Abstract:
An image reading unit which is attached onto an image reading apparatus includes a first unit having a photoelectric conversion device for photoelectrically converting the image information of an original, and a second unit which can be engaged with the first unit, wherein the first unit is engaged with the second unit, and after a first plane portion provided in the first unit and a second plane portion provided in the second unit are brought in close contact with each other, the first unit is fixed to the second unit with an adhesive, and wherein a groove into which the adhesive is poured is formed in at least one of the regions where the first plane portion and the second plane portion are adhered to each other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an image reading unit that reads an original image, for example, a scanner, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or the like and an image reading apparatus having the image reading unit. 
     2. Related Background Art 
     Up to now, various image reading apparatuses such as an image scanner which reads the image information of an original and forms digital image information have been put into practical use. 
     In recent years, as the image reading apparatus of this type, an all-in-one optical system unit that can simplify the structure as the entire apparatus and complete an optical adjustment only within the unit is used a lot, although the image reading unit (carriage) per se becomes large. 
     An example of the image reading apparatus that reads an original by using the image reading unit (carriage) which is the all-in-one optical system unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to  18 . FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the image reading apparatus. 
     In order to read the image information, an original P is set on an original glass stand  91  and the original P is set at a regular position with its image side facing inward of an apparatus case, that is, facing downward, and an original pressure plate  92  pushes a back side of the original P from the upper side so as not to displace the original P on the original glass stand  91 . 
     An image reading unit (carriage)  101  having photoelectric conversion means (an image sensor) which is disposed opposite to the original P with the original glass stand  91  interposed therebetween is so structured as to read image information for one straight line (image information obtained by main scanning for one line), and in order to read the image information of the original P, the image reading unit  101  is moved in parallel in a sub-scanning direction from a leading end of the original P to a trailing end thereof by a drive motor (not shown). With the above structure, the image reading unit  101  can read a two-dimensional plane image of the original image. 
     FIG. 17 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the image reading unit (carriage)  101 , and FIG. 16 shows a basic structural diagram of the image reading unit (carriage) (a lamp and so on are omitted). 
     A lamp  3  that serves as a light source, a reflecting mirror (reflector)  4  disposed on a back side of the lamp  3  and a reflecting mirror (reflector)  5  disposed in the vicinity of the lamp  3  lightens a required portion of the original P in a linear manner in a main scanning direction. 
     The original glass stand  91  on which the original P is set is omitted from the figure. 
     The light reflected from the image surface of the original P is guided to a lens unit  11  that images an optical image through a first mirror  6 , a second mirror  7 , a third mirror  8 , a fourth mirror  9  and a fifth mirror  10  which are optical mirrors, and the original image is imaged on an image sensor  2  that serves as the photoelectric conversion means. 
     The image sensor  2  is so designed as to conduct a photoelectric conversion to form the image information. 
     Then, after the data for one line is processed, the image reading unit (carriage)  101  is moved in a sub-scanning direction by only one line, to prepare the image information in the above manner, and this operation is repeated. 
     Also, there is a case in which the illuminance of the light from the light source  3  toward the original P becomes uneven in the main scanning direction or the characteristics of each pixel of the image sensor  2  are different from each other. As a result, any discrepancies in producing the image information becomes wide. 
     In order to correct the discrepancies, shading correction of white and black is required, and a white reference plate for white shading and a black reference plate for black shading are disposed at positions where the image reading unit (carriage)  101  can shade on the extension line of the sub-scanning direction and out of an original image reading range, respectively. 
     However, the above-described conventional art suffers from the following problems. 
     As is apparent from the above description, since the optical adjustment of the image reading unit (carriage) is conducted only within the unit, an image sensor with a higher resolution image can be used. 
     In order to sufficiently exhibit the efficiency of the image sensor with the high-resolution image, the performance of the lens unit which is another important part of the image sensor must be suited for the image sensor for the high resolution image. 
