Patent Description:
Patent literature <NUM> discloses a work management apparatus including a work information acquisition unit that acquires work information related to the content of work, a positional information acquisition unit that acquires positional information on a place of work, a workpiece information acquisition unit that acquires workpiece information, and an information management unit that stores the work information, the positional information, and the workpiece information in a storage unit, mapping the information to each other. The work management apparatus further includes a determination unit that determines the properness of a work by referring to data for a design drawing. The result of determining the properness of a work is displayed on a display unit.

<CIT> discloses an electric power tool according to the preamble of claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

<CIT> describes an electric tool remote information collection system, comprising an electric tool and a server, wherein an information collection unit of said electric tool collects maintenance warning information and/or research and development reference information; a communication unit sends said maintenance warning information and/or research and development reference information to said server; and said server performs communication with said electric tool to collect said maintenance warning information and/or research and development reference information. A beneficial effect of the present invention is: via disposing an information collection unit to collect proper information and send it to a server, an electric tool manufacturer can provide a specific service and product for a user, for example, provide preventive maintenance information for said electric tool and researching and developing specific products for users of a specific area or type.

<CIT> relates to a tool and a method for monitoring the condition of a tool. The tool comprises a control device for determining status data of the tool, and a display device for displaying the status data determined by the control device.

<CIT> describes a method of monitoring an electric hand tool including steps of detecting use of the hand tool; determining a cumulative usage time; and granting a device warranty as long as the period of use does not exceed a predetermined maximum period of use.

<CIT> describes a wireless data transmitting and receiving system including: a data transmitting unit provided on the rotary shaft of a tightening machine to detect the torque and the rotation angle, the data transmitting unit including a torque sensor disposed so as to be capable of sensing a toque acting on the rotary shaft, a rotation angle sensor disposed so as to be capable of a rotation angle of the rotary shaft, and transmitting means that is electrically connected to the foregoing sensors, and wirelessly transmits signals regarding the torque detected in the torque sensor and the rotation angle detected in the rotation angle sensor; and a data receiving unit including receiving means that receives the transmitted signals regarding the torque and the rotation angle, and display means that displays the signals regarding the torque and the rotation angle received by the receiving means.

There are various types of electric power tools having different mechanisms. A drill driver is a widely-used tool and is used to tighten a screw or bore a hole. An impact driver has an impact mechanism for generating a tightening torque by applying a striking impact in a rotational direction. A multi-impact driver has the functions of both a drill driver and an impact driver. An impact wrench generates a tightening torque greater than that of an impact driver. These electric power tools have different structures, but all of them can be used to tighten a wood screw. It is also common in the case of other types of work that a plurality of types of electric power tools can be used. Therefore, a user may not be able to make up his or her mind which type of tool should be chosen for purchase.

Further, electric power tools of the same type are available in various product specifications such as the battery back mounted, charging time, maximum tightening torque, availability of manual tightening capability, dimension of the main unit, mass of the main unit, etc. Since there are numerous options for choosing a tool, it is not easy for a user to choose a tool suited to the content of his or her work.

The disclosure addresses the above-described issue, and a general purpose thereof is to provide a technology necessary to present recommendation information related to the electric power tool to a user. This purpose is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Particular embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The problem is solved with an electric power tool according to claim <NUM> and a processing apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements, and implementations of the present disclosure in the form of devices, systems, computer programs recording mediums recording computer programs, etc. may also be practiced as additional modes of the present disclosure.

