Patent Publication Number: US-8122930-B2

Title: Labeling apparatus having porting arrangement and related methods

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of labeling devices, and, more particularly, to a labeling apparatus having a rotary bellows wheel and related methods. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A packinghouse is a facility where goods, such as fruit and vegetables, are received and processed prior to distribution to market. In the typical packinghouse, the goods are first received and then sorted based upon several factors, for example, size and quality grade. Once sorted, the goods are moved through the packinghouse via conveyor belts to labeler machines, which place labels on the goods. 
     During the label application phase of processing, the speed at which the labels are applied, the accuracy of the label application, and the space required by the labeler, i.e. the labeler footprint, may be important. Speed may be important because the fruit is to be packed and shipped quickly so that the shelf life in stores will be as long as possible. Accuracy, i.e. the successful application of the proper label to the corresponding fruit, may be important for allowing the packinghouse to process produce with a label applied thereto and because packinghouse profitability is adversely affected when a label that would have permitted a higher selling price is not applied to fruit otherwise capable of commanding such higher price. 
     Space may be important because of the physical configuration of a given packinghouse. The fruit can be transported in a series of lanes, each lane conveying the fruit on a plurality of cradles connected to a conveyor belt, each cradle supporting and locating an individual fruit. The fruit in each lane is sized by conventional methods and subsequently conveyed past a plurality of labelers arranged in series or banks, each of the labelers in the series of labelers being loaded with a different label, i.e. a label imprinted with indicia to identify the size and variety of the fruit. The physical arrangement of the packinghouse often limits, without major reconstruction of the building, the number of banks of labelers it is possible to install. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,746 to Anderson et al., assigned to the present application&#39;s assignee, discloses a labeler for labeling fruit and vegetables. The labeler may include a wheel with a plurality of extendable bellows affixed thereto for placing the labels, i.e. a bellows wheel. With this type of labeler, the bellows wheel rotates individual bellows past a magazine or cassette, which dispenses the labels from a carrier strip. The labels are held in position on the end of the bellows by application of a vacuum to the bellows that is pulled through openings in the end of the bellows. The vacuum also serves to maintain the bellows in a retracted position. As the bellows wheel is rotated, thereby moving a bellows with label dispensed thereon to an application position adjacent a fruit, positive pressure is applied and the bellows is extended to contact the fruit and apply the label thereto. Although the bellows wheel type labeler has desirable advantages and features, such a labeler may have certain drawbacks. 
     More particularly, in labelers of this type, the bellows wheel typically comprises an inner housing, and a rotatable outer housing, the bellows being affixed to the rotatable outer housing. The interface between the inner and rotatable outer housings may include a precisely machined bearing surface that has tighter, more demanding tolerances and is expensive to manufacture. Moreover, the housings are typically annealed for durability, which adds to the cost of manufacture. Another potential drawback to this bellows wheel labeler is a substantial maintenance schedule, since the bearing surface is subject to constant wear. 
     Moreover, since the tolerances between the inner housing and the rotatable outer housing are tighter, the material of these parts are matched in thermal expansion coefficients to maintain efficient operation when the labeler&#39;s temperature increases. Accordingly, the bellows wheel may have to be manufactured in materials having low coefficients of thermal expansion and/or, the labeler may have cooling features to maintain a normal operating temperature. 
     The typical bellows wheel labeler includes a remote external air supply for creating the vacuum and positive pressure for respectively retracting and extending the individual bellows. The remote air supply may be coupled to a plurality of labelers via tubing. The external air supply may not be desirable in applications for a low number of labelers or where the labelers are in remote locations in the packinghouse, since this may increase packinghouse layout complexity. 
     Furthermore, the use of the external air supply may increase the lead-time for new labeler installations. Also, the external supply, for example, a blower, may heat the air supplied to the labelers, which may overtime stress the components of the bellows wheel and reduce reliability. Additionally, the bellows wheel labeler may use a complex design to manage and schedule the application of positive pressure and vacuum to the individual bellows. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a labeling apparatus that has a more efficient and readily manufactured rotary bellows wheel. 
     This and other objects, features, and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a labeling apparatus for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor. The labeling apparatus may include a frame to be positioned adjacent the article conveyor, and at least one labeler carried by the frame. The labeler may include a housing, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the housing, and a plurality of bellows carried by the rotary bellows wheel. The rotary bellows wheel and adjacent portions of the housing may define a porting arrangement for selectively connecting the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the plurality of bellows so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position. Advantageously, the peak positive internal fluid pressure applied at the label-applying position may provide for effective label applications to articles. 
