阅读说明：本技术 一种定量且均匀收卷的光纤制造用收卷装置 (Winding device for manufacturing optical fiber with quantitative and uniform winding functions ) 是由 李硕仪 于 2021-07-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及光纤制造设备技术领域,且公开了一种定量且均匀收卷的光纤制造用收卷装置,包括支柱,所述支柱的内侧螺纹连接有横杆,所述支柱的正面转动连接有主动齿轮,所述横杆的正面转动连接有调节机构。该定量且均匀收卷的光纤制造用收卷装置,进行收卷时,主动齿轮带动收卷辊转动对光纤进行收卷,同时带动螺杆同步转动,通过转动杆、复位弹簧、顶杆以及固定板带动滑块往复运动,实现光纤的均匀收卷,避免了由于收卷不均匀造成的光纤缠绕,大大提高了收卷辊的使用率,当光纤收卷至与限位杆接触时推动限位杆,从而通过推杆和驱动杆带动刀片向下运动切断光纤,完成光纤的自动定量收卷,实现光纤的标准化生产。(The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber manufacturing equipment, and discloses a winding device for manufacturing optical fibers quantitatively and uniformly, which comprises a support, wherein the inner side of the support is in threaded connection with a cross rod, the front side of the support is in rotary connection with a driving gear, and the front side of the cross rod is in rotary connection with an adjusting mechanism. This coiling mechanism is used in optic fibre manufacturing of ration and even rolling, when rolling, the driving gear drives the wind-up roll and rotates optic fibre, it rotates to drive the screw rod synchronous, through the dwang, reset spring, ejector pin and fixed plate drive slider reciprocating motion, realize the even rolling of optic fibre, avoided because the inhomogeneous optic fibre winding that causes of rolling, the rate of utilization of wind-up roll has been improved greatly, promote the gag lever post when optic fibre rolling to when contacting with the gag lever post, thereby drive blade downstream through push rod and actuating lever and cut off optic fibre, accomplish the automatic ration rolling of optic fibre, realize the standardized production of optic fibre.)

1. The utility model provides a coiling mechanism is used in optical fiber manufacturing of ration and even rolling, includes pillar (1), its characterized in that: the inboard threaded connection of pillar (1) has horizontal pole (2), the front of pillar (1) is rotated and is connected with driving gear (3), the front of horizontal pole (2) is rotated and is connected with adjustment mechanism (4), the top fixed mounting of pillar (1) has mounting panel (5), the front of mounting panel (5) is rotated and is connected with gag lever post (6), spout (7) have been seted up to the inside of gag lever post (6), the top fixed mounting of mounting panel (5) has spacing rail (8), the inside sliding connection of spacing rail (8) has cutting off subassembly (9), the bottom fixed mounting of mounting panel (5) has guide pulley (10).

2. A winding apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber, which winds an optical fiber quantitatively and uniformly according to claim 1, wherein: pillar (1) are provided with two altogether and the specification is the same to two pillars (1) are vertical form and are parallel to each other, horizontal pole (2) fixed mounting between two pillars (1), the back and the wind-up roll fixed connection of driving gear (3).

3. A winding apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber, which winds an optical fiber quantitatively and uniformly according to claim 1, wherein: the limiting rod (6) is rotatably connected to the right side of the mounting plate (5), the guide wheel (10) is fixedly mounted on the left side of the mounting plate (5), the optical fiber guide wheel (10) is in transmission connection with a winding roller on the back of the driving gear (3), and the limiting rod (6) is matched with the winding roller.

4. A winding apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber, which winds an optical fiber quantitatively and uniformly according to claim 1, wherein: adjustment mechanism (4), including driven gear (41), the top fixed mounting of driven gear (41) has screw rod (42), the positive meshing of screw rod (42) has slider (43), the bottom of slider (43) is rotated and is connected with installation piece (44), the front of installation piece (44) is rotated and is connected with dwang (45), the front fixed mounting of dwang (45) has reset spring (46), the front fixed mounting of dwang (45) has ejector pin (47), one side fixed mounting that installation piece (44) is close to ejector pin (47) has fixed plate (48).

