US2052044A - Totalizer and keyboard capacity - Google Patents

Description

1935- R. J. YACKLEY ET AL 2,052,044

TOTALIZER AND KEYBOARD CAPACITY CONTROL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed April 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

Qmento'a Raymond J. Yackley B and Roland C. Hall Hi5 dbtotvwg D Q E Aug. 25, 1936.

R. J. YACKLEY ET AL TOTALIZER AND KEYBOARD CAPACITY CONTROL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES FIG. 4

qumvsy ysuw FIG. 5

3 She ets-Sheet 2 5 E El LJJ H D E D gyvuenl'oi Raymond J. Yackley 5 nd Roland C. Hall Aug. 25, 1936. R. J. YACKLEY ET AL TOTALIZER AND KEYBOARD CAPACITY CONTROL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Filed April 21, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 glwntoc Raymond J. Yackley B and Roland C. Hall H is dbl'olnaq to numerous subscribers.

Patented Aug. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES TOTALIZER ANDY KEYBOARD CAPACITY CONTROL FOR CALCULATING MACHINES Raymond J. Yackley and Roland C. Hall, Detroit,- Mich., assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application April 21, 1932, Serial No. 606,638

6 Claims.

This invention relates to accounting machines and the like, but more particularly to improvements in machines of the well known Ellis type, such as are set out and described in Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 1,197,276 and 1,197,278, issued September 5, 1916, to Halcolm Ellis, and Patent No. 1,203,863 issued November 7, 1916 also to Halcolm Ellis, and Patent No. 1,819,084, issued to Emil John Ens August 18, 1931.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a machine of the above type in which the capacity of the totalizer may be increased or decreased at will.

Another object is to provide means for disabling the transfer mechanism of a particular denominational unit in order to change the capacity of the totalizer.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top-plan view of the keyboard of the machine of the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the transfer mechanism of one denominational unit.

Figs. 3 and 4 are facsimiles of fragments of two ledger sheets used in the instant machine.

Fig. 5 is a cross section alongside the fourth or thousands amount bank.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the transfer disabling mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation illustrating in detail the means for disabling the transfer mechanism and changing the capacity of the machine.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The instant invention is shown incorporated in the well known Ellis accounting machine, which is fully illustrated and described in the patents referred to at the beginning of this specification. The machine embodying the invention is equipped with a traveling carriage similar to those used on typewriters, and if desired, may also be equipped with. typewriter keyboard and type. In its present application the instant machine is supplied with one totalizer in which both addition and subtraction may be carried on. However, if desired, the number of totalizers may be increased to meet the demands of varying business conditions.

The machine to which the present invention is applied is shown adapted for use by a public utility company who distributes electrical current Each subscriber is supplied with a meter which registers the amount of current consumed in the terms of kilowatt hours. The average consumer is supplied with a four wheel meter which has a maximum registering capacity of 9,999 kilowatt hours. Gonsumers who use a large amount of electrical current are each supplied with a five-wheel meter, having a total registering capacity of 99,999 kilowatt hours. These meters are read periodically and the amount of current consumed by each subscriber is ascertained by subtracting the previous meter reading from the present meter reading.

Subscribers are listed according to certain outlined districts, the accounts of subscribers supplied with four-wheel meters and those with fivewheel meters being mixed indiscriminately. After the meters of a certain district are read, these readings are turned over to the main ofiice where a calculation is made of each subscribers account".

Whenever either the four-wheel or five-wheel meter reaches its capacity it clears itself and starts again at zero. Therefore if the previous reading of a four-wheel meter was 9986 (Fig. 3) and 28 kilowatt hours of current were consumed during the present period, the present meter reading would be 14. This would also be true in the case of a five-wheel meter where the previous reading was 99986.

