US2921717A - Tube stripping machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 19, 1960 s. BoRAK 2,921,717

TUBE STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Nov. l, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 S. BORAK TUBE STRIPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 1, 1957 United States Patent v(j) 2,921,717 TUBE STRIPPING MACHINE Sam Borak, Washington, D.C.

Application November 1, 1957, Serial No. 693,876

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-101) This invention relates to a device for dispensing the contents of'a collapsible tube and particularly relates to a mechanism which can releasably support one or more collapsible tubes containing paint color pigments in iluid or semiplastic form and provides a means for quickly and conveniently dispensing all of such material from the collapsible tubes.

Many devices have been previously proposed for dispensing material from collapsible tubes, it appearing that the majority of these were developed in conjunction with dispensing tooth paste onto a tooth brush. In such previous devices a shoe or roller is normally used to press a collapsible tube at against a back plate support, the shoe or roller being guided along a lixed track toward the dispensing end of the collapsible tube. Such shoes and rollers were spaced a fixed distance from the backing plate and thus provided no means to compensate for variations in collapsible tube wall thicknesses. A majority of the previously known roller type dispensers utilized some form of cog arrangement which cooperated with a ixed rack on the backing plate to enable progressive movement of the roller along the tube as the roller was directly rotated by a knob, the roller and knob progressing together along the tube as dispensing was accomplished.

The present invention was conceived in view of a specic need which developed in the mixing of color pigments with paint vehicles in small quantities, according to individual demand by such vendors as hardware dealers. To eliminate ineilcient, wasteful and messy hand squeezing, a rugged form of collapsible tube dispenser for use with tubes of paint color pigment was desirable. This dispenser should be capable of handling any of the numerous commercially available sizes of tubes of paint color pigment without multiple adjustments and regardless of the length of tube. The device should dispense the material directly into the mixing container, and it should be possible to simultaneously dispense two tubes of diierent color pigment into a mixing vat during asingle operation. These needs are met by the present invention. Moreover, to enable ease of operator manipulation during actual dispensing operation, a large hand crank, mounted on a fixed axis which does not shift as dispensing progresses, has been provided in the present invention. l

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention resides in the provision of a rugged tube dispensing device providing ready access for quick insertion, positive retention and ease of removal of tubes, and enabling complete dispensing of material such as paint pigments from tubes of multiple shapes and lengths.

A still further object resides in the provision of a novel dispensing device provided with means for clamping a' collapsible tube lilled with uid paint pigment, having a resiliently mounted adjustable pressure applying means for resiliently compressing the tube to dispense its contents and insuring complete dispensing by compression of the entire width of the tube progressively along its length regardless of variations in tube wall thicknesses.

Still another object of this invention resides in providf 2,921,717 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 rice ing a dispensing device enabling simultaneous dispensing of the materials from a plurality of collapsible tubes.

Another object of this invention resides in providing a rugged collapsible tube dispensing device having a rotatable operating shaft journalled on a xed axis in said device, and operatively connected to a translating tube compressor carrier assembly.

Further novel features and other objects of this inven- -tion will become apparent from the detailed description and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation view illustrating a preferred construction of a multiple tube dispensing device made in Vaccord with this invention;

Figure 2 is a view from below looking at the lower end of the dispensing device shown in Figure 1 as indicated by the section line 2 2, and illustrates details of the tube compressor mechanism and carrier with its adjustable resilient biasing features;

Figure 3 is a detailed section view taken on line 3 3 of Figure l and illustrates further details of the compression member and carrier support bridge;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view taken on line 44 i 5 illustrating details of the crank brackets;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view taken on line 7 7 of Figure 5 illustrating one of the translating racks cooperating with an operating pinion;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section View taken on line 8 8 of Figure 5 showing cooperative details between the crank shaft and its support bracket; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed View taken on line 9 9 of Figure 5 illustrating mounting details of the multiple, gripper blocks with their connecting studs projecting through the backing plate. p

vReferring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and'. 2, a preferred embodiment of the dispensing device 20 is shown as being mounted on the side of ajfixed object such as a work table 22.

