Patent Publication Number: US-11019826-B2

Title: System and methods of cutting and packaging tortillas

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57 and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Development 
     Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to the field of automated preparation and packaging of tortilla chips. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to systems and methods for cutting and packaging tortilla chips. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Tortilla chips are a popular type of snack food. Traditionally, tortilla chips are cut from generally round-shaped tortillas, forming chips that have a generally triangular shape with a rounded edge. To produce a high-quality, more authentic tortilla chip, tortillas are typically baked before being cut, packaged, and shipped to customers. The baked, pre-cut tortilla chips are then delivered to restaurants where the chips are fried prior to consumption. 
     Prior to cutting and packaging, baked tortillas are typically subjected to an equilibration process. The equilibration process allows the moisture in the tortilla to evenly distribute throughout the product. Typically, to conduct the equilibration process, workers manually stack tortillas into boxes to rest for approximately eight hours. The equilibration process is important to high-quality tortilla chip production, as there is a direct relationship between the equilibration process and the desirable hardness and crunch characteristics of tortilla chips. Specifically, the longer the equilibration process, the harder and crunchier the tortilla chips will be after frying. 
     SUMMARY 
     The systems, methods, and devices of this disclosure each have several innovative aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for the all of the desirable attributes disclosed herein. 
     In one embodiment, a system for cutting and packaging stacked tortillas, comprising: a loader comprising a conveyor having an upper surface for carrying a stack of tortillas, the conveyor configured to move the stack of tortillas from an input end to an output end of the loader, the output end being a transition portion that operatively connects the loader to a remainder of the system; and a product guide, wherein the product guide is configured to receive the stack of tortillas from the transition portion and support the stack of tortillas throughout the remainder of the system, the product guide comprising: separable guide portions, each separable guide portion having a plurality of separated supports; a base, the base having a top surface to support the stack of tortillas; and a product guide engagement mechanism configured to move the separable guide portions toward each other when the stack of tortillas is positioned between the separable guide portions. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes a vertical lift portion configured to lift the product guide, the base, and the stack of tortillas after the stack of tortillas is enclosed within the product guide and supported by the base. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes a top conveyer line positioned vertically higher than the loader and configured to receive the product guide and the base from the vertical lift portion, the top line having a top line track which supports the base as it passes along the top line. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes a cutting station operatively connected to the top line, the cutting station comprising: a blade frame connected to a cutting blade, the cutting blade being oriented along a first cutting plane; a cutting actuator configured to actuate the blade frame and move the cutting blade downward into the stack of tortillas when the stack of tortillas reaches a first cutting position along the top line; and a stack support positioned below the stack of tortillas, the stack support configured to fill the voids between the fork-like members in the base when the stack of tortillas is being cut by the cutting blade, and wherein the stack support meshes with the fork-like members to create a uniform base surface when the stack of tortillas is being cut by the cutting blade, wherein the cutting blade passes between the supports of the product guide when the stack of tortillas is being cut by the cutting blade. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes a packaging area positioned along the top line and configured to receive the product guide, the base, and the stack of tortillas from the cutting station, wherein packaging is placed over at least a top end of the product guide to enclose the stack of tortillas between the product guide, the base, and the packaging. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes an inversion conveyor, the inversion conveyor comprising: an inverting surface configured to support the top end of the product guide and the stack of tortillas as the product guide and stack of tortillas rotate around a top line end of the top line and become inverted; a retraction actuator; and a retractable section at the bottom of the inversion conveyor, wherein a packaged stack of cut tortillas falls from the product guide and is supported by the retractable section of the inversion conveyor, and wherein the retraction actuator retracts the retractable section after the stack of tortillas and packaging have fallen from the product guide, thereby allowing the packaged stack of cut tortillas to fall to a discharge line and exit the system. 
     In some embodiments, the loader includes at least one counting sensor arrangement disposed along the conveyor to detect when each stack of tortillas passes by the counting sensor arrangement. 
