SERVICE SYSTEM AND SERVICE METHOD

• US 20110202148A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: RATZ, GEORG, STARK, WOLFGANG, LUTZ, WERNER
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A service system includes at least one administration computer having a display device and a user interface for administering machines having components. A respective configuration of components of delivered machines is stored in the administration computer. When a component in one of the machines in the administration computer is exchanged, a spare part that has been installed is stored in the administration computer instead of an original component. A current configuration of the components can be displayed on the display device by operating the user interface, for each of the machines stored in the administration computer. A servicing method is also provided.

Claims

1. A service system, comprising:

at least one administration computer having a display and a user interface for administering machines having components;

said at least one administration computer storing a respective configuration of the components of delivered machines;

said at least one administration computer storing a spare part installed in a respective machine instead of an original component upon exchanging a component in one of the machines; and

said user interface being operable to display a current configuration of the components on said display device for every machine stored in said at least one administration computer.

2. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module for receiving malfunction reports of the machines.

3. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module for checking an availability of spare parts of a machine having sent a malfunction report to said at least one administration computer.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module checking a presence of the machine in said at least one administration computer.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module selecting a suitable spare part from a list of spare parts specific to a particular machine based on a reported malfunction and creating a corresponding order to deliver and/or install the spare part in the particular machine.

6. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a machine-specific spare parts list and a module using an internet connection to receive a confirmation of an installation of required spare parts including information on a spare part having actually been installed and to transfer the information to said machine-specific spare parts list in said at least one administration computer.

7. The service system according to claim 6, wherein the part originally installed in the machine is replaced by the spare part in said machine-specific parts list for the respective machine, after a confirmation of the installed spare part.

8. The service system according to claim 1, which further comprises a quality control module.

9. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer displays a screen menu on said display device permitting a selection of one of the machines stored in said at least one administration computer.

10. The service system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one administration computer has a machine-specific spare parts list and a computer mouse, and a current configuration based on said machine-specific spare parts list of the selected machine is displayed upon pushing a button in said screen menu, once a selection has been made with said keyboard or said computer mouse.

11. A method for servicing machines having components, the method comprising the following steps:

providing at least one administration computer having a display and a user interface for administering the machines;

storing a respective configuration of the components of delivered machines in the at least one administration computer;

storing a spare part installed in the respective machine in the at least one administration computer instead of an original component, upon exchanging a component in one of the machines; and

displaying a current configuration of components on the display device by operating the user interface for every machine stored in the at least one administration computer.