阅读说明：本技术 一种集装箱用自动挑钉紧钉设备 (Automatic nail picking and fastening equipment for containers ) 是由 沈玉龙 李昌 于 2019-09-26 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种集装箱用自动挑钉紧钉设备,包括移动装置、挑钉装置、推钉装置和紧钉装置,其中移动装置设置在自动挑钉紧钉设备的底部；挑钉装置包括存钉盒、滑钉轨道和挑钉架；推钉装置用于将向上凸出于滑钉轨道预定距离的地板钉推回至存钉盒内；紧钉装置位于滑钉轨道的底端处,以用于接收来自滑钉轨道的地板钉,并旋拧地板钉。根据本发明所提供的集装箱用自动挑钉紧钉设备,在集装箱的生产过程中,当木地板的钻孔、扩孔工序完成之后,工作人员可骑坐在本装置上,利用移动装置将夹钉器与孔位对准,实现自动挑钉和紧钉过程,操作便捷,降低工作人员的劳动强度,省时省力,降低生产制造成本。(The invention provides automatic nail picking and fastening equipment for containers, which comprises a moving device, a nail picking device, a nail pushing device and a nail fastening device, wherein the moving device is arranged at the bottom of the automatic nail picking and fastening equipment, the nail picking device comprises a nail storage box, a nail sliding rail and a nail picking frame, the nail pushing device is used for pushing floor nails which protrude upwards from the nail sliding rail for a preset distance back into the nail storage box, the nail fastening device is positioned at the bottom end of the nail sliding rail and used for receiving the floor nails from the nail sliding rail and screwing the floor nails.)

1, kind of container is with automatic nail equipment of choosing to follow closely, its characterized in that includes:

the moving device is arranged at the bottom of the automatic nail picking and fastening device;

choose the nail device, choose the nail device to include:

the nail storage box is used for placing floor nails;

the slide nail track is obliquely arranged, and the top end of the slide nail track extends into the nail storage box; and

a staple picking rack disposed at least partially within the staple storage magazine and configured to be movable within the staple storage magazine to move the floor staples within the staple storage magazine into the slide staple track;

the nail pushing device is at least partially arranged above the slide nail track and can move along the inclined direction of the slide nail track so as to push the floor nails protruding upwards from the slide nail track for a preset distance back into the nail storage box; and

a tacking device located at the bottom end of the slide tack track for receiving and screwing the floor tack from the slide tack track.

2. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nail pushing means comprises:

the sliding block can move along the inclined direction from bottom to top so as to push the floor nails protruding upwards from the sliding nail track for a preset distance back into the nail storage box; and

and the driving mechanism is connected with the sliding block and is used for driving the sliding block to move along the inclined direction.

3. The automatic staple lifting and fastening device for containers as claimed in claim 2, wherein the driving mechanism includes an elastic member having an end fixed with respect to the magazine and another end connected to the slider for driving the slider to move upward from below in the inclined direction.

4. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the driving mechanism further comprises:

a motor;

a drive plate driven to rotate by the motor;

a linkage assembly, an end of the linkage assembly being rotatably connected to the drive disc for rotation with rotation of the drive disc relative to the centre of the drive disc, a further end of the linkage assembly abutting the slider for driving movement of the slider in the tilt direction.

5. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the link assembly comprises:

an th link, the th link being rotatably connected with the drive disc;

a second link, an end of the second link being rotatably connected with the link;

a third link, wherein an end of the third link is fixedly connected with the second link, the third link and the second link are integrally rotatable around a pivot shaft, and the other end of the third link abuts against the sliding block so as to drive the sliding block to move from top to bottom along the inclined direction.

6. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers according to claim 5,

the nail picking frame is rotatably connected to the th pivot shaft and/or

The nail picking frame is connected with the second connecting rod so as to rotate along with the movement of the second connecting rod.

7. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the nail pushing device comprises a baffle plate, the baffle plate is arranged outside the slide nail track and at least partially higher than the slide nail track, the baffle plate is provided with a slide groove parallel to the inclined direction, and the slide block at least partially extends beyond the slide groove and is connected with the driving mechanism.

