SMART POWER TOOL

• US 20180161965A1
• Filed: 01/31/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wipro Limited
• Original Assignee: Wipro Limited
• Inventors: KUMAR, Vijay, Ninan, Thomas Chittakattu
• Granted Patent: US 10,377,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/105 using sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 1/0078 Guiding devices for hand tools
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/186 Generation of screw- or gearlike surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37114 Precision screw

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a drive tool. The drive tool comprising a handle, a bit movably coupled to the handle through a mechanism. The drive tool further comprises a plurality imaging units provisioned on the handle to face a fastener and a fastening surface. The drive tool also comprises a control unit operatively coupled to the mechanism and the plurality of imaging units. The control unit is configured to receive data from each of the plurality of imaging units and operate the mechanism selectively to move the bit for adjusting axis of the fastener perpendicular to the fastening surface. The adjustment is done based on the data received from at least one of the plurality of imaging units. The automatic alignment of axis of the fastener with respect to the fastening surface improves the accuracy of operation and reduces the efforts of the operator.

Claims

1. A drive tool 100, comprising:

a handle 101;

a bit 102 movably coupled to the handle 101 through a mechanism 103;

a plurality of imaging units 104 provisioned on the handle 101, wherein the plurality of imaging units 104 face a fastener 109 and a fastening surface 105; and

a control unit 106 operatively coupled to the mechanism 103 and the plurality of imaging units 104, the control unit 106 is configured to;

receive, data from each of the plurality of imaging units 104; and

operate, the mechanism 103 selectively to move the bit 102 for adjusting axis A-A of the fastener 109 perpendicular to the fastening surface 105, based on the data received from at least one of the plurality of imaging units 104.

2. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprises a contact sensor 112 provisioned on the bit 102, the contact sensor 112 is configured to detect contact of the bit 102 with the fastener 109.

3. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one extendable and retractable arm 107 to hold the drive tool 100 on the fastening surface 105.

4. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit 106 actuates the at least one extendable and retractable arm 107 to extend up to the fastening surface 105, upon receiving a signal from the contact sensor 112.

5. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of imaging units 104 is RGB-D camera.

6. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of imaging units 104 is configured to measure distance between the fastening surface 105 and different faces of head of the fastener 109a.

7. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism 103 comprises a first actuator 108a and a second actuator 108b, the first actuator 108a and the second actuator 108b are interfaced with the control unit 106.

8. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit 106 is configured to selectively operate the first actuator 108a and the second actuator 108b to move the bit 102 in lateral and longitudinal directions based on the signal received from the plurality of imaging units 104.

9. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a third actuator 108c coupled to the bit 102, the third actuator 108c is interfaced with the control unit 106.

10. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit 106 is configured to rotate the third actuator 108c to fasten the fastener 109 to the fastening surface 105 upon adjusting the axis of the fastener A-A perpendicular to the fastening surface 105.

11. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 10, wherein the control unit 106 is configured to:

deactivate, the third actuator 108c, upon the distance between the head of the fastener 109a and the fastening surface 105 reaching zero.

12. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprises an accelerometer 110 to detect change in acceleration of the bit 102 during fastening.

13. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 12, wherein the accelerometer 110 is communicatively coupled to the control unit 106, the control unit 106 is further configured to deactivate, the third actuator 108c, upon receiving a signal from the accelerometer 110.

14. The drive tool 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprises at least one power source 111 to supply power to the control unit 106, the contact sensor 112, the plurality of imaging units 104, the accelerometer 110, the first actuator 108a, the second actuator 108b and the third actuator 108c.