Air compressor and work management data collection system

• US 7,925,359 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Max Co Limited (., Max)
• Original Assignee: Max Co Limited (., Max)
• Inventors: Sakamoto, Gorou, Ohkubo, Shinichi, Nobe, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Decady; Albert
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, SUNRAY
• Application Number:
  US11/884,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37587 Count number of machining cycles, frequency use of tool
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/02 Registering or indicating working or idle time only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/907 including detailed shank

Abstract

An air compressor 1 is provided with a clocking mechanism and an RFID reader/writer 2, detects a time-in and a time-out etc. of a worker, and writes time data into an RFID tag 4 of a time card 3 held by a worker using the RFID reader/writer 2. The air compressor 1 is made to function as a time recorder in order to collect data necessary for management from the time card 3 of the worker. Also, a type of tool etc. used during works is written to the RFID tag 4 of the time card 3 using the RFID reader/writer. In this way, the air compressor 1 is made to function as a data collection terminal to collect data necessary for work management from the time card 3 of the worker.

Claims

1. An air compressor for supplying compressed air to a pneumatic tool, the air compressor comprising:

a clocking unit configured to clock time;

a read and write unit configured to read and write data through wireless communications to and from a storage medium having a wireless communication unit; and

a controller configured to write a time data clocked by the clocking unit into a worker data storage medium using the read and write unit, when the read and write unit detects the worker data storage medium held by a worker as the storage medium, and when the read and write unit detects a tool identification data storage medium as the storage medium on which a tool identification data identifying a type of the pneumatic tool is stored, the controller identifies the tool by reading out the tool identification data using the read and write unit, and writes the tool identification data and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into the worker data storage medium using the read and write unit, wherein

the pneumatic tool comprises a consumable supply container accommodating a consumable supply comprised of fasteners to be used during works and being attachable to and detachable from a body of the pneumatic tool;

the consumable supply container comprises a consumable supply data storage medium as the storage medium storing a consumable supply identification data identifying a type of the fasteners; and

when the read and write unit detects the consumable supply data storage medium, the controller reads out the consumable supply identification data using the read and write unit, and writes the tool identification data, the consumable supply identification data, and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into the worker data storage medium using the read and write unit.

2. The air compressor according to claim 1, when the read and write unit detects a work condition storage medium as the storage medium on which a work condition setup data is stored, the controller reads out the work condition setup data using the read and write unit, and determines tardinesses and early leaves based on a starting time and a finishing time for each working day which are set according to the work condition setup data.

3. The air compressor according to claim 2, wherein the controller operates according to a start-up time and a termination time that are set according to the work condition setup data.

4. The air compressor according to claim 1,

wherein a worker identification data identifying a work manager is stored on the worker data storage medium;

and

when the read and write unit detects the worker data storage medium, the controller reads out the worker identification data using the read and write unit to identify the work manager, and stores the tool identification data and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into the worker data storage medium of the work manager identified by the worker identification data using the read and write unit.

5. A work management data collection system for collecting necessary data for work management, the work management data collection system comprising:

a pneumatic tool operated by a worker for carrying out works; and

an air compressor configured to supply compressed air to the pneumatic tool;

wherein the pneumatic tool comprises a tool identification data storage medium configured to store a tool identification data identifying a type of the pneumatic tool;

the air compressor comprising;

a clocking unit configured to clock time;

a read and write unit configured to read and write data through wireless communication to and from a storage medium having a wireless communication unit; and

a controller configured to read the tool identification data using the read and write unit to identify the tool when the read and write unit detects the tool identification storage medium as the storage medium, and write the tool identification data and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into a worker data storage medium held by a worker as the storage medium using the read and write unit, wherein

the pneumatic tool comprises a consumable supply container accommodating a consumable supply comprised of fasteners to be used during works and being attachable to and removable from a body of the pneumatic tool;

the consumable supply container comprises a consumable supply data storage medium as the storage medium storing a consumable supply identification data identifying a type of the fasteners; and

when the read and write unit detects the consumable supply data storage medium, the controller reads out the consumable supply identification data using the read and write unit, and writes the tool identification data, the consumable supply identification data, and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into the worker data storage medium using the read and write unit.

6. The work management data collecting system according to claim 5,

wherein a worker identification data identifying a work manager is stored on the worker data storage medium;

and

when the read and write unit detects the worker data storage medium, the controller reads out a worker identification data using the read and write unit to identify the work manager, and writes the tool identification data and a working time data clocked by the clocking unit into the worker data storage medium of the work manager identified by the worker identification data using the read and write unit.