Method for processing a web in an apparatus

Abstract

A web printing apparatus comprising a support platen facing the processing station for supporting the web, when being processed by the processing station and a first guard for guarding a side edge of a web, the first guard being connectable to the support platen for guiding the web along a transport path, when the web is processed by the processing station. A detector is provided for detecting the first guard when connected to the support platen as well as a control unit configured for controlling the processing station to process the web, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the guard based on a detection signal provided by the detector to the control unit. Thereby, the first guard is identified by the control unit which may then control the movement of the print carriage to avoid the first guard, preventing collisions.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a processing station for processing a web; a transport device for transporting the web through a transport path along the processing station; a support platen facing the processing station for supporting the web, when being processed by the processing station; a first guard for guarding a side edge of a web, the first guard being connectable to the support platen for guiding the web along the transport path, when the web is processed by the processing station; a detector for detecting the first guard when connected to the support platen; and a control unit configured for controlling the processing station to process the web, wherein the control unit is configured to identify the guard based on a detection signal provided by the detector to the control unit, wherein the control unit is further configured to control movement of the processing station based on the detection and identification of the first guard by the detector, to prevent contact between the processing station and the first guard connected to the support platen.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a moveable carriage for moving the processing station with respect to the support platen, wherein the detector and the processing station are mounted on the carriage.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guard further comprises: a connection base connectable to the support platen; a restrictor plate for restricting deformation of the web in a direction away from the support platen; and a spacer connecting the connection base to the restrictor plate, the spacer being configured for positioning the restrictor plate at a predefined distance from the support platen when the connection base is connected to the support platen.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured for determining the position of the connected guard with respect to the support platen.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing station is arranged having a gap with respect to the support platen during processing of the web and wherein control unit is configured for adjusting a gap based on an identity of the identified guard.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a memory storing an identity table, wherein the control unit is arranged for selecting a guard from the identity table based on the detection signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first guard comprises an identifier attribute for identifying the guard.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the identifier attribute comprises a marker on the first guard.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the marker comprises identity information readable by the detector.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the identifier attribute comprises a color of the first guard.

11. A method of controlling the processing station in the apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: sensing, with the detector, the first guard for guarding the side edge of the web when connected to the support platen of the apparatus; identifying the first guard from data generated by the detector; controlling the movement of the processing station to avoid contact with the identified first guard.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining a height parameter of the identified first guard; and adjusting a gap between the processing station and the support platen based on the height parameter.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining a position of the identified first guard; and controlling a translational movement of the processing station over the support platen, such that the processing stations avoids the determined position.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to control movement of the processing station in a scanning direction based on the detection and identification of the first guard by the detector, to prevent contact between the processing station and the first guard connected to the support platen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying schematical drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1A shows an image forming apparatus, wherein printing is achieved using a wide format inkjet printer.

(3) FIG. 1B shows an ink jet printing assembly.

(4) FIGS. 2A-2B show schematically an embodiment of an apparatus for processing a web by a processing unit according to the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows in a flow diagram an embodiment of a method for processing a web in an apparatus according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 4 shows schematically in a perspective view a kit comprising a first guard and a second guard according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5 shows schematically in a perspective view another embodiment of a kit comprising a first guard and a second guard according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(8) The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or similar elements throughout the several views.

(9) FIG. 1A shows an image forming apparatus 1, wherein printing is achieved using a wide format inkjet printer. The wide-format image forming apparatus 1 comprises a housing 2, wherein the printing assembly, for example the ink jet printing assembly shown in FIG. 1B is placed. The image forming apparatus 1 also comprises a storage means for storing image receiving member 3, 4, a delivery station to collect the image receiving member 3, 4 after printing and storage means 5 for marking material. In FIG. 1A, the delivery station is embodied as a delivery tray 6. Optionally, the delivery station may comprise processing means for processing the image receiving member 3, 4 after printing, e.g. a folder or a puncher. The wide-format image forming apparatus 1 furthermore comprises means for receiving print jobs and optionally means for manipulating print jobs. These means may include a user interface unit 8 and/or a control unit 7, for example a computer.

