US3410238A - Needle bar and presser foot control device for automatic sewing and embroidering machines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1968 H. RoLAUr-'Fs 3,410,238

NEEDLE BAR AND PRESSER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Oct. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENTOR f/as 64u/ 5 BY l 7 H. ROLAUFFS NEEDLE BAR AND PRESSER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. Ha/s E70/QW; BY

3,410,238 TOMATIC Nov. 12, 1968 H. RoLAUFFs ESSER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AU SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES NEEDLE BAR AND PR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 24, 1965 INVENTOR. 6W-r y/QWJ BY Nov. 12, 1968 H. ROLAUFFS 3,410,238

NEEDLE EAR AND PREssER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR ,AUTOMATIC sEwING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Oct. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 12, 1968 H. RoLAuFr-s 3,410,238

NEEDLE BAR AND PRESSER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES Filed Oct. 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Nov. 12, 1968 H. RoLAUFr-s 3,410,238.

NEEDLE BAR AND PRESSER FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

Filed Oct. 24, 1965 Fig. 7

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,410,238 NEEDLE BAR AND PRESSER FUOT CUNTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC SEWING AND EMBROIDERING MACHINES Hans Rolauls, Krefeld, Germany, assigner to Maschinenfabrik Carl Zangs Aktiengeseilschaft, Krefeld, Germany Filed Oct. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 504,362 Claims priority, application Germany, June 25, 1965, M 65,711 9 Claims. (Cl. 112-221) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Multiple needle machine having a presser foot for each individual needle with a driving mechanism common to all of the needles and operating continuously. Each needle has control means by which it can be made selectively operative or be held in retracted position. Each presser foot is lifted by the driving mechanism each time the respective needle retracts and is held in retracted position by the respective needle bar when the needle is held in retracted ineffective position.

The present invention relates to a needle bar and presser foot control device for automatic sewing and embroidering -machines which during the running of the machines are adapted to take the needles and presser foot either individually or in groups out of operation and later to return the same to operation.

Arrangements of this type are known which, however, do not meet all modern requirements and have a number of drawbacks.

Thus, while a heretofore known arrangement of the type involved furnishes a solution to the needle bar control, it does not solve the problem of stopping the presser foot. Furthermore, the realization of the control device requires so much space that this design cannot be employed where, for instance in vmulti-needle automats, the distance between the individual drive is narrow.

A further heretofore known design represents a solution for the needle bar control which While requiring a little space only is not able to carry out the turning on and turning off during the relatively high speed of the machine. Moreover, this design lacks the presser foot control.

Another heretofore known control arrangement has no positive coupling between needle bar and driving means therefor but only a frictional coupling. Such a design causes difficulties in sewing and embroidering operations because -it is no advantage when during hard stitches the needle movement disengages itself. Also these hard stitches which occur from time to time have to be carried out in practice and must not be omitted. Modern needles are able to withstand such stresses. This design furthermore fails to present a solution for the pressure foot control.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention t provide a needle bar and presser foot control arrangement which will overcome the above -mentioned drawbacks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a needle bar and presser foot control for automatic sewing and embroidering machines which will be able in a simple manner individually or in groups to turn and turn off the operation of needle bars and presser foot.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

3,410,238 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 FIG. 1 shows a front view of a multi-needle embroidering machine in connection with which the present invention may be employed.

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view and partial section of an individual embroidering unit -of a multi-needle embroidering machine `within the range X of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section along the line A-B of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the front view of an individual embroidering unit according to FIG. 3, however, with the end face cover mounted thereon.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the outermost right-hand embroidering unit with actuating magnet.

FIG. 7 is an electric control diagram for controlling the fast coupling according to the invention.