An accounting machine such as the Ellis is generally used in calculating the number of kilo- Watt hours consumed by each subscriber, and it is essential that the printing of this machine coincide with the reading of the meters. In order to use a machine with a totalizer of five denominations for the calculation of both fourwheel and five-wheel meter accounts, it is necessary that the capacity of the totalizer be changed and therefore means are provided for disabling the highest or fifth denomination of the totalizer when calculating four-wheel meter accounts. In the machine showing the present invention this has been accomplished by supplying means for locking the carrying mechanism of the fourth denomination of the totalizer thereby preventing transferring of both positive and negative amounts from the fourth to the fifth denomination. The mechanism used in locking the carrying mechanism will be thoroughly explained in the following detailed description:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Operating mechanism The mechanism of the machine embodying this invention is supported between two main frames, 30 and 3|, (Fig. 5) which are mounted parallel to each other upon a base plate 32 (Fig. 6. A machine case 33, (Fig. 1) secured to the base plate encloses the mechanism of the machine and also supports a traveling carriage, not

tion. subtract operation is other than another subhere shown, but fully illustrated and described in the patents referred to above.

Secured to the base plate 32 is an electric motor, not here shown, but of the type illustrated and described in Patent No. 1,601,102 issued September 28, 1926 to Frederick W. Bernau. This motor is of the constant-running type and operates a clutch driving member not shown. The driven member of the clutch is operatively connected to the driving member by the depression of a starting bar 36 (Fig. 1) causing said driven member to travel a complete revolution with said driving member until automatically disconnected therefrom at the end of a machine operation. The driven member of theclutch is operatively connected to the machine operating mechanism, not here shown, but fully set out and described in the patents referred to at the beginning of this specification.

The instant machine has an add-subtract totalizer actuated by horizontally reciprocating racks, which are positioned by the five rows of keys (Figs. 1 and 5). The reciprocating racks 21 (Fig. 5) also position printing segments 26 which when released, near the middle of a machine operation in a manner fully described in the above mentioned patents, print impressions upon paper wound around a platen roll 25 carried by the usual traveling carriage.

The three rows of keys at the left of the keyboard are date-printing keys and are arranged to position reciprocating racks, which in turn position date-printing segments, not here shown.

Located on the righthand side of the keyboard just above the starting bar 34 (Fig. 1) is a traveling carriage tabulating key 35, depression of which tabulates the usual traveling carriage from one printing position to another.

To-talizer carrying mechanism The add-subtract totalizer of the present machine is provided with a dual carrying mechanism which is normally in adding position, but is automatically shifted to subtract position when the machine'is conditioned for a subtract opera- If the machine operation succeeding a tract operation the carrying mechanism is automatically returned to adding position at the beginning of said succeeding operation. As illustrated in Fig. 2 the carrying mechanism is shown in subtract position and in Fig. 5 in the add position. As previously brought out the totalizer of the instant machine has a capacity of five denominations. Means have been provided for disabling the fourth denomination transfer mechanism to reduce the totalizer capacity to four denominations. The above mechanisms will now be described.

The add-subtract totalizer has a plurality of wheels 36 (Figs. 2 and 5) one for each denomination, which are actuated by the reciprocating racks 21. Each of the wheels 36 has twenty teeth, representing digits in a particular denomination and each wheel carries a plate 31 with diametrically opposed projections 38 and ed on a No. 1 totalizershaft carried by the .usual totalizer rocking frame supported between the end plates 46 of a totalizer frame (Fig. 6).

', v The projections 38 and 39 are adapted to cooperate with a nose ll (Figs. 2 and 5) on an add transferflatch d2 pivoted on a shaft 43 supported in the totalizer rocking frame. The projections 38 and 39 are also arranged to cooperate with a nose 44 (Fig. 2) on a subtract transfer latch 45, also pivoted on the shaft 43. The latch 42 has a formed ear 46 adapted to cooperate with a projection 47 on an arm 48 secured on a transfer cam 49 pivoted on a shaft 56 carried by plates 51 (only one shown) supported between the totalizer frame plates 40.

The subtract latch 55 has an ear 5! arranged to cooperate with a projection 52 on an arm 53 of the transfer cam 49. The cam arm 49 (Figs. 2 and 5) has a Y-shaped cam slot 54 adapted to cooperate with a stud 55 in a transfer segment 56 pivoted on the plate 51. The transfer cam arm 49 carries a stud 58 adapted to cooperate with a hook 59 on a detent 66 secured to a shaft 6! journaled in brackets 62 and 63 supported by the end plates 46 of the totalizer frame.

