US3545656A - Bow making machine - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] inventor EugeneJacobson 2,542,222 2/1951 Welch 223/46 Englewood, New Jersey 2,849,821 9/1958 Doig..... 41/10 [21] AppLNo. 19,904 r 2,563,678 8/1951 Gates 41/10 [22] Filed April 4, 1960 2,982,452 5/1961 Anderson 223/46 [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 Prima E ry xammer ordan Franklin [73] Asslgnee sun Chemical Comma Assistant Examiner-George V. Larkin New York New York Attorney-Cynthia Beriow a corporation of Delaware CLAIM: Claim 1, in a machine for making decorative bows [54] Bow MAKING MACHINE from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop retaining t 15 claimsflnrawing Figa means and loop f ormlng means said retaining means bemg adapted to retain 1n a fixed position relative thereto and rota- [52] U.S. Cl. 2213/46 i l h ith ibbo applied thereagainst said loop forming 1 f Cl A411 43/00 means being adapted for movement successively toward said Fleld (Search l. retaining means to successively portions of ribb n 41/199; 23/2 15; 61/9, 10 spaced along the continuous length thereof against said retaining means successively to form loops of ribbon radiating from [56] References Cited the rotation axis of said retaining means, said forming means UNITED STATES PATENTS operating alternately to move towards said retaining means 2,933,223 4/1960 Kravig et al 223/46 and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to 2,884,169 7/1959 Sperry..... 223/46 the application of said portions against said retaining means 2,867,086 2/1959 Duncan 223/46 and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said 1,224,268 5/ 1917 Bricken 223/46 axis.

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z a 2, 2 I ,64 .17 a 2 PATENTEDDEB 8 19m SHEET 1 OF '4 v INVENTOR EUGENE 11460350 ATTORNEY PATENTEUnEc 8197B SHEET 2 OF 4 mvm'n )R EUGENE JACUBSON BY fins/cal P 6 40 ATTORNEY PATENIED DEC 8 mm SHEET 3 0 4 w wm 1 BOW MAKING MACHINE BOW MAKING MACHINE This invention relates to the manufacture of ornamental bows, rosettes, pompons, clusters, and the like from ribbon and, more specifically, relates to machines and methods for performing said manufacture.

Ornamental bows and ribbon designs in large quantities are required for dressing gift packages, flowers, ladies hats, corsages, dresses, purses and the like. Particularly large demands for such ornamental bows and ribbon designs occur just before holiday seasons such as Christmas, Easter and Valentines day, and to a lesser extent throughout the year for gift packages and decorative devices. In order to manually tie a bow design, costly artistic skill is required. Machines of various types have been developed and used to make bows of different designs but all require varying degrees of supervision and all fail to produce a completed bow, i.e. one which is formed, fastened and severed from the ribbon supply. The operation of such machines must be supplemented manually in one operation or another, e.g. to complete the forming of the bow, to fasten the bow and/or to separate the bow from the ribbon supply.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a machine and method which forms, fastens and severs ornamental bows in large quantity.

Another object is the provision of.a machine which is adjustable to produce ornamental bows of many and varied designs and sizes, including pompons, rosettes, clusters and the like.

Another object is to provide a machine which will form, fasten, and sever bows from a ribbon supply roll and deliver completed bows.

A further object is the provision of a bow tying machine and method which fastens tie ribbons or strings or cards to the finished bow.

Another object is to provide a bow tying machine which is simple and reliable to operate and is capable of producing bows, pompons, rosettes, clusters and many different ribbon designs.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become evident from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bow tying machine with a portion of one side support cut away to show the inner structure of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view in section taken substantially on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the spindle indexing ap paratus for rotating the loop capturing or retaining pins;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation with structural parts cut away to show the inner construction of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spindle sprocket wheel, spindle and capturing pins showing the retracting action of the capturing pins;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the spindle looking downwardly on the spindle sprocket wheel to show the pawl and ratchet connecting said spindle to said wheel; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on Line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 there is shown a base 10 on which is mounted an upright support member 11 on which is mounted a pair of ribbon guides 12 leading from a ribbon supply (not shown) .to the loop forming device to be hereinafter described. Also mounted on the upright member 11 is an air cylinder 13 which provides motivation through piston rod 14 to the loop forming device and loop indexing device which are described later.

