Elevator equipment and guide equipment

Abstract

To provide an elevator device capable of giving appropriate guidance to a passenger inside a car in consideration of the prevention against an infectious disease.SOLUTION: A plurality of standing positions for passengers is set in a car 1. A specification unit 31 specifies a vacant position from among the plurality of standing positions based on an image photographed by a camera 21. A guide unit 33 guides a passenger to a vacant position when the car 1 is stopped at a landing 8 in response to a call registered from an operation panel 9. A notification control unit 32 makes a notification device notify a passenger of a first guidance for the prevention against droplet infection if the vacant position is not specified.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator device and a guide device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator device. In the elevator device described in Patent Document 1, a display is provided in the car. The standing position of each passenger is displayed on the display. Patent Document 1 also describes illuminating the floor to guide passengers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-1565 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the elevator system described in Patent Document 1, passengers are informed of their standing positions while taking into consideration the order in which they will get off the car.

[0005] Meanwhile, in recent years, preventive measures against infectious diseases are also required in elevators. The elevator device described in Patent Document 1 was unable to provide guidance that meets such requirements.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above. An object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator device capable of providing appropriate guidance to passengers in an elevator car while taking into consideration infection prevention. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a guidance device capable of providing appropriate guidance to passengers in an elevator car while taking into consideration infection prevention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The elevator device according to the present disclosure includes a car in which a plurality of standing positions for passengers are preset, an operation panel provided at a landing where the car stops, a camera provided in the car, an alarm provided in the car, a specifying means for specifying an empty position where no passengers are present from among the plurality of standing positions based on an image captured by the camera, a guiding means for guiding passengers to the empty position specified by the specifying means when the car stops at the landing in response to a call registered from the operation panel, an alarm control means for issuing a first guidance for preventing droplet infection from the alarm if an empty position is not specified by the specifying means when the car stops at the landing in response to a call registered from the operation panel, and a first detection means for detecting a crowded state of passengers in the car based on an image captured by the camera. After guidance by the guiding means is started, when an empty position is specified by the specifying means and a crowded state is detected by the first detection means, the alarm control means issues a second guidance from the alarm to have passengers move to the empty position.

[0008] The guidance device according to the present disclosure includes a camera provided in an elevator car, an alarm provided in the car, a specifying means for specifying an empty position where no passengers are present from among a plurality of standing positions preset in the car based on an image captured by the camera, a guiding means for guiding a passenger who has entered the car to the empty position specified by the specifying means, a notification control means for issuing a first notification for preventing droplet infection from the alarm if an empty position has not been specified by the specifying means when a passenger enters the car, and a first detection means for detecting a crowded state of passengers in the car based on an image captured by the camera. After guidance by the guiding means has started, when an empty position is specified by the specifying means and a crowded state is detected by the first detection means, the notification control means issues a second notification from the alarm to have the passenger move to the empty position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, appropriate guidance can be provided to passengers in an elevator car while taking into consideration infection prevention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an elevator device in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the function of the elevator system shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of setting a standing position. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of hardware resources of a control device. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example of hardware resources of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. Duplicate descriptions will be appropriately simplified or omitted. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0012] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator apparatus in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining functions of the elevator apparatus shown in Fig. 1. The elevator apparatus includes a car 1 and a counterweight 2. The car 1 moves up and down in a hoistway 3. The counterweight 2 moves up and down in the hoistway 3. The car 1 and the counterweight 2 are suspended in the hoistway 3 by a rope 4.

[0013] The rope 4 is wound around a hoist 5. The hoist 5 drives the car 1. A control device 6 controls the hoist 5. That is, the movement of the car 1 is controlled by the control device 6. The control device 6 also controls devices provided in the car 1.

