WO2015121738A1

WO2015121738A1 - Item, notably tool, storage and stock control using wireless means of rfid type, notably of rfid chip and switch type

Info

Publication number: WO2015121738A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/000142
Authority: WO
Inventors: Théodore PUNTOUS; Denis PROMPT
Original assignee: Sam Outillage
Priority date: 2014-02-17
Filing date: 2015-02-12
Publication date: 2015-08-20
Also published as: FR3017643B1; FR3017643A1

Abstract

Switch module which, in a "container" (50), allows detection of the presence or absence of a "tool" (30) in a storage location or "housing" (2) reserved for it, notably but nonlimitingly in a pocket formed in a foam or plastic tray, comprising a detector (1) of the presence/absence of the tool (30) in said location (2).

Description

Management of the storage and the stock of objects, in particular tools, by RFID-type wireless means, in particular of the breaker type and

RFID chip.

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention relates to the storage, and the management of this storage, in a "container" such as a drawer, a "maid" and the like, on a presence / absence mode, of elementary objects that can or must be moved, used, exposed etc. then stored, and possibly as objects, spare parts, precision parts, intended to be permanently moved (eg moved to another site, or sold), including the management of "stocks" of commercial or industrial products, and especially the storage and management of the storage (and possibly a stock) of tools, including so-called "hand tools", that is to say relatively small, according to a presence / absence mode, by a wireless means comprising an RFID type element or identification / location by radio frequency.

The invention applies to any sector of activity, including the storage and management of tool storage, including hand, in the aviation industry, automotive, space industry, railway, medical, construction naval, building and public works, domestic instruments, libraries, storage of CDs and DVDs, and similar well-known sectors. The invention applies to any type of storage in a "container", as in a "maid" (mobile cart containing a number of tools, well known term), a cabinet, a toolbox, a bag tools, a display, a wall display, a drawer, possibly a tool belt (the belt then being adapted to the invention), or any other type of container, or element of a container, and in any frame as a plant, a workshop, a laboratory, a container, a storage volume, a maintenance or repair vehicle, and the like.

All the following, overall and for simplicity,

"Storage and storage management"

of "tools".

PRIOR ART

The technique known as "RFID" is well known and well documented. It is known that it uses a radio wave emission to one or more receiving antennas, to transmit a signal. Location in space is possible by means of several receiving antennas. The emission can be the fact of an "RFID chip" carried by, or contained in, a "tool". The signals contain technical, commercial and other information. which can be relayed (or sent directly) to one or more management centers. This, being well known to those skilled in the art, and widely documented in publications and patents for several decades, will not be developed here.

The storage techniques differ according to the sectors of activity concerned. As will be seen, the invention applies to any storage technique to accommodate a detector of presence or absence of object or room or industrial or commercial article, more generally, as defined above, "tool".

In particular, the storage of tools, or certain industrial parts, and particularly those that can be either very expensive or not quickly replaceable, or both, and that it is therefore appropriate to "manage" with care and rigor, trays (often themselves placed in drawers or the like) with a layer of plastic foam (or a preformed plastic material) having cells or "imprints" in which a tool or piece, the elasticity of the foam now holding the tool or piece in place, usually by slight friction.

Generally, each cell corresponds hollow to the external geometry of the tool.

There are various ways to detect the presence or absence of a tool in a cell, such as a contact detector, optical means, including IR (infrared), cameras, magnetic field means, passive RFID chips carried by a tool, etc.

Systems are also known for managing the absence or presence signals emitted by these various means. Some are automated.

The general problem associated with such storage solutions and especially storage management lies in their complexity, their cost, often the use of wired means and complex wiring that is both expensive and difficult to interchange during a change of range. tools in a maid or container, for example, and often their difficulty in setting up, or their difficulty (or lack of simplicity) of use, such as the obligation to move the tool according to a certain mode of operation that the operator can forget or neglect, loss of time, risk of errors or omissions, their fragility in some cases, or their sensitivity to soiling, and a reliability which, except extreme complexity, is not absolute in terms of loss or theft of tools often very expensive or difficult to replace, or in terms of inventory management.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The objective technical problem is to develop an RFID type system allowing "storage" and "storage management", "tools", all in the broad sense defined above, avoiding or greatly reducing the many aforementioned drawbacks , and others known to those skilled in the art.

