Elevator remote spot inspection system and elevator remote spot inspection method

Abstract

The control unit (152) determines whether or not the open / closed state is a normal state on the basis of a time TG2 from a second timing (time t3) after the first timing (time t2) to a third timing (time t4). The first timing (time t2) is the timing at which the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state after the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The second timing (time t3) is the timing at which the GS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state and the DS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. The third timing (time t4) is the timing at which the GS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state and the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator remote inspection system and an elevator remote inspection method for remotely inspecting an elevator. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in the maintenance business of elevators, the demand for an elevator remote inspection system that remotely inspects elevators using a communication line has been increasing. As a device for performing such remote inspection, for example, a remote monitoring support device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-019900 (Patent Document 1) can be cited. This remote monitoring support device determines whether the operating state of an elevator is a normal operating state based on the output state of a signal obtained from the control board of the elevator.

[0003] By implementing remote inspection, the inspection work at the maintenance site has been reduced, and thus the maintenance business has been significantly streamlined. In addition, there are legal regulations (e.g., the general specifications for building maintenance services established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan) that allow the implementation cycle of the legally required regular inspection work to be extended when remote inspection is implemented, thereby further streamlining the maintenance business.

[0004] Especially in the global market where elevators of various manufacturers are installed, maintenance companies need to provide maintenance services regardless of the manufacturer and model of the elevator (to support multi-brand maintenance). On the other hand, on the side of the building owners who have signed maintenance contracts, there is a high demand for the freedom to choose a maintenance company regardless of the manufacturer of the installed elevator and sign a maintenance contract that enables remote inspection.

[0005] Under such circumstances, the demand for an elevator remote inspection system that can perform remote inspection based on signals obtained from an elevator system regardless of the manufacturer and model of the elevator has been increasing.

[0006] Prior Art Documents

[0007] Patent Documents

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-019900 Summary of the Invention

[0009] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] However, in the elevator industry, the communication specifications and signal specifications for each manufacturer and model have not been standardized. In addition, these specifications are generally not publicly available. Therefore, it is usually not possible to use a common elevator remote inspection system between different manufacturers.

[0011] In the case of developing an elevator remote inspection system corresponding to various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications, for example, it is necessary to find a way to take in contact signals of switches and other signals exchanged through parallel transmission. In addition, since the signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers, the types of signals that can be commonly used are greatly restricted.

[0012] In addition, even if signals can be commonly used, due to hardware constraints such as installation costs or installation difficulties when installing the elevator remote inspection system in a building, there are also signals that are not suitable for use. Therefore, in order to implement such an elevator remote inspection system, it is necessary to fully study which signals to use and which method to use to judge the inspection items of remote inspection.

[0013] The present disclosure has been completed to solve the above problems, and its object is to provide an elevator remote inspection system and an elevator remote inspection method that can perform remote inspection as simply as possible corresponding to various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications.

[0014] Means for Solving the Problem

[0015] The elevator remote inspection system disclosed in the present invention is a system for performing remote inspection of elevators. The elevator remote inspection system includes an acquisition unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires a signal input and output by parallel transmission between the equipment group of the elevator and the control panel of the equipment group that controls the elevator as a judgment signal. The control unit determines the inspection items of the remote inspection based on the obtained judgment signal. The output unit outputs the judgment result of the inspection item. The judgment signal includes a first signal, a second signal, a third signal, and a fourth signal. The first signal indicates any state of the first state and a non-first state that is not the first state, and the first state is a state in which the elevator car is located in the door zone, and the door zone shows the position range of the car in which the door of the car can be opened and closed. The second signal indicates any state of the second state and a non-second state that is not the second state, and the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released. The third signal indicates any state of the third state and a non-third state that is not the third state, and the third state is a state in which the door of the car is closed. The 4th signal indicates any state of the 4th state and the non-4th state which is not the 4th state, and the 4th state is a state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed. The inspection items include the opening and closing states of the car door and the landing door. The control unit determines whether the opening and closing state is a normal state based on the first time from the second timing after the first timing to the third timing. The first timing is the timing when the second signal changes from the second state to the non-2nd state after the first signal changes from the non-1st state to the first state. The second timing is the timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-3rd state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-4th state. The third timing is the timing when the third signal changes from the non-3rd state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-4th state to the 4th state.

[0016] The elevator remote inspection method disclosed in the present invention is a method for performing remote inspection of an elevator. The elevator remote inspection method comprises the following steps: obtaining a signal input and output through parallel transmission between an elevator device group and a control panel that controls the elevator device group as a judgment signal; judging the inspection item of the remote inspection based on the obtained judgment signal; and outputting the judgment result of the inspection item. The output unit outputs the judgment result of the inspection item. The judgment signal includes a first signal, a second signal, a third signal, and a fourth signal. The first signal indicates any state of the first state and a non-first state that is not the first state, and the first state is a state in which the elevator car is located in a door zone, and the door zone shows the position range of the car in which the door of the car can be opened and closed. The second signal indicates any state of the second state and a non-second state that is not the second state, and the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released. The third signal indicates any state of the third state and a non-third state that is not the third state, and the third state is a state in which the door of the car is closed. The 4th signal indicates any state of the 4th state and the non-4th state which is not the 4th state, and the 4th state is the state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed. The inspection items include the opening and closing states of the car door and the landing door. The determination step includes the following steps: based on the first time from the second timing after the first timing to the third timing, determine whether the opening and closing state is a normal state. The first timing is the timing when the second signal changes from the second state to the non-2nd state after the first signal changes from the non-1st state to the first state. The second timing is the timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-3rd state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-4th state. The third timing is the timing when the third signal changes from the non-3rd state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-4th state to the 4th state.

