screwing or drilling device comprising a flexible screen

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable screwdriving or drilling device comprising a body provided with a data display screen and a handle intended to be grasped by an operator. According to the invention, said screen is a flexible screen and extends around said body. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: screwing or drilling device comprising a flexible screen 1. Field of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of portable tools such as screwdrivers or drills. 2. Prior art

[0002] Portable tools, such as screwdrivers or drills, are generally equipped with a display screen to enable information to be communicated to an operator using the tool.

[0003] Taking this information into account may lead the operator to take certain actions. In particular, if the result emitted at the end of a screwing or drilling operation is unfavorable, then the operator may be required to interrupt or modify the screwing or drilling process. Furthermore, the screen may be used to display information inviting the operator to accomplish a given task.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary for the operator to be able to see the screen in order to access the information it is broadcasting.

[0005] Portable screwdrivers are commonly equipped with a screen for providing information to an operator.

[0006] A screwdriver can be used by an operator, at the same workstation or at different workstations, according to different orientations to enable him to work on carrying out different screwing operations.

[0007] The operator may thus be required to give his tool different orientations, within one or more workstations, without being able to change his own position to follow the orientation of the tool. However, the screen is fixed relative to the body of the screwdriver. Thus, the orientation of the screen can change relative to the operator. The latter therefore has very variable access to the screen, leading him to have to perform, in order to access the information broadcast by the screen, additional movements likely to slow down his productivity and potentially tiring when they are repeated.

[0008] Sometimes, the information broadcast by the screen is not visible to the operator so that it is not possible for the operator to take it into account, which can have a negative impact in terms of the quality of the performance of screwing operations or even in terms of safety.

[0009] There is therefore a need to improve access by an operator to the information broadcast by the screens of portable tools. 3. Objectives of the invention

[0010] The invention aims in particular to provide an effective solution to at least some of these different problems.

[0011] In particular, according to at least one embodiment, an objective of the invention is to provide, in at least one embodiment, a technique making it possible to optimize access by an operator to information broadcast by a screen of a portable tool.

[0012] In particular, the invention aims, according to at least one embodiment, to provide such a technique which makes it possible to make visible the information broadcast by the screen of a portable tool for different relative orientations of the operator with respect to the screen.

[0013] Another objective of the invention is, according to at least one embodiment, to provide such a technique which is simple to implement, and / or reliable and / or economical. 4. Presentation of the invention

[0014] For this, the invention proposes a portable screwing or drilling device comprising a body provided with a data display screen and a handle intended to be grasped by an operator.

[0015] According to the invention, such a screen is a flexible screen which extends around said body.

[0016] Thus, according to this aspect of the invention, access by an operator to the information broadcast by a screen is facilitated because the flexibility of the latter allows it to wrap around the body of the tool.

[0017] A tool according to the invention is intended to be handled in a workstation where an object is placed (engine, gearbox, dashboard, etc.) on which one or more components requiring several screwing operations must be assembled.

[0018] In the context of the invention we assume that these screw operations are grouped in a space between two parallel planes in which the tool will be moved to carry out the different screw operations.

[0019] These screw connections may have non-parallel axes or locations which are separated, requiring the operator to modify the orientation of the tool, while keeping its body substantially parallel to said planes.

[0020] By modification of the orientation we mean a rotation of the tool along an axis normal to said planes or along the axis of the body of the tool.

[0021] The term work plan is used throughout the description to designate this type of space.

[0022] A work plan requires a particular orientation of the display to allow comfortable reading by the user, for example, substantially parallel to said plans defining said space and with text oriented in a legible manner for the operator.

