Automatic carrying intelligent robot and garbage classification processing method
Technical Field
The invention relates to the technical field of artificial intelligence, in particular to an automatic carrying intelligent robot and a garbage classification processing method.
Background
The urban garbage classification treatment is an important approach for solving the problems of the current urban garbage yield increase, the garbage treatment efficiency is low, the garbage utilization rate is low and the like, the artificial intelligence technology can replace part of labor force in garbage classification, so that the labor cost required by garbage classification is greatly reduced, and the garbage classification efficiency is improved.
Although the existing household garbage can be cleaned regularly, due to the fact that a large amount of labor is needed, and a garbage can is rarely cleaned manually, the garbage collection not only needs manual labor force, but also is poor in collection condition, so that the garbage is collected only by transferring, the cleaning of the garbage can cannot be changed well, a cleaner can also face the influence of garbage odor, and in order to solve the problems, an intelligent automatic carrying robot is provided.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical problem to be solved
Aiming at the defects of the prior art, the invention provides an automatic carrying intelligent robot which has the advantages of high working efficiency, labor saving, intelligence, environmental protection, health and sanitation and the like, and solves the problem that sanitation workers carry a dustbin manually and the cleaning force of the dustbin is insufficient.
(II) technical scheme
In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme: an automatic carrying intelligent robot comprises a robot body, wherein the robot body is of a hollow rectangular structure, the front part of the robot body is open, a walking mechanism is arranged at the bottom of the robot body, the walking mechanism is of a conventional structure and is not described herein, the left side and the right side of the bottom surface of the robot body are respectively fixedly connected with a secondary fixing plate, the secondary fixing plate is of an arch structure, a secondary clamping groove is formed in the right side wall surface of the secondary fixing plate, the clamping groove is of a hollow cylindrical structure, one end of the clamping groove is open, the secondary clamping groove is positioned in the center of an arc of the secondary fixing plate, a fixing rod is sleeved on the inner side wall of the secondary fixing plate and is of a cylindrical structure, a limiting rod is sleeved on the outer side wall of the fixing rod, the limiting rod is of a hollow rectangular structure, a main clamping hole is formed in the outer side wall surfaces of the arc of the secondary fixing plate, a main connecting groove is formed in the front side wall of the main connecting groove, the main connecting groove is of a hollow cylindrical structure, one end of the main connecting groove is open, the inner side wall of the hollow rectangular connecting groove is sleeved on the inner side wall of the hollow rectangular connecting groove, the front side wall of the limiting rod and back connecting groove, the bearing structure is open end of the bearing, the bearing connecting groove, the bearing structure is formed in the front and back connecting groove, the chassis is of a cylindrical structure, the top surface of the chassis is fixedly connected with a machine box, the machine box is of a hollow rectangular structure, an intelligent controller is arranged in the machine box, the intelligent controller is of an existing structure and is not described any more herein, the output end of the intelligent controller is electrically connected with the input end of a rotating shaft, the front outer wall and the rear outer wall of the machine box are respectively provided with a through socket, the through sockets are of a hollow rectangular structure, both ends of the through sockets are open, the inner side wall of each through socket is clamped with an inserting rod which is of an arch structure, the inserting rod is penetratively connected onto the machine box, the center of the left side wall of the machine box is provided with a connector which is of a hollow cylindrical structure, both ends of the connector are open, the inner side wall of the connector is clamped with a clamping column which is of a cylindrical structure, the outer side wall of the clamping column is fixedly connected with a crank, and the crank is formed by connecting an arc structure and two rectangular structures, wherein the arc structure is horizontally connected with one end of a rectangular structure, the other end of the rectangular structure connected with the arc structure is connected with one end of another rectangular structure in an angle, a socket is arranged on the outer side wall of the crank, the socket is in a hollow cylindrical structure, one end of the socket is open, the socket is positioned on the outer side wall of a rectangular plate of the crank not provided with the arc structure, a transposition shaft is clamped on the inner side wall of the socket, the transposition shaft is in a hollow cylindrical structure, a secondary hole groove is arranged on the left side of the front end of the outer side wall of the transposition shaft, the secondary hole groove is in a hollow cylindrical structure, both ends of the secondary hole groove are open, the secondary hole groove is positioned on the excircle wall surface of one end of the transposition shaft away from the crank, a clamping cap is clamped on the inner side wall of the secondary hole groove, the clamping cap is in a cylindrical structure, a fixing buckle is fixedly arranged at one end of the clamping cap, the fixing buckle is in a hollow cylindrical structure, both ends of the fixing buckle are open, the fixed knot is located the card cap and keeps away from on the excircle wall of the one end in secondary hole groove, and the bottom of fixed knot is provided with the master gear, and the master gear is hollow cylindrical structure, and the both ends of master gear are uncovered, has seted up the tooth mouth on the excircle wall of master gear, and the excircle wall and the master gear of card cap and the fixed inside wall of detaining cup joint together.