The dispensing device 20 has a main frame member 24 made of heavy gauge sheet metal. Frame 24 has a primary llat rectangular portion 26, which during operation will be situated in a vertical plane and will serve as a backing plate for tubes of material. The vertical side edges of the flat plate 26 are bent forward at an approximately angle, terminating in inwardly directed narrow ianges 28 to constituterlaterally spaced vertically disposed channels 30 integral with each side of the tlat back portion- 26.

A tubular section 32 is secured as by welding to the outer side of the left-hand channel 30 (Figure 1). This tube section 32 enables the dispensing device 20 to be mounted on a vertical rod 34 which can be secured by clamps 36 to the side of Work table 22. At an inter mediate position in the tubular section 32, an apertured internally threaded boss 38 provides means for a handled locking screw 40 which can be tightened against rod 34 to securely maintain the dispensing device 20V in a fixed position relative to table 22. A convenient manner of providing the internally threaded boss 38 is to form a'n opening in the tubular section 32 and weld a nut over such opening.

As described atback portion 26 of ramef2'4 constitutes the support against which collapsible tubes will be;

' beyond `the retaining plate.

held in position and compared to dispense their contents. Such a tube `42 is illustrated in phantom lines in Figure 1 and for convenience in this description will be referred hereinafter as an oil color tube.

Two vertical slots 44 ,and 46 are cut or otherwise formed through -the at back'portion '26.. One slot 44 may be made Ylarger in width than the other slot 46 or both maybe .the same width as desired for convenience and standardization of gripper block production. Each of the'slots 44' and 46 have vertical and parallel side edges I4%, and their upper ends terminate a short distance below the top of the vframe member 24 While their lower edges terminate above the bottom edge. of frame 24 and need not be as close as. the top edges. Actually the length of lthe slot will determine the versatility of the device in accommodating a variety of length of :tubes in a convenient manner. The .two slots 44 and 46 and their associated tube gripping components and gripper operating components are essentially theV same, hence it willV be necessary to describe but one set of slots and associated components in detail. Where possible, without obscuring the description, similar components will oe referenced by a single reference numeral.

Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the vertical parallel edges y48 of slot `44 areV undercut as by a 45 chamfer. Disposed in the slot 44 are a series of tube endV gripper blocks '50, 52, 54, 56 and 58. `Each of gripper blocks 50 through '58 are rectangular and have the same thickness dimension as at portion 26 of the frame member 24 and, although their vertical dimensions can vary from block to block, the` breadth dimension is equal on all blocks and will be the same as the width of slot `44. All of the blocksSO-SS are beveled on their vertical side edges, as indicated by block 56 in Figure 4, this bevel cooperating with the undercut inclination on edges 48 of the vertical slot 44. Blocks Sti-'58 have horizontal upper and lower edges which can abut with one another in the various shifted position of the blocks along the slot 44. Note that the length of the slot y44 is greater than the total height of all the blocks when placed one on top of the other, thus permitting a vertical shift ofthe blocks in various arrangements as will become apparent hereinafter. Although five blocks are illustrated -in the vertical slot 44, it isto be understood that a greater or less number of blocks may be utilized depending upon a specific design.

Each of blocks Sti-58 has-a centrally disposed horizontal stud 60 extending from its rear face. Studs 60 can be provided by rivets passing through Vthe center of each block and welded thereto Vso the rivet head will be flush with the front face of the block.

Blocks-50-58- are placed in the Vslot y44 from the rear of frame member 24 and a retaining plate 62 (Figure 5) made from a hat rectangular piece of sheet metal approximately Vthe same thickness as frame member 24 is disposed against the back of the iiat portion 26 and secured thereto by iiat headed screws and nuts. Referringnow to Figures 4, 5 and 9, the retaining plate 62includesY a plurality of vertical slots 64, equal in number to the gripper Vplate studs 60, which in assembly t o er the rearwardly projected studs 60, the ends of which project Figure 4 closely illustrates the manner in which Vretaining' plate y62 locks each of theY gripper blocks 50-"58 into the verticalrslot 44against the undercut edges y48 enabling vertical shifting of such blocks in a confined path.

