阅读说明：本技术 一种自动变径滚焊机焊接装置 (Welding device of automatic reducing seam welder ) 是由 董正魁 张勇 张泽介 顾浩 张远 帅龙 李学宏 于 2021-05-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种自动变径滚焊机焊接装置,涉及自动变径滚焊机技术领域。本发明包括变压器、减速电机、拖板架、第一拖板座以及钢丝导向架,第一拖板座顶部的一端螺栓固定有第二压盖,第一拖板座顶部的另一端螺栓固定有第一拖板压盖。本发明通过移动机构,能够有效的进行控制拖板架的移动,进而能够达到自动控制焊接距离的目的,通过摆动机构,能够控制外焊接摆动板与内焊接摆动板摆动幅度,通过传感器,能够对外焊接摆动板和内焊接摆动板摆动的频率进行检测,通过软水管,能够在本装置运作时来降低焊接过程中产生的热量,通过钢丝导向架与钢丝导向轮,使得钢丝与外导电板和外导向板的导向槽一致,使得钢丝焊接更加牢固。(The invention discloses a welding device of an automatic reducing seam welder, and relates to the technical field of automatic reducing seam welders. The invention comprises a transformer, a speed reducing motor, a carriage frame, a first carriage seat and a steel wire guide frame, wherein a second gland is fixed at one end of the top of the first carriage seat through a bolt, and a first carriage gland is fixed at the other end of the top of the first carriage seat through a bolt. The device can effectively control the movement of the carriage frame through the moving mechanism, so as to achieve the purpose of automatically controlling the welding distance, can control the swing amplitude of the outer welding swing plate and the inner welding swing plate through the swing mechanism, can detect the swing frequency of the outer welding swing plate and the inner welding swing plate through the sensor, can reduce the heat generated in the welding process when the device operates through the water hose, and enables the steel wire to be consistent with the guide grooves of the outer conductive plate and the outer conductive plate through the steel wire guide frame and the steel wire guide wheel, so that the steel wire is welded more firmly.)

1. The utility model provides an automatic reducing seam welder welding set, includes transformer (3), gear motor (21), carriage frame (28), first carriage seat (25) and steel wire leading truck (22), its characterized in that: a second gland (32) is fixed at one end of the top of the first pallet seat (25) through a bolt, a first pallet gland (27) is fixed at the other end of the top of the first pallet seat (25) through a bolt, and a moving mechanism for enabling the pallet frame (28) to move transversely is installed at the top of the first pallet seat (25);

a fixed support plate (1) is welded at one end of the carriage frame (28), an L-shaped fixed frame (2) is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate (1), a transverse column is further arranged at one end of the fixed support plate (1), a rotating bolt (33) is fixed at one end of the transverse column, an outer welding swing plate (4) and an inner welding swing plate (5) are rotatably connected inside one end of the L-shaped fixed frame (2), the outer welding swing plate (4) and the inner welding swing plate (5) are rotatably connected with the rotating bolt (33), and a swing mechanism for controlling the swing amplitude of the outer welding swing plate (4) and the inner welding swing plate (5) is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate (1);

outer welding electrode mechanism is installed to the one end of outer welding swing board (4), interior welding electrode mechanism is installed to the one end of interior welding swing board (5) for weld the steel wire.

2. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 1, characterized in that: moving mechanism includes gear motor (21), gear motor (21) bolt fastening is in the one end of second gland (32), the output of gear motor (21) is fixed with shaft coupling (31), the one end of shaft coupling (31) is provided with lead screw (29), the bottom of carriage (28) is provided with nut (30), nut (30) are threaded connection with lead screw (29).

3. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 2, characterized in that: the screw rod (29) penetrates through the inside of the second gland (32) and is rotatably connected with the second gland (32) through a bearing, so that the screw rod (29) can rotate in the second gland (32) while penetrating through the second gland (32).

4. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 2, characterized in that: the two sides of the first mop plate seat (25) are also provided with mop plate seat pressing plates (26) used for limiting the movement of the mop plate frame (28), and the mop plate seat pressing plates (26) are in sliding connection with the mop plate frame (28).

5. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 1, characterized in that: the swing mechanism comprises two cylinders (24), the two cylinders (24) are arranged at one end of the fixed support plate (1), and the output ends of the two cylinders (24) are respectively in rotating connection with the outer welding swing plate (4) and the inner welding swing plate (5);

the outer welding swing plate (4) and the inner welding swing plate (5) are internally provided with shaft sleeves (7), and the outer welding swing plate (4) is in rotary connection with the shaft sleeves (7) and the inner welding swing plate (5) is in rotary connection with the shaft sleeves (7) through first bearings (34);

a swinging shaft (6) is fixed inside the shaft sleeve (7), and the L-shaped fixed frame (2) is connected with the swinging shaft (6) in a welding manner;

the cylinder (24) is rotatably connected with the fixed support plate (1), the cylinder (24) is rotatably connected with the inner welding swinging plate (5), the cylinder (24) is rotatably connected with the outer welding swinging plate (4), the rotating bolt (33) is rotatably connected with the outer welding swinging plate (4), and the rotating bolt (33) is rotatably connected with the inner welding swinging plate (5).

6. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 1, characterized in that: the top of L shape mount (2) still is provided with sensor fixed plate (9), the top of sensor fixed plate (9) is provided with sensor signal board (8), the one end and the outer welding swing board (4) of sensor signal board (8) are fixed connection, the sensor is installed to one side of sensor fixed plate (9), the sensor is used for detecting the swing frequency of outer welding swing board (4) and interior welding swing board (5).

7. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 1, characterized in that: one end of the outer welding swinging plate (4) and one end of the inner welding swinging plate (5) are respectively fixed with an insulating sleeve (11) through bolts, one end of the insulating sleeve (11) is fixed with an insulating plate (10), and one end of the insulating plate (10) is fixed with a conductive copper plate (12) with a pipe;

the outer welding electrode mechanism comprises an outer guide plate (15) and an outer conductive plate (16), the outer conductive plate (16) is positioned at the top of the outer guide plate (15), and the outer conductive plate (16) and the outer guide plate (15) are both fixed on the surface of a conductive copper plate (12) with a pipe at one end of an outer welding swinging plate (4);

the inner welding electrode mechanism comprises an inner guide plate (14) and an inner conductive plate (13), the inner guide plate (14) is positioned at the top of the inner conductive plate (13), and the inner guide plate (14) are both fixed on the surface of a conductive copper plate (12) with a pipe at one end of the inner welding swinging plate (5);

the outer welding electrode mechanism is connected with the outer welding swinging plate (4) through an insulating plate (10) and an insulating sleeve (11) and is used for reducing current entering the inner part of the outer welding swinging plate (4);

the inner welding electrode mechanism is connected with the inner welding swinging plate (5) through an insulating sleeve (11) and an insulating plate (10) and is used for reducing current entering the inner welding swinging plate (5).

8. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 7, characterized in that: the top of carriage (28) is fixed with transformer (3), outer electrically conductive copper (19) and interior electrically conductive copper (20) are installed respectively to the both sides of the one end of transformer (3), outer electrically conductive copper (19) and the one end of interior electrically conductive copper (20) all are fixed with electrically conductive copper sheet (18), the one end of electrically conductive copper sheet (18) is fixed with U type current conducting plate (17), all be connected through electrically conductive copper sheet (18) and U type current conducting plate (17) between outer welding electrode mechanism and interior electrically conductive copper (20) and interior welding electrode mechanism and outer electrically conductive copper (19).

9. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 7, characterized in that: the top of taking pipe electrically conductive copper board (12) is provided with hose (35), carry out fixed connection through clamp (36) between hose (35) and taking pipe electrically conductive copper board (12).

10. The welding device of the automatic reducing seam welder according to claim 1, characterized in that: the steel wire leading truck (22) is fixed in the one end of carriage frame (28) through a horizontal pole, steel wire leading wheel (23) are installed to the one end equipartition of steel wire leading truck (22) for the direction of guide steel wire in process of production.

