Patent Publication Number: US-2009235691-A1

Title: System and Method for Configuring a Glass Hardening System Capable of Transition between Configurations for Annealing and Tempering Glass Objects

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application contains subject matter which is related to the subject matter of the following co-pending applications, each of which is assigned to the same assignee as this application, The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. Each of the below listed applications is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety: 
     The present application is a continuation in part application of an application entitled ‘METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRENGTHENING GLASS’, inventor Postupack et al., filed Mar. 31, 2004 and assigned Ser. No. 10/813,435. 
    
    
     TRADEMARKS 
     COCA-COLA® is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta, Ga., U.S.A. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks or product names of The Coca-Cola Company or other companies. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a glass hardening system and method capable of transition between configurations for annealing and tempering glass objects and in particular to a glass hardening system comprising a conveyor system, a glass object positioning system, a tempering chamber, and a plurality of temperature zones oriented to form a tunnel through which glass objects are conveyed by a conveyor system. The temperature zones can be set to implement a temperature profile for either annealing or tempering the glass objects. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment an annealing lehr can be configured to temper glass objects by making a portion of the conveyor system accessible to the glass object positioning system after preheating, such that the glass object positioning system can temporarily relocate the glass objects from the conveyor into a tempering chamber and then return the glass objects to the conveyor system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Before our invention  FIG. 1A  illustrates a prior art glass hardening manufacture which includes vessel a forming station  102 , an annealing station  104 , and a packaging and palletizing station  106 . In this prior art embodiment vessels are formed in the vessel forming station  102  and conveyed to an annealing lehr station  104 . Prior art annealing lehr station  104  has a dedicated function of annealing the newly formed vessels. Exiting the annealing lehr station  104  the vessels are then packaged and palletized at station  106  for storage and shipment. In a prior art embodiment, should tempering of the vessels be preferred over annealing a separate dedicated tempering station needs to be installed.  FIG. 1B  illustrates such a dedicated tempering station  108 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B  there is a prior art glass hardening manufacture including a vessel forming station  102 , an annealing station  104 , a tempering station  108 , and packaging and palletizing station  106 . This prior art embodiment illustrates how a separate dedicated tempering system  108  needs to be installed and the vessels routed between an annealing station  104  and a tempering station  108  should selectivity between annealing and tempering vessel hardening systems be desired. 
     Shortcomings of using a dedicate tempering station  108  is that production line speed can be slower for the tempering process requiring the vessels to be stored and or staged between the vessel forming station  102  and tempering station  108 . This requires additional conveying equipment and can lead to vessel quality problems. 
     There is a long felt need to be able to be able to transition between annealing and tempering vessels without having to purchase, install, and pay the cost to operate a separate dedicate tempering station. In addition, there is a desire to avoid negatively impacting production line speed, and thus avoid having to add additional conveying line to accommodate the need to store and or stage the formed vessels prior to tempering. Furthermore, there is a need to overcome the shortcoming of the prior art to improve vessel quality and use less energy by not having to operate a separate dedicate tempering station. There is also a need to be able to leverage a large install base of annealing lehr equipment to anneal and temper glass vessel, rather than having to purchase, install, and operate additional dedicated tempering stations equipment. These and other shortcoming gives rise to the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a glass hardening system capable of transition between configurations for annealing and tempering glass objects. The glass hardening system comprising: a conveyor system, a glass object positioning system, a tempering chamber, and a plurality of temperature zones oriented to form a tunnel with openings on either end of the tunnel through which a plurality of glass objects are conveyed by the conveyor system. Each of the plurality of temperature zones being either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones having an adjustable temperature such that the plurality of temperature zones can be set to implement a temperature profile necessary for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects. Wherein the glass hardening system is configured to anneal the plurality of glass objects when the tunnel remains sealed except for openings on either end to allow ingress and egress of the plurality of glass objects and the temperature profile implemented is an annealing temperature profile. The glass hardening system is transitioned to temper the plurality of glass objects when the glass hardening system is configured such that a portion of the conveyor system is accessible to the glass object positioning system after preheating of the plurality of glass objects, such that the glass object positioning system can temporarily relocate a portion of the plurality of glass objects from the conveyor system into the tempering chamber, wherein the portion of the plurality of glass objects are tempered and then the portion of the plurality of glass objects is returned to the conveyor system to complete the temperature profile. 
