U.S. patent number 3,859,685 [Application Number 05/331,694] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-14 for debris collector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brinley-Hardy Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Charles W. Doering, Samuel W. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,859,685 |
Doering , et al. |
January 14, 1975 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
DEBRIS COLLECTOR
Abstract
Lawn and parking lot sweepers of the rotary brush type in which
sweepings are discharged into bags are known. However, in such
sweepers the debris generally is not compressed sufficiently prior
to entering the bag. As a result bags must be changed too
frequently. The apparatus herein is provided with compression
rollers, and means for force filling the bag. Conveying means
transport debris from the cylindrical brush to the compression
rollers.
Inventors: |
Doering; Charles W.
(Clarksville, IN), Smith; Samuel W. (Carlisle, KY) |
Assignee: |
Brinley-Hardy Co., Inc.
(Louisville, KY)
|
Family
ID: |
26891136 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/331,694 |
Filed: |
February 12, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
195607 |
Nov 4, 1971 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/83;
15/79.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H
1/047 (20130101); A01G 20/43 (20180201) |
Current International
Class: |
E01H
1/00 (20060101); A01G 1/12 (20060101); E01H
1/04 (20060101); A01g 001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/83-86,79
;100/173,174,176 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Roberts; Edward L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Leach, Jr.; Frank C.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 195,607,
filed Nov. 4, 1971 now abandoned.
Claims
We claim:
1. An apparatus for collecting debris including:
a frame having wheels to support said frame;
means to pick up debris as said frame is advanced, said pick-up
means being supported by said frame;
a housing supported by said frame and having a debris confining
chamber;
means disposed within said housing between said pick-up means and
said debris confining chamber to compress debris picked up by said
pick-up means, said compression means being supported by said
frame, said compression means receiving debris from said pick-up
means as a continuous mat or the like;
said compression means including:
a compression area within said housing in which the debris is
compressed as a continuous mat or the like;
and rotatable means within said housing to advance the debris from
said compression area to said debris confining chamber as a
continuous mat or the like so that additional compression of the
debris occurs within said debris confining chamber;
said debris confining chamber having an outlet of fixed cross
sectional area;
means to removably connect a debris retaining means to said outlet
of said debris confining chamber to receive the continuous mat of
compressed debris;
support means for holding a debris retaining means in position to
be force filled with debris through said outlet of said debris
confining chamber;
said debris confining chamber having a cross sectional area
increasing from said compression area toward said outlet;
and means to operate said pick-up means and said rotatable means of
said compression means at least when said frame is being
advanced.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which:
said rotatable means includes:
a pair of compression rollers cooperating with each other;
and means to urge said rollers toward each other to compress debris
passing between said rollers.
3. An apparatus for collecting debris including:
a frame having wheels to support said frame;
means to pick up debris as said frame is advanced, said pick-up
means being supported by said frame;
a housing supported by said frame and having a debris confining
chamber;
means disposed between said pick-up means and said debris confining
chamber to compress debris picked up by said pick-up means, said
compression means being supported by said frame, said compression
means receiving debris from said pick-up means;
said compression means including:
a compression area in which the debris is compressed;
and rotatable means to advance the debris from said compression
area to said debris confining chamber;
said rotatable means including:
a pair of compression rollers cooperating with each other;
and means to urge said rollers toward each other to compress debris
passing between said rollers;
an endless belt to receive debris from said pick-up means;
said endless belt being disposed to cooperate with said compression
rollers to advance debris from said pick-up means to said
compression rollers;
said debris confining chamber having an outlet adapted to receive
debris retaining means;
said debris confining chamber having a cross sectional area
increasing from said compression area toward said outlet;
and means to operate said pick-up means and said rotatable means of
said compression means at least when said frame is being
advanced.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said operating means
includes means actuated by said wheels.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4 in which said actuated means
is coupled to one of said compression rollers.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said rotatable means
includes at least two compression rollers cooperating with each
other to compress debris passing between said rollers.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which three compression
rollers are employed in driving contact with each other.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6 in which four compression
rollers are employed in driving contact with each other.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said pick-up means
includes wire fingers for thatching.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which a debris disposal
bag is the debris retaining means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention in one of its aspects relates to a sweeping
apparatus of the cylindrical rotary brush type, capable of
collecting grass cuttings, leaves and the like from lawns, and
debris from areas such as parking lots.
