JP2007203590A - Printing apparatus and printing position adjusting method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable adjustment of a printing position more conveniently in printing a CD label or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A printing medium for test printing is equal to a shape for CD or DVD, and a scale is provided on a straight line passing through a center. A printing apparatus obtains a deviation between an ideal printing position and an actual printing position based on a value read by a user from a paper test-printed, and obtains an adjusting value on the position. It may be possible that the paper test-printed is read by a scanner to obtain the deviation, and the adjusting value on the position is obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a function of printing on a special printing medium such as a label surface of a CD, and a printing position adjusting method thereof.

  Some printers can print not only on normal paper, but also on label surfaces of CDs and paper with stickers with cuts (also referred to as “divided sticker paper”) (see Patent Document 1). ).

  When printing on such a special print medium, the accuracy of the printing position is more important, unlike printing on normal paper. For example, when printing on the label surface, if the designated image is printed out of the planned range, it will look bad.

  In this regard, there is a printer that can adjust the printing position. In such a printer, for example, adjustment of the printing position can be received in units of 0.1 mm. When the user tries to print once and misalignment occurs, the user adjusts the print position so that the misalignment disappears.

JP 2004-114357 A

  However, with the conventional method, it cannot be said that the operation for adjusting the printing position is necessarily easy. For example, it is difficult to understand the degree of displacement (how many mm) from the printed result, and the user has to measure the displacement with a ruler or the like. In this case, the operation for position adjustment is complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to enable adjustment of a printing position more easily.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a print medium for test printing,
It is equivalent to the shape of CD or DVD, and a scale is provided on a straight line passing through the center.

A second aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus,
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
Printing means for printing a print object at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
Means for receiving an input of a value read from a print medium printed by the printing means;
An adjustment value changing unit that obtains a deviation between the first printing position and the second printing position, which is an actual printing position, from the value and changes the adjustment value so as to reduce the deviation. ing.

  The print medium may have the same shape as a CD or DVD, and a scale may be provided on a straight line passing through the center. The value may be a value read from an intersection of the boundary line inside and outside the printing range determined by the second printing position and the straight line. The adjustment value changing unit obtains the center position of the print range determined by the second print position from the value, the center position of the print range determined by the first print position, and the second print position. The deviation from the center position of the printing range determined by may be obtained.

A third aspect of the present invention is a printing apparatus,
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
Printing means for printing a print object at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
Reading means for reading an image of a print medium printed by the printing means;
An adjustment value for obtaining a shift between the first print position and the second print position, which is an actual print position, using the image of the print medium, and changing the adjustment value so as to reduce the shift. Changing means.

  The adjustment value changing unit obtains a shift between the first printing position and the second printing position from a configuration before printing and a configuration generated by printing in the image of the printing medium. You may do it.

  The print medium may be equivalent to the shape of a CD or DVD, and a reference configuration may be printed in advance. The adjustment value changing unit obtains the center position of the print range determined by the second print position from the reference configuration and the configuration generated by printing in the image of the print medium, A deviation between the center position of the print range determined by the first print position and the center position of the print range determined by the second print position may be obtained.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Example 1>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The printing apparatus according to this embodiment is a so-called direct printer that performs printing by directly connecting to a portable recording medium (memory card) 55 without a host computer. However, the printing apparatus has a function of connecting to a host computer and executing printing in response to a control command from a printer driver. The digital camera is also a host and has a function to execute printing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes a controller 10 that performs various processes for printing, an operation panel 20, a print engine 30 that executes printing, a scanner engine 40 that reads images, and a memory card reading apparatus. 50. In this embodiment, the case where the target of label printing is the CD-R 35 will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a CD-RW, a DVD-R, a DVD-RW, or the like.