<FIG> shows a configuration of an electric power tool system <NUM> The electric power tool system <NUM> includes an electric power tool <NUM> and a server system <NUM>. The server system <NUM> is a processing apparatus for processing various information transmitted from the electric power tool <NUM>. An access point (hereinafter, "AP") <NUM> is interconnected with the electric power tool <NUM>, which is a wireless LAN client, and is connected to an external network <NUM> such as the Internet. A router <NUM> is connected to the server system <NUM> by wire and is connected to the network <NUM>. The electric power tool <NUM> and the server system <NUM> are communicably connected via the network <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a functional block of the electric power tool <NUM> according to the embodiment. The electric power tool <NUM> includes a driving unit <NUM>, a processing apparatus <NUM>, a user operation switch <NUM>, a clock <NUM>, a tightening torque measurement unit <NUM>, an acceleration detector <NUM>, a notification interface <NUM>, a storage unit <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a battery monitoring unit <NUM>. The clock <NUM> is a real-time clock. The clock <NUM> generates current date and time information and supplies the information to the processing apparatus <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> is a secondary battery and is housed in a battery pack separate from the main body of the tool. The battery pack is configured to be removably attached to the lower end of the main body of the tool. By mounting the battery pack on the lower end of the main body of the tool, the battery <NUM> supplies electric power to the constituting elements of the electric power tool <NUM> including a motor <NUM>. Since battery packs of different capacities can be attached to or detached from the main body of the tool, it is preferable for a user to choose a battery pack suited to the content of his or her work.

The driving unit <NUM> includes the motor <NUM>, which is driving source, and a power transmission mechanism <NUM> coupled to a motor shaft <NUM> of the motor <NUM>, and drives an output shaft <NUM>. A front-end tool mount <NUM> is coupled to the output shaft <NUM>, and a front-end tool such as a driver that applies a tightening torque to a tightened member is adapted to be mounted on the front-end tool mount <NUM>. The power transmission mechanism <NUM> transmits the rotational output of the motor <NUM> to the output shaft <NUM>. The power transmission mechanism <NUM> may include a planetary gear deceleration mechanism in mesh with a pinion gear attached to the motor shaft <NUM>. In the case the electric power tool <NUM> is an impact driver or a multi-impact driver, for example, the power transmission mechanism <NUM> includes an impact mechanism for applying an intermittent rotary striking force to the output shaft <NUM>.

The tightening torque measurement unit <NUM> measures the tightening torque of the tightened member (screw member). The tightening torque measurement unit <NUM> may include a magnetostrictive torque sensor attached to the output shaft <NUM> and a rotation angle sensor of the output shaft <NUM>. The torque sensor uses a coil provided in a non-rotated part to detect the variation in magnetic permeability determined by the axial distortion caused by applying a torque to the output shaft <NUM> and outputs a voltage signal determined by the distortion. The rotation angle sensor outputs the rotation angle of the output shaft <NUM>. The tightening torque measurement unit <NUM> uses the voltage signal determined by the distortion and the rotation angle of the output shaft <NUM> to calculate the tightening torque of the screw member. The tightening torque measurement unit <NUM> outputs the measured value of the tightening torque to the processing apparatus <NUM> as torque information at a first sampling period. The tightening torque measurement unit <NUM> may measure the tightening torque only when the user operation switch <NUM> is manipulated by the user.

The acceleration detector <NUM> detects the acceleration of the electric power tool <NUM>. The acceleration detector <NUM> may include a three-axis acceleration sensor and a three-axis gyro sensor. The acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor may have a capacitance-type or piezoelectric structure. The detected acceleration is used in the process of identifying the posture of the electric power tool <NUM> and the process of calculating the moving distance of the electric power tool <NUM>. The acceleration detector <NUM> outputs the detected acceleration value to the processing apparatus <NUM> at a second sampling period. The acceleration detector <NUM> may detect the acceleration of the electric power tool <NUM> while the main power supply is being turned on.

The battery monitoring unit <NUM> monitors the status of the battery <NUM>. The battery monitoring unit <NUM> includes a voltage measurement circuit for detecting the voltage value of the battery <NUM> for the purpose of preventing over charge or over discharge. The battery monitoring unit <NUM> also includes a current measurement circuit for the purpose of preventing an overcurrent. The battery monitoring unit <NUM> also includes a temperature measurement circuit for the purpose of detecting an abnormal temperature. The battery monitoring unit <NUM> outputs the measured voltage value, current value, and temperature value to the processing apparatus <NUM> as battery information indicating the status of the battery <NUM> at a third sampling period.