(10) Images are printed on an image receiving member, for example paper, supplied by a roll 3, 4. The roll 3 is supported on the roll support R1, while the roll 4 is supported on the roll support R2. Alternatively, cut sheet image receiving members may be used instead of rolls 3, 4 of image receiving member. Printed sheets of the image receiving member, cut off from the roll 3, 4, are deposited in the delivery tray 6.

(11) Each one of the marking materials for use in the printing assembly are stored in four containers 5 arranged in fluid connection with the respective print heads for supplying marking material to said print heads.

(12) The local user interface unit 8 is integrated to the print engine and may comprise a display unit and a control panel. Alternatively, the control panel may be integrated in the display unit, for example in the form of a touch-screen control panel. The local user interface unit 8 is connected to a control unit 7 placed inside the printing apparatus 1. The control unit 7, for example a computer, comprises a processor adapted to issue commands to the print engine, for example for controlling the print process. The image forming apparatus 1 may optionally be connected to a network N. The connection to the network N is diagrammatically shown in the form of a cable 9, but nevertheless, the connection could be wireless. The image forming apparatus 1 may receive printing jobs via the network. Further, optionally, the controller of the printer may be provided with a USB port, so printing jobs may be sent to the printer via this USB port.

(13) FIG. 1B shows an ink jet printing assembly 10. The ink jet printing assembly 10 comprises supporting means for supporting an image receiving member 3. The supporting means 11 are shown in FIG. 1B as a platen 11, but alternatively, the supporting means 11 may be a flat surface. The platen 11, as depicted in FIG. 1B, is a rotatable drum 11, which is rotatable about its axis as indicated by arrow A. The supporting means 11 may be optionally provided with suction holes for holding the image receiving member 3 in a fixed position with respect to the supporting means 11. The inkjet printing assembly 10 comprises print heads 12a-12d, mounted on a scanning print carriage 13. The scanning print carriage 13 is guided by suitable guiding means 14, 15 to move in reciprocation in the main scanning direction B. Each print head 12a-12d comprises an orifice surface 16, which orifice surface 16 is provided with at least one orifice 17. The print heads 12a-12d are configured to eject droplets of marking material onto the image receiving member 3. The platen 11, the carriage 13 and the print heads 12a-12d are controlled by suitable controlling means 18a, 18b and 18c, respectively.

(14) The image receiving member 3 may be a medium in web or in sheet form and may be composed of e.g. paper, cardboard, label stock, coated paper, plastic, canvas, film or textile. Alternatively, the image receiving member 3 may also be an intermediate member, endless or not. Examples of endless members, which may be moved cyclically, are a belt or a drum. The image receiving member 3 is moved in the sub-scanning direction A by the platen 11 along four print heads 12a-12d provided with a fluid marking material. A scanning print carriage 13 carries the four print heads 12a-12d and may be moved in reciprocation in the main scanning direction B parallel to the platen 11, such as to enable scanning of the image receiving member 3 in the main scanning direction B. Only four print heads 12a-12d are depicted for demonstrating the invention. In practice an arbitrary number of print heads may be employed. In any case, at least one print head 12a-12d per color of marking material is placed on the scanning print carriage 13. For example, for a black-and-white printer, at least one print head 12a-12d, usually containing black marking material is present. Alternatively, a black-and-white printer may comprise a white marking material, which is to be applied on a black image-receiving member 3. For a full-color printer, containing multiple colors, at least one print head 12a-12d for each of the colors, usually black, cyan, magenta and yellow is present. Often, in a full-color printer, black marking material is used more frequently in comparison to differently colored marking material. Therefore, more print heads 12a-12d containing black marking material may be provided on the scanning print carriage 13 compared to print heads 12a-12d containing marking material in any of the other colors. Alternatively, the print head 12a-12d containing black marking material may be larger than any of the print heads 12a-12d, containing a differently colored marking material.

