Information management system device and method of use for surface maintenance vehicles and equipment

• US 6,895,363 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Erko, Robert J., Groschen, Paul Leonard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US10/274,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 702182-184, 15/211, 15/501, 15/531, 15/882, 153/403, 153/19, 153/20, 15D/IG.2, 151/049.4, 134/45, 134/123, 134/18, 134/24, 134/181, 134/172, 134/57.R, 134/56.R, 118/669, 118/676, 118/682
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/282 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4008 Arrangements of switches, indicators or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/00 Removing undesirable matter from roads or like surfaces, with or without moistening of the surface for snow or ice E01H5/00; cleaning tramway rails E01H8/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; in combination with application of bitumen or the like E01C19/16; in combination with application of traffic line E01C23/16 ; Sweeping apparatus, particularly for lawns A01G20/30, A01G20/40; removing undesirable matter from floors and similar surfaces A47L5/00 - A47L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49305 Store, memory on tool with control and maintenance data

Abstract

A data collection and management method is disclosed for use in association with a surface maintenance machine wherein a control system controls selected machine operations in response to manually inputted operation settings selected by an operator and occurring at selected times. In broad terms, an embodiment of the present invention includes steps of receiving and storing operational and time information associated with machine operation, conveying information to an information processor, and processing the information so as to provide a report or record of time quantified machine information. In a particular application, reports or records can be utilized to provide feedback to a machine operator to improve the cleaning process, such as by minimizing the usage of wear parts, solutions, and or energy.

Claims

1. A data collection and management method for use in association with a surface maintenance machine for providing a surface maintenance operation, wherein a machine control system controls selected machine operations in response to manually inputted settings occurring at selected times and selected through an input control interface, said method comprising the steps of:

storing operational information derived from the settings;

storing time information associated with said manually inputted settings;

conveying the operational information and the stored time information to an information processor;

processing the operational information and the stored time information by way of said information processor so as to provide a record of time quantified machine operational information associated with said selected machine operations occurring at selected times; and

analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information to improve a floor cleaning process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the machine includes a scrubbing medium, and

the selected operational information is related to scrub pressure of the scrubbing medium.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the selected operational information is associated with a selected level of scrub pressure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of conveying includes the step of conveying the operational information and stored time information via a communication system to an information processor external to the machine.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information so that efficiencies of machine operation may be assessed and operational recommendations may be derived therefrom.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing sensor information from at least one sensor on the surface maintenance machine.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of conveying information includes conveying said sensor information, and

wherein said method includes the step of analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information and said sensor information, so that efficiencies of machine operation may be assessed and operational recommendations may be derived therefrom.

8. A data collection and management system for use in association with a surface maintenance machine for providing a surface maintenance operation, wherein a machine control system controls selected machine operations in response to manually inputted operation settings occurring at selected times and selected through an input control interface, said data collection and management system comprising:

a memory device for storing operational information derived from said operation settings, and time information associated selected times;

a communications system for conveying said operational information and said time information to an information processor, said information processor operative for providing a record of time quantified machine operational information; and

a report for analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information to improve a floor cleaning process.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the surface maintenance appliance is a scrubber and the plurality of predetermined operational parameters are relating to scrub pressure.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the information processor is external to the machine.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing a machine parameter, and said communications system additionally conveying sensor information to the information processor.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the information processor is a portable computer capable of processing and display of information.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the communications system includes an infrared transceiver for receiving and transmitting information between the portable computer and the machine.

14. A data collection and management method for use in association with a surface maintenance machine for providing a surface maintenance operation wherein a machine control system controls selected machine operations in response to manually inputted operation settings occurring at selected times and selected through an input control interface, said data collection and management system, said method comprising the steps of:

storing operational information upon a change from a first machine operation to a second machine operation in response to a manually selected setting;

storing time information associated with said change occurring at said selected times;

conveying the operational information and time information to an information processor;

processing the operational information and time information by way of said information processor so as to provide a record of time quantified machine operational information; and

analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information to improve a floor cleaning process.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the machine includes a scrubbing medium, and

the selected operational information is related to scrub pressure associated with the scrubbing medium.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the selected operational information is associated with a selected level of scrub pressure.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of conveying includes the step of conveying operational information and time information via a communication system to an information processor external to the machine.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of storing sensor information from a sensor on the surface maintenance machine.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of utilizing sensor information with the operational information and time information by way of said information processor.

20. A data collection and management tool for use in association with a surface maintenance machine for providing a surface maintenance operation wherein a machine control system controls selected machine operations in response to manually inputted operation settings occurring at selected times and selected through an input control interface, said data collection and management system, said tool comprising the steps of:

means for storing operational information derived from the settings;

means for storing time information associated with said selected machine operations associated with said settings;

means for conveying the operational information and time information to an information processor;

means for processing the operational information and time information by way of said information processor so as to provide a record of time quantified machine operational information; and

means for a providing a report for analyzing the record of time quantified machine operational information to improve a floor cleaning process.

21. A data collection and management tool of claim 20 wherein the means for conveying is selectively controlled.