APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAINTENANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OF DIFFERENT BUSINESS MACHINES

• US 20020161617A1
• Filed: 09/13/1999
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jerry M. Washburn, William B. Meger
• Original Assignee: Jerry M. Washburn, William B. Meger
• Inventors: MEGER, WILLIAM B, WASHBURN, JERRY M.
• Application Number:
  US09/395,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance

Abstract

An improved business machine repair procedure enables a single individual to repair and maintain a plurality of different kinds of business machines owned by a customer.

Claims

1. A method for maintenancing a plurality of different machines, said method comprising the steps of

(a) selecting a first business machine;

(b) selecting a second business machine different from said first business machine;

(c) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair said first and second business machines;

(d) obtaining the technical information necessary to perform preventative maintenance on first and second business machines; and

,

(e) when said first business machine is repaired, performing preventative maintenance on said first and second business machines.

2. A work order form including

(a) an area for recording data identifying a customer, the customer having a business location at which the customer conducts at least a portion of the customer'"'"'s business;

and,

(b) a plurality of areas for recording preventative maintenance carried out on each of a plurality of different kinds of machines at the business location of the customer.

3. A method for maintenancing each of at least three different kinds of business machines at a business, comprising the steps of

(a) visiting the business and performing only preventative maintenance on each of said different kinds of machines;

and,

(b) recording the preventative maintenance performed on each of said machines.

4. A method for maintenancing machines at a business, including the steps of

(a) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair and maintenance OEM machines;

(b) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair and maintenance obsolete machines;

(c) locating a source of parts for repairing said OEM machines;

(d) locating a source of part for repairing said obsolete machines;

(e) providing to a single technician the technical information necessary to repair both said OEM and obsolete machines.

5. The method of claim 4 including the steps of

(a) maintaining a computer database of said technical information and source of parts for said OEM machines and obsolete machines;

and,

(b) utilizing said computer database during the repair and maintenance of said OEM and obsolete machines.

6. A computer database including

(a) a computer including a controller and a memory;

(b) a database in said memory including

(i) a preventative maintenance schedule for each of a plurality of different business machines at a business, said preventative maintenance schedule for each of said machines including at least two separate scheduled times when preventative maintenance is performed, and

(ii) the specific preventative maintenance required at each of said scheduled times for each of said machines; and

,

(c) means for correlating said preventative maintenance schedule for one of said machines with a call to repair another of said machines such that when said another of said machines is repaired the specific preventative maintenance for said one of said machines is performed.

7. A method for maintaining a plurality of different kinds of business machines at a business, said method including the steps of

(a) performing a rapid inventory of said different kinds of business machines by

(i) preloading into a computer data concerning each kind of machine,

(ii) providing at the business said computer with said preloaded data,

(iii) providing a plurality of data input transmitters at the business,

(iv) examining each of said business machines to generate reference data defining each of said machines,

(v) transmitting to said computer with one of said data input transmitters from a location adjacent one of said business machines reference data defining said one of said business machines, and

(vi) transmitting to said computer with another of said data input transmitters from a location adjacent another of said business machines reference data defining said another of said business machines;

and,

(b) receiving and entering into said computer the reference data defining said one and said another of said business machines.

8. A method for training to maintenance a plurality of different machines, said method comprising the steps of

(a) selecting an analog copier, said copier including

(i) at least one electrical system,

(ii) at least one electronic system,

(iii) at least one mechanical system with moving parts,

(iv) an optical system,

(v) a computer,

(vi) a sensor system,

(vii) a graphics system, and

(viii) a display screen;

(b) selecting an individual who has at least two years experience in repairing said copier;

(c) selecting a second business machine different from the first business machine; and

,

(d) training the individual to repair said second business machine.