JP2017000598A - Push button switch, external performance operation mechanism, and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a push button switch, an external performance operation mechanism, and a game machine enabling performance operation for giving a sense of expectation and a sense of exaltation to a player.SOLUTION: A push button switch 10 is fixedly mounted to a game machine. An upper cover 11 is connected to a bezel 12 and a lower case 3 by a hinge and is rotatable vertically with an axis of the hinge part as a center. The upper cover 11 is rotatable vertically by an actuator as a movable button module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a push button switch and an external effect operation mechanism used in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, and a gaming machine including the same.

  Conventionally, a pachinko machine has been provided with a push button switch for allowing a player to participate in the performance operation of the pachinko machine (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, such push button switches themselves are also provided with an effect function that incorporates light effects and movements by actuators. This is intended to give the player a sense of expectation for the game through flashy light effects and movements.

JP 2009-178203 A

  Such a push button switch is required to have various performance operations for giving a player a sense of expectation and excitement.

  In addition, in a push button switch that incorporates movement by an actuator, the movement of the push button switch gets bored of the player in a single or monotonous operation. The presentation operation of the push button switch can be complicated by increasing the number of actuators mounted. However, when the number of actuators is increased, there is a problem that the equipment is expensive, heavy, and large, and the quality risk such as heat generation and breakage increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a push button switch, an external effect operation mechanism, and a gaming machine that enable an effect operation that gives a player a sense of expectation and excitement. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a push button switch used in a gaming machine, wherein the push button switch is fixedly attached to the gaming machine, and the mounting part has A movable button module coupled to the hinge portion and pivotable in the vertical direction around the hinge portion, and a drive portion, and the pivotal driving force in the vertical direction on the movable button module It is characterized by having an actuator capable of providing

  According to the above configuration, the movable button module can be rotated in the vertical direction by the driving force from the actuator, so that an effect operation that gives the player a sense of expectation and excitement can be performed.

  In the push button switch, the actuator includes a motor capable of both forward rotation and reverse rotation as the drive unit, and the actuator is movable by repeating forward rotation and reverse drive. It can be set as the structure which can be made to perform the rocking | fluctuation motion which repeats an up-and-down motion at arbitrary positions with respect to a button module.

  According to the above configuration, by using a motor capable of normal rotation and reverse rotation driving at an arbitrary position, as one of the rendering operations of the movable button module, a swinging motion that repeats up and down movement at an arbitrary position is performed. It becomes possible.

  In the push button switch, the movable button module is attached to the attachment portion while being given an urging force to rotate upward, and the actuator receives a driving force of the driving portion. A rotating member that rotates, a link member that connects the rotating member and the movable button module, the link member capable of pulling the movable button module downward by rotation of the rotating member, the rotating member, and When the movable button module is at the lowest position by the link member, the holding member that can hold the movable button module at the lowest position, and the holding member when the rotating member is at a predetermined rotational position. It can be set as the structure provided with the holding | maintenance cancellation | release member which cancels | releases holding | maintenance of the said movable button module by a member.

  According to said structure, the storing operation which draws a movable button module to a downward direction with the rotation member, a link member, and a holding member, and hold | maintains it in the lowest position is attained. Further, the holding operation of the movable button module is released, and the opening operation of releasing the released movable button module upward by the biasing force becomes possible. As a result, it is possible to perform an effect operation that combines a storing operation and an opening operation as one of the effect operations of the movable button module.

  In order to solve the above problems, a gaming machine of the present invention is characterized by including the push button switch described above.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an external performance operation mechanism of the present invention is an external performance operation mechanism used in a gaming machine, and is an attachment for fixing the external performance operation mechanism to the gaming machine. And a movable module that is hinge-coupled to the mounting portion and is rotatable in the vertical direction around the hinge portion, and a drive unit, and the movable module is pivoted in the vertical direction. And an actuator capable of applying a driving force.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a gaming machine of the present invention is characterized by including the above-described external performance operation mechanism.