During any vertical shift, the matched inclined vertical edges of gripper blocks and slot edges 48 together with cooperation of the gripper block studs 60'and retaining plate verticali-slots 64 provides a confined vertical guide for the gripper blocks. When the lower Agripper block 50 is disposedl against-the bottom edge of slot 44 and the remaining gripper blocks l52--53 are resting on each other and on lower block 50, the abutting horizontal edgesof each blockand-of the lower-block 50-with the-` lower edge of the slot 44 will be immediately in front of lateral openings 66 in the retaining plate 62. Each opening 66 Vhas breadth at least equal to the horizontal width of the gripper blocks. The vertical width of each retaining plate opening 66 must beV of suiiicient dimension to permit free insertion of the folded end of an oil color tube, a dimension approximating 1A; inch should be suiicient or this purpose and this same dimension will be present in the space permitted in the legth of each of slots 44 and 46 over the combined height ofY all gripper blocks StL-53 to permit shifting of the gripper blocks. -if desired, the rear faces of each gripper block 50-58 adjacent its lower edge can be serrated as indicated in Figures 5 and 9 to permit greater gripping action on the folded end of an oil tube 42, however the front surface of the lower edge of each gripper block 50-58 should be flat to avoid inadvertent puncturing of the tube while it is gripped. The lower'edge of each of the openings 66 is preferably spaced a slight distance below the joinder line between the two gripper blocks immediately in front of the associated opening to enable clearance space for the folded end of a gripped oil color tube 42.

Spaced laterally outward from the lower end of each of the gripper plate stud slots 64 is a second rearwardiy projected stud 63 rigidly secured to the retaining plate 62n and, similarly to studs 60, may consist of rivets eX- tending through and welded to vthe retaining plate 62. A series of levers 7d, 72, 74, '76 and 78, equal in number and corresponding respectively to the gripper blocks Sii-- `58 are provided for enabiing shifting operation of the various blocks. Each of levers 70-78 are essentially identical in form having an intermediate aperture (Figure 4) disposed over an associated pivot stud 68 to provide a fulcr'um. The lever extends laterally and is parallel to the retaining plate 162. A short arm of each lever (lever 76 being exemplary), extends to and includes an end aperture 82 which is loosely pivotally disposed over its associated gripper plate stud 60. The levers 70--73 are retained on their associated studs 68 and 60 by washers and cotter pins or some similar-retaining device, the cotter pins having been omitted from the rear view of Figure 5 to avoid useless crowding of the draw- Each of levers "70-78 have an elongated laterally disposed arm with a horizontally bent ange 84 to-permit convenient engagement and depression by means of the operators thumb. Depression of any one of levers 70- 78 will cause that levertopivot about its stud 68, moving the short lever end upwardly aud shifting the associated gripper block stud 6G with associated gripper block in an upward direction. If the upper lever 78 is depressed, only the upper gripper block 58 will be raised away from the adjacent next lower gripper block 56 which willV open access between gripper blocks 56 and `S8 to the uppermostopening 66 in retaining plate v62. With the block so raised, the folded end of an oil color tube 42 can be inserted from the-front through or into opening y66 in the retaining plate 62. Similarly, depression of the lowermost lever 70 will cause the lower gripper block '50 to be raised which in turn raises all of the gripper blocks above gripperblock S0 an equalramount, to provide access space to the opening 66 adjacent the lower edge of gripper 56. Thus, it is clearly understood that depression of Vany of levers 70, 72, 74 and 76 will raise the associated gripper block and all of the gripper blocks above the associated one.

