US1095541A - Printing-telegraph system. - Google Patents

Description

C. G. ASHLEY.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLIQATION FILED MAY 11. 1911.

Patented May 5, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTQR, @I MW 1%.@

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGIGN. D. c;

C. G. ASHLEY.

PRINTING TBLBGRAPH SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIQ 111111111111111 1.

" Breit. f

CHARLES G'. ASHLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LIMITED,

OF TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORATION.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

T0 all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. ASHLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and .State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementl in Printing-Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention pertains to automatic printing telegraph systems of the class employing a plurality of component printing elements or types, the complete legible characters being formed of impressions in proper relation and sequence from a plurality of the component types representing the various component parts of the characters to be recorded.

In an application filed by me on February 6th, 1911, Serial No. 606784, I have disclosed a system of printing telegra-phy in which a plurality of printing elements are electromagnetically operated over one of a pair of line conductors and ground to make con-1 tact with a record sheet, while the recording of an impression of any element of the group is selectively controlled over the remaining line conductor and ground. Thus current impulses of variant polarity over one line conductor and ground operate the printing elements to make Contact in predetermined groups with a record sheet, while current impulses of 'variant polarity over the other line conductor and ground cause the selective imprinting of any printing element of a group in contact with the recording sheet.

It is with a view toward simplifying the system and decreasing the installation cost that my present invention is directed. I accomplish this and other desirable features which will be subsequently herein disclosed by a novel arrangement of apparatus and circuits which enables me to transmit intelligence. and record the same in the Roman alphabet by the use of but a single line conductor.

In the figures which accompany and form a part of this specification and in which like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 illustrates in diagram the apparatus and circuits at both a transmit-ting and receiving station, together with the line conductor .connecting them. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the under side of one portion of the receiving apparatus of my improved system. Fig. 3 is a magnified View of the monogram or the impressions of the Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 11, 1911.

Patented May 5, 1914.

serial No. 626,427.

printing type elements as they would appear were all of the types imprinted on a stationary recording surface. Fig. l shows a section of transmitting tape perforated with all the combinations of perforations necessary to transmit all of the characters of the ltoman alphabet, and the numerals from O to 9. Fig. 5 shows graphically the periodicity of the voltage of the current used to effect the selection of the imprints of the type faces and is so placed with relation to Fig. 4 as to clearly disclose the time relation existing between the magnet selection currents and the imprint selection currents. Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional transmitting tape perforated to form all of the characters necessary to transmit intelligence in the Roman alphabet with my improved system, and also shows the character and outline of the letters and numerals as recorded by my improved receiving device.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the receiving device of my improved system is shown in diagram at the left of Fig. 1 and comprises a permanent polarizing magnet 9 of substantially rectangular form7 within which is mounted an electromagnet 10, presenting a pole face, substantially midway between the poles of the polarizing magnet 9. An arma- .ture 12 is placed opposite the free pole of electro-magnet 10 and between the poles of the polarizing magnet 9. This armature is pivoted at its central portion between two non-magnetic journal plates 13 and 14: by means of the trunnion screws 5 and 6. Strips of ivory or other insulating material,

.121 and 122 are rigidly attached to the under portion Vof the armature 12, near its outer extremities. These insulating strips normally rest lightly against four light nonmagnetio springs 1, 2, 3, and e, which are rigidly attached at one extremity to the polarizing magnet 9 andare insulated therefrom and from each other by means of the insulating blocks 7 and 8.' Each spring bears on its free extremity an iron printing element or type face 11 22 32 and 4:4. The springs with their respective type face will be hereafter referred to as printing pens.