The apparatus herein has the advantage that it can be converted for
thatching by interchanging the horizontal cylindrical brush with a
drum provided with projecting wire fingers.
In a more important aspect the invention pertains to a sweeping
apparatus wherein it is unnecessary for the operator of the
apparatus to empty a collecting hopper or bin. Sweepings are urged
in compacted form into a disposable bag.
In still another of its aspects the invention provides novel bag
support means.
Lawn sweepers are known in which sweepings are discharged into
bags. Such an apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,320. In
the collecting apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,320 the
debris is conveyed by helical blades to a side outlet having a bag
opening pulled over it, the bag being squeezed up in bellows like
fashion. The compressed bag rests on an apron having a circular end
plate integral with it at its outside end. The apron-plate
arrangement is slideable toward and away from the helical conveyor.
To resist lateral movement of the apron away from the helical
blades a spring pressed tooth carried thereby rides in a plurality
of inclined teeth. This keeps the bag compressed and offers some
resistance as it is filling.
The sweeper described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,229,320 overcomes the
problem of having to empty a hopper. It is, however, subject to
certain disadvantages. Thus, the cylindrical sweeping element must
rotate quite rapidly in order to throw debris up into the helix. In
addition, even though the tension of the bag filling resistance
element attached to the apron can be varied, debris compression is
still not as great as is desirable.
In accordance with this invention a sweeper-bagger is provided,
affording a much greater degree of compression of debris than has
been obtainable in existing apparatus. The brush also need not
revolve as rapidly in the apparatus herein. In addition, whereas a
power unit can be incorporated in the machine, it operates
effectively without such a unit when pushed by an operator or
pulled by a small yard tractor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The apparatus provided herein is a sweeper or thatcher of the
rotary brush type, having a substantially cylindrical sweeping unit
adapted for rotation about a horizontal axis. The apparatus is
provided with a pair of compression rollers in counterrotational
abutment with each other on parallel axes. Debris conveying means
are positioned between the sweeping unit and compression rollers to
convey debris from the sweeping unit to the compression rollers.
Tensioning means are, of course, adapted to urge one roller against
the other one. This compresses debris drawn between the rollers on
counterrotation of the rollers. A debris confining chamber receives
compressed debris passing between the compression rollers, and
through an outlet therein, debris is forced into a disposal bag.
The apparatus includes means for removably attaching a debris
disposal bag over the discharge outlet, and disposal bag support
means for holding a bag in position to be force filled through the
confining chamber outlet. Means are provided to drive the sweeper
unit and the compression rollers as the apparatus is drawn or
pushed forwardly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention thus provides a sweeper wherein each increment of
debris is handled only once by the sweeping element and then
conveyed in compact form to a mesh or film plastic bag of the type
usually used for trash and leaf disposal. The brush operates
equally well whether pulled by a tractor or pushed by hand. However
if a large unit is made, say, for commercial purposes, it may be
fitted with its own auxiliary power unit. The cylindrical brush or
broom is the type normally used for this purpose having a plurality
of discrete brush elements mounted across a cylindrical sleeve.
This and other features of the invention will be more fully
understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing several
forms of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the external features of
one form of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus with portions cut
away.
FIG. 3 is a section along 3--3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a preferred bag holding apparatus.
FIGS. 5 and 5a are partial top views showing different ways of
driving the apparatus.
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic representations showing three
other embodiments of the invention.
Referring now further to the drawings, the machine 2 shown in FIG.