Preferably, a controller is installed on the inner side wall of the limiting rod, and the left side wall of the controller is fixedly connected with the right side wall of the telescopic rod.
Preferably, one end of the adapting rod is sleeved with a main fixing plate, the main fixing plate is of an arch structure and is longer than a secondary fixing plate, the main fixing plate and the secondary fixing plate are both vertically fixed at the bottom of the machine body, a secondary hole is formed in the right side wall surface of the main fixing plate and is lower than the secondary clamping groove, the secondary hole is located in the center of a circle of an arc of the main fixing plate, and the inner side wall of the secondary hole is clamped with the outer circular wall surface of the adapting rod.
Preferably, a connector is fixedly connected to the middle portion of the outer side wall of the rotating rod, the connector is a special-shaped body formed by vertically intersecting and combining two rectangles, and a telescopic rod is fixedly connected to the outer side wall, close to the bottom, of the connector.
Preferably, the pull rod is of an arch structure, the carrying frame is fixedly connected to the top surface of the left side of the pull rod and is of a hollow rectangular structure, two ends of the carrying frame are open, the protection frame is clamped in the middle of the carrying frame and is of a hollow rectangular structure, two clamping buckles are fixedly connected to two sides of the top surface of one end, far away from the carrying frame, of the protection frame respectively, and the clamping buckles are special-shaped bodies formed by perpendicularly intersecting two ends of two rectangles in a combined mode.
It is preferred, two stock of interlude pole are kept away from and are seted up main hole on the lateral wall of horizontal pole respectively, the joint has the connecting rod on the inside wall in main hole, the connecting rod is cylindrical structure, the main bearing has been cup jointed to the one end that main hole was kept away from to the connecting rod, the main bearing is current structure, do not do here repeatedly, the one end fixed mounting that the connecting rod was kept away from to the main bearing has the stabilizer, the stabilizer is hollow rectangle structure, the both ends of stabilizer are uncovered, the stabilizer has seted up inferior calorie of hole respectively on the inside wall that does not set up the other both sides of connecting rod, the joint has main connecting axle and inferior connecting axle on the inside wall in inferior calorie of hole respectively, the section face of main connecting axle and inferior connecting axle is T shape, the excircle wall of the less one end of main connecting axle and inferior connecting axle diameter is in the same place with the inside wall joint in inferior calorie of hole.
Preferably, the clamping column is located at the center of the circular arc structure of the crank.
Preferably, the meshing has the secondary gear on the master gear excircle wall, the tray has been cup jointed to the bottom of secondary gear, the tray is the hollow cylindrical structure, the both ends of tray are uncovered, the axis of rotation is the hollow rectangular structure, the inside of axis of rotation is provided with the operator, the output of operator and the input electric connection of stock, be equipped with the master hole groove on the outer circular wall of axis of rotation, the joint has the main connecting axle on the inside wall in master hole groove, the bottom surface fixedly connected with holding rod of axis of rotation, the inferior spread groove has been seted up to the bottom surface of holding rod, the stock has been cup jointed on the inside wall of inferior spread groove, the one end fixedly connected with connecting cap of mop head is kept away from to the stock, connecting cap left side wall fixed mounting has the mop head, fixedly connected with cloth on the excircle wall of mop head.