     Therefore, there arises such a problem that if the technical precision of the optical adjustment is not very high, the capacity of the high resolution image sensor and the high performance lens unit cannot be effected. 
     Since the image sensor is normally fixed to the carriage by soldering or the like so as to be disposed within a free space, even if an assembling adjustment jig with a high precision or the like is used in order to forcedly enhance the technical precision of the optical adjustment, slight displacement may occur at the time of finally fixing the image sensor by soldering or the assembling property is remarkably deteriorated. 
     Also, in the case where the optical adjustment failure occurs, the original image reading fails or it takes too much time to recycle the image reading unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to solve the above problem with the conventional art, and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading unit and an image reading apparatus which improves the adhesion when a first unit having photoelectric conversion means is adhered to a second unit with an adhesive. 
     Another object of the present invention will become by reading the following detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a lower front view showing a part of a carriage enlarged cross-sectional view in FIG. 17 viewed from the lower; 
     FIG. 2 is a left side view of the lower front view shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view taken along a line III—III of the center portion of the lower front view shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a front side view of the lower front view of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4B and 4C are enlarged cross-sectional views of the encircled portions IVB and IVC shown in FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram of the respective single parts of the lower front view shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view taken along a line VI—VI of the center portion of the single parts diagram shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a front side view of the single parts diagram shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a lower front assembly before an adhering process; 
     FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a left side assembly before the adhering process; 
     FIG. 10 is a lower front view showing that a first fixing member  20  is moved clockwise of adjustment movement Y-R with respect to a second fixing member  30 ; 
     FIG. 11 is a lower front view showing that the first fixing member  20  is moved counterclockwise of adjustment movement Y-R with respect to the second fixing member  30 ; 
     FIG. 12 is a left side view for explaining a movement of the first fixing member  20  in the adjustment movement Z-R rotating direction with respect to the second fixing member  30 ; 
     FIG. 13 is a left side view for explaining a movement of the first fixing member  20  in the adjustment movement X-S direction with respect to the second fixing member  30 ; 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B are diagrams for explaining the adhering surfaces of the second fixing member and a third fixing member; 
     FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining the adhering surfaces of the first fixing member and the second fixing member; 
     FIG. 16 is a basic structural diagram showing an image reading unit (carriage); 
     FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the image reading unit (carriage); and 
     FIG. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image reading apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, a description will be given in more detail of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, the material, the configuration and the relative arrangement, etc., of the structural parts disclosed in this embodiment may be appropriately altered in accordance with the structure of an apparatus and various conditions to which the present invention is applied, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment. The same structural parts as those described in the description of the related art is designated by identical references, and their description will be omitted. 
     First, before description of an embodiment, the degree of freedom for adjusting an image sensor that serves as photoelectric conversion means with respect to an image reading unit main body will be described briefly with reference to the basic structural view shown in FIG.  16 . 
     It is considered that a straight line of the image information of an original P in a main scanning direction is focused on a straight line element of an image sensor that serves as photoelectric conversion means. 
     The center optical path (optical axis) is indicated by an alternate long and short dash line, and the optical path (optical axis) is reflected by a first mirror  6 , a second mirror  7 , a third mirror  8 , a fourth mirror  9  and a fifth mirror  10  so as to be bent, and then guided to a lens unit  11  that images an optical image. 
     The respective optical mirrors  6  to  10  are fixed to a carriage main body at predetermined positions so that the adjustment is not required. The lens unit  11  is movable with respect to the optical path (optical axis) in the longitudinal direction (Z-S′ direction) for adjustment of the magnification, and the like. 
     A direction for adjustment movement of the image sensor  2  is determined. 
     It is assumed that the optical path (optical axis) direction is a Z axis, a direction which is orthogonal to the Z axis and superimposed on a direction of elements of the image sensor  2  arranged in a straight line is an X axis, and a direction which is orthogonal to both of the Z axis and the X axis is a Y axis. 
