JP5326722B2 - Functional droplet discharge head wiping device and droplet discharge device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove foreign matters floating around during wiping. <P>SOLUTION: In the wiping unit 17 of a functional liquid droplet discharge head 14, a pressurizing roller 53 for relatively pressurizing a wiping sheet S made of cloth to the nozzle surface 38 of the inkjet functional liquid droplet discharge head 14 is disposed in a sheet feed path 54 from a sheet delivery reel 51 which delivers the wiping sheet S to a sheet winding reel 52 which winds the wiping sheet S, and the nozzle surface 38 is wiped by pressing the traveling wiping sheet S to the nozzle surface 38 by the pressurizing roller 53. A tension roller 61 is provided which faces the feed path of the sheet feed path 54 from the sheet delivery reel 51 to the pressurizing roller 53 and charges the traveling wiping sheet S so as to adsorb the foreign matters floating around. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiping apparatus for a functional liquid droplet ejection head that presses a traveling wiping sheet against a nozzle surface of a functional liquid droplet ejection head and wipes the nozzle surface, and a liquid droplet ejection apparatus having the same.

  Conventionally, as this type of functional liquid droplet ejection head wiping device, one mounted on a liquid droplet ejection device used for various film forming processes such as a color filter and an organic EL device is known (see Patent Document 1). This wiping device includes a feeding reel that feeds out the wiping sheet, a take-up reel that winds up the wiping sheet, a pressing roller that presses the wiping sheet between both reels against the nozzle surface of the functional liquid droplet ejection head, and a reel on the feeding reel side. A tension roller with a torque limiter that brakes and rotates with respect to the wiping sheet and applies a constant tension to the wiping sheet.

JP 2007-307915 A

  However, in such a wiping apparatus, foreign matter (dust) adhering to a portion other than the nozzle surface of the functional liquid droplet ejection head (the side surface of the functional liquid droplet ejection head, the substrate, etc.) floats during the wiping process and is wiped. There was a problem that it adhered to the nozzle surface after processing. In addition, there is a problem in that foreign matter (blemish) generated from the wiping sheet floats during the wiping process and adheres to the nozzle surface after the wiping process. As a result, if foreign matter adheres to the nozzle surface, the droplet discharge operation cannot be performed with high accuracy. In particular, in a droplet discharge apparatus used for various film forming processes such as a color filter and an organic EL device, foreign matter adhering to the nozzle surface is used to perform the drawing process by narrowing the gap between the functional droplet discharge head and the work as much as possible. The tip of the ink stretches the landing droplet on the workpiece, and makes the workpiece defective over a wide area.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wiping device for a functional liquid droplet ejection head that can remove foreign matters floating around in the wiping process and a liquid droplet ejection device including the wiping device.

The functional liquid droplet ejection head wiping device according to the present invention is configured to eject a wiping sheet from a sheet feeding reel that feeds a cloth wiping sheet to a sheet take-up reel that winds up the wiping sheet. This is a functional liquid droplet ejection head wiping device in which a pressure roller that presses against the nozzle surface of the head is disposed, and the functional liquid adhering to the nozzle surface is wiped by pressing the traveling wiping sheet against the nozzle surface with the pressure roller. And a charging means for charging the traveling wiping sheet so as to attract the foreign matter floating around the sheet feeding path of the sheet feeding path from the sheet feeding reel to the pressing roller.

  According to this configuration, by charging the wiping sheet so as to attract foreign substances floating around, the foreign substances floating during the wiping process can be attracted to the wiping sheet. As a result, foreign matter floating from the functional liquid droplet ejection head during the wiping process and foreign matter generated from the wiping sheet during the wiping process can be removed, so that the foreign matter adheres to the nozzle surface after the wiping process. The droplet discharge operation can be performed with high accuracy. In addition, as long as the charging means charges the wiping sheet, for example, it may be one that moves free electrons by friction (contact), or, like an ionizer, positive ions, negative ions, and thus charging. The medium (gas, liquid, or the like) may be applied to the wiping sheet, and free electrons of the wiping sheet may be transferred.

