Tool setting management system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017008652-A1
Application number	US-201615147425-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2016
Priority date	Jul 10, 2015
Publication date	Jan 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a tool setting management system and method that provides a tool having a tool setting that a user cannot modify by directly physically manipulating any tool setting modification device of the tool and that enables the user to modify the tool setting using a device wirelessly connected to the tool. Generally, the tool setting management system enables a user to wirelessly pair a user device with a tool. The tool has at least one modifiable tool setting, but does not include any component physically manipulatable by the user to modify the tool setting. Once paired with the tool, the user device enables the user to input a tool setting modification, and sends the tool setting modification to the paired tool. Upon receipt, a controller of the paired tool modifies the stored tool setting in accordance with the received tool setting modification.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1 . A method of operating a strapping device setting management system, said method comprising:
pairing a user device and a strapping device such that wireless communication devices of the user device and the strapping device can communicate with one another over a network; receiving, by an input device of the user device, a modification to a strapping device setting of the paired strapping device; and communicating, by the wireless communication device of the user device, the modification of the strapping device setting to the wireless communication device of the paired strapping device to cause the paired strapping device to change a strapping device setting in accordance with the modification.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the strapping device setting is a tension level setting.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the strapping device is a handheld strap tensioning tool.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication devices of the user device and the strapping device are Bluetooth devices.

5 . The method of claim 1 , which includes receiving, by the wireless communication device of the user device and from the wireless communication device of the paired strapping device, strapping device operating data.

6 . The method of claim 5 , which includes receiving, by the input device of the user device, a request to view the strapping device operating data and displaying, by the display device of the user device, the strapping device operating data in response to receiving the request.

7 . The method of claim 5 , which includes communicating, by the wireless communication device of the user device and to the wireless communication device of the paired strapping device, a request for the strapping device operating data.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the strapping device setting cannot be modified other than via receipt of the modification from the wireless communication device of the user device.

9 . A strap tensioning device comprising:
a body; a battery supported by the body; a tensioning motor supported by the body and powered by the battery; a tensioning wheel operably connected to the tensioning motor; a first wireless communication device pairable with a second wireless communication device of a user device such that the first wireless communication device can send data to and receive data from the second wireless communication device; and a controller including a memory device storing a strap tensioning device setting associated with a tension level, the controller configured to: (1) control the tensioning motor in accordance with the strap tensioning device setting to tension a strap until a strap tension of the strap reaches the first tension level, and (2) after the first wireless communication device is paired with the second wireless communication device and the first wireless communication device receives a request to modify the tension level of the strap tensioning device setting from the second wireless communication device, modify the tension level.

10 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , wherein the tension level cannot be modified other than via receipt of the request to modify from the second wireless communication device.

11 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , which includes power device actuatable to power the strap tensioning device on and off.

12 . The strap tensioning device of claim 11 , wherein the strap tensioning device does not include any devices in addition to the power device that are physically manipulatable by a user to modify the tension level of the strap tensioning device.

13 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to pair the first wireless communication device with the second wireless communication device upon receiving a pair request from the second wireless communication device.

14 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second wireless communication devices are Bluetooth devices.

15 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wireless communication device to send strap tensioning device operating data to the second wireless communication device.

16 . The strap tensioning device of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically cause the first wireless communication device to send the strap tensioning device operating data to the second wireless communication device after the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are paired.

17 . The strap tensioning device of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wireless communication device to send the strap tensioning device operating data upon receiving a strap tensioning device operating data request from the second wireless communication device.

18 . The strap tensioning device of claim 9 , which is a handheld strap tensioning tool.

Assignees

• Signode Ind Group Llc

Inventors

• Figiel Janusz
• Boss Walter L
• Skonieczny Jr Wayne
• Ragusa Mark
• Leine Guido Simon

Classifications

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• B65B13/22 Primary

  Means for controlling tension of binding means · CPC title

• B65B13/185

  Details of tools (B65B13/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• B65B13/025 Primary

  Hand-held tools · CPC title