EP1700786A1 - Modular dispensing system for packaging tablets in a pocketed web - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a frame (1) equipped with two motorization units for driving in rotation two rotating brushes above the trajectory of displacement of a strip. The frame has a vertical plate (100) provided with two series of fixation units permitting to removably integrate the plate with a dispensing assembly (3) channeled by gravity, with descending manifolds, and a horizontal brush case (2) combined with a chute (20), respectively.

Description

The present invention relates to the materials used in the field of packaging tablets, thereby meaning products of all kinds in discrete units, when these tablets are packaged distributed in the cells of a honeycomb support, generally called "blister" .

It is known in the prior art, in particular for the pharmaceutical industry, many packaging facilities to have tablets or equivalent units in the cells of a moving honeycomb strip, driven to scroll on itself below a feeding device bringing the tablets in bulk. The tablets are thus distributed, for example, in the cells of blister packs in a sheet of synthetic material receiving at another station a closure film (for example an aluminum protective film), as described for example in the patent US Pat. No. 3,464,182. It is known, on the one hand, of blistering machines of this type in which the advance of the strip is continuous (as it is chosen as an example in the remainder of the description to better illustrate the invention) and, on the other hand, machines in which the advance of the strip is discontinuous at the level of the deposit of the tablets, which is carried out in successive batches (as in the system described in the patent application French 2,759,669 ).

The known installations are divided into two major families, distinguished by the means of distribution of the tablets between the bulk feed device and the blister strip, according to whether it is carried out by stirring and spreading in rotary brush dispensers or by guiding the tablets along ramps in so-called channelized distribution devices. Distributors of each type are subject, for example, to patent applications French FR 2 759 346 , FR 2 759 668 , FR 2 759 669 , or US patents US 3,724,165 and US 4,733,520 , which describe with all the desirable details their constitution and their functioning for particular concrete forms of realization.

A constraint commonly encountered with known installations is the need to be able to process tablets of different sizes. In the pharmaceutical industry in particular, these formats are very varied, with pills, capsules and other tablets, which differ in size, shape, surface structure. Modern blistering shops must then have several machines and adjust them specifically for each change in quality of tablets to be treated. In particular, while a device depositing the tablets on the band moving in a housing supporting rotating stirring and spreading brushes optimally ensures filling of the cells for tablets of rounded format, such Filling mode becomes inoperative for tablets having a more elongated or rectangular shape, or flatter. For these latter formats, it is generally necessary to use one or the other of the ramp distribution modes, which make it possible to pre-position the tablets.

The present invention aims essentially to improve the conditions of packaging blister packs, so in particular to reduce construction and operating costs, to facilitate the processing of tablets of various sizes in the same installation, to increase the rate of production. It makes it possible to avoid the drawback of existing installations in which several specific heavy equipment is used, to be assembled and dismounted in the packaging line each time the mode of distribution or distribution of the tablets changes, and in which the assembly operations -Demontage require a lot of time and cause a stop of the conditioning detrimental to the productivity.

For this purpose the invention provides a modular tablet dispensing system for packaging tablets in a blister strip moving beneath a bulk tablet feeder, wherein a control member mounting frame. motorized has an attachment surface provided with at least two sets of fasteners for releasably mounting respectively at least two interchangeable distribution assemblies in functional relationship with each other with at least some of said motorized control elements for driving own means thereof for dispensing tablets between the bulk feeder and the blister strip.

Said interchangeable assemblies preferably comprise at least one rotating brush spread distribution unit succeeding one another above the path of the cellular strip and at least one channelized distribution assembly with guide rails depositing the tablets one after the other in the alveoluses in line of the alveolate band.

The system of the invention allows interchangeability between different distribution configurations thanks to the removable nature relative to the frame of the distribution elements in contact with the tablets. It is no longer necessary to perform a tedious disassembly of the entire distribution equipment. In addition, the purity requirements required in the pharmaceutical field are facilitated by avoiding contamination between tablets of different chemical compositions treated successively in the same machine.