In realizing the objects outlined above, the present invention suggests when stopping the operation of the needle bars simultaneously to stop the movement of the respective presser feet pertaining thereto, by placing arms on the needle holders, whereas when restoring operation of the needle bars, at the same time the presser feet are also restored to operation. The coupling sleeves connected to the needle bars, and the coupling pawls under the load of torsion springs are positively coupled to each other. For purposes of automatically controlling all needle bars and presser feet, there is provided a two-position actuating magnet the magnet coils of which are, in conformity with the commands issued by a control card, alternately connected to a source of current by menas of a step by step control mechanism. Instead of a twoposition actuating magnet, also a correspondingly controlled compressed air or pressure oil cylinder may be employed. Advantageously, the turning on and off mechanism, for instance the manual coupling of the needle bars and presser feet may through a switch be connected with an electric control device of the upper threads so that the automat will be stopped `when a thread breaks.

An arrangement of this type also funrishes the possibility of displacing the sewing or embroidery material from one seam to the other or from one embroidery design to another without leaving stepping stitches. Such stepping stitches are disadvantageous inasmuch as they later have to be carefully taken out, aside from the fact that the needle hole will with certain type of fabric remain visible after the stepping stitches have been removed.

The individual control of certain needles is required, for instance, also with multi-needle embroidering automats when the pattern has to be changed. The simultaneous stopping of the presser foot together with a needle as has 'been made possible by the present invention is required in particular when working on sensitive-goods, in order to avoid pressure areas on the goods.

The invention will now `be described in detail in connection with a multi-needle machine, for instance a multineedle portal embroidering machine. More specifically referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the machine frame 1 with a portal 2 for receiving the embroidering tools, the carrier 3 for receiving a looper 4 with the lower thread bobbin, the embroidering frame 5 for mounting the goods 6 to be embroidered, the beam 7 for winding up the goods, the deviating roller 7a, the control automat 8 for the movement 0f the embroidering frame 5 through the driving link system 9 and for initiating the control functions in conformity with the program of control card 10. FIGS. l and 2 also show the stand 11 for the yarn roll for the upper yarn bobbins 12, the thread guide 13 for the upper thread, and the table plate 14. Drive motor 15 drives the control automat 8 through the driving frame 16, and furthermore drives the embroidering tools in portal 2 and the lfooper 5 in carrier 3. FIGS.

1 to 4 also indicate the angle steel strip 17 for connecting the control elements and the two-position actuating magnet 18.

With an embroidering unit according to FIGS. 3 to 6, needle 19a is by means of a needle holder 19b clamped in needle bar 19. Screwed to needle bar 19 is a coupling sleeve 20 `which in its uppermost position of movement engages a ring 21 of synthetic material which latter then engages the upper needle bar guiding bushing 22. Needle bar 19 is secured against turning by means of a slot 19C and a trunnion screw 23. Also screwed to said bushing 22 is a holder 24 for the lock catch 25 which is adapted to rotate about pivots 26a and 26h. A control 'bar 27 which is journalled at the upper and lower end in the portal is arranged adjacent the needle bar 19. When control bar 27 occupies its upper control position, the spring-loaded 'ball 28 (FIG. 4) engages notch 27a, whereas when control bar 27 occupies its lower position, `ball 28 engages notch 28b (FIG. 3). The spring (not illustrated) which acts upon ball 28 is preloaded and held by screw 29 (FIG. 6). Control pin 27e (FIG. 3) which is screwed into control bar 27 and secured by a counter nut serves for controlling lock catch 25. Control =bar 27 is provided with recesses 27d for controlling coupling 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The presser foot 31 which presses on the material and is under the load of a pressure spring 30 is guided upon the lower part of control bar 27. Presser foot 31 is -by means of a slot 2a and portal 2 and by bearing 32 secured against turning (FIG. 3). An arm 31a of presser foot 31 is adapted through needle bar 19 and needle holder 19b to turn the movement of the presser foot on and oit.