     In some embodiments, the counting sensor arrangement is a beam break sensor arrangement. In some embodiments, a first motor drives the conveyor of the loader and a second motor drives a transition conveyor of the transition portion. In some embodiments, the retractable section has a substantially horizontal surface that supports the packaged stack of cut tortillas prior to the packaged stack of cut tortillas falling to the discharge line. 
     In some embodiments, the system includes an inversion conveyor end roller, the inversion conveyor end roller being configured to translate toward the inverting surface when the retractable section is moved by the retraction actuator. 
     In some embodiments, the base further comprises a plurality of fork-like members configured to interleave with and pass the transition portion. In some embodiments, the product guide engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of actuators. In some embodiments, the product guide engagement mechanism comprises a plurality of guide rails. In some embodiments, the product guide and base are operatively connected to a main conveyor. 
     In an embodiment of a method for cutting and packaging stacked tortillas, the method comprises: loading a stack of tortillas onto a loader, the loader having a conveyor, an input end, and an output end, the output end being a transition portion that is operatively connected to a vertical lift portion; conveying the stack of tortillas along the loader to the transition portion; enclosing the stack of tortillas within a product guide while the stack of tortillas is supported by an upwardly moving base, the product guide comprising a pair of guide portions that move toward one another to enclose the stack of tortillas therein; lifting the stack of tortillas vertically to a top conveying line; moving the stack of tortillas to a cutting location beneath a cutting station, the cutting station comprising a cutting actuator configured to move a cutting blade into the stack of tortillas along a first cutting plane, thereby cutting to the bottom of the stack of tortillas along the first cutting plane; inverting the product guide, the base, and the stack of tortillas while supporting the open end of the product guide on an inverting wall of a conveyor; and retracting a bottom portion of an inversion conveyor after a packaged stack of tortillas falls from the product guide onto the bottom portion of the inversion conveyor, thereby allowing the packaged stack of tortillas to fall to a discharge line. 
     In some embodiments, the inversion conveyor retracts after the stack of tortillas reaches an end portion of the inversion conveyor, thereby allowing the stacked, packaged tortillas to be output. 
     In some embodiments, the method includes automatically placing packaging over an open end of the product guide and the stack of tortillas after the cutting station. 
     Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed herein, inventive subject matter extends beyond the examples in the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the chip cutting system. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a stack of tortillas passing along a loader approaching a product guide according to one embodiment of a chip cutting system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the stack of tortillas continuing to approach the product guide of the chip cutting system. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the product guide beginning to engage the stack of tortillas. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vertical lift portion lifting the product guide and stack of tortillas vertically. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cutting station prior to cutting the stack of tortillas received from the vertical lift portion and the loader. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the cutting station of  FIG. 6  prior to cutting the stack of tortillas received from the vertical lift portion and the loader. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the cutting station of  FIG. 6  after a cutting element has cut through the stack of tortillas along a first cutting plane. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged side view of the cutting station illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of packaging being placed over the stack of tortillas and product guide after the stack has passed through one or more cutting stations. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cut, packaged stack of tortillas passing along an inversion conveyor of the chip cutting system. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cut, packaged stack of tortillas falling from the product guide after the inversion conveyor has retracted. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the cut, packaged stack of tortillas positioned on a discharge portion of the chip cutting system. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the cut, packaged stack of tortillas passing being moved by a discharge arm to a waiting conveyor (not shown). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Tortilla chip production involves a sleeve packing process. Once the tortillas are made, they are stacked by workers and then manually loaded into forms or guides. The forms or guides hold the tortilla stacks in place as they are passed through a series of guillotine-type blades of a chip cutting machine. The blades of the chip cutting machine cut each tortilla in the stack into four, six, or eight pieces. After cutting, a bag is placed over the form or guides and the stack of tortillas, and a worker manually inverts the stack and removes the sleeve packaged stack of cut tortilla chips. The packaged sleeves of pre-cut tortilla chips are then shipped to restaurants, where small batches are fried prior to being provided to customers (e.g., restaurant patrons). 
