Patent Publication Number: US-2022217241-A1

Title: Management system and management apparatus configured to update previously stored location information, using location information transmitted from image forming apparatus to which location information was requested, and image forming apparatus

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-001559 filed on Jan. 7, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a technique to manage installation locations of image forming apparatuses. 
     A system is known in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses (e.g., multifunction peripherals) are connected via a network. When the installation location of the image forming apparatus is properly managed in such a system, the user can easily cause a closest one of the image forming apparatuses to output a printed matter, from his/her own personal computer. Accordingly, some techniques to manage the location of devices have been developed. 
     SUMMARY 
     The disclosure proposes further improvement of the foregoing technique. 
     In an aspect, the disclosure provides a management system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a management apparatus. The management apparatus includes a storage device, a first operation device, a first communication device, and a first control device. In the storage device, location information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses is stored. The first operation device is for receiving an instruction of a user. The first communication device makes data communication with the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The first control device includes a processor, and acts as a first controller when the processor operates according to a first control program. The first controller requests, when the first operation device receives a first instruction for designating one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the designated image forming apparatus to transmit the location information, through the first communication device, and updates, upon receipt of the location information transmitted from the designated image forming apparatus in response to the request, through the first communication device, the location information stored in the storage device, using the received location information. The image forming apparatus includes a first display device, a second operation device, a second communication device, an alert device, and a second control device. The second operation device is for receiving an instruction of a user. The second communication device makes data communication with the management apparatus. The alert device outputs a notice to outside the image forming apparatus. The second control device includes a processor, and acts as a second controller when the processor operates according to a second control program. The second controller causes the first display device to display a screen urging the user to input an installation location of the image forming apparatus, and causes the alert device to output the notice, when the second communication device receives the request transmitted from the management apparatus, and transmits, when the second operation device receives the input of the installation location, the location information indicating the installation location that has been received, to the management apparatus through the second communication device. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure provides a management apparatus including a storage device, a first operation device, a first communication device, and a first control device. In the storage device, location information of each of a plurality of image forming apparatuses is stored. The first operation device is for receiving an instruction of a user. The first communication device makes data communication with the plurality of image forming apparatuses. The first control device includes a processor, and acts as a first controller when the processor operates according to a first control program. The first controller requests, when the first operation device receives a first instruction for designating one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses, the designated image forming apparatus to transmit the location information, through the first communication device, and updates, upon receipt of the location information transmitted from the designated image forming apparatus in response to the request, through the first communication device, the location information stored in the storage device, using the received location information. 
     In still another aspect, the disclosure provides an image forming apparatus including a first display device, a second operation device, a second communication device, an alert device, and a second control device. The second operation device is for receiving an instruction of a user. The second communication device makes data communication with a management apparatus. The alert device outputs a notice to outside the image forming apparatus. The second control device includes a processor, and acts as a second controller when the processor operates according to a second control program. The second controller causes the first display device to display a screen urging the user to input an installation location of the image forming apparatus, and causes the alert device to output the notice, when the second communication device receives a request to transmit the location information of the image forming apparatus, transmitted from the management apparatus, and transmits, when the second operation device receives the input of the installation location, the location information indicating the installation location that has been received, to the management apparatus through the second communication device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a management system according to a first embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram showing an essential internal configuration of a management apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a table showing an example of apparatus information; 
         FIG. 4A  to  FIG. 4C  are schematic diagrams each showing an example of a floor map; 
         FIG. 5  is a table showing an example of location information; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic drawing showing an example of a second operation screen; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic drawing showing an example of a third operation screen; 
         FIG. 8A  is an enlarged view of a lower left section of the third operation screen; 
         FIG. 8B  is an enlarged view of an upper right section of the third operation screen; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic drawing showing an example of a first operation screen; 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram showing an essential internal configuration of an image forming apparatus; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart showing an example of an updating process of the location information; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic drawing showing an example of a pop-up screen; and 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a management system according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereafter, a management system, a management apparatus, and an image forming apparatus according to some embodiments of the disclosure will be described, with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of the management system according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. 
     The management system Sy includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  and the management apparatus  2 , located on a network such as the internet. The image forming apparatus  1  is a multifunction peripheral having a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, a scanning function, and a facsimile function. The management apparatus  2  is, for example, a personal computer (PC) server. The management apparatus  2  manages the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1 . The terminal device  3  is, for example, a PC. The terminal devices  3  can instruct a desired image forming apparatus  1  to execute a printing operation. 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram showing an essential internal configuration of the management apparatus  2 . The management apparatus  2  includes a control device  21 , an operation device  22 , a display device  23 , a storage device  24 , and a communication device  25 . The mentioned devices can transmit and receive data or signals to and from one another, through a communication path. 