8. The automatic staple picking and fastening apparatus for containers as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a single staple conveying device provided at the bottom end of the slide staple rail for individually conveying the floor staples on the slide staple rail to the fastening device.

9. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers according to claim 1,

the slide pin track is provided with th detection means for detecting the number of the floor pins on the slide pin track, and/or

The tacking device is provided with a second detection device for detecting the moving position of the tacking device.

10. The automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container according to claim 1, wherein the fastening device comprises:

a staple holder located at the bottom end of the slide staple track for receiving the floor staple from the slide staple track; and

a tightening mechanism movable in a vertical direction relative to the tacker for tightening the floor nails in the tacker into a floor.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of container manufacturing, in particular to an automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers.

Background

Disclosure of Invention

The concept of series in simplified form is introduced in the summary of the invention section, which is described in further detail in the detailed description section the summary of the invention is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

To at least partially solve the above problems, the present invention provides automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers, comprising:

the moving device is arranged at the bottom of the automatic nail picking and fastening device;

choose the nail device, choose the nail device to include:

the nail storage box is used for placing floor nails;

the slide nail track is obliquely arranged, and the top end of the slide nail track extends into the nail storage box; and

a staple picking rack disposed at least partially within the staple storage magazine and configured to be movable within the staple storage magazine to move the floor staples within the staple storage magazine into the slide staple track;

the nail pushing device is at least partially arranged above the slide nail track and can move along the inclined direction of the slide nail track so as to push the floor nails protruding upwards from the slide nail track for a preset distance back into the nail storage box; and

a tacking device located at the bottom end of the slide tack track for receiving and screwing the floor tack from the slide tack track.

Optionally, the staple pushing device comprises:

the sliding block can move along the inclined direction from bottom to top so as to push the floor nails protruding upwards from the sliding nail track for a preset distance back into the nail storage box; and

and the driving mechanism is connected with the sliding block and is used for driving the sliding block to move along the inclined direction.

Optionally, the driving mechanism comprises an elastic member, an end of the elastic member is fixed relative to the magazine, and another end is connected to the slider for driving the slider to move from bottom to top in the inclined direction.

Optionally, the drive mechanism further comprises:

a motor;

a drive plate driven to rotate by the motor;

a linkage assembly, an end of the linkage assembly being rotatably connected to the drive disc for rotation with rotation of the drive disc relative to the centre of the drive disc, a further end of the linkage assembly abutting the slider for driving movement of the slider in the tilt direction.

Optionally, the connecting rod assembly comprises:

an th link, the th link being rotatably connected with the drive disc;

a second link, an end of the second link being rotatably connected with the link;

a third link, wherein an end of the third link is fixedly connected with the second link, the third link and the second link are integrally rotatable around a pivot shaft, and the other end of the third link abuts against the sliding block so as to drive the sliding block to move from top to bottom along the inclined direction.

Optionally, the nail picking frame is rotatably connected to the th pivot shaft and/or

The nail picking frame is connected with the second connecting rod so as to rotate along with the movement of the second connecting rod.

Optionally, the nail pushing device includes a baffle plate, the baffle plate is disposed outside the slide nail rail and at least partially higher than the slide nail rail, the baffle plate is provided with a sliding groove parallel to the inclined direction, and the sliding block at least partially extends beyond the sliding groove and is connected to the driving mechanism.

Optionally, a single staple delivery device is included, disposed at the bottom end of the slide staple track, for individually delivering the floor staples on the slide staple track to the tacking device.

Optionally, the slide pin track is provided with th detection means for detecting the number of floor pins on the slide pin track, and/or

The tacking device is provided with a second detection device for detecting the moving position of the tacking device.

Optionally, the tacking arrangements comprise:

a staple holder located at the bottom end of the slide staple track for receiving the floor staple from the slide staple track; and

a tightening mechanism movable in a vertical direction relative to the tacker for tightening the floor nails in the tacker into a floor.