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of automatic reducing seam welders, and particularly relates to a welding device of an automatic reducing seam welder.

Background

The seam welder is also called girth welding, and is a method for welding workpieces by using a pair of roller electrodes to replace spot-welded cylindrical electrodes, moving the welded workpieces between rolling discs to generate sealing welding seams with mutually overlapped nuggets, generally adopting alternating pulse current or amplitude-modulated current, and also using three (single) phase rectified, medium-frequency and high-frequency direct current, and the seam welding is widely applied to the sheet welding of sealing containers in oil drums, can tanks, heating radiators, airplane and automobile oil tanks, rockets and missiles. The general welding thickness is within 3mm of veneer, however, in current seam welder, the automatic control welding distance that can not be fine leads to when needing to control welding distance, still needs to adjust through the manual work, can not control the wobbling frequency of swing span well simultaneously.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a welding device of an automatic reducing seam welder, which solves the existing problems: in the existing seam welder, the welding distance cannot be well controlled automatically, so that when the welding distance needs to be controlled, the welding distance still needs to be adjusted manually, and meanwhile, the swinging frequency of the swing frame cannot be well controlled.

In order to solve the technical problems, the invention is realized by the following technical scheme: a welding device of an automatic reducing seam welder comprises a transformer, a speed reducing motor, a carriage frame, a first carriage seat and a steel wire guide frame, wherein a second gland is fixed at one end of the top of the first carriage seat through a bolt;

a fixed support plate is welded at one end of the carriage frame, an L-shaped fixed frame is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate, a transverse column is further arranged at one end of the fixed support plate, a rotating bolt is fixed at one end of the transverse column, an outer welding swinging plate and an inner welding swinging plate are rotatably connected inside one end of the L-shaped fixed frame, the outer welding swinging plate and the inner welding swinging plate are rotatably connected with the rotating bolt, and a swinging mechanism for controlling the swinging amplitude of the outer welding swinging plate and the inner welding swinging plate is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate;

the outer welding electrode mechanism is installed to the one end of outer welding swing board, interior welding electrode mechanism is installed to the one end of interior welding swing board for weld the steel wire.

Further, moving mechanism includes gear motor, gear motor bolt fastening is in the one end of second gland, gear motor's output is fixed with the shaft coupling, the one end of shaft coupling is provided with the lead screw, the bottom of carriage frame is provided with the nut, the nut is threaded connection with the lead screw.

Furthermore, the screw rod penetrates through the inside of the second gland and is rotatably connected with the second gland through a bearing, so that the screw rod can rotate in the second gland while penetrating through the second gland.

Further, the carriage seat pressing plates used for limiting the movement of the carriage frame are further installed on two sides of the first carriage seat, and the carriage seat pressing plates are in sliding connection with the carriage frame.

Furthermore, the swing mechanism comprises two cylinders, the two cylinders are arranged at one end of the fixed support plate, and the output ends of the two cylinders are respectively in rotating connection with the outer welding swing plate and the inner welding swing plate;

shaft sleeves are arranged inside the outer welding swinging plate and the inner welding swinging plate, and the outer welding swinging plate and the shaft sleeves and the inner welding swinging plate and the shaft sleeves are rotatably connected through first bearings;

a swinging shaft is fixed inside the shaft sleeve, and the L-shaped fixing frame is connected with the swinging shaft in a welding manner, so that the outer welding swinging plate and the inner welding swinging plate can rotate inside the L-shaped fixing frame;

the cylinder and the fixed support plate, the cylinder and the inner welding swing plate, the cylinder and the outer welding swing plate, the rotating bolt and the outer welding swing plate and the rotating bolt and the inner welding swing plate are all rotationally connected through pins.

Further, the top of L shape mount still is provided with the sensor fixed plate, the top of sensor fixed plate is provided with the sensor signal board, the one end and the outer welding swing board of sensor signal board are fixed connection, the sensor is installed to one side of sensor fixed plate, the sensor is used for detecting the swing frequency of outer welding swing board and interior welding swing board.

