IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Richardson Dinsmore, of the City of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, and Frederick Hoyer, of Waterloo,
also in the County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND
RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER MACHINES, AND
MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Richardson
Dinsmore and Frederick Hoyer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 4th June 1881.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of the City of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and FREDERICK HOYER, of Waterloo, also in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING AND OTHER
MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR.'
"
This Invention relates to a further carrying out and certain improvements in
connection with a former Patent granted to us, No. 2855, A.D. 1880, having the
title the same as the title of this present Invention.
The object of our former Invention was to separate sheets of paper sheet by
sheet from bulk, and feed such paper sheet by sheet to printing and other machines
by the aid of certain mechanisın.
Our present improvements consist in the following arrangements for securing
a perfect separation of the sheets of paper, and to prevent more than one sheet
being delivered at one time. We provide an air chest or exhaust box in connection
with an exhaust fan, in such convenient position that the suction from such exhaust
box may be brought to bear upon the front edges and under side of the paper in
such manner that the suction or down draught shall act upon the underside of the
sheet in process of being raised (by the lifting suction described in our former
Specification, No. 2855, A.D. 1SSO) and delivered forward. Such down draught
or suction will strip off or draw down any second sheet, which through previous
imperfect separation may have improperly adhered to the sheet being raised, or
which may be floating and apt to be drawn onto the rolling tube as the tail end of
the sheet being operated on is passing off.
Where it is required that a sheet shall be fed to the printing machine only every
second or third or fourth revolution, we further provide an arrangement by which
the air suction is cut off from the lifting or picking up mechanism, so that on
dropping into position for picking up a sheet this shall not be accomplished owing

page_text: to the absence of the suction.
This we by preference perform by placing a throttle
or other valve within the air passage from the picking up mechanisin to the fan,
and we control such throttle valve by any suitable intermittent working gear, so
that the valve opens only at such intervals as may be desired. The suction for
separating the slicets may also in like manner be shut off for a time during the
operation by the working of a suitable valve.
To secure the due and proper rise of the table bearing the pile of paper to be
acted upon and to bring the uppermost sheet within certain reach of the air suction
from the overhead or lifting cylinder or mechanisın, we arrange that at any time
the top sheet shall be below the proper distance, the separator or wiper in moving
forward to act upon the paper shall bear upon the end of a lever which is connected
with the reverso end of the pawl which works the ratchet wheel actuating the
screws by which the said table is raised or lowered, the said pawl being balanced
upon a pin or stud above such ratchet wheel, or otherwiso conveniently placed.
When the separator depresses the lever below a certain point by reason of the
paper being removed the further end of the pawl is thereby raised, and the pawl
is thus brought into action on the ratchet wheel. This being effected the separator
releases the end of the lever, but the pawl completes the action which it has
commenced, and by moving the ratchet wheel forward causes the table to rise on
the aforesaid 'screws and then resumes its former balanced position. Should the
separator not be employed the same action may be obtained by other suitable
means, but by preference we should arrange a lever bearing a roller to rest upon
the pile of paper, and having a similar backward and forward motion, and which
lever as soon as the uppermost sheet is below the proper level shall bear upon
the lever in connection with the pawl, and cause the same action as before
described.
After the sheet has left the lifting cylinder and its lower end has arrived at and
been adjusted by the stops at the lower end of the grid, its side adjustment is
effected by means of an elastic finger, and consists of an eccentric worked by
suitable gear, to which is attached a curved piece of india rubber or like material
which has the advantage of having a largo travel and gentle touch, and wipes the
sheet of paper to the proper position.