(15) The carriage 13 is guided by guiding means 14, 15. These guiding means 14, 15 may be rods as depicted in FIG. 1B. The rods may be driven by suitable driving means (not shown). Alternatively, the carriage 13 may be guided by other guiding means, such as an arm being able to move the carriage 13. Another alternative is to move the image receiving material 3 in the main scanning direction B.

(16) Each print head 12a-12d comprises an orifice surface 16 having at least one orifice 17, in fluid communication with a pressure chamber containing fluid marking material provided in the print head 12a-12d. On the orifice surface 16, a number of orifices 17 is arranged in a single linear array parallel to the sub-scanning direction A. Eight orifices 17 per print head 12a-12d are depicted in FIG. 1B, however obviously in a practical embodiment several hundreds of orifices 17 may be provided per print head 12a-12d, optionally arranged in multiple arrays. As depicted in FIG. 1B, the respective print heads 12a-12d are placed parallel to each other such that corresponding orifices 17 of the respective print heads 12a-12d are positioned in-line in the main scanning direction B. This means that a line of image dots in the main scanning direction B may be formed by selectively activating up to four orifices 17, each of them being part of a different print head 12a-12d. This parallel positioning of the print heads 12a-12d with corresponding in-line placement of the orifices 17 is advantageous to increase productivity and/or improve print quality. Alternatively multiple print heads 12a-12d may be placed on the print carriage adjacent to each other such that the orifices 17 of the respective print heads 12a-12d are positioned in a staggered configuration instead of in-line. For instance, this may be done to increase the print resolution or to enlarge the effective print zone, which may be addressed in a single scan in the main scanning direction. The image dots are formed by ejecting droplets of marking material from the orifices 17.

(17) Upon ejection of the marking material, some marking material may be spilled and stay on the orifice surface 16 of the print head 12a-12d. The ink present on the orifice surface 16, may negatively influence the ejection of droplets and the placement of these droplets on the image receiving member 3. Therefore, it may be advantageous to remove excess of ink from the orifice surface 16. The excess of ink may be removed for example by wiping with a wiper and/or by application of a suitable anti-wetting property of the surface, e.g. provided by a coating.

(18) FIG. 2A shows schematically an embodiment of an apparatus for processing a web according to the present invention. FIG. 2A shows a side view of the apparatus 80. FIG. 2B shows a plane view on the support platen of the apparatus 80. The apparatus 80 comprises a processing station 10, such as a print station comprising a carriage and a print head assembly as shown in FIG. 1B, a support platen 11 facing the processing station, a transport device 20, which is a nip comprising a driven roller 22 and a pressure roller 24, and a control unit 100. Optionally, the apparatus 80 may further comprise a radiation curing station 30 for emitting a radiation onto the web W for curing an ink applied on a process surface of the web W downstream of the processing station 10. The transport device 20 is arranged downstream of a processing unit 10, such as a print head assembly, and transports a web W along a transport path in a transport direction T along the processing unit 10, optionally including transporting the web W along the radiation curing station 30. The web is supplied from a roll 3, which is supported by a spindle 26. The web is moved by the transport nip 20 along the transport path from the supply roll 3 along the processing unit 10 towards a receiving roll 6. The receiving roll 6 is supported on a spindle 28. The print head assembly 10 of the processing station faces the support plate 11, which is optionally arranged to attract the web to the support plate by applying a suction force to a contact side of the web W. The web transport assembly further comprises a control unit 100, which is operatively connected to the print head assembly 10, the radiation curing station 30 and to the transport device 20.

(19) As shown in FIG. 2B, a pair of side guards 40A and 40B is positioned on the support platen 11 and connected to the support platen 11 to guide side edges S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the web W, respectively. The guards 40A, 40B are arranged at the side edges S.sub.1, S.sub.2, respectively, of the web W with respect to the transverse direction C perpendicular to the transport path, i.e. perpendicular to the transport direction T.

