Intra-shop connectivity system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239003-A1
Application number	US-201615040911-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a terminal configured to intake a vehicle into a service shop, a server configured to store vehicle data associated with the vehicle, and, a scanner configured to identify the vehicle and relay timing and location information about the vehicle to the server.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
an intra-shop connectivity system, comprising:
a terminal configured to intake a component into a service shop;
a server configured to store component data associated with the component; and
a scanner configured to identify the component and relay information to the server;
wherein the intra-shop connectivity system is configured to monitor or control one or more parameters of a coating system in the service shop.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the coating system comprises a paint mixer configured to trigger mixing of paint in response to identification of the component by the scanner.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein an amount and color of paint are determined by the server.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the intra-shop connectivity system comprises sensors to determine environmental conditions within the shop and convey the environmental conditions to the server, and the amount of paint is determined in part on the environmental conditions.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is disposed in a spray gun, a smartphone, a camera, a tablet computer, or any combination thereof.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scanner is configured to identify the component via a scanable indicia.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the server comprises an internet communication protocol configured to deliver the timing and location information to a secure website.

8 . A method, comprising:
receiving, with a processor, identification information and service information relating to a coating process for a component with a service shop; storing the identification information and the service information on a server accessible from a plurality of locations within the service shop; receiving, from a first scanner, a first scan identifying the component; and determining, with the processor, one or more parameters of a coating process based on the first scan.

9 . The method of claim 8 , comprising automatically ordering repair parts based on the service information.

10 . The method of claim 8 , sending a signal to a paint mixer, wherein the signal comprises information relating to a color and an amount of paint.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information is automatically determined, with the processor, based on the identification information and the service information.

12 . The method of claim 10 , comprising receiving, from sensors, signals indicative of environmental conditions, wherein the information is based at least in part on the environmental conditions.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the information is based at least in part on previous amounts and corresponding excess amount of paint.

14 . The method of claim 10 , comprising providing the component identification information, the service information, a start time of a repair, a paint job, or any combination thereof, to an internet website.

15 . The method of claim 8 , comprising receiving, from the first scanner or a second scanner, a second scan identifying the component, wherein the second scan indicates an end time of the service job.

16 . The method of claim 15 , comprising sending, at the start time of the repair, a first message indicating that the repair has started and sending, at the end time, a second message indicating that the repair has ended.

17 . The method of claim 8 , comprising monitoring a residual amount of paint leftover after the paint job ends.

18 . A system, comprising:
a coating apparatus; and a network circuitry coupled to the coating apparatus.

19 . The system of claim 18 , comprising a scanner coupled to the coating apparatus.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the coating apparatus comprises a spray coating apparatus, a coating fluid mixer, or any combination thereof.

Assignees

• Carlisle Fluid Tech Inc

Inventors

• Bierie William K
• Bell Jeffrey G

Classifications

• G05B15/02 Primary

  electric · CPC title

• B05B12/149

  characterised by colour change manifolds or valves therefor (B05B12/1409 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B12/1418

  for supplying several liquids or other fluent materials in selected proportions to a single spray outlet (controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid G05D11/02) · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q30/0621

  by configuring or customising goods or services · CPC title