According to the automatic nail picking and fastening equipment for the container, in the production process of the container, after the drilling and reaming processes of the wood floor are completed, a worker can ride on the equipment, the nail fastening device is aligned with the hole position by using the moving device, the automatic nail picking and fastening process is realized, the operation is convenient and fast, the labor intensity of the worker is reduced, the time and the labor are saved, and the production and manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, the nail pushing device can avoid blocking the sliding nail track, and the working efficiency is improved.

Drawings

The following drawings of embodiments of the invention are included to provide an understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification .

In the drawings, there is shown in the drawings,

fig. 1 is a schematic structural view of an automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers according to preferred embodiments of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a structural view of the automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container shown in fig. 1 from a view point of ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the automatic staple picking and fastening apparatus for containers shown in FIG. 1, wherein the staple pushing device is not shown;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of a single nail conveying device in an automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers according to preferred embodiments of the present invention, and

fig. 5 is a schematic structural view of a clincher in an automatic staple picking and fastening apparatus for containers in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals:

100: the mobile device 200: nail picking device 210: nail storage box

220: the slide pin rail 221: the ram plate 230: nail picking frame

231: nail picking plate 300: the nail pushing device 310: sliding block

320: the drive mechanism 321: the elastic member 322: electric machine

323 driving disc 324, th connecting rod 325 and second connecting rod

326: third link 330: the baffle 340: sliding chute

400, a nail tightening device 410, a nail clamper 411, an th clamping part

412: second clamping portion 413: return spring 414: slope part

420: the screwing mechanism 421: the handle 500: single nail conveying device

510: fixing part 520: the spacer 530: position limiting piece

610: th detector 620: second detector AX 1: th pivot axis

AX 2: second pivot axis

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without or more of these details.

In the following description, a detailed structure will be presented for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. It is apparent that the implementation of the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the specific details familiar to those skilled in the art.

The invention provides automatic nail picking and fastening equipment for containers, which comprises a moving device 100, a nail picking device 200, a nail pushing device 300 and a nail fastening device 400. As shown in figures 1 and 2, in embodiments according to the invention, the moving device 100 is arranged at the bottom of the equipment and can be used for moving the equipment, for example, the moving device 100 can be four rollers arranged at the bottom of the equipment, and can be other devices capable of moving the equipment.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the staple picking apparatus 200 includes a magazine 210, a staple rail 220, and a staple picking frame 230. The nail storage box 210 is used for placing floor nails. The staple rail 220 is disposed obliquely, and the top end of the staple rail 220 extends into the magazine 210. The staple raising rack 230 is disposed at least partially within the magazine 210 and is configured to be movable within the magazine 210 to move floor staples within the magazine 210 into the staple slide tracks 220. The staple pusher 300 is disposed at least partially above the slide staple track 220 and is movable in an oblique direction of the slide staple track 220 for pushing back floor staples protruding upward from the slide staple track 220 by a predetermined distance into the magazine 210. A tacking arrangement 400 is located at the bottom end of the slide pin track 220 for receiving floor nails from the slide pin track 220 and screwing the floor nails into the hole sites.

The working principle of the automatic nail picking and fastening device for the container provided by the invention is as follows: in the production process of the container, after the drilling and reaming processes of the wood floor are completed, a worker can ride on the equipment and align the tacking device 400 with the hole positions on the wood floor by using the moving device 100. The storage nail box 210 is internally provided with floor nails, the nail picking frame 230 moves in the storage nail box 210, and the floor nails are moved to the slide nail track 220 in a vertically arranged mode that the nail heads face upwards and the main body parts face downwards. The floor nails on the slide nail rail 220 can slide down to the clincher device 400 along the inclined direction of the slide nail rail 220 under the action of their own gravity. In the moving process, the nail picking device 200 pushes out the floor nails (i.e., irregularly arranged floor nails) protruding upward from the slide nail rail 220 by a predetermined distance from the slide nail rail 220, and the nail pushing device 300 moves upward along the inclined direction of the slide nail rail 220, so as to push the irregularly arranged floor nails back into the nail storage box 210. Tacking device 400 aligned with the hole site can screw the floor nail from the slide nail rail 220 into the hole site.