As another method for lifting and feeding the sheets wo arrange a wooden
framework carrying on its lower part the table for the pile of paper, and provided
with an exhaust chest acted upon by a separate fan. For lifting the sheets one by
one we provide another fan abovo the pile of paper, and separated from it by a
wooden grid having movement up and down within a limited distance. This fan
may be fixed to the upper part of the frame. Between the frame and the grid we
provide endless threads which pass around and over rollers at the back and at tho
front of the frame. The suction of the fan causes one sheet of paper to rise and
press against the lower surface of the grid, one end of which is provided with
suitable supports on the frame, on which supports it is free to rock. By an
arrangement of a weight attached to one end the other end is caused to have
normal upward pressure controlled by a cam and pulley. In connection with the
front roller as the same revolves the cam allows the grid a greater upward move-
ment, and thus the bars pass between the endless threads, and so leaves the outward
port or leading edge of the sheet of paper bearing against its under surface to rest,
or bear against the said endless threads or their equivalent. As the threads move
onward they draw off the paper from the grid, which thon resumes its previous
position by the action of the cams being in position to pick up another sheet.
The sheet already brought into contact with the travelling threads is drawn off
the grid by suitable rollers or equivalent mechanism, and is thus conveyed to the
upper part of the framework, its motion being continued by means of and along
the threads. These threads may have a diagonal direction, and bring the sheet
against an adjustable side gaugo which adjusts it ready to be taken off by tho
mechanisin attached to the machine to be fed and supplied for this purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Richardson Dinsmore and Frederick Hoyer in the
Great Seal Patent Offico on the 2nd December 1881.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON DINSMORE, of the City of Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, and FREDERICK HOYER, of Waterloo, also in the County of
Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO FEEDING PAPER TO PRINTING
AND OTHER MACHINES, AND MECHANISM EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to a further carrying out and certain improvements in
connection with a former Patent granted to us, No. 2855, A.D. 1880, having the
title the same as the title of this present Invention.
The object of our former Invention was to separate sheets of paper sheet by
sheet from bulk, and feed such paper sheet by sheet to printing and other machines
by the aid of certain mechanism.
Our present improvements consist in the following arrangements for securing a
perfect separation of the sheets of paper, and to prevent more than one sheet being
delivered at one time we provide an air chest or exhaust box in connection with
an exhaust fan, in such convenient position that the suction from such exhaust
box may be brought to bear upon the front edges and under side of the paper, in
such manner that the suction or down draught shall act upon the under side of the
sheet in process of being raised (by the lifting suction described in our former
Specification, No. 2855, A.D. 1880) and delivered forward. Such down draught or
suction will strip off or draw down any. second sheet, which through previous
imperfect separation may have improperly adhered to the sheet being raised, or
which may be floating and apt to be drawn onto the rolling tube as the tail end
of the sheet being operated on is passing off.
Where it is required that a sheet shall bo fed to the printing machine only
every second or third or fourth revolution, we further provide an arrangement
by which the air suction is cut off from the lifting or picking up mechanism, so
that on dropping into position for picking up a sheet this shall not be accomplished
owing to the absence of the suction. This wo by preference perform by placing
the throttle or other valve within the air passage from the picking up mechanism
to the fan, and we control such throttle valve by any suitable intermittent working
gear, so that the valve opens only at such intervals as may be desired. The
suction for separating the sheets may also in like manner be shut off for a time
during the operation by the working of a suitable valve.
To secure the due and proper risc of the table bearing the pile of paper to be
acted upon, and to bring the uppermost sheet within certain reach of the air
suction from the overhend or lifting cylinder or mechanism, we arrango that at
any time the top sheet shall be below the proper distance, the separator or wiper
in moving forward to act upon the paper shall bear upon the end of a lever which
is connected with the reverse end of the pawl which works the ratchet wheel
actuating the screws by which the said table is raised or lowered, the said pawl
being balanced upon a pin or stud above such ratchet wheel, or otherwise
conveniently placed. When the separator depresses the lever below a certain
point by reason of the paper being removed the further end of the pawl is thereby
raised, and the pawl is thus brought into action on the ratchet wheel.
This being
effected the separator releases the end of the lever, but the pawl completes the
action which it has commenced, and by moving the ratchet wheel forward causes
the table to rise on the aforesaid screws and then resumes its former balanced
position. Should the separator not be employed the same action may be obtained

page_text: by other suitable means, but by preference we should arrange a lever bearing a
roller to rest upon the pile of paper, and having a similar backward and forward
motion, and which lever as soon as the uppermost sheet is below the proper level
shall bear upon the lever in connection with the pawl and cause the same action,
as before described.
