JP2008150152A - Picking display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picking display method and a picking device capable of storing a picked article in a predetermined container without any mistake even when operating a reset button or the like before finishing the storage of the article in the container. <P>SOLUTION: The picking display method and the picking device are capable of indicating the position of completion of the immediately previous throw-in of the article by keeping a temporary display state of the light in which the display state of a guide lamp is different from the display state when the guide lamp L is turned on for a predetermined time when the guide lamp L is turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides an accurate and quick picking (sorting) operation by instructing a collection box (container case) that stores articles designated for collection or delivery in a distribution center, warehouse, or the like in logistics. The present invention relates to a picking display method to be performed.

  At distribution centers and warehouses for various items in logistics, collection and sorting of designated items are performed. For example, in a distribution center, a so-called picking operation is performed in which goods according to customer orders are picked and stored in a container case (hereinafter simply referred to as “container”) as a collection box. .

  The basic form of such a picking operation is to divide a container transport means such as a belt conveyor into a plurality of work zones along the moving direction of the transport means, and each work zone is different from other work zones. In addition to arranging storage racks loaded with different types of goods, pickers (operators) dedicated to each work zone are arranged, and goods instructed from the rack of their work zone where each picker is placed based on the picking instructions Is picked up and stored in a container conveyed by a belt conveyor.

  However, in the basic picking operation described above, troubles such as a picker making a mistake in a container or an article or a container being transported before the article is stored may occur. Therefore, various picking apparatuses have been proposed and used so far to eliminate inconveniences such as wrong storage of articles.

The picking device disclosed in Document 1 will be briefly described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the picking device disclosed in Document 1 includes an order indicator 21 including a plurality of guide lamps L <b> 1 to L <b> 15 arranged at predetermined intervals along the conveyor 4 in each zone. When the container 51 passes through the zone where the picking target article is stored (hereinafter abbreviated as the picking zone), the guide lamps L1 to L15 are sequentially turned on in synchronization with the movement of the container 51, and the picking target container is set to the picker. This is a configuration to be recognized.

An outline of the operation of the picking apparatus in the picking operation will be described.
The description will be made assuming that the work zone Z1 is a picking zone. First, the indicator light of the bay indicator 9 provided for each work zone is turned on, and picking is necessary in this work zone Z1. Is notified to the picker arranged in the work zone Z1, and at the same time, the item display 10 provided for each article indicates the picking target article by blinking the lamp and the quantity thereof is displayed.

  On the other hand, when the container 51a to be picked among the containers 51 sequentially carried into the picking work zone Z1 is transported, the order indicator 21 moves the container length of the container 51a among the guide lamps L1 to L15 ( In correspondence with the number of pieces corresponding to the length in the transport direction (here, for example, three L6, L7, and L8), the light is sequentially turned on following the movement of the container 51a to notify the picker.

  The picker recognizes the container 51a to be picked by the order display 21 and picks an article from the rack in the work zone Z1 according to the display on the item display 10 and stores it in the picking target container 51a. By doing in this way, it is devised to prevent picking mistakes such as misidentification of a picking target container and an error in the type and quantity of articles.

  Further, in Document 2, in addition to the equipment shown in FIG. 4, when the picking target container 51 passes through the zone where the picking target article is stored, the guide lamps L1 to L1 are turned on in synchronization with the movement of the picking target container. In addition to Ln, a picking device having a preceding order case display means is provided, and a preceding display method using the device is disclosed.

  According to such a prior display method and picking apparatus, since the picking target container is displayed by the own zone order case display means and the preceding order case display means, the picker naturally places the picking target container in his work zone. In addition, since it can be recognized in advance before it is carried into its own work zone, it can be picked without misidentifying the container to be picked, and the picking work can be started quickly, so that there is plenty of picking. The device which can do work is made.