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[0027] A workstation may have multiple work surfaces and therefore require multiple different display orientation settings. According to a possible characteristic, a device according to the invention is intended to be moved in at least one work plane located in a three-axis reference frame of a workstation, said device comprising: - means for adjusting an initial orientation, in said reference frame of said workstation, of said data on said screen, when said body occupies an original orientation in said work plane, - means for recording said initial orientation set by means of said adjustment means, - means for constantly maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, regardless of the orientation of said body in said work plane. According to a possible characteristic, said screen is a touch screen and said means for adjusting said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation comprise: - means for detecting movements of at least one finger of said operator on the surface of said screen, and - first control means configured to modify the orientation of said data displayed by said screen as a function of said movement of said at least one finger on the surface of said screen. According to a possible characteristic, said holding means comprise: - detection means capable of detecting a change in orientation of said body in said work plane; - second control means configured to maintain constant said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said body in said reference frame of said workstation. According to a possible characteristic: - said detection means comprise at least one inertial unit equipped with a three-axis reference gyroscope, - said detection means are capable of detecting a change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane; - said second control means are configured to maintain constant said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation

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[0034] when said body is moved in said work plane. According to a possible characteristic, said data displayed on said screen belong to the group comprising: - words; - the codes; - logos; - the images. According to a possible characteristic, said adjustment means are configured to allow said data displayed on said screen to be given any orientation, relative to the edges of said screen, in particular not parallel to the edges of said screen. According to a possible characteristic, said screen extends around a longitudinal axis of said body. According to a possible characteristic, said screen is wound 360° around said longitudinal axis. The invention also covers a method for managing the display of data on a screen of a screwing or drilling device according to any one of the above variants intended to be moved in at least one work plane located in a reference frame of a workstation, said method comprising at least: - a step of adjusting an initial orientation, in said reference frame of said workstation, of said data on said screen, when said body occupies an original orientation in said work plane, - a step of recording said initial set orientation, - at least one step of constant maintenance of said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, regardless of the orientation of said body in said work plane. According to one possible feature, said holding step comprises: - a step of detecting a change in orientation of said body in said work plane; - a step of constantly maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said body in said work plane. According to a possible characteristic, said detection means comprise at least one inertial unit equipped with a three-axis reference gyroscope, said method comprising: - a step of detecting a change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane; - a step of constantly maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane. 5. Description of figures

[0035] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of particular embodiments, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings among which:

[0036] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] illustrates three orientations of a tool in a work plane;

[0037] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates an initial orientation of a tool in a work plane;

[0038] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates a rotation along the X axis of the tool of [Fig.2];

[0039] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] illustrates a rotation along the normal N of the tool of [Fig.2];

[0040] [Fig.5] [Fig.l] illustrates a rotation along the X axis and the normal N of the tool of the [Fig.2] ;

[0041] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] illustrates a flowchart of an example of a method according to the invention.

[0042] 6. Description of particular embodiments 6.1. Device architecture

[0043] An example of a portable tool according to the invention is presented in relation to Figures 1 to 5. It may, for example, be a screwdriver or a drill, although this is not limiting.

[0044] Such a tool comprises a body 10 provided with a handle 11 intended to be grasped by an operator. In the example illustrated, the axis of the handle extends along the longitudinal axis of the body. In a variant, the axis of the handle could form an angle relative to that of the body of the tool to form a tool of the “pistol grip” type.

[0045] The tool comprises, at one of its ends, a terminal member 12 connected to a transmission and to a motor capable of driving the terminal member in rotation and / or in translation along the longitudinal axis of the body or along an axis orthogonal to it.

[0046] The tool comprises a screen 13. This screen is flexible and stretches around the body of the tool. More specifically, in this embodiment, the screen extends around a longitudinal axis of the body and is wrapped 360° around this longitudinal axis, at the periphery of the body of the tool. The screen thus essentially forms a cylinder around the body of the tool.

[0047] The screen allows data to be displayed. The data displayed on the screen preferably belong to the group comprising: - words; - the codes; - logos; - images;

[0048] The tool can be used in a workstation to perform various operations on work points located in the same work plane. This work plane is located in a three-axis orthonormal reference frame fixed relative to the workstation. Each work point can, for example, comprise a screw or a nut to be tightened in the context of corresponding screwing operations.

