Elevator control device and control method

Abstract

To achieve both improved transport efficiency and enhanced convenience in elevators. [Solution] The control device is a control device that assigns landing calls to elevator cars in an elevator, and has the following configuration. The control device designates the end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car as the first end floor, and the end floor on the opposite side as the second end floor, and sets the section from the current floor of the elevator car to the first end floor and the section from the first end floor to the second end floor in the order that the elevator car will pass through. Then, each time a landing call is assigned to an elevator car, the control device counts the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section in which the landing call is responded to. The control device then restricts the assignment of landing calls requiring stops in each section to elevator cars if the number of scheduled stops in that section reaches the upper limit.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0005] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a control technology for improving the transportation efficiency and convenience of elevators.

Background Art

[0002] As an elevator, there is one that assigns a landing call to a car for a user each time the destination floor is registered by the user in the destination floor registration device. As such an elevator control technology, a technology is known in which the number of scheduled stops (the number of scheduled stops per round when circulating the operation section) that occur in the car due to the assignment of landing calls is counted, and the assignment is restricted for a car whose number of scheduled stops has reached the upper limit value (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technology, the number of stops per round of the car can be restricted. As a result, the circulation time (the time required to make one round of the operation section) of the car can be controlled so as not to become long, and as a result, the transportation efficiency can be improved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the above-described technology, although the number of stops of the car per round can be restricted, within that one round, a difference in the number of stops occurs between the case where the traveling direction of the car is upward and the case where it is downward, and a situation may occur where the number of stops greatly biases toward either one. When such a situation occurs, for a user who tries to move in the biased direction, the time required for movement is likely to become longer by the amount by which the number of stops is biased and increased, and as a result, the convenience may decrease.

[0005] Therefore, the objective of the present invention is to achieve both improved transport efficiency and improved convenience in elevators. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The control device according to the present invention is a control device for assigning landing calls to elevator cars, and has the following configuration (Aspect 1). The control device designates the end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car as the first end floor, and the end floor on the opposite side as the second end floor, and sets the section from the current floor of the elevator car to the first end floor and the section from the first end floor to the second end floor in the order that the elevator car will pass through, and then, each time a landing call is assigned to an elevator car, the control device counts the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section in which the landing call is responded to. Then, for each section, if the number of scheduled stops in that section reaches the upper limit, the control device restricts the assignment of landing calls requiring stops in that section to elevator cars.

[0007] According to the above embodiment 1, the number of planned stops in each section can be limited, and as a result, the number of stops during the elevator's journey around the operating section can be controlled so as not to be heavily biased towards either the upward or downward direction of travel, while limiting the number of stops per lap. Therefore, in an elevator, it becomes possible to achieve both improved transport efficiency obtained by limiting the number of stops per lap and improved convenience obtained by suppressing the bias in the number of stops.

[0008] The control device according to the above embodiment 1 may have the following configuration (embodiment 2). The control device may further define the section from the second end floor to the first end floor in the order in which the elevator car passes, and then, each time a landing call is assigned to an elevator car, the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment may be counted as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section in which the landing call is responded to.

[0009] According to the above embodiment 2, even immediately after the elevator car reverses direction at or just before the first end floor (immediately after passing the section from the current floor to the first end floor), it becomes possible to create a situation in which the number of stops during the process of completing one rotation from that point is already controlled so as not to be heavily biased towards either the upward or downward direction of travel.

[0010] The control device according to the above embodiment 1 or 2 may have the following configuration (embodiment 3). In the section from the current floor to the first end floor, the control device may update the value of the number of scheduled stops in that section to a value obtained by subtracting one stop each time the elevator car arrives at a floor scheduled to stop in that section.

[0011] According to the above embodiment 3, there is room to further increase the number of planned stopping floors in the section from the current floor to the first end floor, and as a result, it becomes possible to further improve transportation efficiency while improving convenience.

[0012] A control device according to any of the above embodiments 1 to 3 may have the following configuration (embodiment 4). If the elevator car reverses direction of travel at the first end floor or the floor before it, the control device may set that floor as the current floor, the second end floor as the new first end floor, and the first end floor as the new second end floor, and then re-set the above section.

[0013] According to the above embodiment 4, by resetting the section each time the elevator car reverses direction, it becomes possible to continuously control the system so that the number of stops does not become significantly uneven.