A method of sorting waste using an intelligent robot as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
(III) advantageous effects
Compared with the prior art, the invention provides an automatic carrying intelligent robot which has the following beneficial effects:
1. this automatic transport intelligent robot drives the transport frame synchronous motion through the running gear motion, realizes the automatic motion of machine, saves the labour, has improved work efficiency.
2. This automatic transport intelligent robot through moving the transport frame and putting into the garbage bin bottom, the recognizer senses the garbage bin position and signals to the controller, and the extension motion is done to controller control telescopic link, is convenient for realize the automatic purpose of rubbish clearance, liberates human both hands.
3. This automatic transport intelligent robot through telescopic link extension promotion connector, and the connector drives the dwang and passes through the bearing and rotate clockwise around the bolster, and the dwang rotates and drives spacing and the synchronous upward rotary motion of pull rod, and the pull rod rotates and drives the transport frame and rotate, and the transport frame rotates and drives the garbage bin and rotate together, and rubbish slides under the action of gravity of self and pours out, realizes the effect that automatic handling emptys rubbish.
4. This automatic transport intelligent robot, it persists rubbish and send signal to the operator to respond to the garbage bin through the inductor, and extension motion is done to operator control stock, and the stock extension drives the mop head and moves forward, and the mop head drives the cloth and moves forward, and the garbage bin wall is cleaned along with the extension of stock to the cloth reaches the purpose of clearance garbage bin, is convenient for more convenient and deep clearance garbage bin.
5. This automatic transport intelligent robot, it controls the ware to remain and signals to send through recognizer response rubbish, ware control axis of rotation is controlled to the intelligence and rotates, the axis of rotation rotates and drives the tray and rotate, the tray drives the master gear and rotates, because inferior gear and tray are in axis of rotation top surface one side, tray and master gear rotate simultaneously, the action of gravity of tray and inferior gear can change and influence the normal rotation state of axis of rotation, lead to the axis of rotation to drive the rotation that the crank passes through the card post under the linkage effect of transposition axle and take place to change rotation angle, be convenient for clear up the inside wall of whole garbage bin, make the garbage bin cleaner, remove the trouble of artifical clearance garbage bin from.
6. This automatic transport intelligent robot drives the stabilizer through the main connecting axle and rotates around the connecting rod under the effect of base bearing, under the limiting action of interlude pole, the turned angle of stabilizer receives the restriction and can only the luffing motion, and the luffing motion counteraction of stabilizer is the axis of rotation for the axis of rotation is repeated change direction's rotation, realizes the reciprocal circulation of mop head and rotates, is convenient for deeply clear up.
7. This automatic transport intelligent robot rotates in step through driving the position fixing rod, and the position fixing rod drives stock and mop head rotation again, and the mop head rotates and drives the cloth strip and clean around to the garbage bin to reach comprehensive clear effect.
Drawings
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a pull rod structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a rotating shaft according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the rotating rod of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the spacing rod of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of a stabilizer according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic exploded view of a rotating shaft according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the long rod structure of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the case of the present invention;
in the figure: 1 machine body, 2 running mechanisms, 3 pull rods, 4 protective frames, 5 carrying frames, 6 clamping buckles, 7 rotating rods, 8 main clamping grooves, 9 bearing rods, 10 bearings, 11 main fixing plates, 12 secondary clamping grooves, 13 fixing rods, 14 main clamping holes, 15 limiting rods, 16 main connecting grooves, 17 telescopic rods, 18 connectors, 19 limiting frames, 20 chassis, 21 machine box, 22 insertion rods, 23 stabilizers, 24 cranks, 25 rotating shafts, 26 fixing rods, 27 long rods, 28 mop heads, 29 cloth strips, 30 connecting rods, 31 main connecting shafts, 32 secondary clamping holes, 33 main hole grooves, 34 trays, 35 secondary gears, 36 main gears, 37 fixing buckles, 38 secondary connecting shafts, 39, 40 insertion ports, 41 clamping columns, 42 bearing ports, 43 rotating shafts, 44 secondary hole grooves, 45 clamping caps, 46 main holes, 47 operators, 48 secondary connecting grooves, 49 connecting caps, 50 secondary fixing plates, 51 controllers, 52 controllers, 53 main bearing controllers and 54 secondary intelligent holes.