5. A winding device for manufacturing an optical fiber according to claim 1 or 4, wherein: driven gear (41) and screw rod (42) all are provided with two and the specification is the same, intermeshing between two driven gear (41), wherein driven gear (41) and driving gear (3) intermeshing on right side, and the both sides of slider (43) are provided with screw thread and two screw rod (42) looks adaptations.

6. The winding device for manufacturing optical fiber according to claim 4, wherein: slider (43) and dwang (45) rotate to be connected in the same position of installation piece (44), reset spring (46) one end fixed mounting is in the front of slider (43), other end fixed mounting is in the front of dwang (45), ejector pin (47) and fixed plate (48) all are provided with two and the specification is the same, wherein ejector pin (47) fixed mounting is in the positive and negative of dwang (45), fixed plate (48) and ejector pin (47) position are on the same straight line, and there is certain angle between fixed plate (48) and ejector pin (47).

7. A winding apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber, which winds an optical fiber quantitatively and uniformly according to claim 1, wherein: cut off subassembly (9), including push rod (91), the left end fixed mounting of push rod (91) has return spring (92), the front rotation of push rod (91) is connected with actuating lever (93), the bottom fixed mounting of actuating lever (93) has blade (94), the left end rotation of actuating lever (93) is connected with fixed block (95).

8. A winding device for manufacturing an optical fiber in a quantitative and uniform winding manner according to claim 1 or 7, wherein: the push rod (91) is located inside the limit rail (8) and is in sliding connection with the limit rail (8), wherein the right end of the push rod (91) is in sliding connection with the sliding groove (7), the left end of the push rod is fixedly installed with the return spring (92), and the left end of the return spring (92) is fixedly connected with the inner side of the limit rail (8).

9. A winding apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber, which winds an optical fiber quantitatively and uniformly according to claim 7, wherein: the optical fiber driving device is characterized in that the number of the driving rods (93) is four, the driving rods are rotationally connected with each other in a pairwise mode, the middle of every two adjacent driving rods (93) is rotationally connected with each other, the top ends of the driving rods (93) are rotationally connected with the fixing block (95) and the push rod (91) respectively, and the bottom ends of the driving rods are fixedly connected with the blade (94) and located on the upper side of an optical fiber.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of optical fiber manufacturing equipment, in particular to a winding device for manufacturing optical fibers, which can be used for quantitatively and uniformly winding.

Background

The fine optical fiber is enclosed in a plastic sheath so that it can be bent without breaking. Typically, a transmitter at one end of the fiber uses a light emitting diode or a beam of laser light to transmit a pulse of light to the fiber, and a receiver at the other end of the fiber uses a light sensitive element to detect the pulse. In daily life, optical fibers are used for long distance information transmission because the loss of light transmitted through optical fibers is much lower than the loss of electricity transmitted through electric wires. In the manufacturing process, the optical fiber needs to be rolled due to the longer length of the optical fiber, so that the optical fiber is convenient to store and transport.

Most of the existing optical fiber winding devices need manual control of winding amount of the optical fibers, the length of each roll of optical fibers is different, standardized manufacturing cannot be carried out, in the winding process, the optical fibers can only be wound on a winding roller in a small area, the optical fibers cannot be uniformly distributed on the winding roller, the optical fibers cannot be conveniently unwound when in use, the optical fibers are wound together easily, the utilization rate of the winding roller is reduced, and therefore the winding device for manufacturing the optical fibers with the fixed amount and uniform winding is provided for solving the problems.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved

Aiming at the defects of the prior art, the invention provides the winding device for manufacturing the optical fiber with the fixed quantity and uniform winding, which has the advantages of uniform winding, automatic fixed quantity winding and convenient use and solves the problems of non-uniform winding, incapability of automatic fixed quantity winding and inconvenience in use.