1 is provided with side panels 4 having generally arcuate top edges
supported on opposite sides of the sweeper by suitable braces (not
shown). A curved sheet 6 forms a cover or cage enclosing the front
end of the machine. Side panels 4, cover 6 and top section 8 form
the housing for the sweeper. Supporting the housing at its base is
a frame 10. Generally, the frame, in plan as seen in FIG. 2, is in
the form of adjacent rectangles lying in a horizontal plane. The
front rectangle is wider than the rectangular back end of the
frame, in the direction of travel.
Since the brush, the compression rollers, and the drive means are
all anchored to frame 10, the frame, through wheels 12, supports
the entire machine. The compression rollers are suspended from this
frame so that they are biased toward each other. Transversely
across the wider front end of frame 10 a cylindrical brush or
thatching element 14 is mounted on shaft 16. The shaft is journaled
in bearings 18 which are mounted on frame 10. One end of the shaft
16 extends beyond frame 10 in order to carry driven sprocket wheel
20, to be described shortly. To afford interchangeability from
brushing to thatching, it is preferred that the brush elements be
mounted on a sleeve 15 which locks onto the shaft 16.
Turning now to the suspension system, the leaves and other debris
are compressed by rollers 22 and 24, and means must be provided
urging them against each other while at the same time permitting
them to move apart. To accomplish this, suspension bars 26 and 27
are disposed transversely across the frame. Suspension bars 26 and
27 are connected to braces or frame elements on each side wall of
the sweeping unit. Through bearings 32 and 33, suspension bars 26
and 27 are pivotally journaled in the sides of the apparatus. These
bars are important not only because they support arms 29 and 31,
but because they carry movable walls and scrapers defining the
debris confining chamber.
Attached to the suspension bar 26 through suitably spaced jibs is
confining chamber wall 34. Since both the arm 29 and the wall 34
are integral with the suspension bar 26, the wall 34 tilts as the
arm 29 tilts. The wall 34 is angled so that the opening between the
top 8 and the wall 34 remains as small as possible. Affixed to the
bottom end of the wall 34 is a scraper blade 23. The opposite wall
35 (FIG. 3) of the debris confining chamber is carried by the
suspension bar 27. The wall 35 is supported by the strut member 25
which is integral with the suspension bar 27. A scraper blade 28 is
also attached to this wall at a point nearest the roller 24.
The drive compression roller 22 is locked on a drive axle 36. The
compression roller drive axle 36 also carries the wheels 12.
Because of positive one directional clutch means 40, the wheels 12
on rotation drive the compression roller axle 36 and rotate the
compression drive roller 22. The clutch means 40 includes drive
dogs or similar slip pawl means affected by gravity so that the
roller 22 does not rotate when the rotation of the wheels 12 is
reversed. The compression roller drive axle 36 is carried in
suitable bearings 37 in the arms 29 on each end of the suspension
bar 26 as shown in FIG. 3.
Journaled in suitable bearings 39 in the angular arms 31 on each
side of the frame 10 is an idler compression roller axle 42. Locked
on, or integral with, this axle 42 is the idler compression roller
24. The compression rollers 22 and 24 thus extend transversely
across the frame 10 between its narrower sides. Oppositely placed
springs 46 urge the arm 29 and the arm 31 on each side of the frame
10 toward each other bringing the compression rollers 22 and 24
into operation. From FIG. 3 it can be seen that the idler
compression roller 24 is capable of vertical movement because of
its positioning by angular arm 31. This movement is restricted by a
debris conveying belt 50. The width of the debris conveying belt 50
is approximately equal to the width of the compression rollers 22
and 24. The conveying belt 50 passes over, enveloping the idler
compression roller 24 and extends across the bottom of the machine
within the housing, surrounding a conveying belt idler roller 54.
The rollers 24 and 54 can be shaped, e.g. curved outwardly
(crowned) toward their longitudinal center points, to prevent the
debris conveying belt 50 from scooting or slipping to one side. For
maximum compression efficiency, the compression roller 22 is curved
inwardly to match the crown on the roller 24.
The brush element driving means will now be described. An idler
belt roller axle 52 extends beyond the roller 54 as shown in FIG.