Detailed Description
The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Referring to fig. 1-9, an intelligent robot for automatic handling includes a main body 1, the main body 1 has a hollow rectangular structure, the front portion of the main body 1 is open, a traveling mechanism 2 is disposed at the bottom of the main body 1, the traveling mechanism 2 has a conventional structure, which is not described herein, the traveling mechanism 2 drives the main body 1 to move, the left and right sides of the bottom surface of the main body 1 are fixedly connected with a secondary fixing plate 50, the secondary fixing plate 50 has an arch structure, a secondary slot 12 is disposed on the right side wall surface of the secondary fixing plate 50, the slot 12 has a hollow cylindrical structure, one end of the slot 12 is open, the secondary slot 12 is located at the center of the arc of the secondary fixing plate 50, a fixing rod 13 is sleeved on the inner side wall of the secondary fixing plate 50, the fixing rod 13 has a cylindrical structure, a limiting rod 15 is sleeved on the outer side wall surface of the fixing rod 13, the limiting rod 15 has a hollow rectangular structure, a main slot 14 is disposed on the outer side wall surface of the limiting rod 15, the main slot 14 has a hollow cylindrical structure, the hollow cylindrical structure, one end of the main slot 14 has an open end, one end of the main slot 14 is open, the inner side wall surface of the main slot 14 is connected with the cylindrical structure, the outer side wall of the cylindrical structure, the main slot 17 is connected with a bearing 17, the cylindrical structure, the cylindrical bearing 17 is disposed on the cylindrical structure, the cylindrical bearing 17, the cylindrical bearing structure, the cylindrical bearing 17 is disposed on the front and the cylindrical bearing structure, the limiting frame 19 is clamped on the inner side wall of the main clamping groove 8, the limiting frame 19 is of a hollow rectangular structure, the front end of the limiting frame 19 is open, the pull rod 3 is sleeved on the inner side wall of the limiting frame 19, the pull rod 3 is of a hollow rectangular structure, both ends of the pull rod 3 are open, the inner side wall of the machine body 1 is fixedly connected with a chassis 20, the chassis 20 is of a cylindrical structure, the top surface of the chassis 20 is fixedly connected with a machine box 21, the machine box 21 is of a hollow rectangular structure, an intelligent controller 52 is arranged in the machine box 21, the intelligent controller 52 is of an existing structure, repeated description is omitted, the output end of the intelligent controller 52 is electrically connected with the input end of the rotating shaft 25, the recognizer senses garbage residue and sends a signal to the intelligent controller 52, the intelligent controller 52 controls the rotating shaft 25 to rotate, the intelligent controller is convenient to drive the outer circular wall surface of the main gear rotating shaft 25 to open 36 to rotate, sockets 40 are respectively arranged on the front and back outer side walls of the machine box 21, the inserting port 40 is of a hollow rectangular structure, both ends of the inserting port 40 are open, an inserting rod 22 is clamped on the inner side wall of the inserting port 40, the inserting rod 22 is of an arched structure, the inserting rod 22 is connected to the machine box 21 in a penetrating manner, a connecting port 39 is arranged at the center of the left side wall of the machine box 21, the connecting port 39 is of a hollow cylindrical structure, both ends of the connecting port 39 are open, a clamping column 41 is clamped on the inner side wall of the connecting port 39, the clamping column 41 is of a cylindrical structure, a crank 24 is fixedly connected to the outer side wall of the clamping column 41, the crank 24 is formed by connecting an arc structure and two rectangular structures, wherein the arc structure is horizontally connected with one end of one rectangular structure, the other end of the rectangular structure connected with the arc structure is connected with one end of the other rectangular structure at an angle of 120 degrees, a bearing port 42 is arranged on the outer side wall of the crank 24, and the bearing port 42 is of the hollow cylindrical structure, the one end of bellmouth 42 is uncovered, bellmouth 42 is located the lateral wall of the rectangular plate that crank 24 did not be provided with the circular arc structure, the joint has transposition axle 43 on the inside wall of bellmouth 42, transposition axle 43 is the hollow cylinder structure, pilot hole groove 44 has been seted up on the lateral wall front end left side of transposition axle 43, pilot hole groove 44 is the hollow cylinder structure, pilot hole groove both ends are uncovered, pilot hole groove 44 is located the excircle wall of the one end of transposition axle 43 away from crank 24, the joint has cap 45 on the inside wall of pilot hole groove 44, cap 45 is the cylindrical structure, the one end fixed mounting of cap 45 has fixed knot 37, fixed knot 37 is the hollow cylinder structure, the both ends of fixed knot 37 are uncovered, fixed knot 37 is located the excircle wall of the one end that cap 45 kept away from pilot hole groove 44, the bottom of fixed knot 37 is provided with master gear 36, master gear 36 is the hollow cylinder structure, the both ends of master gear 36 are uncovered, set up the tooth mouth on the excircle wall of cap 36, the excircle wall of card cap 45 and the inner wall of fixed knot 37 are in the same place.
