JP2009001838A - Barrel plating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a barrel plating apparatus which can prevent the deformation of a cover of an electrode terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The barrel plating apparatus 1 comprises: a barrel 3 which is rotatably supported; an energizing unit 5 which extends to the inside of the barrel and energizes an article to be plated; and a cover 7 for covering a drawer part 5c which is a part of the energizing unit and is located outside of the barrel. The apparatus also has a gas flow channel that promotes the passage of a gas in a direction in which the energizing unit extends, and a supporting part which supports the energizing unit while inhibiting the displacement thereof in the extending direction, in a space between the cover and the energizing unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a barrel plating apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a barrel plating apparatus as an apparatus for performing plating on small electronic components such as plating formation of external electrodes in ceramic electronic components (see Patent Document 1). The barrel plating apparatus includes a cylindrical barrel that is rotatably supported, and a cathode terminal extends from the vicinity of the rotation axis of the barrel in the barrel. Moreover, the part of the cathode terminal pulled out of the barrel was covered with an insulating cover.

  When performing plating, a large number of objects to be plated are placed inside the barrel, and the barrel is immersed in a plating solution. And while rotating a barrel in a plating solution, it supplies with electricity to a to-be-plated object via a cathode terminal, and it plates on the surface.

However, in recent years, with the trend toward downsizing and increasing the amount of electronic components thrown into the barrel, damage such as deformation of the insulating cover covering the cathode terminal has come to be seen.
JP-A-2-133600

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a barrel plating apparatus that can prevent deformation of a cover of electrode terminals.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a barrel plating apparatus according to the present invention includes a barrel that is rotatably supported, an energization portion that extends into the barrel and energizes an object to be plated, and the barrel among the energization portions. A cover for covering a portion located outside the gas flow path, and a gas flow passage for encouraging gas flow in the extending direction of the energizing portion between the cover and the energizing portion, and the energizing portion in the extending direction. And a support portion for supporting the position shift.

  The cover and the energizing portion may be configured such that a part thereof abuts each other and the remaining portions are separated from each other when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the energizing portion.

  In this case, a continuous groove is formed on the outer surface of the energization portion along the extending direction of the energization portion, and the gas flow passage is defined by the inner surface of the continuous groove and the inner surface of the cover. And the said support part can be comprised by the inner surface of the said cover contact | abutted with outer surfaces other than the said continuous groove in the said electricity supply part.

  Alternatively, a continuous groove is formed on the inner surface of the cover along the extending direction of the energization portion, and the gas flow passage is defined by the inner surface of the continuous groove and the outer surface of the energization portion. The support portion may be configured by an inner surface other than the continuous groove in the cover that contacts the outer surface of the energization portion.

  Or the convex part is formed in the outer surface of the said electricity supply part, the said support part is comprised by the inner surface of the said cover contact | abutted with the said convex part, and the said gas flow path is at least of the said convex part It can be constituted by a space existing between the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the energization part which are separated from each other in the vicinity.

  Or the convex part is formed in the inner surface of the said cover, the said support part is comprised by the said convex part contact | abutted with the outer surface of the said electricity supply part, and the said gas flow path is at least of the said convex part. It can be constituted by a space existing between the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the energization part which are separated from each other in the vicinity.

  According to the above-described present invention, it is possible to avoid the displacement of the cover when the cover through which the energizing portion is inserted is attached while preventing the cover from being thermally deformed.

  The other features of the present invention and the operational effects thereof will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a configuration of a barrel plating apparatus according to the present embodiment. The barrel plating apparatus 1 includes at least a barrel 3, an energization unit 5, and a cover 7.

  In the present embodiment, the energization section 5 functions as a cathode terminal, and includes a trunk portion 5a, a branch portion 5b, and a lead-out portion 5c. The trunk portion 5 a is rotatably attached to the frame 9 by supporting both ends thereof on the shaft support portions 11. A plurality of branch portions 5b (four in the illustrated example) are provided, each extending from the trunk portion 5a, that is, supported in a cantilever manner by the trunk portion 5a.

  The trunk portion 5a and the branch portion 5b are continuously covered with insulation except for the tip portion of each branch portion 5b. Only the tip of each branch portion 5b is not covered and the conductive portion is exposed.

  The lead portion 5c is a portion of the energization portion that is located outside the barrel 3, and is an elongated member having a generally plate-like cross section. The lower end of the lead-out part 5c is fixed to the exposed end of the trunk part 5a that is not covered with insulation by a bolt or a screw. Moreover, the upper end of the drawer | drawing-out part 5c is being fixed to the part electrically connected to the power supply which is not illustrated.