The different components of the various interchangeable assemblies are mounted on the frame so as to operate in dispensing tablets from the bulk feed device to the scroll plane of the blister strip. The mounting surface of the frame therefore advantageously has a vertical component so as to support equipment extending from one to the other. It is configured to alternately receive the different distribution elements, removably, even if they are either in an inclined arrangement between two levels of different heights above the path of the blister strip as in a pipe assembly in ramps guiding the descent of the tablets by gravity, either in a low position longitudinally above of this trajectory as in a dispensing box with rotating stirring brushes and spreading tablets. Such a brush box, which preferably is itself with interchangeable brushes as described in the patent text FR 2 759 346 , is advantageously completed by an inlet chute of the tablets joining the bulk feed device, which makes it possible to keep the same mounting support thereof, as well as the same drive means of the blister strip, when you change the distribution mode.

To suit a maximum of distribution modes, the frame with its attachment surface is preferably adapted to alternately receive distribution sets with guide rails of several different types, to choose from among those in which the ramps are inclined almost to the vertical so that the tablets run easily through gravity, or those in which the ramps are less inclined but subjected to vibrations favoring the descent of the tablets, those in which the tablets are introduced into these ramps from the feed device. Bulk by rotating systems with blades or by vibrating spreaders with lyre as described in the patent texts already mentioned, or those in which the ramps are formed around a cylinder which is rotated to lower the tablets .

According to another of its advantageous features, the modular system according to the invention comprises rotary drive members actuated via motorization elements carried by the frame which are accessible through the attachment surface thereof to connect removably to the different rotating elements of the distribution sets. Such members are advantageously arranged at at least two distinct levels of height to rotate at a first level of height, or high level, the axis of at least one rotary element of the set with gravity distribution ramps, and at a second level of height, or low level because lower than the first level of height, the axis of at least one rotating brush falling from the distribution box by spreading.

According to another feature, the frame attachment surface is orthogonal and adjacent to a drive device of the cellular web in horizontal displacement, and a series of fasteners comprises at least two remote attachment points one of the other in the direction of advance of the band, to allow the assembly of what is known as a brush box, namely the main rotating brushes and their support in a distribution set spreading, placing it horizontally in a low position above the moving honeycomb strip, so that the rotating stirring and spreading brushes come into contact with it. Especially for the elements that are useful in this mode of distribution, but where appropriate also for those of the channelized distribution assemblies, it is advantageous for the fasteners of the elements on the frame, by screwing or otherwise, to be configured to allow adjustment in relative position, between the elements and the blister strip and / or between the elements of one to the other. It is thus possible to take full advantage of the flexibility of a brush box in that it makes it possible to alternately treat tablets which remain rounded, but more or less elongated or flat, and which may especially be of different sizes from one another. one batch from one production to another.

According to another particular feature, it is advantageously provided with independent fixing members for mounting a tablet-lying brush (in the plane of the receiving honeycomb strip) or with a helical threading brush used to remove the excess tablets by relative to the available cells, which are located downstream of downstream distribution ramps channeled or downstream of a brush box. The fasteners provided on the mounting surface of the frame are arranged in correspondence with the relative provisions of the alternative distribution elements that result.

In accordance with the invention, the means for fixing the elements of the distribution assemblies on the frame are chosen to facilitate assembly and disassembly operations which are convenient and fast. It is the same for the connecting means ensuring the connection between, on the same side of a wall having said attachment surface as the moving strip, the axes of the brushes. rotary drives and other elements to be rotated, and the drive shafts of the drive elements which are mounted in the frame on the other side of the attachment surface. From this point of view, it is preferable to use screwdriver type means operating by axial interlocking of a male end member in a member cooperating with a female end through said wall.

Other motorized control members advantageously complement the system according to the invention to ensure, through the mounting surface of the frame, an automatic control of the elements of distribution sets that require it. This is particularly the case for sensitive sensors at the level of the tablets that are part of a circuit for regulating the admission of the tablets to the inlet of a brush distribution box on the surface of the relative displacement strip.