     The sleeve packing process of tortilla chip production is inadequate for several reasons. Sleeve packing processes known in the art require significant manual labor during the loading and packaging stages in which workers are repetitively exposed to hazardous machinery. For example, common sleeve packing processes require workers to constantly, manually load stacks of tortillas into single piece forms or guides. This traditional manual feeding process requires workers to quickly lower a stack of tortillas into the form or guide, which commonly leads to injuries of workers fingers, hands, and arms. The traditional sleeve packing processes also requires workers to manually invert the stacks of cut, bagged tortillas which is time consuming and unnecessarily strenuous when done repetitively. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an improved tortilla chip cutting system that automatically loads tortillas into a cutting process and packages the cut tortilla chips, therefore eliminating the manual labor and hazards of existing chip cutting systems. 
       FIGS. 1-14  depicts an embodiment a chip cutting system  10  for use in loading, cutting, and packaging stacks of tortillas  20 .  FIG. 1  provides a side view of the chip cutting system  10 . The chip cutting system comprises a loader  100 , a vertical loading system  200 , a processing line  300 , a plurality of cutting stations  400 , a sleeving area  500 , an inversion portion  501 , and an output portion  530 .  FIGS. 2-5  depict the product loading process of the system  10 .  FIGS. 2-3  depict a loader  100  of the system  10 . The chip cutting system  10  includes a loader  100 , which includes conveying portions  101  in order to receive the incoming stack of tortillas  20 . The conveying portions  101  may be driven by electric motors  103 . The system  10  may include a conveyor  101  for receiving the incoming stack of tortillas  20 . 
     One or more sensors  102  may be arranged along the loader  100  in order to determine the position of the tortilla stacks  20  on the conveyor  101 . The sensors  102  may be a break beam laser, infrared, or other sensor that detect the position of a tortilla stack  20  on the conveyer  101 . The loader  100  includes elevating platforms  104 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are three loading platforms  101 . The loading platforms  104  can lift the stacks off of the banded transfer conveyor, which stops forward movement of the tortilla stacks  20 . The tortilla stacks  20  can wait for the chopper to index before being lowered back down and proceeding along the conveyor. The sensors may be configured to count the number of stacks of tortillas  20  that have entered the cutting system  10 . By automatically counting the number of stacks of tortillas  20  that have entered the machine, the total number of tortilla chips produced by the system  10  is easily computed. Specifically, each stack of tortillas  20  may have the same number of tortillas, and the product of the number of stacks  20 , the numbers of tortillas per stack  20 , and twice the number of cuts equals the total number of chips produced by the system  10  per batch. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  depict a vertical loading system  200  of the system  10 . The loader  100  conveys the stack of tortillas  20  along the conveying portions  101  to a product guide  210 . The product guide  210  includes two semi-circular guide portions  210 A,  210 B that include supports  211 . The loader  100  conveys the stack of tortillas  20  to a position between the guide portions  210 A,  210 B. The loader  100  may use an electric motor  104  to convey the stack of tortillas  20  from the loader  100  over the transition portion  105  to a position between the guide portions  210 A,  210 B. The system  10  includes a plurality of product guides  210  so that stacks of tortillas  20  may be continuously processed by the system  10 . 
     Once the stack of tortillas  20  is conveyed along transition portion  105  and positioned between the guide portions  210 A,  210 B, the guide portions  210 A,  210 B are moved toward one another to enclose the stack of tortillas  20  within the product guide  210 . The guide portions  210 A,  210 B may be moved until the guide portions  210 A,  210 B are adjacent and the stack of tortillas  20  is secured between the supports  211  of the product guide  210 . The guide portions  210 A,  210 B may be moved together using a product guide engagement mechanism  209 . In some embodiments, the product guide engagement mechanism  209  is one or more actuators  208  (e.g., an electric motor, pneumatic cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder) that push the guide portions  210 A,  210 B together and into position around the stack of tortillas  20 . In some embodiments, the product guide engagement mechanism  209  is one or more guide rails  207  that move the guide portions  210 A,  210 B into the enclosed position as the product guides  210  are conveyed through the processing line  300 . Optionally, the supports  211  may be constructed of stainless steel such as a food-grade stainless steel. The supports  211  may be coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., PTFE) in order to help prevent the stack of tortillas  20  from adhering to or depositing a residue upon the supports  211 . Advantageously, the two-piece configuration of the product guide  210  allows each stack of tortillas  20  to be automatically loaded without requiring a worker to manually load each stack of tortillas into the product guides  210 . Accordingly, use of the two-piece configuration of the product guide  210  enables a faster, more efficient tortilla loading process while eliminating the risks to workers posed by having to manually load stacks of tortillas into the system. Additionally, vertical loading from the loader  100  to the top of the processing line  300  allows for precise positioning of the stacks  20  on the platforms with minimal jostling of the stack  20  during the transfer. 