To provide a reasonable force on all gripper blocks 50-58 to bias them in a downward direction againstV adjacent lower gripper blocks and the lower edge of slot 44,there is provided a spring biasing means best shown in Figure 5. Two shouldered support studs 88, with reducedfdiameter threaded ends S8 (Figure 6), are secured to and project'rearwardly from an intermediate portion of the retaining plate 62. Disposed over the threaded ends'88 and secured rigidly thereto'by'nuts 90' on the threaded ends, is a laterally elongate spring anchor plate 92. The lower edge 94 of anchor plate is turned under for strength purposes and includes a series of spaced hooks 96 integrally formed thereon. The washer devices 98 disposed over the upper levers 78 on the upper gripper block studs 60 are specially formed with a lower rearwardly turned edge ange 100. ln each of edge anges 100 are apertures, or the like, serving as anchor means for the hooked end of springs 102. Two springs 102 are connected between each washer flange 100 and associated anchor hooks 96 on the anchor plate 92, and provide a biasing force on the upper gripper plate stud 60 and the associated gripper plate 58 in a downward direction. It is apparent that the biasing action of springs 182 on the upper gripper plate 58 will coact through all of lower gripper plates 56, 54, 52 and 50 tending to force them down against each other and the bottom edge of slot 44.

Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the translating mechanism 110 for progressive compression of the collapsible tubes from the top portion of frame 24 to its bottom portion will now be described. The end view of this assembly 110 is clearly shown in Figure 2 and such assembly consists of two laterally spaced vertically disposed channel strips 112 dimensioned toV enable their flanges to be slidably disposed in vertical disposition within the side channels 30 of frame member 24. A vertical plate 114 is welded adjacent the lower edges of each channel strip 112 and projects forwardly from the frame member 24. A suitable bridge member 116, which is shown as a semiattened tubular section, ideal for strength purposes, is connected between the vertical plates 114 by welding. Channel strips 112 and the rigidly secured vertical plates 114 and bridge member 116 provide a rigid assembly which is vertically slidable in the side channels 28 of frame member 24.

Bridge member 116 provides the rigid support necessary for a resiliently biased tube compressing roller 118 which in this instance consists of a rubber coated cylinder 120 through which an axle 122 extends. The ends of axle 122 project through laterally spaced axle retaining blocks 124 which are integral ends of guide shafts 126. The two spaced guide shafts 126 project forward through tubular sleeves 128 which are slidably disposed through horizontal apertures in the tubular bridge member 116. Coil compression springs 13@ encircle the guide shafts 126 between and abutting end blocks 124 and the inner ends of the tubular sleeves 128.

Intermediate the laterally spaced tubular sleeves 128, which slidably project through the bridge member 116, two horizontal forwardly projected threaded studs 132 are secured as by welding to the tubular bridge member 116. A spring bias adjusting plate 134 is apertured to fit over the two intermediate studs 132 and the threaded ends of the two guide shafts 126. The apertures in plate 134 which tit over guide shafts 126 are smaller than the outer dimension of tubular sleeves 128 and will abut the outer ends of` such tubes. Lock nuts 136 and wing nuts 138 are threaded on the projecting ends of fixed studs 132 and by suitable manipulation can adjust the position of the tubular sleeve 12S relative to bridge 116 and vary the spring bias force. Lock nuts 136 can beornitted if desired. Any variation in the compression force of the springs 1310V will in turn vary the biasing force of roller 118 against the flat portion 26 of frame member 24. Guide shafts 125 are free to shift against spring bias within guide sleeves 128, nuts 14@ being placed on the threaded ends ofthe guide shafts 126 merely to maintain the roller, springs, sleeves and guide shafts in assembled position when the squeezing assembly 110 is removed from the frame member side channels 30.

To prevent inadvertent downward movement of the tube compressing assembly 110 to a position where the roller 118 could pass beyond the lower edge of frame 24,

a stop hook 142 is secured as by bolt and nut to the upper end of each of the channel strips 112. Hook'142 engages the upper edge of frame 24 before roller 118 can pass beyond the lower frame edge to limit further downward movement of the sliding assembly 110. To prevent inadvertent movement of the sliding assembly olf of the frame member 24 in upward movement, a bracket stop member 144 is secured as by bolts and nuts to the upper edge portion of frame 24 and includes afiange extending forwardly into the path of movement of bridge member 116. Thus, as the assembly 110 is shifted upwardly in the frame channels 28 inadvertent movement beyond the upper edge of frame 24 will be prevented when bridge 116 contacts the ange of bracket 144.