Furthermore, an insulating sleeve is fixed at one end of each of the outer welding swinging plate and the inner welding swinging plate through bolts, an insulating plate is fixed at one end of each insulating sleeve, and a conductive copper plate with a pipe is fixed at one end of each insulating plate;

the outer welding electrode mechanism comprises an outer guide plate and an outer conductive plate, the outer conductive plate is positioned at the top of the outer guide plate, and the outer conductive plate and the outer guide plate are both fixed on the surface of a conductive copper plate with a pipe at one end of an outer welding swinging plate;

the inner welding electrode mechanism comprises an inner guide plate and an inner conductive plate, the inner guide plate is positioned at the top of the inner conductive plate, and the inner guide plate are both fixed on the surface of a conductive copper plate with a pipe at one end of the inner welding swinging plate;

the outer welding electrode mechanism is connected with the outer welding swinging plate through the insulating plate and the insulating sleeve and is used for reducing current entering the inner part of the outer welding swinging plate;

the inner welding electrode mechanism is connected with the inner welding swinging plate through the insulating sleeve and the insulating plate, and is used for reducing current entering the inner welding swinging plate.

Further, the top of carriage frame is fixed with the transformer, outer electrically conductive copper and interior electrically conductive copper are installed respectively to the both sides of the one end of transformer, outer electrically conductive copper all is fixed with electrically conductive copper sheet with the one end of interior electrically conductive copper, the one end of electrically conductive copper sheet is fixed with U type current conducting plate, all be connected with U type current conducting plate through electrically conductive copper sheet between outer welding electrode mechanism and interior electrically conductive copper and interior welding electrode mechanism and the outer electrically conductive copper.

Further, the top of taking the pipe electrically conductive copper board is provided with the hose, carry out fixed connection through the clamp between hose and the area pipe electrically conductive copper board.

Further, the steel wire leading truck is fixed in the one end of carriage frame through a horizontal pole, the steel wire leading wheel is installed to the one end equipartition of steel wire leading truck for the direction of guide steel wire in process of production.

The invention has the following beneficial effects:

1. the invention can effectively control the movement of the carriage frame through the moving mechanism, thereby achieving the purpose of automatically controlling the welding distance, can control the swing amplitude of the outer welding swing plate and the inner welding swing plate through the swing mechanism, and can detect the swing frequency of the outer welding swing plate and the inner welding swing plate through the sensor.

2. According to the invention, through the water hose, the heat generated in the welding process can be reduced when the device is operated, so that the service life of equipment is prolonged, and through the steel wire guide frame and the steel wire guide wheel, the direction of the steel wire can be guided in the production process, so that the steel wire is consistent with the guide grooves of the outer conductive plate and the outer guide plate, and the steel wire is welded more firmly.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained according to the drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural view of the present invention as a whole;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the overall construction of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the invention at A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connection structure of the U-shaped conductive plate and the conductive copper sheet according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the invention at B in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the connection structure of the oscillating shaft and the shaft sleeve of the present invention.

In the drawings, the components represented by the respective reference numerals are listed below:

1. fixing a support plate; 2. an L-shaped fixing frame; 3. a transformer; 4. externally welding a swinging plate; 5. internally welding a swing plate; 6. a swing shaft; 7. a shaft sleeve; 8. a sensor signal board; 9. a sensor fixing plate; 10. an insulating plate; 11. an insulating sleeve; 12. a strip tube conductive copper plate; 13. an inner conductive plate; 14. an inner guide plate; 15. an outer guide plate; 16. an outer conductive plate; 17. a U-shaped conductive plate; 18. a conductive copper sheet; 19. an outer conductive copper plate; 20. an inner conductive copper plate; 21. a reduction motor; 22. a steel wire guide frame; 23. a steel wire guide wheel; 24. a cylinder; 25. a first pallet base; 26. a carriage seat pressing plate; 27. a first carriage gland; 28. a carriage frame; 29. a screw rod; 30. a nut; 31. a coupling; 32. a second gland; 33. rotating the bolt; 34. a first bearing; 35. a flexible water pipe; 36. and (5) clamping a hoop.