The springs bearing elements 11 and 22 are connected together as are the springs bearing elements 33 and 44. A platinum surfaced anvil 11 is placed opposite the printing elements 11, 22, 32 and 41:2V and is adjustable in its distance therefrom by means of the screw as indicated. tape sensitized with any ot the u'ell known chemical compoundsI vtor electrolytic printing, such as a mixture oft nitrate oi ammonium, chlorid of amnumiuiu and red prussiate ot potassium, rest., on the surface of the anvil in a position to receive impressions from any one of the printing type faces. rlhe printing pens 1.l i?, 3 and el are normally held out of contact with the receiving tape 11l through their inherent spring tension, which causes them norma .y to inno a relaxed position and hear lightly against the insulating' strips 121 and 122 ot armature 12, thus tending' to aid the polarizing magnet J to maintain armature 12 normally in a substantially horizontal position when magnet 10 is deonergized.

jin elcctromagnetioally polarized relay 100 comprising the operating electromagnets 1.3 and 16, polarizing electromagnet- 18, armature 17 and contacts 25 and 26, has the windings of .its operating magnets and lf3 so placed with relation to each other that a` current impulse through the windings in series `induces unlike poles on the opposed or operating extremities of the cores, While current impulse through the windings in a direction opposite from that otl the first impulse rercrses the respective polarity of the pole faces. The windings ot' electromagnets 15 and 1G and the Winding ot electromagnet 10 arc connected in series between the line conductor 29 and ground 28. A pair of batteries 21 and 22, or equivalentI sources of current, have their terminals of opposite polarity connected together and through an adjustable resistance with one terminal of the polarizing magnet 18 of relay 100, the other extremity of which is connected to armature 17; and also through 2O and 1S and a resistance 19 and conductor 24 With one of the blades of a double pole, double tarow knife switch 42, the other blade 01:' which is connected through conductor 28 with the conductor joining the opposite terminals of batteries 21 and 22. @ne terminal o3t` a pair of terminals of knife switch 4152 is connected to the conductor joining` printing peus 3 and ai., While the other terminal ot' the pair is connected to the conductor joining printing pens 1 and 2. The pairs of printing pens 1, 2 and 3, ai are connected to the second pair of terminals of knife switch #i2 in re'i'erse order from their connection to the first pair of terminals by means of the crossed jumper Wires on the switch 4Q as indicated.

Referring now especially to relay 100, it will be obserif'ed that if the armature 17 is in contact with contact 25 current Will flow :from battery 21 through contact 25, armature 17 and thence through the helix of,

y clectroniagnet 1S to the negative pole of i @D battery 2.1, to induce a N. pole upon the free 1 is grmuided at 39, while the other termiextremity of armature 17, While if armature 17 is in contact with contact 2G current will tlouv Vtrom battery 22 through the helix ot electromagnet 18, armature 17, contact 26 and thence to the negative pole of battery 22, to induce a S. pole on the treo extremity ot' armature 17. Assume non,7 that armature 17 is at rest in contact with contact 25 and that an alternating current of a delinite periodicity is traversing the helices oi magnet 15 and 1G to ground 2S, the positive mires ot the current Will induce a S. pole on the polo tace oil magnet 16 and a N. pole on the pole face of magnet 15, While the negative waves ot current will induce a S. pole on the pole face of magnet 1.5 and a N. pole on the pole lace of magnet 16; thus, as armature 17 is in contact with Contact 25 and is presenting a N. pole to the pole face ot elcctromagnet 15 and as a positive i1npulse ot' current through the helices of inagnets 15 and 1G produces a N. pole on inagnet 15 and a tl. pole on magnet 1G, armature 17 is attracted by magnet 1G to break contact With contact 25 and make contact With contact 26 1which changes the direction of current through the helix of magnet 18 and thereby produces a pole on the extremity oil armature 17. A negatire impulse of" current lfollowing the previous positive impulse through tle helices oit' magnets and 16, induces a l pole on magnet 1G, thereby tending to hold armature 17 in contact With Contact 2e, While a positive impulse of current following the previous negative impulse, induces a S. pole on magnet 1o and a C. pole on magnet 15, thereby attracting armature 17 to break connection from contact 2G and make connection with contact 25, which changes the jiiolarity ot its free extremity from S. back to N. and it is held in contact with contact until the next succeeding' pi itire impulse through the helices ot magnets 15 and 1G. 1t therefore obvious that a current oit a delinite periodicity through the helices of magnets 15 and 1G will produce in the helix of magnet 1S a current which is in eiliect an alternating current of one halt the periodicit)Y of the operating' current aiul, that this current of ono-halt periodicity ii; iinpres, ed on the printing elements in pairs iii shunt with the Winding of magnet 1S.