[0049] The orientation of the information (or data) displayed on the screen can be adjusted. It is thus possible to place the information broadcast by the screen at any location on the screen surface.

[0050] For this, the tool comprises adjustment means 14 which are preferably configured to allow the data displayed on the screen to be given any orientation, relative to the edges of the screen, in particular not parallel to the edges of the screen.

[0051] More specifically, these adjustment means allow an operator to confer an initial orientation, in the reference frame of the workstation, to the data on the screen, when the body occupies an original orientation in the work plane. Thus, when an operator positions the tool on a work point located in the work plane, he can adjust the orientation of the information broadcast by the screen so as to be able to read it.

[0052] In this embodiment, the screen is touch-sensitive and the means 14 for adjusting the initial orientation of the data in the workstation reference system comprise: - means 140 for detecting movements of at least one finger of an operator on the surface of the screen, and - first control means 141 configured to modify the orientation of the data displayed by the screen depending on the movement of at least one finger on the surface of the screen.

[0053] Technologies for adjusting the position and / or orientation of information on the surface of a screen broadcasting this information are known per se and are not described in more detail here.

[0054] The tool comprises means 15 for recording the initial orientation of the data set by means of the adjustment means. These recording means, which conventionally comprise a memory, can be activated by the operator. Thus, when an operator has set the orientation of the information broadcast by the screen by sliding at least one finger across its surface, the operator can press a button or select an icon on the screen to trigger the recording of the initial position of the information.

[0055] The tool further comprises means 16 for maintaining the initial orientation of the data in the workstation reference frame constant, regardless of the orientation of the body in the work plane. This constant orientation of the display is designated by the reference 17 in [Fig.l] which illustrates a constant orientation for the three orientations of the tool.

[0056] These holding means 16 comprise: - detection means 160 capable of detecting a change in orientation of the body in the work surface; - second control means 161 configured to maintain constant the initial orientation of the data in the workstation reference frame, depending on the change in orientation of the body in the work plane.

[0057] Preferably, the detection means 160 comprise at least one inertial unit 1600.

[0058] This inertial unit comprises a three-axis gyroscope. It may further comprise a three-axis accelerometer and / or a three-axis magnetometer.

[0059] The detection means, capable of detecting a change in orientation of the body in the work plane, are in this case capable of detecting a change in orientation of the three-axis reference frame of the inertial unit in the reference frame of the workstation when the body is moved in the work plane.

[0060] The second control means, also called display control means, are configured to maintain constant the initial orientation of the data in the reference frame of the workstation, as a function of the change in orientation of the three-axis reference frame of the inertial unit in the reference frame of the workstation when the body is moved in the work plane.

[0061] The first and second control means conventionally comprise at least one live memory, one read-only memory, a processor and are programmed to allow the execution of a method according to the invention.

[0062] The functions of the various means described above will be explained by the following description of a method for managing the display of data on the screen.

[0063] 6.2. Method for managing the display of data on a screen

[0064] A method for managing the display of data on the screen of a screwing or drilling device such as that which has just been described will now in turn be described in relation to the figures.

[0065] [Fig.l] illustrates a work plane XpYp located in a three-axis orthonormal reference frame XpYpZp of a workstation. In the example described here, the tool can take three different orientations in this work plane to carry out the tightening of three tightening points located in this work plane.

[0066] The relative position of the tool to the operator differs when the tool is placed at these different clamping points. Thus, without correction of the display of the information broadcast by the screen, this information would not be correctly readable at all times by the operator. The ideal orientation of this information, in the different positions of the tool in the work plane, is that represented in the center of [Fig.l] under reference 17, this orientation corresponding to the ideal reading orientation by an operator.

[0067] The method according to the invention aims, as will now be described, to maintain the information broadcast by the screen in an orientation chosen by the operator regardless of the orientation taken by the tool in the work plane.

[0068] The screen is wrapped around the body of the tool, more particularly between the motor and the handle, the screen forming a cylinder of diameter D and length L.