According to the automatic nail picking and fastening equipment for the container, provided by the invention, in the production process of the container, after the drilling and reaming processes of the wood floor are finished, the automatic nail picking and fastening process can be realized, the operation is convenient and fast, the labor intensity of workers is reduced, the time and the labor are saved, and the production and manufacturing cost is reduced. In addition, the arranged nail pushing device 300 can avoid blocking the slide nail track 220, and the working efficiency is improved.

Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the staple pusher apparatus 300 includes a slide 310 and a drive mechanism 320. The slider 310 can move from bottom to top along the inclined direction of the staple rail 220, so as to push back the irregularly arranged floor staples protruding upward from the staple rail 220 by a predetermined distance into the staple storage magazine 210. The driving mechanism 320 is connected to the slider 310 and can drive the slider 310 to move in the oblique direction of the staple track 220.

During the production process, the nail pushing device 300 needs to continuously push the irregularly arranged floor nails above the slide nail rail 220 back into the nail storage box 210, and therefore, the sliding block 310 needs to be ensured to reciprocate along the inclined direction of the slide nail rail 220. in the present embodiment, the driving mechanism 320 includes an elastic member 321, an end of the elastic member 321 is fixed relative to the nail storage box 210, another end is connected to the sliding block 310, and the elastic member 321 can drive the sliding block 310 to move along the inclined direction from bottom to top by using the elastic force of the elastic member 321.

, the driving mechanism 320 further includes a motor 322, a driving disk 323, and a linkage assembly, the driving disk 323 can rotate under the driving of the motor 322, the end of the linkage assembly can be rotatably connected to the driving disk 323 and rotate with the rotation of the driving disk 323 relative to the center of the driving disk 323, and the other end of the linkage assembly abuts against the slider 310 and can drive the slider 310 to move from top to bottom along the inclined direction of the slide pin track 220.

Specifically, the link assembly includes a th link 324, a second link 325 and a third link 326 connected in sequence, the th link 324 is rotatably connected with the drive disc 323, the end of the second link 325 is rotatably connected with the th link 324, the end of the third link 326 is fixedly connected with the second link 325, the other end of the third link 326 abuts against the slider 310, and the third link 326 and the second link 325 are integrally rotatable about a th pivot axis AX1 for driving the slider 310 to move from top to bottom in the tilting direction of the slide pin track 220.

In the present embodiment, the link assembly drives the slider 310 to move from top to bottom along the inclination direction of the staple track 220, and the elastic member 321 can drive the slider 310 to move from bottom to top along the inclination direction of the staple track 220. By such driving, the slider 310 can be made to reciprocate on the staple rail 220, thereby pushing the floor staples protruding upward from the staple rail 220 by a predetermined distance back into the magazine 210.

The nail picking frame 230 needs to move continuously in the nail storage box 210 to pick the floor nail into the nail rail 220. in the present embodiment, the nail picking frame 230 is rotatably connected to the th pivot axis AX 1. moreover, the nail picking frame 230 can be fixedly connected with the second link 325, so that the nail picking frame 230 can rotate along with the movement of the second link 325. as shown in FIG. 2, when the motor 322 drives the driving disc 323 to rotate, the th link 324 drives the second link 325 to reciprocate around the th pivot axis AX1, and accordingly, the nail picking frame 230 will also reciprocate around the th pivot axis AX1 in a predetermined area to pick the floor nail out of the nail storage box 210 to the nail rail 220.

, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the pin pushing device 300 further includes a baffle 330, the baffle 330 is disposed outside the slide pin track 220 and at least partially higher than the slide pin track 220, the baffle 330 is disposed to prevent the floor pins on the slide pin track 220 from falling off from the outside, furthermore, the baffle 330 is further provided with a slide groove 340 parallel to the inclined direction of the slide pin track 220, the slide block 310 extends at least partially beyond the slide groove 340 and is connected to the driving mechanism 320. in this embodiment, the end of the slide block 310 extends out of the slide groove 340, and when the third link 326 moves around the pivot axis AX1, the slide block 310 is pushed to move downwards along the inclined direction of the slide pin track 220.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the slide pin rail 220 comprises two vertically arranged and parallel slide pin plates 221, the upper side of the slide pin plates 221 extends into the nail magazine 210, and the lower side of the slide pin plates 221 is connected with the nailing device 400. furthermore, the distance between the two slide pin plates 221 is larger than the diameter of the main body of the floor nail and smaller than the diameter of the head of the floor nail, so that the floor nail on the slide pin rail 220 can be placed between the two slide pin plates 221 and can slide toward the nailing device 400 under the action of its own gravity.

In addition, as shown in fig. 3, the nail picking frame 230 also includes two nail picking plates 231 which are arranged along the vertical direction and are parallel to each other, the distance between the two nail picking plates 231 is greater than the diameter of the main body part of the floor nail, and is smaller than the diameter of the nail cap of the floor nail, so that the nail picking frame 230 can pick up the floor nail and place the floor nail between the two nail picking plates 231, and when the nail picking frame 230 is in the reciprocating process, the floor nail can slide towards the slide nail track 220 under the action of the self gravity of the floor nail. The staple raising frame 230 may be disposed at an intermediate position of the magazine 210, and preferably, may be disposed near and closely adjacent to a side wall of the magazine 210.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a single nail feeding device 500, the single nail feeding device 500 being arranged at the bottom end of the slide nail track 220 for feeding the floor nails on the slide nail track 220 individually to the clinching device 400. as shown in fig. 4, the single nail feeding device 500 comprises a fixing portion 510, the fixing portion 510 being provided with a channel (not shown) through which the floor nails can pass, in which channels are arranged spacers 520 and stoppers 530, the spacers 520 and stoppers 530 being at least partially overlapped and staggered with respect to each other along the length of the slide nail track 220, the gap between the spacer 520 and the stopper 530 being capable of accommodating only floor nails, the spacer 520 being used to separate the th floor nail at the bottom end of the slide nail track 220 from the following floor nail, the stopper 530 being used to limit the movement of the floor nail at the bottom end of the slide nail track 220. in this embodiment, the single nail feeding device 500 can be rotated about a rotation center AX2 shown in fig. 4 by a driving motor or other driving device, when it is rotated about a rotation center 2, the single nail feeding device 500 to the floor nail along a rotation center, the floor nail feeding device may be configured to slightly spaced apart from the floor nail feeding the floor nail device 500 by rotating about a rotation center 120, and the rotation center, after the single nail feeding device may be configured to convey the single nail feeding device may be configured to be suitable for the single nail feeding of the single nail.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, th detection device 610 is further disposed on the slide nail rail 220 for detecting the number of the floor nails on the slide nail rail 220, during nail picking, the floor nails will pass through the slide nail rail 220 and reach the nail tightening device 400, the floor nails will pass through the th detection device 610, at which time the th detection device 610 will receive an intermittent signal, after the floor nails on the slide nail rail 220 are accumulated to number and reach the position of the th detection device 610, the th detection device 610 will receive a continuous signal, at which time nail picking operation may not be performed, the th detection device 610 will feed back the relevant detection signal to the circuit breaker and driving mechanism 320, etc. to stop nail picking, preferably, the th detection device 610 may use a microswitch, and when the microswitch detects the floor nails, the corresponding indicator light can be controlled to be on to remind the worker.

In addition, the tacking arrangements 400 are provided with a second detecting means 620 for detecting the moving position of the tacking arrangements 400, and the position of the tacking arrangements 400 can be timely obtained by the second detecting means 620 so as to perform the next tacking operations better, and the specific arrangement thereof will be further described with reference to in the following embodiments.