According to other features of the invention, the mounting system of the interchangeable distribution sets is designed to facilitate quick adjustment of the elements that constitute them respectively. It is known that in order to adapt the installation to the treatment of each type of compound, it is desirable not only to modify the composition of the distribution assembly, but also to act on the operating parameters of the various elements participating in the process. distribution of the tablets to make them pass the total of the loose provision to disposition each in a cell of the blister strip. And as the same plant is generally required to periodically restart the processing of different series for compounds of a specific type, it is useful to record the parameters adapted to each type of compounds for reuse in each sequence and thus avoid trial and error that their setting requires during the first treatments of a type of compounds hitherto unknown.

In this sense, the invention advantageously provides to equip the frame with presence sensors which detect which model of distribution element has just been mounted in a situation appropriate to its operation on the attachment surface and which transmit the information to a computer controlling the installation that has pre-recorded data according to which it automatically calculates which motorization elements will then have to be started and which orders their operation accordingly. In addition, it is advantageous that for each distribution mode, there are stored in the memory of the control means, several series of operating parameters previously defined in correspondence with the adjustment possibilities suitable for each particular type of compounds to be treated. The computer is then programmed to automatically select the series of recorded parameters to correlate with the distribution elements whose presence has been detected by the sensors and to provide the information to an operator selecting the appropriate series from those proposed to him and giving the order of automatic implementation of the corresponding parameters. The parameters whose settings can thus be memorized preferably comprise at least the rotational speeds of the various rotary elements, including in particular the brushes of a brush box, the rotary drum of a rotary distributor, the blade cylinder of a apparatus for distributing tablets on admission into a downward-sloping element, the auxiliary brushes for laying down the flat tablets and for removing excess tablets or debris, as well as the vibrating powers of the vibrating elements, for example for adjust the speed of the tablets by their speed along a vibrating rail element.

• la figure 1 représente, en perspective, un mode de réalisation du système modulable de distribution selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente, en perspective, un mode de réalisation d'un bâti apte à être configuré selon différents modes de distribution ;
• les figures 3A et 3B représentent respectivement, en perspective, un ensemble à rampes de distribution pouvant être associé au bâti de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue en perspective d'une boîte de distribution pouvant être associé au bâti de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 montre un exemple de système selon l'invention ayant une configuration avec boîte de distribution ;
• la figure 6 montre un exemple de système selon l'invention ayant une configuration avec rampe de distribution.

The invention, with its features and advantages, will emerge more clearly from a reading of the description which will be made now with reference to the drawings below, in which:

• FIG. 1 represents, in perspective, an embodiment of the modular distribution system according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 represents, in perspective, an embodiment of a frame able to be configured according to different modes of distribution;
• Figures 3A and 3B respectively show, in perspective, a distribution manifold assembly that can be associated with the frame of Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of a distribution box that can be associated with the frame of FIG. 2;
• FIG. 5 shows an example of a system according to the invention having a configuration with a distribution box;
• FIG. 6 shows an example of a system according to the invention having a configuration with a distribution ramp.

In the example chosen to illustrate the invention, it is applied to the distribution of tablets in a blister pack of pharmaceutical tablets. These are received individually in the cells of a cellular strip (5) driven in translation on itself. The modular system comprises a frame (1) provided with motor elements (M1, M2) for rotatingly driving rotating brushes (B1, B2) above the path of movement of the strip (5). As illustrated in Figure 2, the frame may comprise or be associated with a horizontal displacement device (50) of the blister strip (5).

The frame has at least one attachment surface which is embodied by a vertical plate (100) disposed orthogonally here and adjacent to the displacement device. The frame (1) also comprises a support assembly (S) for supporting, in height relative to the strip (5) in displacement, a bulk feed device illustrated by a platform (P) for supplying tablets. . The plate (100) is provided with at least two series of fasteners (41, 42) for respectively securing a gravity-fed distribution assembly (3), with downward distribution ramps, and a brushbox ( 2), substantially horizontal, combined with a chute (20). These means of distribution and distribution are advantageously secured to the surface (100) of attachment of the frame removably, so that it is possible to easily achieve, or without tools, a rapid assembly and disassembly of the means of distribution and distribution specific to a tablet format. The specific form of the distribution modules can be very variable, provided they have fasteners adapted to the frame (1) for rapid assembly, these modules being attached to the frame by one and / or the other of the two sets of fasteners (41, 42) of the attachment surface (1) illustrated in Figure 1.