[0014] The control method according to the present invention is a control method for assigning landing calls to elevator cars, and comprises the following configuration (Aspect 5). In this control method, the end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car is designated as the first end floor, and the end floor on the opposite side is designated as the second end floor. The section from the current floor of the elevator car to the first end floor and the section from the first end floor to the second end floor are set according to the order in which the elevator car will pass. Then, each time a landing call is assigned to an elevator car, the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment is counted as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section in which the landing call is responded to. For each section, if the number of scheduled stops in that section reaches the upper limit, the assignment of elevator cars for landing calls requiring stops in that section is restricted. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it becomes possible to achieve both improved transport efficiency and improved convenience in elevators. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of the elevator according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating (A) device management data, (B) car management data, (C) landing call management data, and (D) car call management data used in the embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) A conceptual diagram visually showing examples of landing call and car call information in section W1 and an example of counting the number of planned stops Ns(W1), and (B) A conceptual diagram visually showing examples of landing call information in section W2 and an example of counting the number of planned stops Ns(W2). [Figure 4] This is a flowchart illustrating the allocation process performed in the embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart showing a part of the sorting process performed in the embodiment. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows the continuation of Figure 5 regarding the sorting process. [Figure 7] Conceptual diagrams exemplifying (A) car management data and (B) landing call management data used in the first modification example, respectively. [Figure 8] Conceptual diagram in which information examples of landing calls in section W3 and a count example of the planned stop number Ns(W3) are visually shown. [Figure 9] Flowchart showing a part of the sorting process executed in the first modification example. [Figure 10] Conceptual diagrams in which (A) a count example of the planned stop number Ns(W1) and (B) a count example of the planned stop number Ns(W2) in the second modification example are visually shown, respectively.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] [1] Embodiment [1-1] Overall Configuration of Elevator FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of an elevator according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, a destination floor registration device 1 is installed on each floor of the elevator. When a user uses the elevator, it is necessary to register his / her destination floor Fd in advance with the destination floor registration device 1 installed on the boarding floor. Further, this elevator has a plurality of cabs G and further includes a group management control device 2 for centrally managing them. Hereinafter, the configuration of each part will be specifically described.

[0018] <Destination Floor Registration Device> The destination floor registration device 1 is provided with a device having functions as both an input unit and a display unit, such as a touch panel. Through this device, registration of the destination floor Fd by the user and notification of various information to the user are performed. Note that the input unit and the display unit of the destination floor registration device 1 may be provided separately. For example, a mechanical button (such as a numeric keypad) may be provided as the input unit, and a dedicated display monitor may be provided as the display unit.

[0019] Then, when a user operates the destination floor registration device 1 on any floor and registers their destination floor Fd, that destination floor Fd is transmitted to the group control device 2. This sends a request to the group control device 2 to assign a platform call X for that user. At this time, in order to allow the group control device 2 to recognize which registration device the operated destination floor registration device 1 is, device information Pd to distinguish that destination floor registration device 1 from other registration devices is also transmitted to the group control device 2.

[0020] <Group Control System> The group control device 2 centrally manages the multiple elevator cars G of this embodiment through elevator control devices provided for each elevator car G (see Figure 1).

[0021] Specifically, each time the group control device 2 receives an assignment request from any of the destination floor registration devices 1, it takes the departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd of the user registered by that destination floor registration device 1 as a single landing call X, selects a destination for that landing call X from among several elevator cars G, and then assigns the landing call X to that destination (assignment process). Then, the group control device 2 causes the elevator car G to perform a response operation to the landing call X (response process).

[0022] Furthermore, when the group control device 2 responds to a landing call X, it registers the destination floor Fd indicated by the landing call X as a car call Y for the user to the car G at an appropriate timing after the car G arrives at the departure floor Fc indicated by the landing call X (for example, when the doors begin to open or when the sensor on the door detects a user boarding) (registration process). Then, the group control device 2 causes the car G to perform a response operation to the car call Y (response process).

[0023] In this embodiment, the group management control device 2 performs the following control processing (processing for centrally managing multiple elevator cars G): an allocation process that enables both improved transportation efficiency and improved convenience. Details of this allocation process will be described later.

[0024] In terms of its specific configuration, the group control device 2 comprises a storage unit 21 and a control unit 22 (see Figure 1).

[0025] The storage unit 21 is a part composed of storage devices such as ROM and RAM, and stores information necessary for control processing performed by the group control device 2. In this embodiment, such information stored in the storage unit 21 includes device management data Dp, car management data Dq, landing call management data Dx, and car call management data Dy.