2. The axle 52 is journaled in bearings 56 in bracket elements 58
affixed to the sides of the frame 10. In a plane with the idler
sprocket wheel 20 is a drive sprocket wheel 60, locked on the end
of the idler belt roller axle 52. A brush drive chain 63 passes
around and engages the aligned sprocket wheels 20 and 60. A chute
62 can be interposed between the cylindrical brush element 14 and
the belt roller 54, as shown in FIG. 3, or the roller 54 can be
adjacent the brush element 14.
Various clamping means are available for holding a bag over the
housing opening and for suspending its closed end. Thus, a flexible
band can be stretched around the opening and against the outside of
a bag placed over the opening. This, however, only holds the bag
tightly at its corners unless the opening is round. The bag can
pull out in between the corners. In accordance with an aspect of
this invention novel bag carrying means are provided. The means
herein resist bag slipping at all points around a lip 80 of a
housing opening 70. A particular advantage of the bag carrying
means provided herein is that the bag can be lowered thereby as
shown in FIG. 4, to be released by the action of the foot while the
open end of the bag is being closed up. A bag supporting means 72
will best be understood by reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. From these
figures it can be seen that the bag supporting member 72 is in the
form of a U-frame having substantially parallel side members 83
(see FIG. 1) and 84 (see FIG. 3) joined together by a crossbar 85
across the top. Linking means such as tabs 86 (see FIG. 1) and 87
(see FIG. 3) extend upwardly from the top section 8 of the housing
and the bottom ends of side members 83 and 84 are pivotally secured
to these tabs by suitable pins so that the bag supporting frame
extends upwardly away from the opening 70 as seen in FIG. 3. The
bag is held in place over the opening 70 by a rigid band 88 carried
by the bag supporting frame legs 83 and 84 by means of brackets 89
and 90. The rigid band 88 extends outwardly from and is almost
perpendicular to the bag supporting frame legs 83 and 84. The band
88 is either rectangular or round, being the exact shape of the
opening 70 so that it is slideable thereover. In the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 through 4 herein the opening 70 is rectangular (FIG. 2).
Therefore the band 88 is rectangular and is approximately the same
size as the lip 80 of the opening 70. A elastomeric flexible collar
such as a rubber collar 91 is fixed around the lip 80. When the
legs or members 83 and 84 of the bag supporting frame are urged
forward toward the opening 70, the band 88 is lowered over the lip
80 seating on the rubber collar 91. The band 88 is unseated when
the bag supporting frame is lowered away from the opening 70 toward
the position shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that when a bag 92 is
wrapped over the band 88 the rubber collar 91 holds the bag 92 in
place when the band 88 is seated as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
As indicated hereinbefore, one of the advantages of the bag
supporting means provided herein is that it can be operated by
foot. This is accomplished by a clamping plate 93 operable by a
second U-frame. Using tabs welded to the legs 83 and 84, or a
similar connection, an arm 98 and a parallel arm (not seen) of the
clamping frame are pivotally connected to the legs 83 and 84 of the
bag supporting frame. Since the arms 98 are shorter than the legs
83 and 84, the tabs are mounted part way up so that a crossbar 100
is about as high as the crossbar 85, the clamping frame extending
upwardly and outwardly from the back of the bag supporting frame at
an upwardly directed angle thereto as shown in FIG. 1. The clamping
plate 93 is carried by the clamping frame by means of bolts 101
passing through the legs 83 and 84 of the bag carrying frame to the
front side. Behind and adjacent the clamping plate 93 is a bag
retaining member or rod 82 integral with the legs 83 and 84 of the
bag supporting frame. A coil spring 103 and a similar one not shown
surrounding the clamp bolts 101 urge the clamping frame crossbar
100 away from the bag supporting frame crossbar 85. This securely
holds the clamping plate 93 in its normal position against the bag
supporting frame member 72 when the angle between the clamping
frame and the bag supporting frame is maximal.
