阅读说明：本技术 一种数据线加工装置及加工方法 (Data line processing device and method ) 是由 丁冉冉 丁倩 于 2021-07-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种数据线加工装置,包括L型底板,L型底板上转动插设有滚轴,滚轴的外侧可拆卸设有三组收卷辊,滚轴的内腔中设有与收卷辊配合使用的固定机构；本发明可转动摇杆,从而通过转轮带动第一转杆转动,进而带动螺纹套管转动,在螺纹套管转动的同时将带动对应螺纹套筒向靠近对应转环的一侧移动,从而配合第一U型座与第二U型座的使用,能够带动第一转板与第二转板同步转动,从而推动对应橡胶固定板向外侧扩张,直至使橡胶固定板延伸至通槽的外侧并与收卷辊的内壁紧密贴合在一起,进而实现便捷快速固定收卷辊的目的,结构简单,设计合理,便于使用者进行操作。(The invention discloses a data line processing device which comprises an L-shaped bottom plate, wherein a rolling shaft is rotatably inserted into the L-shaped bottom plate, three groups of winding rollers are detachably arranged on the outer side of the rolling shaft, and a fixing mechanism matched with the winding rollers is arranged in the inner cavity of the rolling shaft; the rotating device can rotate the rocker, so that the rotating wheel drives the first rotating rod to rotate, the threaded sleeve is driven to rotate, the corresponding threaded sleeve is driven to move to one side close to the corresponding rotating ring while the threaded sleeve rotates, and the first rotating plate and the second rotating plate can be driven to synchronously rotate by matching with the first U-shaped seat and the second U-shaped seat, so that the corresponding rubber fixing plate is pushed to expand outwards until the rubber fixing plate extends to the outer side of the through groove and is tightly attached to the inner wall of the winding roller, the purpose of conveniently and quickly fixing the winding roller is achieved, the structure is simple, the design is reasonable, and the operation is convenient for a user.)

1. The utility model provides a data line processingequipment, includes L type bottom plate (1), its characterized in that: a rolling shaft (2) is rotatably inserted into the L-shaped bottom plate (1), and three groups of winding rollers (3) are detachably arranged on the outer side of the rolling shaft (2); a fixing mechanism (4) matched with the winding roller (3) is arranged in the inner cavity of the rolling shaft (2), and an L-shaped mounting plate (5) is fixedly mounted at one end of the inner side of the L-shaped bottom plate (1); the upper end of one side of the L-shaped mounting plate (5) is provided with a traction mechanism (6) in a sliding mode, and a driving mechanism (7) matched with the roller (2) and the traction mechanism (6) for use is arranged on the L-shaped bottom plate (1).

2. The data line processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the fixing mechanism (4) comprises a first rotating rod (41), the first rotating rod (41) is rotatably inserted into an inner cavity of the roller (2), and three groups of rotating rings (42) are rotatably sleeved on the first rotating rod (41);

the outer side of the rotating ring (42) is provided with first U-shaped seats (43) distributed in an array manner, and the inner side of each first U-shaped seat (43) is rotatably provided with a first rotating plate (44); three groups of threaded sleeves (45) are fixedly sleeved on the outer side of the first rotating rod (41), and threaded sleeves (46) are sleeved on the outer side of the threaded sleeves (45) in a threaded manner; second U-shaped seats (47) distributed in an array mode are fixedly installed on the outer side of the threaded sleeve (46), second rotating plates (48) are rotatably installed on the inner sides of the second U-shaped seats (47), and the first rotating plates (44) are rotatably installed on the inner sides of the second rotating plates (48); one end of the first rotating plate (44) and one end of the second rotating plate (48) which are adjacent to each other are rotatably connected with a rubber fixing plate (49);

run through on roller bearing (2) and set up logical groove (21) with rubber fixed plate (49) cooperation use, rubber fixed plate (49) activity card is established in leading to groove (21), and the one end of rubber fixed plate (49) can run through logical groove (21) and laminate mutually with the inner wall of wind-up roll (3).