Rotatabie crank pin 33 which is drivingly connected to motor is adapted through the intervention of a connecting rod 34 to oscillate driving lever 35 of an embroidering unit (FIG. 4). Through the intervention of follower screw 36, shaft 37 journalled in a plurality of `bearings 38 (FIG. 3) is oscillated and thus all other driving levers 35 which pertain to individual embroidering units and are connected to shaft 37 will oscillate together with the latter. The oscillating driving lever 35a will through connecting rod 39 (FIG. 3) cause clutch 40 to move back and forth. Clutch 40 will in disengaged condition slide up and down on needle bar 19. This clutch is primarily composed of pivot bolts 40a and 4012, torsion springs 40e and 40d, clutch pawls 40C and 40f, roller bolts 40g and 40h, control rollers 401' and 40k, and rollers 401 and 40m.

Each embroidering unit has associated therewith atakeup lever 41. All of the take-up levers 41 are connected to an oscillating shaft 42 common thereto. Shaft 42 is journalled in a plurality of rings 43 and obtains its oscillating movement from a cam or crank drive (not illustrated). At the head of the control bar 27 there is arranged a manual clutch 44 which comprises a clutch bolt 44a, a pressure spring 44b, a clutch knob 44e and a lever 44d (FIG. 4). This manual clutch 44 is by means of screw 44e xedly connected to control "bar 27 (FIG. 3). For purposes of controlling all 'or some selected control bars 27 from a central station, there are provided control levers 45. Each control lever 45 is rotatably journalled on a bolt 44a which is connected to an angle steel strip 17. The means for effecting the said central control also comprises the clamping members 45b, control bar 46, angle lever 47, bolt 47a likewise connected to strip 17, clamping member 47b, fork-shaped head 18a with pivot bolts 18b, and the twoposition actuating magnet 18. It is a matter of course that the two-position actuating magnet 18 may also ybe replaced by other stroke producers, as for instance compressed air or pressure oil cylinder piston means. Furthermore, the important part of the two-position actuating magnet 18 comprises, in conformity with FIG. 6, the armature 18e, the bar 18d, the front magnet coil 18e, the rear magnet coil 181, the abutments 18g and 18h and the three- wire conductors 181, 18k and 181.

In each embroidering unit, the upper thread ,12a passes from the upper yarn bobbin 12 through thread guide 13 a pretensioning device 48, wire adjustable main clamping means 49, to the thread pulling device 50 (FIG. 5). The thread pulling spring 50a which is moved by the upper thread 12a in conformity with the rhythm of the movement of the take-up lever 41 is electrically connected to the end cover 51 and thus to the mass of the portal 2 and of the machine frame 1. On the other hand, however, the abutment pin 5012 is insulated and connected with an electric conductor 52. From the thread pulling device 50, the upper thread 12a passes through the eye of the take-up lever 41 and from there through the deviating member 53, through the eye of needle 19a and tothe line of material 54. Conductor 52 leads to a contact 55a of a switch 55 which in response to the actuation of its control yoke 55c is adapted through the intervention of the manual clutch 44 and push rod 55d to separate the contacts 55a and 55h electrically. From contact 55b a conductor 56 leads to a plug 57 which engages a common conducting strip 58 which is electrically insulated from and mounted on the angle strip 17.

The control diagram shown in FIG. 7 illustrates by way of example one way in which the electric control for the clutch may be effected. In addition to the above mentioned parts, the diagram illustrates further electric devices and, more specically, a transformer 59 for opening a low control voltage, a rectifier 60 for producing the direct current voltage which is required for exciting the two-position actuating magnet 18, and the step by step control mechanism 61 which with each current impulse arriving at coil 61b alternately Connects its contact 61a with the terminals 61C and 61d. Metal foils 10a and 10b glued to the marginal portion of control card 10 shortcircuit contacts 62a and 6217 for the time period during which the card slides by. Furthermore, there is provided a control relay 63 for disconnecting the drive for the multi-needle machine. The interrupter contact 65 is controlled by a cam disc 66. Contact 65 controls the scanning point for the upper thread 12a by means of pressure spring 50a. More specifically, the interrupter contact 65 is closed at the very moment when the upper thread 12a is taut. Cam disc 66 is connected to machine main shaft 67. Dash line 68 represents the electrically conductive mass connection. Lines 69 to 74 illustrate connecting conductors.