After the sheet has left the lifting cylinder and its lower end has arrived at and
been adjusted by the stops at the lower end of the grid, its side adjustment is
effected by means of an elastic finger, and consists of an eccentric worked by a
suitable gear, to which is attached a curved pieco of india rubber or like material,
which has the advantage of having a large travel and gentle touch and wipes the
sheet of paper to the proper position.
Another method for lifting and feeding the sheets, we arrange a wooden frame-
work carrying on its lower part the table for the pile of paper, and provided with
an exhaust chest acted upon by a separato fan. For lifting the sheets one by one
we provide another fan above the pile of paper and separated from it by a wooden
grid, having movement up and down within a limited distance. This fan may be
fixed to the upper part of the frame; between the frame and the grid we provide
endless threads, which pass around and over rollers at the back and at the front of
the frame. The suction of the fan causes one sheet of paper to rise and press
against the lower surface of the grid, one end of which is provided with suitable
supports on the frame on which support it is free to rock. By an arrangement of
a weight attached to one end the other end is caused to have normal upward
pressure controlled by a cam and pulley. In connection with the front rollers as
the same revolves the cam allows the grid a greater upward movement, and thus
the bars pass between the endless threads, and so leaves the outward part or
leading edge of the sheet of paper bearing against its under surface to rest or bear
against the said endless threads or their equivalent. As the threads move onward
they draw off the paper from the grid, which then resumes its previous position
by the action of the cams being in position to pick up another sheet.
The sheet already brought into contact with the travelling threads is drawn off
the grid by suitable rollers or equivalent mechanism, and is thus conveyed to the
upper part of the framework, its motion being continued by means of and along
the threads. Those threads may have a diagonal direction and bring the sheet
against an adjustable side gauge, which adjust it ready to be taken off by the
mechanism attached to the machine to be fed and supplied for this purpose.
The beforegoing being the nature, object, and purposes of this our Invention,
we will now proceed to describe moro in detail how the same may be carried out
into practical effect, and for that purposo we have hereunto attached two Sheets
of Drawings marked with letters and Figures of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation, like letters and Figures being used to denote
the same or corresponding parts throughout the various Figures and views.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine illustrative of our Invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mechanism of one side of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism of the other side of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation at Z, Z, Figure 1.
Figure 5 is an enlarged plan showing the arrangement of either corner or side
of the lower part of the grid or table.
Figure C is an elevation of part of Figure 5 showing wiper arrangement.
Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the mechanism for lowering the feeding cords or
threads.
Figure 8 is a plan or diagram of the pneumatic system which we use in
accomplishing our Invention.

page_text: and regulating the exhaust.
Figures 11 and 12 aro details of the exhaust air chest.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of a modified form of lifting cylinder.
Figure 14 is an end view of Figure 13, and
Figure 15 is a detail of roller to be used in connection with the cylinder,
Figure 14.
Figure 16 is an elevation of a modification of our Invention.
Referring to the Drawings it will be seen that the improvements which form
the subject of our present Invention consist in the following arrangements, or
additions, or alterations in connection with the system and mechanism described
in the Specification of our former Patent, No. 2855, A.D. 1880, and for the purposes
of thorough explanation we have shown and herein describe such additions and
alterations in connection with a complete mechanism.
Under our former and present Invention the attachment or mechanism for
feeding paper consists of a frame, over which is mounted a compensating table A,
with an adjustable gauge B for holding the paper a in bulk or quantity. The
table A is carried between the brackets C, C, by the screws and nuts C, C', by
which means the table is elevated so as to, compensate for the removal of paper,
and thus keep the upper sheet of the pile substantially at a standard level. The
screws Caro operated by a gear hereafter described. D is a mechanism for
separating the sheets of paper a, and bellying them from the pile or bulk singly to
enable them to be sucked up a sheet at a time by the exhaust hereafter spoken of,
and raised into position so that they can be led to the inclined grid E, on which
they are adjusted previous to being taken by the printing or other machine. The
adjustable gaugo B closes on and holds the pile of paper a in the required position.