An upright side support 15' is mounted on each side of the base 10 and a straight cam track 16 and a tapered switching cam track 17 are pivotally mounted on the inner face of each of said side supports. The free end of the switching cam track 17 engages the surface of the straight cam track 16 to provide an inclined surface to a wheel 24 riding the straight cam track 16 in the direction of the dotted arrow shown in FIG. 1. As the wheel 24 passes over the pivot point of the switching cam track 17 it drops to the straight cam track 16 and returns in the opposite direction, rolling on the straight cam track 16, it lifts the free end of the switching cam track 17, pivoting the latter, and passes under said free end after which said free end drops by gravity back to its resting position on the top surface of straight cam track 16.

An L-shaped bracket 20 is fixed to the piston rod 14 and pivotally mounts pivot arms 21 on its upper extremity. A carrier plate 22 of rectangular shape is fixed to the pivot arms 21 and is disposed between the side supports 15 leaving adequate clearance between said carrier plate and the switching cam tracks 17 mounted on said side supports. On the under side of the carrier plate 22 there is mounted a transverse support bar 23 at each end of which is rotatably mounted the cam wheel 24 which is adapted to roll on the upper surfaces of the cam tracks 16 and 17. On the side edges of the free end of the carrier plate 22 are mounted a pair of ribbon guides 25 which extend beyond the free end of said carrier plate.

Also a transverse angle bar 26 is centrally fixed to the piston rod 14. The angle bar 26 is of about the same width as the carrier plate 22 and freely clears the cam tracks 16 and 17. On the angle bar 26 ismounted an upright bracket 27 as shown. The upright bracket 27 extends between the ribbon paths (as the ribbon passes from the guides 12 onto carrier plate 22 and through ribbon guides 25) but does not obstruct the passage of said ribbon. A gripper shoe 28 is pivotally mounted at each end of the upright bracket 27 and is adapted to engage the ribbon and grip it against the upper surface of the angle bar 26 as said angle bar is moved away from the cylinder 13 and to release the ribbon as the angle bar is moved towards said cylinder. The gripper control rod 29 is pivotally connected to each gripper shoe 28 and extends back to the upright member 11 passing through a hole provided therefor in said bracket. Forward and backward movement of the control rod 29 is biased by a tension ball pushed against said rod by a spring both mounted in the upright member 11 and operating on that portion of said control rod in the above-mentioned hole. Thus, as the gripper shoe 28 is moving away from the ribbon supply the control rod pulls said gripper shoe to bind the ribbon between the shoe and the upper surface of angle bar 26 and when the gripper shoe moves in a reverse direction the control rod pushes said gripper shoe away from the ribbon and angle bar to free said ribbon. Also mounted on the upright bracket is a stop screw 30 which is adapted to engage and limit the movement of the gripper shoe 28 when the control rod 29 pushes against it.

A flat compression spring 31 is mounted at the center of the upright bracket 27 and extends to the free end of the carrier plate 22 where it is fastened. The spring 31 biases the free end of the carrier plate 22 in a downward direction so that the cam wheels 24 promptly and closely follow the upper surfaces of cam tracks 16 and 17 during forward and backward movement of said carrier plate.

In operation the loop forming assembly as described above is actuated in a reciprocal manner by the air cylinder 13 and piston rod 14. Prior to commencement of operation, ribbon is manually fed from the ribbon guides 12 between the gripper shoes 28 and the upper surface of angle bar 26, through ribbon guides 25 and impaled on capturing pins 35 of the loop retaining assembly to be hereinafter described.

As the piston rod 14 moves out of and away from the air cylinder, it causes the gripper shoes 28 to bind ribbons passing under them to the angle bar 26 in the manner previously described. The lengths of ribbon resting on the carrier plate 22 are thus held there while the plate is moving forward. The cam wheels 24 ride on the upper surfaces of straight cam tracks 16 and when they reach the switching cam tracks 17 they roll upwardly on their upper surfaces forcing the free end of carrier plate 22 to swing upwardly and cause the ribbon lengths extending forward from said free end to arch over the impaling pins 35 of the loop retaining assemblies. As the wheels 24 reach the uppermost points of the switching cam tracks 17 the free end of the carrier plate 22 is almost directly above the impaling pins 35, and as the wheels 24 pass over said uppermost points and drops to the straight cam tracks 16 said free end drops toward and past the upper ends of said impaling pins to impale the ribbon positioned at said free end and complete the formation of the ribbon loops.