OPERATION A.-1Manual control of individual needle bars and their presser feet In starting position, the clutch pawls 40e and 40 are positively connected to the clutch sleeve 20. The control bar 27 occupies its upper rest position while the armature 18e and the bar 18d have by the two-position magnet 18 been brought into the pushed-out position, and the Inachine is running.

Clutch knob 44e is pulled out and turned by 90 and member 44d is moved to engage groove 44j. Clutch 44 is moved downwardly until the control bars 27 engage notch means 27b. The upper end of the recess 27d on both sides is now located lower by the distance of notch means 27b and 27a. Furthermore, control pin 27e` with control bar 27 has moved downwardly and thus permits the locking catch 25 due to its own weight or the force of a torsion spring to turn somewhat in clockwise direction about pivots 26a and 261'). Needle bar 19 moves upwardly and downwardly while being driven by the driving lever 35a, connecting bar 39 and clutch 40. During the upward movement of needle bar 19 which follows the downward control of control bar 27, the following operations will take place.

Control rollers 401 and 40k will spread at the end 0f the recess 27d of control bar 27 and will thus open the clutch between the clutch pawls 40e and 40]c and clutch sleeve 20, However, rollers 401 and 40m remain on the arched surfaces 2Gb and 20c (FIGS. 3 and 4) and press the clutch sleeve and thus the needle bar 19 up into the upper dead center point. Nose 20a of clutch sleeve 20 will during this upward movement slide past nose a of locking catch 25 by pressing the pre-loaded locking catch 25 somewhat in counter-clockwise direction, said locking catch being pre-loaded by its own weight or a tension spring. As soon as nose 20a has moved past nose 25a, nose 25a places itself below nose 20a and thus holds clutch sleeve 20 and consequently needle bar 19 connected thereto in the position of its upper movement reversal.

Rollers 40! and 40m of the spread clutch pawls 40e and 401 roll back and forth on needle bar 19 and hold clutch pawls 40e and 40j spread also when the control rollers 401' and 40k during their upward movement again come into the range of recess 27d. At said point of `the upper movement reversal of clutch 40, rollers 40! and 40m are prevented from engaging the rest positions 19d of needle bar 19 by control rollers 401' and 40k which in this position take care for the spreading of the clutch pawls 40e and 40f. During the embroidering operation, presser foot 31 is at point 31b by means of abutment 40n lifted off the line 45 of the material when the needle bar 19 moves upwardly. Abutment 40u is provided with a shock absorbing liner 40o. When the movement of needle bar 19 is interrupted and needle bar 19 is arrested in its upper position of movement reversal, presser foot 31 is arrested by its arm 31a resting upon needle holder 19b against the thrust of pressure spring 30.

Clutch knob 44e is pulled out and turned by 90 and ward shift of manual clutch 44 be actuated so that contacts 55a and 55h open and thereby turn olf the electric upper thread control for the stopped embroidering unit.

FIGS. 5 and 7 will illustrate the function of the electric upper thread control. Upper thread 12a passes through the yoke of the thread pulling torsion spring 50a and leads the same from the abutment pin 50b when the takeup lever 41 pulls the thread taut during the upward movement. During this time period in which the upper thread 12a is normally taut, cam disc 66 closes the interrupter contact 65 so that the current may pass from terminals 59a of transformer 59 through conductor 71, the coil of control relay 63, conductor 70, interrupter contact 65, conductor 69, plug strip 58, and conductor 56 to `contact 55h. When the needle bar 19 is in operation, the current furthermore passes through contact 55a and conductor 52 to abutment pin 50h. Thread pulling tension spring 50a is electrically connected through mass connecting line 68 with the terminal 59b of transformer 59.. When the upper thread 12a is missing because it is too loose or it is torn, the thread pulling tension spring 50a and abutment pin S0b remain electrically connected so that for the duration during which the interrupter contact 56 is switched on, the coil of control relay 63 will due to cam disc 66 receive current. By means of the contact of control relay 63, the turning off of the machine may then be initiated in the well known manner.