  The controller 10 includes a CPU 101 that is a main control device, a ROM 102 that stores programs and the like, a RAM 103 that temporarily stores data and the like as a main memory, and a nonvolatile memory 104 that retains stored contents even when the power is turned off. And an interface 105 for controlling input / output with the operation panel 20 and the like, and a system bus 106 serving as a communication path between the devices. The interface 105 can be an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) designed to perform each process exclusively.

  A non-volatile memory (EEPROM) 104 is a device for storing information that needs to be stored even when the power is turned off. As will be described later, the non-volatile memory 104 stores an adjustment value when the printing position is adjusted as “positioning information”. The adjustment value is, for example, “+1.0 mm to the right and −1.0 mm to the top”.

  The operation panel 20 includes a liquid crystal display device, operation buttons, and the like, and has a user interface function of receiving a layout instruction from the user and a selection of an image file to be printed.

  The print engine 30 performs a printing process based on the image data under the control of the controller 10. The print engine 30 includes a paper tray 31 for inserting normal paper and a CD tray 32 for placing a CD-R 35. Further, a mechanism for sending the print medium (paper or CD) together with the trays 31 and 32 to the print head is also provided.

  The memory card reading device 50 reads the file recorded on the memory card 55 and sends it to the controller 10. Further, in accordance with an instruction from the controller 10, a process of deleting or rewriting a file recorded on the memory card 55 is performed.

  Next, a characteristic functional configuration of the controller 10 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the controller 10. Each functional unit can be realized by software or hardware.

  As illustrated, the controller 10 includes an instruction analysis unit 111, a position adjustment unit 112, an image processing unit 113, and a print processing unit 114.

  The instruction analysis unit 111 analyzes a request from the user input via the operation panel 20, and performs a process of instructing each functional unit so that a process according to the request is performed. For example, when an instruction to adjust the printing position is received via the operation panel 20, the position adjustment unit 112 is instructed to perform processing for position adjustment. In addition, when a request for label printing is received, the image processing unit 113 is instructed to perform processing for label printing.

  The position adjustment unit 112 performs a process for adjusting the print position when printing on a special print medium such as a CD label. Specifically, the print position adjustment value (shift amount from the initial position) is set with the initial print position as a reference, and stored in the positioning information 115.

  The image processing unit 113 reads image data to be printed from the memory card 55 in accordance with a user instruction, determines a layout, converts the image data into data for printing, and sends the data to the print processing unit 114.

  The print processing unit 114 controls the print engine 30 to execute printing. For example, the image data received from the image processing unit 113 is sent to the print engine 30 and printed on the label surface of the CD-R 35.

[Description of operation]
Next, the operation of the printing apparatus configured as described above will be described. As described above, the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a function of printing an image recorded on the memory card 55 on the label surface of the CD-R 35. Furthermore, a function (position adjustment mode) for adjusting the position at the time of printing is also provided. In the position adjustment mode, print position adjustment values are received in 0.1 mm increments in the vertical and horizontal directions.

  In the printing apparatus of the present embodiment, the user needs to input the adjustment value himself. Therefore, the user must investigate how much deviation occurs.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a disk-type test paper 500 on which a scale 501 is printed is used. By performing test printing on the test paper 500, the user can easily read the amount of misalignment when printing with the current settings.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the shape and size of the test paper 500 are the same as the CD (DVD) standard.

  The scales 501 are provided on a straight line 503 in the vertical axis direction passing through the center of the test paper 500 and on a straight line 504 in the horizontal axis direction orthogonal to the center position O, respectively. The interval between the scales 501 is not particularly limited as long as it can be read by the user. A test mark 500 is printed with a reference mark 502 for placing it on the CD tray 32 in the correct direction. A mark corresponding to the reference mark 502 is provided on the CD tray 32. By aligning these marks, the user can place the CD-R 35 on the CD tray 32 at the correct position.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of processing related to the adjustment of the printing position in this embodiment.

  First, test printing is started (S10). Note that it is assumed that the test paper 500 is placed in the correct direction on the CD tray 32 of the print engine 30 before execution of the test printing.