[0026] Here, the device management data Dp is a database for managing multiple pieces of information related to each destination floor registration device 1 by linking them together (see Figure 2(A)). The car management data Dq is a database for managing multiple pieces of information related to each elevator car G by linking them together (see Figure 2(B)). The landing call management data Dx and car call management data Dy are data for managing information on landing calls X and car calls Y for each user for each elevator car G (see Figures 2(C) and 2(D)).

[0027] Figure 2(A) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the device management data Dp used in this embodiment. In the device management data Dp, for each destination floor registration device 1, the device information Pd and installation floor Fs of that registration device are recorded in a manner that is associated with each other.

[0028] As a result, when the group control device 2 receives device information Pd along with the destination floor Fd from any of the destination floor registration devices 1, it can identify the installation floor Fs of the destination floor registration device 1 (the registration device on which the destination floor Fd was registered) from the device information Pd. In this embodiment, the installation floor Fs of the destination floor registration device 1 is used as the departure floor Fc (boarding floor) of the user who operated the registration device to register the destination floor Fd.

[0029] Figure 2(B) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the car management data Dq used in this embodiment. In the car management data Dq, for each elevator car G, the following are recorded in association with each other: car information Pg to identify the elevator car G from other cars, the current floor Fg and current direction Kg of the elevator car G, and the number of planned stops Ns(W) for each section W resulting from the assignment of a landing call X to the elevator car G.

[0030] Here, the current floor Fg is the floor where the elevator car G is currently stopped, or, if the elevator car G is currently moving, the nearest floor to which it could stop if a deceleration decision were made at that moment. The current direction Kg is the current direction of travel for the elevator car G. This information (current floor Fg and current direction Kg) is updated each time the elevator car G moves.

[0031] Section W includes multiple sections Wn set for each elevator car G (where n is an index to distinguish different sections W) (see Figures 3(A) and 3(B)). In this embodiment, for each elevator car G, the end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car G is designated as the first end floor Fe1, and the end floor on the opposite side is designated as the second end floor Fe2. Then, as multiple sections Wn, according to the order in which the elevator car G passes, section W1 (n=1; see Figure 3(A)) from the current floor Fg of the elevator car G to the first end floor Fe1 and section W2 (n=2; see Figure 3(B)) from the first end floor Fe1 to the second end floor Fe2 are set.

[0032] The number of scheduled stops Ns(W=Wn) is the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop in section Wn. In this embodiment, this number of scheduled stops Ns(W=Wn) includes both the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop at the departure floor Fc and the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop at the destination floor Fd, and stops at the same floor are counted as one. Therefore, the number of scheduled stops Ns(Wn) in each section Wn in this embodiment will correspond to the number of floors (scheduled stopping floors) where the elevator car G is scheduled to stop in that section Wn (see Figures 3(A) and 3(B)). The value of the number of scheduled stops Ns(W=Wn) recorded for each elevator car G in the elevator management data Dq is updated each time an assignment to that elevator car G is performed (see steps S111~S112 in Figure 4).

[0033] Figure 2(C) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the landing call management data Dx used in this embodiment. In the landing call management data Dx, for each elevator car G identified by the elevator car information Pg, information on the landing call X assigned to that elevator car G (departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd) is recorded. Furthermore, the information for each landing call X is distributed and recorded to the section Wn to which the elevator car G responds to that landing call X. Then, when the landing call X has finished its role (when the destination floor Fd indicated by the landing call X is registered as elevator car call Y), the information for each landing call X is deleted from the landing call management data Dx (deletion of landing call X).

[0034] Figure 2(C) shows a specific example of the information on the boarding call X for each section Wn recorded in the boarding call management data Dx for boarding car G, where the boarding information Pg is "G-01" (departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd). In Figures 3(A) and 3(B), for each boarding call X in each section Wn, the departure floor Fc is shown as a black circle, the destination floor Fd as a white circle, and the direction from the departure floor Fc to the destination floor Fd is shown as an arrow (arrow from black circle to white circle), thus visualizing the information for each boarding call X.

[0035] Figure 2(D) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the car call management data Dy used in this embodiment. In the car call management data Dy, for each elevator car G identified by the car information Pg, the information of the car call Y (destination floor Fd) that was registered to the elevator car G when it stopped in section W1 is recorded. Then, the information of each car call Y is deleted from the car call management data Dy (deletion of car call Y) when the car call Y has finished its role (when the elevator car G arrives at the destination floor Fd indicated by the car call Y).