(II) technical scheme

In order to realize the purposes of uniform rolling, automatic quantitative rolling and convenient use, the invention provides the following technical scheme: the utility model provides a coiling mechanism for fiber manufacturing of ration and even rolling, includes the pillar, the inboard threaded connection of pillar has the horizontal pole, the front of pillar is rotated and is connected with the driving gear, the front of horizontal pole is rotated and is connected with adjustment mechanism, the top fixed mounting of pillar has the mounting panel, the front of mounting panel is rotated and is connected with the gag lever post, the spout has been seted up to the inside of gag lever post, the top fixed mounting of mounting panel has spacing rail, the inside sliding connection of spacing rail has the subassembly that cuts off, the bottom fixed mounting of mounting panel has the guide pulley.

Preferably, the pillars are provided with two pillars with the same specification, the two pillars are vertical and parallel to each other, the cross rod is fixedly installed between the two pillars, and the back of the driving gear is fixedly connected with the winding roller.

Preferably, the limiting rod is rotatably connected to the right side of the mounting plate, the guide wheel is fixedly mounted on the left side of the mounting plate, the optical fiber guide wheel is in transmission connection with a winding roller on the back of the driving gear, and the limiting rod is matched with the winding roller.

Adjustment mechanism, including driven gear, driven gear's top fixed mounting has the screw rod, the positive meshing of screw rod has the slider, the bottom of slider is rotated and is connected with the installation piece, the front of installation piece is rotated and is connected with the dwang, the front fixed mounting of dwang has reset spring, the front fixed mounting of dwang has the ejector pin, one side fixed mounting that the installation piece is close to the ejector pin has the fixed plate.

Preferably, driven gear and screw rod all are provided with two and the specification is the same, intermeshing between two driven gear, and wherein driven gear and the driving gear intermeshing on right side, the both sides of slider are provided with screw thread and two screw rod looks adaptations.

Preferably, slider and dwang rotate to be connected in the same position of installation piece, and reset spring one end fixed mounting is in the front of slider, and other end fixed mounting is in the front of dwang, and ejector pin and fixed plate all are provided with two and the specification is the same, and wherein ejector pin fixed mounting is on the positive and negative of dwang, and fixed plate and ejector pin position are on the same straight line to there is certain angle between fixed plate and the ejector pin.

The cutting assembly comprises a push rod, a return spring is fixedly mounted at the left end of the push rod, a driving rod is rotatably connected to the front surface of the push rod, a blade is fixedly mounted at the bottom end of the driving rod, and a fixing block is rotatably connected to the left end of the driving rod.

Preferably, the push rod is located inside the limit rail and is in sliding connection with the limit rail, wherein the right end of the push rod is in sliding connection with the sliding groove, the left end of the push rod is fixedly installed with the return spring, and the left end of the return spring is fixedly connected with the inner side of the limit rail.

Preferably, the number of the driving rods is four, the driving rods are rotationally connected with each other in pairs, the middles of every two adjacent driving rods are rotationally connected with each other, the top ends of the driving rods are rotationally connected with the fixing block and the push rod respectively, and the bottom ends of the driving rods are fixedly connected with the blade and located on the upper side of the optical fiber.

(III) advantageous effects

Compared with the prior art, the invention provides the winding device for manufacturing the optical fiber, which can be used for quantitatively and uniformly winding the optical fiber, and has the following beneficial effects:

this coiling mechanism is used in optic fibre manufacturing of ration and even rolling, when rolling, the driving gear drives the wind-up roll and rotates optic fibre, it rotates to drive the screw rod synchronous, through the dwang, reset spring, ejector pin and fixed plate drive slider reciprocating motion, realize the even rolling of optic fibre, avoided because the inhomogeneous optic fibre winding that causes of rolling, the rate of utilization of wind-up roll has been improved greatly, promote the gag lever post when optic fibre rolling to when contacting with the gag lever post, thereby drive blade downstream through push rod and actuating lever and cut off optic fibre, accomplish the automatic ration rolling of optic fibre, realize the standardized production of optic fibre.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the connection of the structures of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the connection of the various structures in the adjustment mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the adjusting mechanism according to the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the connection of the structures in the cutting assembly of the present invention.