Further, in the above scheme, install controller 51 on the inside wall of gag lever post 15, controller 51's the left side wall and the right side wall fixed connection of telescopic link 17 are in the same place, and the recognizer senses the garbage bin position and signals to controller 51, and controller 51 control telescopic link 17 is the extension motion, is convenient for carry the garbage bin, makes rubbish pour out automatically.
Further, in the above scheme, one end of the adapting rod 9 is sleeved with the main fixing plate 11, the main fixing plate 11 is of an arch structure, the main fixing plate 11 is longer than the secondary fixing plate 50, the main fixing plate 11 and the secondary fixing plate 50 are both vertically fixed at the bottom of the machine body 1, the right side wall surface of the main fixing plate 11 is provided with the secondary hole 54, the position of the secondary hole 54 is lower than that of the secondary clamping groove 12, the telescopic rod 17 can be conveniently extended to move to drive the rotating rod 7 to rotate, the secondary hole 54 is located at the center of the circular arc of the main fixing plate 11, and the inner side wall of the secondary hole 54 is clamped with the outer circular wall surface of the adapting rod 9.
Further, in the above scheme, part fixedly connected with connector 18 in the lateral wall of dwang 7, connector 18 is the profile body that two rectangles intersect perpendicularly and make up and form, and fixedly connected with has telescopic link 17 on the lateral wall that connector 18 is close to the bottom, is convenient for connect telescopic link 17 and dwang 7 for when telescopic link 17 moved, can drive dwang 7 through connector 18 and rotate.
Further, in the above scheme, pull rod 3 is domes, pull rod 3 left side top surface fixedly connected with transport frame 5, transport frame 5 is the hollow rectangle structure, the both ends of transport frame 5 are uncovered, the intermediate position joint of transport frame 5 has protection frame 4, protection frame 4 is the hollow rectangle structure, the top surface both sides of the one end of keeping away from transport frame 5 of protection frame 4 fixedly connected with clip 6 respectively, clip 6 is the dysmorphism body that two rectangle both ends intersect perpendicularly and make up and form, be convenient for block the garbage bin and slide along with rubbish.
Further, in the above scheme, main hole 46 has been seted up respectively on two stock of interlude pole 22 keep away from the lateral wall of horizontal pole, the joint has connecting rod 30 on the inside wall of main hole 46, connecting rod 30 is cylindrical structure, main bearing 53 has been cup jointed to the one end that connecting rod 30 kept away from main hole 46, main bearing 53 is current structure, it is not repeated here, main bearing 53 keeps away from the one end fixed mounting of connecting rod 30 has stabilizer 23, stabilizer 23 is the hollow rectangle structure, stabilizer 23's both ends are uncovered, stabilizer 23 has seted up inferior calorie of hole 32 respectively on the inside wall of the other both sides that do not set up connecting rod 30, it has main connecting axle 31 and inferior connecting axle 38 to joint respectively on the inside wall of inferior calorie of hole 32, the section of main connecting axle 31 and inferior connecting axle 38 is T shape, the excircle wall of the less one end of main connecting axle 31 and inferior connecting axle 38 diameter is in the same place with the inside wall joint of inferior calorie of hole 32, be convenient for prescribe a limit to the rotation of axis of rotation 25, make the change direction of rotation.
