CN1600550A - negative pressure regulator - Google Patents

Abstract

A negative pressure regulator is used in an ink cartridge filled with ink. The negative pressure regulator forms an air replenishing hole in the ink cartridge and has a neck opening with a cross-sectional area smaller than that of other parts, so that the ink is filled in the air replenishing hole by capillary force as a liquid-gas interface. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is placed in any direction, even the external air is introduced into the ink cartridge in the form of bubbles through the air replenishing hole at the same time. When the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, the ink will be filled back into the neck opening because the cross-sectional area of the neck opening is small and the capillary force is large, and the ink is effectively filled between the neck opening and one end of the ink cartridge adjacent to the air replenishing hole, thereby preventing the air outside the ink cartridge from improperly entering the ink cartridge.

Description

negative pressure regulator

Technical field

The invention relates to a negative pressure regulator, which is used in ink cartridges of inkjet printers to maintain proper negative pressure inside the ink cartridges.

Background technique

Inkjet printers are already a fairly reliable and efficient printing tool. Typically, an inkjet printer has an inkjet printhead that traverses relative to the surface on which it is printed and ejects ink droplets. A control system moves the inkjet print head to the appropriate position and then causes it to eject ink droplets, which land on the printing surface to form the desired image or data content. An ink pen (ink pen) is usually used in this type of printer, which mainly includes two parts such as an ink cartridge for storing and supplying ink and an inkjet print head.

The inkjet print head is mostly provided with a plurality of micropores (orifice), and each micropore has its connected ink chamber (ink chamber). In operation, ink is introduced from the ink cartridges into the ink chambers of the inkjet printhead, and then the ink droplets are ejected from the micropores onto the target surface to be printed. If the pressure inside the ink cartridge is equal to the atmospheric pressure, the ink will leak from the micropores, which will make the ejected ink droplets fall inaccurately, which will affect the printing quality. In order to solve this problem, a slight negative pressure (slight back-pressure) must be maintained in the ink cartridge, so that the ink in the ink chamber will not leak from the micropores when the inkjet print head is paused or stopped.

Hereinafter, the so-called negative pressure refers to the pressure difference when the pressure inside the ink cartridge is lower than the ambient air. Sufficient negative pressure must be maintained within the ink cartridge to prevent ink from leaking through the micropores in the inkjet printhead. However, if the negative pressure is too large, the ink will flow back from the micropore, or even back to the ink cavity. In some cases, the ink droplets may not be ejected completely.

Therefore, in order to maintain normal operation, the negative pressure must always be maintained within an operating range. That is to say, the negative pressure value must be greater than the pressure value that can prevent ink from leaking from the inkjet print head, and at the same time, must be lower than the pressure value that may hinder printing. In order to meet the above constraints at the same time, there are many different technologies for various grades of product requirements.

In the existing literature, the negative pressure is mostly formed by two devices, one is to form an appropriate negative pressure, and the other is to maintain the negative pressure in an appropriate range. The above-mentioned first kind can be an elastic flexible bag, and it can form proper negative pressure in the ink cartridge during the use of the ink cartridge by changing its internal volume, and another kind of negative pressure regulator (bubble generator) is arranged on The air filling hole at the bottom of the ink cartridge uses capillary phenomenon to form a liquid-gas interface to prevent improper entry of external air, and before the negative pressure in the ink cartridge is close to the maximum negative pressure that can be printed, that is, the negative pressure generated by the elastic stretch bag With the increase of the amount of ejected ink, it is possible to greatly increase to the maximum negative pressure that can be printed, so that a small amount of external air passes through the air supply hole in the form of bubbles, and is introduced into the interior of the ink cartridge (the external pressure overcomes the force of capillary phenomenon), etc. After the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, re-establish the air supply channel that connects the ink cartridge with the outside air—the liquid-air interface, so as to avoid the entry of too much outside air.

