Elevators, elevator control methods, and elevator control programs

Abstract

The elevator includes: a car; a hall control unit having multiple connection ports for connecting to an operating terminal, disposed in each hall for the car; a control device having a drive control unit for controlling the movement of the car based on signals from the hall control unit; and a recovery operation input unit for performing an operation to restore the car's operating mode based on the drive control unit from a check mode to a normal operating mode. The control device includes: a recovery permission determination unit that uses one of the idle ports of each of the connection ports of each hall control unit that is not connected to the operating terminal as the recovery operation input unit, and when it is determined that a recovery permission signal has been sent from the recovery operation input unit, permits the drive control unit to restore to the normal operating mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to elevators, elevator control methods, and elevator control programs. Background Technology

[0002] Regarding elevator control related to maintenance and repair operations, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is as follows. Patent Document 1 describes a process where "maintenance personnel who have entered the elevator shaft pit 17 exit the pit 17 after a given maintenance, repair, or repair operation. At this time, they operate the elevator shaft safety switch 18 within the elevator shaft pit 17. As shown in FIG. 4, the main control device 11 monitors the activation operation of the elevator shaft safety switch 18 (step 8f). If the elevator shaft safety switch 18 is activated, the door opening detection state based on the bit signal from the transmission line 16 is deactivated (step 9f), and the operation is restored from the operation prohibition mode to the normal operation mode. Conversely, if the elevator shaft safety switch 18 is not activated, the door opening detection state based on the bit signal from the transmission line 16 is maintained (step 10f), and the operation prohibition mode remains unchanged."

[0003] Furthermore, recent EN standards and the new JIS standards require that the return to normal operating mode after maintenance, repair, or maintenance work be carried out outside the pit to ensure the safety of maintenance personnel. Therefore, the aforementioned safety switch 18 for the lifting platform is located outside the pit.

[0004] Existing technical documents

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: JP 2011-32028 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, in the above structure, the safety switch 18 of the lifting channel is connected to the main control device 11 by a drag-and-drop cable, which becomes a factor that complicates the equipment.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an elevator, an elevator control method, and an elevator control program that can reduce the number of wires without adding equipment.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] To solve the above problems, for example, the structure described below can be adopted.

[0012] This application includes various means to solve the above-mentioned problems. For example, an elevator includes: a car; a hall control unit having multiple connection ports for connecting to an operating terminal, disposed in each hallway for the car; a control device having a drive control unit that controls the movement of the car based on signals from the hall control unit; and a recovery operation input unit that performs an operation to restore the car's operating mode based on the drive control unit from a check mode to a normal operating mode. The control device includes: a recovery permission determination unit that uses one of the idle ports of each of the connection ports of each hall control unit that is not connected to the operating terminal as the recovery operation input unit, and when it is determined that a recovery permission signal has been sent from the recovery operation input unit, permits the drive control unit to restore to the normal operating mode.

[0013] The effects of the invention

[0014] According to the present invention, an elevator, an elevator control method, and an elevator control program are provided that can reduce the number of wires without adding equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is an overall structural diagram of the elevator involved in the implementation method.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the elevator control method involved in the implementation method. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The following describes in detail, based on the accompanying drawings, embodiments related to the elevator, elevator control method, and elevator control program of the present invention.

[0018] "elevator"

[0019] Figure 1 This is an overall structural diagram of elevator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, elevator 1 has a car 11, a counterweight 12, and a main sling 13 connecting them at both ends within a travel corridor 10 extending in a given direction along the building. A machine room 10a is located above the travel corridor 10, and a traction machine 14 for winding the main sling 13 is provided in the machine room 10a.

[0020] On the wall of the travel passage 10, facing the lobbies 15 located on each floor F1, F2, ... of the building, there are lobby doors 16. Each lobby door 16 engages with the car door 11a when the car 11 arrives at the respective lobby F. When the car door 11a is opened, the lobby door 16 and the car door 11a open together.

[0021] In addition, each lobby 15 is equipped with a call operation unit 20 and a lobby control unit 21. Among them, the call operation unit 20 has at least an up call button 20a and a down call button 20b.

[0022] That is, the call operation unit 20 located in the lobby 15 on the lowest floor F1 has an upward call button 20a. Furthermore, the call operation units 20 located in the lobby 15 on the intermediate floors F2, ... have upward call buttons 20a and downward call buttons 20b. Additionally, the call operation unit 20 located in the lobby 15 on the highest floor Fn has a downward call button 20b. These upward call buttons 20a and downward call buttons 20b are lobby call buttons provided in the call operation unit 20 as an operating terminal.

