JP2003214348A - Air compressor and method for using air compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique effective for theft prevention of an air compressor. <P>SOLUTION: The air compressor 101 comprises: a compression portion 113 compressing and discharging intake gas by using an electric motor 111; a compressed gas storage tank 115 for storing the compressed gas discharged from the compressing portion 113; an ID code input portion 117; and a drive switch 123. The drive switch 123 is operated based on a result of comparison of an ID code input by an operator through the ID code input portion with a preset ID code. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a security technique for an air compressor, and more particularly to a technique effective for preventing the theft of the air compressor even when an operator is absent.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Air compressors are widely used at work sites as a high-pressure air supply means for air-driven work tools such as air nailers. By the way, since the air compressor generally has a weight of about 20 kg to 30 kg, it is difficult to carry it from time to time, and when it is used for work requiring many days, it is often resident at the work site.

Since such an air compressor has a relatively well-developed second-hand market and is often resident at the work site as described above, the frequency of theft when the worker is absent is relatively high.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a technique effective in preventing the theft or unauthorized use of an air compressor.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in each claim is constituted. According to the invention described in claim 1, there is provided an air compressor having a compression section, a compressed gas storage tank, an ID code input section, and a drive switch. The compressor compresses the intake air using an electric motor and discharges the intake air. The compressed gas storage tank stores the compressed gas discharged from the compression unit.

The drive switch is actuated based on the result of collation between the input ID code input by the operator through the ID code input section and the preset ID code. Typically, the input ID code input by the operator is the setting ID
The drive switch is turned on only when it matches the code,
When the input ID code is not input by the operator, or when the input ID code does not match the set ID code, it is preferable to perform control such that the drive switch is kept off.

The "driving switch" in the present invention typically corresponds to a power switch of an air compressor (a switch that energizes the air compressor when turned on). Further, the drive switch may be configured by an energizing switch of the drive control circuit of the electric motor,
Or if the electric motor is an inverter drive system,
The drive switch may be composed of an energization control switch of the inverter driver circuit.

The ID code input section in the present invention can be appropriately adapted to an input format by entering a personal identification number or an input format by reading using a magnetic card, an IC card, a bar code or the like.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the drive switch is operated based on the result of collation between the ID code input by the operator and the preset ID code.
It is possible to set a configuration in which the air compressor cannot be driven unless the operator inputs a correct ID code. Therefore, a technique effective for preventing the theft of the air compressor when an operator is absent or for preventing unintended unauthorized use is provided.

(Invention of Claim 2) It is preferable that the input ID code of the air compressor described in Claim 1 is wirelessly input from a keyless entry means that can be carried by an operator. According to this structure, the operator does not have to keep the input ID code in the memory, and the input work is released from the troublesome input work, so that the convenience is further improved.

(Invention of Claim 3) According to the invention of Claim 3, a compression unit for compressing and discharging intake air using an electric motor and a compressed gas discharged from the compression unit are stored. A method of using an air compressor having a compressed gas storage tank and a drive switch is provided. In particular, the ID switch input by the operator and the preset ID code are collated with each other, and the drive switch is activated when the two match, so that the operator must input the correct ID code. It is possible to use the method that cannot drive the.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The air compressor 101 according to the present embodiment is used as a high-pressure air supply unit for an air-driven work tool such as an air nailer, and as shown in FIG. 1, an electric motor 111 and a compression unit 11 are used.
3. It has a compressed gas storage tank 115.

The compression unit 113 compresses the intake air by the electric motor 111 and discharges it. Compressed gas storage tank 115
Stores compressed air discharged from the compression unit 113 and supplies high-pressure air to the work tool.

Further, the air compressor 101 according to the present embodiment is, as shown in the system block diagram of FIG.
It has a CPU 131, a memory 133, a receiver 117, a switch control circuit 121, and a power switch 123. The memory 133 is configured by a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM, stores the setting ID code, and is a CPU.
It is connected to 131.

The receiver 117 is connected to the CPU 131, and the keyless entry means 1 carried by an operator.
A wireless input ID code issued from 19 is received. The receiver 117 is an element corresponding to the ID code input unit in the present invention.

