O Umted States Patent [19]
`McClintock et al.
`
`.
`
`USOO5641229A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5 641 229
`Jun. 24, 1997
`
`9
`
`9
`
`[54] SAMPLE ROTATOR WITH MANUALLY
`ENERGIZED SPRING MOTOR
`
`[75] Inventors; Joseph A_ Mcclintock; Gregory K.
`
`9/1992 Lapidus et a1. .
`5,143,627
`3/ 1993 Lapidus at al- -
`5,240,606
`5,271,673 12/1993 Bohnet et al. .
`5,332,310 7/1994 Wells ................................ .. 366/347 X
`
`
`
`Fletcher ................................ .. FOREIGN P DOC S
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`both of Baltimore, [73] Assignee: Universal Healthwatch, Inc.,
`
`Columbia, Ma
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 577,621
`
`151889 10/1920 United Kingdom ................... .. 185/44
`1199840 7/1970 United Kingdom ................. .. 366/209
`OTHER PUBLIC Ail-IONS
`
`Dec‘ 22’ 1995
`[22] Filed:
`Nicholas P. Chironis, Mechanisms & Mechanical Devices 9
`[51] Int. Cl.6 .............................. .. B01F 11/00; F03G 1/06
`Sourccbooh McGraw—Hill, 1119-, 1991, PP- 176-177
`[52] US. Cl. .............................. .. 366/208; 185/39; 185/44
`.
`.
`[58] Field Of Search ................................... .. 366/110, 111, Tm” imm?ha?cg cg?d
`366/113, 114, 208-211, 213-216, 219;
`“my gem’ 0’ m”- “y
`“er
`185/37, 39, 44
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`A manual sample rotator and method provides a mechanical
`orbital motion, which is useful in medical industries. The
`rotator has a substantially rectangular orbiting member with
`U-S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`four _guidi11g W115, complementary to four guiqing Posts
`312,169 2/1885 Schmidt .................................. .. 185/39
`PIOVIded on a ?x?d member, Such as a housmg- Each
`407,942 7/1889 Newcomb .... ..
`185/39
`guiding post is inserted into one of the guiding wells. The
`468,982 2/1892 Moore .............. ..
`185/39
`guiding wells are larger than the counterpart guiding posts so
`916,523
`3/1909 Armstrong
`185/39
`that when the guiding posts are seated into the wells, the
`135/39
`936,663 10/1909 Rober? --------- -
`clearance thereb?twecn allows the orbiting mcmbcr to move
`lszcpilhtte .................................... .. 185/39
`1:;
`in the horizontal plane in all directions within the bounds of
`e, “S '
`’
`the guiding wells_ The guiding post and well arrangement
`............................. ..
`1280,32? 1111/1352 $6615
`thus mstrains the orbiting mcmber from rotating about the
`20o7,361 7,1935 Barge; ....................................... ..
`orbital axis, but
`the member to orbit thereabout. The
`3:589:46,‘
`6/1971 Katchmimko? _
`orbiting member is orb1ted around a main orb1ta1 was using
`4,113,301 10/1978 Kraft et a1, ,
`an offset crank (output shaft end), which rotates about the
`4,147,516 4/1979 deBruyne.
`4,202,634 5/1980 Kraft et a1. ....................... .. 366/208 X main orbital axis and is rotatable about an axis offset from
`4,371,058 2/1933 Holley -
`the main axis relative to the orbiting member. A manually
`4,676,122
`6/1937 szab° e‘ 31--
`operated spring motor rotates the orbiting member. The
`E2111 '
`.
`366/209 X spring motor also has a time indicator, a level indicator, and
`5:013:446 5/1991 Li et al. .
`a level adluster'
`5,052,812 10/1991 Tannenbaum et al. ............... .. 366/209
`5,084,242
`1/1992 Sakuma et al. .
`
`8 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
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`5,641,229
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`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 2
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 24, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 0f 2
`
`5,641,229
`
`FIG. 1a
`22
`
`so i
`
`D
`
`FIG. 2
`130
`Q1311 5
`'
`
`I
`
`P
`
`I
`
`102
`was g108
`j
`
`l
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`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 3
`
`

`
`5,641,229
`
`1
`SAMPLE ROTATOR WITH MANUALLY ‘
`ENERGIZED SPRING MOTOR
`BACKGROUND
`Early response to infectious diseases is key to stamping
`out or controlling them. This means that a widespread
`population must be screened to identify the carriers and the
`associated diseases. Particularly in the rural third world
`nations with a poorly developed infrastructure, where there
`is little or no public health systems, it is necessary to respond
`to epidemics with rapid ?eld testing and treatment. But
`many tests that can ful?ll this need are expensive and require
`laboratories with complex equipments, ones that require
`power (electricity). In many rural areas, power is not
`available, and if it is, it is scarce. So it is desirable to use
`devices that do not use electricity in these circumstances.
