JP5537106B2 - Electric tool and its management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power tool mainly used in a factory or the like and a management system thereof.

  As a power tool management system mainly used in factories or the like, there is a management system as disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this management system, a plurality of power tools wirelessly transmit work information such as their identification numbers, screw tightening numbers, work time, and remaining battery level to the management device. On the management device side, the work information wirelessly transmitted from the electric tool is recorded and managed, and the management information such as the torque setting value is transmitted from the management device to the electric tool, so that the work content of the electric tool Settings corresponding to the above are collectively performed from the management apparatus side.

  By the way, in the said management system, there exists a problem that there exists a possibility that an electric tool may be stolen and used without permission. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 proposes an antitheft means that allows an operator to wear a dedicated authentication device and use an electric tool only when information is transmitted to and received from the authentication device. Has been.

  According to this antitheft means, a third party who has stolen the electric tool cannot use the electric tool, and as a result, a high antitheft effect can be obtained. However, for this purpose, it is necessary to prepare and attach an authentication device for each worker, which increases the cost of the entire management system, and there is a problem that it takes time for the operator to attach and detach the authentication device. In addition, since the electric tool cannot be used when the battery of the authentication device is exhausted, it is necessary to pay attention to the power management of the authentication device, which increases the system management burden.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-213068 JP 2006-218575 A

  This invention is invented in view of the said problem, Comprising: It aims at providing the electric tool and its management system which can prevent a theft easily at low cost.

The present invention that can solve the above-described problems is used in a management system 100 that includes one or more power tools 50 and a management device 20 that manages the work status of the power tools 50. The power tool 50 includes a control unit 9 that controls rotation and a wireless communication unit 8 that wirelessly communicates predetermined work information related to work contents between the management device 20. When the wireless communication between the management device 20 and the wireless communication unit 8 becomes impossible, the control unit 9 detects this and switches to the motor rotation inhibition mode, and switches to the motor rotation inhibition mode. the valid / invalid, and is switched so that the command transmitted wirelessly from the outside.

  In the electric tool 50 having the above configuration, when the electric tool 50 is stolen by a third party and carried to a position away from the management device 20, between the management device 20 and the wireless communication unit 8. When it is detected that wireless communication is disabled, the mode is switched to the motor rotation prohibition mode and cannot be used. That is, it is possible to prevent theft at low cost and easily by effectively utilizing the wireless communication function with the management device 20 without preparing a dedicated authentication device or the like.

In addition, the control unit 9, the enabling / disabling of the motor rotation inhibiting mode, since it is to switch on a command transmitted wirelessly from the outside, in such case, for example, and the power tool 50 is newly introduced The power tool 50 can be set without being affected by the communication state after invalidating the mode switching. In addition, since the valid / invalid switching cannot be performed on the power tool 50 side, a third party who has been stolen or the like is prevented from invalidating the mode switching without permission.

  Further, it is also preferable that the control unit 9 does not determine whether or not wireless communication is impossible between the management device 20 and the wireless communication unit 8 until a predetermined period has elapsed since power activation. . By doing so, it is possible to determine whether or not communication is impossible when the control unit 9 and the wireless communication unit 8 are completely activated, and the power tool 50 becomes unusable due to erroneous determination. Trouble is prevented.

  It is also preferable to provide a notification unit 16 for notifying the user that the motor rotation inhibition mode is set. By doing this, it is certain that the cause of the inability to use the power tool 50 is that the motor rotation prohibition mode has been switched, and that the power tool 50 has not been disabled due to battery exhaustion or the like. Can let you know.

  In addition, the present invention that can solve the above-described problem is that the power tool 50 having the above-described configuration and the predetermined work information transmitted from the power tool 50 by a wireless signal are received to indicate the work status of the power tool 50. The management system 100 of the electric tool 50 comprised with the management apparatus 20 to manage may be sufficient. Even in this case, theft can be prevented easily at low cost.

  In the electric power tool of the present invention, when the control unit detects that wireless communication is disabled between the management device and the wireless communication unit and switches to the motor rotation inhibition mode, a dedicated authentication device or the like is required. In addition, the theft can be easily prevented at low cost.