(20) Each of the guards 40A, 40B may comprise a connecting portion for connecting the guard 40A, 40B to the support platen 11, such as a connecting pin protruding in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the support platen 11 or a screw for fastening the guard 40A, 40B the support platen. Additionally, the support platen may comprise a receiving portion, such as a hole shaped for receiving and retaining a connecting pin or a screw. Alternatively, the receiving portion may comprise a groove shaped for receiving and retaining a connecting portion of the guard while allowing a sliding movement of the guard in a direction parallel to the plane of the support platen 11. Said groove 19, which is shown in FIG. 2B, is directed along the transverse direction C perpendicular to the transport path. In this way, a guard 40A, 40B may be positioned along the groove 19 by a sliding movement to position the respective guard 40A, 40B relative to the transport path of the web W based on a width of the web W across the transport path (i.e. in the transverse direction C). In this way, the guards 40A, 40B are suitably positioned on the support platen 11 to guide the side edges S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the web W in the transport direction T along the transport path over the support platen 11.

(21) Each of the pair of side guards 40A, 40B is selected from a first guard 140 and a second guard 240, which are shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a kit comprising the first guard 140 and the second guard 240, respectively, in an assembled state wherein the guard 140, 240 is connected to the support platen 11.

(22) As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first guard 140 and the second guard 240 comprises a guard portion 142, 242, a bridging portion 144, 244 and a contact portion 146, 246. The contact portion is arranged for contacting the support platen 11. The bridging portion 144, 244 is shaped for raising the guard portion away from the support platen 11, when the guard 140, 240 is in the assembled state, and for guiding a side edge of the web S.sub.1, S.sub.2 along the transport path. The guard portion 142, 242 is arranged facing the support platen 11 and positioned at a predetermined gap d.sub.1, d.sub.2 from the support platen 11 in the assembled state. Each of the guard portions 142, 242 is arranged for guarding a side edge of the web, i.e. limiting a deformation or protrusion of the side edge of the web away from the support platen 11.

(23) The predetermined gap d.sub.1 of the first guard 140 is different from the predetermined gap d.sub.2 of the second guard 240. In this example d.sub.2 is larger than d.sub.1. As a result, the second guard 240 may accommodate a web W, i.e. a side edge of the web W, having a larger thickness than a web, which may be accommodated by the first guard 140.

(24) Furthermore, each guard 140, 240 comprises a marker 148, 248, which provides an identifier for identifying the first guard 140, 240, respectively. As such, the marker 148 of the first guard 140 is different from the marker 248 of the second guard 240. In an example, the marker 148, 248 is a binary code indicating the predetermined gap d.sub.1, d.sub.2 of the first guard 140 and the second guard 240, respectively.

(25) Optionally each guard 140, 240 may comprise a connecting portion (not shown), such as a connecting pin, for connecting the guard 140, 240 to the support platen 11.

(26) Alternatively, each guard 140, 240 may be temporarily connected to the support platen by means of a tape or by means of a self sticking surface of the contact portion 146, 246.

(27) Additionally, the marker 148, 248 may indicate a size of the guard portion 142, 242 in a plane parallel to the support platen 11, such as a width of the guard portion 142, 242 in a transverse direction C perpendicular to a transport path of the web, and/or may indicate a position of the edges of the guard portion 142, 242 relative to the marker 148, 248.

(28) In an alternative embodiment of the method for processing a web in the apparatus 80 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, each of the pair of side guards 40A, 40B is selected from a first guard 340 and a second guard 440, which are shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows a kit comprising the first guard 340 and the second guard 440, respectively, in an assembled state wherein the guard 340, 440 is connected to the support platen 11.

(29) The first guard 340 and the second guard 440 have the same elements as the first guard 140 and the second guard 440 shown in FIG. 4. In particular, each guard 340, 440 comprises a guard portion 342, 442, which is arranged facing the support platen 11, a bridging portion 344, 444 and a contact portion 346, 446.