The primary separation of the sheets of paper a is effected by the separator D,
which has an india rubber facing, and drops onto the front or leading edge of each
sheet, as shown at Figure 4. The separator D receives motion from the cam D' on
the primary shaft F, as also shown at Figure 4, which imparts a lifting and
reciprocating motion to the separator. The sheets of paper a aro lifted sheet by
sheet from the pilo on the table A by air suction derived from an exhaust fan or
fans in the casing G, Figures 1 and 8. The suction of the fan in the casing G
exhausts the air from the cylindrical barrel H, which is perforated around its
periphery, and revolves within the barrel H', which has a slot h, the length of
which slot can be adjusted by the sliding shields h¹ to accomodate the width of the
paper being operated upon. The barrels H, H', are carried by the upright
guides H. The barrel H is connected, as shown at Figure 9, to the upright
casing H, which telescopes into the casing G' leading from the exhaust fan.
The barrels H, H', have an intermittent raising and lowering movement imparted
to them by the cains I, I, on the primary shaft F. These cams I operate the
barrels H, H, by means of the weighted levers I, as shown in the Drawings. If
desired box cams can be substituted for those shown.
Instead of arranging the barrels H, H, as just described, and as an alternative
thereof, we place the perforated rotating barrel H around and outside the slotted
barrel H, and we provide a roller, as at Figures 14 and 15, to guide the paper onto
the grid, and prevent it adhering to and being carried round by the rotation of
the barrel H. This modification will be seen on reference to Figures 13, 14,
and 15.
The operation of the mechanism illustrated is:-The barrels H, H', are lowered
into proximity to the sheet of paper a, which has been bellied by the action of the
separator D. The suction of the exhaust fan through the slot h, causes the upper
sheet of paper to adhere to the barrel H as it is lifted. The air suction is opened
to the cylinders H, H³, about the completion of the downstroke of the cylinder,
and rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder H just before the completion of the
upstroke, and continues until the next downstroke. The rotation of the cylinder H
within the cylinder H' feeds the sheet of paper onto the grid E. To prevent more

page_text: than one sheet of paper being raised at one time from the bulk we provide a front
suction chest J, which communicates with exhaust fan through the pipe J, and has
perforations on its face, the indraught of air through which accomplishes the object
of this portion of our Invention. The paper is kept away from the face of the
chest by the vertical ribs J", shown at Figures 11 and 12. The front suction in
this chest J settles the under sheets as the lifting cylinders H, H¹, are about to
rise. Both suctions, namely, the lifting cylinder suction and the suction of the
chest J are simultaneously cut off.
To accomplish the automatic feeding of the bulk of paper into position to be
separated and lifted, as before stated, we use a compensating table A, the raising of
which is accomplished by the screws C', which are operated by the bevel gears C
worked by the ratchet wheel ', which is mounted on the shaft d'. The shaft d'
carries a lever d¹¹ mounted loosely thereon. This lever is worked by the connecting
rode, which is connected to the disc e¹, and is adjustable thereon in the groove ell.
The lever d carries a pawl f, which operates the ratchet wheel d, and thereby
feeds the table A as required and necessary. The feed is of an automatic nature,
and is only effected when necessary through the medium of the lever f¹, one end
of which is connected to the pawlf by the spring f". Once in every cycle of
operation of the machine a metal piece on the end of and forming part of the
separator D bears upon the lever f, which it is allowed to do owing to the level of
the top sheets of the pile of paper being or becoming below the required level, and
thus causing the separator D to dip at such an angle as to depress the lever f¹, so
as to thus bring the pawl finto gear with the teeth of the wheel D, and thereby
raise the table A to its normal height. To prevent the over elevating of the table
the upper portion of the screw C¹ is cut away, leaving a plain spindle. The hand
wheel C is used for elevating or depressing the table A, and may be placed on
the screw C¹, or on the shaft d', as desired. Figure 3a shows a modification of the
gear just described. In this case an adjustable rigid connection f" is substituted
for the spring", and the spring 11 answers the purpose (partly) of the spring fl
through the side lever attached to the lever f', which it supports. This sido lever
has to be depressed before the lever f1 comes into operation, as will be seen upon
reference. The action of the lever f¹ is adjusted to the various thicknesses of
different classes of paper by raising or lowering the end of the lever f¹ by means
of the nuts on the connecting rod f".