In view of the breakingvof the two contacts 55a and 55b, the electric control of the respective upper thread 12a is put out of operation. The return to operation of individual needle bars 19 and presser foot 31 is effected by additionally turning on the respective control bars 27 until they engage notch means 27a. As a result thereof, the locking catch 25 is by means of control pin 27e` turned in counter-clockwise direction so that nose 25a will relieve nose 20a of clutch sleeve 20. The recesses 27d on both sides which are provided in control bar 27 have again freed `control rolls 401' and 40k so that rollers 40! and 40m can snap into the rest position 19d when clutch 40 has reached the position of the upper movement reversal. In view of this engagement, also the positive engagement between the clutch members 40e and 40f and clutch sleeve 20 is restored so that the respective needle bar 19 is again moved upwardly and downwardly. The above described return to operation is effected inanually in a shock-free manner because the clutch engagement is effected at the upper dead center point of the upward and downward movement of clutch 40. During this re-engagement, contacts 55a and SSb again close so that the respective upper threads 12a are again electrically controlled or checked.

B.-Automatic control of all needle bars and presser feet At the starting position, all manual clutches 44 are connected through clutch ibolts 44a with control levers 45. All needle bars 19 ane engaged and in operation, armature 18e and bar 18d of the two-position actuating magnet 18 are in pushed-out position, and the machine is running. When the metal foil 10a glued to control card 10 (FIG. 7) passes by, the contacts 62a and 62b are short-circuited. As a result thereof, coil 61b of step by step control mechanism 61 will for the duration of the establishment of contact receive current from the transformer 59 through terminal 59b, line 73, contact 62a, metal foil 10a, contact 62b, line 74, coil 61b, line 71a, and terminal 59a. This `short period current impulse switches contact 61a from connection with terminal 61C to connection with terminal 61d. Prior to the thus described switch-over operation, magnetic coil 18e was located in the following circuit: rectifier I60, line 18k, magnetic coil 18e, line 181, terminal 61C, contact 61a, line 72, rectifier 60. As a result thereof, armature 18e and thus bar 18d were pulled into magnetic coil 18e which means were pushed out,

After this reversal, magnetic coil 181 is, due to the exchange of conductors 181 and 18 in the direct current circuit so located that armature 18C and thus bar 18d are pulled in. In view of the pulling in of bar 18d, angle lever 47 is turned in clockwise direction about bolt 47a whereby control bar 46 is lmoved in leftward direction. As a result thereof, all of the control levers 45 tilt in clockwise `direction and Iby means of the manual clutches 44 move all of the control bars 27 downwardly.

The subsequent disengagement of all needle bars 19 and presser feet 31 is effected in precisely the Imanner which has been described in connection with the manual control of individual needle bars 19 and presser feet 31.

The return of all embroidering units to operation is initiated by the next metallic foil 10b. In view of a shortcircuiting of contacts 62a and 62b, the step by step control mechanism 61 again switches its contact 61a into engagement with contact 61e whereby magnetic coil 18e is excited and `pushes out armature 18C together with bar 18d. Through the intervention of angle lever 47 and control lever 45, all control bars are pulled upwardly whereby in a manner `described above, all needle bars 19 and presser feet 31 are again returned to operation.

The Idescribed electric control by metal foils 10a and 10b may, of course, also 'be replaced by other constructions as, for instance, light barriers which are controlled by the perforations in the card, or by reflex light barriers reacting upon rellex foils glued to card 10. If desired, also two electric contact members normally separated from each other by the control card may be permitted to Contact each other through a card perforation at the control points.

