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US 2002/0161617 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for maintenance by an individual of different business machines
OwnerJerry M. Washburn, William B Megerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved business machine repair procedure enables a single individual to repair and maintain a plurality of different kinds of business machines owned by a customer.
Claims8
A method for maintenancing a plurality of different machines, said method comprising the steps of
- (a) selecting a first business machine;
- (b) selecting a second business machine different from said first business machine;
- (c) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair said first and second business machines;
- (d) obtaining the technical information necessary to perform preventative maintenance on first and second business machines;
- and,
- (e) when said first business machine is repaired, performing preventative maintenance on said first and second business machines.
3 more elements
A work order form including
- (a) an area for recording data identifying a customer, the customer having a business location at which the customer conducts at least a portion of the customer's business;
- and,
- (b) a plurality of areas for recording preventative maintenance carried out on each of a plurality of different kinds of machines at the business location of the customer.
A method for maintenancing each of at least three different kinds of business machines at a business, comprising the steps of
- (a) visiting the business and performing only preventative maintenance on each of said different kinds of machines;
- and,
- (b) recording the preventative maintenance performed on each of said machines.
A method for maintenancing machines at a business, including the steps of
- (a) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair and maintenance OEM machines;
- (b) obtaining the technical information necessary to repair and maintenance obsolete machines;
- (c) locating a source of parts for repairing said OEM machines;
- (d) locating a source of part for repairing said obsolete machines;
- (e) providing to a single technician the technical information necessary to repair both said OEM and obsolete machines.
2 more elements
A computer database including
- (a) a computer including a controller and a memory;
- (b) a database in said memory including
- (i) a preventative maintenance schedule for each of a plurality of different business machines at a business, said preventative maintenance schedule for each of said machines including at least two separate scheduled times when preventative maintenance is performed, and
- (ii) the specific preventative maintenance required at each of said scheduled times for each of said machines;
- and,
- (c) means for correlating said preventative maintenance schedule for one of said machines with a call to repair another of said machines such that when said another of said machines is repaired the specific preventative maintenance for said one of said machines is performed.
3 more elements
A method for maintaining a plurality of different kinds of business machines at a business, said method including the steps of
- (a) performing a rapid inventory of said different kinds of business machines by
- (i) preloading into a computer data concerning each kind of machine,
- (ii) providing at the business said computer with said preloaded data,
- (iii) providing a plurality of data input transmitters at the business,
- (iv) examining each of said business machines to generate reference data defining each of said machines,
- (v) transmitting to said computer with one of said data input transmitters from a location adjacent one of said business machines reference data defining said one of said business machines, and
- (vi) transmitting to said computer with another of said data input transmitters from a location adjacent another of said business machines reference data defining said another of said business machines;
- and,
- (b) receiving and entering into said computer the reference data defining said one and said another of said business machines.
6 more elements
A method for training to maintenance a plurality of different machines, said method comprising the steps of
- (a) selecting an analog copier, said copier including
- (i) at least one electrical system,
- (ii) at least one electronic system,
- (iii) at least one mechanical system with moving parts,
- (iv) an optical system,
- (v) a computer,
- (vi) a sensor system,
- (vii) a graphics system, and
- (viii) a display screen;
- (b) selecting an individual who has at least two years experience in repairing said copier;
- (c) selecting a second business machine different from the first business machine;
- and,
- (d) training the individual to repair said second business machine.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.