(30) Each of the guard portions 142, 242 is arranged for guarding a side edge of the web, i.e. limiting a deformation or protrusion of the side edge of the web away from the support platen 11, along a guarding length L.sub.1 and L.sub.2, respectively, in the transport direction T. The guarding length L.sub.1 of the first guard 340 is different from the guarding length L.sub.2 of the second guard 440. In this example L.sub.2 is larger than L.sub.1. As a result, the second guard 440 may guide a web W, i.e. a side edge of the web W, over a larger distance along the transport path of the web, i.e. in the transport direction T.

(31) Furthermore, each guard 340, 440 comprises a marker 348, 448, which provides an identifier for identifying the first guard 340, 440, respectively. As such, the marker 348 of the first guard 340 is different from the marker 448 of the second guard 440. In an example, the marker 348, 448 is a binary code indicating the guarding length L.sub.1, L.sub.2 of the first guard 340 and the second guard 440, respectively.

(32) The control unit 100 of the apparatus 80, shown in FIG. 2A-2B, may adjust a processing parameter, such as a processing area 110, of the processing station 10 based on detection of the marker 148, 248, 348, 448, respectively and knowledge of the position of the guarding portion 142, 242, 348, 448 relative to the support platen 11. In an example, the processing station 10 comprises a detector arranged for detecting a marker 148, 248, 348, 448 of the guard 40A, 40B positioned and connected to the support platen 11. The detector may be mounted on a carriage of the printing station 10, such as the carriage 13 shown in FIG. 1B. The detector is operatively connected to the control unit 100 to provide a detection signal to the control unit 100 indicating the detected marker 148, 248, 348, 448 of the guard 40A, 40B.

(33) The control unit 100 is configured for identifying the guard 40A, 40B, i.e. determining which of the first guard 140, 340 and the second guard 240, 440 is connected to the support platen 11. The control unit 100 is connected to a database comprising a list of markers, each being related to a specific guard 140, 240, 340, 440, the database including shape attributes of the specific guard 140, 240, 340, 440, such as predetermined gap d.sub.1, d.sub.2 and/or size of the guard portion 142, 242, 342, 442, such as guarding length L.sub.1, L.sub.2.

(34) Additionally, the control unit 100 may be configured to check an orientation of the connected guard 40A, 40B relative to the support platen 11 based on the detected marker 148, 248, 348, 448. In an example, the control unit 100 may check, how the guard portion 142, 242 of each of the left guard 40A and the right guard 40B, relative to the transport direction, is arranged relative to the contact portion 146, 246 to correctly guide the respective side edge S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the web W along the transport path.

(35) FIG. 3 shows in a flow diagram an embodiment of a method for processing a web in an apparatus 80 according to the present invention.

(36) In a first step S302, a guard is selected from a first guard 140 and a second guard 240 by an operator of the apparatus 80 based on a web W to be processed by the apparatus. In particular, the operator selects the guard based on a thickness of the web and based on a predetermined distance d.sub.1, d.sub.2 of the first guard 140 and the second guard 240, respectively. In a particular example, the operator selects the same type of guard for both side edges S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the web, as the thickness of the web is substantially independent of the specific edge of the web W.

(37) In a next step S304, the operator connects the selected guard (140 or 240) to the support platen 11 at a desired position relative to the transverse direction c to guide a respective edge S.sub.1, S.sub.2 of the web W. The guard 140, 240 may be connected to the support platen 11 by using a connecting portion of the guard 140, 240. Alternatively, the guard 140, 240 may be connected to the support platen 11 by applying tape to the contacting portion 146, 246 of the first guard 140 or the second guard 240, respectively.