[0023] Furthermore, the lobby control unit 21 is connected to the call operation unit 20, sending the operation signals of the up call button 20a and the down call button 20b of the call operation unit 20 to the control device 30, which will be described below. Each lobby control unit 21 typically has the same number of connection ports 22a and 22b. Each connection port 22a and 22b is individually connected to the up call button 20a and the down call button 20b of the call operation unit 20. Therefore, each lobby control unit 21 has at least two connection ports 22a and 22b. This lobby control unit 21 is connected to the control device 30, which will be described below, via wiring 23.

[0024] In the above structure, the lobby control unit 21 located on the middle floors F2, ... is configured to connect the up call button 20a and the down call button 20b separately to the two connection ports 22a and 22b. Furthermore, the lobby control unit 21 located on the top floor Fn connects the down call button 20b to only one of the two connection ports 22a and 22b, leaving the other connection port 22a as an unused port 22x. Conversely, the lobby control unit 21 located on the bottom floor F1 connects the up call button 20a to only one of the two connection ports 22a and 22b, leaving the other connection port 22b as an unused port 22y.

[0025] Any of these unused ports 22x and 22y is used as a recovery operation input, distinguished from the other connection ports 22a and 22b by being a given connection port 101 for freely connecting and disconnecting the connector 100. Additionally, the connector 100 is used by elevator 1 maintenance personnel to send a signal to the control device 30 authorizing a return to the normal operating mode. For example, such a connector 100 sends an activation signal when connected to the given connection port 101, and stops sending the activation signal when the connector 100 is disconnected from the given connection port 101. Alternatively, the reverse is also possible.

[0026] Here, during the maintenance work of elevator 1, maintenance personnel operate connector 100 by entering the pit 10b at the bottom of the travel corridor 10 to perform the work and exiting the pit 10b after the work is completed. Therefore, connector 100 can be connected to either of the free ports 22y or 22x. However, considering the convenience of operating connector 100, it is preferable, as shown in the figure, to use the free port 22y of the lobby control unit 21, which is closer to the pit 10b, as the given connection port 101 for the recovery operation input unit, so that connector 100 can be connected.

[0027] The control device 30 is typically located near the traction machine 14 and in the machine room 10a. The control device 30 controls the opening and closing of the car door 11a located in the car 11 and the driving of the traction machine 14.

[0028] Here, the control device 30 is composed of a computer. A computer is hardware used as a so-called "computer". A computer has non-volatile storage units such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and HDD (hard disk drive), and may further have a network interface.

[0029] The control device 30, configured with such a computer, controls the operation of the elevator 1 by storing the control program related to the operation of the elevator, including the car door 11a and the drive of the traction machine 14, in a non-volatile storage unit and executing processing based on the stored control program. This control device 30 includes a drive control unit 30a and a recovery permission determination unit 30b as functional units for executing the control program.

[0030] The drive control unit 30a controls the opening and closing of the car door 11a and the movement of the traction machine 14 based on signals from the car call operation unit (not shown) located in the car 11, signals from each call operation unit 20, and signals from various sensors (not shown here). Furthermore, the recovery permission determination unit 30b, based on a signal from a given connection port 101, permits recovery from the inspection mode to the normal operation mode when the elevator 1 is in inspection mode. Details of the recovery permission determination unit 30b's permission will be explained in the following elevator control method description.

[0031] Elevator Control Methods

[0032] Figure 2This is a flowchart illustrating the elevator control method according to the implementation method. The elevator control method shown in this figure is achieved by using... Figure 1 The control process implemented by the control program maintained in the control device 30 is a process used to complete the inspection of elevator 1 and restore it to its normal operating mode. The following is in accordance with... Figure 2 Flowchart, refer to Figure 1 This will explain the elevator control method.

[0033] <Step S101>

[0034] In step S101, the recovery permission determination unit 30b determines whether a signal has been received from the given connection port 101. Here, the given connection port 101 is the idle port 22y connected to the connector 100, and is the port among the connection ports 22a and 22b used as the recovery operation input unit. If the recovery permission determination unit 30b determines that a signal has been received from the given connection port 101 (yes), it proceeds to the next step S102; otherwise, the determination is repeated.

[0035] <Step S102>

[0036] In step S102, the recovery permission determination unit 30b determines whether a recovery permission signal has been received from the given connection port 101. Here, the recovery permission signal is a rectangular wave signal generated when the connector 100, connected to the given connection port 101, is disconnected by being pulled out of the given connection port 101 and then reconnected to the given connection port 101 to become connected again. That is, the recovery permission determination unit 30b determines whether the worker has exited the pit 10b based on this rectangular signal, pulls the connector 100 out of the given connection port 101 of the lobby control unit 21, and then reconnects the pulled-out connector 100 to the given connection port 101. If the recovery permission determination unit 30b determines that it is a recovery permission signal ("Yes"), it proceeds to the next step S103. If it determines that it is not a recovery permission signal ("No"), it returns to step S101.