`Fortunately, there are inexpensive and rapid testing pro
`cedures for identifying diseases, namely, ones that involve
`co-agglutination reactions, which make them excellent can
`didates for population screening. To succeed with a
`co-agglutination testing, the sample must be mixed with
`reagent chemicals for periods up to 10 minutes. A conven
`tional electrical rotating or mixing equipment, such as the
`ones described in US. Pat. Nos. 4,118,801 and 4,747,693,
`could do the job but for the power requirement. For example,
`a conventional orbiting commercially available rotator, such
`as a Fisher Clinical Rotator (Scienti?c Model 341), provides
`an orbiting motion driven by a timer-actuated electrical
`motor that can be used with a co-agglutination testing.
`These conventional mixers are useless without power.
`Another drawback is that di?erent countries use a diiferent
`power system and a rotator made for one system may not be
`compatible with another system. It is particularly dii?cult to
`conduct a ?eld testing when there is no electric power
`available. If it is necessary to collect samples and return to
`a test site having power, the screening will be unduly
`delayed, and people will go without treatment.
`Thus, there is a need for a sample rotator that can be used
`universally under all circumstances, particularly for ?eld
`uses, to bene?t from readily available on site tests, such as
`co-agglutination tests.
`The present invention ful?lls this need.
`SUNHVIARY
`The present rotator and method provides a mechanical
`orbital motion, which is useful in medical industries. The
`rotator comprises an orbiting member, a housing having
`guides for guiding the orbiting member, an eccentric driver,
`and a manually energized spring motor. The orbiting mem
`ber is adapted to seat or hold one or more samples. The
`guides guide the orbiting member so that it moves in an
`orbital path. Speci?cally, the orbiting member is substan
`tially rectangular has four guiding wells complementary to
`four guiding posts extending from a rotator base or housing.
`Each guiding post is inserted into one of the guiding wells.
`The guiding wells are larger than the counterpart guiding
`posts so that when the guiding posts are seated into the wells,
`the clearance therebetween allows the orbiting member to
`move in the horizontal plane in all directions within the
`bounds of the guiding wells. The guiding post/well arrange
`ment thus restrains the orbiting member from rotating about
`the orbital axis, but permitting it to orbit thereabout. At least
`the guiding posts and wells each preferably include a friction
`reducing material, such as TEFLON, to reduce friction
`between the moving surfaces and maximize efficiency.
`The eccentric driver or offset crank, which rotates about
`the main orbital axis and is rotatable about an axis offset
`
`2
`from the main axis relative to the orbiting member, is
`rotatingly connected to the orbiting member. The manually
`energized spring motor rotates the eccentric driver about the
`main axis to drive the orbiting member.
`Speci?cally, the spring motor has a coil spring, preferably
`a type having a constant torque. A driving shaft is rotatably
`journaled about the housing containing the spring motor.
`One end of the coil spring is connected to the driving shaft
`and another end connected to the housing or a ?xed member
`within the housing. The motor has a transmission coupling
`the driving shaft to an output shaft, which is coupled to or
`forms the eccentric driver. The transmission rotates the
`output shaft at a higher speed than the driving shaft. The
`motor also has a manual crank coupled to the driving shaft
`for energizing the spring. In this regard, an input shaft
`journaled for rotation about the housing is coupled between
`the crank and the driving shaft so that crank and the input
`shaft always rotate with the driving shaft. Thus, manually
`rotating the crankrotates the input shaft and the driving shaft
`to energize the spring.
`Atime indicator is coupled to the input shaft. Rotating the
`input shaft in the spring winding direction moves the indi
`cator in one direction and rotating the input shaft in the
`opposite direction moves the indicator in the opposite direc
`tion.
`The rotator further includes a level indicator connected to
`the housing. In this regard, it also can include means for
`adjusting the level of housing relative to a support where the
`rotator rests.
