阅读说明：本技术 一种用于胶合板生产的冷却装置 (A cooling device for plywood production ) 是由 李泽云 张伟华 李�杰 于 2021-11-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明公开了一种用于胶合板生产的冷却装置,涉及胶合板生产技术领域,包括支撑装置、驱动装置、排风装置、卸料装置,所述支撑装置包括支架一以及固定安装在支架一顶部的导向轴二,所述导向轴二上滑动连接有驱动装置,导向轴二上位于驱动装置两侧相对设置有排风装置,所述卸料装置设置在支架一的一侧。本发明中的驱动装置驱动排风装置工作的同时,带动排风装置移动,扩大冷却范围,加快冷却效率；本发明中的排风装置设置有多组排风壳,使每组层板上的胶合板均匀冷却；本发明中的卸料装置在胶合板冷却完成后,能自动进行卸料,节省人工成本。(The invention discloses a cooling device for plywood production, which relates to the technical field of plywood production and comprises a supporting device, a driving device, an exhaust device and a discharging device, wherein the supporting device comprises a first support and a second guide shaft fixedly arranged at the top of the first support, the second guide shaft is connected with the driving device in a sliding manner, the exhaust device is oppositely arranged on the two sides of the driving device on the second guide shaft, and the discharging device is arranged on one side of the first support. The driving device drives the air exhaust device to work and simultaneously drives the air exhaust device to move, so that the cooling range is expanded, and the cooling efficiency is accelerated; the air exhaust device is provided with a plurality of groups of air exhaust shells, so that the plywood on each group of laminates is uniformly cooled; the discharging device can automatically discharge after the plywood is cooled, so that the labor cost is saved.)

1. A cooling device for plywood production, includes strutting arrangement (1), drive arrangement (2), exhaust device (3), discharge apparatus (4), its characterized in that: the supporting device (1) comprises a first support (101) and a second guide shaft (105) fixedly mounted at the top of the first support (101), the second guide shaft (105) is connected with a driving device (2) in a sliding mode, exhaust devices (3) are oppositely arranged on the second guide shaft (105) and located on two sides of the driving device (2), and the discharging device (4) is arranged on one side of the first support (101);

drive arrangement (2) is including rotating connecting rod one (201) of installing on support one (101), the other end of connecting rod one (201) is rotated and is installed connecting seat one (202), the other end fixed mounting of connecting seat one (202) has transmission shaft one (203), it installs support two (204) to rotate on transmission shaft one (203), transmission shaft one (203) run through support two (204) until support two (204) inside and fixed mounting have straight-teeth gear one (205), the bottom fixed mounting of support two (204) has motor one (206), the output shaft of motor one (206) runs through support two (204) until support two (204) inside and fixed mounting have bevel gear one (207), fixed mounting has straight-teeth gear two (208) on the center pin of bevel gear one (207), support two (204) are close to one side rotation that one of them set of exhaust device (3) and install straight-teeth gear three (209) and straight-teeth gear four (211), three (209) and four (211) intermeshing of straight-toothed gear, fixed mounting has two (210) of straight-toothed gear on the center pin of three (209) of straight-toothed gear, two (210) of straight-toothed gear and one (207) intermeshing of straight-toothed gear, one side rotation that two (204) of support are close to another set of exhaust device (3) is installed and is followed spur gear five (212) and six (214) of straight-toothed gear, five (212) of straight-toothed gear and six (214) intermeshing of straight-toothed gear, fixed mounting has three (213) of straight-toothed gear on the center pin of five (212) of straight-toothed gear, three (213) of bevel gear and one (207) intermeshing of straight-toothed gear, and the inner wall top of support two (204) is rotated and is installed transmission shaft two (215), fixed mounting has seven (216) of straight-toothed gear and eight (217) of straight-toothed gear on transmission shaft two (215), seven (216) of straight-toothed gear and straight-toothed gear (205) intermeshing, eight straight-toothed gears (217) are meshed with the second straight-toothed gears (208), the top of the inner wall of the second support (204) is further rotatably provided with a third transmission shaft (218), a ninth straight-toothed gear (219) and a tenth straight-toothed gear (220) are fixedly arranged on the third transmission shaft (218), the ninth straight-toothed gear (219) is meshed with the first straight-toothed gear (205), and the tenth straight-toothed gear (220) is meshed with the second straight-toothed gear (208).

2. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 1, wherein: the supporting device (1) further comprises trundles (102) rotatably installed at four top corners of the bottom of the first support (101), a plurality of groups of laminates (103) are fixedly installed in the middle of the first support (101), and guide shafts (104) are arranged on two sides of each group of laminates (103).

3. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 2, wherein: two sets of exhaust device (3) include with two (105) sliding connection's of guiding axle casing (301), the equal fixed mounting in one side of casing (301) has dust cover (302), the opposite side and two (204) fixed connection of support of casing (301), the equal fixed mounting in bottom of casing (301) has multiunit exhaust shell (305), multiunit exhaust shell (305) and casing (301) communicate from top to bottom, and the both ends of every group exhaust shell (305) all are provided with the air exit, two sets of exhaust device (3) still include the transmission shaft four (303) of rotation installation on casing (301), wherein transmission shaft four (303) one end fixed mounting wind vortex dish (304) in a set of exhaust device (3), the other end passes through two (204) and four (211) fixed connection of straight-tooth wheel, transmission shaft four (303) one end fixed mounting wind vortex dish (304) in another set of exhaust device (3), the other end is fixedly connected with a spur gear six (214) through a bracket two (204).

4. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 3, wherein: the number of the exhaust shells (305) corresponds to the number of the laminates (103), and the exhaust outlet of each group of exhaust shells (305) is respectively positioned above each group of laminates (103).

5. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 2, wherein: discharge apparatus (4) are including three (402) guide shafts of fixed mounting in support one (101) one side, fixed mounting has fixing base (401) on three (402) guide shafts, fixed mounting has motor two (403) on fixing base (401), the output shaft of motor two (403) runs through fixing base (401) and is provided with drive gear (404), last sliding connection of three (402) guide shafts has carriage (406), fixed mounting has rack (405) on carriage (406), rack (405) and drive gear (404) intermeshing.

6. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 5, wherein: and a plurality of groups of second connecting seats (407) are fixedly mounted on the sliding frame (406), two ends of each group of the second connecting seats (407) are respectively and rotatably connected with a second connecting rod (408), the other ends of the second connecting rods (408) are respectively and rotatably connected with a push plate (409), and the push plate (409) is slidably mounted on the first guide shaft (104).

7. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 6, wherein: the number of the second connecting seats (407) corresponds to that of the laminates (103).

8. A cooling device for plywood production according to claim 1, wherein: the size and the parameters of the third straight gear (209) and the fifth straight gear (212) are consistent; the size and parameters of the fourth straight gear (211) and the sixth straight gear (214) are consistent; the size and parameters of the seventh straight gear (216) and the ninth straight gear (219) are consistent; the size and parameters of the eight straight gear (217) and the ten straight gear (220) are consistent.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of plywood production, in particular to a cooling device for plywood production.

Background

The plywood is a multi-layer plate-shaped material formed by rotationally cutting wood sections into veneers or slicing battens into thin wood and then gluing the veneers by using an adhesive, the veneers need to be manually stacked and naturally cooled after hot pressing is completed in a production line, then the veneers are arranged and transferred to a warehouse for storage, the plywood is slow in the natural cooling process and insufficient in cooling, the pasting quality of the plywood is influenced when the plywood is transferred to the warehouse, and the industrial requirements are difficult to meet.