Referring nouv to the transmitter which is shown in diagram at the right ot Fig. 1, an alternating generator 38 is belted to any convenient source ot' pou'er and is geared through shaft and spur gears 37 and 36 with a conducting drum 33 which is rotatircly mounted between journals by means ot the shaft 34. iti brush 30 may bear upon and make contact with the surface of the drum and is connected to the line conductor 29. @ne terminal of the generator nal is connected to both the journal of drum and through an adjustable resistance 31 to line conductor 29. This allows of placing on the line 29 through the ground two intensities of current, one through the drum 33 and brush 30 and the other through the adjustable resistance 31; thev latter current 'value bein@l ad`ustable through a wide range b D b of intensity by means of the adjust-able resistance 31. Assuming now the brush 30 to be out of contact with the drum 33 and the generator 3S in operation, an alternating current may be placed through the adjustable resist-ance 31 on the line 29 through the helices of electromagnets 10, 15 and 16 to ground 2S, vof such a value that relay 100 may be adjusted through the adjustable resistance 20 to be responsive thereto while the armature 12 opposite magnet 10 is unresponsive. This results in placing a potential alternating at one-half the periodicity of the line current on the pen faces 11, 22 33 and 44 without moving the pen faces.

The drum 33 is provided with a median row of equally spaced insulating invaginating projections 331 which are so spaced with relation to the ratio of speed of the drum 33 and generator 3S, that while the drum 33 is rotated through an angular distance defined by that between any two projections 831 the generator 38 is placing on the drum 33, four positive potentials and four nega.- tive potentials and placing upon the line four complete current cycles. rlhus, if a transmitting tape 32 is provided with a median row of -registry perforations and is placed on the drum 33 so that its registry perforations engage the projections 331, it will be possible by correctly spacing a perforation in the tape in relation to its longitudinal distance, fro-m any registry perforations, to send either a positive or a negative impulse from generator 3S thro-ugh drum 33 and brush 30 to Aline conductor 29. This impulse will be in phase with the current placed on the line through adjustable resistance 31 and, as the impulse is placed on the line through a shunt of comparatively low resistance compared to the resistance 31, it will be of augmented energy as compared with the impulses sent through resistance 31 to operate the polarized relay 100, and will thus energize magnet 10 to attract either end of armature 12, depending upon the polarity of the impulse. Armature 12 may lthus be operated selectively to depress pen faces 11, 33, or 21, 44 simultaneously into contact with the receiving tape 111 and as relay 1GO by its operation, as vhitherto explained, places a potential on the pen faces which reverse in direction twice while the line current potential reverses four times,

it follows that both pairs of pens 11, 33 and 22, 41 may be successively brought into contact with tape line 111, while the potential impression on their faces is either positive or negative.

If the anvil 11 be platinum coated and the tape 111 be impregnated with the chemical compound previously mentioned, it is obvious that either pen faces of a pair in contact with the recording tape 111, may be imprinted thereon depending upon which pen face of a pair is at a positive potential with respect to the tape 111. Thus, assuming armature 17 of relay 100 to be maintained in operationby an alternating current from generator 8S, through resistance 81 to line conductor 29, if a positive impulse of current be sent through the brush 30 to line conductor 29 it will operate armature 12 to depress pen fa-ces 11 and 33 simultaneously into contact with tape 111 and pen 11 or 33 will be at a positive potential with respect to tape 111 depending upon whether armature 17 is at that instant in contact with contact 25 or 26 respectively. Simi- Y larly, a negative impulse of current sent through brush 30 over line conductor 29 will cause armature 12 to depress pen faces and 4'* simultaneously into contact with tape 111 and either pen 22 or 4L will be imprinted thereon dependent upon whether armature 1T is in contact with contact 25 or 26 respectively.