JP-A-4-354704 Japanese Patent No. 2799445

  In Patent Document 1, picking in each work zone is completed without delay, and regular picking is performed over the entire length of the line without stopping the conveyor. Also, when there is no picking target container in your work zone, the picker has traditionally only waited for the next picking target container without taking any action. Since the preparation for the picking instruction can be made, useless waiting time is eliminated and the picking work can be performed efficiently.

  In Patent Document 2, according to the display method and picking device disclosed herein, the picking target container is displayed by the order indicator and the preceding display means, so the picker places the picking target container in its own work zone. It can be recognized in advance before being carried in.

  On the other hand, in this type of work, the time during which the container is transported through the work zone by the conveyor is the work limit time for the picking work. However, the display of the article information in the picking work is usually not performed unless the work currently picked is completed, and it usually takes a little time (about 1 to several seconds).

In other words, in order to move quickly to the next picking operation, the picker presses the reset button a little earlier before storing the last article in a predetermined container, for example, holding the last article by hand, To display for the purpose.
Then, the guide lamp is turned off so as to indicate the next container. As described above, if the display of the container to be put in is changed while still holding the article to be stored, the container to be put in may be lost and a storage error may occur.
In particular, when the collection box for the next picking instruction switched by resetting is close to the container for the previous instruction, it may be erroneously inserted according to the next instruction.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a picking display method that can surely put a picked article into a predetermined container even if a reset button or the like is operated before the article is stored in the container.

  In the picking display method according to the present invention, an article stored in a plurality of work zones in a picking work area is stored in a collection box that is picked up by a picking worker disposed in each work zone and conveyed according to a picking instruction. And a picking display method using a guide lamp for recognizing a collection box to be picked by a picking operator, and when the guide lamp is turned off, the display state of the guide lamp is indicated by the guide lamp. A temporary display state of light different from the display state when the lamp is lit is maintained for a predetermined time so as to indicate the latest input completion position of the article input. (Claim 1)

  In the picking display method according to the present invention, when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the number of lights to indicate the latest closing completion position. It is characterized by. (Claim 2)

  The picking display method according to the present invention is characterized in that when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing to blinking to indicate the most recent closing completion position. (Claim 3)

  Further, the picking display method according to the present invention is characterized in that when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the brightness to indicate the most recent closing completion position. (Claim 4)

  Further, the picking display method according to the present invention is characterized in that when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the lighting color to indicate the latest closing completion position. The picking display method according to claim 1. (Claim 5)

  In the picking display method according to the present invention, when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is a combination of two or more of changing the number of lights, changing to blinking, and changing the lighting color. The picking display method according to claim 1, further comprising: indicating a latest insertion completion position. (Claim 6)

  In the picking display method of the present invention according to claim 1, when the guide lamp is turned off, the display state of the guide lamp is maintained in a temporary light display state different from the display state when the guide lamp is turned on for a predetermined time. In order to indicate the container (position) of the latest input completion, the reset button a little earlier before storing the last article in the predetermined container so that the picker can move to the next picking operation quickly. Even if the display for the next picking is made by pressing, it is possible to recognize that the display of the container to be put in the state where there is still the article to be stored is the previous work container, Occurrence can be prevented.

  In the present invention, the guide lamp is turned off so that the display state of the guide lamp maintains a temporary light display state different from the display state when the guide lamp is turned on for a predetermined time. The container (position) that has been completed most recently can be indicated.

  Therefore, in order for the picker to move quickly to the next picking operation, even if the reset button is pressed a little earlier to display the next picking before storing the last item in the predetermined container, it is still stored. The display of recognizing that the display of the container to be put in the state where the goods to be held are present is the current working container. That is, according to the apparatus of the present invention, the present work container and the next work container can be displayed for a predetermined time as the article storage location, and it is also possible to advance the work by pressing the reset button quickly in order to increase the work speed. A possible picking device can be provided.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a picking apparatus capable of performing the picking display method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the picking apparatus. 2 and 3 are enlarged perspective views of essential parts of the present embodiment.