As the gripper shoes 28 and angle bar 26 are moved forward, new ribbon lengths are withdrawn from the ribbon supply. When the piston rod 14 returns toward the air cylinder 13 the gripper control rods 29 push against the gripper shoes 28 to release the ribbon bound thereby to the angle bar 26 surface permitting said shoes and angle bar to slip by the new lengths of ribbon withdrawn from supply by the above-mentioned forward motion. When the piston rod 14 and its attachments reach its return limit the newly withdrawn ribbon lengths replace the ones previously resting on the carrier plate 22. The lengths previously on said carrier plate are in disposed in front of said carrier plate between it and the impaling pins 35 ready to be formed into loops upon the next forward movement of the piston rod 14 and its attachments.

The loop retaining assembly is mounted in a support frame 18 attached to the front end of base and comprises a pair of spindles 36A and 368 each rotatably mounted on said supporting frame as shown in a position substantially directly under the free end of the carrier plate 22 when it passes over the uppermost points of switching cam tracks 17. Pin shafts 37A and 37B pass through and are keyed to each spindle 36A and 368 as best shown in FIG. 4 by means of a key pin K cooperating with a guide slot S provided in the shank of said spindle. Each spindle 36A and 36B has a center bore which is flared at its upper end. Each pin shaft 37A and 37B is constructed with a pair of impaling pins 35 on its upper end, freely passes through holes in the bottom of the supporting frame 18 and is attached at its lower end to a retracting pin spindle bar 38 for up and down motion therewith in a manner which permits rotation of said pin spindle relative to said bar. The pin spindle bar 38 is bolted at its ends to push rods 39 which pass freely upward through the bottom of supporting frame 18 and are adapted to sliding movement relative to said supporting frame. A lock collar 40 is secured to each push rod 39 near the bottom of supporting frame 18 by a set screw 41 and a coil spring 42 is disposed around said rod between said supporting frame bottom and said collar to hold said rod in place. Stop collars 43 are disposed around push rods 39 underneath the supporting frame bottom between said bottom and the spindle bar 38 to limit upward movement of said bar and the pin shafts 37A and 37B attached thereto.

The pin shafts 37A and 37B are operatively connected for substantially synchronous, rotational movement by means of pulley wheels 44 keyed thereto and a belt 45 engaging both of said wheels.

It is thus seen that the pairs of impaling pins 35 are adapted to rotational movement for receiving and retaining succeeding ribbon loops in different radial positions thereby forming a bow design of the star, pompon or flower type. Indexing means or rotating apparatus for providing such rotational movement is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a sprocket wheel 50 mounted near the base of spindle 36A. The sprocket wheel 50 and spindle 36A are in ratchet engagement (by means of a pawl 71 pivotally mounted on the sprocket wheel 50 cooperating with a ratchet gear 72 mounted on the spindle 36A as best shown in H0. 6) permitting clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said wheel but only permitting counterclockwise movement of said spindle as viewed from above. The sprocket wheel 50 is rotated by a sprocket chain 51 one end of which is fastened to an adjustable anchor 52 mounted on the opposite side of base 10 and the other end of which is connected by a tension spring 53 to an anchor post 54 mounted on the same side of base 10. An idler wheel 55 is so positioned on base 10 as to dispose the chain 51 across the path of travel of piston rod 14. An idler wheel 56 is mounted on base 10 to direct the chain 51 around side support 15 and insure proper engagement of said chain with the sprocket wheel 50.

The lower extremity of L-shaped bracket 20 rotatably mounts a drive roller 57 which engages the chain 51 on forward movement of the piston rod 14. As the piston rod 14 moves forward the chain 51 is pulled around idler wheel 55 against the tension of spring 53 and in turn rotates the sprocket wheel 50 in a counterclockwise direction which, through ratchet engagement, rotates the spindle 36A. When the piston rod 14 returns the chain 51 is pulled by spring 53 to turn sprocket wheel 50 in a clockwise direction, the ratchet release direction, permitting the spindle 36A to remain stationary.

The adjustable anchor 52 is adapted to movement parallel to the path of travel of the piston rod 14 by means of bias screw 58 and slot 59. When the anchor 52 is in its forwardmost position the chain 51 is tensioned the least amount by the drive roller 57 and the sprocket wheel 50 and spindle 36A are turned the least amount. When the anchor 52 is in its rearwardmost position the chain 51 is tensioned the greatest amount by the drive roller 57 and the sprocket wheel 50 and spindle 36A are turned the greatest amount. This adjustment pennits the formation of loops in various design with each loop superimposed on the next preceding loop at different radial position. The number of degrees offset of each succeeding loop can be selected by adjusting the position of the anchor 52.

