Patent Publication Number: US-2011065574-A1

Title: Image decoloring apparatus, image decoloring method, and sheet transfer apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from: U.S. provisional application 61/242,728, filed on Sep. 15, 2009; and U.S. provisional application 61/314,099, filed on Mar. 15, 2010; the entire contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image decoloring apparatus which performs the decoloring an image on a sheet formed with the decolorable colorant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Image decoloring apparatuses are conventionally known which perform the decoloring an image on a sheet formed with the decolorable colorant. 
     In such conventional image decoloring apparatuses, a sheet load portion for loading sheets to be subjected to decoloring is provided separately from a sheet load portion for loading the sheets after the decoloring is performed thereto. 
     In general, the sheet load portion for loading the sheets to be subjected to the decoloring and the sheet load portion for loading the sheets after the decoloring is performed thereto need to have the abilities to load substantially the same amount of sheet. This presents the problem in that large space is required for accommodating the sheets to cause difficulty in reducing the size of the image decoloring apparatus as a whole. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view showing the outer appearance of an image decoloring apparatus E according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section view showing the internal configuration of the image decoloring apparatus E. 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram for describing various functions provided by the image decoloring apparatus E. 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart for describing the flow of processing in the image decoloring apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing how sheet transfer is performed toward an decoloring portion  503  from a sheet load portion  201  which accommodates sheets to be subjected to decoloring. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram showing how the decoloring of a sheet is performed by the decoloring portion  503 . 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram showing how the sheet is transferred to a sheet load portion  204  having empty space. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing the internal configuration of an image decoloring apparatus E 1  according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram for describing drive control of a sheet load tray in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram for describing the drive control of the sheet load tray in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram for describing the drive control of the sheet load tray in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram for describing the drive control of the sheet load tray in Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram showing an image decoloring apparatus E 2  which is a modification of the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiment 1 
     In general, according to embodiments, an image decoloring apparatus has a plurality of, at least three, sheet load portions, an decoloring portion, a first sheet transfer portion, and a second sheet transfer portion. 
     Each of the plurality of, at least three, sheet load portions can be loaded with sheets. 
     The decoloring portion performs the decoloring of decoloring the color of an decolorable colorant to the sheet on which an image is formed by the decolorable colorant. 
     The first sheet transfer portion transfers the sheets loaded in each of the plurality of sheet load portions to the decoloring portion. 
     The second sheet transfer portion transfers the sheets after the decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring portion to each of the plurality of sheet load portions. 
     Embodiment 1 will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing the outer appearance of an image decoloring apparatus E according to Embodiment 1. 
     The image decoloring apparatus E performs the decoloring an image on a sheet formed with the “decolorable colorant” such as a so-called decolorable toner and a decolorable ink. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the image decoloring apparatus E includes four sheet load portions  201  to  204 , state display portions  201 L to  204 L, a processor  801 , an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)  802 , a memory  803 , an HDD (Hard Disk Drive)  804 , an operation input portion  805 , and a display  806 . 
     The operation input portion  805  can be provided by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a touchpad, a graphics tablet, dedicated buttons or the like. 
     The display  806  can be provided by, for example, electronic paper, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an EL (Electronic Luminescence) device, a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like. 
     Alternatively, a so-called touch panel display may be used to realize the functions of the operation input portion  805  and the display  806 . 
     In the image decoloring apparatus E, the processor  801  is responsible for performing various types of processing in the image decoloring apparatus E and is also responsible for realizing various functions by executing programs stored in the memory  803 , the HDD  804  and the like. It goes without saying that the processor  801  may be realized by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) which can perform equivalent computation. The HDD  804  may be replaced with a storage apparatus such as a flash memory, for example. 
     The memory  803  can be provided by, for example a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory), a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a VRAM (Video RAM), a flash memory or the like, and is responsible for storing various types of information and programs for use in the image decoloring apparatus E. 
     The state display portions  201 L to  204 L have LED lamps or organic EL lamps, for example, and the turn-on of the lamp is controlled by, for example, the processor  801  or the ASIC  802 . In  FIG. 1 , the lamp indicated by a black circle represents turn-on, while the lamp indicated by a white circle represents turn-off. 
     The operation input portion  805  can be provided by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, a touchpad, a graphics tablet, dedicated buttons or the like. 
     The display  806  can be provided by, for example, electronic paper, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an EL (Electronic Luminescence) device, a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) or the like. 
     Alternatively, a so-called touch panel display may be used to realize the functions of the operation input portion  805  and the display  806 . 
     Next, the internal configuration of the image decoloring apparatus E will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section view showing the internal configuration of the image decoloring apparatus E. 
     The image decoloring apparatus E includes, for example, the sheet load portions  201  to  204  for loading and accommodating the sheets to be subjected to the decoloring on which images are formed or the sheets after the decoloring is performed thereto, an decoloring portion  503  for thermally decoloring the color of the image formed on the sheet by the decolorable colorant, a transfer path Pf for guiding the sheet loaded in each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  to the decoloring portion  503 , a transfer path Pb for guiding the sheet after the decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring portion  503  to each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 , transfer rollers R 81  to R 86  for transferring the sheet on the transfer paths Pf and Pb and the like, supply rollers R 11 , R 12 , R 21 , R 22 , R 31 , R 32 , R 41 , and R 42  for supplying the sheets from the sheet load portions  201  to  204  to the transfer path, discharge rollers R 13  to R 43  for discharging the sheets from the transfer path to the sheet load portions  201  to  204 , flappers F for controlling the sheet transfer direction, lock mechanisms LK, and sensors S. 
     The transfer path Pf, the sheet supply rollers R 11 , R 12 , R 21 , R 22 , R 31 , R 32 , R 41 , and R 42 , the flappers F, and the transfer rollers R 81 , R 82 , and R 83  correspond to a “first sheet transfer portion.” The “first sheet transfer portion” transfers the sheet loaded in each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  to the decoloring portion  503 . 
     The transfer path Pb, the discharge rollers R 13  to R 43 , the flappers F, and the transfer rollers R 84 , R 85 , and R 86  correspond to a “second sheet transfer portion.” The “second sheet transfer portion” transfers the sheet after the decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring portion  503  to each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 . 
     The plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  are arranged in a vertical direction (a Z-axis direction in  FIG. 2 ). 
     The “first sheet transfer portion” is provided on one end side (the left side in  FIG. 2 ) of each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  in a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction (the Z-axis direction in  FIG. 2 ). The second sheet transfer portion is provided on the other end side (the right side in  FIG. 2 ) of each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  in the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. 
     The decoloring portion  503  is placed below the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 . This placement of the decoloring portion  503  can locate each of the sheet load portions in an upper portion of the apparatus, so that ease of operation can be enhanced for insertion and removal of the sheets into and from each of the sheet load portions. 
     In Embodiment 1, the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  can be formed such that the same numbers of sheets can be loaded therein. With the same numbers of sheets which can be loaded in the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  in this manner, a certain number of sheets accommodated by one of the sheet load portions can be accommodated by another one of the sheet load portions without fail. Thus, if a user wants to decolor the colors of an image on the sheets accommodated by one of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  and place these sheets into another one of the sheet load portions, the user does not need to consider the number of sheets which can be accommodated by the receiving sheet load portion. 
     It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto and different numbers of sheets can be accommodated by the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 . 
     Each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  can be pulled out in a Y-axis direction in  FIG. 2 . Each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  is formed to be lockable by the lock mechanism LK such that the portions  201  to  204  cannot be pulled out. The locking or unlocking by the lock mechanism LK is controlled through signals from the processor  801 . 
     A tray T is placed for loading the sheets in each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204 . The tray T is pivotally supported with one end thereof set as a pivot, and a lower surface of the tray T is urged upward. The sensor S is provided, for example near the pivot, and senses the pivot amount of the tray T. The processor  801  can estimate the number of sheets loaded on the tray T based on the sensing result of the sensor S. 
     While the case where the sensor S senses the pivot amount of the tray T is herein shown, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, an optical transmission-type sensor or reflection-type sensor may be used for sensing the presence or absence of sheets loaded on the tray T or the number of loaded sheets. 
     The decoloring portion  503  includes a roller a 1 , a roller a 2 , and a belt a 3  wound around these rollers, and the belt a 3  rotates in association with the rotation of the rollers. At least one of the roller a 1  and the roller a 2  is driven to rotate by the processor  801 . At least one of the roller a 1  and the roller a 2  is heated by a heater controlled by the processor  801 . 
     The decoloring portion  503  formed as described above heats the sheet sandwiched between and transferred by the belt a 3 , a belt b 3 , the transfer roller R 83 , the transfer roller R 84  and the like while transferring the sheet, thereby decoloring the color of the decolorable colorant formed on the sheet. 
     The processor  801  controls the control parameters of the decoloring performed by the decoloring portion  503 , the speed of the sheet transferred by the sheet transfer portion and the like, based on acquired print state information. 
     The state display portions  201 L to  204 L display information about the sheet load statuses in the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 , respectively, based on load information acquired by a load information acquiring portion  101 . 
     Specifically, each of the state display portions  201 L to  204 L selectively displays one of the following five states: 
     (1) “in erasure” which indicates that the sheet is being supplied from within the associated sheet load portion to the decoloring portion  503 ; 
     (2) “paper with erasure unperformed” which indicates that the sheet to be subjected to decoloring by the decoloring portion  503  is accommodated; 
     (3) “paper with erasure performed” which indicates that the sheet after decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring portion  503  is accommodated; 
     (4) “in reception of paper with erasure performed” which indicates that the sheet after decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring portion  503  is being received; and 
     (5) “empty” which indicates that no sheets are accommodated. 
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram for describing various functions provided by the image decoloring apparatus E. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the image decoloring apparatus E has the load information acquiring portion  101 , a notification control portion  102 , a lock control portion  103 , and a transfer control portion  104 . 
     The load information acquiring portion  101  acquires load information about the sheet load status in each of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 . 
     The “load information” in this case includes, for example, the number of loaded sheets in each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  sensed by the sensor S. 
     The notification control portion  102  causes the display portion  806  (notifying portion) to show on a screen that one of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  should be emptied so as to make a notification to a user if it is determined on the basis of the load information acquired by the load information acquiring portion  101  that sheets are loaded in all of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204 . Naturally, the notification by the notification control portion  102  may be performed by a sound through a speaker or the like generally included in the image decoloring apparatus E. 
     The lock control portion  103  causes the lock mechanism LK to lock one (s) of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  such that the locked sheet load portion (s) cannot be pulled out, on the basis of the load information acquired by the load information acquiring portion  101 . For example, the locking can be performed by the lock mechanism LK in order to prevent the user from opening the sheet load portion which is loaded with a batch of sheets in the process of decoloring or the sheet load portion into which the sheet after the decoloring is performed thereto is being carried. 
     The transfer control portion  104  causes the second sheet transfer portion to transfer the sheet to one of the plurality of sheet load portions  201  to  204  that is loaded with no sheets, on the basis of the load information acquired by the load information acquiring portion  101 . 
     Such a configuration allows the sheet load portions to be used for both of (1) the load of the sheets before the decoloring and of (2) the load of the sheets after the decoloring. Thus, a large amount of sheet can be loaded while the space-saving apparatus configuration is used. 
       FIG. 4  is a flow chart for describing the flow of processing in the image decoloring apparatus. 
     The processor  801  determines the sheet load status in each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  based on the load information acquired by the load information acquiring portion  101  (ACT  101 ). 
     The processor  101  acquires information about the sheets accommodated by each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  stored in the memory  803  or the like through operation input or the like of the operation input portion  805 , for example (ACT  102 ). 
     For example, the user can input and set whether or not the sheets loaded in each of the sheet load portions  201  to  204  are not subjected to decoloring yet through operation of the operation input portion  805 . The processor  801  can acquire the input and set information. 
     Next, the processor  801  causes the first sheet transfer portion, the decoloring portion  503 , and the second sheet transfer portion to cooperate to start the decoloring of the sheets (ACT  103 ).  FIG. 5  is a diagram showing how sheet transfer is performed toward the decoloring portion  503  from the sheet load portion  201  which accommodates the sheets to be subjected to decoloring.  FIG. 6  is a diagram showing how the decoloring of the sheet is performed by the decoloring portion  503 . 
     The processor  801  determines based on “load information” or the like whether or not the sheet load portion currently set to the transfer destination of the sheet after the decoloring has empty space (ACT  104 ). If the currently set sheet load portion has no empty space (No at ACT  104 ), then the processor  801  changes the setting such that another sheet load portion having empty space is specified as a sheet transfer destination (ACT  105 ). 
     If the currently set sheet load portion has empty space (Yes at Act  104 ), then the processor  801  transfers the sheet after the decoloring to that sheet load portion (ACT  106 ).  FIG. 7  is a diagram showing how the sheet is transferred to the sheet load portion  204  having empty space. 
     The processor  801  does not change the sheet load portion of the transfer destination until the processing is finished for all of the sheets accommodated by the sheet load portion in which the decoloring is started. 
     Then, the processor  801  assumes that the sheet load portion from which the sheet subjected to the decoloring is transferred is empty at present, and uses that sheet load portion as the next transfer destination of the sheet after decoloring. 
     In this case, in order to prevent the user from inadvertently loading sheets in the sheet load portion set to the next transfer destination, the processor  801  may control the lock mechanism LK such that that sheet load portion cannot be pulled out. 
     Each operation in the processing in the image decoloring apparatus described above is realized by the processor  801  executing the decoloring program stored in the memory  802 . 
     In addition, the program for performing each operation described above in a computer constituting the image decoloring apparatus can be provided as the decoloring program. While Embodiment 1 shows the case where the program for realizing the functions implementing the invention is previously recorded in the storage area provided within the apparatus, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a similar program may be downloaded from a network to the apparatus, or a similar program may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium and be installed on the apparatus. Any form of the recording medium may be used as long as the recording medium can store the program and be read by a computer. Specifically, examples of the recording medium include an internal storage apparatus such as a ROM and a RAM internally implemented in a computer, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, and an IC card, a database for holding a computer program, or another computer and its database, a transmission medium on a channel and the like. The functions obtained by previous installation or download may be realized through cooperation with an OS (Operating System) within the apparatus. 
     Part or all of the program may be an executable module provided dynamically. 
     It goes without saying that, in the above-mentioned embodiment, at least some of various types of the processing realized by the processor executing the program may performed by the ASIC  802  in circuitry. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Next, Embodiment 2 will be described. 
     In Embodiment 2, portions having the same functions as those of the portions already described in Embodiment 1 are designated with the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram for describing the internal configuration of an image decoloring apparatus E 1  according to Embodiment 2. The image decoloring apparatus E 1  includes a sheet transfer apparatus. 
     The image decoloring apparatus E 1  includes a first sheet load portion  510 , a supply roller R 51 , a second sheet load portion  520 , a discharge roller R 52  (sheet discharge portion), a first sheet transfer path g 1 , a second sheet transfer path g 2 , a sheet transfer path g 4 , a sheet surface sensor S 52 , an decoloring unit U, and a rack  5 L. 
     The first sheet load portion  510  is loaded with sheets before decoloring on a first sheet load surface  510   t  and is movable in a vertical direction in  FIG. 8 . The first sheet load portion  510  includes a motor  51   m  and a pinion  51   p  attached to a drive shaft of the motor  51   m.    
     The supply roller R 51  (sheet supply portion) supplies the sheets loaded on the first sheet load surface  510   t  toward the decoloring unit U (predetermined supply destination) through the sheet transfer path g 4 . 
     The decoloring unit U includes a reusability determining unit U 1  which judges the state of an image on the sheet or the state of waves of the sheet by using a line sensor or a thickness sensor to determine whether or not the sheet is reusable, a medium refresh unit U 2  which removes dust or the like on the sheet to be subjected to decoloring, and an decoloring unit U 3  which thermally decolors the color of the image of an decolorable colorant formed on the transferred sheet. 
     The sheet supplied to the decoloring unit U through the sheet transfer path g 4  is then discharged from the decoloring unit U toward the first sheet transfer path g 1  in the state after the decoloring is performed to the sheet. 
     In the second sheet load portion  520 , the sheet subjected to the decoloring and discharged from within the apparatus is loaded on a second load surface  520   t . At least part of the second load surface  520   t  is located below the first sheet load surface  510   t  of the first sheet load portion  510 . The second sheet load portion  520  is movable in the vertical direction in  FIG. 8 . The second sheet load portion  520  includes a motor  52   m  and a pinion  52   p  attached to a drive shaft of the motor  52   m.    
     The motor  51   m  in the first sheet load portion  510  and the motor  52   m  in the second sheet load portion  520  are controlled to be driven by a processor  801 . 
     Each of the pinion  51   p  in the first sheet load portion  510  and the pinion  52   p  in the second sheet load portion  520  engages with the rack  5 L (which extends in the vertical direction in  FIG. 8 ), so that the first sheet load portion  510  and the second sheet load portion  520  can be individually controlled to be driven on the basis of control signals from the processor  801  to the motors  51   m  and  52   m.    
     The discharge roller R 52  (sheet discharge portion) moves together with the first sheet load portion  510  in the vertical direction and discharges the sheet transferred from the decoloring unit U through the sheet transfer path g 4 , the first sheet transfer path g 1 , the second sheet transfer path g 2 , and a sheet transfer path g 3 , onto the second sheet load surface  520   t  of the second sheet load portion  520 . 
     The first sheet transfer path g 1  is provided fixedly to the apparatus body, extends from the decoloring unit U toward the discharge roller R 52 , and has a straight portion Q which extends in a direction (vertical direction) in parallel with the moving direction of the first sheet load portion  510 . 
     The second sheet transfer path g 2  moves together with the first sheet transfer path g 1 . An upstream end portion of the path g 2  in the sheet transfer direction surrounds the outer periphery of the straight portion Q, and a downstream end portion of the path g 2  in the sheet transfer direction extends toward the discharge roller R 52 . 
     In this manner, the second sheet transfer path g 2  connected to the sheet discharge port and the fixed first sheet transfer path g 1  are placed in a nested arrangement to allow the sheet transfer even while the first sheet load portion  510  is moved vertically. 
     Since the first transfer path g 1  is inserted into the second transfer path g 2 , the sheet transferred in the first transfer path g 1  is not snagged when the sheet is moved into the second transfer path g 2 . 
     The second sheet load surface  520   t  is located below the first sheet load surface  510   t.    
     If viewed in the vertical direction, the same range can be used for loading the sheets before decoloring and for loading the sheets after decoloring, which can contribute to space saving of the apparatus as a whole. 
     As the sheets loaded in the first sheet load portion  510  are supplied to the decoloring unit U by the supply roller R 51  (as the number of the supplied sheets is increased), the processor  801  (drive control portion) raises the first sheet load portion  510  and lowers the second sheet load portion  520 . 
     The sheet surface sensor S 52  is provided below the first sheet load portion  510  and senses the upper surface of a batch of sheets loaded on the second sheet load surface  520   t . The sheet surface sensor S 52  can be formed, for example, by using a mechanical sensor such as a switch or a reflection-type or transmission-type sensor. 
     The processor  801  (drive control portion) maintains the vertical interval between the first sheet load portion  510  and the second sheet load portion  520  at a predetermined interval based on the sense result of the sheet surface sensor S 52 . 
       FIG. 9  to  FIG. 12  are diagrams for describing drive control of a sheet load tray. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , from the state in which the sheets before decoloring are loaded in the first sheet load surface  510   t , the sheet is supplied to the decoloring unit U by the supply roller R 51  controlled to be driven by the processor  801 . 
     The sheet, after the decoloring is performed thereto by the decoloring unit U, is then discharged sequentially onto the second sheet load surface  520   t  by the discharge roller R 52 . 
     As the number of the sheets subjected to the decoloring by the decoloring unit U is increased, the processor  801  controls the drive of the motor  51   m  and the motor  52   m  to raise the first sheet load portion  510  and to lower the second sheet load portion  520  ( FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ). 
     The processor  801  causes the sheet surface sensor S 52  to sense the upper surface of the sheets intermittently and maintains the upper surface of the batch of sheets loaded on the first sheet load surface  510   t  that is lowered due to the supply of the sheets to the decoloring unit U at a constant level relative to the supply roller R 51  by moving the first sheet load portion  510  upward. 
     The processor  801  previously maintains a defined distance between the lower surface of the first sheet load portion  510  and the second sheet load portion  520  based on the sense result of the upper-surface sensor S 52  such that the sheets discharged from the discharge roller R 52  can be loaded. 
     The upper surface of the loaded sheets in the second sheet load portion  520  is raised due to the load of the sheets after the decoloring and the first sheet load portion  510  is raised due to the continuous supply of the sheets from the first sheet load portion  510  at the same time. The processor  801  can use the upper-surface sensor S 52  to hold the interval between those sheet load portions constant. 
       FIG. 13  is a diagram showing an image decoloring apparatus E 2  which is a modification of the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     In an example shown in  FIG. 13 , both of a first sheet load portion  510 ′ corresponding to the first sheet load portion  510  and a second sheet load portion  520 ′ corresponding to the second sheet load portion  520  are formed to protrude from the apparatus. 
     Such a configuration in which the first sheet load portion  510 ′ and the second sheet load portion  520 ′ protrudes from the apparatus can reduce the size of the housing of the apparatus to contribute to space saving. 
     The configuration allows the space used for loading sheets before decoloring at the start of decoloring to be used for loading the sheets after the decoloring at the end of the decoloring. 
     As described above in detail, according to the techniques described in the present specification, the technique can be provided which contributes to a size reduction of the image decoloring apparatus which performs the decoloring of decoloring the color of the decolorable colorant to the sheet on which the image is formed by the decolorable colorant. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus and methods described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the apparatus and methods described herein may be made without departing from the sprit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.