US3034705A - Coin receiving and collecting assembly for coin controlled devices - Google Patents

Description

May 15, 1962 B. SHARE 3,034,705

com RECEIVING AND COLLECTING ASSEMBLY FOR com CONTROLLED DEVICES Filed Nov. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 rm 15\ no.3

INVENTOR.

BY Barneri Share vmw AT TORN EYS May 15, 1962 Filed Nov. 23, 1960 HARE COIN RECEIVING AND COLLECTING ASSEMBLY FIG. 7

FOR COIN CONTROLLED DEVICES FIG. 8

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 9

FIG. 10

FIG.13 FIG. 1 1

INVENTOR.

Barnerf Share ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,034,705 COIN RECEIVING AND COLLECTING ASSEMBLY FOR COIN CONTROLLED DEVICES Barnett Share, Queens Village, N.Y., assignor to Complete Machinery & Equipment Co., Inc., Long Island City,

N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 71,332 16 Claims. (Cl. 23216) This invention relates to coin operated devices and, more particularly, to a novel coin receiving and collecting assembly therefor which may be unlocked and the coins collected therefrom solely by the use of a high vacuum.

One of the practical problems involved with coin operated devices is the number of man hours required for servicing and collection of coins therefrom. This is particularly true in the case of coin operated parking meters. A general procedure involves unlocking of the meter head, removing the coin receptacle, dumping the contents of the receptacle into a coin collector, replace-- ment of the coin receptacle, and relocking of the meter head. Not only is this time consuming, but also there is undue opportunity for pilferage of coins by the person doing the servicing or by others.

In a known and rather common form of parking meter, the meter head is mounted upon a suitable upright post, or stanchion, and includes an indicator dial, a coin slot, to receive a coin of a suitable denomination, and a handle or key by means of which the parking meter dial may be set back to zero. The coin put into the coin slot falls down into a receptacle or collecting space within the meter head below the coin slot, and access to this receptacle or space is provided through an access opening closed by a key-operated locked door hinged to the meter head. In this type of parking meter, either the locked door must be opened and the receptacle removed in order to recover the coins therefrom, or the coins must be manually scooped out of the collection space.

While the expense and loss involved in manual collection of coins from this and other types of parking meters is well known to the authorities using the same, nevertheless the problem of expense involved in converting such parking meters to a more efficient collection system has been such that there has been, to date, no substantial conversion. To that end, the present invention is directed to a novel coin receptacle and vacuum operated lock which may be easily and very inexpensively substituted in the above-mentioned and other types of parking meters.

The essential feature of the present invention is a new type of vacuum operated lock which may be substituted for the present key-operated locks used in various forms of parking meters, and control access to the coins in the parking meter heads. This lock is arranged to be mounted in a meter head or a door thereof, and includes a body portion arranged to extend through an opening in a novel coin receptacle secured in the meter head, or through a nipple extending inwardly from such opening. The body portion of the lock carries a spring biased pin or plunger so positioned that, when the body portion is engaged through the opening or nipple with which it cooperates, the pin or plunger will engage behind the inner edge of the nipple, and thus prevent access to the coin receptacle. A passage extends longitudinally through the body portion from the outer surface of the lock to a chamber beneath the pin or plunger, so that a relatively high vacuum may be provided to the chamber to retract the catch.

In order to avoid any possibility of vacuum operation of the lock by a person placing his mouth against the outer surface of the vacuum operated lock and sucking, a

by-pass opening is provided from the chamber to the exterior of the body portion inside of the opening or extension through which the body portion extends. This by-pass opening provides an air by-pass, whereby it is not possible to retract the pin or plunger solely by mere oral suction. On the other hand, when a mechanical suction of above a predetermined value is applied to the outer surface of the lock, the pin or plunger is retracted to open the lock.

The nozzle, connected to a source of vacuum and used to operate the lock, is then inserted, in substantially airtight relation, through the opening or nipple receiving the lock and, due to turbulence created by air openings in the coin receptacle, all of the coins in the receptacle are substantially immediately withdrawn therefrom and into the hose connected with the vacuum nozzle.

As applied to one form of parking meter having a hinged door for access to the coin receptacle or coin vault, the vacuum operated lock is operatively associated with a coin receptacle comprising an elongated substantially closed box, having a coin receiving slot in its upper end, and having a plurality of relatively large diameter openings in its bottom end and its sides adjacent its bottom end. Intermediate the top and bottom of this receptacle, there is a tubular extension or nipple extending from an opening in the front wall of the receptacle into the interior thereof, and there is a guiding b afile means provided above this nipple or extension whereby coins, dropped into the receptacle, will fall past the nipple or extension to the bottom of the receptacle. The receptacle, insofar as its exterior design characteristics are concerned, is designed for substitution in the first-mentioned type of parking meter, or for conforming insertion in the coin accumulating space thereof. Thus, it may be easily substituted in the existing meter assembly, and at very small expense.

ln this embodiment of the invention, the door has its upper edge hinged to the meter head and has the vacuum operated lock adjacent its lower edge and arranged to project through an outwardly opening nipple extending into the coin receptacle, with the spring biased catch, pin, or plunger engaging beyond the inner end of the nipple to prevent the door from being opened.

In another form of parking meter having a locked door hinged at its upper edge to the meter head, the vacuum operated lock is substituted for the key-operated lock adjacent the lower edge of the door and its pin or plunger is engageable with a lock plate provided in the coin vault of the meter head. A receptacle, embodying the invention and formed with a vacuum nozzle receiving opening and with air admission openings, is secured \m'thin the coin vault.

As an alternative in this case, the key-operated lock may be retained and the door formed with an opening, aligned and substantially congruent with the coin removal opening of the receptacle. The body portion of the vacuum operated lock is then inserted freely through such door opening for latching cooperation with the coin receptacle. To collect coins from the receptacle, the vacuum operated lock is unlocked and withdrawn from the door, and the nozzle is inserted through the aligned door and receptacle openings. Dual security is provided by the two locks, with the key-operated lock used for maintenance access to the interior of the meter head.

In the form of parking meter in which the door is completely removable when the lock has been opened, the vacuum operated lock may be substituted for the keyoperated lock and be removable with the door and cooperable with the coin access opening of a coin receptacle embodying the invention and secured within the meter head when the door is removed, the vacuum nozzle being inserted into the coin access opening in the receptacle.

Alternatively, the lock may be removable from the door so that the nozzle of the vacuum hose may be inserted in air-tight relation through the aligned openings in the door and receptacle. In this latter case, the door is permanently secured to the meter head. The coin receptacle is formed with a plurality of relatively small apertures for providing the afore-mentioned air turbulence therewithin.

In a further form of parking meter, in which the door is hinged at its lower edge to the meter head, the coin receptacle comprises a piece of pipe inserted into the stanchion of the parking meter and having an opening in its lateral wall adjacent the meter head opening. The lower end of this pipe is closed but is formed with a series of perforations. In this case, after the vacuum operated lock, which is substituted for the key-operated lock, has been opened so that the door may be swung down, the nozzle on the vacuum hose is inserted into the aperture adjacent the upper end of the pipe to withdraw the coins from the pipe, with the apertured bottom wall of the pipe providing the requisite air turbulence for such withdrawal.

Preferably, the hose, having the lock operating nozzle on its outer end, is connected to a collecting device wherein the coins are delivered directly into a sealed receptacle which can be opened only at the collection depot. Thereby, pilferage of coins is substantially eliminated. The type of collecting arrangement used is illustrated in FIG. 3 of my US. Patent No. 2,869,777, issued January 20, 1959, although the vacuum host nozzle illustrated therein is of a special form that would not be used with the present invention.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a coin receptacle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the vacuum operated lock as mounted in a top-hinged door;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of one form of parking meter embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of another form of parking meter embodying the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a parking meter embodying the invention in which the entire door is normally removed when the lock is opened;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a door, for the parking meter shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and having the vacuum operated lock of the present invention secured therein;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of still another form of parking meter embodying the invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 14 is a view on the line 1414 of FIG. 12, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the coin receptacle 10, shown by way of example, is provided with any configuration suitable to conform to existing coin storage spaces or receptacles in parking meter heads. In the particular embodiment shown, receptacle or receiver 10 has a generally elongated box-like form with an open top closed by a conforming trapezoidal cover plate 15 formed with a coin slot 16 and secured to receptacle 10 by suitable means such as rivets or screws 17.