  The barrel 3 is a polygonal cylindrical member, and is rotatably supported at both ends by bearings 13 such as bearings provided around the trunk portion 5a of the energizing portion 5. A gear 15 is integrally provided on one end side of the barrel 3. Further, a gear group and a rotational power source (not shown) are connected to the upstream side of the gear 15. As a result, the torque of a rotational power source (not shown) is transmitted to the barrel 3 via the gear 15 and the barrel 3 is rotated.

  In the barrel 3, the trunk portion 5 a and the branch portion 5 b described above of the energization portion 5 extend. The trunk portion 5 a extends substantially along the rotation axis of the barrel 3.

  With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a configuration related to the cover and the portion of the energizing portion covered by the cover will be described. FIG. 2 is a view of the cover as seen from the direction of arrow II in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the cover 7 includes an annular portion 7a, a cap portion 7b, and a pipe portion 7c. The annular portion 7 a has a circular shape when viewed from the axial direction in the outer periphery 17 and the hole 19. The cap part 7b is a disk-shaped member.

  Further, both end surfaces in the axial direction of the annular portion 7a are formed in a flat shape, one end surface is connected to the shaft support portion 11, and the cap portion 7b is connected to the other end surface. They are connected by bolts or screws. Further, a seal such as packing not shown is provided between one end surface of the annular portion 7a and the shaft support portion 11 and between the other end surface of the annular portion 7a and the cap portion 7b. Means are interposed. Thus, a sealed connection chamber 21 is defined by the inside of the cap portion 7 b, the inner surface of the hole 19 of the annular portion 7 a, and the outside of the shaft support portion 11.

  At least the annular portion 7a and the pipe portion 7c are made of an insulating resin such as vinyl chloride. The lower end of the pipe portion 7c is connected to the upper portion of the annular portion 7a by welding or the like. The pipe portion 7c is a tubular member that is elongated in the axial direction. The lead portion 5c of the energization portion 5 is accommodated in the hole inside the pipe portion 7c, that is, the lead portion 5c is covered with the pipe portion 7c.

  The pipe portion 7c is open at both ends, while the annular portion 7a is also provided with a vertical hole 23 penetrating from the outer periphery 17 to the hole 19, and the opening at the lower end of the pipe portion 7c is the vertical hole 23 of the annular portion 7a. The pipe portion 7c is joined to the annular portion 7a so as to lead to As a result, the lower end 25 of the lead-out part 5 c of the energization part 5 passes through the upper part of the annular part 7 a of the cover 7 and protrudes into the connection chamber 21. Moreover, the pipe part 7c is comprised by the length which can expose without the upper end 27 of the drawer | drawing-out part 5c being coat | covered.

  A through hole 29 is provided at the lower end 25 of the lead-out portion 5c. In the connection chamber 21, the lead-out part 5c and the trunk part 5a are interconnected by screwing a bolt or screw 30 into the trunk part 5a through the through hole 29.

  Next, a contact state between the drawing portion of the energizing portion and the pipe portion of the cover will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a cut surface along III-III in FIG. Here, first conceptually, in the present invention, a gas flow passage for encouraging gas flow in the extending direction of the energizing portion and the energizing portion between the cover and the energizing portion are displaced in the extending direction. The cover and the current-carrying part are partly brought into contact with each other and the remaining parts are separated from each other when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the current-carrying part. That is, the conceptual configuration will be described as an actual example as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the lead-out portion 5c is an elongated plate-like member having an outer surface 31 that is substantially rectangular in cross section. The pipe portion 7c has a hole inner surface 33 that is substantially rectangular in cross section and abuts against the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c. Moreover, the continuous groove | channel 35 is formed in the outer surface 31 of the drawer | drawing-out part 5c along the extension direction of the drawer | drawing-out part 5c (electric conduction part 5).

  The inner surface of the continuous groove 35 and the hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c define a gas flow passage 37 for encouraging gas flow in the extending direction of the extraction portion 5c, and the outer surface 31 other than the continuous groove 35 of the extraction portion 5c. The hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c that comes into contact with constitutes a support portion 39 for supporting the drawing portion 5c while suppressing the positional deviation in the extending direction. That is, the gas flow path 37 and the support part 39 are provided between the pipe part 7c and the extraction part 5c.