  The test printing process (S10) is the same as the normal CD label printing process except that the print medium is not the CD-R 35 but the test paper 500.

  That is, when the instruction analysis unit 111 receives a request for CD label printing from the user via the operation panel 20, the instruction analysis unit 111 instructs the image processing unit 113 to perform processing for CD label printing.

  The image processing unit 113 accepts selection of an image to be printed. Then, the selected image is laid out in the form of a label. Further, color conversion is performed to obtain image data for printing. The image data obtained here is color data corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel.

  Note that the image processing unit 113 may set a predetermined pattern for test printing as an image to be printed. The test print pattern is, for example, a monochrome image in the form of a label.

  The image processing unit 113 performs processing for adjusting the print position of the image according to the positioning information 115 (details will be described later). The print processing unit 114 receives the image data generated by the image processing unit 113 and performs printing on the test paper 500 on the CD tray 32 of the print engine 30.

  FIG. 5 shows a test sheet 500 that has been test-printed in this manner. However, for easy understanding, the deviation of the printing position is shown as extreme.

  Here, the user reads the displacement of the printing position. Specifically, the boundary 515 between the unprinted portion 510 and the printed portion 520 and the scale 501 at the portion where the vertical axis 503 and the horizontal axis 504 intersect are read. Then, the amount of displacement between the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (m, n in the figure) is obtained.

  Returning to FIG. The instruction analysis unit 111 waits for a request to shift to the position adjustment mode. For example, when a “setup button” (or “print setting button”) on the operation panel 20 is pressed, a menu including “position adjustment mode” is displayed. When “position adjustment mode” is selected, it is determined that there is a request to shift to the position adjustment mode.

  When there is a request for shifting to the position adjustment mode, the instruction analysis unit 111 starts the position adjustment mode (S11), and receives an input of an adjustment value for the print position (S12).

  The instruction analysis unit 111 displays a position adjustment screen 210 on the display of the operation panel 20 as shown in FIG. The instruction analysis unit 111 accepts the adjustment of the print position with the up / down / left / right direction buttons on the operation panel 20. When the up, down, left, and right buttons are pressed, the instruction analysis unit 111 prints a predetermined value (for example, 0.1 mm when the button is pressed once) up, down, left, and right accordingly. Change the position adjustment value by increasing or decreasing it.

  While the position adjustment screen 210 is displayed, the user inputs the deviation amount (m, n) read from the test paper 500 as an adjustment value for the print position. However, when the adjustment has been performed in the past, the deviation (m, n) is added (or subtracted) to the adjustment value that has already been input. In the position adjustment screen 210 of FIG. 6, the upward direction is represented as +, the downward direction as −, the right direction as +, and the left direction as −. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, when there is a deviation of m at the lower end and n at the right end, the “up / down” adjustment value is −m and the “left / right” adjustment value is + n on the position adjustment screen 210. Become.

  At this time, when a determination request is made by the user ("OK button" is pressed), the instruction analysis unit 111 stores the set adjustment values in the vertical and horizontal directions in the nonvolatile memory 104 as positioning information 115. (S14). Then, the position adjustment mode ends.

  Thereafter, the CD-R 35 is placed on the CD tray 32, and the printing apparatus performs the main printing on the CD-R 35 in accordance with a user instruction.

  That is, the image processing unit 113 accepts selection of an image to be printed from the user. Thereafter, when a print request is received from the user (“Start button” on the operation panel 20 is pressed), printing is executed via the print processing unit 114.

  Specifically, first, an image selected by the user is read from the memory card 55 and laid out in the form of a label. Furthermore, color conversion is performed to obtain image data for printing. The image data obtained here is color data corresponding to the coordinates of each pixel.

