DE202006016830U1 - Tool for treating a workpiece and having means for determining the position of the tool - Google Patents

Abstract

The tool (10) has a device (25) for automatically determining the position or location of the tool. The device may be e.g. an acceleration sensor or an optical arrangement or an acoustic arrangement. The tool may have a processor for processing position data and means for transmitting the data e.g. by radio or infrared.

Description

technical area

The Innovation relates to a tool for machining workpieces, wherein the respective position of the tool is detected.

State of technology

For quality control it is often necessary determine when a tool is in which position. By means of the position of a tool, a specific work process can be identified and setpoints specified or monitored become. For example, in a mounting with several screwdrivers Position detection of the tool for each individual screwdriving case specified and monitored a corresponding torque or angle of rotation become. Furthermore, a control of the correct order or the right time of individual glands possible. The The tool can independently move to the next screwdriving case to adjust.

Known is a position determination of tools by optical or acoustic systems. For example, video data is recorded and evaluated in a processing unit. Also the generation and registration of ultrasonic signals for position determination is known.

adversely in the known systems for determining the position of tools is an additional external reference required for the tool or an external device such as stationary mounted ultrasonic transmitter or receiver or video equipment. The External reference or external device must be costly for everyone Workplace to be installed and take along with external Processing units valuable job to complete. Farther the external reference must be coordinated with each work process. In case of a change Working at a workplace is a time consuming task and expensive customization necessary.

epiphany the innovation

task The innovation, therefore, is the current position of a tool to capture at any time without using expensive and expensive systems to have to.

Innovation is the Task solved by that in a tool for machining workpieces of the initially mentioned a device for independent positional or orientation of the tool is provided.

The Innovation is based on the principle of no external systems and facilities to use, as is the case in the prior art. Rather, it will shifting the entire positioning into or onto the tool. The advantage that results from the innovation is that the respective Position or the position of the tool can be determined without additional To use systems. For example can set an order of the workpieces to be machined become. The tool can then be designed so that it a wrong position with a signal generator a suitable signal generated so that the user can immediately determine if he with his tool has driven the correct place. The production of Position data within the tool has any other advantages, e.g. that also the position in badly accessible workpieces can capture. Therefor are not additional Removals needed to continue the already small work space limit.

When advantageous embodiment of the inventive tool for editing of workpieces has been proven when the device for position or orientation of the tool contains an acceleration sensor. With acceleration sensors The movements of a tool can be detected easily and quickly. An advantageous aspect results when at least three acceleration sensors are provided, each acceleration sensor for a spatial dimension is provided. Thus the position over the Acceleration to be determined. For example, for every Cartesian Direction of a Cartesian coordinate system an acceleration sensor used. Every room position can be determine this way.

A Another preferred embodiment of a tool according to the invention for editing of workpieces is achieved by the device for position or orientation of the tool includes an optical assembly, the optical assembly having a light source whose Lichtausbreitungs- and / or reflection properties used to determine the position. Such optical arrangements are known and allow in a sufficiently small design a simple and inexpensive Realization of the device for position or orientation in the tool.

A preferred variant also results in the tool according to the invention in that the device for position or position determination of the tool contains an acoustic arrangement, wherein the acoustic arrangement has a sound source whose sound propagation and / or Reflection properties is used to determine the position. With this acoustic arrangement also a cheap device for position or orientation of the tool is made possible.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive tool for machining workpieces results from the tool designed as a torque wrench is. With a torque wrench Often, several glands with different, predetermined torques or angles of rotation carried out one after the other. By the integrated Position or orientation is an automatic specification and monitoring a torque or angle of rotation possible for each screw. Besides that is the sequence of screwing or the time of a screwing controllable.

In A preferred embodiment of the inventive tool are processor and / or storage means for processing the position data generated by the device to the self-employed Position or orientation of the tool are generated, provided. By this means, on the one hand, an independent specification and monitoring of Setpoints for certain operations with the tool in a simple way possible. On the other hand, measured Parameter corresponding to the respective position of the tool, or of the associated Work process can be easily archived in the tool.

at A particularly advantageous embodiment of the innovation are transmission means to transfer the position data to an external processing unit and / or Archiving unit contained in the tool. An external processing unit or archiving unit is much larger dimensionable than the corresponding unit in the tool. In addition, the coupling of an external, stationary Unity to a computer network uncomplicated possible. The position data can thus be archived in the long term. Also, the control of the entire Assembly under consideration all position data possible. Incorrect position data can be controlled quickly and centrally be reacted.