Receptacle I0 is generally rectangular in cross section and includes a pair of substantially parallel side walls 11 which are flared out, as at 12, to provide a substantially trapezoidal open upper end which conforms to the trapezoidal plate 15. The coin receiver has a generally vertically extending rear wall 13 which, in the particular embodiment illustrated, may be off-set adjacent its upper end to form a downwardly facing ledge 14. Rear wall 13 is progressively increased in width, adjacent its upper end, to conform to the flared portions 12 of side walls 11. A front wall 18 extends substantially parallel to rear wall 13 and is off-set, adjacent its lower end, to form an inwardly extending ledge 21. The side, front, and rear walls extend upwardly from a bottom wall 22. For a purpose to be described, ledge 21, bottom wall 22, and the lower ends of the side, front, and rear walls adjacent bottom wall 22 are formed with a plurality of apertures which may, for example, be about one-quarter inch in diameter.

Intermediate its height, wall 18 has formed integrally therewith an inwardly extending tubular portion or boss 25 opening outwardly through wall 18, above which is a sloping shelf or baifie 23. Extension 25 forms a receiving passage for a vacuum nozzle.

As coins fall through the slot 16, they are deflected by the bafiie 23 toward the rear of the box so that they fall into the portion of the box below the ledge 21. When a vacuum nozzle, having a source of high vacuum connected thereto, is inserted into the extension 25, the air inrushing through the apertures 20 creates turbulence and agitation among the coins and the latter are carried to the vacuum nozzle and thus withdrawn from the box. It will be noted that these apertures 20 are so located that the inrushing air will lift or move coins from either the bottom wall 22 or the ledge 21, so that the air stream will carry these coins to the nozzle of the vacuum collecting apparatus.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the novel vacuum operated lock, which is intended to replace existing locks on meters and has a shape so that it may form a replacement for such existing locks. In the illustrated embodiment, the door 30, designed for use with the meter head of FIG. 6, is pivoted, as at 31, to a coin chute arranged to be secured within the meter head and having coin directing wings 36 for directing coins into the slot 16 of top plate 15 of receptacle 10. Near its lower end, door 30 is formed with a circular aperture therethrough receiving the vacuum operated lock, generally indicated at 40.

Lock 40 includes an enlarged outer head 41 having an outwardly extending peripheral flange 42. A body portion 43 is integral with and projects inwardly from head 41 and is formed with an annular recess for receiving a C- washer or the like, indicated at 37, for quickly and easily securing lock assembly 40 to door 30.

Adjacent its inner end, body 43 is formed with a transversely extending chamber 45 which has a transversely enlarged outer end or recess 45 and a reduced inner end 47 connected by a very small diameter passage 48 to the exterior of body 43. Recess 46 has a tight gripping fit with an annular insert 51 forming a guide sleeve for a locking plunger or latch element having an enlarged inner end 52. A coil spring 53 seated in the reduced portion 47 of passage 45 biases piston 50 outwardly until the enlarged inner end 52 thereof abuts against the collar 46. At this time, the piston 50 extends substantially beyond body 43. An air passage 49 is formed longitudinally through body 43 and opens into reduced portion 47 of chamber 45 and through the outer face of head 41.

The arrangement operates in the following manner. Receptacle It is placed within the coin receiving space of a parking meter head, such as the head 55 of FIG. 6, or substituted for the original receptacle therein, and chute 35 is mounted in position above the receptacle and with its wings 36 aligned with slot 16. Door 30 is pivoted to the coin chute 35 as at 31. The body portion 43 of lock 40 extends inwardly through the tubular extension 25 and the projecting latch 50 engages behind the inner end of this extension to hold door 30 locked. The meter head is now ready for operation. As the coins fall into the meter head, they strike the bafile 23 and are deflected toward the rear of the receptacle to fall upon bottom wall 22, although some coins may lie on ledge 21 when a large number of coins are accumulated in receptacle 10.

To remove coins from the receptacle, the nozzle 55 of a suitable vacuum collecting assembly including a flexible hose 56 (FIG. 6) is placed against head 41 of vacuum operated lock 40, the nozzle having an outer diameter such that it has a close conforming fit with the inner periphery of flange 42. When a relatively high vacuum is applied through the collecting mechanism, the vacuum is effective, through passage 49, on chamber 45. This vacuum results in inward movement of the piston 50 so that the latter will disengage the inner end of extension 25. Door 3%) may then be swung open.

The nozzle 55 is then inserted with a tight conforming fit into the extension 25 so as to place the high vacuum on the interior of the coin receptacle. Due to the plurality of apertures 20, there is considerable agitation of the coins within the receptacle by the air rushing in at relatively high velocity, whereby the coins are carried to the nozzle 55 and thus to the collecting apparatus. When all of the coins from the receptacle have been collected, nozzle 55 is withdrawn from extension 25 and door 30 is closed. To retract locking piston 50 for closure of the door, the nozzle 55 may be again applied to the head 41 of vacuum operated lock 40.

It will be noted that access to the coins is absolutely prevented, and that no key is required to open the coin receptacle door. This is done entirely by vacuum. Also, the coins are collected solely by vacuum, and at a very rapid rate. The inward extension 25 and the ledge 21 prevent unauthorized extraction of coins from the receptacle 10 by inserting fingers through a front opening of the coin receptacle. Collection of coins is fast, efiicient, and theft-proof.

The meter head 60A shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is one in which a door 30A has its top edge hinged to the head and has its bottom edge normally carrying a key operated lock having a plunger engage-able in a hole 26 in a latch plate 27 on the bottom surface of a meter head compartment 28. In the case of this particular form of parking meter head, in accordance with the invention, a coin receiver 10A is secured within the compartment 28, and the vacuum operated lock '40 of the invention is substituted for the key opera-ted lock removed from door 30A. The plunger or piston 50 of the lock 49 cooperates with the hole 26 in plate 27 to lock door 30A, and the lock 40 is vacuum operated to the open position in the same manner as described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 6.

Coin receiver or receptacle 10A is provided with a circular opening 25A, which may be, if desired, in the form of an inward tubular extension or nipple such as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawing. The opening or nipple 25A is of a size such that the nozzle 55 attached to vacuum hose 56 will have an air-tight fit therein. In this case, as in the case of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the coins are removed from receptacle 10A by means of a vacuum, the removal of the coins and their passage to the nozzle 55 being facilitated by the air turbulence created within the receptacle 10A through inflow of air through the apertures A adjacent the bottom of the receptacle.

As an alternative to the arrangement just described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the key operated lock may be retained at the lower edge of door 30A and the vacuum operated lock 40 may be mounted through the door at a position wherein the mounting hole for the lock will be axially aligned with the aperture A. In this arrangement, in order to collect coins from the receptacle 10A, the vacuum nozzle 55 is applied to the face of lock 40 to retract the latch 50, engaged within the aperture or tubular extension 25A, and the entire lock 40 is then removed from the door A. The vacuum nozzle 55 is then inserted through the opening in the door 30A and into the opening or tubular extension 25A to remove coins from receptacle 10A with door 30A remaining in the 6 locked closed position by virtue of the key operated lock. As this arrangement will be clear to those skilled in the art from the above description and a reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the same in the drawing.