3. A data line processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: one end of the first rotating rod (41) penetrates through the rolling shaft (2) and is provided with a rotating wheel (410) at the tail end of the first rotating rod, and a rocker (411) is rotatably installed on the rotating wheel (410).

4. The data line processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the traction mechanism (6) comprises a return frame (61) and a second rotating rod (62);

the die-casting frame (61) is slidably clamped on the L-shaped mounting plate (5), the bottom end of the die-casting frame (61) is fixedly connected with a connecting rod (63), and traction rings (64) distributed in an array form are integrally formed at the bottom end of the connecting rod (63); a moving plate (65) is slidably clamped on the inner side of the square frame (61), and an arc-shaped mounting plate (66) is fixedly mounted on one side, close to the L-shaped mounting plate (5), of the moving plate (65); driving columns (67) distributed in an array mode are integrally formed on one side of the arc-shaped mounting plate (66), arc-shaped limiting plates (68) which are symmetrically arranged are integrally formed at two ends of one side of the moving plate (65), and the arc-shaped limiting plates (68) are fixedly mounted at two ends of the arc-shaped mounting plate (66);

second bull stick (62) are rotated and are inserted and establish on L type mounting panel (5), and the one end of second bull stick (62) can move about the card and establish between camber limiting plate (68) and camber mounting panel (66), fixed cover is equipped with drive gear (69) on second bull stick (62), drive gear (69) mesh mutually with drive post (67).

5. The data line processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: the driving mechanism (7) comprises a motor (71) and an L-shaped rod (72);

the motor (71) is fixedly arranged on one side of the L-shaped bottom plate (1), the output end of the motor (71) is fixedly connected with the roller (2), and a first driving wheel (73) is fixedly sleeved on the outer side of the output end of the motor (71); one end of the L-shaped rod (72) is fixedly connected with the L-shaped bottom plate (1), and the other end of the L-shaped rod (72) is rotatably provided with a first bevel gear (74); one side of the first conical gear (74) is provided with a second driving wheel (75), and a first driving belt (76) is movably sleeved on the outer sides of the second driving wheel (75) and the first driving wheel (73).

6. The data line processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: a third rotating rod (77) is rotatably arranged on one side of the L-shaped bottom plate (1), and a second bevel gear (78) is fixedly arranged at the bottom end of the third rotating rod (77); the second bevel gear (78) is meshed with the first bevel gear (74), and the top end of the third rotating rod (77) is fixedly connected with a third bevel gear (79);

third drive wheel (710) is installed in the rotation of one side upper end of L type bottom plate (1), one side of third drive wheel (710) is equipped with fourth conical gear (711), fourth conical gear (711) and third conical gear (79) mesh mutually, the one end fixed mounting of second bull stick (62) has fourth drive wheel (712), fourth drive wheel (712) and the outside movable sleeve of third drive wheel (710) are equipped with second drive belt (713).

7. The data line processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: fixed cover is equipped with spacing disc (22) on roller bearing (2), one side of wind-up roll (3) can contact with spacing disc (22), set up on L type bottom plate (1) and cooperate arc type recess (11) that use with spacing disc (22), the activity card is equipped with array distribution's ball (12) in arc type recess (11), spacing disc (22) can the activity card establish in arc type recess (11), and the outer wall of spacing disc (22) can contact with ball (12).

8. A data line processing method characterized by using the data line processing apparatus of claims 1 to 8 for processing.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of data line processing, in particular to a data line processing device and a data line processing method.

Background

The data line, which is a component necessary for connecting the hard disk and the motherboard, is usually sent when the motherboard is purchased. Each data line can only connect two IDE devices (such as optical drive, hard disk, recorder, etc.).

Although the data line is generally applied in people's life, the data line processingequipment that uses at present still has certain not enough, the winding-up roll that uses in the current data line processingequipment has the inconvenient defect of installation and dismantlement, the not convenient to use person operates, and current data line processingequipment is when rolling up the data line, owing to lack drive mechanism's traction, lead to the data line coil to easily appear overlapping and oblique winding when the rolling, make the coil winding not enough even, thereby production technology has been reduced, furthermore, current data line processingequipment is the form of single-station operation mostly, thereby lead to the time that consumes longer during data line rolling processing, production efficiency is lower, for this reason, we propose a data line processingequipment and be used for solving above-mentioned problem.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to a data line processing apparatus to solve the above problems.