Calling attention to Figs. 6 and '7, the shaft 6| has secured on its righthand end an arm 64 connected by a link 65 to a lever 66 secured to a shaft 61 journaled in the frames 36 and 3i. The upper end of the lever 66 extends through a slot 68 in a keyboard plate 69 and terminates in a finger piece ill. The lower end of the lever 66 terminates in a projection H adapted to cooperate with a spring retainer 12 secured to the base 32.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be recalled that the dual carrying mechanism is here shown in subtract position. J ournaled between the end plates 46 of totalizer frame is a shift bar 73 connected by a link not shown to a transfer spring bail l5 pivoted on a stud in the left-hand plate and one of the plates 51. The shift bar 13 has an extension 17 adapted to cooperate with a. projection 18 on the add transfer latch 42 and a projection 19 on the subtract transfer latch 45. a

When the machine is conditioned and released for a subtract operation the shift bar 13 and the bail 15 are automatically moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 at the beginning of said operation. This causes the extension Tl of the shift bar to contact the projection 18 on the latch 42 to rock the nose 4i upwardly out of the path of the projections 38 and 39 on the totalizer wheel 36. As previously stated, if the operation succeeding a subtract operation is other than another subtract operation the shift bar 13 and the bail T5 are automatically returned clockwise at the beginning of such operation to their normal adding positions. The clockwise movement of the shift bar 13 causes the extension 17 to engage the projection 19 on the subtract latch to rock the nose 44 out of the path of the projections 38 and 39 on the totalizer wheel 36. When the extension 11 of the shift bar 13 is moved away from the projection 18 on the add latch 42 this latch is returned to effective position where the nose 4| (Fig. 5) is in the path of the projections 38 and 39. A spring 82 is tensioned between the latches 42 and 45 to return said latches to effective positions.

The totalizer wheel 36 (Fig. 2) for the fourth denomination'is shown in the zero position and as previously stated the transfer mechanism is shown in subtracting position. At the beginning of a subtract operation the totalizer wheels are rocked downward out of engagement with the carrying segments 56 and intoengagement with the usual actuator racks shown in the previously mentioned patents. Simultaneously a transfer restoring bar 83 is rocked clockwise to engage the lower end of the arms 53 to restore all the cam arms 49 and latches 45 which were tripped during the preceding operation. After restoring the transfer mechanism the bar 83 is returned counter clockwise by a spring 84 to an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 2, in which position it is retained by a detent, not shown.

Assuming that the transfer mechanism shown in Fig. 2 is that of the fourth or thousands denomination and that the 1 key 28 in the thousands bank has been depressed and the machine released for a subtract operation. The rearward movement of the thousands actuator rack 21 (Fig. rotates the totalizer wheel 36 one tooth space causing the projection 38 (Fig. 2) to engage the nose 44 to rock the latch 45 counter clockwise. The counter clockwise movement of the latch 45 disengages the ear 5| from the projection 52 of the arm 53, allowing the transfer cam 49 to rock counter-clockwise under tension of a spring 85 until the lower end of the arm 53 contacts the restoring bar 83.

When the totalizer actuating rack 21 for the thousands denominations has completed its subtracting movement rearward, the totalizer wheel 36 is disengaged therefrom and re-engaged with the transfer segment 56. Immediately after the totalizer wheel is re-engaged with the transfer segment the restoring bar detent is disengaged allowing the restoring bar 83 to be returned its full distance counter-clockwise by the spring 84. The transfer cam arm 49 under tension of its spring 85 travels counter-clockwise in unison with said restoring bar. A spring 86 tensioned between the bail l5 and the stud 55 in the segment 56 guides said stud 55 into the left-hand branch of the Y-shaped cam slot 54 during the counterclockwise movement of the cam arm 49. The cam slot 54 coacting with the stud 55 rocks the transfer segment 56 clockwise, which in turn rotates the next higher denomination totalizer wheel one tooth space counter-clockwise to subtract one therefrom.