In the prior art, as the patent of application number CN201922064294.5 discloses a high-efficient cooling device for plywood production, this utility model discloses a high-efficient cooling device for plywood production, including the cooling box, the fan, the air outlet mount, the air outlet, the refrigeration board, the plywood mount, plywood mount inside groove, wooden plug and support frame, this design novel structure, the cost of manufacture is low, make can carry out the efficient cooling to the plywood just produced, and the cooling is even, make the phenomenon that the plywood can not appear warping, the quality of product has been guaranteed, nevertheless this design fails to realize automatic board of unloading, it is even to consider also that it needs the cooling to a plurality of plywoods.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the defects in the prior art, the driving device drives the air exhaust device to work and simultaneously drives the air exhaust device to move, so that the cooling range is expanded, and the cooling efficiency is accelerated; the air exhaust device is provided with a plurality of groups of air exhaust shells, so that the plywood on each group of laminates is uniformly cooled; the discharging device can automatically discharge after the plywood is cooled, so that the labor cost is saved.

The technical scheme adopted by the invention for solving the technical problems is as follows: a cooling device for plywood production comprises a supporting device, a driving device, an exhaust device and a discharging device, wherein the supporting device comprises a first support and a second guide shaft fixedly mounted at the top of the first support, the second guide shaft is connected with the driving device in a sliding manner, the exhaust device is oppositely arranged on the second guide shaft at two sides of the driving device, and the discharging device is arranged at one side of the first support; the driving device comprises a first connecting rod rotatably installed on a first support, a first connecting seat is rotatably installed at the other end of the first connecting rod, a first transmission shaft is fixedly installed at the other end of the first connecting seat, a second support is rotatably installed on the first transmission shaft, a first straight gear is fixedly installed inside the second support after the first transmission shaft penetrates through the second support, a first motor is fixedly installed at the bottom of the second support, a first bevel gear is fixedly installed inside the second support after the first motor output shaft penetrates through the second support, a second straight gear is fixedly installed on a central shaft of the first bevel gear, a third straight gear and a fourth straight gear are rotatably installed on one side, close to one of a set of air exhaust devices, of the second support, the third straight gear and the fourth straight gear are mutually meshed, a second bevel gear is fixedly installed on a central shaft of the third straight gear, and the second bevel gear and the first bevel gear are mutually meshed, one side of the second bracket close to the other group of air exhausting devices is rotated to be provided with a fifth straight gear and a sixth straight gear, the fifth straight gear and the sixth straight gear are mutually meshed, a third straight gear is fixedly arranged on a central shaft of the fifth straight gear, the third straight gear and a first straight gear are mutually meshed, the top of the inner wall of the second bracket is rotated to be provided with a second transmission shaft, a seventh straight gear and an eighth straight gear are fixedly arranged on the second transmission shaft, the seventh straight gear and the first straight gear are mutually meshed, the eighth straight gear and the second straight gear are mutually meshed, the top of the inner wall of the second bracket is also rotated to be provided with a third transmission shaft, a ninth straight gear and a tenth straight gear are fixedly arranged on the third transmission shaft, the ninth straight gear and the first straight gear are mutually meshed, and the tenth straight gear and the second straight gear are mutually meshed.

Further, the supporting device further comprises trundles rotatably installed at four top corners of the bottom of the first support, a plurality of groups of laminates are fixedly installed in the middle of the first support, and guide shafts I are arranged on two sides of each group of laminates.

Further, it is two sets of exhaust device includes the casing with two sliding connection of guiding axle, the equal fixed mounting in one side of casing has the dust cover, the opposite side and two fixed connection of support of casing, the equal fixed mounting in bottom of casing has multiunit exhaust shell, and multiunit exhaust shell and casing communicate from top to bottom, and the both ends of every group exhaust shell all are provided with the air exit, and are two sets of exhaust device is still including rotating the transmission shaft four of installing on the casing, and wherein four one end fixed mounting wind whirlpools of transmission shaft among a set of exhaust device, the other end pass through support two and four fixed connection of straight-teeth gear, and four one end fixed mounting wind whirlpools of transmission shaft among another set of exhaust device, and the other end passes through support two and six fixed connection of straight-teeth gear.

Furthermore, the number of the exhaust shells corresponds to the number of the laminates, and the exhaust outlet of each group of exhaust shells is respectively positioned above each group of laminates.

