Abstract:
A dunnage machine and system, and a method of producing dunnage. The dunnage machine can have rotatable forming members with recesses formed thereon. Stationary protruding members can extend into the recesses. A cutting system is provided for cutting dunnage produced by the dunnage machine or system, and a lock mechanism is also provided for locking the cutting system when a cover is removed from the dunnage machine.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/107,857, filed May 13, 2011, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/334,507, filed May 13, 2010, and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/347,457, filed May 24, 2010, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for producing materials used to fill voids in containers and packages. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    US Patent Application Pub. No. 20090258775 (also entitled “Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Producing Cushioning Material”), discloses a dunnage machine, or system, for use in producing cushioning material, and is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The system disclosed in that application comprises a motor that drives a plurality of forming members. Each of the forming members has fins for use in crumpling sheet material and pulling the sheet material through the system to form cushioning material. 
         [0006]    As the forming members pull the sheet material from a feed system, each portion of the sheet material can pass through a funnel-like passageway with converging sidewalls before reaching the forming members. The sheet material can thus be fed to the system and be laterally folded, rolled or compressed as it passes through the funnel-like passageway to decrease a horizontal width of the sheet material. After being laterally folded, the sheet material reaches the forming members where it is vertically compressed or crumpled by passing between the horizontally aligned forming members, as the fins of the forming members impact the sheet material from above and below the sheet material. Cushioning product, or cushioning material, is thus generated. 
         [0007]    Although forming members, such as those disclosed in US Pat. App. Pub. No. 20090258775, are effective in generating cushioning material, on some occasions, the cushioning material can “jam” or be caught near an outlet or exit region of the forming members. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that since the movement and configuration of the cushioning material has some random characteristics near the exit region of the forming members, in some circumstances, the cushioning material can momentarily accumulate at the exit region, which is a confined passageway. When such accumulation occurs, movement of further incoming cushioning material can be restricted, causing the cushioning material to pack and sometimes “jam.” In such cases, an operator typically releases the “jam” by manually removing the packed cushioning material from the exit region. 
         [0008]    In addition, as cushioning material is generated and leaves the exit region of the dunnage machine, it can be cut to a desired length, either automatically or manually. One way in which the cushioning material can be cut is by mounting a blade near an exit region of the dunnage machine. An operator can grab an end of the cushioning material and force it across the fixed blade edge. Although such a fixed-blade cutter can, or leveraged manual cutters that move blades using manual force, can provide cost advantages over automated cutters operated by motors, physical exertion of the operator can contribute to fatigue. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a dunnage machine is provided having rotatable forming members. The forming members can be formed with circumferential recesses that extend about a circumference of the forming members. An exit chute can be mated with the forming members, through which dunnage is dispensed from the forming members. The exit chute can comprise protruding tongues or members that extend into the recesses. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a dunnage machine can be equipped with a manually operated cutter. The cutter can comprise elongated frame members that are pivotable about one end thereof. A handle surface can extend between the elongated frame members near a distal end portion of the elongated frame members. The handle surface can be planar and can be wide in comparison with a maximum width of the elongated frame members. The handle can be depressed to actuate a cutting operation, descending a blade against dunnage material dispensed from the exit chute. When the handle is no longer depressed, a biasing member can act on the elongated frame members to return the handle surface to a resting position. The resting position of the handle can be proximate, or near, an exit region of the dunnage machine. In some embodiments, the resting position of the handle is forward of the dunnage machine, and proximate an exit opening of the dunnage machine. 