The structure of the negative pressure regulator can be seen in U.S. No. 4994824, No. 5526030 and No. 5600358 patent cases, wherein the negative pressure regulator disclosed in the U.S. No. 4994824 patent case is to provide an air supply hole at the bottom of the ink cartridge to make the ink The capillary phenomenon is used to gather there to form a liquid-gas interface, and a small amount of external air is introduced into the ink cartridge through the gas supply hole in the form of bubbles (the external pressure overcomes the force of the capillary phenomenon), and the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level. , and then re-establish the liquid-gas interface to avoid the entry of too much outside air. However, this kind of air supply hole adopts the same cross-sectional area design, so it is very easy to cause insufficient capillary force between the ink and the wall surface of the air supply hole when the ink cartridge is turned upside down and the amount of ink pressed on the air supply hole is reduced. , After the air bubbles enter the ink cartridge from the air hole, the liquid-air interface will fail, and there will be no negative pressure adjustment.

As for the negative pressure regulators disclosed in U.S. No. 5,526,030 and No. 5,600,358 patents, more components must be used to achieve the function of negative pressure regulation, so they have disadvantages such as complex structure and inconvenient manufacture. In addition, the negative pressure regulator as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,526,030 is composed of more than two components, wherein Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are composed of balls and holes with different cross-sectional areas where ink can collect The air supply hole is used as the liquid-air interface, and the ink at the air supply hole with a small cross-sectional area has a strong capillary force, which is enough to maintain the liquid-air interface after the air bubbles enter the ink cartridge from the air supply hole. to adjust negative pressure. And Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are to be made up of flat plate and curved surface to make ink can collect here the gas supply holes of different cross-sectional areas, as liquid-gas interface, and utilize the ink at the smaller gas supply holes of cross-sectional area to have stronger The capillary force is sufficient to maintain the liquid-air interface after the air bubbles enter the ink cartridge from the air supply hole to adjust the negative pressure. Furthermore, because the size difference between the aforementioned two components must be taken into account when they are mated, it is difficult to manufacture them.

To sum up, it is very important to design another negative pressure regulator to achieve the function of negative pressure regulation and increase the convenience of manufacture.

Contents of Invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a negative pressure regulator to prevent gas from entering the ink cartridge improperly, and then adjust the proper negative pressure inside the ink cartridge, and when the ink cartridge is placed in any direction, the liquid-gas interface can be retained to avoid affecting the negative pressure. Pressure, and has the characteristics of simple structure and convenient manufacture.

The negative pressure regulator of the present invention is applied in the ink cartridge, and ink is housed in the ink cartridge. The negative pressure regulator forms an air supply hole in the ink cartridge, and has a neck with a cross-sectional area smaller than that of other parts, so that the ink can use capillary force It is filled in the air supply hole and acts as a liquid-air interface. Therefore, when the ink cartridge is placed in any direction, even at the same time, the external air is introduced into the interior of the ink cartridge in the form of bubbles through the air supply hole, and when the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, because The cross-sectional area of the neck is small and the capillary force is strong, so the ink will be backfilled to the neck, and effectively filled between the neck and the end of the air supply hole adjacent to the ink cartridge, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge from improperly entering the ink cartridge.

The negative pressure regulator disclosed by the present invention has the following functions:

1. In addition to directly setting the negative pressure regulator in the ink cartridge, the present invention can also make ink cartridges of different sizes have the same opening, and match with the negative pressure regulator, and design the size of the air supply hole according to the demand, so that in the manufacturing It is more convenient to use, does not require additional processing, and has high applicability.

2. Due to the selection of rubber parts in the present invention, there is no need to consider assembly tolerances during assembly.