FIGS. 9 through 1 1 illustrate a form of parking meter head 6013 in which access to a compartment is obtained by removal of door 303 after unlocking a key-operated lock for the door. In accordance with the invention, a coin receptacle 10B is secured within the compartment, and this coin receptacle has an opening 25B, which may be extended inwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 3, as well as relatively small apertures 2013 for providing turbulence of air within the receptacle. The nozzle 55 of the vacuum collecting apparatus is arranged to have an air-tight fit within the circular opening 25B.

With respect to the vacuum operated lock 4i], either one of two arrangements may be used with the type of parking meter head shown in FIGS. 9 through 11. The vacuum operated lock 40 may be mounted through the door 303, at a position substantially aligned with the aperture 253 and so that the lock 43 will have locking cooperation with this aperture through the medium of pin or plunger 50, and lock 46 may be fixed to door 303, as by a C-washer 37 (FIG. 5). By application of a vacuum to lock 40, pin 56 may be withdrawn and the entire door and lock assembly removed. The vacuum nozzle 55 is then applied through the hole 25B to withdrawn coins from receptacle 10B, with air turbulence being provided by the apertures 20B.

Alternatively, door 30B may be permanently welded or riveted to the meter head 60B, and lock 45 may be removably mounted through the door 30B, normally hav ing latching cooperation with the aperture 25B. After the vacuum is applied to the lock 40 to withdraw the locking pin 50, the entire lock 40 may be removed from the fixed door 3GB, and vacuum nozzle 55 may be inserted through the opening in door 30B and through the opening 2513 to withdraw the coins from receptacle 10B.

FIGS. 12 through 14 show another form of parking meter head 60C in which a door 30C is hinged at its lower edge to the meter head and has a key operated look at its upper edge having a keeper cooperable with a strap 33 riveted or otherwise secured to the meter head. Meter head 60C is provided with a compartment 34. In accordance with the invention, a coin receptacle 10C is provided in the form of a pipe or tubular member inserted in the stanchion 38 supporting the meter head 60C. Tubular coin receptacle NC is so positioned that its upper end extends into the compartment 34, and this upper end is closed by suitable means indicated at 57. The wall of coin receiver or receptacle 10C is formed with a circular aperture 25C in which the vacuum nozzle 55 isarranged to have a substantially air-tight fit for withdrawing coins from receiver 10C. To create the necessary air turbulence for moving the coins toward the vacuum nozzle, coin receiver NC is provided with a closed lower end comprising a wall 58, and wall 58 is formed with a plurality of relatively small apertures 200. Air rushing through the openings 20C creates turbulence effecting movement of the coins up to the opening 25C and thus out through the nozzle 55. The key operated lock is replaced by the vacuum operated lock 40, whose piston or plunger 50 cooperates with the strap 33 in the same manner as does the key operated lock.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A coin-collecting assembly, for coin-controlled apparatus, comprising, in combination, a coin receptacle arranged to be secured in a compartment of the apparatus and formed with a coin withdrawal opening arranged to receive, in substantially fluid-tight relation, the nozzle of a vacuum-powered coin collector apparatus, for vacuum extraction of coins from said receptacle; and a vacuumoperated lock controlling access to said coin withdrawal opening and including a body, a latch normally biased to extend from said body for locking cooperation with keeper means of said compartment, and a passage extending through said body from the inner end of said latch to the outer surface of said lock, the outer surface of said lock being arranged to conformingly receive said nozzle, in fluid-tight relation, to establish a vacuum withdrawing the latch from its extended locking position.

2. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a door controlling means to said compartment; said vacuum-operated lock being mounted on said door.

3. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which said vacuum-operated lock controls opening of said door.

4. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 2 including a key operated lock controlling opening of said door; said vacuum-operated lock being mounted in an opening in said door aligned with said coin withdrawal opening, and being removable from the opening in the door, when said latch is vacuum operated to the retracted position, for insertion of said nozzle through the opening in the door and into said coin withdrawal opening.

5. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which said vacuum-operated lock is secured to said door and is removable when said latch is vacuum operated to the retracted position.

6. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which said dooris fixed in position; said vacuum-operated lock being removably inserted through an opening in the door aligned with said coin withdrawing opening and held against removal from the door when said latch is extended; said vacuum-operated lock being removable from said door, when said latch is vacuum operated to the retracted position, to provide for said nozzle being inserted through the opening in said door and into said coin withdrawal opening.

7. A coin-collecting assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which said compartment is formed in a head mounted on an upwardly extending tubular stanchion communicating, at its upper end, with said compartment; said coin receptacle comprising a relatively elongated tubular body telescoped in said stanchion and having its upper end extending into said compartment; means closing the upper end of said tubular body; said coin withdrawal opening being formed through the lateral wall of said tubular body just below the upper end thereof and facing said door; said tubular body having a substantially closed lower end formed with aperture means for entry of air thereinto to create turbulence moving the coins toward said coin withdrawal opening upon application of a vacuum by means of said nozzle; said vacuum-operated lock being secured to said door and said latch cooperating with keeper means fixed relative to said head.

8. In a coin controlled device having a coin receiving space defined, at least in part, by outer wall means having an opening therethrough affording access to said space: a lock body extending conformingly through said opening and having an outer end surface designed to conformingly receive the end of a nozzle connected to a source of relatively high vacuum; a latch projectable laterally from the surface of said body inwardly of said wall means; means biasing said latch to a projected position for cooperation with a keeper surface of said space to prevent access to said space; and a passage extending through said body from the inner end of said latch and opening through the area of said outer end surface and enclosed by the nozzle end when the latter is conformingly engaged with said outer end surface; whereby, when such nozzle is applied to such outer end surface of such body, a vacuum is established within said passage withdrawing the latch from engagement with such keeper.

9. In a coin controlled device as claimed in claim 8, said coin receiving space being further defined, in part, by other well means, including a bottom wall, formed with apertures therethrough for entry of air at a relatively high velocity into said space when a relatively high vacuum is applied to the latter to agitate coins therein for transfer into the nozzle of a coin collecting apparatus.

10. In a coin controlled device, as claimed in claim 8, a tubular extension extending inwardly into said space in alignment with said opening; said keeper surface comprising the inner end of said tubular extension.

11. In a coin controlled device as claimed in claim 8, said body being formed with an air by-pass connecting said passage to atmosphere, whereby mere oral suction will be inefi'ective to withdraw said latch.

12. In a coin controlled device, as claimed in claim 8, a box-shaped coin receptacle disposed in said coin receiving space and having a top wall formed with a coin slot, a bottom wall, a pair of opposite side walls, a front wall and a rear wall; said front wall having a coin removing opening therein above said bottom wall arranged to receive, in substantially fluid-tight relation, the nozzle of a vacuum-powered coin collector apparatus; said outer wall means comprising a door hinged to said device to close said coin receiving space, and said lock being iounted through an opening in said door constituting said first-mentioned opening, with said latch being cooperable with said receptacle.

13. In a coin controlled device, as claimed in claim 12, said front wall being formed with an inwardly extending tubular extension bounding the coin removing opening therein.

14. In a coin controlled device, as claimed in claim 13, a downwardly sloping baffie extending from the inner surface of said front wall, above said tubular extension, to the inner end of said tubular extension, to deflect coins past said tubular extension.

15. In a coin controlled device as claimed in claim 13, said front wall being formed with an inwardly extending offset portion substantially parallel to said bottom wall and spaced shortly thereabove, said offset portion comprising a shelf substantially coextensive inwardly with said tubular extension.

16. In a coin controlled device, as claimed in claim 15, said shelf being formed with a plurality of apertures for entry of air at high velocity into said receptacle when a relatively high vacuum is applied to the latter through said coin removing opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,154,439 Scholfield Sept. 21, 1915 1,460,609 Scola July 3, 1923 2,465,146 Broussard Mar. 22, 1949 2,570,920 Clough Oct. 9, 1951 2,869,777 Share Jan. 20, 1959

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