In order to illustrate the working of the transfer mechanism during add operations let us assume that subsequent to the subtract operation just explained it is desired to add one into the fourth denomination totalizer wheel 36. With the fourth denomination totalizer wheel 36 (Fig. 2) in the position in which it was left by the preceding subtract operation, that is, the ninth position the 1 key 28 in the fourth demonination or thousands bank is depressed and the machine released for an add operation.

At the beginning of said add operation the bail T5 and the transfer shift bar 13 are returned clockwise to their normal adding positions. This causes the extension 11 of the bar 13 to release the add latch 42 which is then rocked counterclockwise by the spring 82 until the nose 4| is in the path of the projections 38 and 39 on the totalizer wheel 36 as shown in Fig. 5 and the car 46 (Fig. 2) is in the path of the projection 41 on the arm 48. Clockwise movement of the shift bar I3 also causes the extension 1! to engage the projection E9 of the subtract latch 45, rocking said latch counter-clockwise until the nose 44 is out of the path of the projections 38 and 39.

In an add operation the initial movement rearward of the totalizer actuator rack 21 (Fig. 5) positions said rack commensurate with the value of the key depressed, immediately after which the totalizer wheel is rocked out of engagement with the transfer segment 56 and into engagement with the totalizer rack 27. The transfer restoring bar 83 is then rocked clockwise to restore all knocked-down transfer latches and transfer cam arms after which it is latched in the intermediate position shown in Fig. 2. The totalizer actuator racks are then returned forward, rotating the totalizer wheels 36 clockwise, commensurate with the amount set up on the keyboard.

Depression of the 1 key 28 in the fourth denomination row allows the totalizer actuator rack 21 (Fig. 5) to move rearward one space, and while in this position the totalizer wheel 36 is engaged therewith. Final movement forward of the totalizer actuator rack 21 moves the totalizer wheel 36 clockwise one tooth space causing the projection 39 to engage the nose 4! of the add latch 42 to rock said latch clockwise. This causes the car 46 to be disengaged from the projection 4'! allowing the cam arm M to rock counterclockwise until the lower end of the arm 53 engages the restoring bar 83. Immediately after the totalizer actuator rack 2i completes its final movement forward the totalizer wheel 3% is disengaged therefrom and re-engaged with the transfer segment 56. The detent which retains the restoring bar 83 in its intermediate position is then released allowing said bar to be returned its full counter-clockwise distance by means of the spring 84.

As in subtract operations the cam arm 49 under tension of the spring 85 (Fig. 2) moves in unison with the restoring bar 83 and as the bail l5 has been rocked clockwise to a position where the spring 86 guides the stud 55 into the right hand branch of the Y-shaped slot 5-4, the counterclockwise movement of the cam arm 49 moves the transfer segment 55 counter-clockwise to rotate the fifth denomination totalizer wheel one tooth space clockwise, thus effecting a transfer of one digit into the fifth'denomination.

There is a transfer unit such as that illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5, and described above, for each denomination with the exception of the highest order denomination. These transfer units a work in exactly the same manner. Therefore it is thought that the foregoing description of the transfer mechanism for the fourth denomination will be sufiicient for the purpose of the present application.

Machine capacity control As previously brought out, the n chine of the instant invention has five denominations. When calculating the account of a subscriber whose meter has only four wheels, it is desirable that the capacity of the machine be decreased to four denominations in order that the printing of the machine will conform to the reading of the meter.

Calling attention to Fig. 7, movement of the lever 59 clockwise, through the link 65 and arm 64 rocks the shaft BI and the detent 63 clockwise, causing the hook 59 to move into the path of the stud 58 of the transfer cam 49, see also Figs. 2 and 5. This cripples the transfer mechanism for the fourth denominational bank by preventing the counter-clockwise movement of the cam arm 49, thus preventing the transfer of positive or negative amounts from the fourth denominational bank to the fifth denominational bank. The crippling of the transfer mechanism as outlined above, has the efiect of decreasing the capacity of the machine from five denominations to four denominations, which is the result desired.

