JP2008257367A - Vending machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vending machine capable of cooling or heating commodities while suppressing temperature variation of the commodities stored mainly in a lower stage without reducing a storage amount of the commodities and automatically determining a setting temperature for operating a heat exchange means. <P>SOLUTION: Inside a commodity chamber 40 of this vending machine 100, a plurality of serpentine lacks 42 are installed from the front face toward back face, and a segment 60 disposed in the most below position of segments 50 constituting the serpentine lack 42 is formed with a ventilation window 58. Air sent out by an in-chamber fan 6 passes each the ventilation window 58 and sequentially flows into the adjacent serpentine lack 42, soon, flows into a suction port 46a formed in a circulation duct 46, and circulates. The set temperature in the next cycle is changed by a temperature difference between a target set temperature and an average air temperature during one cycle wherein the operation of the heat exchange means is started, stopped and newly started. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vending machine, and more particularly, to a vending machine that cools or heats a product such as a beverage in a container such as a can, a bottle, a pack, or a plastic bottle for sale.

  The vending machine is composed of a casing surrounded by a heat insulating material, in which products are stored, and the internal air is heated or cooled to a predetermined temperature (low temperature). Note that the product may refer to a beverage or the like in a container such as a can, a bottle, or a plastic bottle, or may refer to a container in which a beverage or the like is enclosed.

The merchandise is stored in a serpen rack (same as the serpentine rack) having a function to sequentially carry out the merchandise, and merchandise cutting means for dropping the merchandise one by one is installed below the serpen rack. Then, the product that has been cut and dropped by the product cutting means is guided to the product carry-out port formed in the front door by the shooter.
Further, below the shooter, heat exchange means (evaporator and heater) and air blowing means (fan) are installed, and the cooled or heated air passes through the vent hole formed in the shooter and enters the serpen rack. It comes to blow out. Furthermore, since a circulation duct is disposed on the rear surface of the product storage, the air blown out from the shooter is sucked into the circulation duct via the serpen rack and returns to the fan again.

The target temperature for cooling or heating the product is adjusted according to the type of product, season, installation location of the vending machine, etc., usually one or two stored at the lowest level to be sold next time or next time The temperature of each product is set to the target temperature.
However, since the serpen racks are installed in multiple rows in the direction from the front to the back of the casing, and the air (cooled or heated) rises in each serpen rack, the product temperature varies between the serpen racks. I was on.
In addition, since the state of the product temperature variation is different for each vending machine, a set temperature that is a condition for starting or stopping (ON / OFF) the operation of the heat exchange means in order to set the product to the target temperature. It is necessary to decide at the time of manufacturing (in the manufacturing factory) for each vending machine, and a “favorite temperature setting” function for finely adjusting the set temperature is added. It was necessary to shake with.
Furthermore, the goods stored in the high position of the serpen rack are also cooled or heated, and the heat energy is wasted due to the cooling or heating for a long time until sale.

  Therefore, an invention is disclosed in which an openable and closable shielding plate is installed in the middle part of the serpen rack to suppress the rise of air, and the air is made to flow from the vent hole formed in the segment constituting the serpen rack toward the return duct. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-293365 (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

However, the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
(A) Since the shielding plate is double-spread, the product cannot be stored in the movable range of the shielding plate, so that the amount of the product stored is reduced.
(Ii) Since a mechanism for installing the shielding plate so that it can be opened is required, the manufacturing cost increases.
(Iii) Since the shielding plate is installed in the middle part of the serpen rack, many products are cooled or heated for a long time, so that heat energy is wasted.
(E) It is still necessary to determine the set temperature, which is a condition for starting or stopping (ON / OFF) the operation of the heat exchanging means, at the time of manufacturing (in the manufacturing factory) for each vending machine.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and can cool or heat the product stored mainly in the lower stage without reducing the storage amount of the product, and can increase the manufacturing cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a suppressed vending machine and further a vending machine capable of automatically determining a set temperature that is a condition for starting or stopping the operation of the heat exchange means.