  Here, the image processing unit 113 performs a process of shifting the coordinates of each pixel as a whole so that printing is performed based on the setting in the position adjustment mode. Specifically, the image processing unit 113 first acquires positioning information 115 stored in the nonvolatile memory 104. Then, according to the adjustment value of the positioning information 115, the coordinates of each pixel are shifted in the vertical direction (y direction) and the horizontal direction (x direction) as a whole. For example, when the adjustment value is shifted to the right such as “+1.0 mm to the right”, the value of the x coordinate of each pixel is increased by the dot corresponding to the adjustment value.

  In this way, image data to be printed at the position set in the position adjustment mode is generated. Thereafter, the image processing unit 113 sends the generated image data to the print processing unit 114. The print processing unit 114 performs printing on the CD-R 35 via the print engine 30 and ends the label printing process.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above.

  According to the embodiment, since the scale is provided on the test sheet, the user can easily grasp the amount of deviation of the printing position. In the adjustment of the printing position, the adjustment value of the printing position can be easily input.

<Example 2>
In the first embodiment, the deviation amount (m, n) read by the user is used as the print position adjustment value as it is. In the present embodiment, the displacement of the printing position is obtained more accurately from the amount of deviation (m, n) input by the user, and the adjustment value is obtained. Note that the description of the configuration common to the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of processing related to the position adjustment of this embodiment.

  The position adjustment unit 112 receives the input of the misregistration amount (m, n) (S12), and obtains the vertical and lateral misalignments of the printing position from the input misalignment amount (m, n) by calculation, An adjustment value is obtained (S13).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method for obtaining a vertical shift and a horizontal shift (y, x in the figure) of the printing position.

  Assume that the center O of the test paper 500 is at the intersection of the X axis and the Y axis. In addition, the center of the print range 600 when printing with the currently set adjustment value is O ′.

  The position (range) of the test paper 500 is originally an ideal position (range) where an image is to be printed. This ideal printing position (range) is determined in advance by the outer diameter and inner diameter of the label surface, and is stored in the position adjustment unit 112.

  The position adjusting unit 112 determines the boundary 515 between the unprinted portion 510 and the printed portion 520, the Y axis and the X axis from the misalignment m in the Y axis direction input by the user and the misalignment n in the X axis direction. Find the intersection (point M, point N) with the axis. Further, a vertical bisector L of a line segment connecting the points M and N is obtained, and a point that is on the straight line L and is located at the radius r of the label from the point M (or the point N) is obtained. Thus, the obtained point is the center O ′ of the current print range 600.

  If the printing can be performed so that the point O ′ comes to the position of the point O, the actual printing range 600 overlaps without shifting to the label of the CD-R 35.

  Therefore, the position adjustment unit 112 sets the print position adjustment value so that the point O ′ comes to the position of the point O. In the example of FIG. 8, the adjustment value may be increased by x to the right and increased by y to the bottom.

  The process for setting the print position adjustment value based on the misalignment amount (m, n) input by the user has been described above.

  According to the present embodiment, the print position adjustment value can be set more accurately based on the value input by the user.

<Example 3>
In the third embodiment, a deviation between an ideal print position and an actual print position is obtained from a configuration existing on the test sheet 500 before the test print and a configuration generated by the test print, and the adjustment value is changed. .

  That is, in the second embodiment, the value of the misalignment amount (m, n) that can be read from the test paper 500 is obtained by user input, and the points M and N are obtained. On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the test paper 500 after test printing is read by the scanner engine 40, and the point M and the point N are specified from the obtained image. Note that the description of the configuration common to the second embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing related to the adjustment of the printing position according to this embodiment.

  It is assumed that the test paper 500 after test printing is placed on a document table for image reading of the scanner engine 40 by the user.