C Automatic control of needle bars and presser feet groups For purposes of group contro-l, it is required that the embroidering units which are to remain continuously in operation or out of operation be adjusted accordingly by disengaging the manual clutches 44 from the control levers 45 and engaging the respective notches 27a or 27b. All units which remain enga-ged with the control levers 45 through rmanual clutches 44 will follow the control impulses of control card 10.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular arrangement set forth above but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an arrangement for embroidering and sewing; a plurality of reciprocable needle bars, a reciprocable presser foot for each needle bar, drive means for driving said needle bar, clutch means `for each needle bar operable for clutching the respective need-le bar to said drive means, a locking pawl for each needle bar for locking the respective needle bar in retracted position `during continued operation of said driving means, a control rod for each needle Ibar displaceable from a first position wherein the said locking pawl for the respective needle bar is ineffective and the said clutch means for the respective needle bar is effected into a second position wherein the said locking pawl is eifective and the said clutch means is ineffective, abutment means including cooperating elements lon `said drive means and said presser foot for retractiug said presser foot during retracting movement of said needle bar, and other abutment means including cooperating elements on said needle bar and said presser foot interengageatble in the retracted position of said needle bar for holding ysaid presser foot in retracted position during continued operation of said drive means.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 which includes means for Imanually displacing each said control rod from either of its said position to the other, and power operable means for power displacement of the control rods .from either of their said positions to the other, and means for selectively connecting each of said control rods to said power operable means.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 in which said power operable means includes a two position actuator.

4. The arrangement according to claim 3 in which said actuator comprises a pair of solenoids and an armature moveable thereby.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4 in which switch means is provided for completing an energizing circuit to said solenoids alternately, and a control card, and means in circuit with said switch and said solenoids and scanning said control card for completing said energizing circuits according to the region of the card being scanned.

6. The `arrangement according to claim 1 in which said clutch means includes a clutch sleeve tiXed to each needle car, a drive element connected to said driving means, and drive pawl means on each drive element for the respective sleeve and spring urged toward driving engagement with the respective sleeve and moveable out of driving engagement with the respective sleeve by the respective control rod when the latter is moved into its said second position.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6 in which each said sleeve has rib means projecting laterally therefrom on opposite sides in the path of movement of said pawls, and said pawl means comprising a notched pawl member pivotally mounted on said drive element on each side of said sleeve, said notches engaging said rib means when said control rod is moved into its said iirst position.

S. The arrangement according to claim 1 in which said clutch means includes a clutch sleeve on each needle bar, and drive pawl means for each sleeve arranged on respectively opposite sides thereof and connected to said driving means and spring urged toward driving engagement with the respective sleeve, said control rod for each needle bar including means operable when the control rod is moved into its said second position and the pertaining needle bar approaches its retracted position for engaging said pawls and moving said pawls apart to effect disengagement of said pawls from the respective said sleeve.

9. In an arrangement for embroidering and sewing; a plurality of reciprocable needle bars, a reciprocable presser foot for each needle bar, drive means for driving said needle bars, clutch means for clutching each needle bar to said drive means, a locking pawl for locking each needle bar in retracted position, a control rod for each needle bar displaceable from a first position wherein said locking pawl is ineffective and said clutch means is effective into a second position wherein said locking pawl is effective and said clutch means is ineffective, 'abutment means including cooperating elements on said needle bar and said presser foot interengageable in the retracted position of said needle bar for holding said presser foot in retracted position, an upper thread control means for each needle bar responsive to tension in the respective upper thread for controlling said driving means, each said control means including an electric circuit, a normally closed switch in each circuit, and means operated by the associated control rod when the latter is moved into its said second position for opening said switch of said circuit to thereby make the circuit ineffective.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,232 7/1916 Richards 112-221 1,726,450 8/ 1929 Pettit 112-(239 2,768,593 10/1956 Lombard i12-221 2,824,532 2/1958 Scheibel i12-221 3,259,088 7/1966 Rockholt 112-79 3,266,449 8/1966 Berg et al 112-221 3,282,237 11./1966 Niekrawietz i12-236 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,500 10/1932 Germany JORDAN, FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Assistant Examiner.

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