  In the electric power tool of the present invention, the control unit switches the validity / invalidity of switching to the motor rotation inhibition mode by a command transmitted wirelessly from the outside. Tool setting or the like can be performed, and a third party is prevented from invalidating mode switching without permission.

  Moreover, in the electric tool of the present invention, the control unit enables the switching to the motor rotation inhibition mode only when the connection with the wireless communication unit is detected. The control unit can be shared between the two, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the electric power tool of the present invention, since the control unit does not determine that the wireless communication is disabled until a predetermined period has elapsed since the power is turned on, a problem that the electric power tool cannot be used due to an erroneous determination is prevented. The

  In addition, since the electric tool of the present invention includes a notification unit that notifies the user that the motor rotation prohibition mode is in effect, the cause that the electric tool has become unusable is not a battery exhaustion or the like. You can be surely informed.

  A power tool management system according to the present invention includes the power tool and a management device that receives predetermined work information transmitted from the power tool by a radio signal and manages the work status of the power tool. Similarly, theft can be easily prevented at low cost.

It is the schematic which shows the management system of an example electric tool in embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a management system same as the above. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an electric tool same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows a management system same as the above.

  The present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 3, the electric tool 50 of this invention is shown. 1 and 2 show a power tool 50 according to the present invention, a management device 20 for managing the work status of each power tool 50, and a dedicated remote control device 30 provided separately from the management device 20. ing. The one or more power tools 50, the management device 20, and the remote control device 30 constitute the management system 100 of the present invention.

  First, the power tool 50 of the present invention will be described. The electric power tool 50 is a portable electric rotary tool used for screw tightening work and drilling work in a factory or the like, and includes a motor drive unit 1 and a motor 2 driven by the motor drive part 1 in a housing 15. A power transmission mechanism 5 including a speed reduction mechanism 3 and an impact mechanism 4 for transmitting the power of the motor 2 and an output shaft 6 driven by the power transmitted to the power transmission mechanism 5 are connected in a straight line. Yes. The housing 15 further accommodates a wireless communication unit 8 for performing wireless communication and a control unit 9 including a microcomputer that controls the motor 2 and the wireless communication unit 8.

  The control unit 9 is connected to a trigger switch 10 provided so as to be retractable in the housing 15 and a forward / reverse switching switch 11, so that the control unit 9 has a rotation amount corresponding to the pull-in amount of the trigger switch 10. Rotates the motor 2 via the motor drive unit 1. The rotation control of the motor 2 is performed by the motor control unit 9a of the control unit 9, and the wireless communication unit 8 is controlled by the wireless control unit 9b of the control unit 9. The control unit 9 is connected to a storage unit 12 that can store work information and the like (see FIG. 1).

  The wireless communication unit 8 includes an antenna 8a for performing wireless transmission / reception. Here, the antenna 8a is built in the hook 13 for hooking and locking, but the antenna 8a may be installed in another location. Power is supplied to the control unit 9 by a battery pack 18 that is detachably attached to the housing 15, and power is supplied to the motor 2 and the wireless communication unit 8 via the control unit 9.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the management device 20 of the present invention includes a management-side wireless communication unit 21 that performs wireless communication with each power tool 50 of the present invention described above via an antenna 21a, and a management-side wireless communication unit. The control part 22 which controls the communication of 21 and manages the work condition of each electric tool 50, and the memory | storage part 23 which memorize | stores the work information of each electric tool 50 which the management side radio | wireless communication part 21 received are provided.

  Further, the remote control device 30 of the present invention is held by the administrator side, and performs wireless communication with the remote control receiving unit 14 provided in each electric tool 50, and as described later, To enable / disable switching to the motor rotation inhibition mode.

  In the management system 100 of the present invention having the above-described configuration, in each electric power tool 50, for example, every time a screw tightening operation is performed, the control unit 9 performs work information related to the work content (tightening torque, number of screw tightening, work time). , Battery remaining amount, etc.) are stored in the storage unit 12. The work information stored in the storage unit 12 from each power tool 50 is transmitted to the management device 20 side by wireless communication between the wireless communication units 8 and 21.