The communication unit <NUM> includes a transmission unit <NUM> and a reception unit <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may be a module configured to communicate wirelessly with the AP <NUM> according to a communication protocol such as the IEEE802. <NUM> protocol. The communication unit <NUM> may also include a wireless communication function in the fourth-generation mobile communication system. The communication unit <NUM> may not be a wireless communication module but a module configured to communicate with an external device by wire via, for example, a USB cable.

The notification interface <NUM> is an output interface for outputting information to the user. The notification interface <NUM> may include a speaker for audio output of information and/or a display for outputting information on a screen. The storage unit <NUM> is a memory and includes a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The ROM stores at least identification information (tool ID) for identifying the electric power tool <NUM>. The ROM further stores a control program used by the motor control unit <NUM>. The RAM stores the information transmitted from the transmission unit <NUM> temporarily and stores the information received by the reception unit <NUM> temporarily.

The electric power tool or the entity that executes the method according to the disclosure is provided with a computer. By causing the computer to run a program, the function of the tool or the entity that executes the method according to the disclosure is realized. The computer is comprised of a processor that operates in accordance with the program as a main hardware feature. The disclosure is non-limiting as to the type of the processor so long as the function is realized by running the program. The processor is comprised of one or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integration (LSI). The terms IC and LSI may change depending on the integration degree, and the processor may be comprised of a system LSI, a very large scale integration (VLSI), or an ultra large scale integration (USLI). A field programmable gate array (FPGA) programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a reconfigurable logic device, in which the connections inside the LSI are reconfigurable or the circuitry blocks inside the LSI can be set up, can be used for the same purpose. The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated in one chip or provided in a plurality of chips. The plurality of chips may be aggregated in one device or provided in a plurality of devices. The program is recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disk, and hard disk drive. The program may be stored in a recording medium in advance or supplied to a recording medium via wide area communication network including the Internet or the like.

The processing apparatus <NUM> is implemented by a computer carried on a control board. The processing apparatus <NUM> has the function for integrated control of the electric power tool <NUM> and performs various processes related to the electric power tool <NUM>. The processing apparatus <NUM> includes an information acquisition unit <NUM>, a motor control unit <NUM>, a communication control unit <NUM>, a notification control unit <NUM>, and a drive restriction unit <NUM>. The information acquisition unit <NUM> includes a posture information acquisition unit <NUM>, a torque information acquisition unit <NUM>, and a battery information acquisition unit <NUM>.

The grip of the main body of the tool is provided with a user operation switch <NUM> that can be manipulated by the user. The user operation switch <NUM> may be a trigger switch that can be pulled by the user for manipulation to rotate the motor <NUM>. The motor control unit <NUM> controls the rotation of the motor <NUM> in accordance with the on operation of the user operation switch <NUM> performed by the user. More specifically, the motor control unit <NUM> controls the current applied to the motor <NUM> in accordance with how much the user operation switch <NUM> is manipulated to adjust the the number of revolutions of the motor.

In a manufacturing line in a factory, for example, workers repeat a predetermined work and can use the electric power tool <NUM> of a type most suitable for the work. Meanwhile, users like interior construction workers and carpenters are required to do various works required of them by using a single electric power tool <NUM> in their personal possession. The user can reduce the workload or make the work efficient by using the electric power tool <NUM> suited to his or her work.

In the electric power tool system <NUM> according to the embodiment, the server system <NUM> has the function of collecting various information indicating the usage situation from the electric power tool <NUM> and estimating the content of work performed by the user. By estimating the content of work performed by the user, the server system <NUM> derives, as recommendation information, the type of the electric power tool <NUM> suited to the estimated content of work, the optimum value of the operation parameter in the electric power tool <NUM> being used, etc. The recommendation information is communicated to the user and is used, for example, as reference information referred to when the user purchase the electric power tool <NUM> in the future.

We have studied what kind of information is necessary to estimate the content of work. In order to estimate the type of the bolt actually tightened, it is necessary to derive the bolt diameter and bold length. The type of the bolt worked is relevant to the output performance of the electric power tool <NUM>. Generally, the larger the bolt diameter and bolt length, the higher the output performance of the electric power tool <NUM> required. We have observed that the temporal change in the torque value measured during a work need be analyzed to derive the bolt diameter and that the time required for the bolt to be seated need be analyzed to derive the bolt length. Based on this observation, we have concluded that information related to the tightening torque value during a work is necessary in order to estimate the type of the bolt tightened.

Further, the work hours of the user serves as one criterion to estimate the level of load imposed on the user during a work. It can be said that the longer the work hours per day, the heavier the workload on the user, and the shorter the work hours, the lighter the workload on the user. Another criterion is the work posture of the user. It is observed that a work performed by orienting the electric power tool <NUM> downward is relatively easy, but a work performed by orienting the electric power tool <NUM> upward imposes a heavy load on the arm so that the fatigue builds up easily.

Further, the electric power tool <NUM> is often configured such that a plurality of battery packs having different capacities can be mounted. A battery pack having a large capacity makes it possible to work for a long time continuously but has a drawback in that it is heavier than a battery pack having a small capacity. For this reason, the weight of a battery pack affects the workload on the user. We have concluded that information for identifying the work hours or work posture, and, moreover, information on the usage status of the battery are necessary in order to estimate the level of load on the user.

In view of the foregoing observation, the information acquisition unit <NUM> according to the embodiment acquires posture information for identifying the posture of the electric power tool <NUM> and torque information indicating the measured value of tightening torque, in association with time information related to the time when the respective information is acquired. The information acquisition unit <NUM> may acquire battery information indicating the status of the battery <NUM>, in association with time information related to the time when the battery information is acquired.

The posture information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires the detected acceleration value from the acceleration detector <NUM> as posture information for identifying the posture of the electric power tool <NUM>. The posture information acquisition unit <NUM> stores the acquired posture information and the time information related to the time when the posture information is acquired in the storage unit <NUM>, mapping the posture information to the time information.

The torque information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires torque information indicating the measured value of tightening torque produced by the front-end tool from the tightening torque measurement unit <NUM>. The torque information acquisition unit <NUM> stores the acquired torque information and the time information related to the time when the torque information is acquired in the storage unit <NUM>, mapping the torque information to the time information.

The battery information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires battery information indicating the status of the battery <NUM> from the battery monitoring unit <NUM>. The battery information acquisition unit <NUM> stores the acquired battery information and the time information related to the time when the battery information is acquired in the storage unit <NUM>, mapping the battery information to the time information.

The time information mapped to the respective information may be the absolute time information indicating the current time supplied from the clock <NUM>. The mapped time information may be the relative time information indicating the time elapsed since the reference time (e.g., the date and time of manufacturing or the date and time of first use). The storage unit <NUM> stores the posture information, torque information, battery information, and the time information related to the time when the respective information is acquired, mapping the information to each other.

The communication control unit <NUM> controls the transmission operation performed by the transmission unit <NUM> and the reception operation performed by the reception unit <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> is connected to the server system <NUM> via the network <NUM>. Of the information stored in the storage unit <NUM>, the transmission unit <NUM> transmits at least the posture information, the torque information, and the time information related to the time when the respective information is acquired to the server system <NUM> (external apparatus). In the case the storage unit <NUM> stores the battery information, the transmission unit <NUM> may transmit the battery information and the time information indicating the time when the battery information is acquired to the server system <NUM>.

The communication control unit <NUM> may read the information stored in the storage unit <NUM> periodically and cause the transmission unit <NUM> to transmit the information to the server system <NUM>. For example, the communication control unit <NUM> may cause the transmission unit <NUM> to transmit information for a day stored in the storage unit <NUM>, i.e. the posture information, torque information, battery information, and time information related to the time when the respective information is acquired, once a day to the server system <NUM>. Further, every time the main power supply is turned on, the communication control unit <NUM> may read the information stored in the storage unit <NUM> when main power supply was turned on previously and cause the transmission unit <NUM> to transmit the read information to the server system <NUM>.