  As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, a total of two continuous grooves 35 are provided, one on each of two opposing surfaces of the lead-out portion 5 c. Each continuous groove 35 has an upper end reaching the portion of the drawn portion 5c exposed beyond the pipe portion 7c, and a lower end reaching the portion of the drawn portion 5c exposed beyond the annular portion 7a. Furthermore, each continuous groove 35 is continuously extended without interruption from its upper end to its lower end. The continuous groove 35 may be bent or curved in the present invention, but is linearly extended as an example of the present embodiment. In addition, each continuous groove 35 is configured as a groove having a rectangular cross section when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the energization portion, that is, in FIG. Furthermore, the continuous grooves 35 are arranged so as to be shifted from each other so that no other continuous groove 35 is positioned in the depth direction.

  2 and 3 are merely examples, and the number of the continuous grooves 35, the extending direction, the position, the cross-sectional shape, the presence / absence of branching / merging of the grooves, and the like can be appropriately changed. The continuous groove 35 of the present embodiment is limited to the illustration of FIGS. 2 and 3 as long as at least one groove extending continuously over the upper and lower exposed portions of the drawer portion 5c is prepared. It is not something.

  Next, the operation of the barrel plating apparatus configured as described above will be described. An object to be plated, such as a ceramic electronic component, is put in the barrel 3 (and dummy balls are also put if necessary), and the barrel 3 is immersed in a plating solution. And while rotating the barrel 3 in a plating solution, it supplies with electricity to a to-be-plated object via the electricity supply part 5, and performs plating on the surface.

  By the way, in recent years, deformation of a cover covering a terminal for supplying power to the barrel has been seen. In this regard, the present inventors have repeatedly studied and have completed the factor analysis of deformation and specific means. That is, the total surface area of the object to be plated increases with the trend of downsizing the parts to be plated to be put into the barrel and the tendency to increase the amount of input according to the mass processing requirement. Furthermore, in order to respond to this, an increase in current to the terminal during plating progresses, and heat generation due to the large current occurs remarkably. Finally, the cover made of an insulating resin covering the terminal to which power is supplied is deformed due to the influence of high heat.

  In view of such a point, even in the present embodiment, thermal deformation of the annular portion 7a and the pipe portion 7c of the cover 7 may be a problem, but in this embodiment, the gas flow passage 37 is provided. The heat in the connection chamber 21 and the heat of the extraction portion 5c are exhausted from the upper end of the pipe portion 7c to the outside through the gas flow passage 37. Thereby, the thermal deformation of the annular part 7a and the pipe part 7c can be prevented. On the other hand, the hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c is separated from the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c, and an annular gap is secured between the hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c and the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c, so We also examined the mode of prompting. However, in that case, the position of the drawing portion 5c in the pipe portion 7c is not determined. Therefore, when the pipe portion 7c and the annular portion 7a through which the lead portion 5c is inserted are attached to the shaft support portion 11, the positions of the ring portion 7a and the shaft support portion 11 are based on the joint between the lead portion 5c and the trunk portion 5a. There is a possibility that the displacement may be a problem, or if the annular portion 7a and the shaft support portion 11 are used as a reference, the displacement between the drawer portion 5c and the trunk portion 5a may be a problem. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the gas flow passage 37 that prevents thermal deformation is formed by the continuous groove 35 described above, and the support portion 39 described above is provided between the drawing portion 5c and the pipe portion 7c. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the positional deviation in the extending direction of the drawer portion 5c. Therefore, when the pipe portion 7c and the annular portion 7a through which the drawer portion 5c is inserted are attached to the shaft support portion 11, the drawer portion 5c is joined to the trunk portion 5a smoothly and easily, and the annular portion 7 a can be joined to the shaft support portion 11. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the displacement of the cover 7 when the cover 7 through which the energizing portion 5 is inserted is prevented while preventing the cover 7 from being thermally deformed.

  Although the contents of the present invention have been specifically described with reference to the preferred embodiments, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on the basic technical idea and teachings of the present invention. It is self-explanatory.

  In the present invention, between the cover and the energization part, there may be provided a gas flow passage for encouraging gas flow in the extending direction of the energization part and a support part for supporting the energization part while suppressing displacement in the extension direction. That's fine. The formation mode of the gas flow passage and the support portion is not limited to the mode shown in FIG. 3, and examples thereof include at least the following modifications.

  4 and 5 each show a diagram similar to FIG. 3 with respect to a modified embodiment of the present invention. In these modified embodiments, a continuous groove is provided in the cover instead of providing the continuous groove in the energizing portion. In FIG. 4, a continuous groove 135 is formed in the hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c along the extending direction of the lead portion 5c.

  The inner surface of the continuous groove 135 and the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5c define a gas flow passage 137 that facilitates the flow of gas in the extending direction of the lead-out portion 5c. The hole inner surface 33 of the portion 5c that is in contact with the outer surface 31 constitutes a support portion 139 that supports the drawer portion 5c while suppressing displacement in the extending direction. That is, the gas flow passage 137 and the support portion 139 are provided between the pipe portion 7c and the lead portion 5c.