It will be apparent that locking braces or similar means must be
used to hold the bag supporting frame in position when the band 88
is seated over the opening 70. A preferred means for accomplishing
this is to employ a retaining rod 106. By means of a tab 107 on the
housing, the rod 106 is connected to the housing to pivot so that
its free upper end swings over and engages the crossbar 85 of the
bag supporting frame. Any releasable latching means 108 can be used
to hold the retaining rod 106 and the supporting frame together.
Desirably a roll holder will be installed across the arms 98 of the
clamping frame below crossbar 100 to hold the roll 109 of plastic
bags. When a bag 92 is full, the supporting frame will be lowered
as shown in FIG. 4. The springs 103 can then be compressed by
pressing on the crossbar 85 with one foot while removing the open
end of the bag 92 from the inside of the rigid band 88.
In operation, the bag 92 is locked over the opening 70 as described
in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 4, and the machine is ready for
use. As will be seen, a small model can be made to be pushed by the
operator. However, generally a braced tongue 74 is attached to the
frame at the front of the housing. A latch type of hitch will be
provided on the tongue 74 so that the machine can be connected to a
small tractor or other vehicle. The sweeper unit 14 is set to the
desired height by a lever 77. The tongue 74 is jointed at a base 79
of the lever 77. This and a pivotal tractor connection permit the
unit to be bent upwardly at 79 relative to the wheels and the
tractor hitch to raise the brush element. The height is adjusted by
a lever 78.
When the machine is pulled forward, the wheels 12 through the
one-way clutch means 40 bring about a counterclockwise rotation of
the drive compression roller 22. This roller 22 frictionally drives
both the belt 50 and the idler compression roller 24 in a clockwise
direction. The rotation of the endless belt 50 and the idler
compression roller 24 drive the idler belt roller 54 (FIG. 2). The
clockwise rotation of this idler roller 54 turns the sprocket drive
wheel 60 clockwise. Through the brush drive chain 63 and the idler
sprocket wheel 20, the brush element 14 is driven in a clockwise
direction.
It can be seen that clockwise rotation of the brush element 14
lifts debris at the front end of the machine as shown by the arrows
in FIG. 3 and discharges the debris down the chute 62 onto the
endless belt 50. The belt 50 conveys the debris to compression
roller 22. As the belt passes under this roller 22 the debris
undergoes a first stage of compression. The second stage of debris
compression takes place as the debris is forced between the drive
compression roller 22 and the idler compression roller 24 by the
rotation of roller 22 and the belt 50. The debris then accumulates
in a debris confining chamber 81 as it passes upwardly between the
rollers.
As the sweeper continues to operate, the debris confining chamber
81 fills up. Due to gravitational forces and the fact that the
opening 70 is smaller than the chamber 81 beneath it, the debris
undergoes an auxiliary stage of compression. Within the chamber 81,
the scraping elements 23 and 28 keep the rollers 22 and 24 free of
debris. It will be noted that the scraping element 23 moves as the
arm 29 moves, keeping it against the roller 22. The arm 25 keeps
the scraper 28 against the debris conveying belt 50. The debris
accumulating in the confining chamber 81 is ultimately forced
through the opening 70 by increments of debris entering the chamber
81 beneath it. In compacted form, the debris is gradually lifted in
successive layers into the bag 92 until the bag 92 is crammed
full.