According to one preferred variant of the innovation transmit the transmission means the position data via a radio or infrared connection. With a wireless connection as a means of transmission becomes mobility of the tool is in no way limited. A user of the tool is during a work process not hindered by a cable or even endangered.

A further renewal training of the Tool sees means for determining an angular position and / or a speed or acceleration of the tool before. through the determination of these additional Values is a work process even more precisely monitored. So z. B. the approach angle a tool to a workpiece be controlled more closely.

Farther proves to be advantageous if means for determining the rotational acceleration and / or Rotation speed are provided. Let this way Rotational movement of the tool is easy to position determine. The means are as Rotationsbeschleunigungs- or Angular velocity sensors designed. This is especially useful also with regard to the accuracy of the position determination. Optional can Sensors also for linear and rotational movements are combined.

Further Embodiments of the innovation and advantages arise from the subject of the subclaims, as well as the drawings with the corresponding descriptions.

Short description the drawing

1 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a tool with integrated position determination a torque wrench.

preferred embodiment

In 1 will with 10 a torque wrench. The torque wrench 10 consists of a key arm 12 at one end a key head 14 is trained. The key head 14 has a tool holder 16 where various plug-in tools, such as an open-end wrench or hex nut for hex head screws or nuts can be attached. At the other end of the key arm 12 is a handle 18 intended for better handling.

In the key arm 12 is a torque sensor 20 for measuring the torque currently applied to a workpiece. The torque sensor 20 is designed for example as a strain gauge or piezoelectric element. Furthermore, the key arm contains 12 a rotary encoder 22 for determining a rotation angle. For this purpose, the rotary encoder latches 22 for example via an optical or electronic gyroscope. Alternatively, the torque sensor 20 and / or the rotary encoder 22 in the key head 14 be mounted. The torque sensor 20 and the rotary encoder 22 transmit measured values electronically or optically to a control unit 23 ,

The torque wrench 10 contains a device 25 for independent position and position determination of the torque wrench 10 , This device has this 25 two acceleration sensors for each of the three spatial directions 26 , so a total of six acceleration sensors 26 , The measuring axes of two acceleration sensors as far apart as possible 26 are aligned in parallel. Thus, from the measured values, both a translation and a rotation of the torque wrench 10 determinable for each spatial direction. The acceleration sensors 26 may be, for example, piezoelectric acceleration sensors or micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Furthermore, the use of optical or acoustic acceleration sensors is possible. These sensors contain a light or sound source and determine acceleration by wave propagation or reflection characteristics.

In a favorable variant of the torque wrench 10 become three biaxial acceleration sensors 26 used. This halves the material and space requirements for the same production costs. In another, simpler version of the torque wrench 10 contains the device 25 for independent position and orientation only three motion sensors 26 , one for each room dimension. This embodiment is inexpensive and simple in construction, but does not allow so precise location determinations of the torque wrench 10 during or after a rotation.

The device 25 for independent position and orientation also has a control unit 23 with a processor 24 and a memory 28 , The acceleration sensors 26 transmit measured acceleration values electronically or optically to the control unit 23 , A storage of setpoints or measured values takes place in the memory 28 , By means of a message 30 Measurements, setpoints or control functions and operating states can be displayed for a user. The ad contains this 30 a graphical display. In further embodiments of the torque wrench 10 In addition, light-emitting diodes, a speaker or a vibrator may be included to present in particular warning signals to a user.

To manually enter setpoints or to trigger control functions by a user is in the vicinity of the handle 18 an input unit 32 intended. The input unit 32 is designed, for example, as a keyboard, individual push buttons or knobs.

In the area of the handle 18 is also a bidirectional radio interface 34 incorporated. The radio interface is with the control unit 23 coupled. Instead of manually entering setpoints via the input unit 32 can also set values via the radio interface 34 be transmitted. The radio interface 34 It is also sufficient to transmit requirements, measured values and / or measurement protocols to an external device with the appropriate interface. If necessary, these values can be stored in the memory 28 be cached. Alternatively, an infrared interface is possible.