(1) A vending machine according to the present invention (Claim 1) includes a housing surrounded by a heat insulating material and having an opening on the front surface,
A serpen rack that is arranged in a plurality of rows from the front side to the back side in the housing, stores the products, and the stored products sequentially move downward,
Product cutting means installed at the lower end of the serpen rack and dropping the products one by one;
A product exit through which the product can pass is formed, and a heat-insulating door capable of opening and closing the opening,
A shooter for guiding the product dropped from the product cutout means to the product carry-out port;
A heat exchange means disposed below the shooter for heating or cooling air;
An air blower disposed below the shooter for sending out air;
A rear duct disposed on the back surface of the housing and returned to the air blowing means after being sent out by the air blowing means and returned to the air blowing means;
Vending machine having
The serpen rack is constituted by a plurality of substantially arc-shaped segments in a side view arranged in the vertical direction, and a ventilation window is formed in any one of the plurality of segments,
The air that has flowed into one of the plurality of rows of serpen racks passes through the ventilation window and flows out into the adjacent rows of serpen racks.

  (2) In the vending machine according to the present invention (Claim 2), in (1), the ventilation window is formed in a segment disposed at a lowermost end of a plurality of segments constituting the serpen rack. It is characterized by that.

(3) In the vending machine according to the present invention (Claim 3), in the (1) or (2), the ventilation formed in the serpen rack arranged closest to the back surface among the plurality of rows of serpen racks. The position of the window substantially coincides with the position of the suction hole formed in the rear duct,
In addition, the wind flow that passes through the ventilation windows and sequentially passes through the plurality of rows of serpen racks reaches the duct suction port in a substantially smooth manner.

(4) In the vending machine according to the present invention (Claim 4), in any one of (1) to (3), in order to heat or cool the product to a target set temperature, the heat exchange means is operated. Control means for determining an operation start air temperature as a condition for starting the operation and an operation stop air temperature as a condition for stopping the operation of the heat exchange means,
The average air when the control means starts, stops, and restarts the operation of the heat exchange means based on the initial operation start air temperature and the initial operation stop air temperature over the preset target set temperature. Only the temperature difference between the temperature and the target set temperature changes the operation stop air temperature as a condition for stopping again and the operation start air temperature as a condition for restarting again.

  (5) In the vending machine according to the present invention (Claim 5), in (4), the operation start air temperature and the operation stop air temperature in a certain cycle are set as the initial operation start air temperature and the initial operation stop air temperature, respectively. In other words, the operation start air temperature and the operation stop air temperature in the next cycle are changed by the temperature difference between the average air temperature in the cycle and the target set temperature.

  (I) Since the vending machine according to claim 1 of the present invention has the above-described configuration, a “slanting lateral wind flow” flowing into the adjacent serpen rack is formed without requiring a special mechanism. Therefore, the variation in product temperature between the serpen racks is reduced.

(Ii) In the vending machine according to claim 2 of the present invention, since the ventilation window is formed in the segment arranged at the lowermost end of the serpen rack, the next sale product and the next sale product are cooled or concentrated An energy saving effect can be obtained because heat energy is not taken away by the product that is heated and stored in the center or upper part of the serpen rack.
(Iii) In the vending machine according to claim 3 of the present invention, the “slanting wind flow” that reaches the suction port of the rear duct straddling a plurality of serpen racks is formed, so the burden on the blowing means is also reduced. Further energy saving effect can be obtained.

(Iv) In the vending machine according to claim 4 of the present invention, the control means automatically determines a set temperature that is a condition for starting or stopping (ON / OFF) the operation of the heat exchange means. The work at the time of manufacturing (in the manufacturing factory) for each machine becomes simple and quick.
(V) In the vending machine according to claim 5 of the present invention, since the control means automatically determines the set temperature while repeatedly learning, the accuracy of the set temperature is improved. It can be cooled or heated to temperature.