     Additional shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method of configuring a glass hardening system capable of transition between configurations for annealing and tempering glass objects. The method comprising: orientating a plurality of temperature zones to form a tunnel with openings on either end of the tunnel through which a plurality of glass objects are conveyed by a conveyor system. Each of the plurality of temperature zones being either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones having an adjustable temperature, such that the plurality of temperature zones can be set to implement a temperature profile necessary for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects. Setting the temperature profile for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects. Configuring selectively the glass hardening system to anneal the plurality of glass objects by causing the tunnel to remain sealed except for opening on either end to allow ingress and egress of the plurality of glass objects. Configuring selectively the glass hardening system to temper the plurality of glass objects by making a portion of the conveyor system accessible to a glass object positioning system after preheating of the plurality of glass objects, such that the glass object positioning system can temporarily relocate a portion of the plurality of glass objects from the conveyor system into a tempering chamber. Wherein the portion of the plurality of glass objects is tempered and then the portion of the plurality of glass objects is returned to the conveyor. Conveying the plurality of glass objects through the plurality of temperature zones exposing each of the plurality of glass object to the temperature profile, wherein the plurality of glass objects are either annealed or tempered. 
     Additional shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision of a method of configuring an annealing lehr to temper glass objects. The method comprising: orientating a plurality of temperature zones to form a tunnel with openings on either end of the tunnel through which a plurality of glass objects are conveyed by a conveyor system. Each of the plurality of temperature zones being either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones having an adjustable temperature, such that the plurality of temperature zones can be set to implement a temperature profile necessary for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects. Configuring the annealing lehr to temper the plurality of glass objects by making a portion of the conveyor system accessible to a glass object positioning system after preheating of the plurality of glass objects. Setting the temperature profile for tempering the plurality of glass objects. Conveying the plurality of glass object through the plurality of temperature zones exposing each of the plurality of glass object to the temperature profile. Relocating by way of the glass object positioning system a portion of the plurality of glass objects from the conveyor system into a tempering chamber. Tempering the portion of the plurality of glass objects and returning the portion of the plurality of glass objects to the conveyor system. 
     System and computer program products corresponding to the above-summarized methods are also described and claimed herein. 
     Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with advantages and features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates one example of a prior art glass hardening manufacture including a vessel forming station, an annealing station, and a packaging and palletizing station  106 ; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates one example of a prior art glass hardening manufacture including a vessel forming station, an annealing station, a tempering station, and a packaging and palletizing station; 
         FIG. 2A-2B  illustrates two examples of glass objects; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates one example of a glass hardening system configured as an annealing lehr with a plurality of temperature zones shown with a corresponding temperature graph and temperature profile for annealing a plurality of glass objects; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates one example of a glass hardening system configured for tempering with a plurality of temperature zones, robot system, and tempering chamber shown with a corresponding temperature graph and temperature profile for tempering a plurality of glass objects; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates one example of a glass hardening system configured for simultaneously tempering a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects; 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates one example of a glass hardening system configured for simultaneously tempering a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects with the tempering chamber located on top of at least one of the temperature zones; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one example of a method of configuring a glass hardening system capable of transition between configurations for annealing and tempering glass objects; and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates one example of a method for configuring an annealing lehr to temper glass objects. 