[0014] 1 shows an example in which the hoisting machine 5 and the control device 6 are installed in a machine room 7 above the hoistway 3. The hoisting machine 5 and the control device 6 may be installed in the hoistway 3. When the hoisting machine 5 is installed in the hoistway 3, the hoisting machine 5 may be installed at the top of the hoistway 3 or in a pit of the hoistway 3.

[0015] The car 1 includes a floor 11 , a door 12 , a motor 13 , a weighing device 14 , and an operation panel 15 .

[0016] The entrance to the car 1 is opened and closed by a door 12. A motor 13 drives the door 12. A weighing device 14 measures the load of the car 1. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the weighing device 14 is provided under the floor 11. The weighing device 14 may be provided at the end of the rope 4. As an example, the fullness of the car 1 is determined based on the load measured by the weighing device 14. The operation panel 15 includes, for example, a destination button for registering a destination call, an open button for opening the door 12, and a close button for closing the door 12. The operation panel 15 may include other buttons.

[0017] The car room 16 is a space for passengers to ride in. A plurality of standing positions for passengers in the car room 16 are set in advance on the floor 11. The capacity of the car 1 is set in advance. Usually, the capacity of the car 1 is determined based on the area of ​​the floor 11. The number of standing positions set on the floor 11 is less than the capacity. It is preferable that the number of standing positions is equal to or less than half the capacity. As an example, if the capacity of the car 1 is 15 people, seven standing positions are set on the floor 11.

[0018] In recent years, as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus infection, passengers are recommended to keep as much distance as possible between each other while riding in the car 1. The standing positions may be set in accordance with such a recommendation.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of setting of standing positions. FIG. 3 shows a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows an example in which seven standing positions 17-1 to 17-7 are set on the floor 11. The number attached to the hyphen "-" after the reference number 17 indicates the priority order of the standing positions. That is, when a passenger gets on a car 1 in which no one is riding, the passenger preferably stands at standing position 17-1. When a passenger gets on a car 1 in which another passenger is already riding at standing position 17-1, the passenger preferably stands at standing position 17-2. Similarly, when a passenger gets on a car 1 in which another passenger is already riding at standing positions 17-1 to 17-6, the passenger preferably stands at standing position 17-7.

[0020] The elevator system also includes a guidance device 20. The guidance device 20 is a device for providing guidance to passengers in the car 1 with consideration given to preventing infectious diseases. The guidance device 20 includes a camera 21, a display 22, a speaker 23, a projector 24, and a control device 25.

[0021] The camera 21 is provided on the car 1. The camera 21 photographs the car room 16.

[0022] The display 22 is provided in the car 1. The speaker 23 is provided in the car 1. The display 22 and the speaker 23 are examples of an alarm for notifying passengers in the car room 16 of information. The guidance device 20 may be equipped with only one of the display 22 or the speaker 23. The guidance device 20 may be equipped with other devices such as an indicator light as an alarm. The alarm may be integrated with the operation panel 15.

[0023] The projector 24 is provided in the car 1. The projector 24 projects an image for guiding passengers to a standing position. The image from the projector 24 is projected onto the floor 11.

[0024] The control device 25 includes a memory unit 30, a specification unit 31, a notification control unit 32, a guidance unit 33, and a detection unit .

[0025] An operation panel 9 is provided at each landing 8 where the car 1 stops. Fig. 1 shows an example in which the operation panel 9 has an up button and a down button. As another example, the operation panel 9 may have a destination button.

[0026] The control device 6 includes a registration unit 41 and an operation control unit 42. The operation of the elevator device will be described in detail below with reference to Figs.

[0027] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 6. The control device 6 judges whether or not a call registration request has been received from the operation panel 9 of the hall 8 (S101). For example, if the button on the operation panel 9 has not been operated, the result of S101 is No.

[0028] When a passenger operates the operation panel 9 at the landing 8, a call registration request is transmitted from the operation panel 9. When the control device 6 receives the registration request, it judges Yes in S101. When it judges Yes in S101, the registration unit 41 registers the call based on the registration request received in S101 (S102). For example, when a passenger presses the up button at the landing 8 on the 5th floor, a landing call for the upward direction on the 5th floor is registered in S102. An example of the landing call being registered will be described in detail below. Also, the landing call will be referred to as a landing call C1.

