JP2009122471A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that improves the operating rate of an apparatus as much as possible. <P>SOLUTION: For example, when the arrival of the time to replace a toner container (consumable article) 21 is detected, a main control section 41 displays on the display screen of a touch panel 53 an indication for urging a user to clean a discharge wire 15-2 together with an indication for urging maintenance relating to the replacement. The user who sees the display content performs a cleaning operation for the discharge wire 15-2 at the same time as the maintenance relating to the replacement of the toner container 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and in particular, a discharge wire cleaning operation is performed together with a consumable maintenance operation such as a toner container. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operating rate of the apparatus as much as possible by prompting the user to do so.

  An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile apparatus is provided with a corona charger. The corona charger is provided in the vicinity of the photosensitive drum on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and has a function of applying a predetermined potential to the surface of the photosensitive drum by corona discharge. In order to realize this function, a discharge wire is stretched along the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum on the corona charger.

  In such a corona charger, floating toner in the image forming apparatus, gas products accompanying discharge, and the like are likely to adhere to the discharge wire, and as a result, the discharge function gradually deteriorates as the image forming process is repeatedly performed. is there.

  As one approach for solving these problems, the applicant of the present application includes a grid cleaner having a hydrous sponge fixed to a fixing holder of the apparatus main body and provided to face the grid, and slides the charger. Thus, a wire cleaning mechanism has been proposed in which a hydrated sponge comes into contact with the grid surface to remove deposits (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the technique of Patent Document 1, it is possible to reliably clean the grid with a simple configuration, and to prevent the occurrence of leakage due to the penetration of moisture into the charger.

  By the way, when carrying out the cleaning operation of the discharge wire according to Patent Document 1, it is necessary to turn off the power of the apparatus once. For this reason, after carrying out the cleaning operation of the discharge wire, the user has to wait until the operation of the apparatus is stabilized, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving the operation rate of the apparatus.

JP 2006-178265 A

  In the prior art, after the discharge wire cleaning operation is performed, the user has to wait until the operation of the apparatus is stabilized, and there is room for improvement from the viewpoint of improving the operation rate of the apparatus. .

  The present invention pays attention to the problems of the prior art described above, and for the purpose of obtaining an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operating rate of the apparatus as much as possible, a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, A shield member disposed in the vicinity of the photoconductor, the photoconductor side being opened, a discharge wire stretched on the shield member along the direction of the rotation axis of the photoconductor, and wear associated with image formation Based on the detection result of the time detection means for detecting the replacement time of the goods, the display means for displaying various information including the effect of prompting the user to replace the consumables on the display screen, A determination is made as to whether or not a consumable item should be replaced, and when the result of the determination indicates that the consumable item should be replaced, in addition to prompting the user to replace the consumable item, Before prompting the user to clean the discharge wire, The most important feature being configured to include display control means for performing control to display on the display screen of the display unit.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a photoconductor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a shield member disposed near the photoconductor, the photoconductor side being opened, and the photoconductive member on the shield member. A display screen for displaying various information including a discharge wire stretched along the rotation axis direction of the body, timing detection means for detecting the replacement timing of the consumables for image formation, and prompting the user to replace the consumables Display means for displaying above, and display control means to be described below, and the display control means determines whether or not the consumable should be replaced based on the detection result in the time detection means. When it is determined that the consumable should be replaced as a result of the determination, in addition to prompting the user to replace the consumable, and prompting the user to clean the discharge wire, Display on the display screen of the display means Please is carried out. Thus, for example, when it is detected that the replacement time of the toner container (consumables) has arrived, the user is prompted to prompt the user to clean the discharge wire on the display screen. Is displayed. The user who sees the display content performs the discharge wire cleaning operation simultaneously with the maintenance operation related to the replacement of the toner container. Here, when the toner container is replaced or the discharge wire is cleaned, it is necessary to temporarily turn off the power of the apparatus. For this reason, in this invention which implements these replacement | exchange or cleaning work in the same period, compared with the case where each exchange or cleaning work is implemented separately, the effective operation time of an apparatus can be lengthened. Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the operation rate of the apparatus can be improved by prompting the user that the discharge wire cleaning operation should be performed at the same time as the maintenance operation of consumables such as a toner container. It can be improved as much as possible.