The objective problem has notably been to develop a system comprising an RFID means operating in presence / absence detection mode but:

without the very costly constraint of providing the part or globally the "tool" of an individual, passive or active RFID chip,

without the equally expensive and complicated constraint of installing a wiring that is difficult or non-interchangeable connecting different sensors of a tray, of each tray of a maid, of the various stages of a container or of a storage volume, etc.

without the constraint of a permanent supply of said RFID chip with electrical energy,

or alternatively, in case of individual battery or battery power supply of the chip, which is the general case, with a very low energy consumption in order to increase considerably the autonomy and thus to space the replacement of the batteries,

which is not itself expensive that is robust and technically simple,

totally reliable

very easily and quickly interchangeable between a range or series of tools and a different range or series

and which may nevertheless allow centralized management by a known type of computer system capable of managing the RFID signals.

and can be compatible for the management of one or more containers.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

The merit of the invention resides in having tackled these technical problems by creating a part (hereinafter referred to as a "breaker module" or "MR") intended to be associated with each "tool" but not worn by it, neither contained in the tool, does not depend on its shape nor its other characteristics, AND powered by a battery or battery (hereinafter "battery"), thus totally interchangeable whatever the tool to be detected, or the series the type of storage (maid, box, display, etc.), the number or complexity of the series or ranges of tools concerned, and the industrial or commercial sector concerned.

The invention therefore relates firstly to a Modulated Breaker enabling, in a "container" (50), the detection of the presence or absence of a "tool" (30) in a location or "footprint" (2) of storage which is reserved for it, in particular but not exclusively in a cell formed in a foam tray, characterized in that:

it comprises a detector (1) for the presence / absence of the tool (30) in said location (2); it comprises an active RFID chip (3) which emits an RFID signal (4) to receivers and computing tools for processing and management (500) when it is powered (and possibly when it stops being powered, although this at the expense of battery consumption);

it comprises a power supply source (5) for said RFID chip and a circuit (6) for powering said RFID chip with said source;

and in that said detector (1) is adapted to close said power supply circuit of said RFID chip (thus supplying the RFID chip with electrical energy) when said tool is absent from said location, and instead open said supply circuit (So cut the power of said RFID chip) when said tool is present in its location.

Said breaker module is removably disposed in a housing (300) located in the bottom (100) of the location or footprint (2).

It is understood that when the tool is present in its location (2), the RFID chip emits no signal; no energy is consumed. Since the "tools" are most often stored in their home or location while the operator uses another, or during closure of the site or container (servant etc.) concerned, it is understood that the autonomy the battery will be greatly extended, thus ensuring the system a very long battery life. The absence of a signal, therefore the presence of the tool in its storage location, can be materialized by any known visual means on screen (code, icon, etc.), computer, sound, etc. (500) or by the absence of any visualization (for example no icon on a screen representing the locations in question, or LED off and similar known options). By cons, when the tool is out of its location, the detector (1) is adapted to close the supply circuit of the RFID chip, so power said chip, which is programmed to then emit an RFID signal; this signal makes it possible to detect the absence of the tool. We can materialize this signal and this absence by any known visual, sound, computer listing, visualization or icon on a screen, and well-known analogs.

According to a variant, said chip includes a timing program that limits the duration of the signal emitted when the tool is removed, further greatly reducing energy consumption. For example, the signal is transmitted only for 2 - 10 seconds, or even is limited to a brief "RFID pulse" sufficient to trigger the management program and viewing the absence. Naturally, this less preferred option does not allow permanent visualization of the absence of the tool, but may be sufficient in many sectors: it is sufficient for the operator, in many less sensitive industrial sectors, to check time to time. other (possibly, a program can do this at pre-determined intervals) the "state" of the tool, ie its absence or presence in its location. According to yet another variant, which can be cumulative, the RFID chip is programmed to emit an RFID signal not only when the tool is removed from its location, which is the general case of the present invention, but also when the tool is put back in place, obviously with a delay of the signal since the goal is not to consume energy when the tool is in place; this second signal may be different from the first, and may allow close monitoring of the repositioning of particularly expensive or irreplaceable tools. For some very expensive tools that are therefore "at risk", or irreplaceable (in both cases, to be closely monitored) and whose operating time is known to the supervisor according to the task planned at a given moment, the RFID chip can also be used. possibly be programmed to emit an alert signal if the normal time of use is significantly exceeded.

According to the preferred variant, said presence / absence detector is disposed in a housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of said location (2) for the tool (30), and comprises as detection means (200) properly said presence / absence of a tool contact interrupter or microswitch inserted into the supply circuit of the RFID chip and comprising in known manner a flexible tongue (10) and a switch-button (12) adapted in geometry and flexibility / elasticity for:

under the weight of the tool (30), press and engage the push button (12) (switch) forming part of said power supply circuit of the RFID chip, this action OPEN said circuit, the chip then no longer being powered ; and

when the tool is removed from its housing, let the button (12) return to the initial position and thus CLOSE said circuit, said RFID chip then being supplied with energy and emitting the RFID signal.

According to another variant, said presence / absence detector is disposed in a housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of said location (2) for the tool (30), and comprises as actual presence detection means / absence of tool a flexible metal tongue adapted in geometry and flexibility / elasticity for:

under the weight of the tool, bear on a metal contact, said tongue and said contact forming part of said power supply circuit of the RFID whore, and their contacting OPEN said circuit, the chip is then no longer fed; and

when the tool is removed from its housing, move away from the contact and thus CLOSE said circuit, said RFID chip being then energized and emitting the signal R FI D.

Said detector (1) presence / absence of the tool (30) can be chosen from any system capable of opening the supply circuit of the RFID chip in the presence of the tool, and to close it when the tool is removed. A conditio is that this system must not consume energy which excludes for example an active optical system such as infra-red or the like.

However, any passive, energy neutral system, for example passive magnetic operation, can be considered. This may involve the installation on the tool of a magnetized chip, this extra cost may be justified in some cases.

It is also possible to use a display with metal hooks provided with weight detectors. When the tool is removed from the rack, the metal hook comes into contact with the supply circuit, and thus closes the circuit. Conversely, when the tool is attached to the hook, its weight allows the metal hook to no longer be in contact with the supply circuit, and thus the supply circuit is open.

According to the preferred mode, said module interrupter comprises

downwardly, a support (20) for, and adapted geometrically to fit into, a housing (300) in the bottom (100) of said location (2) for receiving the tool (30), and be firmly but not permanently held by friction against the walls of elastic or plastic foam, on which the active RFID chip and its battery are fixed, as well as said power supply circuit of the chip by the battery, circuit in which the electrical terminals of said detector (1) of presence / absence of tool are inserted, preferably a contact breaker or microswitch,

- and finally, upwards, said detector (1)

the assembly being adapted geometrically so that said detection means itself, in particular the switch or microswitch, comes flush with the bottom (100) of said location (2), so that said tool can act effectively on said means by so weight (arrow), or possibly by its shape.

According to a preferred variant, the tongue (10) is protected against tearing by a protection which does not hinder its intended movement under the action of the weight of the tool, for example an elastic, flexible plastic or rubber protection fixed on the top of the detector

According to another preferred variant, the detector is encapsulated in a protective envelope or capsule (600) made of plastic material permeable to rippled RFID, or any material permeable to these frequencies, only the flush tongue outside the capsule, possibly under flexible protection.

Finally, an RFID receiver transmits in a known manner the information delivered by the RFID chips, which can be displayed in a manner also known on the screen of a mobile phone or a computer tablet or any conventional and known computer system (500 ) in this domain.

It is also understood that MRs are completely autonomous and interchangeable: if it is desired, in the same container, to store a series of tools different from the initial series, so different shapes or footprints, for example a series of keys instead of a series of screwdrivers, just replace the foam or plastic tray (50) with imprints adapted to the screwdrivers by a foam or plastic tray whose imprints or locations (2) are adapted to the keys, and arrange the MR in the slots (300) of the "key" tray . The; MRs intended for the "key" tray may be the MRs that have been removed from the "screwdriver" tray, which represents a great economy and interchangeability.

It will also be possible for the same tool to have two or more MRs in the bottom (100) of the same footprint, so that the tool presses these two or more MRs. This can make it more difficult to substitute a particularly expensive tool by, for example, a simple weight pressing on a single MR. Forcing an indelicate person to have 2, 3 "substitute" weights can make substitution much more difficult, especially if both, three, and so on. MRs are programmed to emit an alarm if they are not operated simultaneously or by well-known masses.