[0037] <Step S103>

[0038] In step S103, the restoration permission determination unit 30b grants the drive control unit 30a permission to restore the operating mode from the check mode to the normal operating mode. As a result, the drive control unit 30a returns the operating mode from the check mode to the normal operating mode, thus ending the process.

[0039] Effects of the Implementation Method

[0040] According to the embodiment described above, any one of the idle ports 22x and 22y among the connection ports 22a and 22b of the multiple hall control units 21 can be used as a recovery operation input unit to restore the elevator 1 to its normal operating mode after the maintenance work is completed. Thus, as Figure 1 As shown, the dragging cable 200 between the recovery operation input unit 101' used to send the recovery permission signal and the control device 30 can be eliminated, reducing the number of cables in the elevator 1. As a result, the number of cables can be reduced without adding equipment to the elevator 1.

[0041] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, the determination of the input of the permission signal is set to determine whether the following process has been performed: unplugging the connector 100 connected to the given connection port 101, and then reconnecting the unplugged connector 100 to the given connection port 101. This prevents the connector 100 from being lost or forgotten. However, if the possibility of the connector 100 being lost or forgotten cannot be considered, the determination can also be set to determine whether the connector 100 is connected to the given connection port 101, and then unplugging the connected connector 100 from the given connection port 101. Furthermore, if the possibility of operational errors cannot be considered, the structure can also be set to connect an input switch for permission restoration to the given connection port 101.

[0042] As described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, but further includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above have been described in detail for ease of understanding of the present invention, but are not necessarily limited to having all the structures described. Furthermore, a part of the structure of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the structure of another embodiment, and the structure of another embodiment can be added to the structure of a certain embodiment. In addition, other structures can be added, deleted, or replaced to a part of the structure of each embodiment.

[0043] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0044] 1…Elevator, 11…Car, 15…Lobby, 20a…Up call button (operating terminal), 20b…Down call button (operating terminal), 21…Lobby control unit, 22a, 22b…Connection ports, 22x, 22y…Idle ports, 30…Control device, 30a…Drive control unit, 30b…Resumption permission judgment unit, 100…Connector, 101…Given connection port (Resumption operation input unit), F1…Lowest floor.

Claims

1. An elevator, comprising: a car; a hall control unit provided in each hall for the car, the hall control unit having a plurality of connection ports to which an operation terminal is connected; a control device having a drive control unit that controls travel of the car based on a signal from the hall control unit; and a recovery operation input unit that performs an operation for recovering an operation mode of the car based on the drive control unit from a check mode to a normal operation mode, characterized in that the control device comprises: a recovery permission judging unit that takes one of idle ports, among the connection ports of each of the hall control units, to which the operation terminal is not connected, as the recovery operation input unit, and permits the drive control unit to recover to the normal operation mode in a case where it is judged that a recovery permission signal is sent from the recovery operation input unit.

2. The elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the idle port serving as the recovery operation input unit is one of the connection ports of the hall control unit provided in the lowest hall among the hall control units.

3. The elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation terminal is a hall call button.

4. The elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the hall control units has the same number of connection ports.

5. The elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the recovery operation input unit is detachably connected to a connector that sends a signal to the control device.

6. The elevator according to claim 1, characterized in that the recovery permission signal is a rectangular signal.

7. An elevator control method, which is a control method of an elevator, the elevator comprising: a car; a hall control unit provided in each hall for the car, the hall control unit having a plurality of connection ports to which an operation terminal is connected; a control device having a drive control unit that controls travel of the car based on a signal from the hall control unit; and a recovery operation input unit that performs an operation for recovering an operation mode of the car based on the drive control unit from a check mode to a normal operation mode, characterized in that a recovery permission judging unit provided in the control device takes one of idle ports, among the connection ports of each of the hall control units, to which the operation terminal is not connected, as the recovery operation input unit, and permits the drive control unit to recover to the normal operation mode in a case where it is judged that a recovery permission signal is sent from the recovery operation input unit.

8. An elevator control program, which is a control program of an elevator, the elevator comprising: a car; a hall control unit provided in each hall for the car, the hall control unit having a plurality of connection ports to which an operation terminal is connected; a control device having a drive control unit that controls travel of the car based on a signal from the hall control unit; and a recovery operation input unit that performs an operation for recovering an operation mode of the car based on the drive control unit from a check mode to a normal operation mode, characterized in that a recovery permission judging unit provided in the control device takes one of idle ports, among the connection ports of each of the hall control units, to which the operation terminal is not connected, as the recovery operation input unit, and permits the drive control unit to recover to the normal operation mode in a case where it is judged that a recovery permission signal is sent from the recovery operation input unit. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The control device is configured to allow the recovery operation input unit to be one of idle ports of the connection ports of the hall control units to which the operation terminal is not connected, and the drive control unit is allowed to recover to the normal operation mode when a recovery permission signal is sent from the recovery operation input unit.

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