  For the purpose of improving the operating rate of the equipment as much as possible, based on the detection result of the timing detection means, it is determined whether or not the consumables should be replaced, and as a result of the determination, the consumables should be replaced Display control means for controlling the display means to display on the display screen that the user is prompted to clean the discharge wire together with prompting the user to replace the consumable when the determination is made. It was realized.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[Schematic mechanism around the photosensitive drum provided in the image forming apparatus]
First, a schematic mechanism around the photosensitive drum provided in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a front sectional view showing a schematic mechanism around a photosensitive drum provided in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in the figure, an image forming apparatus 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member (hereinafter referred to as “photosensitive drum”) 13 made of a cylindrical metal base material as a photosensitive member. The charger 15, the exposure scanning device (Laser Scan Unit) 17, the developing device 21, the transfer device 23, and the static eliminator 25, along the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 13, from the position immediately above to the clockwise direction. And a cleaning device 27 are provided.

  The photosensitive drum 13 is used when an electrostatic latent image and a toner image along the electrostatic latent image are formed on the peripheral surface.

  The charger 15 has a function of forming a uniform charge on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 that rotates clockwise. The charger 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the photosensitive member 13, and is stretched along the rotational axis direction of the photosensitive member 13 by the shield member 15-1 having the photosensitive member 13 opened and the shield member 15-1. And a discharge wire 15-2. The charger 15 according to the present embodiment employs a corona discharge method in which a charge is applied to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by corona discharge from the discharge wire 15-2.

  The exposure scanning device 17 irradiates the peripheral surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 13 with, for example, laser light modulated based on image data relating to a document read by a scanner (not shown), thereby irradiating the irradiation portion. In other words, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by erasing the electric charge.

  The developing device 21 supplies toner to the peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 13, thereby causing the toner to adhere to the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed in the exposure scanning step, and thereby to the peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 13. It has a function of forming a toner image. In the embodiment of the present invention, the developing device 21 is embodied as a toner container that encloses toner used for image formation and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body. The toner container (developing device) 21 detects the remaining amount of toner in the container and outputs a toner empty detection signal when the remaining amount of toner falls below a predetermined value (“time detection” of the present invention). Corresponding to “means.”) 22 is provided.

  The transfer unit 23 includes a transfer charging unit 23a and a separation charging unit 23b, and the toner formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 in the developing step with respect to the paper P sent to a position immediately below the photosensitive drum 13. It has the function of transferring the image and separating the paper P after transfer.

  The static eliminator 25 has a function of eliminating static electricity by irradiating the photosensitive drum 11 with light. As the static eliminator 25, for example, an LED array that emits light with a wavelength of 660 nm can be used.

  The cleaning device 27 has a function of cleaning off the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 by the blade 29 after the transfer step. The peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 13 cleaned by the cleaning device 27 again goes to the charging area in the charger 15 for the next image forming process, and the same process is repeated thereafter.

  The image forming apparatus 11 configured as described above is charged by the charger 15 in a normal image forming process, and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the irradiation light from the exposure scanning device 17. Then, the toner image is transferred to the transfer paper P which has been developed by the developing device 21 and transferred from the transfer paper feeding system 31 via the registration roller 33 in the transfer charger 23a. The transferred transfer paper P is separated by the separation charger 23b, passes through the transfer paper transport system 35, reaches the fixing device 37, is fixed here, and is discharged outside the apparatus. On the other hand, after the transfer step, the electrostatic latent image remaining on the surface 13b of the photosensitive drum 13 is erased by the static eliminator 25, and then scraped off by the blade 29 of the cleaning device 27. The image forming process is completed.

[Functional Block Diagram showing Electrical Configuration in Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an external view of an operation panel unit in the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 11 includes a main control unit 41 that controls power supply to a predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body, a ROM 43 that stores programs, and a RAM 45 that stores data. And an interface circuit 47. The interface circuit 47 is connected to the toner sensor 22 and the operation panel 51 described above.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel unit 51 includes a touch panel unit 53 and an operation key unit 55. The operation panel unit 51 is used by a user to perform operations related to a facsimile function, a scanner function, a printer function, a copy function, and the like, and gives an operation command and the like by the user to the main control unit 41.