`According the present method, a sample or specimen is
`placed or rested on a member that can be moved about in all
`directions in a horizontal plane. The member is restricted to
`a predetermined amount of movement in the horizontal
`plane. Then, the member is orbited about a vertical axis. The
`restriction prevents the member from rotating about the
`vertical axis, but permits the member to only orbit around it
`instead.
`The rotating step involves coupling a driving shaft jour
`naled for rotation about a ?xed member to one end of a coil
`spring and another end of the spring to the ?xed member. A
`transmission is coupled between the output shaft and the
`driving shaft. This output shaft drives the eccentric driver,
`which is rotatably coupled to the member. Manually wind
`ing the driving shaft using a manual crank energizes and
`stores energy in the spring. Upon releasing the crank after a
`desired amount has been wound, the spring rotates the
`driving shaft and rotates the output shaft at a higher speed
`than the driving shaft to impart an orbital motion to the
`member.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
`present invention will become much more apparent from the
`following description, appended claims, and accompanying
`drawings where:
`FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a sample rotator
`according to the present invention.
`FIG. 1A shows a partial view of the guiding well/post
`con?guration.
`FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the spring motor.
`
`10
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`25
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
`
`65
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The sample rotator 10 according to the present invention
`comprises an orbiting member 20 connected to a manually
`operated rotary spring motor 100. In the embodiment shown,
`
`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 4
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`

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`5,641,229
`
`10
`
`3
`the rotating device 100 is contained within a housing 30. An
`upper wall 32 of the housing supports four cylindrical guide
`posts 50. The orbiting member 20 has a corresponding
`number of guide wells 22 each having a predetermined
`depth at its four corners. The orbiting member 20 thus stably
`rests on the four corners of the guide posts. As more clearly
`shown in FIG. 1A, the guide wells 22 each are preferably
`cylindrical, but has a larger diameter to permit the orbiting
`member to move about a horizontal plane by a predeter
`mined clearance C (D-d=2 cm for a 1 cm orbit), which
`determines, along with the well shape, the orbit shape. The
`spring motor has an output shaft 102 that rotates about a
`main orbital axis, which shaft has an offset end 103 that
`orbits about the main axis. The distance R between the main
`axis and the o?i-set axis determines the radius of the orbit
`This distance R is preferably 1 cm. The guiding posts 50 and
`wells 22 constrain the orbiting member 20 to move in an
`orbit, while preventing a planetary motion (rotation about
`the main axis as it orbits). The aforementioned Fisher
`Scienti?c Model 341 rotator also has this type of
`arrangement, but uses an electrically driven motor.
`With electrically driven devices, friction is not that critical
`as a typical servo mechanism incorporated therein provides
`a precise rotating speed control. With the manual type, on
`due other hand, it would be desirable to minimize frictional
`and any mechanical energy loss to harness a maximum
`25
`amount of the input energy. In this regard, the present
`invention contemplates incorporating a ?iction reducer at
`least between the guiding posts 50 and wells 22.
`Speci?cally, the guiding posts, at least the portion contacting
`the guide wells are each coated with TEFLON or the like.
`The posts themselves can also be made of a friction reducing
`material. The wells each also have a coating of TEFLON.
`Alternatively, the orbiting member can be drilled to form the
`wells 22 with TEFLON inserts placed therein. Similarly, the
`guide posts 50 can have TEFLON socks or the like at least
`35
`over the free ends making contact with the wells. TEFLON
`to TEFLON sliding surfaces even further reduce friction.
`Additional lubricants can be used between TEFLON sur
`faces to further reduce friction.
`The orbiting member at its center (gravity or mass) has an
`opening 24 that receives the offset end 103. The opening
`preferably is slightly larger than the end diameter to prevent
`binding. The opening 24 and the end 103 each also prefer
`ably include a TEFLON coating or respectively, a TEFLON
`insert and a sock to further reduce friction. It should be noted
`that the shaft end 103 rotates relative to the orbiting member
`20 (which cannot rotate about its center because it is
`restrained by the guiding wells and posts).
`The housing also includes four leveling feet 34 threaded
`into the lower portion of the housing to level the rotator. In
`this regard, conventional leveling indicators 36, such as
`leveling bubbles, are preferably placed on the housing as
`shown in FIG. 1.
`Spring motors have long been in use—for example,
`wind-up clocks, phonographs, motion picture cameras, etc.