The switch control circuit 121 includes a CPU 131.
And connected to the power switch 123 and has an ID
The switching of the on / off state of the power switch 123 is controlled based on the result of the code matching work. When the power switch 123 is turned on, the air compressor 101 is energized, and when it is turned off, the air compressor 101 is turned on.
Is cut off. The power switch 123 corresponds to a typical example of the “drive switch” in the present invention.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. An operator carrying the keyless entry means 119,
When using the air compressor 101, an ID code transmission button (not shown for convenience) of the keyless entry means 119 is appropriately operated to wirelessly transmit the ID code to the receiver 117 of the air compressor 101. In the present embodiment, the keyless entry means 119 is composed of a small wireless transmitter, but it may be composed of a transmitter using infrared rays or the like. On the other hand, the air compressor 1
On the 01 side, the receiver 117 receives the ID code signal transmitted by the keyless entry means 119.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure when the worker uses the keyless entry means 119 to transmit the input ID code to the receiver 117 on the air compressor 101 side. When the receiver 117 determines that the input ID code is received in step S1 (YES in step S1), the CPU 131 illustrated in FIG. 2 reads the setting ID code from the memory 133 in step S2. If it is determined in step S1 that the receiver 117 has not received the input ID code, the process of step S1 is repeated until it is determined that the input ID code has been received.

CPU that has read the setting ID code
In step S3, the 131 determines whether or not the input ID code received by the receiver 117 and the set ID code (preset) stored in the memory 133 match. Input ID code or setting I
As a specific example of the D code, 16-bit F123 (11
11000100100011) is preferable.

If it is determined in step S3 that the input ID code and the set ID code match, the CPU 131 outputs an ID match signal in step S4.
The switch control circuit 121 receives this ID coincidence signal in step S5. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the input ID code and the set ID code do not match, the process returns to step S1. In other words, the air compressor 101 cannot be operated unless the input ID code corresponding to the "key" matches the set ID code corresponding to the "keyhole".

The switch control circuit 121 which has received the ID coincidence signal outputs a power input signal in step S6, and the power switch 123 receives the power input signal in step S7. The power switch 123 turns on the power switch 123 of the air compressor 101 based on the received power input signal. This energizes the air compressor 101, and the air compressor 101
Can be used.

Air compressor 10 according to the present embodiment
In No. 1, the power switch 123 of the air compressor 101 is operated based on the collation result of the ID code input by the operator and the preset ID code. Therefore, unless the operator inputs the correct ID code, the air compressor 101 Can not be used. As a result, an effective technique is provided to prevent the air compressor from being stolen when the worker is absent, or to prevent unintended unauthorized use. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the ID code is input, the operator inputs it wirelessly from the portable keyless entry means 119, so that the operator does not have to keep the input ID code in memory. It is convenient because there is no need to perform complicated input work.

In the present embodiment, the power switch 123 of the air compressor 101 is based on the output of the ID coincidence signal.
ON / OFF of the electric motor 111 was controlled.
The drive control circuit may be replaced with the on / off control. When the electric motor 111 is driven by an inverter, the drive control of the inverter driver circuit may be substituted. In addition, since the inverter drive type is often adopted because of the advantage that the aircraft weight can be reduced compared to single-phase induction and the starting characteristics at low voltage are improved, this modified form is particularly practical. Is high. In either case, unless the correct ID code is entered, the air compressor 101 cannot be practically operated. Therefore, illegal use of the air compressor 101 can be effectively prevented, and excellent crime prevention effect can be achieved. become.

Regarding the input form of the ID code by the worker, in the above-described embodiment, the keyless entry means 119 and the receiver 11 for receiving the input ID code wirelessly issued from the keyless entry means 119.
7 is used, but this can be changed as appropriate. For example, a numeric keypad is set on the side of the air compressor 101, and the operator inputs a personal identification number using the numeric keypad (in this case, the personal identification number corresponds to the input ID code), or a magnetic card on the side of the air compressor 101.・ A mode in which the readers of IC cards are set and the ID codes recorded on these cards are read.
Alternatively, various ID code input forms can be adopted, such as a form in which a bar code reader is set on the side of the air compressor 101 and an input ID code is obtained by reading the bar code shown by the operator.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a technique effective for preventing the theft or unauthorized use of an air compressor when a worker is absent is provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an air compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a system block diagram of the air compressor according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of power switch input according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 air compressor 111 electric motor 113 Compressor 115 Compressed gas storage tank 117 Receiver (ID code input section) 119 Keyless entry means 121 Switch control circuit 123 Power switch (drive switch) 131 CPU 133 memory

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A compression unit for compressing and discharging intake air using an electric motor, a compressed gas storage tank for storing compressed gas discharged from the compression unit, an ID code input unit, and a drive switch. An air compressor, wherein the drive switch is operated based on a comparison result between an input ID code input by an operator through the ID code input unit and a preset setting ID code. 2. The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein the input ID code is wirelessly input from a keyless entry means that can be carried by an operator. 3. A method of using an air compressor having a compression section for compressing and discharging intake air using an electric motor, a compressed gas storage tank for storing compressed gas discharged from the compression section, and a drive switch. The operator inputs an ID code, the input ID code, and a preset setting ID.
A method of using an air compressor, comprising: a step of collating with a code; and a step of operating the drive switch when the input ID code and the set ID code match.