  In the above-described wiping device for a functional liquid droplet ejection head, it is preferable that the charging means is composed of a sliding contact member that is in sliding contact with the traveling wiping sheet.

  According to this configuration, by charging the wiping sheet by frictional charging using the traveling of the wiping sheet, a special driving unit is not required for charging the wiping sheet, and the charging unit can be configured simply. it can.

  In the above-described functional liquid droplet ejection head wiping device, it is preferable that the charging means is composed of a tension roller that slides on the traveling wiping sheet and applies back tension.

  According to this configuration, the wiping sheet is charged by friction charging using a back tension mechanism (tension roller) for applying a back tension and applying a constant tension to the wiping sheet. The wiping device can be configured simply without requiring any special mechanism.

  A droplet discharge device of the present invention includes the above-described functional droplet discharge head wiping device and a functional droplet discharge head, and moves the functional droplet discharge head relative to the workpiece while moving the functional droplet discharge head on the workpiece. Drawing is performed by discharging a functional liquid.

  According to this configuration, by using the wiping device that can remove the foreign matters floating around in the wiping process, the drawing process can be accurately performed with a simple configuration.

1 is a perspective view of a droplet discharge device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of a droplet discharge device. It is a side view of a droplet discharge device. It is an external appearance perspective view of a carriage. It is a front and back external perspective view of a functional liquid droplet ejection head. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a wiping unit. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram in the wiping unit of a 1st modification. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram in the wiping unit of a 2nd modification.

  Hereinafter, a liquid droplet ejection apparatus to which a wiping apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This droplet discharge device is incorporated in a flat panel display production line, and uses, for example, a function droplet discharge head into which a special ink or a functional liquid that is a light-emitting resin liquid is introduced, and the color of a liquid crystal display device A light emitting element to be a pixel of each filter or organic EL device is formed. In particular, this droplet discharge device can perform drawing processing with high accuracy by using a wiping unit (wiping device) that can remove surrounding foreign matters during wiping processing.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the droplet discharge device 1 is disposed on an X-axis support base 11 supported by a stone surface plate, and extends in the X-axis direction, which is the main scanning direction, to extend a workpiece W. Is disposed on a pair of Y-axis support bases 13 that are bridged across the X-axis table 2 via a plurality of columns 12 and in the sub-scanning direction. A Y-axis table 3 extending in the Y-axis direction, and 13 carriage units 4 suspended in a movable manner on the Y-axis table 3 and mounted with a plurality (twelve) functional liquid droplet ejection heads 14; , Is composed of. Further, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a chamber 5 that houses these devices in an atmosphere in which temperature and humidity are controlled, and a functional liquid that passes through the chamber 5 and supplies the functional liquid to the functional droplet discharge head 14. A supply unit 6 and a control device 58 (see FIG. 6) for controlling each part are provided. In addition, a tank cabinet 7 for storing a main tank 49 and the like for storing the functional liquid is provided on a part of the side wall of the chamber 5. The droplet discharge device 1 discharges the functional liquid supplied from the functional liquid supply unit 6 by discharging the functional droplet discharge head 14 in synchronization with the driving of the X-axis table 2 and the Y-axis table 3. Then, a predetermined drawing pattern is drawn on the workpiece W.

  In addition, the droplet discharge device 1 includes a maintenance device 8 including a flushing unit 15, a suction unit 16, a wiping unit 17 (details will be described later), and a discharge performance inspection unit 18. For the maintenance of the head 14, the function of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 is maintained and recovered. In the droplet discharge device 1 of the present embodiment, the work W is drawn with the carriage unit 4 facing the area where the X-axis table 2 and the Y-axis table 3 intersect. Further, the carriage unit 4 faces the area where the Y-axis table 3 and the maintenance device 8 (the suction unit 16 and the wiping unit 17) intersect, and the function of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 is maintained and restored. The wiping operation by the wiping unit 17 may be performed every time after the suction operation by the suction unit 16 or may be performed periodically.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the X-axis table 2 includes a set table 21 that sucks and sets the workpiece W, an X-axis first slider 22 that slidably supports the set table 21 in the X-axis direction, and the above-described configuration. An X-axis second slider 23 that slidably supports the flushing unit 15 and the discharge performance inspection unit 18 in the X-axis direction, and extends in the X-axis direction, and the X-axis first slider 22 and the X-axis second slider 23 are X A pair of left and right X-axis linear motors (not shown) that move in the axial direction.