Further, discharge apparatus includes the guiding axle three of fixed mounting in support one side, fixed mounting has the fixing base on the guiding axle three, fixed mounting has motor two on the fixing base, the output shaft of motor two runs through the fixing base and is provided with drive gear, last sliding connection that still goes up of guiding axle three has the carriage, fixed mounting has the rack on the carriage, rack and drive gear intermeshing.

Furthermore, a plurality of groups of second connecting seats are fixedly mounted on the sliding frame, two ends of each group of second connecting seats are respectively and rotatably connected with a second connecting rod, the other ends of the second connecting rods are respectively and rotatably connected with a push plate, and the push plates are slidably mounted on the first guide shafts.

Furthermore, the number of the second connecting seats corresponds to the number of the laminates.

Furthermore, the size and parameters of the third straight gear and the fifth straight gear are consistent; the size and parameters of the fourth straight gear and the sixth straight gear are consistent; the size and parameters of the seventh straight gear and the ninth straight gear are consistent; the size and parameters of the spur gear eight and the spur gear ten are consistent.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the beneficial effects that: (1) the driving device drives the air exhaust device to work and simultaneously drives the air exhaust device to move, so that the cooling range is expanded, and the cooling efficiency is accelerated; (2) the air exhaust device is provided with a plurality of groups of air exhaust shells, so that the plywood on each group of laminates is uniformly cooled; (3) the discharging device can automatically discharge after the plywood is cooled, so that the labor cost is saved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of the supporting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a driving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial structural diagram of a driving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the driving device according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural view of an air exhaust device of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a partial structure diagram of the air exhausting device of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural view of the discharging device of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the structure of FIG. 8 at A in accordance with the present invention.

In the figure: 1. a support device; 2. a drive device; 3. an air exhaust device; 4. a discharge device; 101. a first bracket; 102. a caster wheel; 103. laminating the board; 104. a first guide shaft; 105. a second guide shaft; 201. a first connecting rod; 202. a first connecting seat; 203. a first transmission shaft; 204. a second bracket; 205. a first straight gear; 206. a first motor; 207. a first bevel gear; 208. a second straight gear; 209. a third straight gear; 210. a second bevel gear; 211. a fourth straight gear; 212. a fifth spur gear; 213. a third bevel gear; 214. a spur gear six; 215. a second transmission shaft; 216. a spur gear seven; 217. a spur gear eight; 218. a third transmission shaft; 219. a straight gear nine; 220. ten straight gears; 301. a housing; 302. a dust cover; 303. a fourth transmission shaft; 304. an air vortex disc; 305. a venting housing; 401. a fixed seat; 402. a third guide shaft; 403. a second motor; 404. a drive gear; 405. a rack; 406. a carriage; 407. a second connecting seat; 408. a second connecting rod; 409. a push plate.

Detailed Description

In the following description of the present invention, it is to be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the following description of the present invention, it is to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "disposed," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; the connection may be direct or indirect via an intermediate medium, and the connection may be internal to the two components. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.

The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings and illustrative embodiments, which are provided herein to illustrate and not to limit the invention. In addition, if a detailed description of the known art is not necessary to show the features of the present invention, it is omitted.

Example (b): as shown in fig. 1-9, a cooling device for plywood production comprises a supporting device 1, a driving device 2, an air exhaust device 3 and a discharging device 4, and is characterized in that: strutting arrangement 1 includes support one 101 and two 105 of guiding axle of fixed mounting at support one 101 top, sliding connection has drive arrangement 2 on two 105 of guiding axle, and it is provided with exhaust device 3 relatively to lie in drive arrangement 2 both sides on two 105 of guiding axle, discharge apparatus 4 sets up the one side at support one 101, strutting arrangement 1 is still including rotating the truckle 102 of installing in four apex angle departments of support one 101 bottom, and the middle part fixed mounting of support one 101 has multiunit plywood 103, the both sides of every group plywood 103 all are provided with guiding axle one 104.