  A touch panel unit (corresponding to “display means” of the present invention) 53 is configured by a touch panel unit or the like that combines a touch panel and a color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and various operation screens, for example, when executing a copy function, Information related to the document size, copy size, number of copies, etc. is displayed, and operation buttons for inputting various operation commands when the user touches the corresponding part are displayed. The touch panel unit 53 also prompts the user to replace the consumables or clean the discharge wire 15-2, and whether or not the discharge wire 15-2 has been cleaned using a water-containing cleaner. This is used when an inquiry screen for prompting a user's answer is displayed on the display screen.

  The operation key unit 55 includes a plurality of operation keys for accepting user operation inputs. For example, a key input of a required function is selected from various functions such as a facsimile function, a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function. Used when the user selectively executes the operation. Specifically, for example, it is used when a user performs a numeric keypad input operation for selecting a transmission destination fax number when using a facsimile function, or when performing an input operation related to a one-touch dial or an abbreviated dial. The operation key unit 55 is used when the user inputs an answer regarding whether or not the cleaning work of the discharge wire 15-2 has been performed using a water-containing cleaner.

  In order to improve the operating rate of the apparatus as much as possible by prompting the user that the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 should be performed together with the maintenance operation of the consumables, the main control unit 41 sets the toner By receiving the toner empty detection signal from the sensor 22, the discharge wire 15-2 is cleaned using a timing acquisition unit 61 that acquires that the maintenance operation timing for consumables has arrived, and a water-containing cleaner. Based on the acquisition result in the time acquisition unit 61 and the response acquisition unit 63 that acquires the user's response regarding whether or not the product has been determined, whether or not the consumable item should be replaced is determined. When it is determined that it should be replaced, a message that prompts the user to replace the consumables and prompts the user to clean the discharge wire 15-2 is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53. The discharge wire 15-2 is cleaned using a water-containing cleaner based on the display control unit 65 (corresponding to the “display control means” of the present invention) 65 and the response content in the response acquisition unit 63. The power supply to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body is stopped for a predetermined standby time when it is determined that a positive answer is obtained as a result of the determination. And a power supply control unit 67 for performing control.

  In addition to the above-described functions, the display control unit 65 determines whether or not the consumable item should be replaced based on the detection result of the toner sensor 22, and the result of the determination indicates that the consumable item should be replaced. When the determination is made, it has a function of controlling the display on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53 to prompt the user to replace the consumable and to prompt the user to clean the discharge wire. ing.

  Here, referring to the meanings of terms used in the present invention, the “consumable for image formation” in the present invention is a concept including, for example, a toner container (developing device) 21 and a photosensitive drum cartridge. . The maintenance work of consumables is a concept including, for example, a work of replacing a toner container (developing device) 21 or a photosensitive drum cartridge with a new one when the replacement time has come.

[Operation of Image Forming Apparatus]
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart related to maintenance work in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is alternately presented when requesting the user to perform maintenance work related to toner container replacement and discharge wire cleaning. An example of a display screen is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main control unit 41 monitors the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 21 (step S11). Based on the monitoring result, the main control unit 41 determines whether or not the toner container (consumable) 21 should be replaced. Specifically, the time acquisition unit 61 receives the toner empty detection signal transmitted from the toner sensor 22, that is, acquires that the replacement time has come because the remaining amount of toner is equal to or less than a predetermined value (the present invention). (Corresponding to “Yes when it is determined that the consumables should be replaced”) (corresponding to “Yes” in step S12), the fact is transferred to the display control unit 65.

  In response to this, the display control unit 65 performs control to display a replacement request for the toner container (consumable) 21 on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53 (step S13). As a result, for example, a message such as “Please replace the toner container” is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53.

  Next, the main control unit 41 determines whether or not the replacement of the toner container (consumable) 21 has been completed based on the monitoring result regarding the remaining amount of toner in the toner container 21 (step S14). Specifically, the timing acquisition unit 61 acquires that the toner empty detection signal is no longer received from the toner sensor 22, that is, that the toner container has been replaced after the remaining amount of toner exceeds a predetermined value (Step S41). This corresponds to “No” in S <b> 14.), And that effect is transferred to the display control unit 65. The determination as to whether or not the toner container 21 has been replaced may be made by detecting the opening and closing of an apparatus main body cover (not shown) that is opened and closed when the toner container 21 is replaced.