     The operation device  22  includes a keyboard and a mouse. The user can input a command or a character through the keyboard, and move the pointer on the screen of the display device  23 , using the mouse. The operation device  22  receives instructions inputted by the user. 
     The display device  23  is, for example, constituted of a liquid crystal display (LCD). The display device  23  displays a response or data, outputted from the control device  21 . 
     The storage device  24  is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD). The storage device  24  contains various control programs. The storage device  24  includes, as storage regions, an apparatus information storage device  241 , a floor map storage device  242 , and a location information storage device  243 . 
     In the apparatus information storage device  241 , apparatus information about each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1 , which are the objects of the management, is stored, in association with an identification number.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example of the apparatus information. 
     The apparatus information storage device  241  contains the apparatus information such as model name, IP address, toner information, and apparatus status, in association with the identification number (Serial number). The toner information indicates the article name or remaining amount of each of a cyan toner, a magenta toner, a yellow toner, and a black toner. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the apparatus information such as the model name “ABC3050c”, the IP address “10.191.21.60”, and the apparatus status of “Ready” is stored in the apparatus information storage device  241 , in association with the identification number “N34000012”. 
     In the floor map storage device  242 , floor maps of the building in which the image forming apparatuses  1  are installed, are stored. For example, when the office in which the image forming apparatuses  1  are installed occupies three floors in the building, the floor maps FM 15  to FM 17 , each indicating a plurality of sections (locations) arranged on the floor as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , are stored in the floor map storage device  242 . 
     The floor map FM 15  shows the floor map of the 15th floor of the building. The floor map FM 16  shows the floor map of the 16th floor of the building. The floor map FM 17  shows the floor map of the 17th floor of the building. The floor map FM 15  shows 30 sections numbered as “15-A1” to “15-H4”, and two building columns. The section numbers “15-A1” to “15-H4” each correspond to a possible installation location for the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     In the location information storage device  243 , the location information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  to be managed is stored.  FIG. 5  illustrates an example of the location information. 
     In the location information storage device  243 , the section number (room number) of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  is stored, in association with the identification number (serial number). For example, the section number “15-C3” is stored in association with the identification number “N34000012”, in the location information storage device  243 . 
     The communication device  25  is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices located inside a local area or on the internet. For example, the communication device  25  makes data communication with the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  and the plurality of terminal devices  3 . 
     The control device  21  includes a processor, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and an exclusive hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a central processing device (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing device (MPU). 
     The control device  21  acts as a controller  210  and a display controller  211 , when the processor operates according to a first control program stored in the storage device  24 . The controller  210  controls the overall operation of the management apparatus  2 . To be more detailed, the controller  210  is connected to the operation device  22 , the display device  23 , the storage device  24 , and the communication device  25 . The controller  210  controls the operation of the mentioned devices, and transmits and receives signals and data to and from the mentioned devices. For example, the controller  210  stores the apparatus information transmitted from the image forming apparatus  1  in the apparatus information storage device  241 , in association with the identification number of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     The display controller  211  controls the displaying operation of the display device  23 . For example, upon receipt of an instruction for requesting display of the map showing the installation location of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1 , through the operation device  22 , the display controller  211  generates a floor map in which the apparatus information of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  is indicated in the installation location of the corresponding image forming apparatus  1 , using the location information stored in the location information storage device  243  and the apparatus information stored in the apparatus information storage device  241 , and causes the display device  23  to display a second operation screen SC 1 , showing the floor map generated as above, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In this example, the display controller  211  causes the display device  23  to display “15th floor map” in the second operation screen SC 1 , and the apparatus information (model name, IP address, and apparatus status) in the sections numbered as “15-A1”, “15-C3”, and “15-F2”. 
     For example, when the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1  having the identification number “N34000012” is the section numbered as “15-C3” as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the image forming apparatus  1  having the identification number “N34000012” has the model name “ABC3050c” and the IP address “10.191.21.60”, and is in the apparatus status “Ready”, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the display controller  211  causes the display device  23  to display “ABC3050c”, “10.191.21.60”, and “Ready” in the section numbered as “15-C3”, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The display controller  211  also causes the display device  23  to display an operation key K 1  representing a left-pointing arrow, and an operation key K 2  representing a right-pointing arrow, in the second operation screen SC 1 . When the operation device  22  receives a switching instruction of the floor map according to a user&#39;s operation performed on the operation key K 1  of the operation key K 2 , the display controller  211  switches the floor map to be displayed on the second operation screen SC 1 . 
