JP2008157255A - Air compressor and method for using air compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide technology effective for preventing theft of a compressor. <P>SOLUTION: This compressor 101 includes a compression part 113 compressing and delivering suction air by using an electric motor 111, a compressed gas storage tank 115 storing compressed gas discharged from the compression part 113, an ID code input part 117, a drive switch 123. The drive switch 123 is operated based on collation result of ID code input by an operator via the ID code input part and pre-set ID code. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a security technique for an air compressor, and more particularly to a technique effective for preventing the air compressor from being stolen even when no worker is present.

  The air compressor is widely used at work sites and the like as means for supplying high-pressure air for an air-driven work tool such as an air nailer. By the way, the air compressor generally has a weight of about 20 kg to 30 kg, so it is difficult to carry it at any time, and it is often resident at the work site when it is used for work that requires days.

  Such an air compressor has a relatively developed second-hand market and is often resident on the work site as described above. Therefore, the frequency of theft in the absence of a worker is relatively high.

  The present invention has been made in view of this point, and an object thereof is to provide a technique effective for preventing the theft or unauthorized use of an air compressor.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in each claim is configured.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, an air compressor is provided that includes a compression unit, a compressed gas storage tank, an ID code input unit, and a drive switch. The compression unit compresses and discharges intake air using an electric motor. The compressed gas storage tank stores the compressed gas discharged from the compression unit.

  The drive switch is operated based on a collation result between an input ID code input by an operator via the ID code input unit and a preset ID code. Typically, the drive switch is turned on only when the input ID code input by the operator matches the set ID code, and when the input ID code is not input by the operator and matches the set ID code of the input If not, it is preferable to perform control such that the drive switch is kept off.

  The “drive 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 constituted by an energization switch of an electric motor drive control circuit, or when the electric motor is an inverter drive system, the drive switch may be constituted by an energization control switch of an inverter / driver circuit. Good.

  The ID code input unit in the present invention can appropriately correspond to an input format by inputting 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 present invention, since the drive switch is operated based on the collation result between the input ID code by the operator and the preset ID code, the operator must input the correct ID code. A configuration in which the air compressor cannot be driven can be set. Therefore, a technique effective for preventing theft of the air compressor when the worker is absent or preventing unintentional unauthorized use is provided.

(Invention of Claim 2)
It is preferable that the input ID code of the air compressor according to claim 1 is input wirelessly from keyless entry means that can be carried by an operator. With this configuration, the operator does not have to keep the input ID code in memory, and is freed from cumbersome input work, further improving convenience.

(Invention of Claim 3)
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an air having a compression unit that compresses and discharges intake air using an electric motor, a compressed gas storage tank that stores compressed gas discharged from the compression unit, and a drive switch. A method of using the compressor is provided. In particular, since the drive switch is actuated when the ID code entered by the operator and the preset ID code are matched to match each other, the air compressor must be input by the operator. The use method that cannot be driven becomes possible.

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

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
An air compressor 101 according to the present embodiment is used as a supply means of high-pressure air for an air-driven work tool such as an air nailing machine, for example, as shown in FIG. A storage tank 115 is provided.

  The compressor 113 compresses and discharges the intake air by the electric motor 111. The compressed gas storage tank 115 stores the 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 includes a CPU 131, a memory 133, a receiver 117, a switch control circuit 121, and a power switch 123 as shown in the system block diagram of FIG. The memory 133 is configured by a storage unit such as a ROM or a RAM, stores a setting ID code, and is connected to the CPU 131.

  The receiver 117 is connected to the CPU 131 and receives a wireless input ID code issued from the keyless entry means 119 carried by the worker. The receiver 117 is an element corresponding to the ID code input unit in the present invention.