In order to achieve the purpose, the invention provides the following technical scheme: the utility model provides a data line processingequipment, includes L type bottom plate, it is equipped with the roller bearing to rotate to insert on the L type bottom plate, the outside of roller bearing can be dismantled and be equipped with three wind-up rolls of group, be equipped with the fixed establishment who uses with the wind-up roll cooperation in the inner chamber of roller bearing, the inboard one end fixed mounting of L type bottom plate has L type mounting panel, the slip is equipped with drive mechanism on one side of L type mounting panel, be equipped with the actuating mechanism who uses with roller bearing and drive mechanism cooperation on the L type bottom plate.

Further, the fixing mechanism comprises a first rotating rod, the first rotating rod is rotatably inserted into an inner cavity of the rolling shaft, three groups of rotating rings are rotatably sleeved on the first rotating rod, first U-shaped seats distributed in an array manner are arranged on the outer sides of the rotating rings, a first rotating plate is rotatably installed on the inner side of each first U-shaped seat, three groups of threaded sleeves are fixedly sleeved on the outer sides of the first rotating rod, threaded sleeves are sleeved on the outer threads of the threaded sleeves, second U-shaped seats distributed in an array manner are fixedly installed on the outer sides of the threaded sleeves, a second rotating plate is rotatably installed on the inner side of each second U-shaped seat, the first rotating plate is rotatably installed on the inner side of each second rotating plate, one end of each first rotating plate adjacent to the corresponding second rotating plate is rotatably connected with a rubber fixing plate, a through groove matched with the rubber fixing plate is formed in the rolling shaft in a penetrating manner, and the rubber fixing plate is movably clamped in the through groove, and one end of the rubber fixing plate can penetrate through the through groove and is attached to the inner wall of the winding roller.

Furthermore, one end of the first rotating rod penetrates through the rolling shaft, a rotating wheel is arranged at the tail end of the first rotating rod, and a rocker is rotatably arranged on the rotating wheel.

Furthermore, the traction mechanism comprises a clip frame and a second rotating rod, the clip frame is slidably clamped on the L-shaped mounting plate, the bottom end of the loop frame is fixedly connected with a connecting rod, the bottom end of the connecting rod is integrally formed with traction rings distributed in an array manner, the inner side of the loop frame is slidably clamped with a movable plate, an arc-shaped mounting plate is fixedly mounted on one side, close to the L-shaped mounting plate, of the moving plate, driving columns distributed in an array mode are integrally formed on one side of the arc-shaped mounting plate, symmetrically arranged arc-shaped limiting plates are integrally formed at two ends of one side of the moving plate, the arc limiting plates are fixedly arranged at the two ends of the arc mounting plate, the second rotating rod is rotatably inserted on the L-shaped mounting plate, and the one end of second bull stick can the activity card establish between camber limiting plate and camber mounting panel, fixed cover is equipped with drive gear on the second bull stick, drive gear meshes with the drive post mutually.

Further, actuating mechanism includes motor and L type pole, motor fixed mounting is in one side of L type bottom plate, the output and the roller bearing fixed connection of motor, and the fixed cover in the outside of motor output is equipped with first drive wheel, the one end and the L type bottom plate fixed connection of L type pole, first conical gear is installed in the other end rotation of L type pole, one side of first conical gear is equipped with the second drive wheel, the second drive wheel is equipped with first drive belt with the outside movable sleeve of first drive wheel.

Further, one side of L type bottom plate is rotated and is installed the third bull stick, the bottom fixed mounting of third bull stick has second bevel gear, second bevel gear meshes with first bevel gear mutually, the top fixedly connected with third bevel gear of third bull stick, one side upper end of L type bottom plate is rotated and is installed the third drive wheel, one side of third drive wheel is equipped with fourth bevel gear, fourth bevel gear meshes with third bevel gear mutually, the one end fixed mounting of second bull stick has the fourth drive wheel, the outside movable sleeve of fourth drive wheel and third drive wheel is equipped with second drive belt.