[Embodiment 1]
(vending machine)
1 to 5 schematically illustrate a vending machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view, and FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically show segments. FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged view of a part of the serpen rack, and FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing the wind flow. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a part of the description is omitted.
In FIG. 1, a vending machine 100 includes a housing 10 (hereinafter referred to as “cabinet”) having an open front surface and a product storage 30 surrounded by a heat insulating material 20 inside the cabinet 10. The cabinet 30 is partitioned into a plurality of product rooms 40 by partition plates (not shown because they are parallel to the paper surface). A product replenishing door 31 that opens and closes when the product S is replenished, an inner door 32 for blocking outside air, and a front door 33 are installed in the opening on the front surface so as to be openable and closable.

In the product room 40, a slightly refilled product supply rack 41 for storing the product S, a serpen rack 42 arranged in a vertical direction in which the product S is supplied from the product supply rack 41, and a lower part of the serpen rack 42 And a shooter 45 that guides the product S that has been cut and dropped by the product cutout unit 43 to the product takeout port 44.
The lower part of the shooter 45 is an internal part storage chamber 48, and a circulation duct 46 for circulating the internal air to the internal part storage room 48 via the serpen rack 42 is installed on the back side of the product room 40. Has been.

Furthermore, below the product storage 30, the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the expansion means (for example, capillary tube) 3, and the outside fan that blows outside air toward the condenser 2, constituting the refrigeration cycle. 2f and piping etc. which connect these are installed.
Further, a blower duct 47 is installed in the internal component storage chamber 48, and passes through the evaporator 4, the electric heater 5, the evaporator 4, and the electric heater 5 constituting the refrigeration cycle in the blower duct 47. An internal fan 6 that forms a wind flow is installed. Instead of the electric heater 5, a second condenser is arranged in the air duct 47, and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is supplied to the second condenser (communication to the outlet side of the compressor 1 by the switching means). Good.
Furthermore, a thermometer 7 for measuring the air temperature is installed on the lower surface of the product cutout means 43 installed on the foremost side. The measurement result of the thermometer 7 is input to a control means (not shown).

(Serpen rack)
The serpen racks 42 are arranged in a plurality of rows in the front-rear direction (six rows in FIG. 1). And a substantially arc-shaped segment 60 in a side view. Accordingly, since the plurality of products S abut on the arc-shaped portion and are meandered and stored in the vertical direction, a part of the weight of the product S is transmitted to the segment 50, and a large load acts on the product cutting means 43. There is nothing to do.
In addition, since the product S is in contact with the segment 50 while meandering, immediately after the lowermost product S is cut out by the product cutting means 43, all the products S do not fall so as to move in parallel at the same time. One by one from the product S on the lower side, it falls and drops for a short time.
For convenience of explanation, the serpen racks 42 are referred to as serpen racks 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, 42f in order from the front to the back.

(segment)
2A is a side view, and FIG. 2B is a front view. In FIG. 2, a segment 50 is formed by molding a plate material, and has a substantially arc shape in a side view and a rectangle in a plan view. That is, the upper edge portion 51 (the range connecting the position A and the position C in the drawing) and the lower edge portion 52 (the range connecting the position D and the position F in the drawing) are formed in a cylindrical shape. As rigidity increases, mutual connection is facilitated. Further, an arc portion 53 (in the figure, a range surrounded by position A, position C, position F, and position D) is formed in a substantially arc shape, and an uneven groove 54 and a vent hole 55 for increasing rigidity are formed. Yes.

3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a front view. In FIG. 3, the segment 60 disposed at the bottom of the segments 50 constituting the serpen rack 42 is formed by molding a plate material, and has a substantially arc shape in a side view and a substantially U shape in a plan view. Yes. That is, the upper edge portion 51 (the range connecting the position A and the position C in the drawing) and the lower edge portion 52 (the range connecting the position D and the position F in the drawing) are formed in a cylindrical shape. As rigidity increases, mutual connection is facilitated. In addition, an arc portion 56 (a range surrounded by position B, position C, position F, and position E in the figure) is formed in a substantially arc shape, and an uneven groove 57 for increasing rigidity is formed.
Therefore, it is the same as that the ventilation window 58 (the range surrounded by the position A, the position B, the position E, and the position D in the figure) is formed in the segment 60. In the drawing, the arc portion 53 may be formed in a range surrounded by the position A, the position C, the position F, and the position D, and the ventilation window 58 may be provided in the arc portion 53, and the shape of the ventilation window 58 is rectangular. It is not limited.