[0036] Figure 2(D) shows a specific example of the information (destination floor Fd) of elevator car G, whose car information Pg is "G-01," as recorded in the elevator car call management data Dy. Then, in Figure 3(A), the destination floor Fd for that elevator car Y is shown as a double circle, visualizing the information of that elevator car Y.

[0037] In this embodiment, in order to achieve both improved transportation efficiency and improved convenience, the number of planned stops Ns (W=Wn) is limited in each section W (=Wn). Specifically, in order to enable such a limitation, an upper limit Nt is set for the number of planned stops Ns (Wn) in each section Wn. In this embodiment, the upper limit Nt is set to the same value for all sections Wn and all elevator cars G (for example, Nt = 6 times), and this upper limit Nt is stored in the storage unit 21. The upper limit Nt may be set to different values ​​for each section Wn or for each elevator car G as appropriate.

[0038] Furthermore, in section W1, each time elevator car G arrives at a scheduled stopping floor in section W1 (departure floor Fc or destination floor Fd), the value of the number of scheduled stops Ns(W1) in section W1 is updated to a value that is one stop lower than the original value. By updating the value of the number of scheduled stops Ns(W1) in section W1 in this way, there is room to further increase the number of scheduled stopping floors in section W1, and as a result, it becomes possible to further improve transportation efficiency while improving the convenience of the elevator. Note that the value of the number of scheduled stops Ns(W1) in section W1 may be maintained without being updated even when elevator car G arrives at a scheduled stopping floor, and may include floors that have already been stopped.

[0039] Furthermore, in the elevator car management data Dq, if elevator car G reverses direction at the first end floor Fe1 or the floor before it, that floor becomes the current floor Fg, the second end floor Fe2 becomes the new first end floor Fe1, and the first end floor Fe1 becomes the new second end floor Fe2, and all sections Wn are reset. At this time, the number of planned stops Ns(W2) in the section W2 before the reset is carried over to the number of planned stops Ns(W1) in the newly reset section W1. On the other hand, the number of planned stops Ns(W2) in the newly reset section W2 is reset to Ns(W2)=0.

[0040] The control unit 22 is responsible for executing the control processing (including allocation processing, registration processing, and response processing) performed by the group management control device 2. Specifically, the control unit 22 is composed of processing devices such as a CPU and an MPU, and executes the control processing it is responsible for using software by running the control program installed in the group management control device 2. This control program may be stored in a readable state on a portable storage medium (e.g., flash memory) or in a downloadable state on a server before being installed in the group management control device 2. Furthermore, the control processing performed by the group management control device 2 is not limited to being implemented in software by executing a program, but may also be implemented in hardware by processing circuits built into the group management control device 2.

[0041] [1-2] Control processing performed by the group control device <Assignment process> Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the allocation process performed in this embodiment. This allocation process is initiated each time the group control device 2 receives an allocation request from any of the destination floor registration devices 1. Hereinafter, the user who has registered with that destination floor registration device 1 will be referred to as the "target user." The information that the group control device 2 receives each time an allocation request is made (destination floor Fd and device information Pd) will be collectively referred to as "received information Pr."

[0042] When the assignment process begins, the group management control device 2 first determines the landing call X of the target user to be assigned (step S101). Specifically, the group management control device 2 uses the device management data Dp to find a device information Pd that matches the device information Pd in ​​the received information Pr, and then extracts the corresponding installation floor Fs. Then, the group management control device 2 sets the extracted installation floor Fs as the target user's departure floor Fc, and determines that the departure floor Fc (=installation floor Fs) and the destination floor Fd in the received information Pr (the target user's destination floor Fd) as one landing call X for the target user. Hereafter, this target user's landing call X will be referred to as "target call Xk".

[0043] After step S101, the group management control device 2 performs a selection process for each of the elevator cars G to select an assignment candidate for the target call Xk (step S102). Specifically, this is done as follows:

[0044] <Sorting process> Figures 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the selection process performed in this embodiment. This selection process is performed for each of the elevator cars G. Specifically, the group management control device 2 focuses on each of the elevator car information Pg recorded in the elevator car management data Dq, and each time it focuses on one of the elevator car information Pg, it performs the selection process for the elevator car G identified by that elevator car information Pg (hereinafter referred to as "focused elevator car Gk").