[0069] For ease of description, we consider that the XYZ reference frame of the inertial unit has its origin O located in the median plane of the screen, that is to say in the plane located midway between the two edges of the screen.

[0070] It is considered that in use the operator only has visual access to one side of the cylinder. In other words, he sees a projected half-cylinder equivalent to a rectangle of dimensions D x L.

[0071] The message that one wishes to communicate to the operator preferably fits on a disc whose diameter is equivalent to the smallest of the dimensions D and L.

[0072] This message is defined by its normal N perpendicular to the disk and passing through its center, and by a radius R defining an orientation of the message around its normal N. This orientation defines the reading direction of this message.

[0073] The message is displayed in full size on the flexible screen, it therefore appears rolled up on the body of the tool. However, for the sake of simplification, in the remainder of the description, we consider the display disk not rolled up, that is to say flat and tangent to the flexible screen.

[0074] The orientation of the message on the screen is therefore defined as follows: - the center of the display disk is located on a generator G of the screen halfway between the two edges of the screen; - the generator G of the screen defines with the Xp axis a plane inclined at an angle a with the Yp axis; - the radius R of the disk, before winding on the screen cylinder, presents an angle [3 with respect to the generator G.

[0075] In a first step, the operator positions his tool on a first screwing point located in the work plane XpYp.

[0076] In a second step, the operator adjusts the orientation of the information broadcast on the screen by means of the touch screen. He moves the disc carrying the message so that the message faces him. The normal N of the message is then substantially perpendicular to the plane. It then adjusts the orientation of the ray R so that the message appears legibly. The XYZ reference frame of the inertial unit then has an initial orientation XeYeZe in the XpYpZp reference frame of the workstation.

[0077] [Fig.2] illustrates this initial orientation.

[0078] This initial XeYeZe orientation is validated by the operator and recorded by actuating a command provided for this purpose.

[0079] At this moment, - the values ​​of a and [3 are recorded as initial orientation values ​​ae and [3e and are stored in the tool memory; - at the time of recording T0, the position of the XYZ reference frame constitutes the so-called external reference frame named XeYeZe, the orientation of the axes of which remains fixed in relation to the reference frame attached to the workstation XpYpZp and the origin identical to the XYZ reference frame of the inertial unit.

[0080] From time T0, the tool control means will implement the operations below, at the working frequency of their processor, with the aim of maintaining constant the orientation of the display of the data in the XpYpZp frame of the workstation. In other words, they will work in such a way that the initial orientation XeYeZe of the information displayed on the screen remains constant in the XpYpZp frame of the workstation.

[0081] In parallel, the operator carries out the screwing operations in the XpYp work plane.

[0082] The tool being moved substantially parallel to the work plane XpYp, its body can rotate around the normal of the message displayed by the screen (axis N, preferably perpendicular to the work plane considered XpYp) or around its longitudinal axis X.

[0083] [Fig.3] illustrates a rotation of the tool body along the X axis, [Fig.4] a rotation of the tool body along the normal N and [Fig.5] a rotation of the tool body along these two axes.

[0084] During this movement of the tool, the control means detect the change in orientation of the body of the tool in the XpYpZp reference frame.

[0085] More precisely, the inertial unit emits signals representative of the movement of the body of the tool in the work plane, i.e. change of orientation of the XYZ reference frame of the unit in the XpYpZp reference frame of the workstation.

[0086] From these signals from the inertial unit, the tool control means calculate the Euler angles of the XeYeZe reference frame relative to the XYZ reference frame of the inertial unit.

[0087] The gyroscope signals can be supplemented by signals coming from the accelerometer (taking gravity into account) or the magnetometer (taking gravity into account). Earth's magnetic flux), to correct any possible drift of the gyroscope.

[0088] The control means then calculate angle setpoints ac and [3c in XYZ such that the values ​​of a and [3, defining the orientation of the data display in the XYZ frame of reference of the inertial unit, are equal to ae and [3e in the XeYeZe frame.

[0089] The control means then control the orientation of the information displayed on the screen in such a way that the value of the angles a and [3 are equal to ac and [3c in the XYZ frame of reference of the inertial unit.

[0090] In this way, the initial orientation of the data in the XpYpZp reference frame of the workstation is kept constant, regardless of the orientation of the body in the XpYp work plane.

[0091] The operator can thus give the tool different orientations in the work plan to carry out successive operations at different work points while maintaining very good visibility of the information broadcast by the screen.

[0092] When the series of work operations to be carried out is completed, the operator puts the tool down, the amplitude of the signals emitted by the inertial unit becomes lower than a predetermined low threshold, then the display control means are stopped.

[0093] The orientation of the XeYeZe reference frame after removal of the tool and before stopping the display control is stored in memory so that the orientation control can resume when the screwing operations have resumed, so that the precision of this control is not affected by the drift of the gyroscope during the tool rest period.

[0094] In a variant, the tool control means allow the operator to make several adjustments and record the initial orientation of the data display and the operator can switch, during the screwing operations, from one adjustment to another depending on the need generated by the change of work plane.

[0095] The way in which the signals from the inertial unit, the calculations of changes of reference or the control of the display of the information visible on the screen are processed is not described in more detail, the techniques implemented for this purpose belonging to the field of the state of the art.

Claims

Claims

1. Portable screwing or drilling device comprising a body provided with a data display screen and a handle intended to be grasped by an operator, characterized in that said screen is a flexible screen and extends around said body.

2. Device according to claim 1 intended to be moved in at least one work plane located in a three-axis reference frame of a work station, said device comprising: - means for adjusting an initial orientation, in said reference frame of said work station, of said data on said screen, when said body occupies an original orientation in said work plane, - means for recording said initial orientation adjusted by means of said adjustment means, - means for maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said work station constant, regardless of the orientation of said body in said work plane.

3. Device according to claim 2 wherein said screen is a touch screen and said means for adjusting said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation comprise: - means for detecting movements of at least one finger of said operator on the surface of said screen, and - first control means configured to modify the orientation of said data displayed by said screen as a function of said movement of said at least one finger on the surface of said screen.

4. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 3 wherein said holding means comprise: - detection means capable of detecting a change in orientation of said body in said work plane; - second control means configured to maintain constant said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said body in said reference frame of said workstation.

5. Device according to claim 4 wherein: - said detection means comprise at least one inertial unit provided with a three-axis reference frame gyroscope, - said detection means are capable of detecting a change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane; - said second control means are configured to maintain constant said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane.

6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said data displayed on said screen belong to the group comprising: - words; - codes; - logos; - images.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said adjustment means are configured to allow said data displayed on said screen to be given any orientation, relative to the edges of said screen, in particular not parallel to the edges of said screen.

8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said screen extends around a longitudinal axis of said body.

9. Device according to claim 8 wherein said screen is wound 360° around said longitudinal axis.

10. Method for managing the display of data on a screen of a screwing or drilling device according to any one of claims 2 to 9 intended to be moved in at least one work plane located in a reference frame of a workstation, said method comprising at least: - a step of adjusting an initial orientation, in said reference frame of said workstation, of said data on said screen, when said body occupies an original orientation in said work plane, - a step of recording said initial set orientation, - at least one step of maintaining said initial orientation of said data constantly in said reference frame of said workstation, regardless of the orientation of said body in said work plane.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said holding step comprises: - a step of detecting a change in orientation of said body in said work plane; - a step of constantly maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said body in said work plane.

12. Method according to claim 11, said detection means comprising at least one inertial unit equipped with a three-axis reference gyroscope, said method comprising: a step of detecting a change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame of said gyroscope in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane; a step of constantly maintaining said initial orientation of said data in said reference frame of said workstation, as a function of said change in orientation of said three-axis reference frame in said reference frame of said workstation when said body is moved in said work plane. 14

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