Whereas in the sweeping unit described the wheels 12 power the
drive roller 22, it will frequently be more desirable to drive the
roller surrounded by the debris conveying belt 50, i.e. the roller
24. Two ways in which this can be readily accomplished are
illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5a. The modification of FIG. 5
illustrates drive means which utilizes the weight of the load to
tension the drive chain. Hence, as the weight increases additional
driving power is produced. This weight also increases the tension
on the belt. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the wheels 12 bring
about the counterclockwise rotation of a driven sprocket wheel 120
through the one way direction clutch 40. A drive chain 122 passes
around this wheel 120 and under a transmission sprocket 124 where
it engages the teeth of the transmission sprocket 124 mounted on
the axle 42 of the roller 24. The direction of rotation of the
roller 24 is reversed by the use of an idler sprocket 126,
permitting the drive chain 122 to pass beneath the sprocket 124. In
the modification of FIG. 5a, the wheel 12 is mounted on the axle 36
as in FIG. 2. However, in this instance, the wheel 12 does not
rotate the roller 22. Rather, through sleeve means and a bearing
114, axle the 36 rotates freely within the roller 22. Integral with
the axle 36 is a drive sprocket wheel 116. A transmission sprocket
wheel 112, effecting the rotation of the roller 24, is mounted on
the end of the axle 42 extending beyond the frame through the
bearing 115. An idler sprocket 110 is mounted on the frame. A drive
chain 113 passes around the idler sprocket wheel 110 and the
transmission wheel 112. It passes only over the drive sprocket
wheel 116 with only the lower portion of the chain 113 engaging the
wheel 116. Counterclockwise rotation of the drive wheel 116 thus
drives the transmission sprocket wheel 112 and hence the roller 24
in a clockwise direction. It will be appreciated that as the load
forces the compression rollers 22 and 24 apart, the tension on the
drive chain 113 is increased.
An apparatus has been described in which there are two stages of
compaction. It will be appreciated that utilizing the principles of
this invention a single stage of compaction, or even three stages
of compaction can be accomplished. This is illustrated
diagrammatically in FIGS. 6 and 7. A different mode of achieving
two stages of compression is also possible. This is illstrated in
FIG. 8. FIG. 6 also shows a hand propelled unit.
Referring now to FIG. 6, by a chute 162, debris is conveyed to
rollers 164 and 166. The debris is confined in a chamber 168 prior
to being forced into a bag 170. With this embodiment the bag 170
should be somewhat more horizontal in order to receive the debris
from a single stage of compression. This model is particularly
adaptable to hand operation using a handle 172. The apparatus shown
in FIG. 7 effects three stages of debris compression. Grass, leaves
or trash conveyed by a chute 266 are first compressed between
rollers 268 and 270. The debris is then drawn between rollers 268
and 268, and finally between rollers 268 and 274. Deflection or
scraping elements 276 and 278 attached to the side panels of the
unit are disposed between the rollers to conduct debris from roller
to roller. Deflection elements 276 and 278 are not in contact with
the roller 272.
A sweeper in which two stages of debris compression are achieved by
means differing from those shown heretofore is shown in FIG. 8.
This unit is motor driven, rollers 280 and 284 being out of
contact. Rather than a conveying belt 50 and two rollers, three
rollers 280, 282 and 284 are employed. Debris passes first between
the rollers 280 and 282. By a deflector plate 286, the debris is
then directed to the passageway between the rollers 282 and 284. In
all instances, the rollers are driven by the wheel 12 using means
suggested hereinbefore. No belt is employed in the modifications
shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8.
This invention thus provides a sweeper which makes possible stages
of compression of debris not possible heretofore. The debris bags
do not have to be changed as frequently as in known devices, and
compression of debris is achieved with very little power input. It
has been shown that various embodiments of this invention are
possible within the spirit thereof. Thus spur gears can be employed
in lieu of chains and sprockets to reverse the direction of
rotation of rollers. As another example instead of the cover 6,
upwardly extending shields or deflecting plates can be used,
leaving the conveying means exposed from the top. In each instance
a high degree of compression is obtained so that large volumes of
debris can be bagged before removal of the bag is necessary. By
this invention, bag removal is made easy, and power requirements
are minimal. In addition straps, or even a single sheet, can be
placed across the legs 83 and 84 of the bag supporting frame to
support the filled bag when the frame is lowered as shown in FIG.
4. A motor can be mounted on a plate at the rear of the unit if
desired, as shown in FIG. 8. However, it will generally not be
necessary to do so. In addition, a thatching unit can be used
instead of a brush. These and other variations will occur to those
skilled in the art. Such ramifications are deemed to be within the
scope of this invention.
* * * * *