Further, fixed cover is equipped with spacing disc on the roller bearing, one side of wind-up roll can contact with spacing disc, set up the camber recess that uses with spacing disc cooperation on the L type bottom plate, the activity card is equipped with array distribution's ball in the camber recess, spacing disc can the activity card establish in the camber recess, and the outer wall of spacing disc can contact with the ball.

A data line processing method applies the data line processing device to process.

The invention has simple structure and reasonable design, and is convenient for a user to operate. The invention realizes the multi-station synchronous operation of the data line processing device by matching the three groups of winding rollers and the traction ring, thereby saving the working time and improving the production efficiency.

Drawings

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged structural view of the structure at A in FIG. 1 according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a backside connection structure of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged structural view of the structure at B in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged structural view of the structure at C in FIG. 3 according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a wind-up roll mounting structure in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged structural view of the structure shown at D in FIG. 6 according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged structural view of the structure at E in FIG. 6 according to the present invention.

In the figure: 1. an L-shaped bottom plate; 11. an arc-shaped groove; 12. a ball bearing; 2. a roller; 21. a through groove; 22. a limiting disc; 3. a wind-up roll; 4. a fixing mechanism; 41. a first rotating lever; 42. rotating the ring; 43. a first U-shaped seat; 44. a first rotating plate; 45. a threaded bushing; 46. a threaded sleeve; 47. a second U-shaped seat; 48. a second rotating plate; 49. a rubber fixing plate; 410. a rotating wheel; 411. a rocker; 5. an L-shaped mounting plate; 6. a traction mechanism; 61. a back-shaped frame; 62. a second rotating rod; 63. a connecting rod; 64. a traction ring; 65. moving the plate; 66. an arc-shaped mounting plate; 67. a drive column; 68. an arc-shaped limiting plate; 69. a drive gear; 7. a drive mechanism; 71. a motor; 72. an L-shaped rod; 73. a first drive wheel; 74. a first bevel gear; 75. a second drive wheel; 76. a first drive belt; 77. a third rotating rod; 78. a second bevel gear; 79. a third bevel gear; 710. a third drive wheel; 711. a fourth bevel gear; 712. a fourth drive sheave; 713. a second drive belt.

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. 1-8, the data line processing device of the present invention includes an L-shaped bottom plate 1, a roller 2 is rotatably inserted into the L-shaped bottom plate 1, three sets of wind-up rollers 3 are detachably disposed on an outer side of the roller 2, a fixing mechanism 4 used in cooperation with the wind-up rollers 3 is disposed in an inner cavity of the roller 2, an L-shaped mounting plate 5 is fixedly mounted at one end of an inner side of the L-shaped bottom plate 1, a traction mechanism 6 is slidably disposed at an upper end of one side of the L-shaped mounting plate 5, and a driving mechanism 7 used in cooperation with the roller 2 and the traction mechanism 6 is disposed on the L-shaped bottom plate 1.

The fixing mechanism 4 comprises a first rotating rod 41, the first rotating rod 41 is rotatably inserted into the inner cavity of the roller 2, three groups of rotating rings 42 are rotatably sleeved on the first rotating rod 41, first U-shaped seats 43 distributed in an array manner are arranged on the outer sides of the rotating rings 42, a first rotating plate 44 is rotatably arranged on the inner side of each first U-shaped seat 43, three groups of threaded sleeves 45 are fixedly sleeved on the outer sides of the first rotating rod 41, threaded sleeves 46 are sleeved on the outer sides of the threaded sleeves 45 in a threaded manner, second U-shaped seats 47 distributed in an array manner are fixedly arranged on the outer sides of the threaded sleeves 46, a second rotating plate 48 is rotatably arranged on the inner side of each second U-shaped seat 47, the first rotating plate 44 is rotatably arranged on the inner side of the second rotating plate 48, a rubber fixing plate 49 is rotatably connected with one end of each first rotating plate 44 adjacent to one end of the corresponding second rotating plate 48, a through groove 21 matched with the rubber fixing plate 49 is formed in the roller 2 in a penetrating manner, and the rubber fixing plate 49 is movably clamped in the through groove 21, and the one end of rubber dead plate 49 can run through logical groove 21 and laminate mutually with the inner wall of wind-up roll 3, and the width that leads to groove 21 is the same with rubber dead plate 49, but the length that leads to groove 21 is greater than the length of rubber dead plate 49 to ensure that rubber dead plate 49 can normally expand and gather together.