<FIG> shows functional blocks of the server system <NUM> The server system <NUM> includes a communication unit <NUM>, an information acquisition unit <NUM>, an estimation unit <NUM>, a recommendation information generation unit <NUM>, a notification unit <NUM>, and a storage apparatus <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> includes a reception unit <NUM> and a transmission unit <NUM>.

The server system <NUM> may be operated and managed by, for example, an entity manufacturing the electric power tool <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the server system <NUM> is connected only to one electric power tool <NUM>, but the server system <NUM> is connected to a plurality of electric power tools <NUM> and receives various information acquired by the respective electric power tools <NUM>. The transmission unit <NUM> in the electric power tool <NUM> maps various information necessary to estimate the content of work to the tool ID of the electric power tool <NUM> and transmits the information to the server system <NUM>.

The reception unit <NUM> receives the various information transmitted from the electric power tool <NUM>, and the storage apparatus <NUM> stores the received various information, mapping the information to the tool ID of the electric power tool <NUM>. The information acquisition unit <NUM> reads and acquires, from the storage apparatus <NUM>, the posture information for identifying the posture of the electric power tool <NUM>, torque information indicating the measured value of tightening torque, and time information related to the time when the torque information and the posture information are acquired in the electric power tool <NUM>. The following description concerns a case in which the information acquisition unit <NUM> acquires various information for a day in one electric power tool <NUM>, and the estimation unit <NUM> estimates the content of a day's work.

The estimation unit <NUM> analyzes a day's work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used and estimates the content of work by referring to the result of analysis, based on the posture information, torque information, and time information for a day acquired by the information acquisition unit <NUM>. When the battery information is acquired by the information acquisition unit <NUM>, the estimation unit <NUM> also uses the battery information and the associated time information to estimate the content of work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used.

<FIG> shows an example of the result of analyzing a day's work in which each of the electric power tools A-C is used. The estimation unit <NUM> may analyze the various information over a plurality of days to derive a day's analysis result shown in <FIG>.

The "work hours" field shows a day's work hours. A day's work hours may simply be a total hours for which the main power supply is turned on. Alternatively, a day's work hours may be a total hours for which the user operation switch <NUM> is manipulated. The hours for which the user operation switch <NUM> is manipulated can be derived by referring to the torque information or the posture information (acceleration information).

The "tool posture" field shows the posture of the electric power tool <NUM> being used in the work. The estimation unit <NUM> calculates the proportion of a tool posture in a day by referring to the posture information on the electric power tool <NUM>. The proportion may be calculated by referring to the number of tightened members but may be calculated by referring to the work hours required to tighten the respective tightened members. The estimation unit <NUM> may calculate the work hours required to tighten the respective tightened members by using the torque information and calculate the total tightening work hours in the respective orientations to derive the proportion of a tool posture, by referring to the posture and the tightening work hours of the respective tightened members. With respect to the electric power tool A, given that the total tightening work hours of the tightened members tightened with the tool oriented downward is <NUM> minutes, the total tightening work hours of the tightened members tightened with the tool oriented sideways is <NUM> minutes, and the total tightening work hours of the tightened members tightened with the tool oriented upward is <NUM> minutes,
oriented downward: oriented sideways: oriented upward = <NUM>%.

The bolt type is categorized according to the bolt diameter and bolt length. The estimation unit <NUM> analyzes the temporal change in the torque value measured during a work by referring to the torque information and categorizes the bolt diameter into one of small, medium, and large. The estimation unit <NUM> also identifies the time required for the bolt to be seated by referring to the torque information and categorizes the bolt length into one of short and long. The estimation unit <NUM> may determine whether the bolt length is short or long depending on whether the time required for the bolt to be seated is shorter or longer than a threshold value Tth.

The estimation unit <NUM> may estimate the remaining battery level by referring to the battery information for each tightening work. For example, the estimation unit <NUM> can estimate that the battery <NUM> has become deteriorated by estimating the remaining battery level for each tightening work. If there is enough remaining battery level at the end of a day's work, the estimation unit <NUM> may determine that the battery capacity may be smaller, though the determination depends on a day's work hours. In this way, the estimation unit <NUM> may analyze a day's work from the perspective of remaining battery level.