The power supply 36 the electronic devices of the torque wrench 10 is ensured by a battery or accumulator, which preferably in the handle 18 is housed. To allow replacement of the battery or the accumulator, they are replaced by a removable flap 40 in the torque wrench 10 attached. To charge the accumulator is also another interface on the torque wrench 10 conceivable, which is not shown in the present figure.

In a variant of the torque wrench 10 are additional resources 38 for determining an angular position and / or a speed or acceleration of the torque wrench 10 intended. This allows the position and location of the torque wrench 10 be determined even more precisely in the room.

When commissioning the torque wrench 10 First, a zero point determination must be carried out. To do this, the user guides the torque wrench 10 to a place marked as a zero point at the workplace or on the workpiece. By pressing the input unit 30 , For example, by pressing a button, the user then signals the control unit 23 that is the torque wrench 10 is at zero point. The location coordinates of the zero point are in memory 28 stored and can by the control unit 23 be retrieved. Will the torque wrench 10 subsequently moved in space, the control unit calculates 23 continuously the location and location of the torque wrench 10 from the location coordinates of the zero point and the acceleration values transmitted by the acceleration sensors.

Will the torque wrench 10 in a next step led to the location of a screw, identified by the control unit 23 by means of the location coordinates the screw and calls the corresponding setpoints for the torque and / or the rotation angle from the memory 28 from. The setpoints can be seen in the display 30 be presented to the user. Are the setpoints not in memory 28 available, the controller may be Ness 23 the values via the radio interface 34 request from an external device.

During the screwing constantly the instantaneous torque and / or the angle of rotation by the torque sensor 20 or the rotary encoder 22 determined and to the control unit 23 Posted. The control unit 23 can these actual values with the display 30 represent. If an actual value reaches the corresponding setpoint value, the control unit triggers 23 an optical, acoustic or tactile signal. The user then ends the screw connection. The measured and in memory 28 Cached values can be transmitted through the radio interface 34 to external devices for logging and archiving.

For further screwdriving procedures will be followed accordingly. Thus, the specification of the correct setpoint values for a torque or a rotation angle is always guaranteed. The marking of screws and torque wrenches with fixed values is no longer necessary. Furthermore, the correct order of the screwed connections or the correct time of a screw connection can be monitored. Any errors are signaled by the torque wrench 10 the user through the display 30 , Alternatively, errors can be made via the radio interface 34 reported to an external center. The control center can then inform the user about the further procedure via the radio interface 34 and the ad 30 suggest.

The device 25 for position and position determination of the torque wrench 10 works without expensive and maintenance-intensive external references or devices, such as ultrasonic fields or video systems. Some of these external references or devices have to be laboriously adapted to new workpieces. In contrast, when switching to other workpieces, the new setpoints and location coordinates can be easily transmitted via the radio interface 34 in the torque wrench 10 be maintained.

Claims (11)

Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces, wherein the respective position of the tool ( 10 ), characterized in that a device ( 25 ) for the independent position or orientation of the tool ( 10 ) is provided. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to claim 1, characterized in that the device ( 25 ) for determining the position of the tool ( 10 ) an acceleration sensor ( 26 ) contains. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the device ( 25 ) for determining the position of the tool ( 10 ) at least three acceleration sensors ( 26 ), each acceleration sensor ( 26 ) is provided for a room dimension. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device ( 25 ) for determining the position of the tool ( 10 ) an optical arrangement ( 26 ), wherein the optical arrangement comprises a light source whose Lichtausbreitungs- and / or reflection properties is used to determine the position. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device ( 25 ) for determining the position of the tool ( 10 ) an acoustic arrangement ( 26 ), wherein the acoustic arrangement comprises a sound source whose sound propagation and / or reflection properties are used to determine the position. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tool ( 10 ) as a torque wrench ( 10 ) is trained. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by processor ( 24 ) and / or storage means ( 28 ) for processing the position data, which is passed through the device ( 25 ) for the independent position or orientation of the tool ( 10 ) be generated. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by transfer means ( 34 ) for transmitting the position data to an external processing unit and / or archiving unit. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to claim 8, characterized in that the transfer means ( 34 ) transmit the position data via a radio or infrared connection. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that means ( 38 ) are provided for determining an angular position and / or a speed or acceleration of the tool. Tool ( 10 ) for machining workpieces according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that means for determining the rotational acceleration and / or Rotationsgeschwin are provided.