However, crippling the transfer mechanism, as outlined above, does not prevent depression of a key in the fifth bank. In the use of the machine the operator sometimes accidentally depresses a key in the fifth bank. This causes an entry to be made on the fifth wheel. Then, when a balance is printed a character will be printed in the fifth bank. This causes a confusing record to be printed. Therefore, when printing a balance from the totalizer, with the lever 56 in the clockwise position for four bank denominational operations, it is necessary to provide means to arrest the rack 27: for the fifth bank in the zero position. This is conveniently accomplished by providing a stop arm 76 (Figs. 6 and 7) on the shaft Bl, located thereon beneath the rack 21 for the fifth bank. When the lever 66 is moved from the five bank to the four bank position, the arm l t is elevated so as to present the end thereof behind a shoulder E on the lower edge of the rack. Then when the machine is operated for a balance operation the arm M coacting with shoulder l5 prevents movement of the rack 27 for the fifth bank out of its zero position.

Operation It is felt that an understanding of the operation of the machine of the present invention will have been obtained from the foregoing description, and for that reason only a brief outline of the operation of said machine will be given hereinafter.

As an example of operation let us assume that a public utility company in a certain city has a system whereby the city is divided into districts and an employee provided for each district who reads the meters of the individual subscribers in his district. Each meter reader carries a book which has a chart for each subscriber in his district. These charts are generally provided with enough lateral spaces to take care of the meter readings for a period of one year, said meter readings being taken at monthly intervals. These meter reading charts also have vertical columnar divisions for the date and meter reading. After the meters are read for a certain period, the books containing the meter reading charts are turned in at the main ofiice, where the subscribers accounts are calculated.

On file at the main olfice is a ledger card for each subscriber, a facsimile of which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. These cards are divided into sufficient lateral spaces to take care of the monthly meter readings for a period of one year. The lateral spaces are divided into vertical columns each headed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 7

It will be noted that the usual row of control keys located on the left side of the keyboard ,scribers account for the period ending December 27 will be given. The ledger card of this particular subscriber is wound around the platen roll 25 until the proper lateral space is aligned with the printing type 26. The traveling carriage is then tabulated until the column heading Preceding reading is in line with the printing type, in which position the add-subtract totalizer is 7 automatically conditioned for a subtract operation. Next the previous months reading found in the column headed Present reading is set up on the keyboard by depression of the proper keys 28. '7 5 Releasing the machine for operation causes the previous months reading of 99750 (which had been set up on the keyboard) to be printed upon the ledger sheet and simultaneously subtracted from the add-subtract totalizer, which was orig- 10 inally standing at zero. This leaves the complement (250) of the number 99750 standing in the totalizer.

The traveling carriage is then tabulated to a position where the columns headed Date and Present reading are opposite the printing point, in which position thetotalizer is automatically conditioned for an adding operation. It will be noted that between November 27 and December 27 the electric meter reached its capacity, cleared itself and started registering again from zero. The date-December 27, and the present months meter reading 135, obtained from the meter readers record chart, are set up on the keyboard. Releasing the machine for operation by depressing the starting bar 34 causes the present reading 135 and the date, Dec. 27, to be printed in their respective columns and the present reading 135 to be simultaneously added to the complement 250 of the previous months meter reading of 99750.

Next the traveling carriage is tabulated until the column headed Kilowatt hours consumed is in printing position. In this position the traveling carriage automatically conditions the add- 35 subtract totalizer for a totalizing operation. Subsequent releasing of the machine for operation causes the add-subtract totalizer to be cleared and the total 385 to be printed upon the ledger sheet in the column headed Kilowatt hours consumed.

In calculating the account of a subscriber supplied with a five-wheel meter it is necessary that the transfer crippling mechanism be in ineffectiveposition as the full capacity of the totalizer is used in such calculation.

Referring now to Fig. 3, let us assume that the next account to be calculated is that of a subscriber supplied with a four-wheel meter.