       FIG. 5  depicts that, once the stack of tortillas  20  is positioned between the guide portions  210 A,  210 B, the vertical lift portion  200  provides a base  202  for each stack of tortillas  20  and raises each stack of tortillas  20  in a product guide  210  from the loader  100  to the processing line  300  at the top of the system  10 . The vertical lift portion  200  and each product guide  210  may be connected to a main conveyor  300  or processing line. Optionally, the vertical lift portion  200  may be connected to a separate conveyor that lifts each product guide  210  from the loader to one or more cutting stations  400 . 
     The vertical lift portion  200  provides a base  202  upon which each product guide  210  and stack of tortillas  20  sit. Each stack of tortillas  20  is enclosed in a product guide  210  and supported by a base  202  along the processing line at the top of the system  10  until the stack of tortillas  20  has been cut, bagged, and reaches the end of an inversion conveyor  510 . The base  202  comprises a plurality of elongate members that may be spaced apart. The base  202  can use any number of elongate members  211  sufficient to support the stack of tortillas  20  throughout the cutting and packaging process. The base  202  is configured have gaps between the elongate members so that the transition conveyors  105  of the loader  100  can pass through without interfering or colliding with the vertical loader  200 . Accordingly, the vertical lift portion  200  enables a smooth and efficient transition for the stack of tortilla chips  20  from the loader  100  to the remainder of the cutting system  10 , thereby avoiding the disruptive, jarring motion of other systems that transfer tortilla stacks from one conveyor belt to another. 
     After the stack of tortillas  20  has been lifted by the vertical lift portion  200  to the processing line  300 , the stack of tortillas  20  is subjected to the cutting process of the system  10 .  FIG. 6-9  depict the cutting process of the system  10 .  FIG. 6  depicts a cutting station  400  of chip cutting system  10 . The cutting system  10  includes one or more cutting stations  400  in order to cut each tortilla into the desired number of pieces (e.g., chips). Each cutting station  400  includes a cutting blade  401  held by a blade frame  405 . The blade frame  405  may include a pair of cutting blade guides  408  and a cutting blade adjustment member  407  at respective top and bottom ends of the cutting blade guides  408 . The cutting blade  401  is secured between the cutting blade guides  408  which reinforce the cutting blade  401  to reduce the blade deflection (e.g., blade drift) that would otherwise occur when cutting the stack of tortillas  20 . The cutting blade guides  408  may be connected to the cutting blade adjustment members  407  by fasteners or other suitable removable connection mechanism. The cutting blade adjustment members  407  may be connected to connection points arranged around the blade frame openings  409  of the blade frame  405 . For example, the cutting blade adjustment members  407  may be connected to the blade frame  405  by fasteners, mechanical interlock, or other suitable removable connection mechanism (e.g., a nut and bolt arrangement). Optionally, the cutting blade adjustment members  407  may be rotated relative to the blade frame  405 . The blade frame  405  can be actuated by a piston, electric motor, or similar device in order to drive the frame  405  and cutting blade  401  downward along the blade frame supports  406  in order to cut the stack of tortillas  20 . Optionally, the cutting blade  401  may be an ultrasonic cutting blade  401  that vibrates to reduce the frictional forces between the blade  401  and the stack of tortillas  20 . 