[0045] In the sorting process, the group control device 2 first acquires information about the target elevator car Gk (step S201). Specifically, the group control device 2 uses the elevator car management data Dq to acquire the elevator car information Pg of the target elevator car Gk, the current floor Fg, the current direction Kg, and the number of planned stops Ns(Wn) for each section Wn, which are associated with it.

[0046] Next, the group control device 2 uses the current floor Fg and current direction Kg of the car Gk of interest acquired in step S201 to identify the current intervals W1 and W2 set for the car Gk of interest (step S202). Specifically, the group control device 2 designates the end floor located in the current direction Kg (current direction of travel) of the car Gk of interest as the first end floor Fe1, and the end floor on the opposite side as the second end floor Fe2. Then, in the order that the car Gk of interest will travel, it identifies the interval W from the current floor Fg of the car Gk of interest to the first end floor Fe1 as interval W1 (see Figure 3(A)), and the interval W from the first end floor Fe1 to the second end floor Fe2 as interval W2 (see Figure 3(B)).

[0047] After step S202, the group management control device 2 determines, assuming that the target call Xk has been assigned to the target cage Gk, in which section Wn the target call Xk can respond (step S203).

[0048] Specifically, the group control device 2 determines that the relevant section Wg (the section Wn (n=g) in which the elevator car Gk can respond to the target call Xk) is "section W1" if the conditions [J1] are met, such that the departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk are both within section W1, and the direction from departure floor Fc to destination floor Fd matches the direction of travel of the elevator car Gk in section W1 (the direction from the current floor Fg to the first end floor Fe1) (see Figure 3(A)). Furthermore, the group control device 2 determines that the relevant section Wg is "section W2" if the departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk are both within section W2, and the direction from departure floor Fc to destination floor Fd matches the direction of travel of the target elevator Gk in section W2 (the direction from the first end floor Fe1 to the second end floor Fe2) [J2] is met (see Figure 3(B)). On the other hand, if neither conditions [J1] nor [J2] are met for the departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk, the group control device 2 determines that there is "no" relevant section Wg.

[0049] Then, if the group control device 2 determines in step S203 that the relevant section Wg is "section W1" or "section W2", it proceeds to the next step S211 (see Figure 6). On the other hand, if the group control device 2 determines in step S203 that there is "no" relevant section Wg, it terminates the selection process for the target basket Gk without adding the target basket Gk to the assignment candidates.

[0050] In step S211, the group control device 2 determines whether there is a floor in the section Wg where the target elevator Gk is scheduled to stop (departure floor Fc or destination floor Fd; see Figures 3(A) and 3(B)) that is the same as the "departure floor Fc" indicated by the target call Xk.

[0051] If the group control device 2 determines "Yes" in step S211, it can determine that the number of stops Ns(Wg) in the relevant section Wg among the number of stops Ns(Wn) obtained in step S201 already includes the stops to the departure floor Fc indicated by the target call Xk. In this case, the group control device 2 leaves the value of the number of stops Ns(Wg) as is (step S212A) without performing a new count and proceeds to the next step S213.

[0052] On the other hand, if the group control device 2 determines "No" in step S211, it can determine that the number of stops for the departure floor Fc indicated by the target call Xk has not yet been counted in the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg). In this case, the group control device 2 determines whether it is possible to allow the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk (in other words, whether the car of interest Gk is a candidate for assignment) by determining whether the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg) is less than the upper limit Nt in the relevant section Wg (step S211X).

[0053] If the group control device 2 determines in step S211X that the value is "small (Yes)", it can determine that the value of the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) has not reached the upper limit Nt, and therefore, it may be possible to allow the assignment of the target call Xk to the car Gk of interest. In this case, the group control device 2 counts the number of stops required to reach the departure floor Fc indicated by the target call Xk (= 1 stop; the planned number of times the car Gk of interest will newly stop due to the assignment of the target call Xk) as the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) (step S212B), and then proceeds to the next step S213.

[0054] On the other hand, if the group control device 2 determines in step S211X that the value is "not small (Yes)", then it can determine that the value of the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) has reached the upper limit Nt, and therefore, there is no possibility of allowing the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk. In this case, the group control device 2 terminates the selection process for the car of interest Gk without adding it to the assignment candidates, so as not to perform the assignment to the car of interest Gk. In this way, the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk (in other words, the assignment of the landing call X that requires stopping in the relevant section Wg to the car of interest Gk) is restricted, and thereby the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) for the car of interest Gk in the relevant section Wg is controlled so as not to exceed the upper limit Nt.