     Then, the parallel movement in the X axial direction is represented by X-S, the parallel movement in the Y axial direction is represented by Y-S, the parallel movement in the Z axial direction is represented by Z-S, the rotating movement with respect to the Y axial direction is represented by Y-R, and the rotating movement with respect to the Z axis is represented by Z-R. 
     In this example, although the rotating movement with respect to the X axis is not determined, since the rotating movement is the combination of imaging of a straight line of the image information (reading line segment) and a straight line of the element (imaging line segment), the rotating movement of the straight line (imaging line segment) of the element does not influence the adjustment. 
     As a result, the image sensor  2  requires five directions as the degree of freedom of adjustment movement with respect to the carriage, and if the degree of freedom of the five directions is ensured, the optical adjustment can be made. 
     The structure, the configuration, the adjustment, the movement and so on in accordance with this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to  14 . 
     FIG. 1 is a lower front view showing a part of a carriage enlarged cross-sectional view in FIG. 17 viewed from the lower. FIG. 2 is a left side view of the lower front view shown in FIG.  1 . FIG. 3 is a front cross-sectional view taken along a line III—III of the center portion of the lower front view shown in FIG.  1 . FIG. 4A is a front side view of the lower front view of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4B and 4C are enlarged cross-sectional views of the encircled portions IVB and IVC shown in FIG.  4 A. 
     As is apparent from the figures, the optical adjustment according to this embodiment is conducted by inverting the cartridge  1 , the entire appearance of the final assembling structure after the optical adjustment and the image sensor adhering process is shown in the figures. 
     An adhesive used in this embodiment is made up of an instantaneous adhesive which saves a period of time required for the assembling process, and is described as the adhesive in the specification for explanation. 
     The advantages of the instantaneous adhesive used in this embodiment is that the management of the adhesive is simple as compared with soldering and so on, the adhesive is diffused due to the surface tension so as to broaden an area of the adhering surface, and moreover the assembling period of time can be shortened. 
     Also, as compared with the use of a conventional ultraviolet curing adhesive, although a portion that becomes a shadow to which the ultraviolet ray cannot be irradiated from the exterior cannot be adhered, the instantaneous adhesive flows into the portion which becomes the shadow and can firmly adhere to that portion. 
     FIG. 5 is a diagram of the respective single parts of the lower front view shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view taken along a line VI—VI of the center portion of the single parts diagram shown in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a front side view of the single parts diagram shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The photoelectric conversion unit and a first slide contact portion that serves as an adjusting member which comes in slide contact with the second fixing member  30  will be described. 
     As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the first fixing member  20  that constitutes the photoelectric conversion unit in association with the image sensor  2  includes two adhesive plate portions (extended portion)  21  for adhering to the second fixing member (adjusting portion)  30  as the adjusting member on both ends thereof. FIG. 15A is a plan view showing the first fixing member  20 , and FIG. 15B is a bottom view showing the first fixing member  20 . 
     Each of those two adhesive plate portions  21  includes an engagement rib  22  (substantially T-shaped portion in cross section) for engaging with the second fixing member  30 , an adhesive hole portion  23  through which the adhesive flows to the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21 , and an adhesive groove portion  24  through which the adhesive is uniformly spread to the adhesive plate portion  21 . The adhesive groove portion  24  is also formed on the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21 . 
     In order to increase the intelligibility of the invention, the size of the adhesive groove portion  24  is shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C in an exaggerated form. The size and the configuration of the adhesive groove portion  24  are not limited to the illustrated size and configuration. 
     The image sensor  2  is disposed on an electric substrate, and fixed to a fixing boss  25  of the first fixing member  20  with a screw (second fastening member)  52  to form the photoelectric conversion unit, and a signal which has been subjected to photoelectric conversion is sent through a flexible electric cable not shown. 