(Wind flow)
4 and 5, as described above, the ventilating window 58 is formed in the segment 60 arranged in a plurality of rows (six rows) in the front-rear direction and disposed at the lowermost stage of the serpen rack 42. The position of the ventilation window 58 is substantially the same, or gradually becomes higher as it approaches the back surface.
For convenience of explanation, the segments 60 constituting the serpen racks 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e, and 42f are referred to as segments 60a, 60b, 60c, 60d, 60e, and 60f, respectively, and the ventilation windows 58 that are formed respectively. These are referred to as ventilation windows 58, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e, and 58f.
Further, the position of the segment 60 f arranged at the lowermost stage of the serpen rack 42 f installed closest to the back surface substantially coincides with the position of the suction port 46 a formed in the circulation duct 46. Therefore, the ventilation windows 58, 58b, 58c, 58d, 58e, and 58f are sequentially communicated to form an “airway toward the back in the diagonally upward direction” that reaches the suction port 46a.
In particular, when the short product S is stored on the arc portion 53 side, there is nothing to block the wide area of the ventilation window 58, so that an air path that is easier to flow is formed.

At this time, in each of the serpen racks 42, the amount of air reaching the middle stage or the upper stage is reduced, that is, the products arranged in the lower stage (soon to be sold) are intensively cooled or heated. Energy wasted and energy saving effect can be obtained.
Further, since air flows into the adjacent serpen racks 42, the product temperature variation between the serpen racks 42 is reduced.

[Embodiment 2]
(vending machine)
6 to 9 schematically illustrate a vending machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method, FIGS. 7 and 8 are temperature charts, and FIG. These are temperature charts showing conventional work as a comparative material.
In FIG. 6, the control means of the vending machine 200 executes the following steps, and is an operation that is a condition for starting the operation of the heat exchange means in order to heat or cool the product to the target set temperature (Taim). A start air temperature (Ton) and an operation stop air temperature (Toff) which are conditions for stopping the operation of the heat exchange means are determined.

(S1) A target set temperature (Taim, same as “customer favorite temperature setting”) is input.
(S2) The initial operation start air temperature (Ton) and the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff) over the target set temperature (Taim) are automatically determined.
(S3) The refrigeration cycle is started, the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator 4 and cooled or energized to the electric heater 5 to pass the heating, and the air temperature (Tthe) detected by the thermometer 7 is the initial operation stop air temperature. When reaching (Toff1), the cooling or heating is stopped, and when the initial operation start air temperature (Ton1) is reached, the cooling or heating is resumed. During this period (first cycle), an average value (Tmean1) of the air temperature detected by the thermometer 7 is calculated.
(S4) Then, the average value (Tmean1) is compared with the target set temperature (Taim), and the temperature difference (ΔT1 = Taim−Tmean1) is calculated.

(S5) When the average value (Tmean) and the target set temperature (Taim) are equal (ΔT = 0), without changing the initial operation start air temperature (Ton1) and the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff1), that is, The operation start air temperature (Ton2) and the operation stop air temperature (Toff2) are set to “Ton2 = Ton1, Toff2 = Toff1”, respectively, and the above S3 to S4 are executed as the second cycle.
(S6) When the average value (Tmean) is lower than the target set temperature (Taim) (ΔT> 0), the initial operation start air temperature (Ton) and the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff) are increased. That is, the operation start air temperature (Ton2) and the operation stop air temperature (Toff2) are set to “Ton2 = Ton1 + ΔT, Toff2 = Toff1 + ΔT”, respectively, and S3 to S4 are executed as the second cycle.
(S7) When the average value (Tmean) is higher than the target set temperature (Taim) (ΔT <0), the initial operation start air temperature (Ton) and the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff) are lowered. The operation start air temperature (Ton2) and the operation stop air temperature (Toff2) are set as “Ton2 = Ton1 + ΔT, Toff2 = Toff1 + ΔT”, respectively, and S3 to S4 are executed as the second cycle.