[0055] In step S213, the group control device 2 determines whether there is a destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk among the planned stopping floors (departure floor Fc or destination floor Fd; see Figures 3(A) and 3(B)) of the target elevator Gk in the relevant section Wg.

[0056] If the group control device 2 determines "Yes" in step S213, it can determine that the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg) obtained via step S212A or S212B already includes the stops for the destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk. In this case, the group control device 2 adds the target elevator Gk to the assignment candidates for the target call Xk without performing a new count (step S215), leaving the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg) as is (step S214A). After that, the group control device 2 terminates the selection process for the target elevator Gk.

[0057] On the other hand, if the group control device 2 determines "No" in step S213, it can determine that the number of stops for the destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk has not yet been counted in the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg). In this case, the group control device 2 determines whether the value of the number of planned stops Ns(Wg) is less than the upper limit Nt in the relevant section Wg in order to determine whether the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk is permissible (in other words, whether the car of interest Gk is a candidate for assignment) (step S213X).

[0058] If the group control device 2 determines in step S213X that the value is "small (Yes)", then it can determine that the value of the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) has not reached the upper limit Nt, and therefore, it can allow the assignment of the target call Xk to the car Gk of interest. In this case, the group control device 2 counts the number of stops required to reach the destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk (= 1 stop; the number of times the car Gk of interest will newly stop due to the assignment of the target call Xk) as the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) (step S214B), and then adds the car Gk of interest to the list of assignment candidates for the target call Xk (step S215). At this time, if the number of stops required to reach the destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk (= 1 stop) has already been counted in step S212B, then a total of 2 stops will be counted as the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) in this selection process. Subsequently, the group control device 2 terminates the sorting process for the target basket Gk.

[0059] On the other hand, if the group control device 2 determines in step S213X that the value is "not small (No)", it can determine that the value of the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) has reached the upper limit Nt, and therefore, it cannot allow the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk. In this case, the group control device 2 terminates the selection process for the car of interest Gk without adding it to the assignment candidates, so as not to perform the assignment to the car of interest Gk. In this way, the assignment of the target call Xk to the car of interest Gk (in other words, the assignment of the landing call X that requires stopping in the relevant section Wg to the car of interest Gk) is restricted, and thereby the planned number of stops Ns(Wg) for the car of interest Gk in the relevant section Wg is controlled so as not to exceed the upper limit Nt.

[0060] <Assignment process (continued)> After step S102 (see Figure 4), the group control device 2 determines whether or not it was able to find an assignment candidate by executing step S102 (step S103).

[0061] Here, if the group control device 2 is unable to add any of the elevator cars G to the list of assignment candidates through the selection process (see Figures 5 and 6), it will end step S102 without finding any assignment candidates. In this case, the group control device 2 will determine in step S103 that it "could not be done (No)" and return to step S102 to perform the selection process again for each of the elevator cars G. At this point, the group control device 2 may relax the upper limit Nt (for example, by adding "1" to the upper limit Nt to make it possible to find assignment candidates) and then return to step S102.

[0062] If the group management control device 2 determines "Yes" in step S103, it selects the optimal elevator car G from the assignment candidates found in step S102 and assigns the target call Xk to that elevator car G (step S111).

[0063] Subsequently, the group control device 2 updates the car management data Dq for the car G selected in step S111 (the car G to which the target call Xk has been assigned) by updating the value of the number of scheduled stops Ns(Wg) in the corresponding section Wg to the value obtained in step S214A or S214B of Figure 6 for that car G (step S112). After that, the group control device 2 terminates the assignment process.

[0064] This allocation process allows each elevator car G to limit the number of planned stops Ns(Wn) in each section Wn. As a result, the number of stops for each elevator car G as it circles the operating section can be controlled to limit the number of stops per loop while preventing a significant bias in the number of stops between the upward and downward directions of travel. Therefore, it becomes possible to achieve both improved transport efficiency, which is obtained by limiting the number of stops per loop, and improved convenience, which is obtained by suppressing the bias in the number of stops, in an elevator.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, if each elevator car G reverses direction of travel at the first end floor Fe1 or the floor before it, the group control device 2 sets that floor as the current floor Fg, the second end floor Fe2 as the new first end floor Fe1, and the first end floor Fe1 as the new second end floor Fe2, and re-sets the section Wn for that elevator car G. This makes it possible to continuously control the elevator so that the number of stops does not become significantly uneven at all times.