     The second fixing member  30  includes two adhesive plate portions  31  and  32  (an engaging portion and a swing surface portion) which come in slide contact with both of the front and the back surfaces of the adhesive plate portion  21  of the first fixing member  20  and adhere thereto on both ends thereof. 
     Each of those two adhesive plate portions  31  has an engagement receiving portion  33  for engaging with the engagement rib  22  of the first fixing member  20 , and the adhesive plate portion  32  positioned below the engagement receiving portion  33  is planar and has no such engagement receiving portion. 
     The second fixing member  30  that serves as an adjusting member and a second slide contact portion (adhering portion due to the adhesive) which comes in slide contact with a third fixing member  40  which serves as a frame will be described. 
     As shown in FIG. 14B, the second fixing member  30  has an adhering surface (plane) adhered to the third fixing member  40  and several pouring ports (notch portions)  34  into which the adhesive is poured on a side surface thereof. Also, an adhesive groove portion  35  for uniformly spreading the adhesive is formed on the adhesive surface. It is preferable that the groove portion  35  extends to the exterior of the adhesive region adhered to the third fixing member  40 . 
     The adhesive that has flown into the adhesive groove portion  35  is spread toward the side surface opposite to the pouring ports  34  with the aid of the surface tension or the like. Also, the groove direction of the adhesive groove portion  35  at the time of adhering is a direction along which the adhesive flows by its self-weight. In this embodiment, the groove portion  35  is linearly formed, but may be so formed as to provide a curvature. 
     Also, the center portion of the second fixing member  30  has an opening portion  36  broader than the image sensor  2  and does not interfere with the image sensor  2  at the time of assembling adjustment. 
     The third fixing member  40  has an adhering surface (plane) which comes in slide contact with the side surface of the second fixing member  30  and adheres thereto, and an engagement portion  41  which is engaged with the second fixing member  30  at the back of the second fixing member  30  so that the second fixing member  30  is always in slide contact with the engagement portion  41 . 
     An adhesive groove portion  42  is formed on the slide contact adhering surface of the third fixing member  40 , and the groove direction is orthogonal to the adhesive groove portion  35  of the second fixing member  30  (the groove direction crosses in a direction substantially orthogonal to the adhesive groove portion  35  in this embodiment). In this embodiment, it is preferable that the groove portion  42  extends to the external of the adhering region adhered to the second fixing member  30 . Also, the groove portion  42  is linearly formed, but may be so formed as to provide a curvature. 
     In order to increase the intelligibility of the invention, the size of the adhesive groove portion  42  is shown in FIG. 6 in an exaggerated form. The size and the configuration of the adhesive groove portion  42  are not limited to the illustrated size and configuration. 
     Therefore, in a state where the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  are engaged with each other by the engagement portion  41 , and the adhering surface of the second fixing member  30  and the adhering surface of the third fixing member  40  are in contact with each other, the adhesive poured into the pouring ports  34  is uniformly spread over the entire slide contact adhering surfaces of the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  with the aid of the surface tension or the like. 
     Also, the center portion of the third fixing member  40  has an opening portion  43  broader than that of the image sensor  2  as in the center portion of the second fixing member  30  and does not interfere with the image sensor  2  at the time of assembling adjustment. 
     The third fixing member  40  is fitted and positioned with respect to the carriage  1  main body, and fixed by the screw (first fastening member)  51 . A fastening screw  51  is disposed out of the adjustment movement ranges of the first fixing member  20  and the second fixing member  30  or on a step portion shown in FIG. 5 so as to be removable without interfering with other parts even after assembling. 
     FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a lower front assembly before an adhering process, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a left side assembly before the adhering process. 
     First, the third fixing member  40  is fitted, positioned and fixed by the screw  51  with respect to the carriage  1  main body side in such a manner that the second fixing member  30  is nipped between the engagement portion  41  and the third fixing member  40  so that the second fixing member  30  is in slide contact with the third fixing member  40 . 
     The electric substrate on which the image sensor  2  is disposed is fixed onto a fixing boss  25  of the first fixing member  20  by the screw  52  to assemble the image sensor unit. 