     In  FIG. 7 , the cutting blade  401  is oriented along a first cutting plane  402 A, which may be positioned between supports  211  of the product guide  210 . The separation between the supports  211  of the product guide  210  allow the stack of tortillas  20  to be cut along a different cutting plane by other cutting stations. For example, the separation between each opposing pair of supports  211  allow another cutting blade  401  to cut the stack of tortillas along different cutting planes. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three cutting planes  402 A-C producing a six-way cut and three corresponding cutting stations. In some embodiments, the cutting station may include a dual-plane cutting blade  401  in order to simultaneously cut along multiple cutting planes. 
     In other embodiments, the cutting planes may be adjusted in order to produce a different cut (e.g., a four-way cut) in the stack of tortillas  20 . To adjust the cutting planes, the fasteners securing the cutting blade adjustment members  407  to the blade frame  405  are removed. The cutting blade adjustment members  407  may then be removed (e.g., lowered) from the blade frame  405 , rotated with respect to the blade frame  405 , and then reattached to the blade frame  405  using the fasteners at other connection points disposed around the blade frame openings  409 . In this way, the cutting blade adjustment members  407 , the cutting blade guides  408 , the cutting blade  401 , and the cutting plane may be rotated relative to the blade frame  405 . To produce a four-way cut in a system  10  with three cutting stations  400 , the cutting blades  401  of the first two cutting stations  400  may be rotated using the procedure described above, such that the cutting plane  402 A is orthogonal to the cutting plane  402 B. The first two cutting stations  400  would then be used in the cutting process while the third cutting station  400  would not be used, because the four-way cut is achievable through the use of only two cutting stations  400 . 
       FIGS. 7-9  depict a side view of cutting station  400 . The cutting station  400  includes one or more stack supports  404  which fill the voids between each of the portions of the base  202 , thereby creating a uniform supported base that supports the stack of tortillas  20 . The stack supports  404  may be present along the entire processing line  301  or along the portion of the processing line  301  associated with cutting stations  400 . The stack supports  404  may be raised when the blade frame  405  is actuated, in preparation for contact between the cutting blade  401  and the stack of tortillas  20 . 
     As the blade frame  405  is actuated and cutting blade  401  presses into the stack of tortillas, the cutting blade  401  imposes a pressure upon the stack of tortillas  20 . Without a uniform supported base, it would be more difficult for the cutting blade  401  to cut all the way to the bottom of the stack of tortillas  20 . The lack of a uniform supported base could result in the blade  401  failing to cut one or more tortillas at the bottom of the stack of tortillas  20 .  FIGS. 8-9  illustrate that the cutting system  10  is able to cut uniformly through the entire stack of tortillas  20 . Advantageously, the pressure imposed on the stack of tortillas  20  during the cutting process is uniformly distributed upon the stack supports  404  and members of the base  202 , which allows the cutting blade  401  to cut cleanly through the stack of tortillas  20  to the base  202 , thereby resulting in improved cutting consistency. The end position of the cutting blade  401  may also be precisely defined by a user of the system  10  to ensure that the cutting blade  401  cuts through the stack of tortillas  20  to the base  202 . Optionally, the base  202  may be formed of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (e.g., UHMWPE) or another thermoplastic polyethylene that will not blunt the cutting blade  401  when the cutting blade  401  contacts the base  202 . The base  202  may be a consumable, easily replaceable component of the system  10 . 
     Once the stack of tortillas  20  has passed through the cutting process of the one or more cutting stations  400 , the stack of cut tortillas  20  passes through the sleeving area  500  of the system  10 .  FIG. 10  depicts the sleeving process of the system  10 . In the sleeving area  500 , packaging  22  (e.g., a bag, sleeve, wrapper, or box) is placed over the stack of cut tortillas  20  and the product guide  210  such that the stack of cut tortillas  20  is enclosed by the packaging  22  to become a packaged stack  21 . The sleeving process can be automated or performed manually. The automated sleeving process may include a mechanical arm that contains a supply of packaging  22  and includes motors or actuators in order to open the packaging  22  and place the packaging  22  over the stack of cut tortillas  20 . The manual sleeving processing includes a worker placing packaging  22  over each stack of cut tortillas  20  as it exits the cutting process of the system  10 . 