Furthermore, in the above solution, the clamping column 41 is located at the center of the arc structure of the crank 24, so as to facilitate connection and rotation of the crank.
Further, in the above solution, the outer circumferential wall of the main gear 36 is engaged with the secondary gear 35, the tray 34 is sleeved at the bottom of the secondary gear 35, the tray 34 is of a hollow cylindrical structure, both ends of the tray 34 are open, the state of the stabilizer 23 is affected, so that the stabilizer 23 moves, the rotation direction of the rotation shaft 25 is changed, the bottom surface of the secondary gear 35 is fixedly connected with the rotation shaft 25, the rotation shaft 25 is of a hollow rectangular structure, the inside of the rotation shaft 25 is provided with the operator 47, the output end of the operator 47 is electrically connected with the input end of the long rod 27, the sensor senses the garbage in the garbage can and sends a signal to the operator 47, the operator 47 controls the extension movement of the long rod 27, the outer circumferential wall of the rotation shaft 25 is provided with the main hole groove 33, the inner side wall of the main hole groove 33 is clamped with the main connection shaft 31, the bottom surface of the rotation shaft 25 is fixedly connected with the fixing rod 26, the bottom surface of the fixing rod 26 is provided with the secondary connection groove 48, the inner side wall of the garbage in the secondary connection groove 48 is sleeved with the long rod 27, one end of the long rod 27 far away from the mop head 28 is fixedly connected with the connection cap 49, the outer circumferential wall of the mop head 28 is fixedly provided with the connection cap 28, the outer circumferential wall of the mop 28, and the mop can be conveniently cleaned.
A method of sorting waste using an intelligent robot as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
When the garbage can transporting device is used, the transporting frame 5 is in a horizontal state, the transporting frame 5 is driven to move synchronously by the movement of the traveling mechanism 2, when the transporting frame 5 is placed at the bottom of a garbage can, the recognizer senses the position of the garbage can and sends a signal to the controller 51, the controller 51 controls the telescopic rod 17 to do stretching movement, the telescopic rod 17 stretches to push the connector 18, the connector 18 drives the rotating rod 7 to rotate clockwise around the bearing rod 9 through the bearing 10, the rotating rod 7 rotates to drive the limiting frame 19 and the pull rod 3 to rotate upwards synchronously, the pull rod 3 rotates to drive the transporting frame 5 to rotate, the transporting frame 5 rotates to drive the garbage can to rotate together, when the rotating rod 7 rotates for more than 90 degrees and reaches the maximum limit, the telescopic rod 17 stops stretching movement, at the moment, the garbage can is in an inclined state under the blocking of the clamp 6, and the garbage can slide and pour out under the gravity of the transporting frame, so that the garbage can be transported and dumped automatically.
If the sensor senses that the trash can is left with trash and sends a signal to the operator 47, the operator 47 controls the long rod 27 to do an extending movement, the identifier senses the trash residue and sends a signal to the intelligent controller 52, the intelligent controller 52 controls the rotating shaft 25 to rotate, the extending movement drives the mop head 28 to move forward, the mop head 28 drives the cloth strip 29 to move forward, the cloth strip 29 wipes the wall surface of the trash can along with the extending movement of the long rod 27 to achieve the purpose of cleaning the trash can, the rotating shaft 25 rotates to drive the tray 34 to rotate, the tray 34 drives the main gear 36 to rotate, the tray 34 and the main gear 36 rotate simultaneously due to the fact that the sub gear 35 and the tray 34 are arranged on one side of the top surface of the rotating shaft 25, the gravity action of the tray 34 and the sub gear 35 can change and influence the normal rotating state of the rotating shaft 25, the rotating shaft 25 drives the crank 24 to rotate through the rotation of the clamping column 41 under the connecting action of the indexing shaft 43, the rotating shaft 25 rotates to drive the main stabilizer 23 to rotate around the connecting rod 30 under the action of the main bearing 53, under the limiting action of the rotating shaft 22, the rotating stabilizer 23 can only change the swinging movement of the mop head 23, and the mop head 28 can rotate up and down and back to rotate, so as to clean the mop head 28, and back the mop can rotate.
Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.