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. 1-2, the invention is an automatic reducing seam welder welding device, which comprises a transformer 3, a speed reducing motor 21, a carriage frame 28, a first carriage seat 25 and a steel wire guide frame 22, wherein a second gland 32 is fixed at one end of the top of the first carriage seat 25 through a bolt, a first carriage gland 27 is fixed at the other end of the top of the first carriage seat 25 through a bolt, and a moving mechanism for enabling the carriage frame 28 to move transversely is installed at the top of the first carriage seat 25;

the moving mechanism comprises a speed reducing motor 21, the speed reducing motor 21 is fixed at one end of a second gland 32 through bolts, a coupler 31 is fixed at the output end of the speed reducing motor 21, a screw rod 29 is arranged at one end of the coupler 31, a nut 30 is arranged at the bottom of the carriage frame 28, and the nut 30 is in threaded connection with the screw rod 29;

specifically, the screw 29 penetrates through the inside of the second gland 32 and is rotatably connected with the second gland 32 through a bearing, so that the screw 29 can penetrate through the second gland 32 and can rotate in the inside of the second gland 32;

specifically, carriage seat pressing plates 26 for limiting the movement of the carriage frame 28 are further mounted on two sides of the first carriage seat 25, and the carriage seat pressing plates 26 are in sliding connection with the carriage frame 28, so that the carriage frame 28 can slide on the top of the first carriage seat 25 under the limitation of the two carriage seat pressing plates 26;

here, the operation of the speed reducing motor 21 can rotate the screw rod 29, and the rotation of the screw rod 29 is connected with the screw thread of the nut 30, so that the carriage frame 28 can slide on the top of the first carriage seat 25 under the limit of the two carriage seat pressing plates 26, and the purpose of automatically controlling the welding distance can be achieved;

referring to fig. 1-2 and fig. 6, a fixed support plate 1 is welded at one end of the carriage frame 28, an L-shaped fixed frame 2 is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate 1, a transverse column is further arranged at one end of the fixed support plate 1, a rotating bolt 33 is fixed at one end of the transverse column, an outer welding swing plate 4 and an inner welding swing plate 5 are rotatably connected inside one end of the L-shaped fixed frame 2, the outer welding swing plate 4 and the inner welding swing plate 5 are both rotatably connected with the rotating bolt 33, and a swing mechanism for controlling swing amplitude of the outer welding swing plate 4 and the inner welding swing plate 5 is arranged at one end of the fixed support plate 1;

the swing mechanism comprises two cylinders 24, the two cylinders 24 are arranged at one end of the fixed support plate 1, and the output ends of the two cylinders 24 are respectively in rotating connection with the outer welding swing plate 4 and the inner welding swing plate 5;

specifically, a shaft sleeve 7 is arranged inside the outer welding swing plate 4 and the inner welding swing plate 5, and the outer welding swing plate 4 and the shaft sleeve 7 as well as the inner welding swing plate 5 and the shaft sleeve 7 are rotatably connected through a first bearing 34;

a swinging shaft 6 is fixed inside the shaft sleeve 7, and the L-shaped fixed frame 2 is connected with the swinging shaft 6 in a welding manner, so that the outer welding swinging plate 4 and the inner welding swinging plate 5 can rotate inside the L-shaped fixed frame 2;

specifically, the cylinder 24 and the fixed support plate 1, the cylinder 24 and the inner welding swinging plate 5, the cylinder 24 and the outer welding swinging plate 4, the rotating bolt 33 and the outer welding swinging plate 4, and the rotating bolt 33 and the inner welding swinging plate 5 are all rotationally connected through pins;

referring to fig. 1-4, specifically, a sensor fixing plate 9 is further disposed at the top of the L-shaped fixing frame 2, a sensor signal plate 8 is disposed at the top of the sensor fixing plate 9, one end of the sensor signal plate 8 is fixedly connected to the outer welding swinging plate 4, a sensor is mounted at one side of the sensor fixing plate 9, and the sensor is configured to detect the swinging frequency of the outer welding swinging plate 4 and the inner welding swinging plate 5;