The plywood that will need the cooling is placed one by one on plywood 103 in strutting arrangement 1, start drive arrangement 2, drive arrangement 2 drive exhaust device 3 drives exhaust device 3 and slides on two 105 of guiding axle when carrying out work, enlarged the cooling range of exhaust device 3, cooling efficiency has been accelerated, after the cooling is accomplished, can place the collection storehouse in strutting arrangement 1 side below, start discharge apparatus 4, the plywood that will cool off the completion pushes away from plywood 103, make the plywood fall into and collect the storehouse, accomplish automatic discharge.

Drive arrangement 2 is including rotating connecting rod 201 of installing on support 101, the other end of connecting rod 201 rotates and installs connecting seat 202, the other end fixed mounting of connecting seat 202 has transmission shaft 203, it installs support two 204 to rotate on the transmission shaft 203, and transmission shaft 203 runs through support two 204 and has straight-teeth gear 205 until the inside fixed mounting of support two 204, the bottom fixed mounting of support two 204 has motor 206, the output shaft of motor 206 runs through support two 204 and has bevel gear 207 until support two 204 inside and fixed mounting, fixed mounting has straight-teeth gear two 208 on the center pin of bevel gear 207, support two 204 is close to one side rotation of one of them set of exhaust apparatus 3 and installs straight-teeth gear three 209 and straight-teeth gear four 211, straight-teeth gear three 209 and straight-teeth gear four 211 intermeshing, fixed mounting has bevel gear two 210 on the center pin of straight-teeth gear three 209, the second bevel gear 210 is meshed with the first bevel gear 207, one side of the second support 204, which is close to the other set of air exhausting devices 3, is rotatably provided with a fifth spur gear 212 and a sixth spur gear 214, the fifth spur gear 212 is meshed with the sixth spur gear 214, a third bevel gear 213 is fixedly arranged on a central shaft of the fifth spur gear 212, the third bevel gear 213 is meshed with the first bevel gear 207, the top of the inner wall of the second support 204 is rotatably provided with a second transmission shaft 215, the second transmission shaft 215 is fixedly provided with a seventh spur gear 216 and an eighth spur gear 217, the seventh spur gear 216 is meshed with the first spur gear 205, the eighth spur gear 217 is meshed with the second spur gear 208, the top of the inner wall of the second support 204 is also rotatably provided with a third transmission shaft 218, the third transmission shaft 218 is fixedly provided with a ninth spur gear 219 and a tenth spur gear 220, the ninth spur gear 219 is meshed with the first spur gear 205, and the tenth gear 220 is meshed with the second spur gear 208, the size and parameters of the third straight gear 209 and the fifth straight gear 212 are consistent; the size and parameters of the fourth straight gear 211 and the sixth straight gear 214 are consistent; the size and parameters of the seventh spur gear 216 and the ninth spur gear 219 are consistent; the size and parameters of the spur gear eight 217 are consistent with those of the spur gear ten 220.

Starting a first motor 206, the first motor 206 driving a first bevel gear 207 and a second spur gear 208 to rotate, the first bevel gear 207 driving a second bevel gear 210 and a third bevel gear 213 to rotate, the second bevel gear 210 driving a third spur gear 209 to rotate, the third spur gear 209 driving a fourth spur gear 211 to rotate, the fourth spur gear 211 driving a group of air exhausting devices 3 to operate, meanwhile, the third bevel gear 213 driving a fifth spur gear 212 to rotate, the fifth spur gear 212 driving a sixth spur gear 214 to rotate, the sixth spur gear 214 driving another group of air exhausting devices 3 to operate, in the process, the second spur gear 208 driving a eighth spur gear 217 and a tenth spur gear 220 to rotate, the eighth spur gear 217 driving a second transmission shaft 215 to rotate, the second transmission shaft 215 driving a seventh spur gear 216 to rotate, the seventh spur gear 216 driving a first spur gear 205 to rotate, the first spur gear 205 to rotate driving a first transmission shaft 203 to rotate, the first transmission shaft 203 driving a first connection seat 202 to rotate, the first connecting seat 202 is matched with the first connecting rod 201 in the rotation process by taking the axis of the first transmission shaft 203 as the center of a circle, so that the driving device 2 slides along the second guide shaft 105, the driving device 2 drives the exhaust devices 3 on two sides to slide along the second guide shaft 105 in the sliding process, and the large gear and the small gear in the driving device 2 are matched with each other, thereby not only meeting the requirement of high-speed operation inside the exhaust devices 3, but also driving the exhaust devices 3 to slide along the second guide shaft 105 at low speed, and avoiding production accidents caused by over-high sliding speed.