  The Y-axis table 3 includes 13 bridge plates 24 each having 13 carriage units 4 suspended therein, 13 sets of Y-axis sliders (not shown) that support the bridge plates 24 in both ends, and a pair of Y-axis tables. A pair of Y-axis linear motors (not shown) are provided on the shaft support base 13 and move the bridge plate 24 in the Y-axis direction. In addition, the Y-axis table 3 performs sub-scanning of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 during drawing via each carriage unit 4 and causes the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 to face the suction unit 16 and the wiping unit 17. In this case, the carriage units 4 can be moved independently and individually, or the 13 carriage units 4 can be moved together.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each carriage unit 4 includes three color droplets of R, G, and B, each of four (total 12) functional droplet ejection heads 14 and 12 functional droplet ejection heads 14. Each is divided into two groups, and a head unit 26 including a head plate 25 that supports each functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 so as to be disposed in the same horizontal plane is provided. Each carriage unit 4 has a pressure adjusting valve 27 that supplies the functional liquid to the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 under reduced pressure, and a θ rotation mechanism 28 that supports the head unit 26 so that it can be θ-corrected (θ rotation). 3) and a suspension member 29 (see FIG. 3) for supporting the head unit 26 on the bridge plate 24 via the θ rotation mechanism 28. In addition, each carriage unit 4 is provided with a sub-tank 46 (see FIG. 1) for temporarily storing the functional liquid (actually provided on the bridge plate 24). A functional liquid is supplied to each functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 at a constant pressure by the valve 27. Note that a Z table (not shown) for raising and lowering the carriage unit 4 in the Z-axis direction may be further provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 is a so-called double ink jet head (ink jet type functional liquid droplet ejection head 14), and includes a functional liquid introduction unit 31 having two continuous connection needles 34. Two head substrates 32 connected to the functional liquid introduction unit 31 and a head body 33 that discharges the functional liquid connected below the head substrate 32 are provided (see FIG. 5A). The functional liquid introduction section 31 has two connection needles 34 corresponding to the number of nozzle rows 39 so that the functional liquid is supplied from the sub tank 46. The head main body 33 includes a double pump unit 35 composed of a piezoelectric element or the like, and a nozzle plate 36 having a nozzle surface 38 on which a plurality of discharge nozzles 37 are formed. A large number of discharge nozzles 37 formed on the nozzle surface 38 of the nozzle plate 36 constitute two nozzle rows 39 arranged in parallel with each other and shifted by a half nozzle pitch position. , 180 discharge nozzles 37 arranged at an equal pitch (see FIG. 5B). The functional waveform is discharged from each discharge nozzle 37 by applying the drive waveform output from the control device 58 (see FIG. 6) to each pump unit 35 (piezoelectric element).

  Here, the wiping unit 17 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The wiping unit 17 includes a sheet feeding reel 51 that appropriately feeds the cloth wiping sheet S, a sheet take-up reel 52 that winds the wiping sheet S fed from the sheet feeding reel 51, and a span between the reels 51 and 52. A pressing roller 53 that presses the wiping sheet S against the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 and various rollers that constitute a sheet feeding path 54 that passes through the pressing roller 53 between the reels 51 and 52 (details will be described later). ) And a device frame (not shown) that supports these components are housed in a cover box 55. The wiping sheet S travels by winding up the wiping sheet S along the sheet feeding path 54.