  The work information transmitted from each power tool 50 includes an identification number assigned to each power tool 50, and the control unit 22 of the management apparatus 20 uses the identification number included in the received work information. In addition, it is determined which work information is transmitted from which power tool 50, and the received work information is stored in the storage unit 23 for each power tool 50. The work status of each power tool 50 can be managed based on the work information stored here. Moreover, the setting according to the operation | work condition of each electric tool 50 can be implemented from the management apparatus 20 side by wireless communication.

  And in the management system 100 of this invention, when wireless communication becomes impossible between the wireless communication part 8 and the management apparatus 20 of each electric tool 50 as a means for preventing the theft of the electric tool 50. The control unit 9 that outputs a communication incompletion signal from the wireless communication unit 8 to the control unit 9 and receives the communication incompletion signal and detects that it is in a communication incapable state automatically switches to the motor rotation inhibition mode. Provided. The motor rotation prohibition mode here is a mode in which the rotation of the motor 2 is prohibited (operation as a tool is prohibited) regardless of the switch operation.

  That is, if the electric tool 50 is stolen by a third party and carried to a place away from the management device 20, wireless communication cannot be established, and this is detected and the tool is disabled. According to the above means, theft prevention is realized by preparing a dedicated authentication device as in the conventional example and utilizing the wireless communication function with the management device 20 without attaching it to the worker. be able to.

  Each power tool 50 is provided with a notification unit 16 for notifying that the motor rotation prohibition mode is set (see FIG. 1). Notify that the motor is disabled due to the motor rotation inhibition mode. As the notification unit 16, an appropriate notification unit such as a light emitting device such as an LED or a sound generation device such as a buzzer is used.

  Further, such mode switching between the motor rotation inhibition mode and the normal operation mode can be switched between valid and invalid. The fact that the mode switching is effective means that the mode is set to switch from the normal operation mode to the motor rotation inhibition mode when communication is impossible. Also, the mode switching is invalid means that the setting is made so that the normal operation mode is not switched to the motor rotation inhibition mode regardless of the communication state.

  Therefore, for example, when the electric tool 50 is newly introduced, the mode switching is disabled (that is, the motor rotation prohibition mode is not switched) and the communication with the management device 20 is not affected. The electric tool 50 can be set and the like. In addition, since the above-described switching between valid / invalid cannot be performed on the electric power tool 50 side, and is performed only using the dedicated remote control device 30 held by the administrator side, You cannot disable mode switching without permission.

  Further, the control unit 9 incorporated in the electric power tool 50 of the present invention is set so as to enable the switching to the motor rotation inhibition mode only when it is detected that the connection with the wireless communication unit 8 is established. Yes. That is, when the control unit 9 is incorporated in another electric tool that does not include the wireless communication unit 8 such as the electric tool 50 of the present invention, the setting to the motor rotation prohibition mode is not effective. doing. Thereby, sharing of the control part 9 is achieved between the electric tool 50 of this invention which has the radio | wireless communication part 8, and the other electric tool of the type which does not have.

  Further, in the control unit 9 built in the electric power tool 50 of the present invention, the wireless communication between the management device 20 and the wireless communication unit 8 is performed after the power source of the electric power tool 50 is activated until a predetermined period elapses. It is set so as not to determine whether or not it is impossible. This is because power supply to the wireless communication unit 8 is performed by the control unit 9, so that a predetermined period is required from when power supply to the control unit 9 is started by power activation until the wireless communication unit 8 is completely activated. This is because the output of the communication disable signal from the wireless communication unit 8 is not determined within the predetermined period. If the determination is made at a stage where the output of the communication incompetence signal is not fixed and it is erroneously determined that communication is impossible, there is a problem that the power tool 50 becomes unusable. Such a problem is prevented by determining from the above.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the management system 100 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the management system 100 of the present invention will be described along steps S1 to S11 of this flowchart.

  As shown in S <b> 1, when the power of the electric power tool 50 is activated, the controller 9 to which power is supplied determines whether or not the wireless communication unit 8 is connected. When it is determined that the wireless communication unit 8 is not connected, the function related to wireless communication with the management apparatus 20 is stopped, and thereafter normal operation is performed regardless of the communication state. When it is determined that the wireless communication unit 8 is connected, the process proceeds to S2.