  In the overall configuration of the picking apparatus in FIG. 1, this picking apparatus shows a first work zone Z1 of a plurality of work zones obtained by dividing a belt conveyor 4 to be described later on the basis of the type of article and the overall control system. In practice, the equipment shown in the work zone Z1 is provided for each work zone divided along the belt conveyor 4.

In the present embodiment, the overall configuration and basic operation of the picking apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 1, and then the configuration and operation of each part will be described sequentially.
A host computer 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprehensively controls the entire system. A printer 2, an operator console 3, and a lamp controller 12 are provided in association with the host computer 1.

And by operating the console 3, the conveyor 4, the conveyor speed controller 5, the belt movement detector 6, the start lamp 7, the start photo switch 8, the bay display 9, the item display 10, the order display 21, and the instruction lamp device 24, the preceding instruction lamp device 23, and the like can be controlled to a predetermined operation.
Further, the conveyor 4 corresponds to the conveying means in the present invention, and a container 51 is placed on the conveyor 4, and from the left (upstream) to the right (downstream) in FIG. It is configured to be conveyed continuously.

The length in the conveyor conveyance direction per work zone is not particularly limited, but can be set to about 1.8 m, for example.
Among the containers 51 that have been transported within this range, the transport position for the picking work is displayed by a guide lamp L (fifteen in this embodiment) provided on the instruction lamp device 24. Is done.
The order indicator 21 is configured to display an order number to be picked.

  Although two item indicators 10 are shown in FIG. 1 for convenience, they are actually installed for each type of article stored in a storage rack in one work zone, and the picking quantity corresponding to the picking instruction. Are displayed in numbers. Therefore, the number of installed item indicators 10 corresponds to the number of types of articles in one work zone.

The indicator lamp device 24 will be described.
The indicator lamp device 24 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of guide lamps L (L1, L2,... Ln) arranged at equal intervals along the conveyor 4, as shown in FIGS. Yes. The indicator lamp device 24 is disposed adjacent to the conveyor 4 and in parallel with the reset button 22.
The reset button 22 is a long button that is almost as long as the width of the work zone Z1, and is formed by a long touch sensor (a picker performs a touch operation). It is configured to allow operation.

Further, in the present embodiment, the preceding guide lamps P1 to Pm are arranged with the same interval as the interval between the guide lamps L1 to Ln (for example, 15 guide lamps L are installed).
The number of the preceding guide lamps P1 to Pm is not necessarily the same as the number of the guide lamps L. For example, as shown in the figure, the guide lamps P1 to Pm are reduced in number and are shifted to the downstream side. .

The outline will be described here so that the operation of the entire system of the present embodiment can be easily understood.
The guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24 correspond to the order case display means for the own zone, and light up sequentially from the upstream to the downstream in correspondence with the transport of the container 51 to be picked. Identify.
Although the number of lighting is not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lighting is set so that three lights are sequentially turned on in units corresponding to the container length.

The picker stores the item displayed on the item display 10 in the container 51A corresponding to the lighting of the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24, and an item display reset switch (illustrated) installed in the item display 10. Press (Omitted).
All the articles displayed on the item display 10 are stored, and after pressing the reset switch for the item display installed in the item display 10, the reset switch 22 of the instruction lamp device 24 is pressed, so that FIG. As shown, the guide lamps L10, L11, L12 of the indicator lamp device 24 corresponding to the container 51B to be picked next are turned on and the item indicator 10 is displayed at the same time, while the guide corresponding to the container 51A is displayed. While the lamps L13 and L14 are turned off, a so-called temporary display state occurs in which L15 is turned off after a predetermined time, for example, about 3 seconds.

If the reset switch 22 is pressed before taking out all the articles displayed on the item display 10 from the storage rack, the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24 corresponding to the container 51A are turned off. Without picking up, the picker can recognize that all articles have not been stored.
However, after the article is taken out from the storage rack and the item indicator reset switch is pushed, if the reset switch 22 is pushed even before the article is stored, the guide lamp corresponding to the container 51A as described above. L13 and L14 are extinguished and only L15 is lit, and guide lamps L10, L11, L12 indicating the next container 51B are lit, and the item display 10 is displayed simultaneously.