The estimation unit <NUM> analyzes a day's work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used and estimates the content of work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used by referring to the analysis result. <FIG> shows analysis results of three electric power tools A-C. Hereinafter, the process in the estimation unit <NUM> and the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> related to the analysis result of the electric power tool A will be described.

The estimation unit <NUM> estimates that the content of work in which the electric power tool A is used is characterized by the fact that the electric power tool A is often used in the upward oriented posture, bolts having a small diameter are tightened in a majority of works, and the work hours Ta are relatively short. That bolts having a small diameter are tightened in a majority of works means that high output performance is not required of the electric power tool A. That the tool is often used in the upward oriented posture means that the user's arm is likely to be heavily loaded.

The recommendation information generation unit <NUM> generates recommendation information adapted to the content of work estimated by the estimation unit <NUM>. The recommendation information is provided to the user of the electric power tool <NUM> and may recommend an electric power tool suited to the content of work to the user. The estimation unit <NUM> estimates that the work hours of the electric power tool A are relatively short, high output performance is not required in a majority of works, and the tool is often used in the upward oriented posture in a work. Based on this, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may generate recommendation information recommending a type of lightweight electric power tool having only low output performance for purchase in the future. If the remaining battery level is sufficient at the end of a day's work, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may generate recommendation information to recommend a purchase of a battery pack having a small battery capacity and a light weight.

The notification unit <NUM> causes the transmission unit <NUM> to transmit the recommendation information generated by the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> to the electric power tool A. The notification unit <NUM> may cause the transmission unit <NUM> to transmit the recommendation information to a terminal apparatus associated with the electric power tool A (e.g., a mobile phone set of the user of the electric power tool A) instead of to the electric power tool A. In either case, the transmission unit <NUM> transmits the recommendation information so that the user of the electric power tool A can confirm.

The server system <NUM> may be comprised of one or a plurality of apparatuses. For example, the server system <NUM> may include a collection apparatus for collecting various information transmitted from the electric power tool <NUM> and an estimation apparatus for estimating the content of work of the electric power tool <NUM> by using the various information thus collected. In this case, the communication unit <NUM> and the storage apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> are provided as configurations on the side of the collecting apparatus, and the information acquisition unit <NUM>, the estimation unit <NUM>, and recommendation information generation unit <NUM>, and the notification unit <NUM> are provided as configurations on the side of the estimation apparatus.

In the electric power tool <NUM>, the reception unit <NUM> receives the transmitted recommendation information. The notification control unit <NUM> causes the notification interface <NUM> to communicate the recommendation information. The notification interface <NUM> provides an audio output of the recommendation information from the speaker or provides a screen output of the recommendation information from a display. The user can know the information recommended in relation to the electric power tool <NUM> being used, by referring to the content communicated from the notification interface <NUM> and can address the situation by exchanging the battery pack or purchase a new tool as necessary.

The notification control unit <NUM> may cause the notification interface <NUM> to communicate the recommendation information repeatedly until the user performs a confirmation operation. The confirmation operation may, for example, be an operation to press a confirmation button provided in the electric power tool <NUM>. This causes notification control unit <NUM> to ensure that the recommendation information is communicated to the user. It is preferred that the drive restriction unit <NUM> restrict the motor <NUM> from being driven while the recommendation information is being communicated by the notification interface <NUM>. In other words, the drive restriction unit <NUM> restricts the motor control unit <NUM> from driving the motor <NUM> while the notification interface <NUM> is communicating the recommendation information even if the user operation switch <NUM> is turned on by the user. This ensures that the electric power tool <NUM> is available for use after the recommendation information is communicated properly to the user.