  In S2, it is determined whether or not the registration to the management device 20 or the setting of valid / invalid of the transition to the motor rotation prohibition mode when communication is impossible is performed. If not, the process proceeds to S4.

  In S3, it is selected whether or not the registration to the management device 20 is to be performed. The data is stored in the storage unit 12 of the electric power tool 50 and the storage unit 23 of the management device 20. Next, valid / invalid of the transition to the motor rotation inhibition mode when communication is disabled is set from the outside by the remote control device 30, and the setting result is stored in the storage unit 12 of the power tool 50, and then the process proceeds to S4. .

  In S4, the validity / invalidity of the transition to the motor rotation inhibition mode when communication is disabled is confirmed. When the communication is invalid, normal operation is performed regardless of the communication state. If it is valid, the process proceeds to S5.

  In S5, wireless communication is performed with the management apparatus 20, and when it is confirmed that the devices are registered with each other, a normal operation is performed. On the other hand, when the communication is impossible and the confirmation cannot be made, the mode shifts to a motor rotation inhibition mode in which the rotation of the motor 2 is forcibly stopped regardless of the switch operation. In the motor rotation inhibition mode, when a predetermined energization time has elapsed, the power supply is shut off at that time. The determination as to whether or not communication is possible is made after a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the power supply of the power tool 50 is activated. The predetermined period is a period until the activation process of the control unit 9 and the wireless communication unit 8 is completed after the power of the electric power tool 50 is activated.

  S6 is a flow showing the operation of the electric power tool 50. In this flow, when it is confirmed that the trigger switch 10 is turned on, the motor 2 is driven to rotate. At this time, if the validity / invalidity of the transition to the motor rotation prohibition mode when communication is disabled is not set, a determination is made that a predetermined energization time has elapsed after the work is completed, and the process proceeds to the next trigger switch 10 input determination wait. Prepare for the next task. If the predetermined energization time has elapsed after the work is completed, the power is shut off at that time. On the other hand, if the validity / invalidity of the transition to the motor rotation prohibition mode when communication is disabled is set, the process proceeds to S7 after the work is completed, and wireless communication with the management apparatus 20 is performed to transfer the work information to the management apparatus 20. Send.

  S <b> 7 is a flow for transmitting work information to the management apparatus 20. When it is determined that communication with the management apparatus 20 is impossible after transmitting the work information to the management apparatus 20, if the transition to the motor rotation inhibition mode is invalid, a predetermined energization is performed after the work is completed. Time elapse is determined, and the next trigger switch 10 input determination wait is entered to prepare for the next operation. On the other hand, when the transition to the motor rotation inhibition mode is effective, the rotation of the motor 2 is forcibly prohibited, and the power supply is cut off at that point when a predetermined energization time has elapsed.

  S10 and S11 are flows on the management apparatus 20 side. In S10, when a wireless signal is received from the power tool 50 and it is determined that the power tool 50 is registered, a wireless signal notifying that communication is possible is transmitted to the power tool 50 side. When the work information is received from the power tool 50, the received work information is transmitted to the mother terminal in S11.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate design changes may be made within the intended scope of the present invention. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Motor 8 Wireless communication part 9 Control part 16 Notification part 20 Management apparatus 50 Electric tool 100 Management system

Claims (4)

  Used in a management system including one or a plurality of power tools and a management device that manages the work status of the power tools, and a predetermined work content between the motor, a control unit that controls rotation of the motor, and the management device. And a wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates the work information, wherein the control unit detects this when wireless communication between the management device and the wireless communication unit is disabled, and detects the motor. An electric tool characterized by switching to a rotation prohibition mode and switching between valid / invalid of switching to a motor rotation prohibition mode by a command transmitted wirelessly from the outside. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not determine whether or not wireless communication is impossible between the management apparatus and the wireless communication unit until a predetermined period of time has elapsed since power activation. The electric tool as described in. The power tool according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify a user that the motor rotation inhibition mode is set. The power tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and a management device that receives predetermined work information transmitted from the power tool by a wireless signal and manages a work status of the power tool. A power tool management system.

Images