     In addition, when the operation device  22  receives an instruction to display the apparatus information (device properties) of the image forming apparatus  1 , the display controller  211  causes the display device  23  to display a third operation screen SC 2 , indicating the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus  1  to be managed, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 8A  is an enlarged view of a lower left section of the third operation screen SC 2  (section Y surrounded by a dotted circle). As shown therein, the display controller  211  causes the display device  23  to display the model name “ABC3050c”, “identification number (serial number): N34000012”, “IP address (IP address): 10.191.21.60”, and “apparatus status: Ready”, in the lower left section of the third operation screen SC 2 . 
       FIG. 8B  is an enlarged view of an upper right section of the third operation screen SC 2  (section X surrounded by a dotted circle). The display controller  211  causes the display device  23  to display the model name “ABC3050c” and the IP address “10.191.21.60” in the upper right section of the third operation screen SC 2 , with an operation key K 3  representing an upward arrow and an operation key K 4  representing a downward arrow displayed on the right of the first mentioned display. The display controller  211  also causes the display device  23  to display an operation key K 5  representing a sign of a loudspeaker on the lower side of the operation key K 4 , with a character string “locate device” displayed under the operation key K 5 . 
     When the operation device  22  receives the switching instruction of the apparatus information according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 3  or operation key K 4 , the display controller  211  switches the apparatus information to be displayed on the third operation screen SC 2 , according to the order of the identification number. 
     For example, when the operation device  22  receives the switching instruction of the apparatus information according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 4 , while the third operation screen SC 2  shown in  FIG. 7  is displayed on the display device  23  (i.e., while the apparatus information related to the identification number “N34000012” is displayed), the display controller  211  switches the display of the apparatus information, by retrieving the apparatus information related to the identification number “N34000013” from the apparatus information storage device  241 , and displaying the retrieved information. 
     When the operation device  22  receives an instruction to transmit the location information, according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 5 , the controller  210  requests, through the communication device  25 , the image forming apparatus  1  corresponding to the apparatus information displayed on the display device  23  at the time that the user&#39;s instruction has been received, to transmit the location information. 
     For example, when the operation device  22  receives the instruction to transmit the location information according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 5 , while the third operation screen SC 2  shown in  FIG. 7  is displayed on the display device  23  (i.e., while the apparatus information related to the identification number “N34000012” is displayed), the controller  210  requests, through the communication device  25 , the image forming apparatus  1  having the identification number “N34000012” (IP address “10.191.21.60”), to transmit the location information. In other words, when the operation device  22  receives the instruction for designating one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1  being managed (in this case, the transmission instruction), the controller  210  requests the designated image forming apparatus  1  to transmit the location information, through the communication device  25 . 
     In addition, when making the mentioned request, the controller  210  transmits, to the image forming apparatus  1  through the communication device  25 , an image representing a first operation screen for urging the user to select one of the plurality of possible installation locations registered in advance (in this case, the plurality of section numbers shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an example of the first operation screen. The first operation screen SC 3  includes, for example, the floor map FM 15  showing the plurality of section numbers, an operation key K 6  indicating a character string “submit”, an operation key K 7  representing a sign of an upward triangle, and an operation key K 8  representing a sign of a downward triangle. A plurality of rectangular regions representing the respective section numbers each serve as a selection key. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , when a communication device  91  receives the aforementioned image transmitted from the management apparatus  2 , a controller  100  of the image forming apparatus  1  causes a display device  473  to display the first operation screen SC 3 . The first operation screen SC 3  has a tier structure, which is switchable. In this case, the controller  100  causes the display device  473  to display the floor map FM 15  of the 15th floor in the first tier, the floor map FM 16  of the 16th floor in the second tier, and the floor map FM 17  of the 17th floor in the third tier. The tier can be switched by the controller  100 , when an operation device  47  receives the instruction to switch the tier, according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 7  or operation key K 8 . The operation key K 6  will be subsequently described. 
     Upon receipt, through the communication device  25  (exemplifying the first communication device), of the location information transmitted from the designated image forming apparatus  1  in response to the request, the controller  210  updates the location information stored in the location information storage device  243 , using the location information that has been received. 
       FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram showing an essential internal configuration of the image forming apparatus  1 . The image forming apparatus  1  includes a control device  10 , a document feeding device  6 , a document reading device  5 , an image forming device  12 , a fixing device  13 , a paper feeding device  14 , the operation device  47 , the communication device  91 , a storage device  7 , and an alert device  8 . 