This subscribers ledger sheet is inserted around the platen roll 25 and adjusted so that the proper lateral space is in line with the printing type 26. The operator then moves the lever (Fig. 7) clockwise, causing the hook 59 of the detent 60 to move into the path of the stud 58 on the trans- 55 fer cam 49, which as previously described, locks said transfer cam in ineifective position, thereby preventing the transfer of positive or negative amounts from the fourth to the fifth denomination. 0

The traveling carriage is tabulated until the column headed Preceding reading is in printing position. The preceding months meter reading of 9986, found in the column headed Present reading, is subtracted from the cleared totalizer 5 and simultaneously printed upon the ledger sheet. This leaves the complement (14) of the meter reading 9986 stored in the totalizer.

The traveling carriage is again tabulated until the columns on the ledger sheet headed Date and Present reading are in printingposition. Next the date, December 27, and the present months meter reading, 14, obtained from the meter readers record chart are printed upon the ledger sheet in their respective columns, the present meter reading 14 being simultaneously added to the complement 14 of the previous meter reading 9986.

Next the traveling carriage is tabulated until the column upon the ledger sheet headed Kilo- Watt hours consumed is in printing position. In this position a total is taken, resulting in the number 28 being printed in the column headed Kilowatt hours consumed, this being the number of kilowatt hours consumed between November 27 and December 27.

Had the calculation of a four-wheel meter account been attempted on a machine having a totalizer with a capacity of five denominations but without the transfer disabling features described herein, the result would be erroneous as subtracting the previous reading 9986 from the cleared totalizer would leave a complementary figure of 90014 and adding the present reading of 14 to this number would result in a total of 90028 as the number of kilowatt hours consumed between November 27 and December 27.

Summarizing briefly, it will be seen that the instant invention makes it possible to use the same machine in the calculation of both fourand five-wheel meter accounts, as the capacity of the machine may be reduced from five to four denominations and increased from four to five denominations at the will of the operator.

While the forms of mechanisms herein shown and described are admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the forms of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is: i

1. In a machine of the class described having a totalizer with a series of denominational elements, the combination of means, including an individual actuator device, to transfer amounts from lower to higher denominational elements; a differentially movable actuator for each denominational element; means for locking the individual actuator device of a particular denominational element so that amounts will not be transferred thereto; and means to simultaneously lock the differentially movable actuator for the lastnamed denominational element.

2. In a machine of the class described having a totalizer with a series of denominational elements, the combination of means, including an individual actuator device, to transfer amounts from lower to higher denominational elements; a differentially movable actuator for each denominational element; means for preventing the actuating movement of the individual actuator device of a particular denominational element so that amounts will not be transferred thereto; and means to simultaneously lock the differentially movable actuator for the last-named denominational element.

3. In a machine of the class described having a totalizer with a series of denominational elements, the combination of transfer mechanism, including an individual actuator for each of the higher denominational elements; a differentially movable actuator for each denominational element; and a manipulative device for rendering ineffectve the individual actuator of a particular element to decrease the capacity of the totalizer and to render the corresponding differentially movable actuator ineffective.

4. In an accounting machine, the combination of a totalizer consisting of a series of denominational elements; transfer means including an actuating arm and a latch means therefor, for each of the higher denominational elements; a differentially movable actuator for each denominational element; means for tripping the latch means; and a manipulative device for retaining one of the actuating arms in ineffective position tuator device for each of the higher denominational elements; a differentially movable actuator for each denominational element; a manipulative member; means intermediate the manipulative member and the individual actuator device of a particular element to render the latter ineffective when the manipulative member is moved to effective position; and means intermediate the manipulative member and the difierentially movable actuator for the particular element to render said actuator ineffective.

6. In an accounting machine, the combination with a totalizer having a series of denominational elements, of means to transfer amounts from lower to higher denominational elements, said means including an individual actuator device for each of the higher denominational elements; a projection on one of the individual actuator devices; a member adapted to cooperate with the projection; a difierentially movable actuator for each denominational element; a projection on the differentially movable actuator corresponding to said one individual actuator device; a manipulative element; means whereby the manipulative element causes the member to engage the projection to disable the one individual actuator device; and means adjusted by the manipulative element to engage the projection on said one differentially movable actuator'.

RAYMOND J. YACKLEY. ROLAND C. HALL.

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