[0029] The operation control unit 42 sequentially makes the car 1 respond to the registered calls (S103). For example, the operation control unit 42 makes the car 1 waiting on the first floor respond to the hall call C1. As a result, the car 1 moves from the first floor to the fifth floor. The control device 6 determines whether the car 1 has arrived at the hall 8 on the fifth floor (S104). When the car 1 arrives at the hall 8 on the fifth floor in response to the hall call C1, the result of S104 is determined as Yes. When the operation control unit 42 stops the car 1 at the hall 8 on the fifth floor, it controls the motor 13 to open the door 12 (S105). As a result, a passenger who presses the up button at the hall 8 on the fifth floor can get on the car 1.

[0030] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 25. The control device 25 judges whether or not the car 1 has arrived at the hall 8 in response to a hall call (S201). As an example, if the judgment in S104 is Yes, a specific signal is transmitted from the control device 6 to the control device 25. When the control device 25 receives the signal, the judgment in S201 is Yes.

[0031] The identification unit 31 identifies a standing position where no passenger is present from among the plurality of standing positions. Hereinafter, a standing position where no passenger is present is also referred to as an empty position. The plurality of standing positions are set in advance, and information on the standing positions is stored in the storage unit 30. The identification unit 31 identifies an empty position based on an image captured by the camera 21.

[0032] If the result of S201 is Yes, the identifying unit 31 first determines whether or not there is an empty position (S202). For example, in the example shown in Fig. 3, if there are passengers at all of the standing positions 17-1 to 17-7, the identifying unit 31 cannot identify an empty position. If the car 1 cannot identify an empty position when it arrives at the hall 8 on the 5th floor in response to the hall call C1, the identifying unit 31 determines No in S202.

[0033] Guiding passengers to a standing position in car 1 is one of the preventive measures against infectious diseases. A No judgment in S202 means that there are already more passengers in car 1 than the number of people appropriate for carrying out the preventive measures. For this reason, when a No judgment is made in S202, the notification control unit 32 issues a first notification to prevent droplet infection as the next preventive measure from the alarm (S203). As a result, the first notification such as "Please wear a mask and refrain from conversation" is issued from the alarm to passengers who board car 1 from hall 8 on the 5th floor.

[0034] On the other hand, if there is an empty position in car 1 when car 1 stops at hall 8 on the fifth floor in response to hall call C1, a Yes is determined in S202. In such a case, the identification unit 31 identifies the empty position (S204). When an empty position is identified in S204, the guiding unit 33 guides the passenger who boarded car 1 from hall 8 on the fifth floor to the identified empty position (S205).

[0035] As an example, the guidance of passengers by the guidance unit 33 is performed using the projector 24. The guidance unit 33 may guide passengers by projecting an image from the projector 24 onto the floor 11. For example, the guidance unit 33 projects a blinking light from the projector 24 at the vacant position identified by the identification unit 31. The guidance unit 33 may project an arrow pointing to the vacant position identified by the identification unit 31 from the projector 24. The guidance unit 33 may project an image from the projector 24 in which light flows from the entrance / exit toward the vacant position identified by the identification unit 31. Passengers who have entered the car 1 can check their standing position by looking at the image projected onto the floor 11.

[0036] When the guidance of passengers starts in S205, the identifying unit 31 determines whether or not there is a vacant position (S206). As described above, the identifying unit 31 identifies a vacant position based on the image captured by the camera 21.

[0037] If S206 is judged as Yes, the control device 25 judges whether the passengers in the car 1 are in a specific crowded state (S207). The detection unit 34 detects the crowded state of passengers in the car 1 based on the image captured by the camera 21. As an example, the detection unit 34 detects the crowded state when the distance between adjacent passengers is shorter than a specific reference distance. The detection unit 34 may detect the crowded state based on other detection conditions. If the detection unit 34 detects a crowded state, S207 is judged as Yes.