  In response to this, the display control unit 65 performs control to display a cleaning request for the discharge wire 15-2 on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53 (step S15). Thus, a message such as “Please clean the discharge wire” is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53.

  Next, the reply acquisition unit 63 waits for a reply from the user regarding whether or not the cleaning work for the discharge wire 15-2 has been performed using a water-containing cleaner (step S16). In step S <b> 16, for example, an inquiry screen that prompts the user to answer whether or not the discharge wire 15-2 has been cleaned using a water-containing cleaner is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53. As a response, the user viewing the inquiry screen performs an operation input (for example, “Yes” on the display screen is input. This corresponds to “Yes” in step S14). In response to this, the answer acquisition unit 63 transfers the message to the display control unit 65.

  In response to this, the display control unit 65 counts down the remaining time relating to the necessity of waiting for the discharge wire cleaning work and the waiting time (for example, 5 minutes, which can be changed as needed). The screen for presenting is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53 (step S17). Thereby, on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53, for example, a standby time such as “I can use the device in 1 minute 30 seconds” along with a message such as “Standing for cleaning the discharge wire”. The countdown type presentation screen of the remaining time related to is displayed. The user who has seen such a message and the countdown presentation screen can fully recognize that the device is waiting, the reason, and the current state where the device including the remaining time related to the waiting time is placed. You won't have anxiety such as "Why can't you use it?" Or "How long do I have to wait?"

  Meanwhile, simultaneously with the display control related to the standby message and the countdown presentation screen in step S17, the power supply control unit 67 performs control to stop the power supply to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body for the above-described standby time. Here, the purpose of performing the power supply control to the predetermined function unit will be described. After performing the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 using the water-containing cleaner, moisture is applied to the discharge wire 15-2 and its peripheral portion. Is assumed to remain. In such a case, turning on the power supply without performing any power supply control and supplying power to each function unit may cause leakage due to moisture remaining in the function unit. When the standby time is set over time, a problem arises from the viewpoint of improving the operating rate of the apparatus. Therefore, the power supply control unit 67 receives a response from the user that the discharge wire 15-2 has been cleaned using a water-containing cleaner, and supplies power to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body for a predetermined standby time. Control to stop was performed. Note that the predetermined waiting time is the time required for drying the moisture adhering to the discharge wire 15-2 and its surrounding parts, and the power supply to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body after the time required for drying has elapsed. When the operation is performed, a total time of the operation stabilization required time required until the operation of the apparatus main body is stabilized is set. Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, an appropriate standby time is set even when the power is turned on after the discharge wire is cleaned using the water-containing cleaner. The operation rate of the apparatus can be improved as much as possible by performing power supply control to a predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body.

  During execution of the display control related to the standby message and the countdown presentation screen in step S17 and the power supply control to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body, the main control unit 41 performs the remaining related to the standby time in the countdown timer (not shown). By referring to the time, it is determined whether or not a predetermined standby time has elapsed (time up) (step S18). Note that the processing in steps S17 to S18 is repeatedly executed until a predetermined standby time elapses.

  As a result of the determination in step S18, when it is determined that the predetermined standby time has elapsed, the main control unit 41 returns the operation mode of the apparatus body to the normal operation mode (step S19), and thereafter Then, a series of processing is terminated. In response to the fact that the operation mode of the apparatus main body has returned to the normal operation mode, the display control unit 65 performs control to display the fact on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53. As a result, a message such as “You can copy” is displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53. The user who sees such a message can know that the apparatus has returned to the usable state and can perform an operation related to the required job.

[Effect of Example]
In the image forming apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, for example, when it is detected that the replacement time of the toner container (consumable) 21 has arrived, the user is prompted to perform such maintenance work, and the discharge wire 15- A message prompting the user to perform the second cleaning is displayed on the display screen. The user who sees the displayed content performs the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 simultaneously with the maintenance operation related to the replacement of the toner container 21. Here, when the toner container 21 is replaced or the discharge wire 15-2 is cleaned, it is necessary to temporarily turn off the power of the apparatus. For this reason, in this Example which implements these replacement | exchange or cleaning work at the same period, compared with the case where each exchange or cleaning work is implemented separately, the effective operation time of an apparatus can be lengthened. . Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, by prompting the user that the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 should be performed together with the maintenance operation of the toner container (consumable) 21, The operating rate of the apparatus can be improved as much as possible.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus in which the replacement period of the toner container (consumable) 21 and the period in which the discharge wire 15-2 needs to be cleaned are close to each other, a particularly excellent apparatus operating rate improvement effect is expected. Can do.

  Further, if the operation is performed so that the cleaning work manual for the discharge wire 15-2 is bundled in an individual packaging box (for example, a cardboard box) in which a new toner container 21 is accommodated, the user cannot understand the procedure of the cleaning work. It will contribute to resolving dissatisfaction.

  On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention, after the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 is performed using the water-containing cleaner, the user discharges using the water-containing cleaner through the operation panel unit 51. If an answer to the effect that the cleaning work of the wire 15-2 has been performed is input, based on the contents of the answer, the power supply to the predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body is stopped for a predetermined waiting time. Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, an appropriate standby time is set even when the power is turned on after the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 using the water-containing cleaner. Thus, the operation rate of the apparatus can be improved as much as possible by performing power supply control to a predetermined function unit in the apparatus main body.

[Others]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention read from the claims and the entire specification or the technical idea, and image formation accompanied by such changes The apparatus is also included in the scope of the technical scope of the present invention.

  That is, in the embodiment of the present invention, for example, after the replacement request display of the toner container 21 is executed in step S13, the discharge wire cleaning request display is sequentially executed in step S15. The present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and a replacement request for the toner container 21 and a discharge wire cleaning request may be simultaneously displayed on the display screen of the touch panel unit 53. In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a replacement request display screen 71 for the toner container 21 and a discharge wire cleaning request display screen 73 are displayed at a predetermined time interval such as 2 seconds. A configuration of alternately displaying on 53 display screens may be adopted.

  In addition, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus employing any cleaning method, including an image forming apparatus equipped with a manual discharge wire cleaning mechanism, for example.

  Lastly, in the embodiment of the present invention, the example of prompting the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 at the same time as the maintenance operation related to the replacement of the toner container 21 has been described, but the present invention is limited to the embodiment. It is not something. That is, for example, in an apparatus that requires periodic discharge wire cleaning work, the number of printed sheets is counted starting from the time when the discharge wire cleaning work is performed, and a predetermined number of times such as once every 20,000 sheets, for example. There is one that employs a configuration that displays a discharge request cleaning of the discharge wire at intervals, but this prior art may be combined with an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, when the user performs the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2 simultaneously with the maintenance operation related to the replacement of the toner container 21, as a result of the user performing the cleaning operation of the discharge wire 15-2, the number of printed sheets is counted. The value may be reset to the initial value “0”. If comprised in this way, the cleaning operation request display of the discharge wire 15-2 by a user can be implemented at an appropriate timing without excess or deficiency.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing a schematic mechanism around a photosensitive drum provided in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration in the image forming apparatus. 2 is an external view of an operation panel unit in the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart relating to maintenance work in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen that is alternately presented when a maintenance operation related to toner container replacement and discharge wire cleaning is requested from a user.

Explanation of symbols

11 Image forming apparatus 13 Photosensitive drum (photosensitive member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Charger 15-1 Shield member 15-2 Discharge wire 21 Toner container (developer, it corresponds to "consumable" of this invention)
22 Toner sensor (time detection means)
41 Main control unit 53 Touch panel unit (display means)
61 Time acquisition unit 63 Answer acquisition unit 65 Display control unit (display control means)
67 Power supply control unit

Claims (2)

A photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed;
A shield member disposed in the vicinity of the photoconductor, the photoconductor side being opened; and
A discharge wire stretched along the rotational axis direction of the photoreceptor on the shield member;
Time detection means for detecting the replacement time of consumables for image formation;
Display means for displaying on the display screen various information including prompting the user to replace the consumables;
Based on the detection result of the time detection means, a determination is made as to whether or not the consumable item should be replaced.If the determination result indicates that the consumable item should be replaced, Display control means for performing control to display on the display screen of the display means to prompt the user to clean the discharge wire together with prompting the user to replace the discharge wire;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Consumables related to the image formation are
A toner container in which toner used for image formation is enclosed and is detachably attached to the apparatus main body.
An image forming apparatus.

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