One end of the first rotating rod 41 penetrates through the roller 2 and is provided with a rotating wheel 410 at the end thereof, a rocker 411 is rotatably mounted on the rotating wheel 410, and a user can rotate the rocker 411, so that the rotating wheel 410 drives the first rotating rod 41 to rotate.

The traction mechanism 6 comprises a loop frame 61 and a second rotating rod 62, the loop frame 61 is slidably clamped on the L-shaped mounting plate 5, T-shaped sliders which are symmetrically distributed are arranged on one side of the loop frame 61, a T-shaped chute which is matched with the T-shaped sliders for use is arranged on the L-shaped mounting plate 5, one end of each T-shaped slider is slidably clamped in the T-shaped chute, a connecting rod 63 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the loop frame 61, traction rings 64 which are distributed in an array mode are integrally formed at the bottom end of the connecting rod 63, a moving plate 65 is slidably clamped on the inner side of the loop frame 61, an arc-shaped mounting plate 66 is fixedly mounted on one side of the moving plate 65 close to the L-shaped mounting plate 5, driving columns 67 which are distributed in an array mode are integrally formed on one side of the arc-shaped mounting plate 66, arc-shaped limiting plates 68 which are symmetrically arranged are integrally formed at two ends of one side of the moving plate 65, the arc-shaped limiting plates 68 are fixedly mounted at two ends of the arc-shaped mounting plate 66, the second rotating rod 62 is rotatably inserted on the L-shaped mounting plate 5, and one end of the second rotating rod 62 can be movably clamped between the arc-shaped limiting plate 68 and the arc-shaped mounting plate 66, a driving gear 69 is fixedly sleeved on the second rotating rod 62, and the driving gear 69 is meshed with the driving column 67.

The driving mechanism 7 comprises a motor 71 and an L-shaped rod 72, and in the scheme: the type Y80M1-2 is preferably selected for the motor 71, a power supply interface of the motor is connected with a power supply system through a switch, a running circuit of the motor 71 is a forward and reverse rotation control program of a conventional motor 71, the circuit runs as an existing conventional circuit, circuits and control related in the scheme are the prior art, redundant description is not repeated herein, the motor 71 is fixedly installed on one side of the L-shaped bottom plate 1, an output end of the motor 71 is fixedly connected with the roller 2, a first driving wheel 73 is fixedly sleeved on the outer side of the output end of the motor 71, one end of the L-shaped rod 72 is fixedly connected with the L-shaped bottom plate 1, a first conical gear 74 is rotatably installed at the other end of the L-shaped rod 72, a second driving wheel 75 is arranged on one side of the first conical gear 74, and a first driving belt 76 is movably sleeved on the outer sides of the second driving wheel 75 and the first driving wheel 73.

One side of the L-shaped bottom plate 1 is rotatably provided with a third rotating rod 77, the bottom end of the third rotating rod 77 is fixedly provided with a second bevel gear 78, the second bevel gear 78 is meshed with the first bevel gear 74, the top end of the third rotating rod 77 is fixedly connected with a third bevel gear 79, the upper end of one side of the L-shaped bottom plate 1 is rotatably provided with a third driving wheel 710, one side of the third driving wheel 710 is provided with a fourth bevel gear 711, the fourth bevel gear 711 is meshed with the third bevel gear 79, one end of the second rotating rod 62 is fixedly provided with a fourth driving wheel 712, and a second driving belt 713 is movably sleeved on the outer sides of the fourth driving wheel 712 and the third driving wheel 710.