n Fig. 8 I have shown an enlarged view of the pen faces as they would appear were all of the types imprinted on a stationary recording surface, or it may be considered a plan view of the printing faces o-r elements in their position in the receiver. Plans 11, 22 and 33 are in width each equal to the width of a complete normal character such as H. The width of a complete normal character is divided into eight arbitrary units, each pen face being separated from its fellow by one of these arbitrary units.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the phase relation that must exist between the line current andthe current impressed on the pen faces, in order to imprint legible characters with an arrangement of perforations as shown in Fig. 4, is clearly indicated. face 4L is imprinted by sending a negative impulse from generator 3S through brush 30 over line 29 through magnets 10, 16 and 15 to ground which causes armature 12 to depress pens 2 and 4 simultaneously into contact with tape 111 and assuming that armature 17 of relay 100 is at that instant in contact with contact 26, current will flow from battery 22, through conductor 23, lower blade of knife switch 42, conductor joining pens 3 and 4, spring of pen 4, pen face 44, tape 111, pen face 22, spring of pen 2, conductor joining pens 2 and 1, upper blade of lrnife switch 42, conductor 24, resistance 19,

armature 17, contact 26 to battery 22, theren.

Pen

by causing pen face 4t to assume a positive potential with respect to tape 11l and causing thus its imprint thereon but not causing the imprint of pen face 22. Pen face 22 is imprinted by sending from generator 38 through brush 30, line 29, helices of magnets 10, 16 and 15 to ground, a negative impulse following the positive impulse immediately succeeding the negative impulse which caused the imprint of pen face 4t. As has hitherto been explained the positive impulse succeeding the previous nee'ative impulse, has caused armature 17 to break con nection from contact 2G and malte connection with contact rihus, as the negative impulse under discussion has caused armature 12 to again depress pen faces 22 and 44 simultaneously into contact with tape 111, current flows from battery 21 through contact 25, armature 17, resistance 19, conductor 24, upper blade of knife switch 42, conductor oining pens l and 2, spring of pen 2, pen face 22, tape 111, pen face 4*, spring of pen 4, conductor joining pens 4 and 3,lower blade cf knife switch 42, conductor 23 to battery 21, thus causing pen face 22 to become positive with respect to the tape 11'l and thereby causing its imprint thereon, but not causing' the imprint of pen face 44. 4Similarly two positive impulses separated by a negative impulse selectively cause the imprinting of pen faces 3' and 11.

Fig. 4 illustrates the relation between the operating perforations and the registry perforations and shows the relation existing between the registry perforations and all of the perforations necessary to operate the printing pens in such sequence as to form legible characters. The longitudinal line 301 is an arbitrarily chosen contact line between the brush 30 and the Crum 33 along which the pen-selective perforations are spaced. rifhe longitudiuffil line 332 is a median line along which the registry perforations are spaced. The transverse lines 40, 30, 20, and 10 are placed a distance apart equal to, or proportional to the unit of width of the pen faces 11, 22, and dependent upon the ratio of the speed of the transmitting and receiving tapes. For the purpose of clearness in this disclosure l will assume that this tape interval is equal to the unit of width of the pen faces, 11, 22 and as illustrated and that the transmitting and receiving tapes move through commensurate distances in equal times. Thus, in order to selectively imprint any pen face it only necessary to place a perforation along the line 30l opposite a registry perforation, or one, two or three tape intervals removed therefrom, de pendent upon the pen face which it is desired to imprint.