In the figure: 1. a pillar; 2. a cross bar; 3. a driving gear; 4. an adjustment mechanism; 5. mounting a plate; 6. a limiting rod; 7. a chute; 8. a limit rail; 9. cutting off the assembly; 10. a guide wheel; 41. a driven gear; 42. a screw; 43. a slider; 44. mounting blocks; 45. rotating the rod; 46. a return spring; 47. a top rod; 48. a fixing plate; 91. a push rod; 92. a return spring; 93. a drive rod; 94. a blade; 95. and (5) fixing blocks.

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.

The first embodiment is as follows:

referring to fig. 1-3, a winding device for manufacturing optical fibers with quantitative and uniform winding comprises a support 1, wherein a cross rod 2 is connected to the inner side of the support 1 through threads, a driving gear 3 is rotatably connected to the front side of the support 1, the support 1 is provided with two support columns 1 which are of the same size and are vertical and parallel to each other, the cross rod 2 is fixedly arranged between the two support columns 1, the back side of the driving gear 3 is fixedly connected with a winding roller, an adjusting mechanism 4 is rotatably connected to the front side of the cross rod 2, a mounting plate 5 is fixedly arranged at the top end of the support 1, a limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the front side of the mounting plate 5, a sliding groove 7 is arranged inside the limiting rod 6, a limiting rail 8 is fixedly arranged at the top of the mounting plate 5, a cutting assembly 9 is slidably connected to the inside of the limiting rail 8, a guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the mounting plate 5, and the limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the right side of the mounting plate 5, the guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged on the left side of the mounting plate 5, the optical fiber guide wheel 10 is in transmission connection with a winding roller on the back of the driving gear 3, and the limiting rod 6 is matched with the winding roller;

the adjusting mechanism 4 comprises a driven gear 41, a screw 42 is fixedly installed at the top of the driven gear 41, a sliding block 43 is meshed on the front surface of the screw 42, the driven gear 41 and the screw 42 are both provided with two parts with the same specification, the two driven gears 41 are meshed with each other, the driven gear 41 on the right side is meshed with the driving gear 3, threads are arranged on the two sides of the sliding block 43 to be matched with the two screw 42, an installation block 44 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the sliding block 43, a rotating rod 45 is rotatably connected to the front surface of the installation block 44, a return spring 46 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, a top rod 47 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, a fixing plate 48 is fixedly installed on one side, close to the top rod 47, of the installation block 44 and the rotating rod 45 are rotatably connected to the same position of the installation block 44, one end of the return spring 46 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the sliding block 43, and the other end is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, the ejector rod 47 and the fixing plate 48 are both provided with two parts and have the same specification, wherein the ejector rod 47 is fixedly installed on the front and back surfaces of the rotating rod 45, the fixing plate 48 and the ejector rod 47 are positioned on the same straight line, and a certain angle is formed between the fixing plate 48 and the ejector rod 47.

Example two:

referring to fig. 1 and 4, a winding device for manufacturing optical fibers with quantitative and uniform winding comprises a support 1, wherein a cross rod 2 is connected to the inner side of the support 1 through threads, a driving gear 3 is rotatably connected to the front side of the support 1, the support 1 is provided with two support columns 1 with the same specification, the two support columns 1 are vertical and parallel to each other, the cross rod 2 is fixedly arranged between the two support columns 1, the back side of the driving gear 3 is fixedly connected with a winding roller, an adjusting mechanism 4 is rotatably connected to the front side of the cross rod 2, a mounting plate 5 is fixedly arranged at the top end of the support 1, a limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the front side of the mounting plate 5, a sliding groove 7 is arranged inside the limiting rod 6, a limiting rail 8 is fixedly arranged at the top of the mounting plate 5, a cutting assembly 9 is slidably connected to the inside of the limiting rail 8, a guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the mounting plate 5, and the limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the right side of the mounting plate 5, the guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged on the left side of the mounting plate 5, the optical fiber guide wheel 10 is in transmission connection with a winding roller on the back of the driving gear 3, and the limiting rod 6 is matched with the winding roller;