  The wiping unit 17 faces the wiping sheet S stretched between the sheet feeding reel 51 and the pressing roller 53, detects the sheet end of the wiping sheet S, the pressing roller 53, and the sheet. A feed speed detection device 57 that faces the wiping sheet S stretched between the take-up reel 52 and detects the feed speed of the wiping sheet S is provided. The sheet end detection device 56 and the feed speed detection device 57 are connected to the control device 58 described above, and each outputs a detection signal to the control device 58.

  Further, a tension roller (charging means) that applies a constant back tension to the wiping sheet S fed from the sheet feeding reel 51 and charges the wiping sheet S between the sheet end detection device 56 and the pressing roller 53. 61 is disposed. Although details will be described later, by charging the wiping sheet S, foreign matters floating around can be adsorbed to the wiping sheet S during the wiping operation.

  Further, between the pressing roller 53 and the feed speed detection device 57, the first path changing roller 62 having a large diameter, the second path changing roller 63 having a small diameter, the third path changing roller 64, and the fourth path changing roller. A fifth path changing roller 66 to which 65 and the feed speed detecting device 57 are connected is sequentially arranged from the upstream side. In addition, the arrow in FIG. 6 has shown the rotation direction of each roller.

  The wiping sheet S has a width corresponding to the head unit 26 and is made of chemical fibers (nonwoven fabric) such as polyester or polypropylene. The wiping sheet S is carried in a state of being wound around the reel core 67 and mounted on the mounting shaft 68 of the sheet feeding reel 51 from the axial direction. In this case, the sheet end (winding start end) of the wiping sheet S is adhered to the reel core 67 with an adhesive tape or the like, and the adhesive tape is peeled off from the reel core 67 immediately before the wiping sheet S is used up. The sheet end of the sheet S is detached from the sheet feeding reel 51. Needless to say, the wiping sheet S is fed from the sheet feeding reel 51 and along the sheet feeding path 54, the sheet end detection device 56, the tension roller 61, the pressing roller 53, the first path changing roller 62, and the second path changing. The sheet is wound around the sheet take-up reel 52 that is rotationally driven through the roller 63, the third path changing roller 64, the fourth path changing roller 65, and the feed speed detecting device 57 in order.

  A torque controller (not shown) for applying a back tension to the wiping sheet S being fed is incorporated in the mounting shaft 68 of the sheet feeding reel 51. On the other hand, a winding motor 72 is connected to the drive shaft 71 of the sheet winding reel 52, and the winding motor 72 has a constant traveling speed of the wiping sheet S based on the detection result of the feed speed detection device 57. It is controlled to become. As a result, the wiping sheet S is fed (runs) on the sheet feeding path 54 at a constant speed with a constant tension.

  The pressing roller 53 is located between the tension roller 61 and the first path changing roller 62 and is disposed on the top of the apparatus. The pair of air cylinders 75 connected to the shaft ends wipe the cover box 55. It is configured to be able to appear and disappear from the opening 76. Then, the wiping sheet S is pressed against the nozzle surfaces 38 of the plurality of functional liquid droplet ejection heads 14 at the wiping position protruding from the wipe opening 76 to wipe off the adhered functional liquid. Note that the nozzle surface 38 may be pressed against the pressing roller 53 by lowering the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 with the Z table moving in the Z-axis direction.

  The feed speed detection device 57 is connected to the fifth path change roller 66 and is configured by a so-called encoder that detects the rotation speed of the fifth path change roller 66. The encoder has a rotating shaft connected to the shaft end of the fifth path changing roller 66, a slit disk, and a transmission photosensor (all not shown). Then, the feeding speed of the wiping sheet S is calculated based on the rotation speed of the fifth path changing roller 66 calculated from the detection result of the encoder. Then, the detection signal is output to the control device 58, and the control device 58 controls the rotation speed of the winding motor 72 so that the feeding speed of the wiping sheet S is constant based on the input detection signal.