  The position adjustment unit 112 reads an image of the test paper 500 that has been test-printed via the scanner engine 40. As described above, the test paper 500 is provided with the reference mark 502 indicating the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the position adjustment unit 112 can specify the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction from the image of the test sheet 500 as shown in FIG. Then, the position adjustment unit 112 obtains a boundary 515 between the non-printed portion 510 and the printed portion 520, obtains an intersection between the boundary 515 and the scale 501, and specifies a point M and a point N. The method for obtaining the adjustment value from the points M and N is as described in the second embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, it is only necessary to read the test paper 500 after the test printing by the scanner, so that it is possible to save the user from investigating and inputting the deviation amount by himself / herself.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiment can be variously modified.

<Modification 1>
For example, the test paper 500 may not have a circular opening as in the center of an actual CD (DVD). FIG. 10 shows an example of such a test sheet 500. The outer diameter is the same as the actual CD (DVD) standard, but there is no opening in the center. The center O is printed, and further, a scale 501 is printed on a straight line 503 in the vertical axis direction (X-axis direction) passing through the center O and a straight line 504 perpendicular to the straight line 503 at the center O. Yes. The scale 501 is intensively printed in the central portion so that the shift of the center position can be easily read. Further, as described in the first embodiment, the reference mark 502 for placing the test paper 500 in the correct direction on the CD tray 32 is printed.

  Using the test sheet 500, as described in the first embodiment, a pattern indicating the center position of actual printing is test printed. That is, the image processing unit 113 adjusts the printing position according to the positioning information 115, and then prints a mark O ′ indicating the center at the actual printing position. FIG. 11 shows an example of the print result. On the test paper 500 subjected to test printing, the center position O ′ of the print position adjusted with the adjustment value of the current positioning information 115 is printed. Further, the image processing unit 113 prints the X-axis direction auxiliary line 531 passing through the center position O ′ and the Y-axis direction auxiliary line 532 orthogonal to the auxiliary line 531 at the center position O ′. The auxiliary lines 531 and 532 are provided to easily read the deviation between the center O of the test paper 500 that is the range to be originally printed and the center O ′ of the actual printing position. Note that the mark indicating the center O ′ may be printed with a color different from that of the mark indicating the center O to clarify the difference.

  The user reads a deviation (x, y in FIG. 11) between the center O of the test sheet 500 and the center O ′ of the actual printing position, and inputs it as an adjustment value in the position adjustment mode.

  In this way, the user can easily and accurately know the amount of misalignment of the printing position and input the adjustment value.

<Modification 2>
Alternatively, the test paper 500 that has been test-printed as shown in FIG. 11 may be read by the scanner engine 40 and the adjustment value may be changed as in the third embodiment.

  In this case, it is assumed that the test sheet 500 after the test printing is placed on the document table for image reading of the scanner engine 40 by the user.

  The position adjustment unit 112 reads an image of the test paper 500 that has been test-printed via the scanner engine 40. As described above, the test paper 500 is provided with the reference mark 502 indicating the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the position adjustment unit 112 can specify the Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction from the image of the test paper 500. Then, based on the read image, the position adjustment unit 112 obtains a deviation in the Y direction and the X direction between the center O ′ of the actual print position and the center O of the print position to be originally printed. Then, an adjustment value is set so as to eliminate the deviation. In the example of FIG. 11, the adjustment value is increased x to the right and y increased downward.

  In this way, the test paper 500 after the test printing need only be read by the scanner, so that the user can save time and effort to read and input the misalignment. In addition, the adjustment value can be set more easily than in the case of using a test sheet in which the center is cut out.

<Modification 3>
The present invention is not limited to the case where the print medium is a CD (DVD), and can be applied to a special print medium in which position adjustment is important.

  For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where the print medium is a cut sticker sheet (also referred to as a mini photo sticker). Specifically, if a test sticker sheet with scales in the vertical and horizontal directions is prepared, the user can easily check the deviation after the test printing. Alternatively, a test pattern may be test printed on a test sticker sheet on which a reference mark is printed in advance. Then, the position adjustment unit 112 reads the image of the test-printed sticker sheet through the scanner engine 40, obtains a deviation between the reference mark and the printed test pattern, and sets an adjustment value so that the deviation is reduced. You may make it ask.