The modular system according to the invention as described makes it possible to fix the upper platform (P) by fast fastening means (11) as illustrated in FIG. 2. The support assembly (S) is at a height-adjustable position. and / or in depth. This support assembly (S) is for example connected to the attachment surface (100) of the frame (1) by means of adjustable screwing or clamping means on the one hand to move the support assembly (S) ) relative to the attachment surface (100) of the frame and on the other hand to lower more or less this support assembly (S). Adjusting the position of the support assembly (S) is effected for example by respective knobs (15, 16), a wheel for adjusting the height and the other to adjust the depth. A tablet inlet sleeve (10) upstream of the platform (P) may also be attached to the support assembly (S) via means (17) for fixing and height adjustment. of this sleeve (10). The platform can also be adjusted for a transverse direction admission (Figure 1) or an inlet in the longitudinal direction (Figure 2).

The platform (P) may comprise a rail for feeding the tablets into an introduction chute (20, 30) to the means (2, 3) for distributing these tablets. The platform (P) may comprise, in its downstream part, a suction system to evacuate pieces of broken products or the powder that may result from the friction and shocks of the products between them. The downstream end of the platform disposed above the upstream end of the means (2, 3) for distributing the tablets. These distribution means are described below.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the system according to the invention can be configured for particular non-rounded formats by detachably receiving a set (3) with downward distribution ramps, the ramps being vibrating or fixed. This assembly (3) comprises a guide (32) provided with longitudinal grooves (33), forming tablet ramps. The tablets can thus be deposited and oriented as desired in falling into the internal ramps of the guide (32). A hopper (31) is provided in this dispensing assembly (3) for receiving the tablets arriving through the tabletting chute (30) disposed therein. Alternatively, several chutes may be provided. The hopper (31) comprises an inclined piece or incline (36) downwards towards its downstream part and which can form one or more feed channels for the ramps of the vertical guide (32), this guide (32) being located in downstream of the hopper (31).

In one embodiment of the invention, at least one wall of the feed chutes disposed in the hopper (31) is shaped to form a funnel or constriction in the direction of the vertical guide (32). For example, constrictions are provided for several inclined chutes and are designed so that, in the downstream part of each chute, the tablets can be oriented only longitudinally with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the chutes and arranged one behind the other.

As illustrated in Figure 5, the hopper (31) forms a closed interior volume in which is incorporated a blade brush (B1), that is to say a rotating cylinder with flexible radial blades. This blade brush (6) is disposed above the vertical guide (32). The axis of the cylinder of the brush (B1) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the inclined slope (36). The cylinder, which comprises for example four flexible strips, is rotated in a specific direction (clockwise in the case of Figure 5) in which it pushes a portion of the tablets in the opposite direction to their progression towards the vertical guide ( 32).

As shown in Figure 1, the attachment surface (100) of the frame (1) comprises at least one fastener (41) at high level and at least one connecting member of male or female type. This connecting member, comprising, for example, a groove or slot (4) of a female endpiece, is arranged in height relative to the blister strip (5) for receiving and connecting a portion (35) extending the axis of the rotary brush (B1) for forming a cooperating male end, a motor element (M1) or rotation drive located high.

The cylinder with radial lamellae can ensure a regulation of the flow of tablets that pass through the inclined chutes, allowing only one tablet at a time to pass in the downstream part of the chutes. The laminated cylinder releases back all the superimposed tablets and passes downstream only the tablet located at the bottom of the hopper (31). Naturally, it is possible to provide as many inclined chutes as vertical ramps in the guide (32) at the outlet of the hopper. The ramps formed with the longitudinal grooves (33) are located in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the strip (5).

In one embodiment of the invention, a dust suction system (34) may be disposed at the inclined slope (36) to aspirate and discharge broken tablet pieces or powder that may result from friction or shocks products between them. The tablets retain their acquired orientation in the vertical ramps. Detection means (16), for example optical, may be provided in the distribution assembly (3) to detect the state of filling of the vertical guide (32).

According to the present invention, the set (3) of downward ramp distribution is easily fixed on at least one surface (100) for attaching the frame by a rapid connection device, for example of screwdriver type, to connect the brush to blades (B1) to a motor element (M1), fixing and centering elements (43) being provided to facilitate assembly / disassembly operations. The quick links type screwdriver are provided to cooperate each with a rotating slot disposed on said surface (100) for attachment of the frame (1). A knurled screw with quick coupler, arranged on the opposite side to the side through which the dispensing assembly (3) is fixed to the frame (1), allows the user to assemble and disassemble this assembly (3) without tools and with a great speed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a brush (B3) for bedding the tablets is arranged: above the moving honeycomb strip (5), downstream of the distribution ramp assembly (3) down. Placing the tablets in the cells of the strip (5) is thus facilitated.

The modular system according to the invention can incorporate another type of interchangeable dispensing equipment, for example in the form of a casing providing a direct and random way of inserting round-shaped tablets into the cells of the strip (5). ). With reference to FIG. 4, the system may comprise a removable distribution box (2) covering a portion of the moving strip (5). In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 4, the distribution box (2) is composed of a housing (21) open in its lower part and a distribution chute (20). The chute (20) conveys the tablets spilled from the platform to the inside of the housing (21). This housing (21) comprises for example between two and five brushes (B2) in a parallelepiped volume. The respective axes of the brushes (B2) are extended by fast links of the screwdriver type, that is to say the male parts (25, FIG. 4) having a substantially rectangular endpiece capable of engaging in a complementary groove (4, Figure 1).

As illustrated in Figure 4, the housing (21) may comprise fixing and centering elements (44), for example arranged at each end of the housing (21) and oriented towards the surface (100) of attachment. These elements (44) are fast type to handle and may simply consist of male elements, while a series of fasteners (42) comprising female-type attachment points, for example at least two attachment points , are provided in the attachment surface (100) to allow the dispensing box (2) to be fixed horizontally just above the moving web (5). The manipulation of these elements (44) can be carried out using knurled screws (46), the user having to manipulate two knobs (46) as shown in Figure 1 to secure the box (2). distribution to the frame (1). The quick links between male parts (25) extending the axis of the brushes (B2) then engage automatically in the associated grooves (4) of the frame (1).

In the example of FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing (21) comprises lateral projections at its two ends (22, 23), so that the housing (21) can be associated with a block (13) advanced relative to the rest of the attachment surfaces (100). This block (13, Figure 6) receives the end of the axes of the brushes (B2) and allows their driving in rotation, thanks to independent motors (M2). A dust suction nozzle (12) is provided laterally on the frame (1) and can communicate with a dust discharge channel disposed in the projecting portion of one end (22) of the housing, as shown in FIG. figure 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, the one or more fastening surfaces (100) for connecting the respective dispensing equipment comprise between four and eight screwdriver type quick links for connecting a respective drive member to the axis of the rotary brushes. (B1, B2, B3) to motor elements (M1, M2), which are for example independent motors.

The frame (1) used in the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 2, thus comprises rotational drive members actuated via the motorization elements (M1, M2) which are advantageously arranged at at least two distinct levels of height. (h1, h2). It is therefore possible thanks to this frame (1), to rotate at a first level of height, or high level (h1), the axis of at least one rotating brush (B1) of the assembly (3) to downward distribution ramps, and at a low level (h2) the axis of at least one rotating brush (B2) of said horizontal distribution box (2). A drive member disposed at this second height level (h2) can be used to rotate a brush (B3) to bed the tablets fed by the vertical guide (32) of the set (3) with distribution ramps .

As described, drive of the movable members of the interchangeable dispensing assemblies takes place through the attachment plate (100). In particular, the shafts of the drive motors have tips that are accessible through this wall to connect to the axes of the rotating elements. Apart from the accesses of this kind, this wall is advantageously full. In addition, each of the elements of the interchangeable assemblies which are in contact with the tablets is separated from the frame (1) by a vertical wall. This makes it possible, in particular, to isolate the brushes (B) from the attachment surface (100) and thus avoiding a diffusion of the chemical compounds which would cause risks of contamination from one type of tablet implemented to the other.

