JP5215906B2 - Wireless communication system for tools - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wireless communication device for a tool, and more particularly to setting of wireless communication parameters such as a wireless communication frequency and a transmission output.

  In factories that perform screw tightening work using tools, tools that can control the tightening torque are used as tools, and screw tightening work is managed by transmitting to the management device that tightening with the required torque has been completed. There is something that you can do. In this case, in the case of wired communication, in order to affect the usability of the tool, it is preferable to use wireless communication as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  On the other hand, there may be an environmental noise such as a wireless LAN in the factory, and in the case of wireless communication, there is a possibility that a communication error due to this noise occurs. However, since the conventional wireless communication frequency is fixed and cannot be changed in the field, it is required to change the wireless communication frequency.

  For this reason, a wireless communication frequency that can be set and changed by a DIP switch has been proposed. However, providing a large number of setting switches such as DIP switches on the tool side increases the risk of tool operation failure due to intrusion of dust such as iron powder depending on the usage environment.

  Further, in order to eliminate the necessity of providing a plurality of setting switches on the tool, it is possible to connect to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) and set the wireless communication frequency and the ID number of the receiver at the transmission destination by the PC. However, in the factory where multiple tools are used, each tool is connected to the PC individually to set the tool. Changes will be made, and work efficiency will be very poor.

Japanese Patent No. 2983124 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-024945

  This invention is made in view of said point, Comprising: It aims at providing the radio | wireless communications system for tools which can change the setting of radio | wireless communication parameters, such as a radio | wireless communication frequency, simply.

The present invention comprises a tool having wireless communication means and a receiver having wireless communication means for receiving a signal wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication means of the tool, and wireless communication for wireless communication between the two wireless communication means. The tool is provided with a communication parameter setting unit, and the setting unit is provided as a tool remote controller. The tool and the receiver are added to a normal communication mode in which communication is performed based on the wireless communication parameter. Te has a registration mode using a frequency of registration only, when the tool and the receiver is switched together in registration mode, the receiver, the receiver is set by the setting portion of the tool-side It is characterized in that it has receiver control means for setting wireless communication parameters transmitted by wireless communication at the dedicated frequency in the wireless communication means.

  A wireless communication parameter setting unit is provided in the tool remote controller, and the wireless communication parameters set in this setting unit are also set on the receiver side by wireless communication. The setting unit is not affected by the usage environment of the tool.

Moreover, in addition to the normal communication mode in which communication is performed based on the wireless communication parameters, a registration mode that uses a dedicated frequency for registration is provided, and in this registration mode, wireless communication parameters are transmitted at the dedicated frequency . Even if similar systems coexist, it is possible to eliminate interference during work.

  In addition, when wireless communication parameters are transmitted at a lower transmission output than during normal communication, interference from other systems that use the same frequency can be suppressed, adversely affecting other systems. Can be avoided.

The wireless parameter setting unit preferably includes a retransmission number setting unit for setting the number of retransmissions. An appropriate number of retransmissions can be set according to work.

  If the receiver communicates with a plurality of tools having individual identification numbers, a single receiver can manage the plurality of tools, and the number of receivers installed and the receiver installation space can be reduced. Cost reduction.

  In the present invention, since the wireless communication parameter set by the wireless communication parameter setting unit provided in the remote controller for the tool is also set on the receiver side by wireless communication, the wireless communication parameter to the receiver side is set. Since the set can be performed easily and the remote controller can be placed in a favorable environment unlike a tool, the setting section causes a setting failure due to the influence of tool vibration, dust, etc. Fear can be avoided.

It is an operation | movement flowchart by the side of the tool in an example of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart by the side of a receiver same as the above. It is a schematic diagram same as the above. It is a block circuit diagram same as the above. (A) (b) (c) is explanatory drawing of a radio | wireless communication parameter.

  The present invention will be described in detail based on an example of the embodiment. The illustrated example shows an electric impact driver as the tool 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this impact driver has a motor 10 as a rotational power source and an impact mechanism composed of a hammer and an anvil, and outputs the rotational output of the motor 10 to the output shaft 12 as a rotational impact. And a tool control means for controlling the operation of the motor 10 via the motor control means 14. The tool control means 14 controls the operation of the motor 10 via the motor control means 14. 15 and the wireless communication means 16, as well as the remote controller 3, which operates using a secondary battery in the detachable battery pack 18 as a power source. Reference numeral 19 in FIG. 3 denotes a trigger switch that adjusts the rotational speed of the motor by changing the motor applied voltage according to the on / off of the motor 10 and its operation amount.