Fixed cover is equipped with spacing disc 22 on the roller bearing 2, one side of wind-up roll 3 can contact with spacing disc 22, set up on the L type bottom plate 1 with the arc recess 11 that spacing disc 22 cooperation was used, the activity card is equipped with array distribution's ball 12 in the arc recess 11, spacing disc 22 can the activity card establish in arc recess 11, and spacing disc 22's outer wall can contact with ball 12, ball 12 can reduce the frictional force between spacing disc 22 and the arc recess 11, thereby ensure that spacing disc 22 can normally rotate.

The data line processing method of the device comprises the steps that three groups of winding rollers 3 are sequentially sleeved on the rolling shaft 2, one side of the first group of winding rollers 3 is attached to the limiting disc 22, then a user can rotate the rocker 411, and accordingly the rotating wheel 410 drives the first rotating rod 41 to rotate, and further the threaded sleeve 45 is driven to rotate. Will drive corresponding screw sleeve 46 to the one side removal that is close to corresponding swivel 42 in screw sleeve 45 pivoted, thereby cooperate first U type seat 43 and second U type seat 47's use, can drive first rotor plate 44 and second and change 48 synchronous rotations, thereby promote to correspond rubber dead plate 49 and expand to the outside, until make rubber dead plate 49 extend to logical groove 21's the outside and with the inner wall close-fitting of wind-up roll 3 together, and then realize the purpose of convenient quick fixed wind-up roll 3, moreover, the steam generator is simple in structure, and reasonable design, convenient to use person operates.

After the fixing of the wind-up roll 3 is completed, the user can stop rotating the rocker 411, and then the user needs to sequentially pass one end of the three sets of data lines to be wound through the corresponding traction ring 64 and fix the tail end thereof on one end of the corresponding wind-up roll 3 close to the motor 71, and then the user can open the motor 71. At this time, the motor 71 will drive the roller 2 and the first driving wheel 73 to rotate, so as to drive the winding roller 3 to rotate, thereby winding the data cable.

Meanwhile, the first driving wheel 73 drives the second driving wheel 75 to rotate through the first driving belt 76, so as to drive the first bevel gear 74 to rotate, and further drive the third rotating rod 77 to rotate through the second bevel gear 78, and simultaneously drive the third bevel gear 79 to rotate when the third rotating rod 77 rotates; therefore, the third driving wheel 710 is driven to rotate through the fourth bevel gear 711, the fourth driving wheel 712 is driven to rotate through the second driving belt 713, and the traction mechanism 6 is driven by the fourth driving wheel 712 to operate, so that the data wire winding operation and the traction operation are performed synchronously, the utilization rate of the motor 71 is improved, and the production cost is saved.

Under the driving of the fourth driving wheel 712, the second rotating rod 62 drives the driving gear 69 to rotate, and the second rotating rod 62 rolls between the corresponding arc-shaped limiting plate 68 and the arc-shaped mounting plate 66; the moving plate 65 can be pushed to the uppermost end of the die-returning frame 61 by matching with the use of the driving gear 69 and the driving column 67, then the driving gear 69 drives the arc-shaped mounting plate 66 to move to one side far away from the driving mechanism 7 through the driving column 67, so that the die-returning frame 61 is driven to move through the moving plate 65, and then the connecting rod 63 and the traction ring 64 drive the data wire to move to one side far away from the driving mechanism 7, thereby ensuring that the coil of the data wire is not overlapped and obliquely wound when being wound, and ensuring that the coil is uniformly wound; and through the cooperation use of three group wind-up rolls 3 and traction ring 64, realized the multistation synchronous operation of data line processingequipment to save operating time, improved production efficiency.

When the corresponding data line is wound on the winding roller 3, the worker turns off the motor 71 and reverses the knob rocker 411, thereby separating the rubber fixing plate 49 from the winding roller 3. The user can now remove and replace the wind-up roll 3 and can then fix a further batch of new data lines on the end of the wind-up roll 3 remote from the motor 71, after which the user can again open the motor 71. At this time, the driving gear 69 will cooperate with the driving post 67 to move the moving plate 65 to the lower end of the mold-returning frame 61, and then will drive the mold-returning frame 61 to perform the reset motion, so as to perform the data line winding operation again.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.