When the second cycle is completed, the temperature difference “ΔT2 = Taim−Tmean2” is calculated in the same manner as described above, and the operation start air temperature (Ton3) and the operation stop air temperature (Toff3) are set to “Ton3 = Ton2 + ΔT, Toff3 = The third cycle is executed as “Toff2 + ΔT”.
After the fourth cycle, the cycle is repeated in the same manner. Therefore, the average temperature (Taim) gradually converges to the target set temperature (Taim).

FIG. 7 is a temperature chart during the heating operation (HOT mode). That is, for the target set temperature (Taim) 55 ° C., the initial operation start air temperature (Ton1) is 52 ° C., the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff1) is 58 ° C., and the first cycle is executed. Tmean1) was 53 ° C., which was low.
Therefore, when the second cycle was executed with the operation start air temperature (Ton2) increased by 1 ° C by 53 ° C and the operation stop air temperature (Toff2) set to 59 ° C, the average temperature (Tmean2) was 54. Was low.
Furthermore, when the operation start air temperature (Ton3) increased by a temperature difference of 1 ° C was set to 54 ° C and the operation stop air temperature (Toff3) was set to 60 ° C, the third cycle was executed, and the average temperature (Tmean2) was 56. I got high.
Therefore, when the fourth cycle was executed with the operation start air temperature (Ton4) lowered to 1 ° C by 53 ° C and the operation stop air temperature (Toff4) set to 59 ° C, the average temperature (Tmean2) was 55 ° C. The target set temperature has been reached.
Hereinafter, in the same manner, the air temperature converges to the target set temperature in the sixth cycle.

FIG. 8 is a temperature chart during the cooling operation (COLD mode). That is, with respect to the target set temperature (Taim) of 5 ° C., the initial operation start air temperature (Ton1) is set to 7 ° C., the initial operation stop air temperature (Toff1) is set to 3 ° C., and the first cycle is executed. Tmean1) was 6 ° C., which was high.
Therefore, when the second cycle was executed with the operation start air temperature (Ton2) lowered by 1 ° C being 6 ° C and the operation stop air temperature (Toff2) being 2 ° C, the average temperature (Tmean2) was 5.5 ° C. And it was high.
Similarly, when the operation start air temperature (Ton3, Ton4 ...) and the operation stop air temperature (Toff3, Toff4 ...) are determined, the air temperature gradually converges to the target set temperature.

  FIG. 9 is shown for comparison and shows an operation start air temperature (ON point) and an operation stop air temperature (OFF point) in a conventional vending machine. 9 (a) and 9 (b), for model A and model B, several levels of operation start air temperature and operation stop air temperature with respect to the target set temperature are selected at the time of manufacture (in the manufacturing factory). Final decision by AND error. Therefore, the values are different for each model.

Since the vending machine 200 is as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(B) Since a test for selecting the operation start air temperature (ON point) and operation stop air temperature (OFF point) is not required, the manufacturing process is simplified and the manufacturing period (same as the development period) is shortened. To do.
(B) When changing the operation mode (for example, changing from the CCH mode to the CHH mode), even if the balance of the operation is lost due to the flow of heat between adjacent product rooms, it can be adjusted by automatic control. .
(C) Even if the product temperature fluctuates abruptly due to pull-down, pull-up, loading, etc., the product temperature can be quickly returned to an appropriate temperature by adjusting it by automatic control.
(D) Automatic control even when the actual temperature differs from the selected operation start air temperature (ON point) and operation stop air temperature (OFF point) due to MC synchronous control, thermistor delay, etc. The product temperature can be maintained at the target temperature by adjusting the value.
(E) Even when a secular change such as a decrease in the performance of the refrigeration cycle or a deterioration in the heat insulation performance of the casing occurs, the product temperature can be kept constant by adjusting by automatic control.
(F) During cooling operation, the start air temperature (ON point) and the stop air temperature (OFF point) must be set low in order to prevent the product temperature from excessively rising due to MC protection control and energy-saving synchronous control. Even if it has to be done, the product temperature can be brought to the intended temperature by adjusting by automatic control.