The manner of forming legible characters by the use of a tape perforated in accordance with that illustrated in Fig. 6, is as follows: Assuming that generator 38 is placing an alternating current on line 29, through resistance 31, which is operating armature 17, at one-half the frequency of the line current; that tape 32 perforated as shown in Fig. 6 is in such a position on drum 33 that its registry perforations engage the projections 33 and that the tape is being drawn under brush 30 by means of the tra-in of gears 3G and 37 at a speed which is proportional to the generator speed as hitherto indicated, then a perforation along the line 4O places through the brush 30 to line 29 an augmented negative impulse which imprints pen face 44 as previously disclosed and after a time interval of eight tape units a perforation along another line as 40 allows another augmented negative impulse to flow through brush 30 to line 29 again imprinting pen ffice 4K1 which, as the receiving tape 11 is considered to be moving through a commensurate distance from right ti left under pen face as indicated .in Fig. 3, while the transmitting tape 32 is moving eight tape intervals, imprints the second imprint of pen face 4A1 upon the receiving tape a distance away from the previous imprint of eight receiving tape units, or the width of a complete normal character. After the tape has passed under the brush 30 a distance of two more tape intervals, a perforation along the line 20 allows an augmented negative iinpulse to i'iow through brush 30 to line 2S), which, as before noted, follows an unintensii fied positive impulse through relay 10() which has changed the direction of current through the pen faces when in contact with the receiving tape 11 and therefore the negative impulse under discussion results in imprinting pen face 22. As t-he two previous imprints of pen face 4Ak have before the imprinting of pen fa ce 22 moved under the type faces as viewed in Fig. 3, a distance of two units of width of a complete normal character, pen face 22 is imprinted with its extremities abutting the two previous imprints of pen face 44. After tape 32 has passed under brush 30 one more tape interval a pei'- foration along the line 10 allows of an augmented positive impulse beingsent through the brush 30 over line 29 which imprints pen face 1 and as the tape 11. carrying the imprints of pen faces 44 and 22 has in the interim moved one unit of width of a normal character to the left under the pen faces as viewed in Fig. 3 type face l is i1nprinted in such relation to the previous imprints that its vertical leg registers with the upper half of the first imprint of pen face 44, while the extremity of its horizontal leg abuts the latter imprint of pen face 44 to form the chartcter A. ln a similar manner all of the characters necessary to transmit intelligence in any language using the Roman alphabet may be transmitted and imprinted.

lll

It will be observed from the foregoing and from a study of Figs. 4 and 5 t-hat a definite phase relation must at all times be maintained between the line current and the current impressed on the pen faces through the operat-ion of armature 17 of relay 100 in order to transmit intelligence with the design of apparatus and circuits used and with the predetermined arrangement of perforations in the tape with respect to the registry perforations. This phase relation depends entirely upon the initial or starting position of armature 17 with respect to its contacts and can be maintained by manually setting the armature 17 during its periods of rest in contact with the proper contact so that when generator 38 is started the phas-e relation of the line current and printing current will always be in proper relation to each other to insure the imprinting of the proper pen face for a predetermined spacing of the perforations with relation to their registry perforations. This necessity for manually re-setting the armature 17 is obviated by providing the double pole reversing switch 4t2 with which the operator may reverse the current through the pairs of pen faces in contact with the tape 1l. Thus, if a test tape perforated with a series of perforations along the line 40, each spaced opposite a registry perforation to imprint a series of imprints from the pen face 44 be preliminarily sent through transmitter before a message tape, the receiving operator may by observing the resultant record, note whether the printing currents arein contact phase with the line currents, by observing whether a series of equally spaced vertical lines are printed or whether the opposite pen of the pair, as 22, is producing a series of short lines resulting in a record having the form of a continuous median line. If median line be received the operator reverses the position of the reversing switch 42 and a series of imprints from the pen face I4 results upon the receiving tape, signifying to the operator that the apparatus is in a condition for receiving a message.

While I have illustrated and described only one embodiment of my device, it is to be clearly understood that I may malte numerous changes therein wit-hout departing from the spirit or narrowing the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. In a printingtelegraph system, a plurality of printing elements a printing surface, means responsive to current impulses of variant polarities and predetermined intensit-y to effect the selective operation into Contact with said printing surface of predetermined groups of said print-ing elements, and means responsive to current impulses of a predetermined polarity to effect the selective imprinting of any element of an operated group of said elements.

2. In a print-ing telegraph system, a printing surface, a relay responsive to a cont-inuous series of impulses of alternating polarity and normal and maximum current intensity, and a plurality of printing elements operable selectively in predetermined groups into Contact with said printing surface of all the elements of a group by means of current impulses of variant polarities and of said maximum current intensity, said relay by its operation effecting the selective imprinting of any element of a group of said elements.

3. In a printing telegraph system a printing surface, a plurality of printing elements, an operating electromagnet responsive to current impulses of variant polarities and predetermined intensity to effect the engagement of said printing surface with said elements in predetermined groups, and a relay responsive to current impulses of predetermined polarity and lower intensity to effect the selective imprinting of any element of an operated group of said element-s.