  The wireless communication means 16 can change both the transmission frequency and the transmission output. The wireless control means 31 performs transmission / reception, the transmission output setting means 32 changes the transmission output, and changes the transmission frequency. Transmission frequency setting means 33.

  The above-mentioned work state detection manual killing 13 detects the tightening torque by detecting the hammer hitting the anvil and counting the number of hits, and the tool control means 15 determines that the screw tightening has been completed. At the same time, the motor 10 is stopped and a work completion signal is output to the outside through the wireless communication means 16. The work state detection means 13 may be one that detects the amount of rotation angle of the output shaft 12 or one that is constituted by a torque sensor.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the work completion signal transmitted from the wireless communication means 16 includes work completion identification data, a tool ID number assigned to a tool as a transmission source, and reception as a transmission destination. This signal includes the receiver ID number assigned to the machine 2. The tool ID number is unique to each tool attached at the time of factory shipment of the electric tool, and is written in the nonvolatile memory in the tool control means 15, and the receiver ID number is in the registration mode described later. It is written in the non-volatile memory.

  The remote controller 3 attached to the tool 1 is a wireless type that transmits and receives signals to and from the tool control means 15 by infrared communication, for example, and includes a wireless communication parameter setting unit 30. An example of the set wireless communication parameters is shown in FIG. Here, the used frequency, transmission output, and number of retransmissions are used as wireless communication parameters.

On the other hand, the receiver 2 that receives the work completion signal sent from the wireless communication means 16 on the management apparatus side that manages the screw tightening work is connected to the mode setting means 23 as shown in FIG. The wireless communication means 24 includes a receiver control means 21 and a wireless communication means 24. The wireless communication means 24 can change both the transmission frequency and the transmission output in the same manner as the wireless communication means 16 on the tool 1 side. Radio control means 25 for performing transmission, transmission output setting means 26 for changing the transmission output, and transmission frequency setting means 27 for changing the transmission frequency.

  Here, the mode setting means 17 on the tool 1 side and the mode setting means 23 on the receiver 2 side are for switching between the normal communication mode and the registration mode for performing the registration work. Wireless communication parameters for wireless communication between the communication means 16 and 24 are set in the registration mode.

  First, the operation in the normal communication mode will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. When the power of the tool 1 is turned on, the tool ID number stored at the time of shipment from the nonvolatile memory in the tool control means 15. , Receiver ID number stored by past registration, transmission use frequency (frequency used when transmitting work completion signal), signal transmission output (transmission output value when transmitting work completion signal), number of retransmissions ( The number of times when the work completion signal is transmitted to the receiver is read out, and the transmission use frequency and the signal transmission output are transmitted to the wireless control means 25. The radio control unit 25 sets the transmission output by the transmission output setting unit 26 and the transmission frequency by the transmission frequency setting unit 27 according to the set value.

  When the registration mode is not set by the operation of the remote controller 3, the tool control means 15 drives the motor 10 when the trigger switch is turned on, and stops the motor 10 when the work completion detection means 13 detects the work completion determination. Then, the work completion signal is sent from the wireless communication means 16 as described above.

  In the receiver 2, whether or not the receiver ID number included in the received work completion signal matches the ID number assigned to the receiver 2, the tool ID number in the work completion signal should be registered in advance. It is determined whether or not it matches the tool ID number. If they match, the reception completion identification data, the receiver ID number assigned to the receiver 2 as the transmission source, and the tool ID number as the transmission destination are included. A reception completion signal is transmitted from the wireless communication means 24, and after the reception completion signal is transmitted, a reception completion output is output to the management apparatus main body side.

  The tool control means 15 that has received the reception completion signal determines that transmission is complete when the receiver ID number and the tool ID number match those written in the nonvolatile memory, and the trigger switch 19 is turned off. Return to the initial state at that point.

  When the ID numbers do not match, the retransmission is repeated for the set number of retransmissions. When the number of retransmissions is infinite, the above process is repeated until the transmission is completed. The number of retransmissions may be set as the retransmission repetition time. There are various operations in the process of factories and the like, and the operation intervals are also various. Therefore, if a system that retransmits until wireless communication is successful is requested, the number of retransmissions is set to infinite. Otherwise, the number of retransmissions set for each work interval is set to maximize the wireless communication success rate in each work. Can be improved.

  Next, the setting change of the wireless communication parameter using the remote controller 3 will be described. The wireless communication parameter (frequency, output, and number of retransmissions) is set in the remote controller 3 in advance, and the setting switch provided in the remote controller 3 is set. When turned on, the tool control means 15 that has received this setting signal switches the use frequency setting to the registration-dedicated frequency CH0 and the transmission output to 0 (minimum output). On the receiver 2 side, if the mode setting means 23 switches to the registration mode, the use frequency setting is switched to the registration-dedicated frequency CH0, and the transmission output is switched to 0 (minimum output). The frequency dedicated for registration, which is different from the frequency for notification of work completion, is used to prevent similar systems from interfering during work, and the transmission output setting is set to 0 in addition to using the same frequency band. This is to prevent interference with other systems and prevent other systems from being adversely affected.

  Next, when the registration switch in the remote controller 3 is turned on, the tool control means 15 shifts to the registration mode, the registration request identification data, its own tool ID number as the transmission source, and the wireless communication parameter set in the remote controller 3. A registration request signal including

  Receiving this registration request signal, the receiver control means 21 transmits a registration completion signal including registration completion identification data, a receiver ID number indicating the transmission source, and a tool ID number indicating the transmission destination, and also includes a registration request signal. The tool ID number and the wireless communication parameter are stored in the nonvolatile memory provided in the receiver control means 21 with the included wireless communication parameters, that is, the work completion signal use frequency, the work completion signal transmission output, and the number of retransmissions. .

  The tool control means 15 that has received the registration completion signal sent from the receiver 2 stores the parameters related to the communication and the receiver ID number in the nonvolatile memory in the tool control means 15 when the ID numbers match. If the ID numbers do not match, the registration request signal is retransmitted and the above process is repeated.

  Therefore, if the tool 1 and the receiver 2 are returned from the registration mode to the normal communication mode, the wireless communication between them is performed with the wireless communication parameters newly written in the nonvolatile memory of the control means 15 and 21. Become.

  Here, the case where the tool 1 and the receiver 2 are one-to-one has been described. However, by repeating the registration operation on the receiver 2 side, a plurality of tools 1 having different tool ID numbers can be used as a single unit. It is possible to recognize a plurality of tools by one receiver by registering with the receiver 2 and setting wireless communication parameters. In this case, the number of receivers 2 in the factory process is reduced and the receiver Arrangement space, cost, etc. can be reduced.

  Note that the mode setting means 17 may be provided on the tool 1 side, and the mode setting means 17 may be used instead of shifting to the setting mode and the registration mode by operating the remote controller 3.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tool 2 Receiver 15 Tool control means 16 Wireless communication means 21 Receiver control means 24 Wireless communication means

Claims (4)

Setting of wireless communication parameters for wireless communication between both wireless communication means, comprising a tool having wireless communication means and a receiver having wireless communication means for receiving a signal wirelessly transmitted from the wireless communication means of the tool The tool is provided with a part and the setting part is provided as a tool remote controller,
The tool and the receiver include a registration mode that uses a frequency exclusively for registration, in addition to a normal communication mode in which communication is performed based on the wireless communication parameter.
When both the tool and receiver are switched to registration mode,
The receiver includes a receiver control means for setting set by the setting portion of the tool-side wireless communication parameters transmitted in radio communication by the frequency of the dedicated to the receiver in the wireless communication device A wireless communication system for tools. 2. The wireless communication system for tools according to claim 1 , wherein transmission of wireless communication parameters in the registration mode is performed with a transmission output lower than that during normal communication . The tool wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless parameter setting unit includes a retransmission number setting unit that sets a number of retransmissions . The tool wireless communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiver communicates with a plurality of tools having individual identification numbers .

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