  According to the present invention, energy saving, manufacturing cost reduction, and product temperature variation can be reduced, so that it can be widely used as various vending machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically illustrating a vending machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The side view and front view which show typically the segment in the vending machine shown in FIG. The side view and front view which show typically the segment in the vending machine shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of a part of a serpen rack in the vending machine shown in FIG. 1. The fragmentary perspective view which shows the wind flow in the vending machine shown in FIG. The flowchart explaining the control method in the vending machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The temperature chart in the vending machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The temperature chart in the vending machine which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The temperature chart which shows the conventional operation | work as a comparison material.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Condenser 2f Outside fan 3 Expansion means (capillary tube)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Evaporator 5 Electric heater 6 Fan in chamber 7 Thermometer 10 Cabinet 20 Insulation 30 Product storage 31 Product replenishment door 32 Inner door 33 Front door 40 Product room 41 Product supply rack 42 Serpen rack 43 Product cutout means 44 Product cutout Means port 45 Shutter 46 Circulation duct 46a Suction port 47 Blower duct 48 Internal component storage chamber 50 Segment 51 Upper edge 52 Lower edge 53 Arc part 54 Concave groove 55 Vent hole 56 Arc part 57 Concave groove 58 Vent window 60 Serpen rack 60 segments 100 vending machines 200 vending machines

Claims (5)

A housing surrounded by heat insulating material and having an opening on the front surface;
A serpen rack that is arranged in a plurality of rows from the front side to the back side in the housing, stores the products, and the stored products sequentially move downward,
Product cutting means installed at the lower end of the serpen rack and dropping the products one by one;
A product exit through which the product can pass is formed, and a heat-insulating door capable of opening and closing the opening,
A shooter for guiding the product dropped from the product cutout means to the product carry-out port;
A heat exchange means disposed below the shooter for heating or cooling air;
An air blower disposed below the shooter for sending out air;
A rear duct disposed on the back surface of the housing and returned to the air blowing means after being sent out by the air blowing means and returned to the air blowing means;
Vending machine having
The serpen rack is constituted by a plurality of substantially arc-shaped segments in a side view arranged in the vertical direction, and a ventilation window is formed in any one of the plurality of segments,
The vending machine, wherein air that has flowed into one of the plurality of rows of serpen racks passes through the ventilation window and flows out into the adjacent rows of serpen racks.   The vending machine according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation window is formed in a segment arranged at a lowermost end of a plurality of segments constituting the serpen rack. The position of the ventilation window formed in the serpen rack arranged closest to the back surface among the plurality of rows of serpen racks substantially coincides with the position of the suction holes formed in the back duct,
3. The automatic flow according to claim 1, wherein the wind flow that passes through the ventilation windows and sequentially passes through the plurality of rows of serpen racks reaches the duct suction port substantially smoothly and continuously. Vending machine. In order to heat or cool the product to a target set temperature, an operation start air temperature as a condition for starting the operation of the heat exchange means, an operation stop air temperature as a condition for stopping the operation of the heat exchange means, Control means for determining
The average air when the control means starts, stops, and restarts the operation of the heat exchange means based on the initial operation start air temperature and the initial operation stop air temperature over the preset target set temperature. 4. The operation stop air temperature as a condition for stopping again and the operation start air temperature as a condition for restarting are changed by a temperature difference between a temperature and the target set temperature. Vending machine as described in.   The operation start air temperature and the operation stop air temperature in a certain cycle are read as the initial operation start air temperature and the initial operation stop air temperature, and the operation in the next cycle is performed by the temperature difference between the average air temperature in the cycle and the target set temperature. 5. The vending machine according to claim 4, wherein the starting air temperature and the shutdown air temperature are changed.

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