Claims (12)

Modular tablet dispensing system for packaging tablets in a blister strip (5) moving beneath a bulk tablet feeder, wherein a motor control element mounting frame (1) has an attachment surface (100) provided with at least two sets of fasteners for releasably mounting respectively at least two interchangeable distribution assemblies in functional relationship with each other with at least some of said motorized control elements for to use own means for distributing the tablets between the bulk feeder and the blister strip. A tablet dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said interchangeable assemblies comprise at least one rotating brush spreading assembly succeeding one another above the path of the blister strip and at least one channelized manifold distribution assembly. guiding depositing the tablets one after the other in cells in line of the blister strip. A tablet dispensing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame attachment surface has a vertical component so as to support equipment comprising the different components of the different interchangeable assemblies which mount on the frame (1). so as to be able to operate in dispensing of the tablets from the bulk feed device located at a relatively high level of the system to the plane of travel of the blister strip located at a relatively low level. A tablet dispensing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame supports at least one drive member (M1, M2) for rotatably driving rotating brushes (B1, B2) over the path of travel of the web ( 5), a support assembly (S) for supporting, in height relative to the moving web (5), a bulk tablet supply platform (P), the vertical component fastening surface having the at least two sets of fasteners (41, 42) for releasably securing at least two interchangeable distribution assemblies, including a downward distribution manifold channelized distribution assembly (3) and a spreading distribution assembly comprising a rotary brush box (2) substantially horizontal, supplemented by a feed chute (20) with a vertical component joining said platform. System according to claim 4, wherein the frame (1) comprises rotational drive members actuated via said drive elements (M1, M2) which are accessible through the attachment surface thereof to connect with each other. removably to the different rotary members of the distribution assemblies and arranged at at least two distinct levels of height (h1, h2) for rotating at a relatively high first height level (h1) the axis of at least one rotating brush ( B1) of the set with downward distribution ramps and at a second height level (h2) relatively low the axis of at least one rotating brush (B2) of said horizontal distribution box (2). System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said frame with its attachment surface is adapted to alternately receive distribution sets channeled with guide rails of several different types, to choose from among those in which the ramps are inclined almost vertically so that the tablets can travel easily by gravity, or those in which the ramps are less inclined but subjected to vibrations favoring the descent of the tablets, those in which the tablets are introduced into such ramps from the bulk feed device by rotary blade systems or by vibratory distributors, or those in which the ramps are arranged around a cylinder which is rotated to lower the tablets. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the attachment surface of the vertical component frame is adjacent to a horizontally displaceable belt drive device, and wherein a plurality of fasteners comprises at least two attachment points spaced from each other in the forward direction of the web, to allow mounting of a brush box supporting the series-mounted dispersion and spreading rotary brushes just above the moving web in a spreading distribution assembly, while another series of fasteners comprises at least two vertically spaced apart attachment points for mounting a tablet guide ramp in a channelized distribution assembly. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein element fasteners of the interchangeable dispensing assemblies are associated with relative position adjustment means between the elements and a plane of movement of the blister strip and / or between the elements from one to the other. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises mounting, fixing and operating means for a rotating tablet bed brush and / or a helical wire brush for removing excess tablets, which are located downstream of descending ramps belonging to a distribution system channelized and downstream of a brush box belonging to a spread distribution assembly. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein connecting means providing the connection between, on the same side of a wall (100) having said attachment surface as the moving web, the axes of the rotating brushes and the like. elements to be rotated, and the drive shafts of the drive elements which are mounted in the frame on the other side of said wall are advantageously made in the form of screwdriver type means operating by axial interlocking of a body to male end in a member cooperating with a female end through said wall. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is provided with presence sensors which detect which model of dispensing element has just been mounted in a situation appropriate to its operation on the attachment surface and which transmit the information to a control computer of the installation which has previously recorded data according to which it automatically calculates which drive elements will then have to be started and which controls their operation accordingly. System according to Claim 11, in which, for each spreading or ducting distribution mode, the control means have, in memory, several series of operating parameters previously defined in correspondence with the adjustment possibilities that are suitable for each particular type of operation. compounds to be packaged.

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