11
The gear and mechanism for feeding the paper from the elevator barrel H' by
the rotation of the internal barrel H onto the grid is as follows:-The primary
shaft F is operated by a suitable chain wheel or other pulley F' from and at the
same speed as the printing or other machine to be fed; K is a toothed wheel keyed
onto the shaft F and drives the toothed wheel L which is geared into the pinion M,
which is mounted on the shaft of and rotates the cylinder H. The wheel L is
formed with some of its teeth partly cut away, as shown at L, Figures 1 and 3.
By this arrangement it is always in gear and receiving movement from the wheel K,
and is only intermittently in gear with the pinion M. On the pinion M, as shown
at Figures 2 and 4, we provide a projecting pin m which is caught by the pin on
the wheel L as the latter rotates. This is to gently start the pinion M before
coming into gear with the wheel L. The pin is for the purpose of arresting the
barrel H on the pinion M disengaging from the wheel L, and the pinion M is left
and held in correct position by the spring m³, as shown at Figuro 3. To secure
the proper position of the pinion M for gearing with the wheel L, we provide a
second short pin m" which adjusts the pinion M by coming into contact with a
bracket m when the cylinder H' is at the bottom stroke. The inclined table or
grid E is composed of a series of interchangeable laths or slats E' which are carried
on a frame consisting of the two side pieces E" and the transverse piece E. The
side pieces E" are hinged to the shaft N, as shown, and the whole table or grid is
free to rock thereon. The lifting movement necessary to elevate the tablo for the
grippers of the printing or other machine to grip the sheet is imparted by the bar O
in the usual way.

page_text: The shaft N is driven from the wheel K by the pinion N" and carries a series of
pulleys P, and at the lower portion of the table or grid E there is another shaft R
which carries a series of pulleys S substantially corresponding with the pulleys P.
The function of these pulleys P and S is to carry a series of endless cords or
threads T which are used to convey the paper down the table or grid E. In
conveying the sheets down the table the cords run slightly above the level of the
slats, and to enable the adjusting operation, hereinafter described, to be performed,
the shaft R is arranged to lower. The lowering mechanism is particularly shown
at Figures 5 and 7, and is constructed thus:-Ŏn the shaft U which runs in fixed
bearings U', carried on the side pieces E" of the grid, wo mount the cams V, V,
which are used to lower and elevate the shaft R and rollers S', and thereby the
cords T, the operation being performed through the double links V₁ which carry a
friction roller V". The shaft R works in a slot in the side pieces E" which serve
as a guide. The shaft R and rollers S are arranged to lower just prior to the table
being raised towards the grippers of the printing machine and after the sheet has
been adjusted.
On the paper being arrested at the bottom of the grid by the stops and
mechanism W, which are of the ordinary type, working in the usual way, we bring
into operation the side adjusting mechanism, shown in detail at Figures 5 and 6,
which consists of the side gauge i carried by and adjustable on the bracket i
through the bars i". The shaft U, which receives motion from a chain and chain
wheel mounted on the primary shaft F working at the same speed, carries the
adjustable bevel wheel U which drives the bevel wheel Y mounted on the shaft Y¹
carried by brackets on the gauge . On the shaft Y there is mounted a holder
which carries an india rubber or other elastic wiper or finger X. The rotation of
the wiper X effects the lateral adjustincnt of the paper against the gauge i just
prior to the table being raised and the rollers S being lowered. On the paper being
adjusted on the grid E it is held in position by a suction through the holes which
communicate with the exhaust fan through the pipes, as shown at Figure 8,
being a flexible connection.