  As illustrated in FIG. 4, in this modified embodiment, a total of two continuous grooves 135 are provided, one on each of two opposing surfaces of the hole inner surface 33 having a rectangular cross section. As in the case of the continuous groove 35, the continuous groove 135 may be bent or curved as long as it extends continuously from the upper end to the lower end without interruption. In this example, it extends linearly. Further, as in the case of the continuous groove 35, each continuous groove 135 is configured as a rectangular cross-section groove in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the current-carrying portion so that no other continuous groove 135 is positioned in the depth direction. Are arranged to be shifted from each other.

  In FIG. 5, a continuous groove 235 is formed in the hole inner surface 33 of the pipe portion 7c along the extending direction of the lead portion 5c.

  The inner surface of the continuous groove 235 and the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5c define a gas flow passage 237 that promotes gas flow in the extending direction of the lead-out portion 5c. The hole inner surface 33 of the portion 5c that is in contact with the outer surface 31 constitutes a support portion 139 that supports the drawer portion 5c while suppressing displacement in the extending direction. That is, the gas flow passage 237 and the support portion 239 are provided between the pipe portion 7c and the lead portion 5c.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, two continuous grooves 235 are provided so as to face each other. As in the case of the continuous groove 35, the continuous groove 235 may be bent or curved as long as it extends continuously from the upper end to the lower end without interruption. In this example, it extends linearly. Further, when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the energization portion, the continuous groove 235 is configured as an arc-shaped groove and is formed symmetrically with respect to the lead-out portion 5c.

  4 and 5 are merely examples relating to a mode in which continuous grooves are provided in the cover, and the number of the continuous grooves 135 and the continuous grooves 235, the extension direction, the position, the cross-sectional shape, and whether or not the grooves are branched or merged. Etc. can be appropriately modified.

  Instead of forming the gas flow path by providing a continuous groove as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, it is also possible to form the gas flow path and the support by providing a convex portion. . FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 each show a diagram similar to FIG. 3 and the like regarding the modified embodiment.

  In FIG. 6, the lead-out portion 5c is an elongated plate-like member having an outer surface 31 that is substantially rectangular in cross section. The pipe portion 7c has a hole inner surface 333 that is substantially rectangular in cross section and is slightly larger than the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c. A convex portion 341 is formed on the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c along the extending direction of the lead portion 5c. The hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portion 7c is formed in a shape and size so as to be in contact with the convex portion 341 and to be separated from the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5c where the convex portion 341 is not formed.

  The portion of the hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portion 7c that comes into contact with the convex portion 341 of the lead portion 5c constitutes a support portion 339 for supporting the lead portion 5c while suppressing displacement in the extending direction. Further, the space existing between the hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portions 7 c and the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5 c that are separated from each other constitutes a gas flow passage 337. That is, the gas flow passage 337 and the support portion 339 are provided between the pipe portion 7c and the lead portion 5c.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, a total of four convex portions 341 are provided, two on each of two opposing surfaces of the drawer portion 5 c. Each convex part 341 extends continuously without interruption from its upper end to its lower end, and extends linearly. However, the form of the convex portion 341 is not limited to this, and it may be provided so as to be interrupted or scattered in the middle instead of continuously extending in the extending direction of the energizing portion. Furthermore, the continuous part may extend by bending or curving. Moreover, each convex part 341 is comprised by the rectangular cross section seeing in the cross section orthogonal to the extension direction of an electricity supply part, ie, FIG. Furthermore, each convex part 341 is arrange | positioned so that the other convex part 341 may be located in the height direction.

  Instead of providing a convex portion on the energizing portion, a convex portion may be provided on the cover. As shown in FIG. 7, the lead-out portion 5c is an elongated plate-like member having an outer surface 31 that is substantially rectangular in cross section. The pipe portion 7c has a hole inner surface 333 that is substantially rectangular in cross section and is slightly larger than the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c. On the hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portion 7c, a convex portion 441 is formed along the extending direction of the lead portion 5c. The hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portion 7c is formed in a shape and size so as to be separated from the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5c at a portion other than the convex portion 441. The convex portion 441 contacts the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5c. It is formed to a height that touches.