  The portable recording medium is not limited to a memory card, and may be a portable recording medium that can be attached to a digital camera, such as a USB memory or a small hard disk.

  Further, the printing apparatus may be a multi-function machine having functions such as copying and facsimile.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a printing apparatus. The block diagram which shows an example of a function structure of a controller. The figure which shows a test paper. The flowchart of the process regarding position adjustment. The figure which shows the test paper after test printing. The figure which shows the display screen in position adjustment mode. The flowchart of the process regarding position adjustment. The figure for demonstrating the method of calculating | requiring an adjustment value from deviation | shift amount (m, n). The flowchart of the process regarding position adjustment. The figure which shows a test paper. The figure which shows the test paper after test printing.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Controller, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... ROM, 103 ... RAM, 104 ... Nonvolatile memory, 105 ... Interface, 106 ... System bus,
20 ... operation panel,
30 ... Print engine, 31 ... Paper tray, 32 ... CD tray, 35 ... CD-R,
40 ... Scanner engine,
50 ... Memory card reading device, 55 ... Memory card,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 111 ... Instruction analysis apparatus, 112 ... Position adjustment part, 113 ... Image processing part, 114 ... Print processing part

Claims (8)

A print medium for test printing,
It is equivalent to the shape of CD or DVD,
A scale is provided on a straight line passing through the center. A printing device,
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
Printing means for printing a print object at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
Means for receiving an input of a value read from a print medium printed by the printing means;
An adjustment value changing unit that obtains a deviation between the first printing position and the second printing position that is an actual printing position from the value, and changes the adjustment value so that the deviation is reduced. A printing apparatus characterized by that. The printing apparatus according to claim 2,
The print medium is
It is equivalent to the shape of CD or DVD, and a scale is provided on a straight line passing through the center,
The value is
A value read from an intersection of an inner and outer boundary line of the printing range determined by the second printing position and the straight line;
The adjustment value changing means includes
From the value, find the center position of the printing range determined by the second printing position,
A printing apparatus, wherein a deviation between a center position of a print range determined by the first print position and a center position of a print range determined by the second print position is obtained. A printing device,
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
Printing means for printing a print object at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
Reading means for reading an image of a print medium printed by the printing means;
An adjustment value for obtaining a shift between the first print position and the second print position, which is an actual print position, using the image of the print medium, and changing the adjustment value so as to reduce the shift. And a changing unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 4,
The adjustment value changing means includes
A printing apparatus for obtaining a shift between the first printing position and the second printing position from a configuration before printing and a configuration generated by printing in an image of the printing medium. . The printing apparatus according to claim 4,
The print medium is
A configuration that is equivalent to the shape of a CD or DVD and that serves as a reference is pre-printed,
The adjustment value changing means includes
In the image of the print medium, from the reference configuration and the configuration generated by printing, a center position of a print range determined by the second print position is obtained,
A printing apparatus, wherein a deviation between a center position of a print range determined by the first print position and a center position of a print range determined by the second print position is obtained. A printing position adjustment method for a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
A printing step of printing a print target at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
Receiving an input of a value read from the print medium printed by the printing step;
An adjustment value changing step of obtaining a deviation between the first printing position and the second printing position that is the actual printing position from the value and changing the adjustment value so as to reduce the deviation is performed. A position adjusting method for a printing apparatus. A printing position adjustment method for a printing apparatus,
The printing apparatus includes:
Means for storing a first print position, which is an ideal print position on the print medium, and an adjustment value of the print position;
A printing step of printing a print target at a position adjusted using the adjustment value of the print medium;
A reading step of reading an image of the print medium printed by the printing step;
An adjustment value for obtaining a shift between the first print position and the second print position, which is an actual print position, using the image of the print medium, and changing the adjustment value so as to reduce the shift. A method for adjusting a position of a printing apparatus, comprising: performing a change step.

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