4. In a printing telegraph system, a plurality of printing elements, a record sheet, an operating electromagnet for said printing elements responsive to current impulses of variant polarity and predetermined intensity to effect the selective operation of said elements in predetermined groups to make Contact with said record sheet, and a relay responsive to current impulses of predetermined polarity and variant intensity, to effect the selective imprinting of any element of a group of said elements in contact with said record sheet.

5. In a printing telegraph system, a` relay responsive to continuous series of impulses of predetermined polarity and normal and amplified current intensity,` a plurality of printing elements, a record sheet therefor, said printing elements being operable selectively in predetermined groups by means of current impulses of variant polarity and amplified intensity to malte Contact with said record sheet, said relay by its operation eiecting the selective imprinting on Vsaid record sheet of any element of a group of said elements in contact therewith.

G. In a system of printing telegraphy, a printing surface, an electro-magnetically polarized relay operated by current impulses of predetermined polarity, a plurality of printing 'elements operable selectively in predetermined groups by current impulses of variant polarities and of `'augmented intensity to the impulses operating said relay, said relay by its operation effecting the selective imprinting of any element of a group of said elements operated into contact with said printing surface.

7. In a printing telegraph system, a plurality of printing elements, a relay, said relay being operable to place upon said printing elements current impulses of variant polarity and of a predetermined frequency, said printing elements being operable lectively in predetermined groups by means of current impulses of Variant polarity and of augmented intensity to the currents operating said relay.

8. in a printing' telegraph system, a receiving station, a transn'iitting station and a line conductor and ground connecting them, means at said transmitting' station for impressing upon said conductor and ground an alternating current of a definite frequency and Variant intensity; a relay at said receiving station operated by said alternating current, a printing surface, a plurality of printing elements, means for utilizing one Value of the intensity of said alternating current to effect the selection of a group of said printing elements, and for moving them into engagement with said printing surface, and means for utilis'ng the ope z tion of said relay to effect the selective imprinting of any one of an operated group of said elements.

9. ln a printing telegraph system, a transmitter, a receiver and a line connecting them, said transmitter being operable to place on said line an alternating current having normal and amplified current values; a plurality of printing el-ements, an operating magnet therefor, and a relay operable by impulses of said alternating current of a predetermined polarity and normal current value to impress on said printing elements, current impulses of one-half the frequency of said operating alternating current, said printing elements being operable selectively in predetermined groups through said operating magnet by means of impulses of said alteriniting` current of variant polarity and of said amplified current Value.

10. In a printing telegraph system, a receiving station, a transmitting` station and a line conductor and ground connecting them, means at said transmitting station for impressing upon said conductor and ground,

an alternating current of a definite frequency, and intensity, and current impulses of variant polarity and augmented intensity in phase with said alternating current; a relay at said receiving station, operated by said alternating current, a plurality of printing elements, means for utilizing said current impulses of variant polarities and augmented intensity to effect the selection of a predetermined group of said printing elements, means for utilizing the operation of said relay to effect the imprinting on a receiving surface of any of said elements of said selected group.

ll. ln a printing telegraph system, the combination with a sending station, a receiving station, and a connecting line consisting of one wire and ground, of two groups of printing characters and a receiving surface at the receiving station, a source of alternating current, and means controlled from the sending station for primarily se lecting a group of characters and moving same into contact with the receiving sur face, and secondarily selecting a desired character from the selected group byv impulses fiowing over said connecting line.

l2. A source of alternating current, a second alternating current controlled by the first so that it will have oneehalf the frequency of the first, a series of four printing characters, and means controlled by the joint action of the two currents for printing' said characters selectively.

13. The combination with four printing` characters, of means for producing two alternating currents, means operating through one current for controlling the other so that the frequencies of the two currents will be to each other as two to one, and means operating through the conjoint action of the two currents for printing said type selectively.

Signed by me at Toronto, county of York, and hrovince of Ontario, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. ASHLEY.

l/Vitnesses VWM. J. HERDMAN, H. M. CHRISTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommssioner of Yatents, Washington, D. C.

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