  The convex portion 341 of the pipe portion 7c that comes into contact with the outer surface 31 of the lead portion 5c constitutes a support portion 439 that supports the lead portion 5c while suppressing displacement in the extending direction. Further, the space existing between the hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portions 7 c that are separated from each other and the outer surface 31 of the lead-out portion 5 c constitutes a gas flow passage 437. That is, the gas flow passage 437 and the support portion 439 are provided between the pipe portion 7c and the lead portion 5c.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, a total of four convex portions 441 are provided, two on each of two opposing surfaces on the hole inner surface 333 of the pipe portion 7 c. Each convex portion 441 extends continuously from the upper end to the lower end without interruption, and extends linearly. However, the form of the convex portion 441 is not limited to this, and it may be provided so as to be interrupted or scattered in the middle instead of continuously extending in the extending direction of the energizing portion. Furthermore, the continuous part may extend by bending or curving. Moreover, each convex part 441 is comprised by the rectangular cross section seeing in FIG. Furthermore, each convex part 441 is arrange | positioned so that the other convex part 441 may be located in the height direction.

  6 and 7 are merely examples, and the number of the convex portions 341 and the convex portions 441, the extending direction, the position, the cross-sectional shape, the presence / absence of the branching / merging of the convex portions, and the like can be appropriately changed.

  In addition, regarding the points other than the formation mode of the gas flow passage and the support portion, the following modified examples can be given.

  First, various ways of extending the current-carrying part into the barrel are conceivable. For example, the energization part may be extended in a cantilever manner as a single bar having no branch portion from one end side of the barrel. Alternatively, a total of two may be extended in a cantilever manner as a single rod having no branching portions from both ends of the barrel.

  Moreover, the part in the barrel of an electricity supply part is not limited to extending horizontally, The aspect from which the height is changing by curvature or bending may be sufficient.

  The energization section may be configured by connecting a plurality of members, or may be configured as an integrally formed member or a single member. The cover may be configured by connecting a plurality of members, or may be configured as an integrally formed member.

  The cross-sectional shape of the lead-out portion in the energization portion is not limited to a rectangle.

  Moreover, as an application of this barrel plating apparatus, although the plating process of the external electrode in a ceramic electronic component was illustrated, this invention is not limited to this. That is, regardless of whether it is a ceramic component, the plating process may be a process for forming any part as long as it is a conductive part.

It is a front view which shows the structure of the barrel plating apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the figure seen from the arrow II direction of FIG. Fig. 3 shows a cut surface along III-III in Fig. 2. The figure of the same aspect as FIG. 3 regarding the modified embodiment which provided the rectangular groove | channel in the cover is shown. The figure of the same aspect as FIG. 3 regarding the modified embodiment which provided the arc-shaped groove | channel in the cover is shown. The figure of the same aspect as FIG. 3 regarding the modified embodiment which provided the convex part in the electricity supply part is shown. The figure of the same aspect as FIG. 3 regarding the modified embodiment which provided the convex part in the cover is shown.

Explanation of symbols

1 Barrel plating equipment 3 Barrel 5 Current-carrying part 5c Lead-out part (current-carrying part)
7 Cover 7c Pipe part (cover)
31 Outer surface 35, 135, 235 Continuous groove 37, 137, 237, 337, 437 Gas flow path 39, 139, 239, 339, 439 Support part 341, 441 Protrusion part

Claims (6)

A rotatably supported barrel;
An energization part extending into the barrel and energizing the object to be plated
A barrel plating apparatus provided with a cover that covers a portion of the energization portion located outside the barrel,
Between the cover and the energization part, there are provided a gas flow passage that promotes gas flow in the extending direction of the energization part, and a support part that supports the energization part while suppressing displacement in the extension direction. Yes,
Barrel plating equipment.   2. The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover and the energization portion are partially in contact with each other and the remaining portions are separated from each other when viewed in a cross section orthogonal to the extending direction of the energization portion. A continuous groove is formed on the outer surface of the energization part along the extending direction of the energization part,
The gas flow passage is defined by an inner surface of the continuous groove and an inner surface of the cover;
The support portion is configured by an inner surface of the cover that comes into contact with an outer surface of the energization portion other than the continuous groove.
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. On the inner surface of the cover, a continuous groove is formed along the extending direction of the energization part,
The gas flow passage is defined by an inner surface of the continuous groove and an outer surface of the energization part,
The support portion is configured by an inner surface other than the continuous groove in the cover that contacts the outer surface of the energization portion.
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the energizing portion,
The support portion is configured by an inner surface of the cover that comes into contact with the convex portion,
The gas flow path is configured by a space that exists between the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the energization portion that are separated from each other.
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. A convex part is formed on the inner surface of the cover,
The support portion is configured by the convex portion that comes into contact with the outer surface of the energization portion,
The gas flow path is configured by a space that exists between the inner surface of the cover and the outer surface of the energization portion that are separated from each other.
The barrel plating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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