[0066] [2] Variant [2-1] First variation Figure 7(A) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the car management data Dq used in the first modified example. As shown in this figure, the car management data Dq may also associate each elevator car G with a third section W3, which is different from sections W1 and W2, and the number of planned stops Ns(W=W3). Here, section W3 is set as the section W that the elevator car G passes through after sections W1 and W2, according to the order in which the elevator car G passes through, and is the section W from the second end floor Fe2 to the first end floor Fe1 (see Figure 8). The number of planned stops Ns(W=W3) is the count of the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop in section W3.

[0067] Furthermore, in the car management data Dq of this modified example, if the elevator car G reverses direction at the first end floor Fe1 or the floor before it, that floor becomes the current floor Fg, the second end floor Fe2 becomes the new first end floor Fe1, and the first end floor Fe1 becomes the new second end floor Fe2, and then all sections Wn are reset. In this modified example, the planned number of stops Ns(W2) in section W2 before the reset is carried over to the planned number of stops Ns(W1) in the newly reset section W1. Similarly, the planned number of stops Ns(W3) in section W3 before the reset is carried over to the planned number of stops Ns(W2) in the newly reset section W2. On the other hand, the planned number of stops Ns(W3) in the newly reset section W3 is reset to Ns(W3)=0.

[0068] Figure 7(B) is a conceptual diagram illustrating the landing call management data Dx used in the first modified example. In the landing call management data Dx of this modified example, the information for each landing call X is recorded in section W3 if the elevator car G can respond to that landing call X in section W3.

[0069] Figure 7(B) shows a specific example of the information on the landing call X (departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd) in section W3 recorded in the landing call management data Dx for elevator car G with Pg = "G-01", along with other specific examples. Then, in Figure 8, the information on the landing call X in section W3 is visualized in the same way as in Figures 3(A) and 3(B).

[0070] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing part of the sorting process performed in the first modified example. In the first modified example, after step S201, the group control device 2 uses the current floor Fg and current direction Kg of the target car Gk acquired in step S201 to identify the current interval W1 to W3 set for the target car Gk (step S230). Specifically, the group control device 2 designates the end floor located in the current direction Kg (current direction of travel) of the elevator car Gk as the first end floor Fe1, and the end floor on the opposite side as the second end floor Fe2. Then, according to the order in which the elevator car Gk will pass, it identifies the section W from the current floor Fg of the elevator car Gk to the first end floor Fe1 as section W1 (see Figure 3(A)), the section W from the first end floor Fe1 to the second end floor Fe2 as section W2 (see Figure 3(B)), and the section W from the second end floor Fe2 to the first end floor Fe1 as section W3 (see Figure 8).

[0071] After step S230, the group control device 2 determines which section Wn is the section Wg in which the cage Gk of interest can respond to the target call Xk, assuming that the target call Xk has been assigned to the cage Gk of interest (step S231).

[0072] Specifically, the group control device 2 identifies the section Wg as "Section W1" if condition [J1] is met for the departure floor Fc and destination floor Fd indicated by the target call Xk (see Figure 3(A)), and identifies the section Wg as "Section W2" if condition [J2] is met (see Figure 3(B)). Furthermore, the group control device 2 identifies the section Wg as "Section W3" if the departure floor Fc indicated by the target call Xk is any floor from the second end floor Fe2 to the current floor Fg, and condition [J3] is met, such that the direction from the departure floor Fc to the destination floor Fd matches the direction of travel of the target elevator Gk in Section W3 (the direction from the second end floor Fe2 to the first end floor Fe1) (see Figure 8).

[0073] Thus, assuming that the target call Xk has been assigned to the target cage Gk, a third interval W3 is provided as the interval Wg in which the target call Xk can respond, the target cage Gk will always respond to the target call Xk in one of the three intervals W1 to W3. Therefore, in step S231, one of the three intervals W1 to W3 will always be identified as the interval Wg.

[0074] Then, in step S231, the group control device 2 identifies the relevant section Wg and then executes the processing from step S211 (see Figure 6). This allows the group control device 2 to count the number of planned stops Ns(W3) in section W3, and to limit the allocation to the elevator car G so that the number of planned stops Ns(W3) does not exceed the upper limit Nt.

[0075] According to the first modification, even immediately after the elevator car G reverses direction at or just before the first end floor Fe1 (immediately after passing through section W1), it becomes possible to create a situation where the number of stops during the process of completing one full rotation is already controlled so that the number of stops does not become heavily biased towards either the upward or downward direction of travel.