In yet another embodiments, tacking arrangements 400 include a tacker 410 and a tightening mechanism 420, the tacking arrangements 400 being capable of tightening floor nails in hole locations the tacker 410 is located at the bottom end of the slide tack rail 220, capable of receiving floor nails from the slide tack rail 220, the tightening mechanism 420 is movable in a vertical direction relative to the tacker 410 for tightening floor nails in the tacker 410 into hole locations in the floor.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the tightening mechanism 420 is movable in a vertical direction by a slide rail (not shown), and when the tightening mechanism 420 moves downward, it may contact the floor nails in the nail holder 410, and may press and rotate the floor nails, and when the floor nails are fixed to a proper position, the tightening mechanism 420 may be moved upward, so that floor nails are inserted into the nail holder 410, and thus nail tightening actions are performed, a second detection device 620 is provided, which detects the moving position of the tightening mechanism 420, and when the tightening mechanism 420 moves up to a specified position, the second detection device 620 obtains a relevant signal, controls the circuit breaker to be powered, and the single nail conveying device 500 performs conveying operations, and releases floor nails into the nail holder 410. preferably, the second detection device 620 may be selected from a microswitch, and when it detects that the tightening mechanism 420 reaches the specified position, the corresponding indicator lamp may be controlled to be normally lighted.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the nail clamp 410 includes and 412 clamp portions 411 and 412, wherein return springs 413 are connected to the upper portions of the and 412 clamp portions 411 and 412, respectively, clamp portions 411 and 412 together form vertically downward cavities (not shown), the side walls of which are provided with entrances connected and communicating with the slide nail tracks 220 to receive the floor nails, while the top to bottom of the cavities are disposed therethrough to allow a screwdriver in the cross head sleeve to enter the cavities to screw the floor nails into the hole sites of the wood floor, preferably clamp portions 411 and/or the bottom of the second clamp portion 412 are further provided with ramp portions 414 while the minimum diameter of the ramp portions 414 is less than the maximum diameter of the caps of the floor nails, with such an arrangement, without external force, the cavity between clamp portions 411 and 412 allows the body portion of the floor nails to pass through without allowing the caps of the floor nails to pass through, thereby achieving the goal of moving the floor nail clamp portions 411 and the floor nails together with the return nail mechanism, while the tightening mechanism is not limited to the invention disclosed as the invention is applicable to the floor nail clamp mechanism, and is not limited to the invention, but is applicable to the floor nail clamp mechanism, the invention is not limited to be moved under the clamp portions 411 and the clamp portions, including the clamp portions, including the clamp portions, and the clamp portions, including the clamp portions, and the clamp portions, including the clamp portions.

In summary, the automatic nail picking and fastening device for containers according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention operates on the principle that a worker rides on the device to align the nail holder 410 with the hole of the wood floor, the nail picking frame 230 reciprocates under the action of the driving mechanism 320 to pick the floor nails in the nail magazine 210 into the nail magazine 220, the floor nails slide toward the side of the nail holder 410 under the self-gravity, the nail pushing device 300 may also push back the irregularly arranged floor nails on the nail magazine 220 into the nail magazine 210 under the action of the driving mechanism 320 during nail picking, while the detection device 610 detects the number of floor nails on the nail magazine 220, when the number of floor nails on the nail magazine 220 reaches a certain number , the detection device 610 may transmit relevant information to a circuit breaker or the like to stop the nails, the floor nails on the nail magazine 220 may be conveyed individually to the nail holder 410 under the control of the single nail conveying device 500, the worker may move the nail holder 420 to the proper tightening position, and the related nail picking mechanism may move the nail holder 420 to the proper position after the worker has moved the nail holder 420, and the nail picking mechanism may be moved by a micro-switch mechanism 421 to the manual switch mechanism, and the worker may detect that the nail picking mechanism 410 is not move the nail holder 410, and the nail picking mechanism may be moved to the nail picking mechanism 500, after the nail holder 410 is properly positioned under the manual work of the nail picking mechanism 500.

Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs, the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and are not intended to limit the invention.

The present invention has been described in terms of the above embodiments, but it should be understood that the above embodiments are for purposes of illustration and description only and are not intended to limit the invention to the scope of the described embodiments. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications may be made to the teachings of the invention, which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.