         [0011]    Also, a lock mechanism can be provided for the cutter, which can also lock a cover of the dunnage machine when the cutter is operable. For example, biasing members can be connected to pivot arms, wherein when the pivot arms are pivoted to a downward position, the biasing members bias a catch member toward a cross member that is fixedly attached to the elongated frame members. Catch tabs on the catch member can couple with the cross member, to lock the elongated frame members from being depressed, thereby locking the blade so that I cannot be operated. Also, when the pivot arms are pivoted to an upward position, the biasing member can bias the catch member against a cover of the dunnage machine to lock an otherwise removable cover on the dunnage machine from being removed when the cutter is being operated, which can provide extra safeguards for an operator (provided that proper procedures are otherwise followed). 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a dunnage machine for an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a top cover portion of the dunnage machine removed for purposes of illustration. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper forming member, exit chute and blade mount of the dunnage machine as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a cross sectional side view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional side view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 1A , as viewed from an opposite side from  FIG. 2A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a cutaway lateral cross sectional view of a forming member shown in  FIG. 2B , as viewed from line  2 C- 2 C in  FIG. 2B . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 1 , with both a top cover portion and a bottom cover portion of the dunnage machine removed for purposes of illustration. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 3 , as viewed from an angle that is rotated about  90  degrees horizontally from  FIG. 3 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the dunnage machine as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 6A  is a simplified plan view of a top wall or bottom wall of an exit chute of an embodiment of the present disclosure combined with a cutaway plan view of a forming member, with the exit chute disposed in mated fashion with the forming member as it is intended to be installed in some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6B  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the exit chute of the present disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6C  is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the exit chute of the present disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6D  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the exit chute of the present disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6E  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the exit chute of the present disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6F  is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of the exit chute of the present disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of an exit chute disposed in mated fashion with an embodiments of the forming members of the present disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7B  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of an exit chute disposed in mated fashion with an embodiment of the forming members of the present disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7C  is a bottom perspective view of the exit chute and forming members in  FIG. 7B . 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a cutter of the present disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a top perspective view the cutter of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a front elevation view of the cutter of  FIG. 8  installed on an embodiment of a dunnage machine of the present disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 1A , further comprising a cutter lock placed in an unlocked position, with a catch member of the cutter lock disposed in a lifted position above a top cover of the dunnage machine. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 11 , with the catch member disposed in an initial clearance position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the dunnage machine of  FIG. 11 , with the cutter lock placed in a locked position wherein the catch member is disposed in a lowered position and catch tabs are disposed beneath a cross bar that is fixedly attached to elongated frame members of the cutter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of this disclosure. However, upon reviewing this disclosure one skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. In other instances, well-known or widely available machine parts (such as, for example, drive-belts, gears and motor parts) have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the descriptions of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0036]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described for purposes of illustration, in the context of use with paper-based sheet materials for dunnage formation. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate upon reviewing this disclosure, other materials may also be suitable. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B &amp;  2 A, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a dunnage machine  2  is provided having two forming members  22 ,  24 . The forming members can include an upper forming member  22 , and a lower forming member  24 , and the forming members can be horizontally axially aligned. Additionally, a base plate  38  can be provided having mounting plates  42  attached thereto. The mounting plates  42  can be fixedly attached to the base plate  38  and can extend in substantially vertical fashion upward from the base plate  38 . The upper and lower forming members  22 ,  24  can be rotatably attached to the mounting plates  42 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B &amp;  2 A, each of the forming members  22 ,  24  can have fin members  23 ,  25 . The forming members  22 ,  24  can be positioned in connection with a motor driving gear assembly (not illustrated) of the present embodiment, such that the respective fin members do not collide during rotation. That is, for example, when the forming members rotate, the positions of the fins on the relative forming members are off-set in phase (See, e.g.,  FIG. 2A ). When sheet material  60  is fed to the forming members  22 ,  24  in the direction of arrow “A” (See, e.g.,  FIG. 1A ), the dunnage machine  2  can be operated to cause the forming members  22 ,  24  to rotate in the directions of arrows “B” and “C” (See, e.g.,  FIG. 2A ). The forming members  22 ,  24  interactively process the sheet material to crumple it and to pull the sheet material in direction “A” to feed it through the dunnage machine  2 . The fin members  23 ,  25  can perform the functions of forming and pulling the sheet material through the dunnage machine  2  for continuous processing. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A,  3 ,  4  and  7 A-C, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, an exit chute  110  is provided having a top wall  112 , bottom wall  113 , and side walls  114  to provide a guide for the cushioning material  62  in the exit region  111  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 2A ), immediately downstream of the forming members  22 ,  24 . The sidewalls  114  of the chute  110  define the lateral boundaries of an exit region  111  (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 2A ,  3 ,  4  and  7 A-C) for the cushioning material  62  that exits from the forming members  22 ,  24 . The top wall  112  and bottom wall  113  can define the upper and lower vertical boundaries of the exit region  111  (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 1A  ,  2 A,  7 B &amp;  7 C), for the cushioning material  62  exiting the forming members  22 ,  24 . 
         [0040]    In some embodiments, the side walls  114  of the exit chute  110  can be attached to the respective mounting plates  42  of the dunnage machine  2  (See, e.g.,  FIGS. 1A ,  3  &amp;  4 ) so as to, in combination with the mounting plates  42 , completely define the lateral boundaries of the cushioning material  62  in the exit region  111  near the forming members  22 ,  24 . 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, both the top wall  112  and the bottom wall  113  are laterally wider near the forming members  22 ,  24  with the lateral edges of the walls  112 ,  113  being closer together further from the forming members  22 ,  24 , as best seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  7 B and  7 C. The bottom wall  113  can have generally the same configuration as the top wall  112 . 
         [0042]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 7A &amp; 7B , in some embodiments of the present disclosure, both the upper forming member  22  and lower forming member  24  each have two circumferential recesses  122 ,  124 . In  FIGS. 1B ,  3  &amp;  4 , the circumferential recesses  122 ,  124  are only shown for upper forming member  22 , however, the lower forming member  24  can have the same or substantially similar circumferential recesses  122 ,  124 . The circumferential recesses  122 ,  124  can extend about a circumference of the forming members  22 ,  24 .  FIG. 2C  illustrates a cut-away cross sectional view of the upper forming member  22 , shown along line  2 C- 2 C of  FIG. 2B , wherein each of the circumferential recesses  122 ,  124  can have a sectional contour that is rectangular in shape at a radially inner end portion thereof. This can also be seen in  FIG. 7A . Also, each fin  23  of the upper forming member  22  can be “cut-out” or include a gap  23 ′ above each circumferential recess  122 ,  124 , to fully expose the corresponding circumferential recess  122 ,  124 . Each circumferential recess  122 ,  124  thus not only extends radially inward through the fins  23 , but also past the surface  22 ′ of the forming member  22 . The fins  25  of the lower forming member  24  can be provided with the same, or substantially similar, structure as the fins  23  of the upper forming member  22 , with corresponding gaps provided in the fins  25  above the circumferential recesses  122 ,  124  located on the lower forming member  24 . 
         [0043]    As best seen in  FIGS. 6A-6F  and  7 A-C, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, both the top wall  112  and the bottom wall  113  of the chute  110  can be formed with lateral protruding strips or tongues  118 , that can be positioned on the same plane as the walls  112 ,  113 , and can protrude inward from an inward edge  117  of each wall  112 ,  113 , to extend into the circumferential recesses  122 ,  124  of the forming members  22 ,  24 . If the fins  23 ,  25  are partially aligned with the tongues  118 , due to rotation of the forming members  22 ,  24  (such as is also shown, for example, in FIGS.  1 B and  7 A-C), the tongues  118  can extend through the gaps on the fins  23 ,  25 , such as the gaps  23 ′ shown in  FIG. 2C , o gaps  25 ′ in  FIG. 7C , can extend radially inward past the surfaces  22 ′,  24 ′ of the forming members  22 ,  24  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 7B ). The tongues  118  can have a rectangular shape to fit within the gaps of the fins  23 ,  25  and the circumferential recesses  122 ,  124 , such that the edges of the tongues  118  can be disposed in close proximity to the inside walls of the gaps  23 ′,  25 ′ and circumferential recesses  122 ,  124 . 
         [0044]    The inwardly extending tongues  118  of the top wall  112  and bottom wall  113  of the chute  110  can help reduce any potential jamming of the cushioning material  62  at the exit region  111  of the dunnage machine  2 . Without being bound by theory, the inventors hereof believe that reduced jamming tendency that can be imparted by the embodiments of the present invention is, in part, due to the fact that the sheet material  60  of the present disclosure, encounters the inside surface of the tongues  118  even while the sheet material is still between the forming members  22 ,  24 . In other words, the tongues  118  help guide the direction of movement of the cushioning material  62  toward the exit region  111  before the cushioning material  62  even fully exits past the forming members  22 ,  24 . 
         [0045]    As best seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cutter  200  is provided having blade  202 , connected to a blade mount  204 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the cutter  200  as installed on a dunnage machine  2  embodiment of the present disclosure, with a top cover of the dunnage machine removed so that the blade is visible. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  8 - 10 , the blade mount  204  is connected to a slider bar  210 , which is slidably attached to a track  206 . Referring to  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B , each of the two end portions of the slider bar  210  are disposed within a generally vertically aligned slit  208 , with the two slits  208  each being formed between a first track portion  212  and second track portion  214 . 