`55
`See pp. 176-177 in MECHANISMS & MECHANICAL
`DEVICES SOURCEBOOK by Nicholas P. Chironis, pub
`lished by McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1991, which describes some of
`the patented spring motor designs, the disclosure of which is
`incorporated herein by reference. Speci?cally, it is known in
`this art to use spring motors with gear trains, feed-back
`mechanisms, brakes, and governors or the like to regulate
`power and speed. The spring motors described in the afore
`mentioned publication can be easily adapted to orbit the
`orbiting member 20.
`FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the preferred spring
`motor 100 according to the present invention. The spring
`
`65
`
`4
`motor comprises a constant-torque producing ?at-coil spring
`104. One end of the spring 104 is connected to a ?xed
`member such as the housing and the other end is connected
`to a rotatable drive shaft 106 rotatably journaled in the
`housing. The drive shaft 106 has two coaxially arranged
`gears, a driving spur gear 108 and a driven bevel gear 110.
`The driven bevel gear 110 mates with an input bevel gear
`112, which is coaxially arranged with an input shaft 114
`journaled for rotation in the housing 30. The end opposite
`the input bevel gear 112 holding end of the input shaft 114
`has a crank or key 116 extending through the housing 30 so
`that it is externally accessible. The crank or key can also be
`removably attached to the input shaft if desired. The input
`shaft 114 holds a timer gear 118 for driving a time-remaining
`indicator 120. Speci?cally, the timer gear 118 is coaxially
`attached to the input shaft and mated to a generally larger
`gear 122, which is journaled for rotation in the housing
`driving the indicator 120. The indicator, which is visible
`through the housing or is position outside the housing, thus
`corresponds to the energy input to the spring.
`The driving gear 108 is connected to a step-up (speed
`increasing) transmission 130. Speci?cally the transmission
`130 includes a driven spur gear 132 coaxially coupled to a
`larger driving spur gear 134, which ?nally mates with a
`smaller driven spur gear 136 to drive the output shaft 102.
`The rotator operates as soon as the operator releases the
`crank (or is removed) after the spring is energized or wound.
`The spring rotates the driving shaft 106, which in turn
`rotates the output shaft 102 via the transmission 130 at a
`higher speed than the driving shaft 106, and rotates the input
`shaft 114 and the crank 116 (if attached) at a slower speed
`than the driving shaft 106. The input shaft rotates the time
`indicator 120. A simple band attached to the housing can be
`used to hold the crank in place to stop the operation.
`Alternatively, a stop pin can be moved in and out of the ?nal
`driven gear 136 where the torque is at a minimum. These
`additional stopping members are simple to operate and
`repair and do not interfere with the operation of the spring
`motor even if they malfunction.
`In the present embodiment shown, the spring energy
`drives both the orbiting member 20 and the time indicator
`120. Instead of using a governor to regulate the speed, the
`present invention relies on the constant torque spring and the
`inertia of the orbiting member and gears. This not only
`simpli?es the mechanism and reduces the component count,
`it will simplify ?eld servicing. In this regard, it is desirable
`to include spare components, including the spring and tools
`inside the housing. In addition, the components such as
`gears can be made of plastics. Any metal component,
`however, preferably is coated with one or more corrosion
`resistant material, such as those widely used in boat and gun
`industries to combat salt corrosion.
`It should be noted that based on the desired goal of
`achieving 100 rpm, with 1 cm orbit with a load of about 1
`lbs (the orbiting member weight), and desired time of less
`than 10 minutes, an ordinary skilled artisan could easily
`calculate the necessary spring and the gearing. The orbiting
`member mass preferably is much greater than the sample
`mass placed on it so that its mass is negligible compared to
`the orbiting-member mass. The orbiting-member mass,
`however, could be reduced as desired by using a light
`material such as a foam or foam composite.
`In operation, the rotator 10, with the orbiting member 20
`is placed on a convenient level surface if available. Using
`the level indicators 36 provided, the leveling feet 34 are
`adjusted, if needed by rotation, to level the rotator. Then the
`
`20
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`30
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`45
`
`50
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`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 5
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`

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`5,641,229
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`5
`crank 116 is ?rst attached to the input shaft 114 if it is
`removable. Otherwise the crank is rotated in the direction
`that would wind the spring 104, using the time indicator as
`a guide. When the user stops winding or the crank removed,
`after a desired amount of energy is stored, the orbital process
`begins. The sample can be place at any time on the orbiting
`member 20, either before cranking or just before releasing
`the crank, or even while the member 20 is orbiting.
`Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed
`in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodi
`ments and modi?cations within the scope and spirit of the
`present invention. Accordingly, all expedient modi?cations
`attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclo
`sure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are
`to be included as further embodiments of the present inven
`tion. The scope of the present invention accordingly is to be
`de?ned as set forth in the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A portable rotator for providing a mechanical orbital
`motion for mixing or stirring a co-agglutination sample,
`comprising:
`a housing having guides;
`an orbiting member for seating the sample guided in the
`guides so that the orbiting member follows an orbital
`Path;
`an eccentric driver rotatingly connected to the orbiting
`member, wherein the eccentric driver rotates about a
`main orbital axis and is rotatable about an axis offset
`from the main axis relative to the orbiting member;
`a manually energized spring motor for rotating the eccen
`tIic driver about the main axis, wherein the guides and
`the eccentric driver move the orbiting member about an
`orbit, wherein the spring motor comprises:
`a coil spring,
`a driving shaft rotatably journaled about the housing,
`one end of the coil spring connected to the driving
`shaft and another end connected to a ?xed member
`within the housing,
`an output shaft rotatable about the main axis and
`coupled to the eccentric driver,
`a transmission connected between the output shaft and
`the driving shaft to rotate the eccentric driver at a
`higher speed than the driving shaft,
`an input shaft journaled for rotation about the housing
`and coupled to the driving shaft so that the driving
`shaft rotates together with the input shaft,
`a crank attached to the input shaft to rotate the input
`shaft and thus the driving shaft to wind the spring,
`and
`a time indicator coupled to the input shaft, wherein
`rotation of the input shaft in the direction that
`energizes the spring moves the indicator in one
`direction and rotation of the input shaft in the oppo
`site direction moves the indicator in the opposite
`direction.
`2. A portable rotator according to claim 1, wherein the
`orbiting member is substantially rectangular and has four
`guiding wells cooperating with the guides.
`
`6
`3. A portable rotator according to claim 2, wherein the
`guides include four guiding posts, each inserted into one of
`the guiding wells, wherein the guiding posts and the guiding
`wells allow the orbiting member to move in the horizontal
`plane but is restrained from rotating about the main axis.
`4. A portable rotator according to claim 3, wherein the
`guiding posts and wells each include a friction reducing
`material to reduce friction between the guiding posts and
`wells.
`5. A portable rotator according to claim 1, wherein the
`crank attached to the input shaft always rotates with the
`input shaft and the driving shaft
`6. A portable rotator according to claim 5, further com
`prising a level indicator connected to the housing.
`7. A portable rotator according to claim 6, further com
`prising means to adjust the level of housing relative to a
`support.
`8. A method of providing a mechanical orbital motion for
`a co-agglutination sample comprising:
`resting or placing a sample on a movable member on
`which the sample can be rested and moved about in a
`horizontal plane;
`limiting the movement of the movable member by a
`predetermined amount in the horizontal plane;
`orbiting the movable member about a vertical axis,
`wherein the limiting step prevents the movable member
`from rotating about the vertical axis and enabling an
`orbital motion, wherein the orbiting step comprises:
`providing a driving shaft journaled for rotation about a
`?xed member and connecting one end of a coil spring
`to the driving shaft and another end of the spring to the
`?xed member;
`coupling the driving shaft to a speed increasing transmis
`sron;
`coupling an output of the transmission to an output shaft,
`wherein the output shaft has an offset end, which
`rotates about a main orbital axis and is rotatable relative
`to the movable member;
`coupling the offset end to the movable member;
`coupling an input shaft to the driving shaft so that the
`driving shaft rotates together with the input shaft;
`attaching a crank to the input shaft to rotate the input shaft
`and thus the driving shaft to wind the spring;
`coupling a time indicator to the input shaft, wherein
`rotation of the input shaft in the direction that energizes
`the spring moves the indicator in one direction and
`rotation of the input shaft in the opposite direction
`moves the indicator in the opposite direction;
`manually winding the driving shaft with the crank to wind
`the spring and store energy therein and move the
`indicator in the one direction; and
`releasing the crank to release stored energy to rotate the
`driving shaft, which rotates the eccentric driver at a
`speed higher than the driving shaft, and imparting an
`orbital motion to the member and moving the indicator
`in the opposite direction.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`* * * * *
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`Norman Int. Exhibit 1006 Page 6