Abstract:
A cigarette packing apparatus comprising means for repetitively progressing labels through a print location, a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of presence of the label as it passes adjacent the print location, a second signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed at the print location; a fluid jet printer head adjacent the print location and a controller configured to operate the printer head responsively to the first and second signal generators, with an additional arrangement within the packing apparatus defining a contact-free path portion sufficient for ink to dry at the indicia-bearing portion of the label as the label is progressed beyond the print location.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to ink jet printing of information on cigarette packaging, and more particular to apparatus and methods for applying pre-selected information on cigarette soft pack packaging utilizing ink jet technology. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In cigarette production, bundles of cigarettes of a predetermined number (usually 20) are wrapped in a paper and aluminum laminate which is referred to in the art as “foil”. Thereafter, the foil wrapped bundle (“foil-bundle”) is enwrapped in either a soft pack label comprising a paper or paper laminate, or in the alternative is enwrapped within a cardboard hinge lid blank. 
     In the past, information concerning the product (such as its time and/or place of manufacture or other information at the election of the manufacturer) was embossed or otherwise applied to the foil portion of the packaging. A consequence of such arrangement was that the outer portion of the packaging, such as the soft pack label or the cardboard blank, together with any cellophane overwrap, would have to be removed in order to access the encoded information. Accordingly, prior practices necessitated the opening and or destruction of the cigarette pack in order to ascertain date of manufacture or the like. 
     Printing the desired encoded information upon the outer portion of the cigarette packaging has presented manifold difficulties. Cigarette manufacturing and packing operations are conducted at extreme speeds such that any on-line printing operation at the cigarette packer tends to cause ink smearing both upon the cigarette product and upon portions of the packing machinery. Ink smears on the product compromises its quality and may lead to additional rejection of product and other manufacturing inefficiencies. Ink smears on the manufacturing machinery necessitates clean-up, taking the machine out of production and so creating additional costs. 
     Another particular problem associated with soft pack cigarette product is that the body of the completed package is pliable and does not present a consistent surface for precise printing operations. Accordingly, the finished soft pack packaging itself is not conducive to printing operations once the package has been fully formed. 
     Another difficulty in attempting to execute on-line printing operations within a cigarette packing machine is that placement of printing apparatus may interfere with smooth and consistent feeding of the packaging material. 
     OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel method and apparatus for applying printed indicia upon an outer portion of the cigarette packaging on an on-line basis at a cigarette packing machine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for repetitively and accurately placing printed indicia upon an outer portion of cigarette packaging at extreme machine speeds. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for applying printed indicia upon exterior portions of a cigarette packaging such that ink smears upon the packaging and/or upon packing machinery is avoided. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to execute an on-line printing operation without disturbing the smooth and consistent feeding of the packaging material, with particular concern of avoiding circumstances which would tend to skew packaging material from its intended pathway. 
     These and other objects are achieved by the present invention which provides a cigarette packing apparatus comprising means for repetitively progressing packaging material (preferably a soft pack label) through a print location, a signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of presence of the packaging material as it passes adjacent said print location, a second signal generator configured to generate a signal indicative of a speed at the print location; a fluid jet printer head adjacent the print location and a controller configured to operate the printer head responsively to the first and second signal generators, with an additional arrangement within the packing apparatus defining a contact-free path portion sufficient for ink to dry at the indicia-bearing portion of the packaging as the packaging material is progressed beyond the print location. Another aspect of the present invention is provision for an air jet blower adjacent the print location to accelerate drying of the printed indicia. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic of a soft pack packing machine modified in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective view of cigarette packaging which bears printed indicia applied in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2B is a planar view of the print-bearing side of an unfolded, cigarette packaging label bearing printed indicia applied in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for the coding of soft pack cigarette packaging; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5A is a detailed perspective view of portions of the fixed housing frame and the delivery roller assembly of the label-feed roller assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5B is a planar view of a backside of the fixed housing frame shown in FIG. 5A; 
     FIG. 5C is a detailed perspective view of a pivotal housing frame of the label-feed roller assembly constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 6 is a top planar view of a packaging label passing between lower idlers rollers of the fixed housing frame and the lower driven rollers of the pivotal housing frame. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2B, the present invention provides a cigarette packaging apparatus  10  and method, wherein the apparatus  10  includes an ink jet printer system  40  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The packaging apparatus  10  typically includes a controller  30  having an operator interface for selectively controlling the speed and operation of the packaging apparatus  10 . Preferably, the cigarette packaging apparatus  10  comprises a G. D X-1 or a G. D X-500 soft pack packing machine, which are manufactured and sold by G. D Societa per Azioni of Via Pomponia 10, 40100 Bologna, Italy, although the teachings which follow may be readily applied to other commercially available cigarette packaging machines upon a reading and understanding of the detailed description which follows. 
     The aforementioned packaging apparatus  10  includes a label-feed roller assembly  20  arranged to repetitively directing individual labels (soft pack labels)  25  along a vertical pathway  44  to a folding station  27 . The timing and execution of the feeding operations through the label-feed roller assembly  20  and the timing and execution of folding operations at the folding station  27  are coordinated by the machine controller  30 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ink jet printer system  40  is operative at a print location  42  along the label-feed roller assembly  20  so that the as the soft pack labels  25  progress along the feed path  44  and pass the print location  42 , the ink jet printer system  40  applies pre-selected inked indicia  3  upon each of the soft pack labels  25  at a pre-selected location along each label  25 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the printed indicia  3  preferably comprise characters that encode or otherwise indicate information such as the date and/or place of manufacture, work shift or machine, brand type or other pre-selected bits of information. Preferably, the printed information is applied at a pre-selected panel portion  4  of the label  25 , which upon conclusion of all folding operations, lies in a region between the fold lines  5   a  and  5   b  adjacent the vee fold lines  6   a  and  6   b  at the bottom in portion of the completed cigarette pack  7 . Such location at the end fold portion is preferred, because it is usually is unobtrusive of decorative patterns or other printed matter such as tax stampings  11  or warnings  14  that are typically applied to the cigarette pack  7 . Preferably, the pre-selected location  4  is surface treated, such as being scored or coated, so that they readily retain the ink received from the ink jet printer system  40 . 
     The pre-selected locations  4  may be situated in places other than that specifically shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, such as upon entirely different portion of the end panel or upon other panels of the label  25 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the ink jet printer system  40  preferably comprises a print controller  48 , an ink jet printer head  46  located adjacent the aforementioned print location  42 , a product detect sensor  50  located adjacent (preferably to one side or just above) the ink jet printer head  46  and an air jet blower  52 . Downstream of the print location  46 , the label-feed roller assembly  20  is provided with arrangements that will be detailed in the discussion which follows, such that any printed indicia  3  that is applied to any label  25  by the ink jet printer head  46  is relieved of any contact with the label-feed system  20  such the labels  25  arrive at the folding station  27  in an unsmeared condition and without skew. 
     The controller  48  of the ink jet printer system  40  is linked to the controller  30  of the packaging apparatus  10  so as to receive signals from the latter indicating operation of the packaging apparatus  10  (an “on/off” signal) as well as its speed of operation (a “machine speed” signal). The latter signal may be routed from the controller  30 , itself or directly off a shaft-encoder  60  typically provided as part of the general drive mechanism  62  of the packaging apparatus  10 . 
     The preferred operational environment of the present invention includes a cigarette packaging apparatus  10  such as a G.D X-500 packer whose general layout is schematically represented in FIG.  1 . Typically, such machines collate individual cigarettes  102  into a plurality of cigarette bundles  100  (usually 20 cigarettes per bundle) and direct same in succession onto a first rotatable machine wheel  105 . At an exit portion of the first wheel  105 , a plunger pushes the bundle  100  into a second machine wheel  108  together with a piece of foil  104 , and the bundle  100  and foil undergo further wrapping operations. At the exit portion of the second wheel  108 , the bundle  100  is fully enwrapped within the foil piece  104  and is situated adjacent a folding station  27  at which the label-feed assembly  20  has placed a label  25 . 
     Referring now also to FIG. 3, the folding station  27  includes a vertically adjustable stop  170  at the folding station  27  for placing a received label  25  in a desired position relative to the third wheel  114  and the plunger  110  of the second wheel  108 . The plunger  110  then urges the resultant foil bundle  106  through the folding station  27  so as to plunge the foil bundle  106  together with the label  25  into a receiver  112  of a third wheel  114  of the packaging apparatus  10 . 
     Upon passage about arcuate portions of the third wheel  114  and transfer to and motion about the fourth wheel  116 , the label  25  is wrapped about and folded into final form about the foil bundle  106 . Upon removal of the folded cigarette package  118  from the fourth wheel  116 , the folded cigarette package  118  is optionally passed through a closure stamp application station  120  and collected in face to face relation along an exit ramp  122 . 
     Each of the first, second, third and fourth wheels  105 ,  108 ,  114  and  116  are driven by the drive system  62  of the cigarette packaging  10  such as is typically provided in GD X-1 and GD X-500 packing machines. 
     Typically, soft pack labels are fed from one or more continuous reels  130  through a system of tension rollers  132  and one or more decurlers  134 ,  136 . Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the continuous ribbon of labels  137  passes along a horizontal path portion  138 , along which is located a cutting station  140 . In the preferred embodiment, the cutting station  140  includes a detector  142  for establishing a signal to the machine controller  30  that the continuous ribbon of labels  137  is adjacent the cutting station  140 . A driven sector wheel  144  includes a notch  146  for registering with a leading edge  39  of the ribbon  137  as it locates at the cutting station  140 . Upon registration, the cutter  146  severs the label  125  from the remainder of the ribbon  137 . Upon completion of the severing step at the rotary cutter  146 , the sector wheel  144  in cooperation with the arcuate guide  148  directs the label  25  into the label-feed roller assembly  20 . 
     In the alternative, pre-cut labels  25  may be fed directly to the label-feed roller assembly  20 . Preferably, such would include a feed arrangement in cooperation with the sector wheel  144  as previously described, or an equivalent thereof so as to properly direct individual labels  25  into vertical path portion  44  of the label-feed roller assembly  20 . 
     In either event, preferably a glue applicator  150  is located just downstream of the sector wheel  144  to apply adhesive, preferably in the form of a liquid glue, to selected locations along the label  25  as it enters the label-feed roller assembly  20 . Typically, the glue applicator  150  comprises one or more rotary daubers  152  placed adjacent glue pots  121  such that upon rotation the dauber picks up an incremental amount of adhesive from the glue pot  121  and places it upon a selected portion or portions of the label  25 . Preferably, the dauber  152  applies adhesive to the non-printed side of the label  25 . 
     Adjacent the glue dauber  152  is situated a door assembly  160  of the label-feed roller assembly  20 . The door assembly  160  provides support for a back-up roller  163  arranged in opposing relation to the glue dauber  152 . The door assembly  160  also supports a first set of opposing rollers  165  and a second, lower set of opposing rollers  167 . The label-feed roller assembly  20  further comprises a delivery roller assembly  170  located beneath the door assembly  160 . The delivery roller assembly  170  supports a guide plate  200 , a roller pin  210  and a biased idler rollers  211  adjacent end portions of the roller pin  210 . 
     Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, as a label  25  is drawn from the cutting station  140  by rotation of the sector wheel  144 , it enters the door assembly  160  of the label-feed roller assembly  20 , whereupon its leading edge  39 ′ creates a change in light intensity that is detected by the sensor  50  through the light pipe  51  located adjacent the ink jet printer head  46 . As a result, the print controller  48  commands execution of a print operation by the ink jet head  46  as the label  25  passes through the print location  42  along the door assembly  160 . The controller  48  also executes a coordinated command to discharge air through the air jet port  52  to accelerate drying of the indicia  3  printed upon the label  25  by the ink jet printer head  46 . The controller  48  is programmed to await receipt of the next signal from the sensor  50  that a subsequent label  25  has entered the print station  53 . 
     Ink is supplied to each ink jet printer head  46  from a reservoir  49 , whose level is monitored by the print controller  48  of the ink jet printer system  20 . Preferably, the ink supplied and discharged from the ink jet printer head  46  is a quick-drying, water-based ink, preferably Number 99-4520 Q which is available from Videojet Systems International, Inc. of Wood Dale, Ill. 60191-1073. 
     The ink jet printer system  20  further includes a product detect sensor system preferably comprising an optical sensor  50  and an optical pipe  51  extending from the sensor  50  to a location adjacent the print location  42  on the door assembly  160 . The sensor  50  is arranged to generate a signal upon detection of a change in light intensity received from the optical pipe  51 . This indicative signal is communicated to the print controller  48  of the ink jet printing system  20 . The light receiving end  51   a  of the optical pipe in a fixed position, preferably adjacent the ink jet printing head  46 , preferably to one side or immediately above same. 
     Both the sensor system and the controller  48  is obtainable from Videojet Systems International, Inc. of Wood Dale, Ill. 60191-1073. The controller  48  preferably comprises a Videojet ES 170i Ultra High Speed Printer from the same Videojet Systems International, Inc. of Wood Dale, Ill. A suitable commercially available product suitable for use as the sensor  50  is a Tri-tronics Photoeye SER-FI. A commercially available Fiber Optic-Cable BF-B-36T and lens (UAC-5) may be used for the optical pipe  51 . 
     The print controller  48  and system controller  30  are configured to operate the ink jet printer system  20  as follows: once the packaging machine  10  is powered up and the printer control box  48  is ready to print, the packaging machine  10  is allowed to start normally. If the printer  20  at any time is unable to print due to such factors as loss of power, low ink supply or make-up levels or other internal fault, the system controller  30  shuts down the packaging machine  10 . A warning light is illuminated prior to shut down to indicate the aforementioned conditions, so as to facilitate corrective action by the operator. 
     When the packaging machine  10  is operating, the print controller  48  receives a signal from the product detect sensor  50  and a second signal from the shaft encoder  60  of the central drive system of the packaging machine  10  (in the alternative, the print controller  48  might be linked to a separate shaft encoder or other device; shaft encoders themselves employ a proximity sensor or the like to generate a signal upon each rotation of the shaft to which it is operatively affixed). From processing these signals, the controller  48  of the ink jet coder system  20  can resolve when a cut label  25  will arrive at the print location  42  and how fast it is moving. With such information, the controller  48  executes a printing operation such that the desired information is placed upon the packaging piece  25  consistently, both as to its placement, character size and layout. 
     In the printer head  46 , ink is dispensed droplet by droplet in accordance with known fluid jet technologies, wherein ink is sent under pressure to an emitter having a nozzle, while at the same time a piezoelectric device (resonator) transmits acoustic vibration to the jet, causing the jet of ink to break up into droplets of a consistent size, such as approximately 70 microns or thereabouts. Typically, one or more electrodes adjacent the jet at the break-off point apply a charge proportional to the voltage applied to the electrodes. 
     The charged droplets are then directed between deflection plates between which an electrical potential is maintained. The droplets are thus deflected from their initial trajectory proportionately to their electrical charge. Any uncharged droplets are captured in a trap and recycled in the ink reservoir. 
     The combination of the drop deflection and of the object movement perpendicular to this deflection enables writing of all kinds of patterns, notably characters, on any substrate regardless of its nature. 
     The controller  48  is further programmed to operate the air jet blower  52  in timed relation to the aforementioned signals from product detect sensor  50  and shaft encoder  60 . Preferably the air jet blower receives pressurized air from a machine system source  53  such as that supplied at the solenoid of the closure stamp application station  120 . At the command of the print controller  48 , such arrangement provides air to the jet blower  52  at a pressure of approximately 20 psiag when the machine  10  is operating at a speed of approximately 400 packs a minute. Other sources of machine-sourced air might be readily employed, or alternatively, separately dedicated sources of air or other gas. 
     Referring now to FIGS.  5   a  and  5   b , the door assembly  160  preferably comprises a fixed housing frame  162  (FIG.  5   a ) and a pivotal housing frame  164  (FIG.  5 B), which are hinged together at a hinge  165   a ,  165   b , or some other convenient arrangement such that the pivotal frame may be swung away from the fixed door frame  162  after operations for accessing the interior of the door assembly  160  to clear jams or to perform maintenance and repair. 
     Referring particularly to FIG. 5A, the fixed housing frame  162  generally faces (is situated along) the print-bearing side of the labels  25  as they pass through the door assembly  160 . The back-up roller  163  is supported at the upper portion of the fixed housing frame  162  and is driven by a gear-wheel connection  163   g  with the dauber  152 . A first pair of idler rollers  172   b ,  172   b  are located beneath the back-up roller  163  and are part of the aforementioned opposing set of rollers  165 . The fixed housing frame  162  also supports a second lower set of idler rollers  178   a ,  178   b  which are part of the aforementioned lower opposing set of rollers  167 . The fixed housing frame  162  further includes guide surfaces, including longitudinal edges  168 ,  169 , and at least two, preferably three, or possibly more, rails  174 ,  175  and  176  to confine the label  25  against excessive bending or folding action as it passes through the door assembly  160 . 
     Preferably, the upper idler roller  172   a  and the lower idler roller  178   a  are located along the same rail  174 , while the upper idler roller  172   b  and the lower idler roller  178   b  are located along the same rail  176 . A transverse notch  179  is established in a middle portion of the fixed housing frame between the upper and lower sets of idler rollers  172   a,b  and  178   a,b  to provide a port through which the ink jet printer head  46  and the optical pipe  51  of the ink jet printing system  40  may locate. Preferably, the discharge port  47  of the ink jet printer head  46  is vertically aligned with the guide rail  176 , and therefore the idler rollers  172   b  and  178   b  as well. Such alignment and proximity promotes consistent placement of the target surface portion  4  of each passing label  25  relative to the ink jet printer head  46 . 
     The notch  179  in the fixed housing fame  162  bisects the rail  176  into an upper portion  176   a  having a smooth surface and a lower rail portion  176   b  the latter which is provided with a grooved surface  185 . The groove  185  is vertically aligned beneath the discharge port  47  of the ink jet printer head  46  and is of a width sufficient to provide clearance for any printed indicia that may be applied to the passing label  25 . In the preferred embodiment, the groove  185  is 15 millimeters wide and approximately one-half millimeter deep, although it is contemplated that the dimensions of the groove  185  might be varied in accordance with the particular application. For example, a wider field of printed indicia  3  might require a wider groove  185  and visa-versa. 
     Likewise, a groove  179   b  is provide in the lower idler roller  178   b  situated along the lower guide rail portion  176   b . A similar groove  179   a  is provided in the other lower idler roller  178   a  so as to balance contact forces between the rollers  178   a ,  178   b  across the passing labels  25 . Such arrangement minimizes skewing action as the labels  25  are fed through the door assembly  160 . 
     The lower portion  176   b  of the guide rail  176  further includes at least one port  188  for the discharge of the air jet blower  52  upon printed indicia  3  as it passes along the vertical pathway  44  downstream of the ink jet printer head  46 . Although the port  188  is shown at a location below the roller  178   b , practice of the invention is entirely workable with placement of a port  188  above the roller  178   b , whether in substitution or in addition to the port  188  shown in FIG.  5 A. The air jet blower  52  is preferably mounted to the backside of the fixed housing frame  162 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, as previously mentioned, the label-feed roller assembly  20  also includes a delivery roller assembly  170 , which preferably comprises a fixed guide plate  200  configured to slidingly receive labels  25  after they are directed through the door assembly  160 . The guide plate  200  includes a groove  218 . The delivery roller assembly  170  further comprises a driven roller pin  210  that is rotatably disposed at a lower portion of the guideplate  200 . A groove  218  is formed in the guide plate  200  in vertical alignment with the groove  185  of the lower rail portion  176   a  of the fixed housing  162 . 
     Preferably, the roller pin  210  includes a first contact roller portion  212  which is preferably vertically disposed below the roller  178   a  of the door assembly  160 . At its opposite end, the roller pin  210  includes a second contact roller portion  215  that is provided with a roller recessed portion  216 . The roller recessed portion  216  is vertically aligned with the groove  218  of the guide plate  200 , such that a contact-free pathway portion  190  is defined by the groove  185  in the lower rail portion  176   a  of the door assembly  160 , the groove  179   b  of the idler roller  178   b , the groove  218  of the guide plate  200  and the roller recessed portion  216  of the roller pin  210 . Accordingly, there is established a continuation of the contact-free pathway  190  beginning at the proximity of the discharge port  47  of the ink jet gun  46  and extending through both the door assembly  160  (along the groove  185  of the rail portion  176   b  and the groove  179   b  of the idler wheel  178   b ) and the roller delivery assembly  170  (along the groove  218  of the guide plate  200  and the recessed portion of the roller pin  210 ) so that the printed indicia  3  on a passing label  25  arrives at the folding station  27  in an unsmeared condition. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5C, the pivotal housing frame  162  includes driven rollers  312   a  and  312   b  which are disposed in opposing relation to the idler rollers  172   a  and  172   b  of the fixed housing frame, respectively, when the pivotal housing frame  164  is closed against the fixed housing frame  162 . Likewise, the pivotal housing frame  164  includes a second lower pair of driven rollers  322   a  and  322   b  which are disposed in opposing relation to the idler rollers  178   a  and  178   b  of the fixed housing frame, respectively, when the pivotal housing frame  164  is closed against the fixed housing frame  162 . Referring now also to FIG. 6, preferably, both driven rollers  322   a  and  322   b  include rims  325   a  and  325   b , respectively, of a slightly lesser width than the widths of the opposing portions  328  of the idler rollers  178   a  and  178   b . The driven rollers  322   a  and  322   b  include a second recess  330  where the rollers  322   a  and  322   b  receive rails  332  and  334  of the housing frame  164 , respectively. Another middle rail  336  is preferably situated between the rails  332  and  334 . Preferably, the rollers  312   a,b  and  322   a,b  of the pivotal housing frame  164  are driven off the central drive system of the packaging machine  10  as is typically provided in a G. D X-1 or G. D X-500 machine. 
     Referring to back to FIG. 4, the cigarette packaging apparatus  10  preferably includes an arrangement for adjusting the lateral placement of the ribbon of labels  129  and therefore the lateral placement of individual labels  25  relative to the ink jet printer head  46  so that accurate placement can be maintained and machine drift maybe compensated. In particular, the arrangement includes a manually adjustable slider mount  133  at least one, but preferably both of the de-curling assemblies  134  and  136 . A GilmanPrecision Slide available from Russel T. Gilman, Inc. is a preferred, commercial available mount for this application. The arrangement facilitates placement of the printed indicia  3  exactly where desired during start up and to compensate for any drifting during extended machine operations and/or other causes of displacements of the indicia  3 , such as from bobbin changes. 
     It is to be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides ink jet printing of soft pack labels and the like at a print location  42  sufficiently removed from the folding station  27  such that the printed indicia is given a time to dry before it enters folding operations. The allotted spacing, together with the special handling of the label through the label-feed roller assembly  20  (providing a contact-free portion and symmetry at the rollers to minimize skewing) provides a unique effective manner for applying information upon soft pack cigarette packages that is readily readable without the destruction of product. 
     Thus, it is provided an apparatus and method for manufacturing cigarette packaging featuring ink jet coding. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the preferred embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.