The fastening assembly is mounted on and operates within the supporting frame 18. It comprises a pair of compressed air-operated stapling guns 60 each mounted above a spindle 36A or 36B on a cross beam 61 which is bolted at its center portion to a piston rod 62 of an air cylinder 63 mounted on top of frame 18. The stapling guns 60 are so positioned that in their down position the muzzle of each contacts the flared bore of a spindle which acts as a staple closer. The crossbeam 61 is slidable, up and down, on four vertical guide rods 64, one mounted and secured in each corner of the frame 18. The lower ends of each pair of vertical guide rods 64 on each side of the frame 18 are secured to and connected together by a flat side brace 65 which has a hole 66 in its central portion to allow free, slidable passage therethrough of the upper portion of push rods 39 on its side of the frame 18. The side braces 65, thus, also serve as guides for the movement of push rods 39.

In operation, after the desired bow design has been formed the piston rod 62 is actuated by air cylinder 63 to push the stapling guns 60 toward their respective spindles. Just prior to the contact of the gun muzzles with the impaling pins 35 projecting upwards from the spindles 36A and 36B, the crossbeam 61 engages the push rods 39 forcing them down against the tension of springs 42, causing the spindle bar 38 and pin spindles 37A and 37B to move downwardly, thus withdrawing the impaling pins 35 well within the bores of said spindles 36A and 368. The muzzles of the stapling guns 60 follow the impaling pins to contact and retain the ribbon loop nodes 36A and 36B and fire staples therethrough when said muzzles are sufficiently close to the spindles 36A and 36B that the flared bore ends of said spindles will force the closure of said staples. After stapling the piston rod 62 is withdrawn upwardly by the air cylinder 63 to pull the stapling guns 60 back up into their resting position and release the push rods 39 for upward motion by the force of springs 42. Such upward motion moves the impaling pins 35 back into retaining position and is limited to the proper extent by stop collars 43. The impaling pins 35 in moving back to retaining position pop out the bow thus formed and fastened and are ready to receive the next ribbon length for the formation of the next bow.

The severing or cutting assembly is adapted to operate with the downward movement of the stapling guns 60 and includes a stationary knife edge 67 mounted on the lower rear portion of frame 18 across and under the ribbon path. A movable knife edge 68 is pivotally mounted on each end of the stationary knife edge 67, extends obliquely, upwardly and is pivotally connected to a knife action arm 69 which in turn is pivotally connected to crossbeam 61. As crossbeam 611 is lowered by the downward action of the piston rod 62 the arms 69 pivot the movable knife edges 68 towards and into scissorslike contact with the stationary knife edges 67 to cut the ribbons stretched across them.

Although not shown, the bow tying machine described above includes switching and timing devices for controlling the length of each loop formed, the number of loops formed before fastening and the rate of loop formation. The length of loops formed is controlled by an adjustment on the air cylinder 13 for regulating the length of stroke of the piston rod 14 and the rate of loop formation is controlled by a speed adjustment on the air cylinder 13 to regulate the speed of the piston rod 14 in each direction. The number of loops formed prior to fastening can be controlled by a timing mechanism adapted to activate the stapling'assembly air cylinder 63 and stapling assembly piston rod 62 while at the same time inactivating the forming air cylinder 13 and forming piston rod 14 in its rearwardmost position. The number of loops formed can also be controlled by a counter mechanism counting the number of strokes of the forming piston rod 14 and opening and closing valves to activate the stapling air cylinder 63 and piston rod 62 and to deactivate the forming air cylinder 13 and piston rod 14. The stapling guns 60 can be air fired in response to a spring loaded valve responsive to the pressure of the pin spindle retracting bar 38 in its extreme downward position.

These control and timing devices are well within the knowledge of skilled workers in the art and for this reason have not been shown or described in detail.

Other accessories can be attached to the machine including attachments for feeding tie strings or ribbons or stock on cards to the impaling spindles. Delivery apparatus for conveying the finished bows from the machine are also adaptable to use with said machine.

I claim:

1. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, said retaining means being adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for movement successively toward said retaining means to successively apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said retaining means successively to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said retaining means, said forming means operating alternately to move towards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to the application of said portions against said retaining means and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis.

2. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means, said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for movement successively toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said impaling pin successively to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said retaining means, said forming means operating alternately to move towards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to the application of said portions against said impaling pin and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis.

3. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means comprising a ribbon carrier having a pivoted end and a free end, said pivoted end being adapted for reciprocating movement laterally towards and away from the rotation axis of said retaining means, and a cam surface cooperating with said carrier to pivot said carrier on said pivoted end as it moves toward said axis to dispose said free end longitudinally adjacent said impaling pin and thence laterally adjacent said pin and to move said free end laterally away from said axis as said pivoted end moves away from said axis, thereby forming loops of ribbon radiating from said axis.

4. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop retaining means, loop forming means and means operable by said loop forming means for rotating said retaining means, said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means comprising a ribbon carrier having a pivoted end and a free end, said pivoted end being adapted for reciprocating movement laterally towards and away from the rotation axis of said retaining means, and a cam surface cooperating with said carrier to pivot said carrier on said pivoted end as it moves toward said axis to dispose said free end longitudinally adjacent said impaling pin and thence laterally adjacent said pin and to move said free end laterally away from said axis as said pivoted end moves away from said axis, thereby forming loops of ribbon radiating from said axis.

5. Machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for rotating said retaining means is operable by said carrier as said pivoted end moves toward said axis.

6. Machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for rotating said retaining means comprises a sprocket wheel in ratchet engagement with said retaining means to rotate said retaining means only when said sprocket wheel turns in one rotational direction and a sprocket chain'anchored at one end and resiliently anchored at the other end said chain operatively engaging said sprocket wheel and being displaced by the movement of said pivoted end thereagainst.

7. A machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon comprising, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means, said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for successive movement toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said impaling pin to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said retaining means, said forming means operating alternately to move towards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to the application of said portions against said impaling pin and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis, and stapling means cooperating with said retaining means for stapling said loops of ribbon together.

8. Machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said retaining means comprises an anvil on which said ribbon loops are retained and said impaling pin is retractably mounted on said anvil, said stapling means being a stapling gun spaced from said anvil and adapted to move into operative contact with ribbon loops on said anvil for firing a staple against said anvil.

9. A machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon comprising, rotatable loop rotating means and loop forming means. said retaining means having an impaling pin adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for successive movement toward said retaining means to apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said impaling pin to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said rotating means, said forming means operating alternately to move towards said retaining means and in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to the application of said portions against said retaining means and to move away from said axis in a direction lateral to said axis, and severing means positioned between said forming means and said retaining means for severing said length of ribbon from said loops of ribbon.

10. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon or strip material, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, said retaining means having an impaling pin to retain in fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said forming means operating successively to apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said retaining means successively to form radiating loops of ribbon, in combination therewith, stapling means cooperating with said retaining means for stapling said loops of ribbon together.

11. Combination as claimed in claim 10 wherein said retaining means comprises an anvil on which said loops of ribbon are retained and said stapling means comprises a stapling gun spaced from said anvil and adapted to move into operative contact with ribbon loops on said anvil for firing a staple against said anvil 12. In a method for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon including the successively performed operation of retaining and rotating on an axis portions of said ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof to form loops of ribbon radiating from said axis, wherein said length alternately is gripped and displaced towards said axis to move said portions toward said axis for retainment at said axis to move said gripping action away from said axis to a succeeding gripping point along said length spaced from the next previous point of gripping action, that improvement comprising pulling said ribbon in a lateral direction away from said axis to move said gripping action along said ribbon to said succeeding gripping point.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said retainment is obtained by impaling said portions on an impaling pin.

14. In a method of making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon including the successively performed operation of retaining and rotating on an axis portions of said ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof to form loops of ribbon radiating from said axis, wherein said length alternately is gripped at a point spaced from said axis and relative displacement between said point and said axis is performed for the retainment of that point of the ribbon at said axis and after retainment is pulled against retainment at said axis to move said gripping action away from said axis to a succeeding gripping point along said length spaced from the next previous point of gripping action, that improvement comprising pulling said ribbon in a lateral direction away from said axis to move said gripping action along said ribbon to said succeeding gripping point.

15. In a machine for making decorative bows from a continuous length of ribbon, rotatable loop retaining means and loop forming means, said retaining means being adapted to retain in a fixed position relative thereto and rotatively therewith ribbon applied thereagainst, said loop forming means being adapted for movement successively toward said retaining means to successively apply portions of ribbon spaced along the continuous length thereof against said retaining means successively to form loops of ribbon radiating from the rotation axis of said retaining means, said forming means and said retaining means operating alternately with relative motion with respect to one another in substantially the same direction as said axis just prior to the application of said portions against said retaining means and to move away from one another in a direction lateral to said axis.

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