  Further, in the picking display method according to the present embodiment, when the guide lamp L is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp L is turned off to indicate the latest input completion container while reducing the number of lights. However, when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp may be turned off while blinking.

  Further, when the guide lamp L is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp may be turned off while reducing the brightness to indicate the most recently completed container.

  In this embodiment, a preceding display function is provided to further increase picking efficiency. In other words, before the container to be picked is brought into the work zone of the picker, the order case for preceding is used for recognizing the container 51 to be picked in the work zone upstream of the work zone. Display means 25 is provided.

  The preceding order case display means 25 includes a plurality of guide lamps P1 to Pn arranged in parallel with the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24, that is, in parallel to the conveyor 4. Each of the guide lamps P1 to Pn corresponds to the number corresponding to the container length from upstream to downstream corresponding to the conveyance of the container 51 to be picked, similarly to the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24. Turns on sequentially in units.

  However, the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the instruction lamp device 24 light up following the picking target container in their own work zone, whereas the guide lamps P1 to Pn of the preceding order case display means 25 are in their own work zone. Is set to light up following the container to be picked in the work zone adjacent to the downstream side.

  Therefore, when the picker works in parallel with the picking work by the preceding order case display means 25 or when the picking work in his work zone is completed and a new picking target container is not loaded, that is, when a waiting time occurs. By looking at the adjacent upstream zone, it is possible to quickly recognize the container to be picked next.

The installation intervals of the guide lamps L1 to Ln and P1 to Pm are appropriately set in consideration of the length of the work zone, the length of the container 51, the conveyance speed of the conveyor 4, and the unit at that time is belt movement. This is a multiple of the minimum detection unit of the detector 6.
Furthermore, the guide lamps L1 to Ln and P1 to Pm may use a plurality of emission colors, and can be configured to emit three types of colors (for example, red, green, and yellow). The work zone can be displayed separately from the other work zones and the preceding display. These colors can be controlled by the lamp controller 12 in response to a picking instruction.

  The number of the guide lamps corresponding to the containers 51 can be set automatically for each container 51 by automatically measuring the length of the container 51 by the start photo switch 8 when starting. The data bus 13 for connecting each guide lamp is composed of two types of signal lines, a daisy chain connection line and a common party line. The party line is information on the on / off of each guide lamp, lamp lighting color information, and buzzer on / off. -It is used for the off information, the operating status information of each lamp and the power supply, and the daisy chain connection line is used for the timing information for each guide lamp to capture each information. The lamp controller 12 can control these two types of signal lines while synchronizing them, and each guide lamp can be installed with exactly the same specifications without setting an address or the like.

Next, the picking operation in the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
First, the host computer 1 stores a control program and customer information in a storage means (not shown) by operating the console 3, and reads and performs a picking operation, and can perform picking based on other computer information. It is configured. At the start of picking, the order number information is displayed on the display device provided on the console 3, and the operator checks the display contents against the shipping instruction slip to check whether there is a mistake.
When starting picking, the start lamp 7 indicating the completion of preparation is turned on, the container 51 is then placed on the container supply unit 4a, and a shipping instruction slip is placed in the container 51 for each customer / customer.

  The container 51 is conveyed from the container supply unit 4 a onto the conveyor 4, but a switch signal is generated from the start photo switch 8 when it passes in front of the start photo switch 8. This switch signal is supplied to the host computer 1 to confirm that the conveyor 51 has been transported onto the conveyor 4 and to measure the length of the container 51.

  Then, the start lamp 7 is turned off, and control of the container 51 prepared according to each customer's order is started over the entire picking area. That is, a control signal is supplied from the host computer 1 to the bay display 9 in each zone via the data bus 11. Then, an item signal is supplied from the bay display 9 to the item display 10, an order signal is supplied to the order display 21, and an instruction lamp is supplied from the host computer 1 via the lamp controller 12 and the data bus 13. A signal is transmitted to the device 24.