     More specifically, the porting arrangement may exhaust the fluid flow to ambient to generate the peak negative internal fluid pressure. Moreover, the porting arrangement may restrict fluid flow to ambient to generate the peak positive internal fluid pressure. 
     Additionally, the rotary bellows wheel may comprise a sidewall having a first pattern of openings therein, and the adjacent portions of the housing may have a second pattern of openings therein cooperatively defining the porting arrangement with the first pattern of openings. 
     The labeler may further comprise a fluid pump providing the fluid flow and being within the housing and connected in fluid communication with the rotary bellows wheel. For example, the fluid pump may comprise an electrical motor and an impeller coupled thereto. 
     The housing may include interior portions defining at least one pressure delivery chamber extending between the fluid pump and the rotary bellows wheel. More particularly, the at least one pressure delivery chamber may comprise a positive pressure delivery chamber and a negative fluid pressure delivery chamber. 
     In some embodiments, the labeler may further comprise a label feeder carried by the housing adjacent the rotary bellows wheel. Also, the labeler may comprise a plurality thereof arranged in side-by-side relation. 
     Another aspect is directed to a method for applying labels to articles advanced along an article conveyor using at least one labeler adjacent the article conveyor and comprising a housing, a rotary bellows wheel carried by the housing and supporting a plurality of bellows. The method may comprise using a porting arrangement defined by the rotary bellows wheel and adjacent portions of the housing to selectively connect the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow and to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the labeling apparatus according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a labeler from  FIG. 1  with covering panels removed. 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the labeler from  FIG. 1  with covering panels removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the housing from the labeler of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the housing from the labeler of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the rotary bellows wheel from the labeler of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is back perspective view of the rotary bellows wheel from the labeler of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram of the rotary bellows wheel from the labeler of  FIG. 1  in the label pick-up position. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of the rotary bellows wheel from the labeler of  FIG. 1  in the label-applying position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a labeling apparatus  20  for applying labels  29  to articles F, for example, the illustrated fruit, advanced along an article conveyor  21  is now described. The labeling apparatus  20  illustratively includes a frame  22  positioned adjacent the article conveyor  21 . The labeling apparatus  20  also illustratively includes a plurality of labelers  23   a - 23   b  carried by the frame  22 , and arranged in side-by-side relation. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the article conveyor  21  positions the fruit F for application of the labels  29 , and may comprise, for example, a plurality of different sized lanes for aiding in categorization of the fruit F. The fruit F are transported in a series of lanes, each lane conveying the fruit on a plurality of cradles connected to a conveyor belt, each cradle supporting and locating an individual fruit. 
     Each labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a label supply  25   a - 25   b  comprising a label strip  28  being separable along a longitudinal centerline, and a plurality of labels  29  carried by the label strip. The label strip  28  has a shaped edge, for example, the illustrated sinusoidally shaped edge. 
     Referring now additionally to  FIGS. 2-3 , the labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a housing  31 , a rotary bellows wheel  24  carried by the housing, a plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h  carried by the rotary bellows wheel, and a fluid pump  27  within the housing and connected in fluid communication with the rotary bellows wheel. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the distal ends of each of the bellows  26   a - 26   h  have openings for applying a negative fluid pressure therethrough to retain labels  29  on the bellows. Additionally, the label supplies  25   a - 25   b  are illustratively carried by the housing  31 . In other embodiments, not shown, the label supplies  25   a - 25   b  are supported by the frame  22 . 
     As perhaps best seen in  FIG. 2 , the fluid pump  27  is internal and contained within the housing  31  of the labeler  23   a - 23   b , thereby providing a smaller footprint for the labeler since no external blower is used as in typical labelers. The fluid pump  27  provides a fluid flow for the bellows  26   a - 26   h  so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position, as described in greater detail below. 
     More specifically, the fluid pump  27  may comprise an electrical motor  39 , for example, a brushless DC motor, and an impeller  30  ( FIG. 3 ) coupled thereto. The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a bellows wheel drive motor  36  ( FIG. 3 ) carried by the housing  314  and a drive coupling, for example, the illustrated drive belt  37 , between the bellows wheel drive motor and the rotary bellows wheel  24 . Other types of drive couplings may also be used. Additionally, the labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a label feeder  40  carried by the housing  31  adjacent the rotary bellows wheel  24 . 
     The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a separation notch member  38  carried by the housing  31  for separating the label strip  28  into separated strip portions as it is advanced thereover. The bellows  26   a - 26   h  pick up the labels  29  from the separation notch member  38  and to place the labels on the fruit F advanced along the article conveyor  21 . 
     The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a pay-out motor, for example, the illustrated pay-out stepper motor  51 , ( FIG. 3 ) adjacent the label supplies  25   a - 25   b  to pay out the label strip  28  therefrom. The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a pair of take-up motors, for example, the illustrated take-up stepper motors  52   a - 52   b,  downstream from the separation notch member  38  to take up the separated strip portions. Advantageously, the labeler  23   a - 23   b  may use the pay-out and take-up stepper motors  51 ,  52   a - 52   b  to control use of label supply  25   a - 25   b . The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes an edge detector  53  ( FIG. 3 ) carried by the housing  31  for sensing at least one of the shaped edge of the label strip  28  and the labels  29 , i.e. the edge of the labels. 
     Referring now additionally to  FIGS. 4-5 , the housing  31  illustratively includes interior portions defining a pressure delivery chamber  33  extending between the fluid pump  27  and the rotary bellows wheel  24 . The pressure delivery chamber  33  illustratively includes a positive pressure delivery chamber  34  and a negative fluid pressure delivery chamber  35 . Moreover, as perhaps best seen in  FIG. 3 , the drive belt  37  extends through the negative fluid pressure delivery chamber  35 . 
     The housing  31  illustratively includes a sidewall  47  and a shaft  50  extending outwardly from the sidewall. As perhaps best seen in  FIG. 2 , the rotary bellows wheel  24  is carried by the shaft  50 . The labeler  23   a - 23   b  includes a tensioning device, for example, a biasing spring, not shown, between the drive belt  37  and the housing  31  for tensioning the bearing surface of the rotary bellows wheel  24  against the housing, providing a seal between the vacuum and pressure porting. Helpfully, the tensioning device may also compensate for the eventual wear of the rotary bellows wheel  24  due to rotation against the stationary housing  31 . 
     The labeler  23   a - 23   b  illustratively includes a controller  32  for controlling the fluid pump  27 , the bellows wheel stepper motor  36 , the pay-out stepper motor  51 , and the take-up stepper motors  52   a - 52   b.  Advantageously, the controller  32  may permit independent control of the pay-out stepper motor  51  and the take-up stepper motors  52   a - 52   b . Moreover, the controller  32  may control the motors of the labeler  32   a  based upon the edge detector  53 . In some embodiments, the edge detector  53  may comprise an optical edge detector, for example. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the controller  32  may cooperate with the edge detector  53  to automatically adjust the indexing of the motors for: differing types of labels  29  and changes in ambient humidity and temperature. In other embodiments, an operator may set these parameters. 
     Referring now additionally to  FIGS. 6-9 , the rotary bellows wheel  24  and adjacent portions of the housing  31  illustratively define a porting arrangement. The rotary bellows wheel  24  illustratively includes a sidewall  41  having a first pattern of openings  42   a - 42   h,    43   a - 43   h  therein. More particularly and as perhaps best seen in  FIG. 4 , the housing  31  illustratively includes an interface portion  46  for the rotary bellows wheel  24 . The interface portion  46  has a second pattern of openings  44 - 45  therein. The first  42   a - 42   h ,  43   a - 43   h  and second  44 - 45  patterns of openings cooperate to define the porting arrangement. 
     The interface portion  46  illustratively includes a negative pressure (vacuum) port  45  and a positive pressure (exhaust) port  44  respectively fluidly coupled to the negative fluid pressure delivery chamber  35  and the positive fluid pressure delivery chamber  34 . 
     The porting arrangement selectively connects the rotary bellows wheel  24  to a fluid flow to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h  so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position ( FIG. 8 ) and an extended label-applying position ( FIG. 9 ) and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position. Advantageously, the peak positive internal fluid pressure applied at the label-applying position may provide for effective label application to the fruit F while the peak negative internal fluid pressure applied at the label pick-up position may provide for effective retrieval of labels  29  from the label strip  28 . 
     As perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 7-9 , the first pattern of openings  42   a - 42   h ,  43   a - 43   h  within the sidewall  41  of the rotary bellows wheel  24  illustratively includes sixteen openings, i.e. illustratively, sixteen equal sectors of the circle-shaped rotary bellows wheel. Each sector of the rotary bellows wheel  24  illustratively has an arc angle α ( FIGS. 8-9 ) of 22.5 degrees. The first pattern of openings includes two types of openings, a bellows-opening  42   a - 42   h  and an intermediate opening  43   a - 43   h.    
     Each of the eight bellows-openings  42   a - 42   h  are arranged directly radially under corresponding bellows  26   a - 26   h , and as perhaps best seen in  FIG. 6 , these bellows-openings are closed to the ambient on the opposing sidewall  54 , i.e. to restrict airflow and to provide for peak positive internal fluid pressure. The eight bellows-openings  42   a - 42   h  are positioned at 45 degree angles from each other on the rotary bellows wheel  24 . 
     Each of the eight intermediate openings  43   a - 43   h  are arranged between adjacent bellows  26   a - 26   h , and as perhaps best seen in  FIG. 6 , these intermediate openings are open to the ambient via openings  55   a - 55   h  on the opposing sidewall  54 , i.e. to exhaust airflow and to provide for peak negative internal fluid pressure. The eight intermediate openings  43   a - 43   h  are also positioned at 45 degrees angles from each other on the rotary bellows wheel  24 . As perhaps best seen in  FIG. 7 , the inner radial portion of the intermediate openings  43   a - 43   h  is blocked from exposure to the negative pressure port  45  of the housing  31 . Since these intermediate openings  43   a - 43   h  are open to the ambient air, the negative pressure port  45  is not coupled to them during the indexing of the rotary bellows wheel  204 . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 8 , when the rotary bellows wheel  24  is in the illustrated retracted label pick-up position, the porting arrangement provides for peak negative pressure, i.e. vacuum, at each of the bellows-openings  42   a - 42   h  and the respective bellows  26   a - 26   h . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, during the label pick-up position, the peak negative internal pressure and the openings on the distal ends on each of the bellows  26   a - 26   h  cooperate: to efficiently and readily remove labels  29  from the label strip  28 , to retain the labels on the distal ends of the bellows  26   a - 26   h , and to maintain the bellows in a retracted position. Helpfully, since the fluid pump  27  is providing both the negative internal and positive internal pressure, i.e. the input provides the negative internal pressure and the output provides the positive internal pressure, the positive pressure is exhausted to the ambient through the intermediate opening  43   a  while each of the bellows-openings  42   a - 42   h  is exposed to peak negative internal pressure. Since the bellows-openings  42   a - 42   h  are all closed to ambient and the output of the fluid pump  27  is exhausted to ambient through the intermediate opening  43   a  positioned at 6 O&#39;clock, the fluid pump is provided maximum airflow and each respective bellow  26   a - 26   h  is subjected to a peak vacuum, including the retracted pick-up bellows  26   d  at 11:15 O&#39;clock, i.e. the label pick-up position. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 9 , the rotary bellows wheel  24  has been indexed 22.5 degrees in the clockwise direction and is now in the label-applying position. When the rotary bellows wheel  24  Is in the illustrated label-applying position, the porting arrangement provides for negative pressure, i.e. vacuum, at seven of the eight bellows-openings  42   a - 42   g  and the respective bellows  26   a - 26   g . Each of these seven bellows  26   a - 26   g , as illustrated, are not the extended applicator bellows  26   h , being located at 6 O&#39;clock, and therefore are kept in the retracted state by the applied negative internal pressure. Differently, the porting arrangement provides for positive internal pressure for the extended applicator bellows  26   h , which is closed to ambient to provide for effective extension of the bellows to apply the label  29  to the article F. More so, the intermediate openings  43   a - 43   h  are all open to ambient and fluidly coupled to the input of the fluid pump  27  via the pressure delivery chamber  33 , thereby providing for efficient operation of the fluid pump  27 . Advantageously, the output airflow of the fluid pump  27  is restricted, thereby providing peak positive pressure. 
     Once the bellows  26   a  applies the label  29  to the article, the rotary bellows wheel  24  rotates clockwise 22.5 degrees and enters the label pick-up position, similar to the illustrated position in  FIG. 8 , which retracts the former extended applicator bellows  26   h.    
     Advantageously, the porting arrangement permits the rotary bellows wheel  24  to be readily manufactured, for example, using injection molding to provide a monolithic bellows wheel. Indeed, since the porting arrangement defined by the cooperation of the sidewall  41  of the rotary bellows wheel  24  and the interface portion  46  of the housing  31  is supported by the shaft  50  extending from the housing, normal operation of the labeler  23   a - 23   b  incurs reduced wear and tear, which is helpfully concentrated on the readily replaced shaft  50 . Thereby, the labeler  23   a - 23   b  may need less maintenance than the typical labeler. 
     Moreover, since the rotary bellows wheel  24  may comprise a single integrally molded piece-rather than the dual-rotatable piece arrangement of typical prior bellows wheels, the presently described bellows wheel may be manufactured to less restrictive, less demanding tolerances, thereby reducing cost of manufacturing. Indeed, the rotary bellows wheel  24  may be manufactured independent of the thermal expansion characteristics of the manufacturing material, unlike the typical bellows wheel. Moreover, since the effects of thermal expansion are reduced in the rotary bellows wheel  24 , the rotary bellows wheel may be manufactured from materials having low coefficients of friction, thereby reducing the torque used by the bellows wheel drive motor  36  for indexing the rotary bellows wheel, which may extend the duty life of the bellows wheel drive motor. 
     Moreover, since the fluid pump  27  of the labeler  23   a - 23   b  is within the housing  31 , the labeler may be installed as a freestanding device. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the freestanding labeler  23   a - 23   b  may permit differing types of fruit F to be singled out and routed to remote process lines, thereby enabling more versatile and efficient processing of fruit, for example, fruits and other perishable items. 
     Another aspect is directed to a method for applying labels  29  to fruit F advanced along an article conveyor  21  using at least one labeler  23   a - 23   b  adjacent the article conveyor and comprising a housing  31 , a rotary bellows wheel  24  carried by the housing and supporting a plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h . The method may include operating a fluid pump  27  within the housing  31  and connected in fluid communication with the rotary bellows wheel  24  to provide a fluid flow for the bellows  26   a - 26   h  so that each bellows is movable between a retracted position ( FIG. 8 ) and an extended label-applying position ( FIG. 9 ). 
     Another aspect is directed to a method for applying labels  29  to fruit F advanced along an article conveyor  21  using at least one labeler  23   a - 23   b  adjacent the article conveyor and comprising a housing  31 , a rotary bellows wheel  24  carried by the housing and supporting a plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h . The method may comprise using a porting arrangement defined by the rotary bellows wheel  24  and adjacent portions of the housing  31  to selectively connect the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow and to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows  26   a - 26   h  so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position and so that a peak negative internal fluid pressure is applied at the label pick-up position and a peak positive internal fluid pressure is applied at the label-applying position. 
     Another aspect is directed to a method for applying labels  29  to fruit F advanced along an article conveyor  21  using at least one labeler  23   a - 23   b  adjacent the article conveyor and comprising a housing  31  having a sidewall  47 , a shaft  50  extending outwardly from the sidewall, a rotary bellows wheel  24  carried by the shaft and supporting a plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h . The method may comprise using a porting arrangement defined by the rotary bellows wheel  24  and adjacent portions of the housing  31  to selectively connect the rotary bellows wheel to a fluid flow and to selectively control internal fluid pressure for the bellows  26   a - 26   h  so that each bellows is movable between a retracted label pick-up position and an extended label-applying position. 
     Another aspect is directed to a method for applying labels  29  to fruit F advanced along an article conveyor  21  using at least one labeler  23   a - 23   b  adjacent the article conveyor. The labeler  23   a - 23   b  may comprise a housing  31  carrying a label supply  25   a - 25   b  comprising a label strip  28  being separable along a longitudinal centerline, and a plurality of labels  29  carried by the label strip, a rotary bellows wheel  24 , a separation notch member  38 , and a plurality of bellows  26   a - 26   h  carried by the rotary bellows wheel. The method may include using at least one pay-out stepper motor  51  adjacent the label supply  25   a - 25   b  to pay out the label strip  28  therefrom, and using the separation notch member  38  for separating the label strip into separated strip portions as it is advanced thereover. The method may include using the bellows  26   a - 26   h  to pick up labels  29  from the separation notch member  38  and to place the labels on the fruit F advanced along an article conveyor  21 , and using at least one take-up stepper motor  52   a - 52   b  downstream from the separation notch member to take up the separated strip portions. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rotary bellows wheel  24  illustratively includes eight bellows  26   a - 26   h  spaced apart at 45 degree angles. In other embodiments, not shown, the rotary bellows wheel  24  may have other bellows  26   a - 26   h  configurations, i.e. differing numbers of bellows and differing spacing. 
     Other features relating to labelers are disclosed in co-pending applications “Labeling Apparatus With Housing Having Fluid Pump And Related Methods”, Ser. No. 12/190,421; “Labeling Apparatus With Sidewall Shaft And Related Methods”, Ser. No. 12/190,458; and “Labeling Apparatus With Pay-Out And Take-Up Motors And Related Methods”, Ser. No. 12/190,465, all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.