     
    
    
     The detailed description explains the preferred embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention of the present invention overcomes the need to have separate annealing and tempering systems instead effectuating the ability to selectively choose between annealing and tempering through the use of a single annealing lehr. Such an anneal lehr can be a E. W. BOWMAN, AMERICAN PENNEKAMP, or other type and or kind of annealing lehr, as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. For purposes of disclosure referring to  FIGS. 2A-2B  there is illustrated two examples of glass objects.  FIG. 2A  illustrates a bottle  302  and  FIG. 2B  illustrates a vessel  302 . Bottle  302  and vessel  302  can be referred to as vessel  302  or glass object  302 . In addition, the processing of a plurality of vessels  302  can also be referred to as a plurality of glass objects  302  or  302 A- 302 F as shown in  FIGS. 3A-3D . For purposes of disclosure tempering can also be referred to as heat strengthening. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A  there is illustrated one example of a glass hardening system configured as an annealing lehr  202  with a plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I shown with a corresponding temperature graph  304  and temperature profile  306  for annealing a plurality of glass objects  302 A- 302 B. In an exemplary embodiment, an annealing lehr can comprise a plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I. The plurality of temperature zones can be oriented to form a tunnel with openings on either end of the tunnel through which a plurality of glass objects  302 A- 302 B can be conveyed by a conveyor system  206 . Each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I are either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I have an adjustable temperature, such that the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I can be set to implement a temperature profile  304  necessary for, in this embodiment, annealing the plurality of glass objects  302  also referred to as  302 A- 302 B. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the glass hardening system is configured to anneal the plurality of glass objects  302  when the tunnel remains sealed except for openings on either end to allow ingress and egress of the plurality of glass objects shown as  302 A- 302 B and the temperature profile  306  implemented is an annealing temperature profile. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 3A  is temperature graph  304  showing an annealing temperature profile  306  that corresponds to the temperature setting of each of the plurality temperature zones  202 A- 202 I. As example and not a limitation, according to the temperature profile  306 , temperature zone heater H 1   202 A increases the temperature of the plurality of glass object at position  302 A entering the annealing lehr  210 . Temperature zone heater H 2   202 B holds the plurality of glass object at a constant temperature. Temperature zones heater H 3   202 C through heater Hn  202 F gradually decrease the temperature of the plurality of glass objects  302 A. Temperature zones cooler C 1 -Cn then cools the plurality of glass objects. The conveyor system  206  transports the plurality of glass objects at position  302 A from the vessel former  102  through the glass hardening system  210 . The plurality of glass objects shown at position  302 B exit the glass hardening system  210  and are conveyed to other manufacturing steps, as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. 
     In a plurality of embodiment the number of temperature zones can vary. In this regard,  FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a varying number of heating zones as heaters H 1 -Hn and a varying number of cooling zones as coolers C 1 -Cn. 
     For disclosure purposes a plurality of glass objects  302 A is a collection of vessels  302  and can be organized in a row to effectuate the processing of moving many vessels  302  at a time. In production such rows of vessels  302  are in continuous motion to and through the glass hardening system  210 . A select row or rows of vessels  302  can be referred to as a portion of a plurality of glass objects  302 . The  FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrates a row, rows, and the relative location in the manufacturing process of a portion of a plurality of glass objects referenced as  302 A- 302 F. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B  there is illustrated one example of a glass hardening system configured for tempering with a plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I, glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B, and tempering chamber  208  shown with a corresponding temperature graph  304  showing a temperature profile  306 A- 306 B for tempering a plurality of glass objects. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a glass hardening system initially designed for annealing glass objects can be transitioned and configured to temper glass objects. 
     An advantage of the present invention is that a separate glass hardening system for tempering glass object does not need to be purchased. Another advantage is that the conveyor system and production line speed does not need to be altered and that an annealing lehr can be transitioned and configured between an annealing and a tempering method to hardening the glass objects  302 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a glass hardening system initially configured for annealing glass objects can be transitioned to temper a plurality of glass objects. In this regard, the glass hardening system can be configured such that a portion of the conveyor system  206  is accessible to a glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B. Such glass object positioning can occur after the preheating stage of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 B. The glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B can temporarily relocate a portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 B from the conveyor system  206  into the tempering chamber  208 , wherein the portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 C are tempered. The portions of the plurality of glass objects, at position  302 D, are returned to the conveyor system  206  to complete the temperature profile and method. The plurality of glass object exit at position  306 F. 
     In this embodiment, tempering chamber  208  is located between temperature zones  202 F and  202 H. Alternatively,  FIG. 3D  illustrates the tempering chamber  208  being located on top of at least one of the temperature zones such as temperature zone  202 F. 
     Also illustrated in  FIG. 3B  is temperature graph  304  showing a tempering temperature profile  306 A- 306 B that corresponds to the temperature setting of each of a plurality temperature zones. As example and not a limitation, temperature zone heater H 1   202 A increases the temperature of the plurality of glass object  302 A as they entering the glass hardening system  210  to a pre heat temperature following the temperature profile  306 A. Temperature zone heater H 2   202 B through heater Hn  202 F hold the plurality of glass object at a constant preheat temperature. In an exemplary embodiment, the input temperature of the plurality of glass objects  302 A varies in the range of 550 degrees Celsius and the stable preheat temperature is in the range of 700 degrees Celsius. 