Here, if picking is necessary in the work zone Z1, the indicator light of the bay indicator 9 is turned on, and the picker recognizes that picking is necessary in the work zone Z1. Further, the item display 10 installed in the section to be picked can instruct picking by blinking a lamp or the like, and the quantity can be displayed.
On the other hand, when the container 51 to be picked is transported, the instruction lamp device 24, among the guide lamps L1 to Ln of its own work zone, corresponds to the position of the container 51 (the length of the container 51). Light up a number to match them.

Further, the indicator lamp device 24 lights up the guide lamps L1 to Ln corresponding to the length of the container 51 in synchronization with the picking target container 51 moving from upstream to downstream as the conveyor 4 moves. In the embodiment, the installation interval of the guide lamps L1 to Ln is set to, for example, about 100 mm, and the belt movement detector 6 can be configured to obtain two detection signals while transporting between them. it can. This detection signal is supplied to the host computer 1, and the host computer 1 newly transmits the position information of the container 51 on the conveyor 4 and the corresponding picking state information to the lamp controller 12, and receives it. The lamp controller 12 is set to perform on / off control of each of the guide lamps L1 to Ln.
Further, when the guide lamps L1 to Ln are turned off by the reset button 22, for example, only the most downstream guide lamp among the three lamps is set to be turned off with a predetermined time delay.

As described above, each time the detection signal is obtained corresponding to the conveyance of the container 51, the on / off control of each of the guide lamps L1 to Ln is performed.
As a result, for example, the guide lamps L1 to L15 installed at intervals of 100 mm are sequentially turned on following the conveyance of the container 51 to identify the container 51.
Therefore, the picker can recognize not only the guide lamps L <b> 1 to L <b> 15 are lit but also a container that has been stored or has just ended due to the provisional display state.

Next, the operation after the end of picking will be described in detail.
After the end of picking, three operations are performed depending on whether or not the next picking needs to be performed.

First, every time picking for one container 51 is completed, the picker touches a reset switch 22 provided along the conveyor 4 to inform the host computer 1 that picking and storage for this container 51 are all completed. Notice.
As described above, the reset switch 22 is long and provided along the guide lamps L1 to Ln, and can be touched at any position. The completion notification can be easily performed regardless of the position in the work zone Z1 due to picking.

  When the reset switch 22 is turned on, the picking completion information is notified to the host computer 1 via the order indicator 21 and the item indicator 10 is all reset to the host computer 1 via the bay indicator 9. If so, the guide lamps L1 to Ln of the indicator lamp device 24 that have been lit following the container 51 are turned off.

On the other hand, when the next container 51B is transported in the work zone Z1 following the first container 51A and there is a picking instruction, the following operation is performed.
That is, assuming that when the first container 51A is picked, the next container 51B is transported to the position of the guide lamp L at a predetermined position, for example, and then the host computer receives the reset signal related to the first container 51A. 1 is turned off leaving a part of the guide lamp L corresponding to the first container 51A, and when the number of guide lamps L corresponding to the next container 51B, for example, the number of the guide lamps to be turned on is 3, the guide lamps L10 to L12. Lights up. Then, the same operation as described above is performed corresponding to the conveyance of the container 51B.

  In addition, after picking is completed, if there is no picking target container in his work zone and there is a picking target container of his work zone on the upstream side, for example, assuming that his work zone is Z2, If a container to be picked (not shown) in his work zone is transported to the position of the final guide lamp L in the upstream work zone Z1, for example, after receiving the reset signal for the first container 51, the host computer 1 The guide lamp corresponding to the container 51 is turned off, and the downstream side (work zone Z2) of the guide lamps P1 to Pm of the preceding order case display means 25 corresponding to the picking target container in the work zone Z2 in the upstream work zone Z1. Turn on the required number of guide lamps.