3. When the ink cartridge is placed in any direction, because of the different cross-sectional areas of the air supply hole, the ink can be effectively filled between the neck and the end of the air supply hole adjacent to the ink cartridge, as a liquid-air interface to avoid impact Negative pressure.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 (A)～1 (D) is the first embodiment of the present invention, is arranged in the ink cartridge, and places the schematic diagram of ink cartridge in different directions;

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the use sectional view of the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing that the second embodiment of the present invention is arranged in the ink cartridge and the ink cartridge is turned upside down;

5 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is the use sectional view of the third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing that the third embodiment of the present invention is arranged in the ink cartridge and the ink cartridge is turned upside down;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of another rubber member.

Detailed ways

In order to further understand the purpose, structural features and functions of the present invention, the detailed description is as follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In terms of actual use, the printable negative pressure of the ink cartridge 1 is -2 to -18 mm Hg, and the negative pressure of the negative pressure regulator is -10 mm Hg, while the negative pressure of the ink cartridge 1 is During the process from removing the printer to turning it upside down, the following briefly describes the conditions for maintaining the liquid-air interface. When the ink cartridge 1 is just removed from the printer as shown in Figure 1 (A), the pressure at point A is atmospheric pressure. That is to say, it is 760 mm Hg, the pressure at point B is (760-12) mm Hg, the pressure at point C (close to the liquid-gas interface) is (760-10) mm Hg, and the pressure at point D is (760- 10.2) mm Hg.

And the ink cartridge 1 shown in Fig. 1 (B) has just been taken off from the printer, slightly tilted, and when before the air supply, at this moment the pressure at point A is (760-12) mmHg, and point C (near liquid Air port) the pressure is (760-11) mm Hg, the pressure at point D is (760-11.2) mm Hg.

The ink cartridge 1 shown in Figure 1 (C) has just been taken off from the printer, and is slightly inclined, and when it is in the air supply, the pressure at point A is (760-11) mm Hg, and the pressure at point B is (760-11) 11) mmHg, the pressure at point C (close to the liquid-gas interface) is (760-10) mmHg, and the pressure at point D is (760-10.2) mmHg.

As for when the ink cartridge 1 shown in Figure 1 (D) is upside down, the pressure at point A is (760-12) mmHg, and the pressure at point B is (760-10) mmHg. Add air to change the pressure at point A from (760-12) mmHg to (760-10) mmHg, and because there is not much liquid coverage at the liquid-gas interface, but its integrity must be maintained, To avoid affecting the negative pressure, when the ink cartridge 1 is turned upside down, the conditions for maintaining the liquid-air interface are more stringent.

In order to maintain the liquid-air interface when the ink cartridge 1 is placed in any direction, please refer to FIG. Ink is housed in 1, and this negative pressure regulator forms the air filling hole 2 in ink cartridge 1, and has the neck opening 21 of cross-sectional area smaller than other parts, and the minimum distance of neck opening 21 is 0.1 mm, and the air filling hole 2 The distance between the end adjacent to the ink cartridge 1 and the neck 21 is 1 mm, so that the ink can be filled in the air supply hole 2 by capillary force, as a liquid-air interface, so when the ink cartridge 1 is placed in any direction (see Fig. 1(A)-1(D)), and even at the same time, the external air passes through the air supply hole 2 in the form of bubbles and is introduced into the interior of the ink cartridge 1, and when the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, because the cross-sectional area of the neck 21 is small , the capillary force is large, so the ink will be backfilled to the neck 21, and effectively filled between the neck 21 and the end of the air supply hole 2 adjacent to the ink cartridge 1, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from improperly entering the ink cartridge 1.

As shown in Fig. 1(D), the gas supply hole 2 is divided into an attachment surface 22 and a non-adhesion surface 23 located at both ends of the attachment surface 22, wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the attachment surface 22 is the neck 21, and the non-adhesion surface 23 is far away from the Neck 21, and because the cross-sectional area of the attachment surface 22 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the non-adhesion surface, its capillary force (tension/cross-sectional area diameter) is also larger. , then the weight of the ink attached to the attachment surface 22 must be equal to the vertical component of the capillary force. Of course, since the capillary force is also affected by temperature, the proportional relationship between the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 is not fixed. When the ink cartridge 1 was placed upright, ink was stored on the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1, and when the ink cartridge 1 was turned upside down, part of the ink stored on the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1 was also attracted to Adhesive surface 22, so the ink can be effectively filled on the adhered surface 22, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from inadvertently entering the ink cartridge 1.