  The switch control circuit 121 is connected to the CPU 131 and the power switch 123 and controls switching of the on / off state of the power switch 123 based on the ID code collation work result. When the power switch 123 is turned on, energization to the air compressor 101 is performed, and when it is turned off, energization to the air compressor 101 is interrupted. 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.
When using the air compressor 101, the operator carrying the keyless entry means 119 operates the ID code transmission button (not shown for convenience) of the keyless entry means 119 as appropriate, and moves toward the receiver 117 of the air compressor 101. ID code is transmitted wirelessly. In the present embodiment, the keyless entry means 119 is configured by a small wireless transmitter, but may be configured by a transmitter using infrared rays or the like. On the other hand, on the air compressor 101 side, the receiver 117 receives the ID code signal transmitted by the keyless entry means 119.

FIG. 3 shows a processing procedure when the operator uses the keyless entry means 119 and transmits the input ID code to the receiver 117 on the air compressor 101 side.
If it is determined in step S1 that the receiver 117 has received the input ID code (YES in S1), the CPU 131 shown 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.

  The CPU 131 that has read the setting ID code determines whether or not the input ID code received by the receiver 117 matches the (preset) setting ID code stored in the memory 133 in step S3. Make a collation decision. As a specific example of the input ID code or setting ID code, a configuration such as 16-bit F123 (1111000100100011) is preferable.

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

  The switch control circuit 121 that has received the ID match 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. As a result, the air compressor 101 is energized and the air compressor 101 can be used.

  In the air compressor 101 according to the present embodiment, the power switch 123 of the air compressor 101 is operated based on the collation result between the input ID code by the operator and the preset setting ID code. The air compressor 101 cannot be used unless a code is input. As a result, it is possible to provide an effective technique for preventing theft of the air compressor when no worker is present or preventing unintentional unauthorized use. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the ID code is input by wireless from the keyless entry means 119 that can be carried by the operator, the operator does not have to keep the input ID code in memory one by one. Since it is not necessary to perform a troublesome input operation, it is excellent in convenience.

  In the present embodiment, on / off of the power switch 123 of the air compressor 101 is controlled based on the output of the ID match signal, but this may be replaced with on / off control of the drive control circuit of the electric motor 111. Good. When the electric motor 111 is driven by an inverter, the drive control of the inverter / driver circuit may be substituted. In addition, the inverter drive type is often adopted because of the advantages that the weight of the fuselage can be reduced compared to single-phase induction and the start-up characteristics at low voltage are improved. Is expensive. In any case, unless the correct ID code is input, the air compressor 101 cannot be substantially operated, so that illegal use of the air compressor 101 can be effectively prevented and an excellent crime prevention effect can be achieved. become.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ID code input form by the operator is configured using the keyless entry means 119 and the receiver 117 that receives the input ID code transmitted wirelessly from the keyless entry means 119. It is possible to change this as appropriate. For example, a mode in which a numeric keypad is set on the air compressor 101 side and an operator inputs a password using the numeric keypad (in this case, the password number corresponds to the input ID code) or a magnetic card on the air compressor 101 side.・ Set the IC card reader to read the ID code recorded on these cards, or set the barcode reader on the air compressor 101 side and input the ID by reading the barcode indicated by the operator Various ID code input forms such as a form for obtaining a code can be employed.

1 shows an overall configuration of an air compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system block diagram of the air compressor which concerns on this Embodiment is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the power switch input in this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

101 Air Compressor 111 Electric Motor 113 Compressor 115 Compressed Gas Storage Tank 117 Receiver (ID Code Input Unit)
119 Keyless entry means 121 Switch control circuit 123 Power switch (drive switch)
131 CPU
133 memory

Claims (3)

A compression unit that compresses and discharges intake air using an electric motor, a compressed gas storage tank that stores compressed gas discharged from the compression unit, an ID code input unit, and a drive switch;
The air compressor, wherein the drive switch is operated based on a collation result between an input ID code input by an operator via the ID code input unit and a preset ID code. The air compressor according to claim 1,
The air compressor is characterized in that the input ID code is inputted by radio from keyless entry means that can be carried by an operator. A method of using an air compressor having a compression unit that compresses and discharges intake air using an electric motor, a compressed gas storage tank that stores compressed gas discharged from the compression unit, and a drive switch,
An operator entering an ID code;
Collating the input ID code with a preset ID code;
And a step of operating the drive switch when the input ID code matches the set ID code.

Images