(38) In a next step S306, a presence of the connected guard at the support platen 11 is determined by the apparatus 80. In an example, the apparatus comprises a cover arranged for providing an entry for the operator to the support platen 11, when arranged in an opening state. The control unit 100 is operatively connected to the cover to determine the opening state and/or closing state of the cover. In case the cover is moved in the opening state by the operator, the control unit 100 assumes that a guard is to be connected to the support platen 11. The control unit 100 may move the processing station 10 away from the support platen 11, e.g. in a plane parallel to the support platen, to support access of the operator to the support platen 11. Furthermore, the control unit 100 may raise the processing station 10 to a predetermined safe distance above the support platen 11, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the support platen 11, to avoid any damage occurring to the processing station 10 during any further movements of the processing station over the support platen 11.

(39) In another example, the presence of the connected guard 40A, 40B may be communicated to the control unit 100 of the apparatus 80 by an operator input, such as by using an input device of the apparatus.

(40) In a next step S308, the connected guard 40A, 40B is identified. The identification of the connected guard may be carried out by using a detector mounted on a carriage of the printing station 10, such as the carriage 13 shown in FIG. 1B. The detector is operatively connected to the control unit 100 to provide a detection signal to the control unit 100 indicating a detected marker 148, 248 of the guard 140, 240.

(41) In an alternative example of the step, the operator may identify the connected guard 40A, 40B, e.g. as the guard is also selected by the operator. The operator may provide an operator input to the control unit 100 of the apparatus to communicate the identity of the connected guard 40A, 40B.

(42) In a next step S310, the position of the connected guard 40A, 40B is determined. The position of the guard 40A, 40B on the support platen 11 may be determined by the detector for detecting the guard 40A, 40B. In example, the detector detects the detected marker 148, 248 of the guard 140, 240 and provides a detection signal to the control unit 100 based on the detected marker 148, 248. The control unit 100 determines the position of the connected guard 40A, 40B based on the position of the detected marker 148, 248. Optionally, the control unit 100 may determine a position of the guard portion 142, 242 relative to the support platen 11 based on the detected marker 148, 248 and further based on a known distance between the marker 148, 248 and side edges of the guard portion 142, 242. In this way, the control unit 100 exactly knows the position of the guard portion relative to the support platen, both in a direction of the plane of the support platen 11 and in a height direction perpendicular to the plane of the support platen 11.

(43) In a next step S312, the control unit 100 adjusts a processing parameter of the processing station 10. In a first example, a gap between the processing station and the support platen, which is maintained during processing of the web, is adjusted based on a predetermined distance d1, d2 of the selected guard 140, 240. In this way, based on the knowledge of the shape of the selected guard 140, 240, a collision of the processing station 10, such as a moveable print station, to the connected guard 40A, 40B is avoided while optimizing a processing distance between the processing station 10 and the web W.

(44) In a second example, the print area 110 relative to the support platen 11 to be processed by the printing station 10 is adjusted based on the determined presence of the connected guard. In this way, it may be avoided that the guard is polluted by an ink to form an image, which ink is printed by the print station 10 onto the web W in the print area 110. In case the ink is a radiation curable ink, such ink may provide a safety risk, when the ink pollutes the connected guard and is not cured by a radiation source 30, which is arranged away from the support platen 11 facing the print station 10, such as downstream from the print station 10 in a transport direction T of the web W.

(45) In a next step S314, the web W is processed according to the adjusted processing parameter, as adjusted in step S312. In this way, an optimised processing of the web w is obtained.

(46) After processing the web W, the method can be reiterated by an operator by starting again from step S302 and performing the steps S302-314, wherein another guard is selected from a first guard 140, 340 and a second guard 240, 440, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, based on another web to be processed by the apparatus 80.

(47) Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In particular, features presented and described in separate dependent claims may be applied in combination and any advantageous combination of such claims are herewith disclosed.

(48) Further, it is contemplated that structural elements may be generated by application of three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques. Therefore, any reference to a structural element is intended to encompass any computer executable instructions that instruct a computer to generate such a structural element by three-dimensional printing techniques or similar computer controlled manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, such a reference to a structural element encompasses a computer readable medium carrying such computer executable instructions.

(49) Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

(50) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.