To govern the exhaust and to avoid waste of the same and bring the exhaust
into operation at the proper stages of the cycle of operation, we use the mechanism
illustrated at Figures 9 and 10, which consists of the throttle valve 2 which is
worked by the cam 3 operated by the raising and lowering of the barrel H' through
the rod and pawl tappet 4; 5 is a device for closing the throttle valve 2 by hand
when required from the opposite side. In order to bring the exhaust fully onto
the chest J at the right stage of the cycle, holes are arranged in the telescoping
pipe H which open and close the exhaust through the pipe J¹, and in order to
bring the exhaust onto the pipes K' through the pipe K₁ holes or ports are
likewise used in the telescoping pipe H.
In the example of our Invention, illustrated at Figure 16, we arrange a frame-
work 6 carrying on its lower part the table A for the pile of paper, and provided
with an exhaust chest J acted upon by an independent fan. For lifting the sheets
one by one we provide another fan 7 above the pile of paper from the table A, and
separated from it by a grid 8 having movement up and down within a limited
distance, as shown by dotted lines. The fan 7 is fixed to the upper part of the
frame 6. Between the frame and the grid 8, 9, are endless threads, which pass
around and over rollers at the back and at the front of tho frame. The suction of
the fan 7 causes one sheet of paper to rise and press against the lower surface of
the grid S, one end of which is supported at the back of the frame, and the other
being free to rock. By an arrangement of weight attached to one end the other
end is caused to have normal upward pressure, which is controlled by a cam and a
pulley in connection with the front rollers 10. As the rollers revolve the cam
allows the grid 8 a greater upward movement, and thus the bars of the grid pass
between the endless cords 9, and so leave the outward part or leading edge of the
sheet of paper bearing against the under, surface of the grid 8 to arrest or bear
against the endless cords 9. As the cords 9 move onward they draw off the paper

page_text: from the grid, which then resumes its previous position by the action of the cam,
and is ready to pick up another sheet. The sheet already brought into contact
with the cords 9 is drawn off the grid 8 between the rollers 10, 11, 12, as indicated
by the arrows, and is thus conveyed to tho upper part of the framework, its motion
being continued by means of the endless cords 9, which may have a diagonal
direction, and bring the sheet against an adjustable side gauge, which adjusts it
ready to be taken off by the mechanism attached to the machine to be fed, and
supplied for this purpose. The exhaust through the exhaust chest J serves the
same purpose as that described in the previous illustrated machine, namely, it
prevents more than one sheet being lifted at a time from the pile of paper a.
Having now described how our Invention may be carried into practice, we
would hero state that wo disclaim all parts covered by our former Patent, No. 2855,
A.D. 1880, but what we claim as secured to us by this our present Patent is,―
First. In mechanism for feeding paper to printing and other machines the use
and application of an exhaust or suction for withholding the under sheets of paper,
and preventing more than one slicet of paper being lifted and fed at a time, as
herein described.
Second. The arrangement of exhaust devices and mechanism for withholding
those slects immediately under the sheet being lifted, substantially as herein
described and shown at Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Drawings.
Third. In mechanism for feeding paper to printing and other machines
regulating the lifting of the table by the movement of the separator, substantially
as described.
Fourth. In combination with the compensating table A the screw C¹, the
ratchet wheel & and its gear, and the lever f¹ and its gear, substantially as described
and shown in the Drawings.
Fifth. The use of the adjustable elastic wiper X, shaped, mounted, operating,
and driven as herein described, such as shown at Figures 5 and 6 of the
Drawings.
4
Sixth. The arrangement of mechanism for feeding paper to printing and other
machines, as herein described and shown at Figure 1 of the Drawings, and such
other Figures as detail Figure 1.
Seventh. The arrangement of mechanism for feeding paper to printing and other
machines, as herein described and shown at Figure 16 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Henry Richardson Dinsmore and
Frederick Hoyer, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this First day
of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
eighty one.
JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON
(L.s.) DINSMORE.
FREDERICK (L.S.) HOYER.