  The push button module, the external effect operation mechanism, and the gaming machine of the present invention can perform an effect operation in which the movable button module (or the movable module) is rotated in the vertical direction by the driving force from the actuator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing an appearance of a pachinko machine equipped with a game push button switch. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view when a push button switch is viewed from diagonally upward on the front side, and (b) is a perspective view when viewed from diagonally downward on a rear side. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a pushbutton switch. (A) is a perspective view which shows the closed state of the upper cover in a pushbutton switch, (b) is a perspective view which shows the open state of an upper cover. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a drive mechanism part. It is a perspective view which shows a drive production | presentation part. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing which shows storing operation | movement of a movable button module. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows opening operation | movement of a movable button module. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the rocking | fluctuation operation | movement in the open state of a movable button module. (A), (b) is a figure explaining the rocking | fluctuation operation | movement in the closed state of a movable button module. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows hook release operation | movement at the time of open | release operation | movement, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows hook release operation | movement at the time of the rocking | swiveling operation | movement in a closed state. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing which shows the push-down operation | movement of the movable button module by a player.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a pachinko machine (game machine) 1 on which a push button switch (external performance operating mechanism) 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the push button switch 10 is provided in the center of the front surface of the pachinko machine 1. Here, the surface of the pachinko machine 1 on which the player faces is the front surface.

  2A and 2B are perspective views showing the appearance of the push button switch 10 according to the present embodiment, where FIG. 2A shows a case when viewed from diagonally forward and FIG. 2B shows a case when viewed from diagonally below rear. . FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the push button switch 10. The push button switch 10 is mainly configured by an upper cover 11, a bezel 12, and a lower case 13, and further includes a light effect unit 14, a drive mechanism unit 15, and a movable button module position detection sensor 16. ing.

  The bezel 12 and the lower case 13 are used as an attachment portion for fixing the push button switch 10 to the pachinko machine 1 together with a lower case 15Ac (see FIG. 5) of a drive effect portion 15A described later.

  The upper cover 11 is hinged at its rear end to the bezel 12 and the lower case 13 and can be rotated in the vertical direction about the hinge portion 17. Further, the hinge portion 17 is provided with an urging member (not shown) such as a string spring, and the upper cover 11 is urged upward by the urging member. The light effect unit 14 is fixed by being attached to a frame portion 15Af of a drive effect unit 15A described later (see FIG. 6). Thus, in the push button switch 10, the upper cover 11 constitutes a movable button module (movable module). FIG. 4A shows the closed state of the movable button module, that is, the case where the movable button module has moved to the lowest position. FIG. 4B shows an open state of the movable button module, that is, a case where the movable button module has moved to the uppermost position.

  The light effect unit 14 is equipped with an LED (Light Emitting Device) (not shown) for light effect, and performs the light effect by turning on or blinking the LED. Moreover, the effect of a light effect can be heightened by providing several different color LED and changing a display color. The upper cover 11 is made transparent or semi-transparent at least on the surface visually recognized by the player so that the player can visually recognize the light emission of the LED. As a specific example, the top surface 11a of the upper cover 11 can be a translucent member, and the front surface 11b can be a transparent member.

  When the movable button module is in the closed state, most of the upper cover 11 is stored in the lower case 13. Specifically, the front surface 11b of the upper cover 11 is stored in the lower case 13, and only the top surface 11a is visible to the player. In addition, the front surface of the lower case 13 is a translucent member, so that the light effect on the front surface 11b of the upper cover 11 can be seen through the front surface of the lower case 13 even when the movable button module is in the closed state. It can be done. That is, when the light effect section 14 is lit with the movable button module closed, the top surface 11a of the upper cover 11 and the lower case 13 emit light when viewed from the player. On the other hand, when the light effect section 14 is lit in the open state of the movable button module, the top surface 11a and the front surface 11b of the upper cover 11 and the lower case 13 emit light when viewed from the player. In this way, it is possible to perform different light effects depending on the open / closed state of the movable button module.

  The movable button module can be pushed further downward from the closed state by a player's operation. The movable button module position detection sensor 16 detects this when a button is pressed by the player.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the drive mechanism unit 15 that drives the movable button module. As shown in FIG. 5, the drive mechanism unit 15 includes a drive effect unit 15A and a vibration module 15B. The drive effect unit 15A is provided as an actuator for swinging the movable button module in the vertical direction around the hinge unit 17. In addition, a vibration motor is mounted on the vibration module 15B, and vibration can be applied to the entire movable button module by driving the vibration motor.

  Next, a specific configuration of the drive effect unit 15A will be described with reference to FIG. The drive effect unit 15A is generally composed of a stepping motor (drive unit) 150, a rotating cam plate (rotating member) 151, a module opening / closing link (link member) 152, a module closing holding hook (holding member) 153, a spring 154, a hook A release lever (holding release member) 155 and a cam plate rotation position detection sensor 156 are provided.

  The stepping motor 150 is a power source in the drive effect unit 15A, and can be rotated by a predetermined angle by a pulse drive signal. Further, the stepping motor 150 is a motor capable of both forward rotation and reverse rotation drive. The rotating cam plate 151 is rotationally driven by the stepping motor 150 and is disposed on both sides of the shaft 157 that is rotationally driven from the stepping motor 150 via a gear or the like.

  The rotating cam plate 151 includes a flange portion 151a and a cam portion 151b, and one end of a module opening / closing link 152 is rotatably attached to the flange portion 151a. The rotating shaft (that is, the shaft 157) of the rotating cam plate 151 and the rotating shaft 152a of the module opening / closing link 152 are parallel to the shaft 17a (see FIG. 3) of the hinge portion 17 of the upper cover 11. The mounting position of the module opening / closing link 152 in the flange portion 151a is a position away from the rotation center of the flange portion 151a in the radial direction. Further, a long hole 152b is formed at the other end of the module opening / closing link 152, and a pin portion 11c (see FIG. 7) fixedly provided in the upper cover 11 is inserted into the long hole 152b.

  The module closing holding hook 153 holds the movable button module in the closed state. One end of the module closing holding hook 153 is rotatably attached to the frame portion 15Af of the drive effect portion 15A, and the tip on the other end side is an engagement piece 11d fixedly formed on the upper cover 11 (FIG. 7). It is a hook that can be engaged and held. The rotation shaft 153a of the module closing and holding hook 153 is parallel to the shaft 17a (see FIG. 3) of the hinge portion 17 of the upper cover 11.

  The spring 154 is a tension spring disposed between the module closing holding hook 153 and the frame portion 15Af of the drive effect portion 15A, and applies a biasing force to the module closing holding hook 153. That is, the module closing holding hook 153 is urged by the spring 154 in the direction in which the movable button module is held (engagement direction with the engagement piece 11d).

  The hook release lever 155 releases the movable button module held by the module closing holding hook 153. One end of the hook release lever 155 is rotatably attached to the frame portion 15Af of the drive effect portion 15A on the same rotation shaft 153a as one end of the module closing holding hook 153. The other end of the hook release lever 155 is disposed close to the cam portion 151b of the rotating cam plate 151. When the cam portion 151b rotates, a protrusion 151d (see FIG. 15) formed on the outer peripheral portion of the cam portion 151b. 8).

  When the hook release lever 155 swings, the hook release lever 155 can transmit the rotational force to the module closing holding hook 153 only in one direction. Specifically, the hook release lever 155 can transmit the rotational force to the module closing holding hook 153 only in the direction in which the module closing holding hook 153 releases the movable button module. On the contrary, the module closing holding hook 153 can transmit the rotational force to the hook release lever 155 only in the direction in which the movable button module is held.

  Such a configuration is obtained by, for example, an arc-shaped elongated hole 153b (see FIG. 11) provided in the module closing holding hook 153 and an engagement pin 155a (see FIG. 11) provided in the hook release lever 155. . That is, the engagement pin 155a on the hook release lever 155 side is disposed so as to fit into the long hole 153b on the module closing holding hook 153 side. In the direction in which the rotational force is transmitted, the engagement pin 155a contacts one end of the long hole 153b, and the rotational force is transmitted between the engagement pin 155a and the long hole 153b. On the other hand, in the direction in which the rotational force is not transmitted, the engagement pin 155a only moves relatively in the elongated hole 153b, and the rotational force is not transmitted between them.

  The cam plate rotation position detection sensor 156 detects the rotation position of the rotation cam plate 151, and is constituted by a photo sensor, for example. The rotating cam plate 151 is provided with a notch 151c at one location on the outer peripheral edge. The cam plate rotation position detection sensor 156 can detect the reference position of the rotation cam plate 151 by detecting the notch 151c. Further, when the rotating cam plate 151 is further rotated from the reference position, the control unit (not shown) determines the current value of the rotating cam plate 151 according to the number of pulses of the pulse driving signal given for the driving. The rotation position (amount of rotation from the reference position) can be recognized.

  In the game push button switch according to the present embodiment, the drive effect unit 15A can perform the storing operation of the movable button module, the opening operation of the movable button module, and the swinging operation of the movable button module. Hereinafter, each operation will be described.

[Storing operation of movable button module]
The storing operation of the movable button module will be described with reference to FIG.

  When retracting the movable button module, the stepping motor 150 rotates the rotating cam plate 151 (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7A (counterclockwise direction)), and the movable button module is moved downward via the module opening / closing link 152. Pull down. Further, the upper cover 11 is fixedly formed with an engaging piece 11d that engages with a hook portion of the module closing holding hook 153 and holds the movable button module.

  In the process in which the movable button module is lowered by the lowering operation, the engaging piece 11d comes into contact with the inclined surface 153c at the tip of the module closing and holding hook 153, and the module closing and holding hook 153 is retracted (clockwise in the figure). Rotate. At this time, the module closing holding hook 153 does not transmit the rotational force to the hook release lever 155.

  When the movable button module is further lowered, as shown in FIG. 7B, the module closing holding hook 153 is engaged with the engaging piece 11d by the urging force of the spring 154, and the movable button module is held in the closed state. . That is, the movable button module is stored in the lower case 13. This stored state is maintained until an opening operation described later is performed. It should be noted that the movable button module can be shifted to the retracted state by the player manually depressing the movable button module.

[Opening operation of the movable button module]
The opening operation of the movable button module will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the movable button module is opened, the rotating cam plate 151 is rotated by the stepping motor 150 (the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. 8A). During this time, the movable button module is held in the closed state by the module closing holding hook 153. And the pin part 11c provided in the upper cover 11 moves relatively within the long hole provided in the module opening / closing link 152.

  When the rotating cam plate 151 further rotates from the state of FIG. 8A to the state of FIG. 8B, the module closing holding hook 153 rotates in the clockwise direction in the drawing to hold the movable button module. To release. This operation is performed by the cam portion 151b of the rotating cam plate 151 acting on the hook release lever 155. That is, the protrusion 151d formed on the outer peripheral edge of the cam portion 151b contacts one end (right side in the figure) of the hook release lever 155, and in this state, the cam portion 151b rotates counterclockwise, 151 b pushes down one end of the hook release lever 155. As a result, the hook release lever 155 rotates clockwise around the left end in the drawing. The rotation of the hook release lever 155 is transmitted to the module closing holding hook 153, and the module closing holding hook 153 moves in a direction to release the holding of the movable button module.

  On the other hand, as described above, the upper cover 11 is urged upward by an urging member (for example, a string-wound spring provided in the hinge portion 17). Therefore, when the holding by the module closing holding hook 153 is released, as shown in FIG. 8C, the movable button module jumps up by the biasing force of the biasing member, and the movable button module is released.

  By combining the storing operation and the opening operation, for example, it is possible to perform an effect operation in which the movable button module drawn to the lowest position jumps upward from the position.

[Oscillating motion of the movable button module]
The opening operation of the movable button module will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the swinging operation in the open state of the movable button module. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the swinging operation in the closed state of the movable button module.

  When swinging the movable button module in the open state, a drive signal having a predetermined number of pulses is given to the stepping motor 150 from the open state of the movable button module, and the rotary cam plate 151 is rotated by a predetermined amount (for example, about 30 °). . In conjunction with this, the movable button module is slightly lowered downward (FIGS. 9A to 9B).

  Further, by driving the stepping motor 150 in the opposite direction by the same amount, the movable button module returns to the original position (open state position) (FIG. 9B to FIG. 9A). By repeating this operation, it is possible to perform the swinging operation in the open state of the movable button module.

  When the movable button module is swung in the closed state, a drive signal having a predetermined number of pulses is given to the stepping motor 150 from the closed state of the movable button module, and the rotary cam plate 151 is rotated by a predetermined amount (for example, about 45 °). . In conjunction with this, the holding by the module closing holding hook 153 is released, and the movable button module is slightly opened upward (FIG. 10 (a) to FIG. 10 (b)).

  That is, during the above operation, the protrusion 151e (see FIG. 11B) formed on the outer peripheral edge of the cam portion 151b abuts on one end (right side in the drawing) of the hook release lever 155, and the hook release lever 155 Push down one end. The rotation of the hook release lever 155 is transmitted to the module closed holding hook 153, and the module closed holding hook 153 releases the movable button module. When the holding of the movable button module is released, the movable button module is slightly opened upward by a restoring force of an urging member (for example, a string spring provided in the hinge portion 17).

  Further, by driving the stepping motor 150 in the opposite direction by the same amount, the movable button module returns to the original position (closed state position) (FIG. 10B to FIG. 10A). By repeating this operation, the swinging operation in the closed state of the movable button module can be performed.

  The protrusion 151d for releasing the holding during the opening operation and the protrusion 151e for releasing the holding during the swinging operation are formed at different positions on the cam 151b. For this reason, the amount of return of the movable button module when the hook is released differs between the hook release operation shown in FIG. 11A and the hook release operation shown in FIG. That is, in the hook releasing operation shown in FIG. 11A, the movable button module is largely returned to the position close to the open state, and the above-described opening operation can be performed. On the other hand, in the hook releasing operation shown in FIG. 11B, the return amount of the movable button module is small, and the above-described swinging operation can be performed.

  Further, the formation width of the protrusion 151e (the width along the circumferential direction of the cam portion 151b) is set larger than the formation width of the protrusion 151d. Accordingly, when the hook shown in FIG. 11B is released, the return speed of the movable button module can be made slower than when the hook shown in FIG. 11A is released.

  In the above example, the swing operation in the open state and the swing operation in the closed state of the movable button module have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Since the stepping motor 150 can repeat forward / reverse driving at an arbitrary position of the rotating cam plate 151 and within an arbitrary rotation range, an arbitrary opening (for example, about 50%) of the movable button module. It is also possible to perform the swinging operation in an open state.

  As described above, in the push button switch 10 according to the present embodiment, the retracting operation of the movable button module, the opening operation of the movable button module, and the swinging operation of the movable button module are performed by one actuator, that is, the drive effect unit 15A. Can be done. In other words, various effects can be realized by one actuator, and a complicated effect operation can be performed without increasing the cost, weight and size of the device.

[Pushing action of movable button module by player]
In the above description, the presentation operation of the push button switch 10 that can be executed by the drive presentation unit 15A has been described. However, in the push button switch 10, an operation signal can be output by a push-down operation of the movable button module by the player. The operation of pushing down the movable button module by the player will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the push button switch 10, the position of the movable button module in the closed state described above is not the lower limit of the movable range of the movable button module, but can be moved further downward by a player's push-down operation.

  FIG. 12A shows the case where the movable button module is in the closed position. Here, a light shielding piece 11e is fixedly provided on the upper cover 11 of the movable button module. On the other hand, the movable button module position detection sensor 16 is fixedly attached to the lower case 13.

  The movable button module position detection sensor 16 is, for example, a photomicrosensor in which a light receiving element and a light emitting element are arranged to face each other. There is no obstacle between the light receiving element and the light emitting element, and the light receiving element is separated from the light emitting element. An off signal is output while receiving the light. When there is an obstacle between the light receiving element and the light emitting element and the light receiving element cannot receive light from the light emitting element, the movable button module position detection sensor 16 outputs an ON signal.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, when the movable button module is in the closed state, the light shielding piece 11e of the upper cover 11 is in the vicinity of the movable button module position detection sensor 16, but the light shielding piece 11e is the light receiving element. And the light emitting element. Therefore, the movable button module position detection sensor 16 outputs an off signal.

  When the movable button module is pushed down by the player and enters the state shown in FIG. 12C, the light shielding piece 11e enters between the light receiving element and the light emitting element. As a result, the light receiving element cannot receive light from the light emitting element, and the movable button module position detection sensor 16 outputs an ON signal.

  When the player pushes down the movable button module and the movable button module position detection sensor 16 outputs an ON signal, the ON signal is detected by the control unit of the pachinko machine 1. When the control unit detects the ON signal, the control unit can change the presentation operation of the pachinko machine 1 or operate the vibration module 15B to apply vibration to the entire movable button module. However, how to use the ON signal (the button operation detection by the player) by the movable button module position detection sensor 16 is not particularly limited in the present invention.

  Note that the pressing operation of the movable button module by the player may be performed not only from the closed state of the movable button module shown in FIG. 12A but also from the open state of the movable button module shown in FIG. .

  The present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. For this reason, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

1 Pachinko machine (game machine)
10 Pushbutton switch (external production mechanism)
11 Upper cover (movable button module)
11d Engagement piece 11e Light-shielding piece 12 Bezel (mounting part)
13 Lower case (mounting part)
14 Light production section (movable button module)
15 Drive mechanism part 17 Hinge part 15A Drive presentation part (actuator)
150 Stepping motor (drive unit, motor)
151 Rotating cam plate (Rotating member)
151a Flange portion 151b Cam portion 152 Module open / close link (link member)
153 Module closed holding hook (holding member)
154 Spring 155 Hook release lever (holding release member)
156 Cam plate rotation position detection sensor 16 Movable button module position detection sensor

Claims (6)

A push button switch used in a gaming machine,
A mounting portion for fixedly mounting the push button switch to the gaming machine;
A movable button module that is coupled to the mounting portion at a hinge portion, and is rotatable in the vertical direction around the hinge portion;
A push button switch comprising: a drive unit; and an actuator capable of applying the vertical driving force to the movable button module. The push button switch according to claim 1,
The actuator includes a motor capable of both forward rotation and reverse rotation as the drive unit,
The actuator is capable of causing the movable button module to perform a swinging motion that repeats a vertical motion at an arbitrary position by repeating forward and reverse driving. The push button switch according to claim 1 or 2,
The movable button module is attached to the attachment portion while being given an urging force to rotate upward.
The actuator is
A rotating member that rotates in response to the driving force of the driving unit;
Linking the rotating member and the movable button module, a link member capable of pulling the movable button module downward by rotation of the rotating member;
A holding member capable of holding the movable button module at the lowest position when the movable button module is at the lowest position by the rotating member and the link member;
A push button switch, comprising: a holding release member that releases the holding of the movable button module by the holding member when the rotating member comes to a predetermined rotation position.   A gaming machine comprising the push button switch according to any one of claims 1 to 3. An external performance operation mechanism used in a gaming machine,
An attachment portion for fixedly attaching the external performance operation mechanism to the gaming machine;
A movable module that is hinge-coupled to the mounting portion and is rotatable in the vertical direction around the hinge portion;
An external rendering operation mechanism, comprising: an actuator that includes a drive unit and is capable of applying the vertical driving force to the movable module.   A game machine comprising the external performance operation mechanism according to claim 5.

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