     In this situation, the adjustment moving direction of the image sensor  2  is confirmed. 
     The image sensor unit is integral, and because the adhesive plate portion  21  of the first fixing member  20  and the adhesive plate portions  31  and  32  of the second fixing member  30  can be in slide contact with each other, the adjustment moving directions becomes Z-S (the parallel movement in the Z-axial direction) and YR (rotating movement about the Y axis). 
     Since the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  integrated with the carriage  1  main body are merely nipped by the engagement portion  41 , they can be in slide contact with each other, and the adjustment moving directions are X-S (the parallel movement in the X-axial direction), Y-S (the parallel movement in the Y-axial direction) and Z-R (the rotating movement with respect to the Z axis). 
     With the above operation, the degree of freedom in the five directions is ensured, and the optical adjustment can be made. 
     FIG. 10 is a lower front view showing that a first fixing member  20  is moved clockwise of the adjustment movement Y-R with respect to the second fixing member  30 , and FIG. 11 is a lower front view showing that the first fixing member  20  is moved counter clockwise of the adjustment movement Y-R with respect to the second fixing member  30 . 
     The first fixing member  20  integrated with the image sensor  2  is held by the movement adjusting portion of the assembling adjustment jig whereas the carriage  1  main body with which the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  are assembled is held by the fixing portion of the assembling adjustment jig. 
     The adhesive plate portion  21  of the first fixing member  20  is in slide contact between the adhesive plate portions  31  and  32  of the second fixing member  30 , and the engagement rib  22  of the first fixing member  20  is inserted into the engagement receiving portion  33  of the second fixing member  30 , to thereby start the optical assembling adjustment. 
     In this example, the first fixing member  20  is moved in the Z-S direction described with reference to FIG. 8 in the above. Then, the movement in the direction of Y-R will be described. 
     The engagement rib  22  and the engagement receiving portion  33  come partially in contact with each other when moving clockwise of the Y-R direction in FIG. 10, and counterclockwise of the Y-R direction in FIG. 11, and the first fixing member  20  keeps the degree of freedom with respect to the second fixing member  30 . 
     Further, as is understood from FIGS. 10 and 11, the adhesive hole portions  23  for allowing the adhesive of the first fixing member  20  to flow into the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21  can be recognized from the engagement receiving portion  33  of the second fixing member  30 , respectively, and there is no case in which the adhesive hole portions  23  are hidden by the shadow of the adhesive plate portion  31 . With this structure, the adhesive can be surely poured between the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21  and the surface of the adhesive plate portion  32  from the back side of the carriage  1 . 
     Also, even if the image sensor  2  is so positioned as to be embedded in the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  at the time of adjusting the optical assembly, because those members  30  and  40  have the opening portions  36  and  43  broader than the image sensor  2 , respectively, the adjustment range is not narrowed. 
     FIG. 12 is a left side view for explaining the movement of the first fixing member  20  in the adjustment movement Z-R rotating direction with respect to the second fixing member  30 , and FIG. 13 is a left side view for explaining the movement of the first fixing member  20  in the adjustment movement X-S direction with respect to the second fixing member  30 . 
     The second fixing member  30  is also moved according to the engagement relationship between the engagement rib  22  and the engagement receiving portion  33  and the slide contact relationship between the adhesive plate portion  21  and the adhesive plate portions  31  and  32  in association with the adjusting movement of the first fixing member  20  in the direction of X-S, the direction of Y-S and the direction of Z-R. 
     The second fixing member  30  is urged by the engagement portion  41  of the third fixing member  40  from the back side thereof, and always comes in slide contact with the adhering surface of the third fixing member  40 , with the result that there is no case in which the second fixing member  30  does not limit the adjusting movement of the first fixing member  20  with respect to the third fixing member  40 . 