[0038] The determination in S206 may be performed prior to the determination in S207. If both S206 and S207 are determined to be Yes, the notification control unit 32 issues a second guidance from the alarm to request the user to move to the vacant position detected in S206 (S208).

[0039] If both S206 and S207 are judged as Yes, the guiding unit 33 may project an image from the projector 24 onto the floor 11 to guide passengers from the position where the crowded state was detected to the vacant position detected in S206 (S209). In this case, in S208, a second guidance such as "As a countermeasure against the novel coronavirus infection, we are informing you of the standing position in the car. Please board according to the position of the projected image" may be announced from the alarm.

[0040] On the other hand, in the control device 6, when the door 12 is opened in S105, it is determined whether or not the close button of the operation panel 15 has been pressed (S106). If the determination in S106 is No, it is determined whether or not a certain time has elapsed since the door 12 was opened in S105 (S107). If the determination in either S106 or S107 is Yes, the operation control unit 42 controls the motor 13 to close the door 12 (S108).

[0041] Also, a destination call is registered when a passenger in car 1 presses a destination button on the operation panel 15. When the operation control unit 42 closes the door 12 in S108, it causes car 1 to respond to the registered destination call (S109).

[0042] In the control device 25, the series of operations shown in S206 to S209 may be repeatedly performed until the door 12 is closed in S108. The series of operations may be repeatedly performed until a response to a call is started in S109. As another example, the series of operations may be performed only for a certain period of time after the door 12 starts to close in S108.

[0043] In the example shown in this embodiment, if there is an empty position in car 1 when a passenger gets on, the passenger is guided (guided) to that empty position. If there is no empty position in car 1 when a passenger gets on, a first guidance message to prevent droplet infection is issued to the passenger. In the example shown in this embodiment, appropriate guidance that takes into consideration infection prevention can be provided to passengers in car 1.

[0044] In the example shown in this embodiment, if a certain number of passengers are already in the car 1, the result of the determination in S202 in Fig. 5 is No. In such a case, even if an image is output from the projector 24, the image will hit the passengers and will not be projected onto the floor 11. For this reason, if the result of the determination in S202 is No, it is not necessary to project an image from the projector 24.

[0045] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which guiding device 20 uses a signal from control device 6. This is just one example. Guiding device 20 does not have to use a signal from control device 6. If guiding device 20 can perform the same operation as that shown in Fig. 5 without using a signal from control device 6, guiding device 20 can be easily applied to an existing elevator device.

[0046] In this case, it is preferable that the control device 25 further includes a detection unit 35. The detection unit 35 detects that a passenger has boarded the car 1. The detection unit 35 performs the above detection based on the video captured by the camera 21.

[0047] In this example, in S201 of FIG. 5, it is determined whether or not the detection unit 35 has detected that a passenger has boarded car 1. When the detection unit 35 detects that a passenger has boarded car 1, Yes is determined in S201. Then, when Yes is determined in S201, that is, when an empty position has not been identified by the identification unit 31 when the passenger boarded car 1, a first announcement for preventing droplet infection is announced from the alarm in S203. On the other hand, when an empty position is identified by the identification unit 31 when the passenger boarded car 1, the passenger who boarded car 1 is guided to the empty position in S205. That is, when Yes is determined in S201, the same operations as those described above are performed in S202 to S209.

[0048] In this embodiment, each unit indicated by the reference numerals 30 to 35 indicates a function possessed by the control device 25. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of the control device 25. The control device 25 includes a processing circuit 50 including a processor 51 and a memory 52 as hardware resources. The control device 25 realizes the functions of each unit indicated by the reference numerals 31 to 35 by causing the processor 51 to execute a program stored in the memory 52. ​​The function of the storage unit 30 is realized by the memory 52. ​​A semiconductor memory or the like can be adopted as the memory 52.