  The tension roller 61 is disposed in the vicinity of the upstream side (feeding path) of the pressing roller 53 in the feeding direction, and is constituted by a so-called nip roller. The tension roller 61 is disposed on the inner side of the sheet feeding path 54, and is disposed on the outer side of the first roller 73, which is a free roller incorporating a torque limiter, and the first roller. And a second roller 74 which is a free roller biased toward 73. The second roller 74 is configured to be detachable from the first roller 73 so that the feeding end portion of the wiping sheet S can pass therethrough. That is, when setting the wiping sheet S in the wiping unit 17, the second roller 74 is separated from the first roller 73. On the other hand, when the wiping unit 17 is driven, the first roller 73 is brought into contact with the second roller 74 via the wiping sheet S. The pair of rollers 73 and 74 sandwich the wiping sheet S, and the first roller 73 is brought into sliding contact with the wiping sheet S by causing the first roller 73 to perform braking rotation as the wiping sheet S travels. Thereby, a constant back tension is applied to the wiping sheet S.

  The tension roller 61 also has a function of charging the wiping sheet S. That is, as the wiping sheet S travels, when the first roller 73 slides on the wiping sheet S, the wiping sheet S is charged with a predetermined charge amount by frictional charging. Therefore, the first roller 73 is made of a material that frictionally charges the wiping sheet S with a predetermined charge amount (range). That is, for the material of the wiping sheet S, the material of the first roller 73 is determined based on the charge train. Note that the predetermined charge amount is a charge amount that attracts (electrostatically attracts) foreign substances (dust, debris, etc.) floating around. Moreover, it is preferable that the 1st roller 73 is comprised with an insulator.

  In the wiping operation of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 using such a wiping unit 17, first, the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 is moved directly above the wiping unit 17 by the Y-axis table 3. On the other hand, on the wiping unit 17 side, the pressing roller 53 is moved upward to cause the wiping sheet S to protrude from the wiping opening 76 and contact the end of the nozzle surface 38 of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14. Subsequently, the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 is moved in the Y-axis direction by the Y-axis table 3, and the nozzle surface 38 is wiped by feeding the wiping sheet S. At this time, by feeding the wiping sheet S, the first roller 73 of the tension roller 61 is rotated by braking. Thereby, frictional charging occurs between the first roller 73 and the wiping sheet S, and the wiping sheet S is charged with the predetermined charge amount. Therefore, the charged wiping sheet S adsorbs foreign matters such as dust and debris floating around the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 (particularly, the nozzle surface 38), and the nozzle surface 38 is removed while removing these foreign matters. Wiped out.

  According to such a configuration, by charging the wiping sheet S by friction charging using a back tension mechanism (tension roller 61) for applying a back tension and applying a constant tension to the wiping sheet S, A special mechanism for charging the wiping sheet S is not required, and the wiping unit 17 can be configured simply.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 7, especially a different part is mainly demonstrated about the wiping unit 17 of a 1st modification. As shown in FIG. 7, the wiping unit 17 of the first modified example is configured to frictionally charge the wiping sheet S using a sliding contact member (charging means) 81. The wiping unit 17 includes a sliding contact member 81 that is disposed between the sheet end detection device 56 and the tension roller 61 and that is in sliding contact with the wiping sheet S, in addition to the devices illustrated in FIG. 6. The sliding contact member 81 includes a pair of sliding contact pads 82 that sandwich the wiping sheet S. The sliding contact member 81 is in sliding contact with the wiping sheet S as the wiping sheet S travels, and the wiping sheet S is charged to the predetermined charge by this frictional charging. Charge in quantity. Each sliding contact pad 82 is formed in a semicircular shape whose top is in contact with the wiping sheet S, and one sliding contact pad 82 is biased toward the other sliding contact pad 82. Each sliding contact pad 82 is made of a material that frictionally charges the wiping sheet S with the predetermined charge amount. According to this configuration, by charging the wiping sheet S by frictional charging using the running of the wiping sheet S, a special driving unit is not required for charging the wiping sheet S, and the charging unit has a simple configuration. be able to.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, especially a different part is mainly demonstrated about the wiping unit 17 of a 2nd modification. As shown in FIG. 8, the wiping unit 17 of the second modified example is configured to charge the wiping sheet S using an ionizer (charging means) 83 (ion generator). The wiping unit 17 includes an ionizer 83 that emits ions toward the wiping sheet S positioned between the tension roller 61 and the pressing roller 53 in addition to the devices illustrated in FIG. 6. The ionizer 83 discharges only one of positive ions and negative ions to the wiping sheet S to charge the wiping sheet S. The output of the ionizer 83 is adjusted so that the wiping sheet S is charged to the predetermined charge amount.

