 Main inlet 22 Front inlet 40 Left cover 41 Right cover 42 Moving part 44 Cam 45 Spring 50 Shutter 51 Shutter A Expansion space

Claims (6)

A vacuum cleaner, characterized in that a suction port body having a suction port is provided on the front side of the cleaner body, and expansion means for expanding the suction port body toward the side when cleaning the wall is provided. The suction port body has a rotating brush, and a suction port that leads to the dust collecting portion is formed on the wall surface of the dust suction chamber of the suction port body that houses the rotating brush. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum cleaner extends from the main body and extends to the side. 3. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 2, further comprising suction port variable means for displacing the suction port in a protruding direction in conjunction with expansion of the suction port body. An obstacle detector for detecting an obstacle on the side of the vacuum cleaner body is provided, and when approaching the wall, the expansion means projects a part of the suction port body from the cleaner body. The vacuum cleaner in any one of claim | item 1-3. Obstacle detectors that detect obstacles in front and side of the vacuum cleaner body are provided, and when approaching the corner of the room, the expansion means causes a part of the suction port body to protrude from the vacuum cleaner body. The electric vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 6. The electric vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the expansion means retracts a part of the suction port body into the vacuum cleaner main body when the wall is separated from the wall or when the cleaning by the wall is finished.

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