  Further, simultaneously with the lighting of the guide lamps P1 to Pm, the picking information (quantity and type) of the container to be picked in the downstream work zone Z2 is displayed on the item display 10 in the work zone Z2. As a result, the picker disposed in the work zone Z2 can stand by by picking up the picking article from the storage rack before the picking target container is carried into the work zone.

The reset at this time is also performed by touching the reset switch 22. It is also possible to perform this by touching an appropriate switch provided in the order indicator 21.
If the reset switch 22 is not turned on even though the container 51 to be picked is transported to the most downstream side, that is, the position of the guide lamp L15 of the instruction lamp device 24, the conveyor 4 is stopped by the host computer 1. Is controlled.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, the reset switch 22 is not limited to a touch sensor, and may be replaced with a photoelectric switch. In this case, a light-emitting element can be installed at one end of the zone and a light-receiving element can be installed at the other end, and the picker can be shielded by hand to perform resetting. Further, the configuration of the present invention has been described with respect to the configuration in which the preceding order case instructing means is provided in the above-described embodiment, but a picking apparatus without the preceding order case instructing means may be used.

  The picking display method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the guide lamp is turned off, the display state of the guide lamp is maintained in a temporary light display state different from the display state when the guide lamp is turned on for a predetermined time. In order to indicate the container (position) of the latest input completion, the reset button a little earlier before storing the last article in the predetermined container so that the picker can move to the next picking operation quickly. Even if the display for the next picking is made by pressing, it is possible to recognize that the display of the container to be put in the state where there is still the article to be stored is the previous work container, Occurrence can be prevented.

  Further, the picking device to which the present invention is applied is configured such that the guide lamp is turned off to maintain a temporary display state of light that is different from the display state when the guide lamp is turned on for a predetermined time. Thus, it is possible to indicate the container (position) of the latest input completion of article input. Therefore, in order for the picker to move quickly to the next picking operation, even if the reset button is pressed a little earlier to display the next picking before storing the last item in the predetermined container, it is still stored. The display of recognizing that the display of the container to be put in the state where the goods to be held are present is the current working container. In other words, according to the apparatus to which the present invention is applied, the article storage location can be displayed for a predetermined time in the current work container and the next work container, and the work is performed by pressing the reset button quickly to increase the work speed. Can be provided, and an extremely useful picking device can be realized. Therefore, the industrial applicability is extremely large.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a picking apparatus to which the present invention is applied. It is a principal part perspective view of the picking apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a principal part perspective view of the picking apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional picking apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Host computer 2 Printer 3 Console 4 Conveyor 5 Conveyor speed controller 6 Belt movement detector 7 Start light 8 Start photo switch 9 Bay indicator 10 Item indicator 12 Lamp controller 21 Order indicator 22 Reset switch 23 Order for own zone Case display means 24 Instruction lamp device 25 Prior order case display means 51 Containers L1 to Ln Guide lamps P1 to Pm Guide lamps (for prior order case display means)

Claims (6)

When goods stored in multiple work zones in the picking work area are stored in the collection boxes that are picked up by the picking workmen arranged in each work zone and are transported according to the picking instructions, the picking workmen are subject to picking. A picking display method using a guide lamp for recognizing a collection box to be
When the guide lamp is turned off, the display state of the guide lamp is kept at a temporary display state of light that is different from the display state when the guide lamp is turned on for a predetermined time, so that the latest input completion position of the article input The picking display method characterized by showing.   The picking according to claim 1, wherein when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the number of lights to indicate the latest closing completion position. Display method.   2. The picking display method according to claim 1, wherein when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is changed to blinking to turn off and indicate the most recently completed position.   2. The picking display method according to claim 1, wherein when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the luminance to indicate the most recent insertion completion position.   2. The picking display method according to claim 1, wherein, when the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is turned off while changing the lighting color to indicate the latest insertion completion position. When the guide lamp is turned off, the temporary display state of the guide lamp is indicated by the combination of two or more of changing the number of lights, changing to blinking, and changing the lighting color to indicate the most recent closing completion position. The picking display method according to claim 1.

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