         [0047]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  8 - 10 , two cutter arms  216  are provided, with top end portions of the cutter arms  216  being pivotably connected to opposite end portions of the slider bar  210 , via pivotable connectors  218 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 9 , bottom end portions of the cutter arms  216  are pivotably connected to a lateral bar  220 , or lateral member, with the lateral bar  220  being fixedly attached at each end to an elongated frame member  222  of a handle structure  224 . The elongated frame members  222  can be disposed in parallel alignment with one another, and can each be povitably connected to a fixed point  228  (relative to the dunnage machine  2 ) at a rear end portion of the frame members  222 . A coil spring  226  can also being attached to each of the elongated frame members  222 , proximate the fixed point  228  to which the frame members  222  are pivotably connected. The coil springs  226  can bias the frame members  222  in the rotational direction illustrated by arrow “D” in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 9 , as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, when a user (operator) presses a surface  230  of handle structure  224  downward, to bias an end portion of the handle structure downward in the direction of arrow “F,” the elongated frame members  222  pivot generally in the direction of arrow “F,” thus causing the cutter arms  216  to descend, pulling the blade  202  downward. The blade  202  then can descend until it comes into contact with cushioning material  62  below the blade  202 , to force the cushioning material against a lower surface  232  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 8 ), to cut the cushioning material. Referring back to  FIG. 1A , when the operator releases the handle structure  224 , the coil spring  226  biases the elongated frame members  222  in the direction of arrow “D,” opposite to the direction in which the operator pressed to achieve the cut, and the blade  202  can thus ascend automatically to reset into a ready position, or resting position, above the cushioning material  62  so that the cushioning material  62  can again pass under the blade  202 . 
         [0049]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure, the position of the surface  230  of the handle structure  224  is positioned past an end portion of the dunnage machine  2 , forward of a dispensing or exit region of the dunnage machine, away from the fixed point  228  and blade  202  to provide torque for a user of the cutter  200  in operating the cutter. The forward location also provides easy access to an operator while cutting dunnage. Furthermore, it is noted that the surface  230  can be planar and/or horizontally aligned to provide an expansive area upon which an operator can place weight when making a cut to absorb maximum force at a reduced pressure on the surface of an operator&#39;s body. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the surface  230  is padded to further reduce wear on the operator. 
         [0050]    As best seen in  FIGS. 11-13 , in some embodiments of the present invention, a cutter lock  233  is provided having a catch member  234 , which can be a rigid lateral member, such as a horizontally disposed bar or strip, and a pair of pivot arms  235  connected to the catch member  234 . Each end portion of the catch member  234  is connected to a first end portion of one of the pivot arms  235 . Each second end portion of each pivot arm  235  is, in turn, pivotably connected to a separate pivot point  240  on, for example, a bottom cover of the dunnage machine  2 . A pair of catch tabs  236  extend outward from the catch member  234  at spaced apart locations on the catch member  234 . The catch tabs  236  extend away from the catch member  234  in generally perpendicular fashion with respect to the pivot arms  235 , or in an axis perpendicular to an axis of the pivot arms  235 . In a related embodiment, the catch member  234  may have one, two or more catch tabs  236 . In still another embodiment, the one or more catch tabs  236  may be located in another location on the dunnage machine  2 , such as the cross bar  242 . 
         [0051]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cutter lock  233  can be placed in an unlocked position by manually pivoting the pivot arms  235  until the catch member  234  is positioned snugly above a top cover of the dunnage machine  2 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . In that unlocked position, the catch member  234  can prevent the top cover of the dunnage machine  2  from being lifted since it is disposed snugly against an upper surface of the top cover of the dunnage machine  2  and provides resistance against an upward force because the ends of the catch member  234  are connected to the pivot arms  235 . In an unlocked position, the pivot arms  235  can be oriented substantially vertically or in a position sufficient to place the catch member  234  in a position to prevent the top cover of the dunnage machine  2  from being lifted or opened. A pair of coil springs  238  can each be fixedly attached to the bottom cover of the dunnage machine  2 , with each coil spring  238  also having an opposite end connected to a proximate end portion of one of the pivot arms  235 . In the unlocked position, the coil springs  238  can bias the catch member  234  against the top cover of the dunnage machine. 
         [0052]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  &amp;  13 , the catch member  234  can be moved downward generally in the direction of arrow “G,” by pivoting the pivot arms  235  about the pivot points  240  generally in the direction of arrow “J” (See, e.g.,  FIG. 13 ). The catch member  234  can thus be moved to an initial clearance position in which it initially clears a surface of the top cover of the dunnage machine  2 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . When the catch member  234  reaches the initial clearance position, the coil springs  238  are generally longitudinally aligned with the pivot arms  235 . Prior to the initial clearance position, the pivot arms  235  are raised, with the catch member  234  positioned above a surface of the top cover of the dunnage machine (See, e.g.,  FIG. 11 ). When the pivot arms  235  are raised, the coil springs  238  are positioned at an angle relative to the pivot arms (rather than being longitudinally aligned with the pivot arms  235 ), and are positioned on a generally upward facing side of the pivot arms  235 , with the coil springs  238  biasing (e.g., pulling) the pivot arms backward, generally in the direction of arrow “I,” to hold the pivot arms  235  up and to hold the catch member  234  against the top cover of the dunnage machine. When the catch member  234  clears the initial clearance position illustrated in  FIG. 12  (wherein the coil springs  238  are longitudinally aligned with the pivot arms  235 ), and is moved further in the direction of arrow “G,” the position of the coil springs  238  with respect to the pivot arms  235  changes to a downward facing side of the pivot arms  235  (See, e.g.,  FIG. 13 ), and coil springs  238  are again disposed at an angle with respect to the pivot arms  235 , biasing (e.g., pulling) the pivot arms  235  downward and back. 
         [0053]    A cross bar  242  extends between opposite elongated frame members  222  and is fixedly attached to the elongated frame members  222 . As the pivot arms  235  are rotated downward (such as generally in the direction of arrow “J”), they eventually abut against the cross bar  242  as shown in  FIG. 13 . When the pivot arms  235  abut against the cross bar  242 , the catch tabs  236  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) tuck beneath or insert into or attach to the cross bar  242 , to lock the cutter  200 . That is, for example, the catch member  234  is in a locked position when the catch tabs  236  block (or lock) the elongated frame members  222  of the cutter  200  from being rotated downward in the direction of arrow “F,” such that the cutter arms  216  cannot descend to pull the blade  202  downward. As noted above, other embodiments include one or more catch tabs on the cross bar  242  instead of the catch member, or one or more catch tabs on both the catch member and on the cross bar  242 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments of the present disclosure, methods of preventing the cutter  200  from being actuated during maintenance of the dunnage machine  2  are also provided. 
         [0055]    For example, when a top cover of the dunnage machine  2  is secured to the dunnage machine, a user can manually move the catch member  234  from the position shown in  FIG. 13 , to the position shown in  FIG. 11 , wherein the catch member  234  is positioned above the top cover of the dunnage machine  2 , and the coil springs  238  pull the pivot arms  235  in the direction of arrow “I,” to secure the catch member  234  in place above the top cover. 
         [0056]    The top cover of the dunnage machine  2  is blocked by the catch member  234  from being removed when the catch member  234  is positioned above the top cover. However, when a user desires to access an interior of the dunnage machine  2  to, for example, perform maintenance, the user can move the catch member  234  forward and downward in the direction of arrow “G,” past the initial clearance position shown in  FIG. 12 , after which, the coil springs  238  pull or bias the pivot arms  235  in the direction of arrow “J” (shown in  FIG. 13 ) until the pivot arms  235  abut against the cross bar  242 , and catch tabs  236  come to rest beneath or inside or are attached to the cross bar  242 , thus locking the cutter  200  by preventing the elongated frame members  222  from being rotated. Conversely, after the maintenance is complete, and the top cover of the dunnage machine is replaced, the user can again rotate the pivot arms  235  in the direction of arrow “H”) to place the catch member  234  in its position above the top cover of the dunnage machine as shown in FIG.  11 . When the catch member  234  is positioned above the top cover, the cutter  200  is again free to be operated. 
         [0057]    Although specific embodiments and examples of this disclosure have been described supra for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be recognized by those skilled in the relevant art after reviewing the present disclosure. The various embodiments described can be combined to provide further embodiments. The described devices, systems and methods can omit some elements or acts, can add other elements or acts, or can combine the elements or execute the acts in a different manner or order than that illustrated, to achieve various advantages of the invention. These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. 
         [0058]    In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is determined entirely by the following claims