In the example given above, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> generates recommendation information including a tool type recommended for purchase. Alternatively, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may generate information indicating whether the current tool is proper. When the electric power tool A is most suitable for the content of work performed by the user, for example, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may generate information indicating that the electric power tool A used by the user is most suitable. In the case an operation parameter for controlling an operation mode can be set to the tool, the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may generate the optimum operation parameter as recommendation information.

Described above is a case in which the server system <NUM> in the electric power tool system <NUM> estimates the content of work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used to generate the recommendation information. A description will be given below of a case in which the electric power tool <NUM> estimates the content of work performed by using the electric power tool <NUM> on its own.

<FIG> shows another functional block of an electric power tool 1a according to the embodiment. The electric power tool 1a includes the driving unit <NUM>, a processing apparatus 10a, the user operation switch <NUM>, the clock <NUM>, the tightening torque measurement unit <NUM>, the acceleration detector <NUM>, the notification interface <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, and the battery monitoring unit <NUM>. In the electric power tool <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the electric power tool 1a shown in <FIG>, features denoted by the same symbol have the same function. Therefore, a description of those features of the electric power tool 1a denoted by the same symbols is omitted as appropriate. A difference from the electric power tool <NUM> shown in <FIG> is that the processing apparatus 10a of the electric power tool 1a shown in <FIG> includes an estimation unit <NUM> and a recommendation information generation unit <NUM> and has the function of estimating the content of work and generating recommendation information.

The information acquisition unit <NUM> reads and acquires, from the storage unit <NUM>, the posture information for identifying the posture of the electric power tool 1a, the torque information indicating the measured value of tightening torque, and the time information related to the time when the torque information and the posture information are acquired in the electric power tool 1a. The information acquisition unit <NUM> may read and acquire the battery information and the time information related to the time when the battery information is acquired from the storage unit <NUM>.

The estimation unit <NUM> analyzes a day's work in which the electric power tool 1a is used and estimates the content of work by referring to the result of analysis, based on the posture information, torque information, and time information for a day acquired by the information acquisition unit <NUM>. When the battery information is acquired by the information acquisition unit <NUM>, the estimation unit <NUM> may also use the battery information and the associated time information to estimate the content of work in which the electric power tool <NUM> is used. The recommendation information generation unit <NUM> generates recommendation information adapted to the content of work estimated.

The estimation process performed by the estimation unit <NUM> and the recommendation information generation process performed by the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> may be identical to the information generation process performed by the estimation unit <NUM> and the recommendation information generation process performed by the recommendation information generation unit <NUM> in the server system <NUM>, respectively.

Described above is an explanation based on an embodiment. The embodiment is intended to be illustrative only and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications to constituting elements and processes could be developed and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

According to the embodiment, the electric power tool 1a estimates the content of work on its own so that the transmission unit <NUM> in the electric power tool 1a does not transmit the various information for estimating the content of work to the server system <NUM>. In one variation, the transmission unit <NUM> in the electric power tool 1a may transmit the various information for estimating the content of work to the server system <NUM>.

The present disclosure can be used in the fields of electric power tools and processing apparatus.

Claim 1:
An electric power tool (<NUM>) comprising:
an output shaft (<NUM>) on which a front-end tool is adapted to be mounted;
a power transmission mechanism (<NUM>) that transmits a rotational output of a driving source (<NUM>) to the output shaft (<NUM>) ;
a posture information acquisition unit (<NUM>) that acquires posture information for identifying a posture of the electric power tool(<NUM>);
a torque information acquisition unit (<NUM>) that acquires torque information indicating a measured value of tightening torque produced by the front-end tool;
a transmission unit (<NUM>) that transmits the posture information, the torque information, and time information related to a time when respective information is acquired, to an external apparatus (<NUM>); characterised in that it further comprises
a reception unit (<NUM>) that receives recommendation information generated based on the posture information, the torque information, and the time information;
a notification interface (<NUM>) that communicates the recommendation information received; and
a drive restriction unit (<NUM>) that restricts the driving source from being driven while the recommendation information is being communicated by the notification interface, wherein
the recommendation information is a type of the electric power tool suited to an estimated content of work or an optimum value of an operation parameter in the electric power tool being used.