Recognition system for tools insertable into dental treatment instruments

In a dental treatment station having a drive unit, a plurality of tools for dental treatment, each tool operable at a respective optimum rotational speed, a plurality of gearing sleeves having respective transmission ratios, and a plurality of treatment heads having respective transmission ratios, one of said gearing sleeves and one of said treatment heads being used in combination to couple a selected one of said tools to said drive unit to rotate said tool, a speed recognition system comprising:

• coding means on each tool for identifying the respective optimum speed associated with the tool by encoded data;
• a housing;
• a receptacle in said housing adapted to receive said selected one of said tools before coupling said selected tool to said drive unit, said encoded data being disposed in said receptacle when said selected tool is received therein;
• means disposed at said receptacle for reading the encoded data on a tool in the receptacle and generating an output signal corresponding to the encoded data;
• an evaluation unit including means for converting said output signal from said means for reading into a control signal and means for identifying one of said gearing sleeves and one of said treatment heads best suited for use in combination to operate said selected tool at its optimum speed and generating a display signal corresponding thereto;
• means connected to said evaluation unit responsive to said control signal to operate said drive unit to rotate said selected tool at its optimum speed;
• and
• display means connected to said evaluation unit responsive to said display signal to inform a user of said one of said gearing sleeves and said one of said treatment heads best suited to operate said selected tool and of said optimum speed for said selected tool.

In a dental treatment station having a drive unit, a plurality of tools for dental treatment, each tool operable at a respective optimum rotational speed, and means for coupling a selected one of said tools for use in treatment to said drive unit, said means for coupling having a drive output, a speed recognition system comprising:

• coding means on each tool for identifying the respective optimum speed associated with the tool by encoded date;
• a housing;
• a first receptacle in said housing adapted to receive said selected tool before treatment, said coding means on said selected tool being disposed in said receptacle when said selected tool is received therein;
• means for reading said encoded data on said selected tool in said receptacle and generating an output signal corresponding to said encoded data;
• means for converting said output signal into a rated speed value for said selected tool;
• means at said drive output for generating a varying signal during each revolution of said drive output;
• a further receptacle in said housing adapted to receive at least said drive output of said means for coupling;
• means in said further receptacle for receiving said varying signal from said drive output and generating an output signal;
• means for converting said output signal from said means for receiving into an actual speed value signal for said drive output;
• means for comparing said rated speed value signal to said actual speed value signal to generate a control signal;
• and
• means responsive to said control signal to operate said drive unit at a speed so that the speed of said drive output equals said rated speed value.