The invention relates to Modules Breakers as new industrial products, and still relates to a method for storing and managing the storage of "tools" (in the broad sense above) in "containers" having at least one tray or shelf or a tool-carrying storage space which itself comprises a plate or thickness of preformed foam or plastic capable of receiving said tools in locations (2) of a shape adapted to the tools, characterized in that it is arranged in the bottom, or on the side of said plate or thickness of at least one Breaker Module as described above, the detection tongue or other means of detection of the tool, flush with said bottom and / or said side. The invention also relates to: "containers" (50) of all types, such as containers, maids, "tool" trays (in the broad sense defined above), display stands, "tool" drawers and the like , or parts (or elements) of these "containers", for example a drawer of a maid, characterized in that their plate or thickness of preformed foam or plastic having locations (2) for "tools" comprises in the bottom (100), or on the side (of at least a part of said locations (2)) at least one housing (300) adapted to receive a breaker module MR optionally in a capsule (600),

It is also possible to have for the same tool two or more Modules Breakers (MR) in the bottom (100) (and / or on the side) of the same footprint, so that the tool presses these two or plus MR Said two, three etc. MRs are optionally programmed to emit an alarm if they are not operated simultaneously or by well-known masses.

The "Containers" may also include one or more interchangeable tool holders foam or plastic (50) with fingerprints adapted to different tools and a set of breaker modules to be arranged in the slots (300) of the tray concerned, applications of interrupters modules themselves, and the applications of "containers" and the aforementioned method, in any type of industry, including those mentioned above. 15,000142

13

The foregoing has been shown in a manner that does not require further development in the figures

1 (schematic section of the Breaker Module and its placement in the housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of the container (50))

- 2 (perspective view of MR with its capsule holder (20) and the protective cap (600) partially dotted); the arrow represents the movement of the tongue (10) under the weight of the tool (30). The MR, when removing the tool, transmits an RFID signal to known management receivers and monitors, (500).

- 3 (top view of a container or part or element of container (50) having a series of locations or indentations (2) for receiving tools, the capsule (600) containing the MR being housed in housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of the container). The tongue (10) protruding slightly from the protective capsule (600) containing the MR is shown.

Claims

1. Module Breaker allowing, in a "container" (50), the detection of the presence or absence of a "tool" (30) in a location or "imprint"

(2) Storage reserved for it, including but not limited to a cell formed in a foam tray or plastic material, characterized in that:

it comprises a detector (1) for the presence / absence of the tool (30) in said location (2);

it comprises an active RFID chip (3) which transmits an RFID signal (4) to receivers and computer processing and management tools (500) when it is powered (and possibly when it ceases to be powered);

it comprises a power source (5) for supplying said RFID chip and a circuit (6) for supplying said RFID chip with said source;

2. Module Breaker according to claim 1, characterized in that it is removably disposed in a housing (300) located in the bottom (100) of the location or footprint (2).

3. Module Breaker according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said chip comprises a timing program which limits the duration of the signal emitted when the tool is removed, further greatly reducing energy consumption.

4. Module breaker according to claim 3, characterized in that the signal is transmitted only for 2 - 10 seconds, or is limited to a short "RFID pulse" sufficient to trigger the management program and viewing the absence.

S

5. Breaker module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the RFID chip is programmed to emit an RFID signal not only when the tool is removed from its location, but also when the tool is reset. place, with a delay of the signal, this second signal may be different from the first.

6. Module breaker according to any one of claims l to 5, characterized in that the RFID chip is programmed to emit an alert signal if the normal time of use is significantly exceeded,

5

7. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said presence / absence detector is disposed in a housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of said location (2) for the tool (30), and comprises as a detection means (200) proper of the presence / absence of a tool a contact switch or microswitch inserted into the supply circuit of the RFID chip and comprising a flexible tongue (10) and a switch-button (12) adapted in geometry and flexibility / elasticity for:

under the weight of the tool (30), press and engage the pushbutton (12) (switch) forming part of said power supply circuit of the RFID chip, this action OPEN said circuit, the chip then no longer being powered ; and

when the tool is removed from its housing, let the button (12) return to the initial position and thus CLOSE said circuit, said chip RFID then being energized and emitting the RFID signal.

8. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said presence / absence detector is disposed in a housing (300) formed in the bottom (100) of said location (2) for the tool (30), and comprises as detection means (200) proper for the presence / absence of a tool a flexible metal tongue adapted in geometry and flexibility / elasticity for:

under the weight of the tool, being in support on a metal contact, said tongue and said contact forming part of said power supply circuit of the RFID chip, and putting them in contact with said circuit, the chip being then more fueled; and

when the tool is removed from its housing, move away from the contact and thus CLOSE said circuit, said RFID chip then being energized and emitting the RFID signal.

9. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said detector (1) of presence / absence of the tool (30) is selected from any system capable of opening the supply circuit of the RFID chip in the presence of the tool, and close it when the tool is removed, with the proviso that this system must not consume energy, therefore among all the passive systems, energy neutral, for example operating passive magnetic or using a display with metal hooks fitted with weight detectors.

10. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises:

downwardly, a support (20) for, and adapted geometrically to fit into, a housing (300) in the bottom (100) or on the side of said location (2) for receiving the tool (30), and to be held firmly but not permanently by friction,

on which are fixed the active RFID chip and its battery, as well as said power supply circuit of the chip by the battery, circuit in which the electrical terminals of said detector (1) presence / absence of tool, preferably a contact breaker or microswitch,

and finally, upwardly, said detector (1)

the assembly being geometrically adapted so that said detection means proper, in particular the switch or microswitch, comes flush with the bottom (100) or the side of said location (2), so that said tool can act effectively on said medium by its weight (arrow).

11. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the tongue (10) is protected against tearing by a protection which does not hinder its intended movement under the action of the weight of the tool, such as an elastic protection, soft plastic or rubber attached to the top of the detector.

12. Module breaker according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said detector (1) is encapsulated in a protective envelope or capsule (600) made of plastic material permeable to RFID waves, or any material permeable to these frequencies, only the tongue flush with the outside of the capsule, possibly under a flexible protection.

13. System for storing and managing tool storage using a Breaker Module according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an RFID receiver transmits in a known manner the information delivered by the RFID chips, which can be displayed so also known on the screen of a mobile phone or a computer tablet or any computer system (500).

14. A method for storing and managing the storage of "tools" (30) in "containers" or elements of containers (50) having at least one tray or shelf or storage volume tool holder itself having a plate or thickness of preformed foam or plastic adapted to receive said tools in locations (2) of a shape adapted to the tools, characterized in that in the bottom of said locations (2) are provided said plate or thickness, and / or on the on the side, at least one Breaker Module as described above, whose detection tongue, or other means of detecting the tool, is flush with said bottom and / or said side.

15. The method of claim 14, characterized in that when the tool (30) is present in its location (2), the RFID chip emits no signal; no energy is therefore consumed, and in that, however, when the tool (30) is out of its slot (2), the detector (1) is adapted to close the supply circuit of the RFID chip , thus powering said chip, which is programmed to then emit an RFID signal; this signal makes it possible to detect the absence of the tool.

16. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the absence of signal, so the presence of the tool in its storage location, can be materialized by any known visual means on screen (code, icon, etc.), computer, sound, etc. (500), or LED, or by the absence of any visualization (for example no icon on a screen representing the locations in question, or LED off).

17. "Containers" (50) of any type, such as containers, maids, "tool" trays, display stands, "tool" drawers and the like, or parts (or elements) of these "containers" ( 50), for example a drawer of a servant, characterized in that they comprise a plate or thickness of preformed foam or plastic having locations or imprints (2) for "tools", said locations or imprints comprising in the bottom ( 100), or on the side (of at least a part of said locations (2)) at least one housing (300) adapted to receive a breaker module MR optionally in a capsule (600).

18. "Containers" according to claim 17, characterized in that one has two or more Modules Breakers (MR) for the same tool in the bottom (100) (and / or on the side) of the same imprint, so that the tool presses these two or more MRs and that said two, three etc. MRs are optionally programmed to emit an alarm if they are not operated simultaneously or by well-known masses.

19. "Containers" according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that they comprise one or interchangeable tool-holder trays foam or plastic (50) with fingerprints adapted to different tools and a set of breaker modules to be arranged in the dwellings (300) of the plateau concerned.

20. Applications of the Modules Breakers according to any one of claims 1 to 12, Systems according to claim 13, "Containers" according to any one of claims 17 to 19 and the method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, in any type of industry, including the storage and management of the storage of "tools", including hand tools, in the aviation industry, automotive, industry space, railway, medical, shipbuilding, building and public works, household instruments, libraries, storage of CDs and DVDs, and similar sectors.