     The document feeding device  6  is openably mounted on the upper face of the document reading device  5 , via a hinge. The document feeding device  6  serves as a document retention cover, when the source document placed on a platen glass is to be read. The document feeding device  6  is an automatic document feeder (ADF) including a document tray. The document feeding device  6  feeds the source document placed on the document tray, to the document reading device  5 . 
     To perform the document reading operation, the image forming apparatus  1  operates as follows. The document reading device  5  optically reads the image on a source document delivered from the document feeding device  6  to the document reading device  5 , or placed on a platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading device  5  is stored, for example, in an image memory. 
     To perform the image forming operation, the image forming apparatus  1  operates as follows. The image forming device  12  forms a toner image on a recording sheet delivered from the paper feeding device  14 , on the basis of the image data generated through the document reading operation, image data stored in the image memory, or image data received from a computer connected via a network. 
     The fixing device  13  heats and presses the recording sheet on which the toner image has been formed by the image forming device  12 , to thereby fix the toner image on the recording sheet. The recording sheet that has undergone the fixing process is delivered to an output tray. The paper feeding device  14  includes one or more paper cassettes. 
     The operation device  47  receives instructions from the user to execute the functions and operations that the image forming apparatus  1  is configured to perform, for example the image forming operation. The operation device  47  includes a display device  473  for displaying, for example, an operation guide for the user. The display device  473  includes a touch panel, so that the operation device  47  can receive the user&#39;s instruction inputted by user&#39;s operation (for example, touch operation) on the operation screen displayed on the display device  473 . 
     The display device  473  includes, for example, an LCD. The display device  473  also includes a touch panel. When the user touches a button or a key displayed on the display device  473 , the touch panel receives the instruction corresponding to the touched position. 
     The communication device  91  is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from external devices located inside a local area or on the internet. For example, the communication device  91  makes data communication with the management apparatus  2  and the plurality of terminal devices  3 . The storage device  7  is, for example, an HDD or an SSD. The storage device  7  contains various control programs. 
     The alert device  8  outputs a notice to attract the attention of the user, to outside the image forming apparatus  1 . The alert device  8  may be, for example, an audio output device that outputs voices and sounds. 
     The control device  10  includes a processor, a RAM, a ROM, and an exclusive hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU, an ASIC, or an MPU. 
     The control device  10  acts as the controller  100 , when the processor operates according to a second control program stored in the storage device  7 . Here, the controller  100  may be constituted in the form of a hardware circuit, instead of being realized by the control device  10  according to the control program. This also applies to other embodiments, unless otherwise specifically noted. 
     The controller  100  controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus  1 . The controller  100  is connected to the document feeding device  6 , the document reading device  5 , the image forming device  12 , the fixing device  13 , the paper feeding device  14 , the operation device  47 , the communication device  91 , the storage device  7 , and the alert device  8 , to control the operation of the mentioned components. 
     For example, when the communication device  91  receives the request transmitted from the management apparatus  2 , the controller  100  causes the display device  473  to display a screen for urging the user to input the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1 , and causes the alert device  8  to output the notice. When the operation device  47  receives the input of the installation location made by the user, the controller  100  transmits the location information indicating the installation location that has been inputted, to the management apparatus  2  through the communication device  91 . 
     Referring now to the flowchart shown in  FIG. 11 , an example of a location information updating process, performed by the control device  21  of the management apparatus  2  and the control device  10  of the image forming apparatus  1 , will be described hereunder. 
     When the operation device  22  receives the instruction to transmit the location information, according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 5  in the third operation screen SC 2  shown in  FIG. 8B , the controller  210  of the management apparatus  2  starts the location information updating process shown in  FIG. 11 , and requests, through the communication device  25 , the image forming apparatus  1  corresponding to the apparatus information displayed on the display device  23  at the time that the user&#39;s operation has been received, to transmit the location information (step S 1 ). When doing so, the controller  210  transmits the image representing the first operation screen SC 3  shown in  FIG. 9  to the image forming apparatus  1 , through the communication device  25 . However, the controller  210  may transmit the first operation screen SC 3  beforehand, to the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     When the communication device  91  receives the mentioned request transmitted from the management apparatus  2  (step S 2 ), the controller  100  of the image forming apparatus  1  causes the display device  473  to display a pop-up screen PU 1  titled as “Set Location” as shown in  FIG. 12 , as a screen for urging the user to input the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1  (step S 3 ). The controller  100  also causes the alert device  8  to output the notice sound to outside the image forming apparatus  1  (step S 4 ). 
     The controller  100  causes the display device  473  to include a message M 1  as “Someone is looking for this device. Please set its location.”, and an operation key K 9  representing a character string “Device location setting”, in the pop-up screen PU 1 . Thus, the controller  100  causes the display device  473  to display the pop-up screen PU 1 , including the message for urging the user present around the image forming apparatus  1 , to input the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     It is for the purpose of making the user recognize the pop-up screen PU 1  displayed on the display device  473 , by attracting the attention of the user present around the image forming apparatus  1 , thereby urging the user to cooperate in inputting the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1 , that the controller  100  causes the alert device  8  to output the notice sound. 
     When the operation device  47  receives the instruction to display the first operation screen SC 3 , according to the user&#39;s operation on the operation key K 9  in the pop-up screen PU 1  (step S 5 ), the controller  100  causes the display device  473  to display the first operation screen SC 3  shown in  FIG. 9 , transmitted from the management apparatus  2  and received by the communication device  91  (step S 6 ). 
     Thereafter, when the operation device  47  receives the user&#39;s operation performed on one of the plurality of selection keys in the first operation screen SC 3 , respectively representing the plurality of section numbers, and on the operation key K 6  (step S 7 ), the controller  100  transmits the location information indicating the section number corresponding to the selected key, to the management apparatus  2  through the communication device  91  (step S 8 ). 
     In other words, when the operation device  47  receives the instruction to select one of the plurality of possible installation locations (in this case, the plurality of section numbers shown in  FIG. 9 ), the controller  100  transmits the location information indicating the selected one of the possible installation locations as the installation location, to the management apparatus  2  through the communication device  91 . For example, when the user touches the selection key indicating the section number “15-B2”, and then touches the operation key K 6 , the controller  100  transmits the location information indicating the section number “15-B2”, to the management apparatus  2 . 
     Upon receipt of the location information transmitted from the image forming apparatus  1  through the communication device  25  (step S 9 ), the controller  210  of the management apparatus  2  updates the location information stored in the location information storage device  243 , using the location information that has been received (step S 10 ). After step S 10 , the controller  210  finishes the location information updating process. Through the mentioned process, the location information stored in the location information storage device  243  is updated to the correct information, provided that the user present around the image forming apparatus  1  correctly inputs the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1 . 
     Here, known techniques to identify the location of the image forming apparatus include utilizing the global positioning system (GPS). However, when the image forming apparatus is located in a circumstance where the GPS is unavailable, the method of utilizing the GPS is unable to be employed to accurately identify the location of the image forming apparatus. 
     With the arrangement according to the first embodiment, in contrast, the management apparatus  2  updates the location information stored in the location information storage device  243 , using the location information inputted by the user. In other words, the installation location of the image forming apparatus  1  can be identified on the basis of the location information, inputted through the cooperation of the user present around the image forming apparatus  1 , instead of depending on the GPS like the known technique, so that the location information of the image forming apparatus  1  being managed can be updated. Therefore, the installation location of each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses  1 , the objects of the management, can be more properly managed. 
     Further, the image forming apparatus  1  not only displays the pop-up screen PU 1  for urging the user to input the installation location, but also outputs the notice sound to outside the image forming apparatus, to attract the attention of the user, when the request to transmit the location information is received. Such an arrangement further assures that the user cooperates in inputting the location information. 
     Although the storage device  24  of the management apparatus  2  according to the first embodiment includes the apparatus information storage device  241 , the floor map storage device  242 , and the location information storage device  243 , the disclosure is not limited to such a configuration.  FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a management system according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the management system Sy according to the second embodiment further includes a server  4 . In the second embodiment, the server  4  includes the apparatus information storage device  241 , the floor map storage device  242 , and the location information storage device  243 . The management apparatus  2  can make access to the server  4  whenever necessary, to retrieve required information from the storage devices  241 ,  242 , and  243 , and update the information. In this case, the management apparatus  2  and the server  4  correspond to the “management apparatus” in the disclosure. 
     The disclosure may be modified in various manners, without limitation to the foregoing embodiments. For example, although the embodiments take up the MFP as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the disclosure, the disclosure is also applicable to various other image forming apparatuses having a copying function, a printing function, or a facsimile function. 
     The configurations and processings described with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 13  are merely exemplary, and in no way intended to limit the disclosure to those configurations and processings. 
     While the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art the various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope defined by the appended claims.