     The conveyor system  206  transports the plurality of glass objects at position  302 A from the vessel former  102  through the glass hardening system  210 . A portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 B exiting the preheating phase and are then relocated by way of the glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B from the conveyor system  206  into a tempering chamber  208 . The portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 C is then tempered. Such tempering can be effectuated by way of blowing gas or liquid on the portion of the plurality of the glass objects at position  302 C while the portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 C are in the tempering chamber  208 . In an exemplary embodiment, the gas can be air or other gas, as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. The portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 D is then returned to the conveyor system  206  without interruption to the plurality of glass objects being transported along the conveyor system  206 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment when the portion of the plurality of glass objects at position  302 D are returned to the conveyor system  206  they continue through the temperature profile  306 B entering the remaining temperature zones  202 H- 202 I and exit the glass hardening system at position  302 F. The plurality of glass objects can then be conveyed to other manufacturing processes as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. 
     In a plurality of embodiment the number of temperature zones can vary. In this regard,  FIGS. 3A-3D  illustrate a varying number of heating zones as heater H 1 -Hn and a varying number of cooling zones as cooler C 1 -Cn. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3C  there is illustrated a glass hardening system configured for simultaneously tempering of a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects  302 . In an exemplary embodiment, the tempering chamber  208  and the robot system  204 A- 204 B can be configured to temper simultaneously a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects shown at positions  302 A- 302 C, wherein the number of the plurality of rows can be determined based on conveyor system  206  speed, as the conveyor  206  moves glass objects  302  through the glass hardening system  210 , and amount of time required to required to transport, temper, and return the portion of the plurality of glass objects to and from positions  302 A- 302 C to the conveyor system  206 , without interruption to the plurality of glass objects being transported along the conveyor system. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3D  there is illustrated one example of a glass hardening system  210  configured for simultaneously tempering a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects shown at positions  302 A- 302 C with the tempering chamber  208  located on top of at least one of the temperature zones  202 F. In an exemplary embodiment the tempering chamber  208  can be located on top of one of the temperature zones. In this regard, the glass object positioning system  204  can remove glass object located position  302 A from the conveyor  206  and place them in the tempering chamber  208  located on top of a temperature zone such as  202 F illustrated in the  FIG. 3D  illustrated as position  302 B. After tempering the glass object positioning system  204  can remove the glass objects at position  302 B from the tempering chamber  208  and relocate the glass object to position  302 C back on the conveyor  206  allowing the glass objects to complete the tempering temperature profile and method. 
     In this exemplary embodiment the tempering chamber  208  is located on top of at least one of the temperature zones, such as temperature zone  202 F. Alternatively,  FIG. 3B  illustrates the tempering chamber  208  being located between the temperature zones  202 F and  202 H. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  there is illustrated one example of a method of configuring a glass hardening system  210  capable of transition between configurations for annealing and tempering glass objects  302 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention a glass hardening system  210  can be configured to either anneal or temper a plurality of glass objects  302 . The method begins in block  1002 . 
     In block  1002  a plurality of temperature zones are orientated to form a tunnel with openings on either end through which a plurality of glass objects  302  are conveyed by a conveyor system  206 , each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I being either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I and can have an adjustable temperature, such that the plurality of temperature zones can be set to implement a temperature profile  306  or  306 A- 306 B as necessary for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects  302 . The method continues in block  1004 . 
     In block  1004  a temper profile  306  for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects  302  is set. The method continues in decision block  1006 . 
     In decision block  1006  a determination is made as to whether annealing or tempering is desired. If the resultant is annealing then the method continues in block  1008 . If the resultant is tempering then the method continues in block  1010 . 
     In block  1008  the glass hardening system  210  is selectively configured to anneal the plurality of glass objects  302  by causing the tunnel formed by the heating zones to remain sealed except for openings on either end to allow ingress and egress of the plurality of glass objects  302 . The method continues in block  1012 . 
     In block  1010  the glass hardening system  210  is selectively configured to temper the plurality of glass objects  302  by making a portion of the conveyor system  206  accessible to a glass object positioning system  204  or  204 A- 204 B after preheating of the plurality of glass objects  302 , such that the glass object positioning system  204  or  204 A- 204 B can temporarily relocate a portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  from the conveyor system  206  into a tempering chamber  208 , wherein the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  are tempered. The glass object positioning system  204  or  204 A- 204 B then return the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  to the conveyor  206 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, tempering can be effectuated by blowing gas or liquid on the portion of the plurality of the glass objects  302  while the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  are in the tempering chamber  208 . Such a gas can be air or other gas, as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. 
     Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the temperature zones  202 A- 202 F can be set to raise the temperature of the plurality of glass objects  302  from an initial starting temperature upon entry into the glass hardening system  210  of less than 700 degrees Celsius to a before tempering preheat temperature of approximately 700 degrees Celsius. 
     In addition, the tempering chamber  208  and the glass object positioning system  204  or  204 A- 204 B can be configured to transport and simultaneously temper a plurality of rows of a portion of the plurality of glass objects  302 , wherein the number of the plurality of rows can be determined based on conveyor system  206  speed and amount of time required to transport, temper, and return the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  to the conveyor system  206 , without interruption to the plurality of glass objects being transported along the conveyor system. The method continues in block  1012 . 
     In block  1012  the plurality of glass objects  302  are conveyed through the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I exposing each of the plurality of glass object  302  to the temperature profile  306  or  306 A- 306 B, wherein the plurality of glass objects  302  are either annealed or tempered. The method is then exited. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  there is illustrated one example of a method for configuring an annealing lehr to temper glass objects. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention can transition an annealing lehr through configuration such that hardening glass by tempering can be effectuated. The method begins in block  2002 . 
     In block  2002  a plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I can be orientated to form a tunnel with openings on either end of the tunnel through which a plurality of glass objects  302  can be conveyed by a conveyor system  206 , each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I can be either a heating zone or a cooling zone and each of the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I and can have an adjustable temperature such that the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I can be set to implement a temperature profile  306  or  306 A- 306 B as necessary for either annealing or tempering the plurality of glass objects  302 . The method continues in block  2004 . 
     In block  2004  the annealing lehr can be configured to temper the plurality of glass objects  302  by making a portion of the conveyor system  206  accessible to a glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B after preheating of the plurality of glass objects  302 . The method continues in block  2006 . 
     In block  2006  the temperature profile  306 A- 306 B is set for tempering the plurality of glass objects  302 . The method continues in block  2008 . 
     In block  2008  the plurality of glass object  302  are conveyed through the plurality of temperature zones  202 A- 202 I exposing each of the plurality of glass objects  302  to the temperature profile  306 A- 306 B. The method continues in block  2010 . 
     In block  2010  by way of the glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B a portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  can be relocated from the conveyor system  206  into a tempering chamber  208 . The method continues in block  2012 . 
     In block  2012  the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  are tempered. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, tempering can be effectuated by blowing gas or liquid on the portion of the plurality of the glass objects  302  while the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  are in the tempering chamber  208 . Such a gas can be air or other gas, as may be required and or desired in a particular embodiment. 
     Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the temperature zones  202 A- 202 F can be set to raise the temperature of the plurality of glass objects  302  from an initial starting temperature upon entry into the glass hardening system  210  of less than 700 degrees Celsius to a before tempering stable preheat temperature of approximately 700 degrees Celsius. 
     In addition, the tempering chamber  208  and the glass object positioning system  204 A- 204 B can be configured to transport and simultaneously temper a plurality of rows of the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302 , wherein the number of the plurality of rows can be determined based on conveyor system  206  speed and amount of time required to transport, temper, and return the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  to the conveyor system  206 , without interruption to the plurality of glass objects being transported along the conveyor system. The method continues in block  2014 . 
     In block  2014  the portion of the plurality of glass objects  302  are returned to the conveyor system  206 , without interruption to the plurality of glass objects  302  being transported along the conveyor system  206 . The method is then exited. 
     The capabilities of the present invention can be implemented in software, firmware, hardware or some combination thereof. 
     As one example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be included in an article of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products) having, for instance, computer usable media. The media has embodied therein, for instance, computer readable program code means for providing and facilitating the capabilities of the present invention. The article of manufacture can be included as a part of a computer system or sold separately. 
     Additionally, at least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform the capabilities of the present invention can be provided. 
     The flow diagrams depicted herein are just examples. There may be many variations to these diagrams or the steps (or operations) described therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. For instance, the steps may be performed in a differing order, or steps may be added, deleted or modified. All of these variations are considered a part of the claimed invention. 
     While the preferred embodiment to the invention has been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.