     The first fixing member  20  is moved clockwise of Z-R direction as shown in FIG. 12, moved in the direction of X-S as shown in FIG.  13  and since the movement of the first fixing member  20  in the direction of Y-S is similar to that shown in FIG. 13, its description will be omitted. With the above structure, the degree of freedom of the first fixing member  20  is kept. 
     When the image sensor  2  integrated with the first fixing member  20  is optically adjusted and positioned with respect to the carriage  1 , the processes of adhering the first, the second and the third fixing members with the adhesive are conducted. 
     The first fixing member  20  and the second fixing member  30 , and the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  always come in slide contact with each other, respectively, that is, always have the adhering surfaces. 
     The enlarged cross-sectional view parts of FIGS. 4B and 4C will be described. 
     The adhesion of the first fixing member  20  and the second fixing member  30  is made by allowing the adhesive to pour into a gap between the engagement rib  22  and the engagement receiving portion  33  from the engagement rib  22  side. 
     A part of the poured adhesive is uniformly spread by the adhesive groove portion  24  in the surface of the adhesive plate portion  21 , and the adhesive plate portion  21  and the adhesive plate portion  31  are fixedly adhered to each other. 
     Also, another part of the poured adhesive passes through the adhesive hole portion  23  through which the adhesive flows into the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21 , and reaches the adhesive plate portion  32  (receiving portion) positioned below. Since the adhesive plate portion  32  has no engagement receiving portion, there is no case in which the adhesive further flows down. 
     The adhesive is uniformly spread by the adhesive groove portion  24  in the back surface of the adhesive plate portion  21 , thereby allowing the adhesive plate portion  21  and the adhesive plate portion  32  to adhere to each other. That is, the respective adhesive plate portions are firmly and fixedly adhered in a sandwich state. 
     The adhesion of the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  is conducted by pouring the adhesive into the several pouring ports  34  for pouring the adhesive into the second fixing member  30 . The pouring ports  34  form notch shapes when the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40  come in contact with each other so that the adhesive flows into the adhesive groove portion  35 . 
     The poured adhesive flows along the adhesive groove portion  35  since the adhesive flows into the adhesive groove portion  35  of the second fixing member  30  with the aid of the self weight of the adhesive. 
     Also, since the third fixing member  40  has the adhesive groove portion  42  in a direction substantially perpendicular to the adhesive groove portion  35 , the adhesive is uniformly spread over the slide contact surface, to thereby firmly fix and adhere the second fixing member  30  and the third fixing member  40 . With this structure, the image sensor  2  is optically adjusted and positioned with respect to the carriage  1 . 
     In addition, in the case where the assembling failure in which the image sensor is slightly displaced during the adhering process or the parts need to be exchanged, the structure according to this embodiment is preferable. 
     Although the respective fixing members are adhered and integrated together, since the fastening screw  51  to the carriage  1  of the third fixing member  40  is disposed out of the adjusting range of the first fixing member  20  and the second fixing member  30 , or on a step portion so as to be removable without interfering with the other parts, only the fixing member portions integrated together may be removed. 
     In other words, the image reading unit main body with which the lens unit and so on are assembled can be simply recycled as it is, and the electric substrate on which the image sensor  2  can be also simply recycled by removing the fastening screw  52  of the first fixing member  20 . 
     Also, taking into consideration the spread of the adhesive within the groove portion  35  of the second fixing member and the groove portion  42  of the third fixing member, it is preferable that the kinematic viscosity ν of the adhesive is set to 1.0×10 −3  to 2.0×10 −6  (m 2 /s). The kinematic viscosity ν can be represented by the following expression. 
     
       
         ν=μ/ρ 
       
     
     μ=the dynamic viscosity of fluid (Pa·s) 
     ρ=the density of fluid (kg/m 3 ) 
     The use of the adhesive having the above kinematic viscosity can make the spread of the adhesive within both groove portions  35  and  42  good, thereby being capable of improving the adhesiveness of the second fixing member and the third fixing member. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents.