阅读说明：本技术 一种新材料生产轮胎时轮胎热成型设备 (Tire thermal forming equipment used in process of producing tire by using new material ) 是由 胡智勇 于 2020-11-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种成型设备,尤其涉及一种新材料生产轮胎时轮胎热成型设备。技术问题为提供一种自动上料,模具自动夹紧按压轮胎,全方位精准加热轮胎的新材料生产轮胎时轮胎热成型设备。本发明的技术方案是一种新材料生产轮胎时轮胎热成型设备,包括有：第一支撑架,第一支撑架上部设有驱动组件；成型组件,驱动组件上部设有成型组件；放置组件,驱动组件上部设有放置组件。本发明通过推动滑槽杆向下移动,带动旋转块转动,从而带动旋转槽块转动,从而带动第一滑块向内侧移动,进而带动轮胎模具向内侧移动夹紧并按压轮胎,达到轻松实现将轮胎按压成型的效果,操作简单快速。(The invention relates to a forming device, in particular to a tire thermal forming device used in the production of tires by using new materials. The technical problem is to provide a tire thermal forming device which can automatically feed, automatically clamp and press a tire by a mold, and comprehensively and accurately heat the tire when a new material is used for producing the tire. The invention has the technical scheme that the tire thermal forming equipment for producing the tire by using the new material comprises: the upper part of the first support frame is provided with a driving assembly; the upper part of the driving component is provided with a forming component; the placing component is arranged on the upper portion of the driving component. According to the tire pressing and forming device, the sliding groove rod is pushed to move downwards to drive the rotating block to rotate, so that the rotating groove block is driven to rotate, the first sliding block is driven to move inwards, the tire mold is driven to move inwards to clamp and press a tire, the effect of pressing and forming the tire is achieved easily, and the operation is simple and rapid.)

1. A tire thermal forming device for producing a tire by using a new material is characterized by comprising:

the upper part of the first support frame (1) is provided with a driving component (2);

the upper part of the driving component (2) is provided with a forming component (3);

the placing component (4) is arranged, and the placing component (4) is arranged at the upper part of the driving component (2).

2. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the drive unit (2) comprises:

the middle of the upper part of the first support frame (1) is connected with the sliding chute rod (202) in a sliding way;

the first spring (203) is connected between the sliding groove rod (202) and the upper side of the first support frame (1), and the first spring (203) is sleeved on the sliding groove rod (202);

the outer side of the sliding groove rod (202) is symmetrically and slidably connected with a first sliding rod (206);

the rotating block (204) is connected between the outer sides of the first sliding rods (206);

the rolling balls (205) are connected between the rotating block (204) and the first support frame (1) at intervals and in a uniform sliding manner, and the rolling balls (205) are also connected on the upper side of the rotating block (204) at intervals and in a uniform sliding manner;

the supporting frame (201) is connected between the upper sides of the balls (205) in a sliding manner;

the outer side of the rotating block (204) is uniformly connected with four first connecting rods (207) at intervals;

a rotary groove block (208) is connected between the upper sides of the first connecting rods (207).

3. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the forming assembly (3) comprises:

the outer side of the upper part of the first support frame (1) is uniformly connected with four support rods (301) at intervals;

the upper sides of the supporting rods (301) are connected with the sliding groove blocks (302), and arc-shaped battens are connected between the middle parts of the sliding groove blocks (302);

the first sliding blocks (303) are connected with the inside of the sliding groove blocks (302) in a sliding mode;

the inner sides of the lower parts of the first sliding blocks (303) are connected with second sliding rods (304), and the second sliding rods (304) are connected with the rotating groove blocks (208) in a sliding manner;

the outer sides of the upper parts of the first sliding blocks (303) are connected with the connecting blocks (305);

the inner sides of the upper parts of the connecting blocks (305) are connected with the tire molds (306);

and second connecting rods (307) are symmetrically connected between the sliding groove blocks (302) and the supporting frame (201).

4. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the placement unit (4) comprises:

the guide blocks (401), four guide blocks (401) are uniformly connected with the outer side of the upper part of the supporting frame (201) at intervals;

the upper parts of the guide blocks (401) are connected with first guide rods (402) in a sliding manner;

a placing table (404), wherein the placing table (404) is connected between the upper sides of the first guide rods (402);

and the second springs (403) are connected between the placing table (404) and the guide block (401), and the second springs (403) are sleeved on the first guide rod (402).

5. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a hold-down assembly (5), the hold-down assembly (5) comprising:

one side of the upper part of the sliding groove block (302) at one side is connected with the second support frame (501);

the air cylinder (502) is mounted on one side of the upper portion of the second supporting frame (501);

the lower side of a piston rod of the air cylinder (502) is connected with a pressure lever (503), and the pressure lever (503) is matched with the sliding groove rod (202);

the upper side and the lower side of the compression bar (503) are both connected with the stoppers (505), the upper stopper (505) is connected with a piston rod of the cylinder (502), and the lower stopper (505) is matched with the placing table (404);

the lower part of the pressure rod (503) is connected with the pressure block (504) in a sliding way;

and a third spring (506), wherein the third spring (506) is connected between the pressing block (504) and the upper side stop block (505), and the third spring (506) is sleeved on the pressing rod (503).

6. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that it also comprises a heating assembly (6), the heating assembly (6) comprising:

the middle part of the upper side of the sliding groove block (302) is symmetrically connected with the first supporting block (601);

the second guide rods (602) are connected inside the first supporting block (601) in a sliding manner;

a fourth spring (603) is connected between the second guide rod (602) and the outer side of the first supporting block (601), and the fourth spring (603) is sleeved on the second guide rod (602);

the push rods (604) are connected between the inner sides of each pair of second guide rods (602), and the push rods (604) are matched with the connecting blocks (305);

the inner parts of two sides of the push rod (604) are connected with a third sliding rod (605) in a sliding way;

the second supporting blocks (606) are connected between the upper sides of the adjacent third sliding rods (605);

the heating plate (607) is connected to the inner sides of the second supporting blocks (606);

a heating ring (608), wherein the heating ring (608) is connected to the inner side of the placing table (404) in a surrounding manner.

7. A tyre hot forming device when new material is used for producing tyres as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a limiting component (7), wherein the limiting component (7) is arranged between the middle part of the arc-shaped battens mutually connected with the chute block (302) and the second supporting block (606).

8. A tyre thermoforming apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the stop assembly (7) comprises:

the upper sides of the middle parts of the arc-shaped battens are connected with supporting groove blocks (701);

the inner parts of the supporting groove blocks (701) are connected with second sliding blocks (702) in a sliding mode, and the upper parts of the second sliding blocks (702) are connected with second supporting blocks (606) mutually;

and fifth springs (703) are symmetrically connected between the inner side of the second sliding block (702) and the supporting groove block (701).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a forming device, in particular to a tire thermal forming device used in the production of tires by using new materials.

Background

The tyre is a circular elastic rubber product which is assembled on various vehicles or machines and rolls in a grounding mode, scientists continuously research and innovate in order to meet the comfort, control stability and dynamic property of the automobile at the initial stage of the automobile, the scientists continuously promote the progress and innovation of the tyre industry, and the tyre needs to be molded in the production process in order to improve the friction force and the grip force between the tyre and the road surface.

The shaping of tire is handled when traditional new material production tire, rely on manual removal tire to a certain position after usually, manual mould of utilizing again, press the shaping with the tire, take away the tire afterwards again, this kind of method, through manual conveying tire, it is convenient inadequately, shaping treatment inefficiency, manual promotion mould presses the tire again, not only consume a large amount of time and physical power, only lean on simultaneously pressing, can not guarantee that the tire can be by fine pressing the shaping, influence the shaping effect of tire easily.

Therefore, the design of the automatic feeding device, the mold automatically clamps and presses the tire, and the tire thermal forming device has important significance when a new material for comprehensively and accurately heating the tire is used for producing the tire.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to overcome among the prior art manual material loading, inefficiency, the manual mould that promotes is pressed, consumes the manpower and can't guarantee the shortcoming of shaping quality simultaneously, and the technical problem is: the utility model provides an automatic material loading, mould self-holding press the tire, tire thermoforming equipment when the new material production tire of all-round accurate heating tire.

The technical scheme of the invention is as follows: a thermal forming device for a tyre during production of the tyre by using a new material comprises: the upper part of the first support frame is provided with a driving assembly; the upper part of the driving component is provided with a forming component; the placing component is arranged on the upper portion of the driving component.

Further, the driving assembly comprises: the middle of the upper part of the first support frame is connected with a sliding groove rod in a sliding manner; the first spring is connected between the sliding groove rod and the upper side of the first support frame and sleeved on the sliding groove rod; the outer sides of the sliding groove rods are symmetrically connected with first sliding rods in a sliding manner; the rotating block is connected between the outer sides of the first sliding rods; the rolling balls are connected between the rotating block and the first support frame in a uniformly-spaced sliding manner, and the rolling balls are also connected to the upper side of the rotating block in a uniformly-spaced sliding manner; the supporting frame is connected between the upper sides of the balls in a sliding manner; the outer side of the rotating block is uniformly connected with four first connecting rods at intervals; the rotary groove block is connected between the upper sides of the first connecting rods.

Further, the molding assembly comprises: the outer side of the upper part of the first support frame is uniformly connected with four support rods at intervals; the upper sides of the supporting rods are connected with the sliding groove blocks, and arc-shaped battens are connected between the middle parts of the sliding groove blocks; the inner parts of the sliding groove blocks are connected with first sliding blocks in a sliding manner; the inner sides of the lower parts of the first sliding blocks are connected with second sliding rods, and the second sliding rods are connected with the rotary groove blocks in a sliding manner; the outer sides of the upper parts of the first sliding blocks are connected with connecting blocks; the inner sides of the upper parts of the connecting blocks are connected with the tire molds; and the second connecting rods are symmetrically connected between the sliding groove blocks and the supporting frame.

Further, the placing component comprises: the outer side of the upper part of the supporting frame is uniformly connected with four guide blocks at intervals; the upper parts of the guide blocks are connected with first guide rods in a sliding manner; the placing table is connected between the upper sides of the first guide rods; the second springs are connected between the placing table and the guide blocks and sleeved on the first guide rods.

Further, still including pushing down the subassembly, push down the subassembly including: one side of the upper part of the sliding groove block at one side is connected with a second support frame; the air cylinder is mounted on one side of the upper part of the second support frame; the lower side of a piston rod of the air cylinder is connected with a pressure rod, and the pressure rod is matched with the sliding groove rod; the upper side stop block is connected with a piston rod of the air cylinder, and the lower side stop block is matched with the placing table; the lower part of the pressure rod is connected with a pressure block in a sliding way; and a third spring is connected between the pressing block and the upper side stop block and sleeved on the pressing rod.

Further, still including heating element, heating element is including: the middle part of the upper side of the sliding groove block is symmetrically connected with the first supporting block; the second guide rods are connected with the inner parts of the first supporting blocks in a sliding manner; the fourth springs are connected between the second guide rod and the outer side of the first supporting block and sleeved on the second guide rod; push rods are connected between the inner sides of each pair of second guide rods and are matched with the connecting blocks; the inner parts of two sides of the push rod are connected with a third slide bar in a sliding way; the second supporting blocks are connected between the upper sides of the adjacent third sliding rods; the inner sides of the second supporting blocks are connected with heating plates; the heating ring is connected with the inner part of the upper side of the placing table in a surrounding mode.

Further, still including spacing subassembly, spacing subassembly sets up between the arc stuff middle part and the second supporting shoe of spout piece interconnect.

Further, spacing subassembly is including: the upper sides of the middle parts of the arc-shaped battens are connected with the supporting groove blocks; the inner parts of the supporting groove blocks are connected with second sliding blocks in a sliding manner, and the upper parts of the second sliding blocks are connected with second supporting blocks; and the fifth springs are symmetrically connected between the inner sides of the second sliding blocks and the supporting groove blocks.

The beneficial effects are that:

1. the invention achieves the effect of placing and conveying the tire by placing the tire on the placing platform, pressing the placing platform downwards and moving the tire to the heat treatment position.

2. According to the tire pressing and forming device, the sliding groove rod is pushed to move downwards to drive the rotating block to rotate, so that the rotating groove block is driven to rotate, the first sliding block is driven to move inwards, the tire mold is driven to move inwards to clamp and press a tire, the effect of pressing and forming the tire is achieved easily, and the operation is simple and rapid.

3. According to the invention, the air cylinder is started, the press rod and the press block are pushed to move downwards under the action of the piston rod of the air cylinder, the press block pushes the placing table to move downwards to the lowest side and then to be supported and fixed, then the press rod continues to move downwards, the slide groove rod is pushed to move downwards, and finally the tire mold is driven to move inwards to clamp and press the tire, so that the effect of automatically pushing the tire and the slide groove rod to move downwards is achieved, the material is automatically fed, the tire mold is automatically driven to clamp and press the tire, and a large amount of manpower is saved.

4. According to the invention, the tire is placed on the placing table, the heating ring heats the tire from the inner side, the connecting block moves towards the inner side to drive the push rod to move towards the inner side, and the third slide bar drives the second supporting block to move towards the inner side, so that the heating plate is pushed to move towards the inner side to be in contact with the tire and heat the tire from the outer side, the effect of automatically heating the tire in all directions is achieved, the tire mold is assisted to press and form the tire better, and the tire forming quality is ensured.

5. The second sliding block is driven to continuously slide in the supporting groove block through the movement of the second supporting block, so that the effect of guiding the movement of the heating plate is achieved, the heating plate can be accurately heated with the tire, and the effect of heating the tire is ensured.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of another angle according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first partial structure according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a second partial structure diagram and a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a third partial structural schematic view and a sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fourth partial structure of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a fifth partial structure according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a schematic structural view and a sectional view of a sixth portion of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram and a cross-sectional view of a seventh partial structure according to the present invention.

In the reference symbols: 1-first support frame, 2-drive assembly, 201-support frame, 202-chute bar, 203-first spring, 204-rotation block, 205-ball, 206-first slide bar, 207-first connecting bar, 208-rotation groove block, 3-forming assembly, 301-support bar, 302-chute block, 303-first slide block, 304-second slide bar, 305-connecting block, 306-tire mold, 307-second connecting bar, 4-placing assembly, 401-guide block, 402-first guide bar, 403-second spring, 404-placing table, 5-pressing assembly, 501-second support frame, 502-cylinder, 503-pressing bar, 504-pressing block, 505-stopper, 506-third spring, 6-heating component, 601-first supporting block, 602-second guide rod, 603-fourth spring, 604-push rod, 605-third slide rod, 606-second supporting block, 607-heating plate, 608-heating ring, 7-limiting component, 701-supporting groove block, 702-second sliding block and 703-fifth spring.

Detailed Description

The invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures and the embodiments.

Example 1

A thermal forming device for a tire during production of a tire by a new material is shown in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and comprises a first support frame 1, a driving assembly 2, a forming assembly 3 and a placing assembly 4, wherein the driving assembly 2 is arranged on the upper portion of the first support frame 1, the forming assembly 3 is arranged on the upper portion of the driving assembly 2, and the placing assembly 4 is arranged on the upper portion of the driving assembly 2.

The driving assembly 2 comprises a supporting frame 201, a sliding groove rod 202, a first spring 203, a rotating block 204, a ball 205, a first sliding rod 206, a first connecting rod 207 and a rotating groove block 208, the middle of the upper portion of the first support frame 1 is connected with a sliding groove rod 202 in a sliding mode, a first spring 203 is connected between the sliding groove rod 202 and the upper side 1 of the first support frame, the first spring 203 is sleeved on the sliding groove rod 202, the outer side of the middle portion of the sliding groove rod 202 is connected with a first sliding rod 206 in a sliding mode in a bilateral symmetry mode, a rotating block 204 is connected between the outer sides of the first sliding rod 206, a plurality of balls 205 are connected between the rotating block 204 and the first support frame 1 in an evenly sliding mode at intervals, balls 205 are also connected on the upper side of the rotating block 204 in an evenly sliding mode at intervals, a support frame 201 is connected between the upper sides of the balls 205 in a sliding mode, four first connecting rods 207 are connected to the.

The forming assembly 3 comprises a support rod 301, a sliding groove block 302, a first sliding block 303, a second sliding rod 304, a connecting block 305, a tire mold 306 and a second connecting rod 307, wherein four support rods 301 are uniformly connected to the outer side of the upper portion of the first support frame 1 at intervals, the sliding groove block 302 is connected to the upper side of the support rod 301, arc-shaped battens are connected between the middle portions of the sliding groove blocks 302, the first sliding block 303 is connected to the inner portion of the sliding groove block 302 in a sliding mode, the second sliding rod 304 is connected to the inner side of the lower portion of the first sliding block 303 in a sliding mode, the second sliding rod 304 is connected to the rotating groove block 208 in a sliding mode, the connecting block 305 is connected to the outer side of the upper portion of the first sliding block 303 in a sliding mode, the tire mold.

The placing assembly 4 comprises guide blocks 401, first guide rods 402, second springs 403 and a placing table 404, the four guide blocks 401 are uniformly connected to the outer side of the upper portion of the supporting frame 201 at intervals, the first guide rods 402 are connected to the upper portions of the guide blocks 401 in a sliding mode, the placing table 404 is connected between the upper sides of the first guide rods 402, the second springs 403 are connected between the placing table 404 and the guide blocks 401, and the second springs 403 are sleeved on the first guide rods 402.

When a user needs to perform a molding process of a new material tire, an unformed tire is placed on the placing table 404, the placing table 404 is pressed downwards, the second spring 403 is compressed, when the tire moves downwards to the lowest side, the sliding groove rod 202 is pushed to move downwards, the first spring 203 is compressed, the first sliding rod 206 and the rotating block 204 are driven to rotate, the rotating groove block 208 is driven to rotate through the first connecting rod 207, the second sliding rod 304 is driven to slide inwards, the first sliding block 303 and the connecting block 305 are driven to move inwards, the tire mold 306 is driven to move inwards, the fixed tire is clamped, the tire is pressed and molded under the action of the tire mold 306, after the tire is molded, the sliding groove rod 202 is not pushed any more, under the action of the first spring 203, the sliding groove rod 202 is pushed to move upwards, the first sliding rod 206 and the rotating block 204 are driven to rotate reversely, and the rotating groove block 208 is driven to rotate reversely through the first connecting rod 207, make second slide bar 304 move to the outside, drive first slider 303 and connecting block 305 move to the outside to drive tire mould 306 and move to the outside, loosen the tire, loosen the hand that promotes placing platform 404 again, under the effect of second spring 403, promote to place platform 404 rebound, resume to original state, can take off fashioned tire, so reciprocal, reach the light effect of pressing the shaping with the tire, easy operation is quick.

Example 2

On the basis of embodiment 1, as shown in fig. 7, 8 and 9, the device further comprises a pressing assembly 5, the pressing assembly 5 comprises a second support frame 501, an air cylinder 502, a pressing rod 503, a pressing block 504, a stop block 505 and a third spring 506, the second support frame 501 is connected to the rear side of the upper portion of the rear sliding chute block 302, the air cylinder 502 is mounted on the front side of the upper portion of the second support frame 501, the pressing rod 503 is connected to the lower side of the piston rod of the air cylinder 502, the stop blocks 505 are connected to the upper and lower sides of the pressing rod 503, the upper stop block 505 is connected to the piston rod of the air cylinder 502, the lower stop block 505 is matched with the sliding chute rod 202, the pressing block 504 is connected to the lower portion of the pressing rod 503 in a sliding manner, the third spring 506 is connected between the pressing block 504 and the.

Starting the air cylinder 502, pushing the pressing rod 503 and the pressing block 504 to move downwards under the action of the piston rod of the air cylinder 502, continuing to push the placing table 404 to move downwards after the pressing rod 503 is contacted with the placing table 404, when the placing table 404 and the tire move downwards to the lowest side, the pressing block 504 is pushed by the placing table 404 and does not move any more, at this time, the lower side stopper 505 is just contacted with the sliding groove rod 202, the pressing rod 503 is pushed to continue to move downwards along with the continuous downward pushing of the piston rod of the air cylinder 502, the third spring 506 is compressed, the sliding groove rod 202 is pushed to move downwards through the lower side stopper 505, finally the tire mold 306 moves inwards to clamp and press the tire to form, after the tire is formed, under the action of the piston of the air cylinder 502, the pressing rod 503 is driven to move upwards, the third spring 506 gradually extends backwards, the pressing rod 503 moves upwards to drive the lower side stopper 505 to move far away from, the tire is loosened and restored to the original state, after the third spring 506 is restored to the original state, the pressing rod 503 continues to move upwards, the pressing block 504 is driven to move upwards to the original position through the lower side stop block 505, the pressing block 504 is far away from the placing table 404, the placing table 404 is pushed to move upwards under the action of the second spring 403, the tire can be taken down, the actions are repeated, the effect of automatically pushing the tire and the chute rod 202 to move downwards is achieved, the tire is automatically loaded, the tire mold 306 is automatically driven to clamp and press the tire, and a large amount of manpower is saved.

Also comprises a heating component 6, the heating component 6 comprises a first supporting block 601, a second guide rod 602, a fourth spring 603 and a push rod 604, third slide bar 605, second supporting block 606, hot plate 607 and heating ring 608, the equal symmetric connection in middle part of spout piece 302 upside has first supporting block 601, inside all sliding connection has second guide bar 602 of first supporting block 601, all be connected with fourth spring 603 between second guide bar 602 and the first supporting block 601 outside, fourth spring 603 overlaps on second guide bar 602, all be connected with push rod 604 between every pair of second guide bar 602 insides, push rod 604 and connecting block 305 are mutually supported, inside all sliding connection has third slide bar 605 in push rod 604 both sides, all be connected with second supporting block 606 between the adjacent third slide bar 605 upside, the inside hot plate 607 that all is connected with of second supporting block 606, place the inside wraparound formula of platform 404 upside and be connected with heating ring 608.

Placing the tire on the placing table 404, heating the tire from the inner side under the action of the heating ring 608, moving the connecting block 305 to the inner side, pushing the push rod 604 to the inner side, driving the second guide rod 602 to move to the inner side, compressing the fourth spring 603, moving the push rod 604 to the inner side, driving the second support block 606 to move to the inner side through the third slide rod 605, driving the heating plate 607 to move to the inner side to contact with the tire, heating the tire from the outer side, heating the tire in all directions, and molding under the clamping and pressing of the tire mold 306, after the tire is molded, moving the connecting block 305 to the outer side away from the push rod 604, pushing the second guide rod 602 and the push rod 604 to the outer side under the action of the fourth spring 603, driving the second support block 606 to move to the outer side through the third slide rod 605, driving the heating plate 607 to move away from the, the tire is taken down from the placing table 404, the tire is not heated any more, the molded tire is obtained, the process is repeated, the effect of automatically heating the tire in all directions is achieved, the tire mold 306 is assisted to press the tire to be molded better, and the quality of tire molding is guaranteed.

The limiting device is characterized by further comprising a limiting component 7, wherein the limiting component 7 comprises a supporting groove block 701, a second sliding block 702 and a fifth spring 703, the supporting groove block 701 is connected to the upper side of the middle of the arc-shaped batten, the second sliding block 702 is connected to the inside of the supporting groove block 701 in a sliding mode, the upper portion of the second sliding block 702 is connected with the second supporting block 606 in an interconnecting mode, and the fifth spring 703 is symmetrically connected between the inner side of the second sliding block 702 and the supporting groove block 701.

When the second supporting block 606 moves to the inner side, the second sliding block 702 is driven to move to the inner side, the fifth spring 703 is compressed, when the second supporting block 606 moves to the outer side, the second sliding block 702 is pushed to move to the outer side under the action of the fifth spring 703, the original state is recovered, the actions are repeated, the effect of moving and guiding the heating plate 607 is achieved, the heating plate 607 can be accurately heated with the tire, and the effect of heating the tire is guaranteed.

It should be understood that the above description is for exemplary purposes only and is not meant to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the claims herein.