cut off subassembly 9, including push rod 91, the left end fixed mounting of push rod 91 has return spring 92, push rod 91 is located spacing rail 8's inside, and with spacing rail 8 sliding connection, wherein push rod 91 right-hand member and spout 7 sliding connection, left end and return spring 92 fixed mounting, return spring 92's left end and spacing rail 8's inboard fixed connection, push rod 91's front rotation is connected with actuating lever 93, actuating lever 93's bottom fixed mounting has blade 94, actuating lever 93's left end rotates and is connected with fixed block 95, actuating lever 93 is provided with four altogether, rotation connects between two liang, and the centre of two adjacent actuating lever 93 rotates and connects, wherein the top of actuating lever 93 rotates with fixed block 95 and push rod 91 respectively to be connected, bottom and blade 94 fixed connection, be located the upside of optic fibre.

Example three:

referring to fig. 1-4, a winding device for manufacturing optical fibers with quantitative and uniform winding comprises a support 1, wherein a cross rod 2 is connected to the inner side of the support 1 through threads, a driving gear 3 is rotatably connected to the front side of the support 1, the support 1 is provided with two support columns 1 which are of the same size and are vertical and parallel to each other, the cross rod 2 is fixedly arranged between the two support columns 1, the back side of the driving gear 3 is fixedly connected with a winding roller, an adjusting mechanism 4 is rotatably connected to the front side of the cross rod 2, a mounting plate 5 is fixedly arranged at the top end of the support 1, a limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the front side of the mounting plate 5, a sliding groove 7 is arranged inside the limiting rod 6, a limiting rail 8 is fixedly arranged at the top of the mounting plate 5, a cutting assembly 9 is slidably connected to the inside of the limiting rail 8, a guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged at the bottom of the mounting plate 5, and the limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the right side of the mounting plate 5, the guide wheel 10 is fixedly arranged on the left side of the mounting plate 5, the optical fiber guide wheel 10 is in transmission connection with a winding roller on the back of the driving gear 3, and the limiting rod 6 is matched with the winding roller;

the adjusting mechanism 4 comprises a driven gear 41, a screw 42 is fixedly installed at the top of the driven gear 41, a sliding block 43 is meshed on the front surface of the screw 42, the driven gear 41 and the screw 42 are both provided with two parts with the same specification, the two driven gears 41 are meshed with each other, the driven gear 41 on the right side is meshed with the driving gear 3, threads are arranged on the two sides of the sliding block 43 to be matched with the two screw 42, an installation block 44 is rotatably connected to the bottom of the sliding block 43, a rotating rod 45 is rotatably connected to the front surface of the installation block 44, a return spring 46 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, a top rod 47 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, a fixing plate 48 is fixedly installed on one side, close to the top rod 47, of the installation block 44 and the rotating rod 45 are rotatably connected to the same position of the installation block 44, one end of the return spring 46 is fixedly installed on the front surface of the sliding block 43, and the other end is fixedly installed on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, the two ejector rods 47 and the two fixing plates 48 are arranged and have the same specification, wherein the ejector rods 47 are fixedly arranged on the front side and the back side of the rotating rod 45, the positions of the fixing plates 48 and the ejector rods 47 are on the same straight line, and a certain angle is formed between the fixing plates 48 and the ejector rods 47;