A spring biased sliding pressure shoe can be substituted in lieu of roller 118 within the concepts of this invention.

Vertical shifting of the compressing assembly 110 is accomplished througha hand crank located adjacent the upper edge of frame 24. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a hand crank support bracket 152, having two rearwardly projected end flanges 154, is secured to the rear side of frame 24 by means of flat headed bolts and nuts. The shaft 156 of crank 156 extends laterally and parallel across the upper Vportion of the rear face of frame 24. Bracket 152 has a lateral slot 158 extending its entire width and two short slots in the end anges 154 intersect the lateral slot 158. The termination ends of slots 160 are curved to match the radius of the crank shaft 156. Bracket 152 is placed over a lateral intermediate portion of crank shaft 156 and the curved ends of slots 160 can engage against shaft 156 to'maintain it rotatably adjacent the back surface of frame number 24.

On the outer side of each of bracket end flanges 154, the iiat back portion 26 of main fratrie member 24 is pierced with openings 164, the outer edge of which lies in Vertical alignment with the inner edges of the slidable assembly channel strips 112. Fixed by welding along the inner side and adjacent the rear edge of each channel strip 112 is a toothed gear rack 116 with the teeth disposed rearwardly immediately in front of an associated opening 164 in the back frame portion 26. A spur gear 168 is secured to the end of crank shaft 156 on the outer side of an end ange 154 as by a set screw and a second spur gear 17) is secured in a similar manner to crank shaft 156 on the outer side of the other bracket ange 154. So secured to the crank shaft 156, the two gears 168 and axially position crank shaft 156 relative to frame 24 and mesh with respective racks 166 on either side of the sliding compressor assembly 11i). Cooperation between the gears and the racks and between crank shaft 156 and the curved end slots 169 in bracket end flanges 154 rotatably journal the crank shaft in operative position.

In operating the dispensing device, a suitable support is provided to maintain the device 20 in a vertical position. In the illustrated embodiment a vertical rod 34 is secured to a table 22 and the frame member 24 fixed thereto as by a tubular sleeve 32 and locking handle 40. With the squeezing assembly 116 in its uppermost position (not shown) and a suitable receptacle such as a bucket of white paint placed below the device 20, a desired tube 42 or tubes of colored paint pigments can be secured in position. Depending on'the length of tube 42, its folded end will be clamped by a gripper block 50-58 to enable the discharge end of the tube to be disposed closely adjacent the lower edge of frame 24.

In the illustrated embodiment, a. relatively short tube 42 is disclosed, hence its folded end is positioned between the two lower gripper blocks 56 and 52. To do so the second side lever 72 can be pressed in a downward direction raising the gripper block 5.2, together with all of gripper blocks 54, 56 and 58 located above block 52, against the bias of springs 102. The folded end of the tube is inserted under the lower edge of gripper block 52 and through the rear slot 66 at which time the lever 72 is released and the force of springs 192 bias all four gripper blocks S2458 downwardly to clamp the folded end Vof tube 42 between the lower edge of gripper block 52 and the upper edge of gripper block 50. ln this position the tube 42 will depend down across the front of frame face-portion 26.

rIhe operator then rotates the crank d and, through the gears 168 and 176 meshed with racks 166 on the sliding assembly, will move the entire assembly 110 downwardly. As assembly 11@ moves downwardly, the

squeezing roller 118 rolls along the tlat portion 26 and is biased thereagainst by the springs 130. When the roller 11S contacts the upper end of tube 42, the collapsible tube 142 will be progressively squeezed flat against the frame back portion 26 forcing all of the color pigment material within the tube dolwn toward and out of the Vopen lower end to be dispensed into the paint bucket. Springs 130 create suldcient bias against roller 1-18 to squeeze substantially all pigments from within the collapsible tube 42 as the sliding assembly 110 moves down to the outlet end of tube 42. At this point lever 72 can be again depressed and the folded end of tube 42 removed from between the gripper blocks. If the roller Y 118 has passed completely over the tube, the tube will be free and can be removed and discarded, otherwise reverse movement of the hand crank 150 will shift the sliding assembly 110 back to its upper position freeing the collapsed tube 42. y