  According to the configuration as described above, the wiping sheet S is charged so as to adsorb foreign matter floating around it, so that the foreign matter floating during the wiping operation can be adsorbed to the wiping sheet S. As a result, foreign matter floating from the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 during the wiping operation and foreign matter generated from the wiping sheet S during the wiping operation can be removed, so that foreign matter is present on the nozzle surface 38 after the wiping process. The liquid droplet ejection operation can be performed with high accuracy without adhesion. In particular, in consideration of the possibility that the charging of the wiping sheet comes into contact with other members (such as various rollers) and is removed before facing the pressing roller 53, the wiping sheet S is immediately before being fed out to the pressing roller 53. Is preferably charged.

  In the above-described embodiment, the entire first roller 73 and the entire sliding contact pad 82 are made of a material that frictionally charges the predetermined charge amount. However, the contact portion with the wiping sheet S (the first roller 73 may be used). For example, only the outer peripheral portion may be made of the material.

  In the above embodiment, the charge amount is adjusted by the material of the first roller 73 and the sliding contact pad 82. However, the charge amount may be adjusted by the contact area to the wiping sheet S. These may be combined to adjust the charge amount.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the wiping sheet S is charged so as to have a charge amount that adsorbs the foreign matters floating around, but a portion other than the nozzle surface 38 of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 (side surface of the head main body 33). Or a foreign substance (dust) adhering to the head substrate 32 or the like) may be used as a charge amount for adsorbing the wiping sheet S. In addition, the upper limit is preferably set to a charge amount in a range that does not hinder the driving of the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the description of the polarity of the triboelectric charge is omitted, but the charge may be positive or negative. For example, the charging polarity of the wiping sheet S may be set in accordance with the charging polarity of the nozzle surface 38 by the wiping operation (sliding contact of the wiping sheet S).

  In the above embodiment, the wiping operation is performed by moving the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14 while traveling the wiping sheet S while the pressing roller 53 is pressed against the nozzle surface 38. The wiping operation may be performed simply by stopping the travel of S and moving the functional liquid droplet ejection head 14, and conversely, the wiping operation is performed only by traveling the wiping sheet S with a wider pressing area. May be.

  1: droplet ejection device, 14: functional droplet ejection head, 17: wiping unit, 38: nozzle surface, 51: sheet feeding reel, 52: sheet take-up reel, 53: pressing roller, 54: sheet feeding path, 61 : Tension roller, 81: Sliding member, 83: Ionizer, S: Wiping sheet, W: Workpiece

Claims (4)

A pressure that presses the wiping sheet relatively to the nozzle surface of an ink jet type functional liquid droplet ejection head in a sheet feeding path from a sheet feeding reel that feeds a cloth wiping sheet to a sheet take-up reel that winds the wiping sheet. A functional liquid droplet ejection head wiping device that disposes a functional liquid that adheres to the nozzle surface by pressing the wiping sheet that travels against the nozzle surface by disposing a roller,
Charging means for charging the wiping sheet that travels so as to adsorb foreign substances floating around the sheet feeding path of the sheet feeding path from the sheet feeding reel to the pressing roller. Functional droplet discharge head wiping device.   The wiping device for a functional liquid droplet ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the charging unit is configured by a sliding contact member that is in sliding contact with the traveling wiping sheet.   2. The wiping device for a functional liquid droplet ejection head according to claim 1, wherein the charging means is configured by a tension roller that slides on the traveling wiping sheet to apply a back tension. A wiping device for a functional liquid droplet ejection head according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The functional liquid droplet ejection head,
A droplet discharge apparatus for performing drawing by discharging a functional liquid onto the workpiece while moving the functional droplet discharge head relative to the workpiece.

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