[0076] [2-2] Second variation In both the above-described embodiment and the first modified example, the planned number of stops Ns(Wn) for each section Wn is not limited to counting both the planned number of stops for the elevator car G at the departure floor Fc and the planned number of stops for the elevator car G at the destination floor Fd, but may be appropriately changed to count only one of the planned number of stops.

[0077] Specifically, in the sorting process (Figures 5 and 6), the group control device 2 determines in step S203 that the relevant section Wg is either "section W1" or "section W2," and then executes only the process from step S213 onwards, so that only the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop at the destination floor Fd is counted as the number of scheduled stops Ns(Wn). In this case, in step S213, the group control device 2 may, instead of the scheduled stopping floor of the elevator car Gk in the relevant section Wg (departure floor Fc or destination floor Fd), target only the destination floor Fd where the elevator car Gk is scheduled to stop in the relevant section Wg (see Figures 10(A) and 10(B)) and determine whether there is a destination floor Fd that is the same as the "destination floor Fd" indicated by the target call Xk.

[0078] Furthermore, in the sorting process (Figures 5 and 6), the group control device 2 determines in step S203 that the relevant section Wg is either "section W1" or "section W2," and then executes the process from step S211. At the same time, by executing step S215 immediately after step S212A or 212B, it becomes possible to count only the number of times the elevator car G is scheduled to stop at the departure floor Fc as the number of scheduled stops Ns(Wn). In this case, in step S213, the group control device 2 may, instead of considering the scheduled stopping floor (departure floor Fc or destination floor Fd) of the elevator car Gk in the relevant section Wg, consider only the departure floor Fc where the elevator car Gk is scheduled to stop in the relevant section Wg, and determine whether there is a departure floor Fc that is the same as the "departure floor Fc" indicated by the target call Xk.

[0079] The above-described embodiments and modifications should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, rather than by the above-described embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0080] From the embodiments and modifications described above, the subject matter of the invention may not be limited to the group control device 2, but may also be a part or all of the control processing (including the control method corresponding to the control processing) or program executed by the group control device 2. Furthermore, a part or all of the elevator described above may also be extracted as the subject matter of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1. Destination Floor Registration Device Group 2 Control System G Car W section X boarding area call 21 Memory section 22 Control Unit Dp Device Management Data Dq Basket Management Data Dx boarding area call management data Dy Basket Call Management Data FC Departure Floor Fd Destination Floor Fg Current Floor Fs installation floor Gk Focus Basket Kg Current direction Number of planned Ns stops Nt upper limit Pd device information Pg Shopping Cart Information Pr Received Information Wn, W1, W2, W3 section Wg Applicable section Xk target call ME1 First End Floor Fe2 Second End Stage

Claims

1. This is a control device that assigns landing calls to elevator cars. The end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car is designated as the first end floor, and the end floor on the opposite side is designated as the second end floor. The sections from the elevator car's current floor to the first end floor and from the first end floor to the second end floor are defined in the order the elevator car travels. Then, each time a landing call is assigned to the elevator car, the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment is counted as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section where the landing call is responded to. An elevator control device that, for each section, if the number of scheduled stops in that section reaches the upper limit, restricts the allocation of elevator cars to the landing calls requiring stops in that section.

2. The elevator control device according to claim 1, further defining the section from the second end floor to the first end floor in the order in which the elevator car passes, and then, each time the elevator car is assigned the landing call, counting the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section in which the landing call is responded to.

3. In the section from the current floor to the first end floor, each time the elevator car arrives at a floor scheduled to stop in that section, the control device for the elevator is updated to a value obtained by subtracting one stop from that value.

4. The elevator control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the elevator car reverses direction of travel at the first end floor or the floor before it, the control device sets the section anew by setting that floor as the current floor, the second end floor as a new first end floor, and the first end floor as a new second end floor.

5. This is a control method for assigning landing calls to elevator cars. The end floor located in the direction of travel of the elevator car is designated as the first end floor, and the end floor on the opposite side is designated as the second end floor. The sections from the elevator car's current floor to the first end floor and from the first end floor to the second end floor are defined in the order the elevator car travels. Then, each time a landing call is assigned to the elevator car, the number of times the elevator car will newly stop as a result of that assignment is counted as the number of scheduled stops for the elevator car in the section where the landing call is responded to. An elevator control method that, for each section, if the number of scheduled stops in that section reaches an upper limit, restricts the allocation of elevator cars to the landing calls requiring stops in that section.

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