Two sets of exhaust device 3 includes the casing 301 with two 105 sliding connection of guiding axle, the equal fixed mounting in one side of casing 301 has the dust cover 302, the opposite side and two 204 fixed connection of support of casing 301, the equal fixed mounting in bottom of casing 301 has multiunit exhaust shell 305, multiunit exhaust shell 305 and casing 301 intercommunication from top to bottom, and the both ends of every group exhaust shell 305 all are provided with the air exit, two sets of exhaust device 3 is still including rotating the four 303 of transmission shaft of installing on casing 301, wherein the four 303 one end fixed mounting of transmission shaft among a set of exhaust device 3 has wind vortex 304, and the other end passes through two 204 and four 211 fixed connection of spur gear of support, and the four 303 one end fixed mounting of transmission shaft among another set of exhaust device 3 has wind 304, and the other end passes through two 204 and six 214 fixed connection of spur gear of support, the quantity of exhaust shell 305 is corresponding with the quantity of plywood 103, the air outlet of each set of air exhaust shell 305 is respectively positioned above each set of laminates 103.

Rotation of the fourth spur gear 211 and the sixth spur gear 214 respectively drives the fourth transmission shaft 303 in the exhaust device 3 to rotate, the fourth transmission shaft 303 drives the air scroll 304 to rotate, external air is sucked into the shell 301 through the dust cover 302 during rotation of the air scroll 304, then exhausted air is discharged from the exhaust shell 305, and the plywood on the plywood 103 is air-dried and cooled.

Discharge apparatus 4 includes three 402 guide shafts of fixed mounting in support one 101 one side, fixed mounting has fixing base 401 on three 402 guide shafts, fixed mounting has second motor 403 on the fixing base 401, the output shaft of second motor 403 runs through fixing base 401 and is provided with drive gear 404, it has carriage 406 still to slide connection on three 402 guide shafts, fixed mounting has rack 405 on the carriage 406, rack 405 and drive gear 404 intermeshing, fixed mounting has multiunit second connecting seat 407 on the carriage 406, every group the both ends of second connecting seat 407 rotate respectively and are connected with second connecting rod 408, the other end of second connecting rod 408 all rotates and is connected with push pedal 409, push pedal 409 slidable mounting is on first 104 guide shafts, the quantity of second connecting seat 407 is corresponding with the quantity of plywood 103.

Starting a second motor 403, driving the driving gear 404 to rotate by the second motor 403, driving the rack 405 to move upwards by the driving gear 404, driving the sliding frame 406 to slide along a third guide shaft 402 by the rack 405, driving the connecting seat II 407 to move upwards by the sliding frame 406, driving the connecting rod II 408 to swing by the connecting seat II 407, pushing the push plate 409 to slide along a first guide shaft 104 by the connecting rod II 408 in the swinging process, pushing the cooled plywood away from the plywood 103 by the push plate 409 in the sliding process, and completing automatic discharging.

The working principle of the invention is as follows: the plywood that will need the cooling is placed one by one on plywood 103 in strutting arrangement 1, start drive arrangement 2, drive arrangement 2 drive exhaust device 3 drives exhaust device 3 and slides on two 105 of guiding axle when carrying out work, enlarged the cooling range of exhaust device 3, cooling efficiency has been accelerated, after the cooling is accomplished, can place the collection storehouse in strutting arrangement 1 side below, start discharge apparatus 4, the plywood that will cool off the completion pushes away from plywood 103, make the plywood fall into and collect the storehouse, accomplish automatic discharge.

It should be understood that the above embodiments are only used for illustrating the technical solutions of the present invention, and not for limiting the same, and those skilled in the art can modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some technical features; and all such modifications and alterations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.