Alternator and starter tester with bar code functionality and method

• US 20080023547A1
• Filed: 07/27/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Raichle, Kurt, Krampitz, Scott, Xia, Weixing
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,573 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/462.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines

Abstract

An alternator and starter tester system having a bar code reader. The bar code can contain information regarding the component being tested and can direct the tester to conduct the appropriate test. The bar code can also encode the results of the test on a second bar code. The second bar code can then be coupled to the tested component.

Claims

1. An alternator and starter motor tester, comprising:

a processor that processes information and controls an operation of the tester;

a memory for storing information and a software to operate the tester;

a motor that simulates an engine of a vehicle and includes a pulley portion;

a starter motor testing device for testing the starter motor; and

a bar code reader that reads a bar code coupled to a component being tested, wherein the memory, the motor, the starter motor testing device and the bar code reader are in communication with the processor.

2. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code reader encodes a second bar code.

3. The tester of claim 2 further comprising a printer operably coupled to the processor and prints the encoded bar code.

4. The tester of claim 1, wherein the processor is a field programmable gate array.

5. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code provides information that the tester uses to determine the testing parameters for the component.

6. The tester of claim 1, wherein component is a starter motor or an alternator.

7. The tester of claim 2, wherein the bar code reader can encode the results of the test.

8. The tester of claim 1, wherein the bar code include at least one of the following electrical specifications, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, and a manufacture data code.

9. The tester of claim 1, wherein the encoded information include at least one of the following service dates, service procedures, test results, warranty information, original purchaser, and types of service are and are not warranted

10. A method of testing a starter motor or an alternator, comprising:

scanning a bar code coupled to the starter motor or the alternator; and

performing the test based on the information on the bar code.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

obtaining the results of the test; and

encoding the test results on a second bar code.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the encoding is done by a printer

13. A system for testing an alternator and starter motor, comprising:

a processor means that processes information and controls an operation of the system;

a memory means for storing information;

a motor means that simulates an engine of a vehicle and includes a pulley means;

a starter motor testing means for testing the starter motor; and

a bar code reader means that reads bar code coupled to a component being tested, wherein the memory means, the motor means, the starter motor testing means and the bar code reader means are in communication with the processor means.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a printer means operably coupled to the processor means and prints the encoded bar code.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the processor means is a field programmable gate array.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the bar code provides information that the system uses to determine the testing parameters for the component.

17. The tester system of claim 13, wherein component is a starter motor or an alternator.

18. The tester system of claim 13, wherein the bar code reader means can encode the results of the test.

19. The tester system of claim 13, wherein the bar code include at least one of the following electrical specifications, maintenance information, serial number, lot number, warranty information, and a manufacture data code.

20. The tester system of claim 14, wherein the encoded information include at least one of the following service dates, service procedures, test results, warranty information, original purchaser, and types of service are and are not warranted.