Work management apparatus, work management method, and work management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11669067-B2
Application number	US-201917311852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2019
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

A work management apparatus, method, and system enable to accurately manage position, tightening torque and other information for all fastening parts, for tightening work using a tool with a torque sensor. The system includes: a driver provided with a torque sensor; and first and second cameras that capture images of a product from different viewpoints. The torque sensor starts measurement of the tightening torque when a detected tightening torque exceeds a set threshold value, stops measurement of the tightening torque when the measurement data satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs torque related data that includes measurement time. The system further includes: a PC that calculates coordinates of an engagement position of a bit from a plurality of image data captured by the first and the second cameras corresponding to the measurement time included in the torque related data; and a marker mounting device provided with a marker and removably mounted to the bit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A work management system for managing tightening work for tightening each of a plurality of fastening parts included in a product,
the work management system comprising: a tool comprising a torque sensor capable of detecting a tightening torque for tightening the fastening parts acting on a bit, and first and second markers for image processing; and
first and second cameras for capturing images of the product from different observation points,
wherein the torque sensor starts measurement of the tightening torque when a detected tightening torque exceeds a set threshold, ends the measurement of the tightening torque when the measurement data satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs torque-related data including a measurement time based on the measurement data between start of the measurement start and end of the measurement,
an image processing unit that calculates coordinates of the engagement position of the bit that engages with the fastening part from a plurality of image data of the tool corresponding to the measurement time included in the torque-related data and including the image of the first and second markers captured by the first and second cameras during the tightening work of the fastening part; and
a marker mounting device provided with the first and second markers and removably mounted to the bit.

2. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fastening parts included in the product, in a tightened state, is arranged so that the engagement portion for engaging the bit faces in a common direction,
wherein the image processing unit distinguishes which of the first and second markers the plurality of markers present in each image correspond to, based on a positional relationship along the common direction.

3. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second cameras are infrared cameras.

4. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing unit comprises: a first image data processing unit that extracts two-dimensional coordinates of the first and second markers included in the image data captured by the first camera;
a second image data processing unit that extracts two-dimensional coordinates of the first and second markers included in the image data captured by the second camera; and
a bit coordinate calculation unit that calculates the coordinates of the engagement position of the bit based on the two-dimensional coordinate data of the first and second markers extracted by the first image data processing unit and the second image data processing unit, respectively;
wherein the first and second image data processing units are provided in the first and second cameras, respectively.

5. The work management system according to claim 1 , further comprising an infrared light source for irradiating the product with infrared light.

6. The work management system according to claim 5 , wherein the infrared light sources are provided in the first and second cameras, respectively.

7. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second markers are formed of a retroreflective material.

8. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second cameras start imaging at the latest before the start of measurement of the torque sensor.

9. The work management system according to claim 1 , wherein the product is a fluid control device,
the fluid control device includes a plurality of fluid device columns comprising a plurality of fluid devices arranged in one direction, and
a plurality of joint blocks defining a fluid flow path and supporting each of the plurality of fluid devices,
each of the plurality of joint blocks defines a top surface and a bottom surface facing each other, and a side surface extending from the top surface toward the bottom surface side,
each of the plurality of fluid devices has a body defining a fluid flow path, and the body has at least two flow path ports open on the bottom surface side thereof,
each of the plurality of joint blocks has a screw hole which opens in the top surface and extends toward the bottom surface,
each of the plurality of fastening parts is screwed to the screw hole while penetrating the body, and
due to the tightening force of the fastening part, a seal member arranged around the flow path port of the joint block and one flow path port of the body, which are abutted against each other, to be pressed between the body and joint block.

10. The work management system according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of fastening parts is tightened with a predetermined range of torque.

11. The work management system according to claim 10 , wherein the tool is configured such that the grip idles when the predetermined range of torque is exceeded.

12. The work management system according to claim 9 , wherein the fluid control device is accommodated in a box, and the work of tightening the plurality of fastening parts is performed through the open ceiling portion of the box.

13. The work management system according to claim 1 , further comprising a recording means for associating the coordinate data of the engagement position of the bit calculated by the image processing unit and the tightening torque obtained from the torque-related data and recording in the storage device,
wherein the recording means determines whether the coordinate data of the engagement position of the bit which is the same as or approximate to the calculated coordinate data of the engagement position of the bit already exists in the storage device, and if the coordinate data of the engagement position of the bit exists, records them in the storage device while distinguishing them from each other.

14. A work management method that manages a tightening work for tightening each of a plurality of fastening parts included in a product using a tool equipped with a torque sensor capable of detecting a tightening torque for tightening the fastening parts acting on the bit and a first and second markers for image processing,
wherein the torque sensor starts measurement of the tightening torque when the detected tightening torque exceeds a set threshold, ends the measurement of the tightening torque when the measurement data satisfies a predetermined condition, and outputs torque-related data including a measurement time based on the measurement data between start of the measurement and end of the measurement;

the method comprising:
capturing images of the product with first and second cameras from different observation points;
receiving the torque-related data output from the torque sensor;
calculating the coordinates of the engagement position of the bit that engages with the fastening part from the plurality of image data of the tool corresponding to the measurement time included in the torque-related data received, and including an image of the first and second markers captured by the first and second cameras during the tightening work of the fastening part; and
mounting to the bit a marker mounting device provided with the first and second markers and removably mountable to the bit.

15. The work management method according to claim 14 , further comprising recording the calculated coordinate data of the engagement position of the bit and the tightening torque obtained from the torque related data in association with each other in a storage device;
determining whether the coordinate data of an engagement position of the bit which is the same as or similar to the calculated coordinate data of the engageme

Assignees

• Fujikin Kk

Inventors

• KAWAUCHI Yuto
• Suzuki Yuya
• TANNO Ryutaro
• Harada Akihiro
• Shinohara Tsutomu

Classifications

• G05B2219/49056

  Control of flow of fluid or temperature as function of speed for uniform coating · CPC title

• Y02P90/02

  Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS] · CPC title

• B25B23/14 Primary

  Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers (couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L) · CPC title

• B25B23/1425 Primary

  by electrical means · CPC title

• G05B2219/39188

  Torque compensation · CPC title