cut off subassembly 9, including push rod 91, the left end fixed mounting of push rod 91 has return spring 92, push rod 91 is located spacing rail 8's inside, and with spacing rail 8 sliding connection, wherein push rod 91 right-hand member and spout 7 sliding connection, left end and return spring 92 fixed mounting, return spring 92's left end and spacing rail 8's inboard fixed connection, push rod 91's front rotation is connected with actuating lever 93, actuating lever 93's bottom fixed mounting has blade 94, actuating lever 93's left end rotates and is connected with fixed block 95, actuating lever 93 is provided with four altogether, rotation connects between two liang, and the centre of two adjacent actuating lever 93 rotates and connects, wherein the top of actuating lever 93 rotates with fixed block 95 and push rod 91 respectively to be connected, bottom and blade 94 fixed connection, be located the upside of optic fibre.

The working principle is that the produced optical fiber is firstly connected to the surface of a winding roller through a guide wheel 10 in a transmission way, a starting device drives a driving gear 3 to rotate so as to drive the winding roller to synchronously rotate, because a driven gear 41 is meshed with the driving gear 3 and the driven gear 41 is meshed with each other, threads are arranged on two sides of a sliding block 43 to be matched with two screw rods 42, the sliding block 43 and a rotating rod 45 are rotatably connected to the same position of an installation block 44, one end of a reset spring 46 is fixedly arranged on the front surface of the sliding block 43, the other end of the reset spring is fixedly arranged on the front surface of the rotating rod 45, a top rod 47 is fixedly arranged on the front surface and the back surface of the rotating rod 45, a fixed plate 48 and the top rod 47 are positioned on the same straight line, and a certain angle exists between the fixed plate 48 and the top rod 47, namely, the driving gear 3 rotates to drive the driven gear 41 to rotate, so as to drive the screw rods 42 to synchronously rotate, and enable the sliding block 43 to be matched with one screw rod 42 to move to one side, when the top rod 47 contacts the fixing plate 48, the rotating rod 45 and the return spring 46 drive the sliding block 43 to be matched with the other screw rod 42, so that the sliding block 43 moves in the opposite direction, and the optical fiber is uniformly wound;

when an optical fiber is wound on the winding roller to a certain amount, the optical fiber is contacted with the limiting rod 6, the limiting rod 6 is rotatably connected to the front surface of the mounting plate 5, the push rod 91 is located inside the limiting rail 8 and is slidably connected with the limiting rail 8, the right end of the push rod 91 is slidably connected with the sliding groove 7, the left end of the push rod is fixedly installed with the return spring 92, the left end of the return spring 92 is fixedly connected with the inner side of the limiting rail 8, namely, the limiting rod 6 rotates rightwards, so that the push rod 91 is pushed to move leftwards inside the limiting rail 8, the top end of the driving rod 93 is respectively rotatably connected with the fixing block 95 and the push rod 91, the bottom end of the driving rod 93 is fixedly connected with the blade 94 and is located on the upper side of the optical fiber, namely, the push rod 91 moves leftwards to drive the driving rod 93 to relatively rotate, so that the blade 94 moves downwards to cut off the optical fiber, and automatic quantitative winding of the optical fiber is completed.

In conclusion, when the winding device for manufacturing the optical fiber with the quantitative and uniform winding is used for winding, the driving gear 3 drives the winding roller to rotate to wind the optical fiber and simultaneously drive the screw rod 42 to synchronously rotate, the rotating rod 45, the reset spring 46, the ejector rod 47 and the fixing plate 48 drive the sliding block 43 to reciprocate, the uniform winding of the optical fiber is realized, the winding of the optical fiber caused by nonuniform winding is avoided, the utilization rate of the winding roller is greatly improved, the limiting rod 6 is pushed when the optical fiber is wound to be in contact with the limiting rod 6, the blade 94 is driven to move downwards through the push rod 91 and the driving rod 93 to cut the optical fiber, the automatic quantitative winding of the optical fiber is completed, and the standardized production of the optical fiber is realized.

It is noted that, herein, relational terms such as first and second, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

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.