here, the operation of the cylinder 24 enables the outer welding oscillating plate 4 and the inner welding oscillating plate 5 to rotate inside the L-shaped fixed frame 2, and further enables the outer welding oscillating plate 4 and the inner welding oscillating plate 5 to oscillate inside the L-shaped fixed frame 2, and a sensor is installed on one side of the sensor fixing plate 9 and can detect the oscillating frequency of the outer welding oscillating plate 4 and the inner welding oscillating plate 5;

referring to fig. 1-5, an outer welding electrode mechanism is installed at one end of the outer welding oscillating plate 4, and an inner welding electrode mechanism is installed at one end of the inner welding oscillating plate 5 for welding steel wires;

specifically, an insulating sleeve 11 is fixed at one end of each of the outer welding oscillating plate 4 and the inner welding oscillating plate 5 through bolts, an insulating plate 10 is fixed at one end of each insulating sleeve 11, and a conductive copper plate 12 with a pipe is fixed at one end of each insulating plate 10;

the outer welding electrode mechanism comprises an outer guide plate 15 and an outer conductive plate 16, the outer conductive plate 16 is positioned at the top of the outer guide plate 15, and the outer conductive plate 16 and the outer guide plate 15 are both fixed on the surface of the conductive copper plate 12 with the pipe at one end of the outer welding swinging plate 4;

the inner welding electrode mechanism comprises an inner guide plate 14 and an inner conductive plate 13, the inner guide plate 14 is positioned at the top of the inner conductive plate 13, and the inner guide plate 14 are both fixed on the surface of the conductive copper plate 12 with the pipe at one end of the inner welding swinging plate 5;

the outer welding electrode mechanism is connected with the outer welding swinging plate 4 through the insulating plate 10 and the insulating sleeve 11, so that current is reduced to enter the inner part of the outer welding swinging plate 4;

the inner welding electrode mechanism is connected with the inner welding oscillating plate 5 through an insulating sleeve 11 and an insulating plate 10, so that current is reduced to enter the inner part of the inner welding oscillating plate 5;

referring to fig. 1-4, a transformer 3 is fixed on the top of the carriage frame 28, an outer conductive copper plate 19 and an inner conductive copper plate 20 are respectively installed on two sides of one end of the transformer 3, conductive copper sheets 18 are fixed on one ends of the outer conductive copper plate 19 and the inner conductive copper plate 20, a U-shaped conductive plate 17 is fixed on one end of each conductive copper sheet 18, and the outer welding electrode mechanism and the inner conductive copper plate 20 and the inner welding electrode mechanism and the outer conductive copper plate 19 are connected with the U-shaped conductive plate 17 through the conductive copper sheets 18;

here, the transformer 3 passes a current through the outer conductive copper plate 19 and the inner conductive copper plate 20 and through the conductive copper sheet 18 and the U-shaped conductive plate 17 to electrify the outer welding electrode mechanism and the inner welding electrode mechanism and weld the steel wires;

the top of the conductive copper plate with pipe 12 is provided with a flexible water pipe 35;

referring to fig. 3-4, specifically, the flexible water pipe 35 is fixedly connected with the conductive copper plate 12 with pipe by a clamp 36, and the lower pipe opening of the flexible water pipe 35 is connected with the water tank by a water pipe, so that the heat generated in the welding process can be reduced when the device is operated, and the service life of the equipment can be prolonged;

referring to fig. 1-2, the wire guide frame 22 is fixed to one end of the carriage frame 28 by a cross bar, and one end of the wire guide frame 22 is uniformly provided with wire guide wheels 23 for guiding the direction of the wire during the production process, so that the wire is consistent with the guide grooves of the outer conductive plate 16 and the outer guide plate 15, and the welding of the wire is more secure.

In the description herein, references to the description of "one embodiment," "an example," "a specific example" or the like are intended to mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

The preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed above are intended to be illustrative only. The preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. The invention is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.