Therefore, the present invention can change the cross-sectional area of the air supply hole 2, so that the ink can be collected in the neck 21 of its minimum cross-sectional area, as a liquid-gas interface, and utilize the ink at the smaller neck 21 of the cross-sectional area. It has strong capillary force, which is enough to maintain the liquid-air interface after air bubbles enter the ink cartridge 1 from the air supply hole 2, so as to adjust the negative pressure.

Furthermore, the present invention directly arranges the negative pressure regulator on the ink cartridge 1, so it has the characteristics of simple structure and convenient manufacture (no additional processing is required, and high applicability).

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, it is the second embodiment of the negative pressure regulator of the present invention, which is applied to the ink cartridge 1, the ink cartridge 1 is filled with ink, and has an opening 11, and the negative pressure regulator is plugged in the opening 11 , and is a hollow pipe 3 made of metal, forming an air supply hole 2 on the hollow pipe 3, and has a neck 21 with a cross-sectional area smaller than that of other parts of the air supply hole 2, and the minimum distance between the neck 21 is 0.1 mm , and the distance between the end of the air supply hole 2 adjacent to the ink cartridge 1 and the neck 21 is 1 mm, so that the ink can be filled in the air supply hole 2 by capillary force as a liquid-air interface, so the ink cartridge 1 can be placed in any direction (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4), even at the same time, the external air is introduced into the interior of the ink cartridge 1 through the air supply hole 2 in the form of bubbles, and when the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, because the cross-sectional area of the neck 21 is small , the capillary force is large, so the ink will be backfilled to the neck 21, and effectively filled between the neck 21 and the end of the air supply hole 2 adjacent to the ink cartridge 1, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from improperly entering the ink cartridge 1.

Similarly, as shown in Figure 4, the air supply hole 2 is divided into the attachment surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 located at the two ends of the attachment surface 22, wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the attachment surface 22 is the neck 21, and the non-adhesion surface 23 is away from Neck 21, and because the cross-sectional area of the attachment surface 22 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the non-adhesion surface, its capillary force (tension/cross-sectional area diameter) is also relatively large. , then the weight of the ink attached to the attachment surface 22 must be equal to the vertical component of the capillary force. Of course, since the capillary force is also affected by temperature, the proportional relationship between the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 is not fixed. When the ink cartridge 1 was placed upright, ink was stored on the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1, and when the ink cartridge 1 was turned upside down, part of the ink stored on the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1 was also attracted to Adhesive surface 22, so ink can be effectively filled on the adhered surface 22, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from inadvertently entering the ink cartridge 1.

Therefore, the present invention can change the cross-sectional area of the air supply hole 2, so that the ink can be collected in the neck 21 of the smallest cross-sectional area, as a liquid-gas interface, and the ink at the neck 21 with a smaller cross-sectional area has a relatively small size. The strong capillary force is enough to maintain the liquid-air interface after air bubbles enter the ink cartridge 1 from the air supply hole 2, so as to adjust the negative pressure.

Furthermore, the present invention can make the ink cartridges 1 of different sizes all offer the same opening 11, and the hollow pipe 3 is plugged in the opening 11, so this embodiment has simple structure and convenient manufacture (no additional processing is required, and it is applicable high) characteristics.

Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the third embodiment of the negative pressure regulator of the present invention is applied to the ink cartridge 1, ink is housed in the ink cartridge 1, and an opening 11 is provided, and the negative pressure regulator is plugged in the opening 11, and includes a rubber part 4 and a hollow pipe part 3 made of metal. The rubber part 4 includes an integrally formed shaft part 41, a hole 42 and a sealing part 43, wherein one end of the shaft part 41 is connected to one end of the sealing part 43, and the shaft part The cross-sectional area of 41 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the sealing part 43, but the cross-sectional area of the shaft part 41 is larger than the cross-sectional area of the air supply hole 2, and the hole 42 is set on the shaft part 41 and the sealing part 43, and the shaft part 41 is plugged in the ink cartridge 1 The opening 11 of the opening 11, the sealing part 43 seals the bottom end of the opening 11, the outer diameter of the hollow pipe 3 is slightly larger than the diameter of the opening 42, and the air supply hole 2 is formed inside, and has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of other parts of the air supply hole 2 The neck opening 21, and the minimum distance between the neck opening 21 is 0.1 mm, and the distance between the end of the air supply hole 2 adjacent to the ink cartridge 1 and the neck opening 21 is 1 mm, the hollow pipe 3 is plugged in the hole 42, and the shaft portion 41 is plugged Placed in the opening 11 of the ink cartridge 1, and the sealing part 43 seals the bottom end of the opening 11, the ink can be filled in the air supply hole 2 by capillary force, as a liquid-air interface, so when the ink cartridge 1 is placed in any direction (See Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shows), even at the same time the external air is introduced into the interior of the ink cartridge 1 through the air supply hole 2 in the form of bubbles, and when the negative pressure drops to an appropriate level, because the cross-sectional area of the neck 21 is small, the capillary The force is large, so the ink will be backfilled to the neck 21, and effectively filled between the neck 21 and the end of the air supply hole 2 adjacent to the ink cartridge 1, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from improperly entering the ink cartridge 1.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 7 , the air replenishing hole 2 is divided into an attachment surface 22 and a non-adhesion surface 23 located at both ends of the attachment surface 22, wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the attachment surface 22 is the neck 21, compared with the non-adhesion surface 22. Adhesive surface 23 is then far away from neck opening 21, and because the cross-sectional area of attached surface 22 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of non-adhered surface, so its capillary force (tensile force/cross-sectional area diameter) is also just bigger, as for distinguishing attached surface 22 and non-adhered surface When attaching to the surface 23, the weight of the ink attached to the attaching surface 22 must be equal to the vertical component of the capillary force. Of course, since the capillary force is also affected by temperature, the proportional relationship between the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 is not fixed. When the ink cartridge 1 was placed upright, ink was stored on the adhesion surface 22 and the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1, and when the ink cartridge 1 was turned upside down, part of the ink stored on the non-adhesion surface 23 adjacent to the interior of the ink cartridge 1 was also attracted to Adhesive surface 22, so ink can be effectively filled on the adhered surface 22, preventing the air outside the ink cartridge 1 from inadvertently entering the ink cartridge 1.

Therefore, the present invention can change the cross-sectional area of the air supply hole 2, and then ink can be collected in the neck 21 of its smallest cross-sectional area, as a liquid-gas interface, and the ink at the neck 21 with a smaller cross-sectional area has a The strong capillary force is enough to maintain the liquid-air interface after air bubbles enter the ink cartridge 1 from the air supply hole 2, so as to adjust the negative pressure.

Furthermore, the integrally formed rubber part 4 is more convenient to manufacture, and after being assembled with the hollow pipe part 3, the opening 11 can be sealed, and the hollow pipe part 3 will not fall out of the opening 11, so the negative pressure will not be affected The negative pressure adjustment function of the regulator, and the present invention can make ink cartridges 1 of different sizes have the same opening 11, and match with the rubber part 4, and design the size of the hole 42 according to the demand, so this embodiment also has simple structure and The characteristics of convenient manufacture (no additional processing required, and high applicability), even when assembling the rubber part 4, assembly tolerance does not need to be taken into consideration.

In addition, when the present embodiment is removed from the opening 11, it is enough to apply force to the sealing part 43. As for the case where the present embodiment does not include the sealing part 43, it can still be used, as long as the shaft part 41 can be plugged into the hole 11, and the hole 11 is communicated with the outside air through the hole 42, so that the ink can be filled in the air supply hole 2, please refer to FIG. 8 .

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention; all the various changes and modifications made according to the present invention are within the protection scope of the patent of the present invention.

Description of reference symbols

Cartridge 1

Hole 11

Air hole 2

Neck 21

Attachment Surface 22

Non-attached surface 23

Hollow pipe fittings 3

Rubber Parts 4

Shaft 41

Hole entrance 42

Sealing part 43

Each point in the ink cartridge A, B, C, D

Claims (13)

1. draft regulator, it is characterized in that, be applied in the print cartridge, in the described print cartridge ink is housed, described draft regulator forms a tonifying Qi hole in described print cartridge, and have have ink, as an attaching surface of liquid gas interface, and two non-attaching surfaces that are positioned at described attaching surface two ends, and the area of section of described non-attaching surface is greater than the area of section of described attaching surface, when described print cartridge was inverted, the part ink that is stored in the inner described non-attaching surface of contiguous described print cartridge attracted to described attaching surface.

2. draft regulator as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described attaching surface has an eck of minimum cross-sectional area.

3. draft regulator as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, the minimum range of described eck is 0.1 millimeter.

4. draft regulator as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, an end and the distance between described eck of the contiguous described print cartridge of described tonifying Qi hole are 1 millimeter.

5. draft regulator, it is characterized in that, it is a hollow pipe fitting, be applied in the print cartridge, in the described print cartridge ink is housed, and offer a perforate, described draft regulator plugs in described perforate, form a tonifying Qi hole, and have and have ink, as an attaching surface of liquid gas interface, and two non-attaching surfaces that are positioned at described attaching surface two ends, and the area of section of described non-attaching surface is greater than the area of section of described attaching surface, when described print cartridge was inverted, the part ink that is stored in the inner described non-attaching surface of contiguous described print cartridge attracted to described attaching surface.

6. draft regulator as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, described attaching surface has an eck of minimum cross-sectional area.

7. draft regulator as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, the minimum range of described eck is 0.1 millimeter.

8. as claim 5 a described draft regulator, it is characterized in that an end and the distance between described eck of the contiguous described print cartridge of described tonifying Qi hole are 1 millimeter.

9. a draft regulator is characterized in that, is applied in the print cartridge, in the described print cartridge ink is housed, and offers a perforate, and described draft regulator plugs in described perforate, comprising:

One rubber parts, described rubber parts include an axial region and a hole, and described hole is opened in described axial region; And

One hollow pipe fitting, external diameter is slightly larger than the diameter at described hole, described hollow pipe fitting plugs at described hole, and described axial region plugs the described perforate at described print cartridge, described hollow pipe fitting forms a tonifying Qi hole, and described hollow pipe fitting has and has ink, an attaching surface as liquid gas interface, with two non-attaching surfaces that are positioned at described attaching surface two ends, and the area of section of described non-attaching surface is greater than the area of section of described attaching surface, when described print cartridge was inverted, the part ink that is stored in the inner described non-attaching surface of contiguous described print cartridge attracted to described attaching surface.

10. draft regulator as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described attaching surface has an eck of minimum cross-sectional area.

11. draft regulator as claimed in claim 10, it is characterized in that, described rubber parts further comprises a sealing, one end of described sealing is connected with an end of described axial region, and described sealing area of section is greater than described axial region area of section, and described hole is opened in described axial region and described sealing, and described axial region plugs the described perforate at described print cartridge, and described sealing is sealed described perforate bottom.

12. draft regulator as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, the minimum range of described eck is 0.1 millimeter.

13. draft regulator as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, an end and the distance between described eck of the contiguous described print cartridge of described tonifying Qi hole are 1 millimeter.

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