     After passing through the sleeving area  500 , the packaged stack  21  enters the inversion portion  501  of the system  10 .  FIGS. 10-12  depict the inversion portion  501  of the system  10 . The inversion portion  501  includes an inversion conveyor  510  which is generally C-shaped. The inversion conveyor  510  covers the exposed end of the packaged stack  21  as the packaged stack  21  is inverted. At the bottom of the inversion conveyor  510 , the open end  24  of the packaged stack  21  facing upward, while the bottom end  24  of the packaged stack  21  sits upon the inversion conveyor  510 . Advantageously, the inversion conveyor  510  allows the packaged stack  21  to be inverted automatically which improves the efficiency of the system while eliminating the risk of product becoming deformed or dropped during the inversion process. 
       FIG. 11  depicts that as the packaged stack  21  enters the inversion conveyer  510 , the base  202 , product guide  210 , and packaged stack  21  may rotate about an end portion (e.g., an end motor or roller) of the processing line  300 . The base  202 , product guide  210 , and packaged stack  21  rotate about the end portion while maintaining contact between the bottom end  24  of the packaged stack  21  and the inversion conveyor  510  to ensure that the packaging  22  and/or cut tortillas do not prematurely fall out of the product guide  210 . 
       FIG. 11  depicts the end portion of the inversion conveyor  510  in a first configuration, in which the end roller  511  of the inversion conveyor  510  is extended outward to receive the packaged stack  21 . Once the packaged stack  21  reaches the end of the inversion conveyor  510  in its first configuration, the inversion conveyor  510  is actuated and moved into a second configuration.  FIGS. 12-13  illustrate the second configuration of the inversion conveyer  510 , where actuation of an actuator (e.g., an electric motor, pneumatic cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder) causes the end roller  511  to retract. In the second configuration, the end portion  511  of the inversion conveyor  510  that was supporting the packaged stack  21  is retracted, allowing the packaged stack  21  to fall from the product guide  210  to the output portion  530  of the system  10 . 
       FIGS. 12-13  depict the packaged stack  21  falling from the product guide  210  to the output portion  530  after the end portion of the inversion conveyor  510  has been actuated and moved into its retracted second configuration. Advantageously, the packaged stack  21  falls to the output portion  530  due to gravity, which saves power and eliminates the need for manual labor to remove the finished product from the system. The packaged stack  21  falls enough to become separated from the product guide  210 . The packaged stack  21  is caught or received by the output portion  530  of the system  10 . 
       FIGS. 12-14  illustrate the output portion  530  of the system  10 . The output portion  530  includes a discharge line and a discharge conveyor or arm  531 . The packaged stack  21  falls onto or is otherwise received by the discharge line  530 , such that the open end  24  of the packaged stack  21  is facing upward. The discharge conveyor or arm  531  can then be actuated by an actuator (e.g., an electric motor, pneumatic cylinder, or hydraulic cylinder), which moves the discharge conveyor or arm  531  against the packaged stack  21  and pushes or slides the packaged stack out of the system  10  to an output conveyor or output receiving area for additional packaging or processing. Optionally, one or more of the sleeving areas  500 , the inversion portion  501 , or the output portion  530  of the system  10  may be eliminated such that the stack of tortillas  20  passes through the cutting process of the one or more cutting stations  400  and is then output to a bulk receptacle or transported (e.g., by conveyor belt, vacuum, or other conveying means) away from the system  10  for additional processing or packaging. 
     In the above detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. Thus, in some embodiments, part numbers may be used for similar components in multiple figures, or part numbers may vary depending from figure to figure. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure. 
     The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems, devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intended to fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment are interchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from a depicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments in any combination. For example, any of the various components described herein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged or excluded from other embodiments. 
     With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). 
     In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). 
     It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patent applications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosure contained in the specification, the specification is intended to supersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material. 
     The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. 
     The above description discloses several methods and materials of the present invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in the methods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methods and equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of the invention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that this invention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but that it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the true scope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims.