Container for returning tools with radio module and system with container

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a container, in particular a tool container, for returning tools, especially regrindable cutting tools such as drills or milling cutters, to a tool manufacturer. The disclosure further relates to a system comprising a controller, a database, a receiver, and such a container.

[0002] These containers are used to collect worn and / or dull tools and transport them back to the tool manufacturer for on-site inspection and / or resharpening. The container, containing the resharpened tools, is then returned to the customer. Typically, the tool manufacturer is contacted by phone or email when the container needs to be returned. The tool manufacturer usually arranges for the container's return by contacting the manufacturer, identifying the customer, and / or the container's location, and then arranging for the container to be picked up from the customer's site.

[0003] For example, US 2014 / 0240125 A1 discloses a container for holding tools with a lid to which several antennas are attached via a mounting bracket. One of the antennas receives, for example, a GPS signal and transmits this information via a network to, for example, a mobile phone or a computer. Furthermore, CN 107880726 A describes a case designed to hold tools. A timer device sends an alarm via a time relay connected to a mobile phone or similar device when a preset time period has elapsed. This provides information when maintenance of the tools in the case is required.

[0004] However, a disadvantage of this is that contacting the tool manufacturer is cumbersome and time-consuming. Therefore, the object of the invention is to avoid or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a container for returning tools to a tool manufacturer, as well as a system comprising a controller, a database, a receiver, and such a container, are to be provided, thereby enabling a particularly simple and efficient return process.

[0005] The object of the invention is achieved by a container with the features according to claim 1 and by a system with the features according to claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and are explained in more detail below.

[0006] According to the invention, a container, in particular a tool container, is proposed for returning tools, especially cutting tools such as drills or milling cutters, to a tool manufacturer. The container according to the invention has a receptacle and a radio module inserted in the receptacle for transmitting a signal to the tool manufacturer when the container is to be returned. The receptacle can be designed, for example, as a holder or as a recess. The holder can be formed by retaining arms or retaining projections between which the radio module can be inserted or slid.

[0007] Integrating the radio module into the container allows for particularly efficient container return, for example, through pre-controlled and / or asynchronous communication. The radio module's signal is transmitted directly to the tool manufacturer, informing them that the container needs to be collected and initiating a pickup. This eliminates delays caused by availability issues or a lack of contact information and / or necessary data.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the radio module can be attached to the receptacle in a replaceable or detachable manner. In particular, the radio module can be inserted or plugged into the receptacle and / or removed from it without tools. This allows the radio module to be replaced if it is defective or attached to a receptacle of a different container when the container in which the radio module was previously installed is collected. Consequently, it may be sufficient for each customer to have only one radio module.

[0009] In In a preferred embodiment, the radio module can be uniquely identifiable. For example, the radio module can have a position indicator and / or an identification number, such as a serial number. Preferably, the signal transmitted by the radio module contains the position indicator and / or the identification number, so that the tool manufacturer can assign the signal to a radio module, and in particular to a customer or the location of the radio module.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the container can have a lid, with the radio module attached to the lid. For example, the radio module can be clipped onto a mounting bracket on the lid. This has the advantage that the radio module is easily accessible and space-saving. Furthermore, an existing container can thus be retrofitted with a radio module by replacing the lid or by attaching the mounting bracket to the lid.

[0011] According to a preferred further development, the radio module can be mounted on the outside of the container. This makes the radio module easily accessible and allows it to be activated, for example, without opening the container. Alternatively, the radio module can be mounted inside the container. This protects the radio module from external influences. Furthermore, if the customer inserts a tool to be resharpened into the container and finds that the container is completely or mostly full, they can immediately activate the radio module.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the container can have a tool holder insert in which tool recesses for receiving the tools and a radio module recess are formed, with the radio module being arranged in the radio module recess. This allows for a particularly space-saving arrangement of the radio module. Furthermore, it ensures particularly intuitive operation. According to an advantageous further development of the embodiment, the tool recesses can have a cylindrical shape, since a cylindrical shape is easy to create and particularly suitable for receiving rotationally symmetrical tools. According to a particularly advantageous further development of the embodiment, the radio module recess can have a shape other than a cylindrical one, for example, a non-rotationally symmetrical shape. This eliminates the risk of confusion between the tool recesses and the radio module recess.

[0013] According to an advantageous further development of the embodiment, the radio module can be arranged completely within the radio module recess. This means that the radio module does not protrude or extend beyond the tool holder insert. By (completely) enclosing the radio module with material from the tool holder insert, the radio module can be protected from damage.

[0014] According to an advantageous further development of the embodiment, the radio module recess can be adapted to the shape of the radio module. This reduces the risk of the radio module accidentally falling out and protects the radio module.

[0015] According to the invention, the radio module comprises a transmitter and a switching device, the transmitter being designed to send or transmit the signal when the switching device is manually actuated. This means that the radio module only sends a signal when the switching device is actuated. In contrast to an RFID transmitter, the radio module therefore only transmits when specifically activated.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the signal can contain a location signal, such as a GPS signal, and / or an identification signal, such as the serial number. This allows the tool manufacturer to easily determine which customer sent the signal and / or the location of the container to be collected.

[0017] According to a beneficial further development, the signal can be designed as a signal that can be transmitted via LAN or WLAN. This allows the signal to be forwarded to the tool manufacturer quickly and over long distances without additional infrastructure.

[0018] According to the invention, a system comprising a controller, a database, a receiver, and a container according to the invention is also proposed. The receiver is designed to receive the signal from the radio module and forward it to the controller, which is designed to compare the received signal with data stored in the database and to determine the location of the radio module. This ensures, on the one hand, that the signal to be transmitted can have a small data size, for example, only an identification number. On the other hand, it ensures that the tool manufacturer can unambiguously assign the signal to a container and / or the location of the container. Furthermore, no personal data needs to be transmitted in the system according to the invention, so that the security standards for the transmission of the signal can be relatively low. Brief description of the characters

[0019] The invention is explained below with the aid of drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a container according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the container in a second embodiment, Fig. 3 a perspective view of the container in a third embodiment, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the container in a fourth embodiment, and Fign. 5 und 6 a perspective view of the container in a fifth embodiment.

[0020] The figures serve only to illustrate the invention. Identical elements are designated with the same reference numerals. Features of the different embodiments can be interchanged.

[0021] Fig. 1 Figure 2 shows a container 2 according to the invention in a first embodiment. The container 2 is designed as a tool container. The container 2 serves to return tools that can be stored in the container 2 to a tool manufacturer. In particular, for example, rotary-driven cutting tools that have a rotationally symmetrical shank section are transported in the container 2. Preferably, drills and / or milling cutters that need to be resharpened are transported to the tool manufacturer in the container 2.

[0022] Container 2 has a base and four side walls 4 arranged perpendicular to the base, enclosing an interior space. Container 2 has a removable, for example hinged, lid 6, which can optionally cover the interior space. Container 2 has a receptacle 8 in which a radio module 10 is inserted. The radio module 10 is used to send a signal to the tool manufacturer when container 2 is to be returned.

[0023] In the Fig. 1 In the first embodiment shown, the receptacle 8 is mounted on the lid 6 of the container 2. The radio module 10 is therefore located on an outer surface of the container 2. The receptacle 8 can be designed as a holder, for example with elastically deformable retaining arms, between which the radio module 10 is inserted, even if this is in Fig. 1 not shown in detail. The radio module 10 can also be clipped onto the cover 6.

[0024] The radio module 10 has a U-shaped cross-section. However, the radio module 10 can also have a round or oval cross-section. Alternatively, the radio module 10 can also have a polygonal cross-section, such as a rectangular or triangular cross-section, although this is not shown. The radio module 10 comprises a transmitter 12 and a switching device 14. The transmitter 12 is designed to send the signal to the tool manufacturer when the switching device 14 is actuated. In the illustrated embodiments, the switching device 14 is designed as a manually operated push button.

[0025] Fig. 2 Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of container 2, which essentially corresponds to the first embodiment. In the figure shown in Fig. 2 In the second embodiment shown, the receptacle 8 and the radio module 10 are arranged in the interior of the container 2. The container 2 has a tool holder insert 16. The tool holder insert 16 has a plurality of tool recesses 18 in which the returnable tools can be received. The tool recesses 18 are cylindrical. Several tool recesses 18 of different sizes, in particular with different diameters, are formed in the tool holder insert 16. This allows a suitable tool recess 18 to be selected for tools of different sizes. A radio module recess 20 is formed in the tool holder insert 16, which serves as the receptacle 8 for the radio module 10. The radio module recess 20 is adapted to the shape of the radio module 10. The radio module recess 20 is designed as a recess with a depth that is preferably greater than the thickness of the radio module 10.Alternatively, the depth can also be less than the radio module 10, so that the radio module 10 protrudes from the tool holder insert 16.

[0026] Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a third embodiment of the container 2, which essentially corresponds to the first embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, the radio module 10 is attached to an outer surface of a side wall 4 of the container 2.

[0027] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a fourth embodiment of the container 2, which essentially corresponds to the first embodiment. In contrast to the first embodiment, the radio module 10 is attached to an inner surface of the lid 6. Thus, the radio module 10 is protected from external influences.

[0028] Fign. 5 und 6 Figure 1 shows a fifth embodiment of container 2, which essentially corresponds to the second embodiment. In contrast to the second embodiment, the radio module 10 is detachably mounted in the receptacle 8. Fig. 5 The radio module 10 is removed from the holder 8 and rests unsecured on the tool holder insert 16. Fig. 6 The radio module 10 is inserted in the radio module recess 20.

Claims

1. Container (2), in particular a tool container, for returning tools, in particular cutting tools such as drills or milling cutters, to a tool manufacturer, wherein the container (2) has a receiving portion (8) and a radio module (10) inserted in the receiving portion (8), characterized in that the radio module (10) is configured to transmit a signal to the tool manufacturer when the container (2) is to be returned, and the radio module (10) has a transmitter (12) and a switching device (14), wherein the switching device (14) is configured as a manually operable control button, and the transmitter (12) is configured to transmit the signal when the switching device (14) is actuated.

2. The container (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the radio module (10) is fixed in the receiving portion (8) in an exchangeable / detachable manner.

3. The container (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the radio module (10) is uniquely identifiable, for example by way of a serial number.

4. The container (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container (2) has a lid (6), wherein the radio module (10) is attached to the lid (6), for example by being clipped on.

5. The container (2) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the radio module (10) is attached to an outer side of the container (2).

6. The container (2) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container (2) has a tool holder insert (16) in which tool recesses (18) for receiving the tools and a radio module recess (20) are formed, the radio module (10) being arranged in the radio module recess (20).

7. The container (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the radio module recess (20) is adapted to the shape of the radio module (10).

8. The container (2) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the signal contains a location signal, such as a GPS signal, and / or an identification signal, such as the serial number.

9. A system comprising a control unit, a database, a receiver, and a container (2) according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the signal from the radio module (10) and transmit it to the control unit, the control unit being configured to compare the received signal with data stored in the database and determine a location of the radio module (10).