As herein fully discussed and disclosed a new concept in collapsibley tube material dispensing devices is presented. The device incorporates readily releasable clamp members for quickly securing and releasing the folded ends of collapsible tube containers. Provision is made for the collapsing and dispensing of material from tubes of various lengths without having the dispensing materials squeezed over portions of the dispensing device. Further, a plural set of clamping assemblies is provided enabling simul-taneous dispensing from at least two tubes which is useful when adding plural color pigments to a white or any paint vehicle. The tube compressing assembly is shiftable up and down in vertical tracks enabling a hand crank operator to be located in one iixed position and provision is also made for resiliently biasing a compressing `device such as a roller or a shoe toward a ilat back plate portion to enable the most eilicient manneiof squeezing all material from a collapsible tube regardless of tube wall thickness.

The invention may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A holder and dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising: a frame with a flat center portion having at least one elongate rectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks, each having awidth essentially the same as the width of said slot and the total heights of said blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposed in alignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of said slot; resilient means connected between said frame and at least one of said blocks for biasing all of said blocks toward one end of said slotymeans on said frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocks in said slot; operating means connected to each block to enable shifting of any block toward the other end of said slot and away from the blocks between the block being shifted and said one end of said slot in opposition to the biasing force of said resilient means, to enable one end of a collapsible tube to be placed between two blocks, or the lower block and the adjacent said one end of the slot, and gripped therein by the resilient spring biasing force on said blocks; and pressure means translatable across said frame center portion for engaging and compressing theV tube from its gripped end and forcing material out of the other end of the tube; wherein each of said blocks includes a rearwardly disposed pivot stud and said means guidingly retaining said blocks in said slot includes inclined overhanging slot side edges, matching in clined side edges on said blocks and a retaining plate with elongatev slots around said studs secured to the rear side of said frame over said blocks in said slot.

2. A holder and dispensing device for' collapsible tubes comprising: a vertical frame with a flat center portion having at least one elongate vertical rectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks each having a width essentially the same as the width of said slot and the total heights of said blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposed in alignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of said slot; coil tension spring means connected between the rear side of said frame and the rear side of at least the uppermost of said blocks for biasing all of said blocks toward the lower end of said slot; means on said frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocks in said slot; an operating lever for each block, pivoted on the rear of said frame and connected to associated block to enable shifting of any block toward the upper end of said slot and away from the blocks between the block being shifted and said lower end of said slot in opposition to the biasing force of said spring means, to enable one end of a collapsible tube to the place between two blocks, or the lower block and the adjacent said lower end of the slot and gripped therein by the resilient spring biasing force on said blocks; and pressure means translatable down across said frame center portion for engaging and compressing the tube along its length from its gripped end and forcing material out of the other end of the tube.

3. A holder and dispensing device for collapsible tubes comprising: a frame with a ilat center portion having at least one elongate rectangular slot therein; a plurality of blocks each having a width essentially the same as the width of said slot and the total heights of said blocks being less than the length of said slot, disposed in alignment in said slot for shifting movement along the length of said slot; resilient means connected between said frame and at least one of said blocks for biasing all of said blocks toward one end of said slot; means ,on said frame and said blocks guidingly retaining said blocks in said slot; operating means connected to each block to enable shifting of any block toward the other end of said slot and away from the blocks between the block being shifted and said one end of said slot in opposition to the biasing force of said resilient means, to enable one end of a collapsible tube to be placed Vbetween two blocks, or the lower block and Vthe adjacent said one end of the slot and gripped therein by the resilient spring biasing force on said blocks; pressure means translatable across said frame center portion for engaging and compressing the tube from its gripped end and forcing material out of the other end of the tube; and means for translating said pressure means including a rotatable crank with an axially iixed shaft rotatably mounted on said frame and rack and pinion means connecting said shaft to said pressure means.

References Cited in the tile 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,080 Allen Aug. l, 1939 2,679,951 Yantzer June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 97,578 Sweden Dec. 12, 1939

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