[0049] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of the control device 25. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the control device 25 includes a processing circuit 50 including a processor 51, a memory 52, and dedicated hardware 53. Fig. 7 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 25 are realized by the dedicated hardware 53. All of the functions of the control device 25 may be realized by the dedicated hardware 53. As the dedicated hardware 53, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination of these can be adopted.

[0050] The hardware resources of the control device 6 are similar to those in the example shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7. The control device 6 includes a processing circuit including a processor and a memory as hardware resources. The control device 6 realizes the functions of each unit indicated by reference numerals 41 and 42 by executing a program stored in the memory with the processor. The control device 6 may include a processing circuit including a processor, memory, and dedicated hardware as hardware resources. Some or all of the functions of the control device 6 may be realized by dedicated hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 car, 2 counterweight, 3 elevator shaft, 4 rope, 5 hoist, 6 control device, 7 machine room, 8 landing, 9 operation panel, 11 floor, 12 door, 13 motor, 14 weighing device, 15 operation panel, 16 car room, 17-1 to 17-7 standing position, 20 guidance device, 21 camera, 22 display, 23 speaker, 24 projector, 25 control device, 30 memory unit, 31 identification unit, 32 notification control unit, 33 guidance unit, 34 detection unit, 35 detection unit, 41 registration unit, 42 operation control unit, 50 processing circuit, 51 processor, 52 memory, 53 dedicated hardware

Claims

1. A car with multiple pre-defined positions for passengers; An operation panel provided at a landing where the car stops; A camera provided in the car; An alarm provided in the car; A specifying means for specifying an empty position where no passenger is present from among the plurality of standing positions based on an image captured by the camera; a guidance means for guiding a passenger to a vacant position identified by the identification means when the car stops at the hall in response to a call registered from the operation panel; a notification control means for notifying a first guidance for preventing droplet infection from the alarm if an empty position is not identified by the identification means when the car stops at the landing in response to a call registered from the operation panel; a first detection means for detecting a crowded state of passengers in the elevator car based on an image captured by the camera; Equipped with The notification control means is an elevator device in which, after guidance by the guiding means has started, when an empty position is identified by the identifying means and a crowded state is detected by the first detecting means, the notification control means issues a second guidance from the alarm to have the passenger move to the empty position.

2. The vehicle further includes a projector provided in the car, 2. The elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said guiding means guides passengers by projecting an image from said projector onto a floor of said car.

3. 3. The elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of standing positions is equal to or less than half of a capacity set for the car.

4. A camera installed in the elevator car, An alarm provided in the car; a specifying means for specifying an empty position where no passenger is present from among a plurality of standing positions preset in the elevator car based on an image captured by the camera; a guidance means for guiding a passenger who has boarded the elevator car to a vacant position identified by the identification means; a notification control means for notifying a first guidance for preventing droplet infection from the alarm if an empty position is not identified by the identification means when a passenger gets into the car; a first detection means for detecting a crowded state of passengers in the elevator car based on an image captured by the camera; Equipped with The notification control means is a guidance device that, after guidance by the guidance means has begun, when an empty position is identified by the identification means and a crowded state is detected by the first detection means, issues a second guidance from the alarm to have the person move to the empty position.

5. a second detection means for detecting that a passenger has boarded the elevator car based on an image captured by the camera; 5. The guidance device according to claim 4, wherein when the second detection means detects that a passenger has boarded the car and when an empty position is identified by the identification means, the guiding means guides the passenger to the empty position.

6. The vehicle further includes a projector provided in the car, 6. The guidance device according to claim 4, wherein the guiding means guides passengers by projecting an image from the projector onto a floor of the car.

7. The guidance device according to claim 4 , wherein the number of the plurality of standing positions is equal to or less than half the capacity set for the car.

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