[0017] Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, the opening and closing states of the doors of the car and the landing are determined based on the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal suitable for remote inspection, thereby enabling remote inspection to be performed as simply as possible for various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. That is, multi-brand maintenance can be achieved in remote inspection. As a result, the maintenance company can reduce the maintenance inspection frequency at the maintenance site and increase the number of elevators that can be maintained. The owner of the building can freely choose a maintenance company to sign a maintenance contract that allows remote inspection. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system and a remote inspection system.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing an example in which a conventional remote inspection system is connected to an elevator system.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of the hardware structure of an elevator system.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an elevator.

[0023] Figure 5A This is a diagram showing an example of a landing of an elevator.

[0024] Figure 5B This is a diagram showing an example inside an elevator car.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of the hardware structure of a modified elevator system.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a diagram for explaining the hardware structure of a remote inspection system and the signals used in the remote inspection system.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the running of a car during diagnostic operation and signals.

[0028] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a remote inspection system.

[0029] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a remote inspection system.

[0030] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of remote inspection processing and terminal setting processing.

[0031] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing an example of a reference time DB.

[0032] Figure 13 This is a flowchart of reference time update processing.

[0033] Figure 14 This is a flowchart of reference time acquisition processing.

[0034] Figure 15 This is a timing diagram for explaining the determination of the opening and closing state of a door.

[0035] Figure 16 This is a flowchart of determination processing.

[0036] Figure 17 This is a diagram showing the determination conditions in determination processing.

[0037] Figure 18 This is a flowchart of modified determination processing. Detailed implementation

[0038] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0039] [Structure of Elevator System 200 and Elevator Remote Inspection System 1]

[0040] Hereinafter, the structure of elevator system 200 and elevator remote inspection system (hereinafter also simply referred to as "remote inspection system") 1 will be described. Figure 1 FIG. is an example showing the overall structure of elevator system 200 and remote inspection system 1.

[0041] When an elevator is installed in a building, the building owner needs to sign a maintenance contract with an elevator maintenance company. The maintenance staff of the maintenance company conducts maintenance inspections and regular inspections of the elevator based on the maintenance contract. When signing the maintenance contract, the building owner can sign the contract including remote inspection or remote monitoring as an option.

[0042] Remote monitoring means that a monitoring center (information center) of a maintenance company, etc. always monitors the presence or absence of abnormalities and defects in the elevator using a communication line or the like. Remote inspection means that, in addition to remote monitoring, a monitoring center of a maintenance company, etc. targets the parts required for normal elevator operation and uses a communication line or the like to inspect whether the operating state of the elevator and the operating conditions of each device are normal.

[0043] In remote inspection, there are three types of inspections: elevator performance inspection, inspection of each device, and inspection of utilization status. In the performance inspection, inspections are carried out for each inspection item of the starting state, accelerating state, constant-speed state, decelerating state, and stop floor state of the car. In the inspection of each device, inspections are carried out for each inspection item of the temperature in the machine room or control panel, the state of the control device, the state of the destination floor buttons in the car, the state of the intercom, the door opening and closing state, the state of the landing buttons, the state of the door switches, and the presence or absence of abnormalities in the electromagnetic brake. In the inspection of utilization status, inspections are carried out for each inspection item of the running distance, running time, or starting times of the car, and the opening and closing times of the door.

[0044] By implementing such remote inspections, the inspection work at the maintenance site is reduced, and thus the maintenance work is greatly streamlined. In addition, there are legal regulations that the implementation cycle of the legally required regular inspection work can be extended when remote inspections are implemented, thereby enabling further streamlining of the maintenance work. For example, in Japan, by implementing the remote inspections listed above, the implementation cycle of the legally required regular inspection can be reduced from once a month to once every three months (stipulated in the general specifications for building maintenance services of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

[0045] In addition, as described later, the demand of maintenance companies for promoting multi-branding of maintenance in the global market, and the demand of building owners for freely selecting a maintenance company to sign a maintenance contract enabling remote inspection are increasing. The remote inspection system 1 of the present embodiment is a system for remotely inspecting an elevator configured to meet such demands. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given.

[0046] As Figure 1 shown, the remote inspection system 1 includes a remote inspection device 100, a management server 300, and a terminal 400. The elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are provided in the building 2. The remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200 and performs remote inspection of the elevator. The remote inspection device 100 is configured to include, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

[0047] The management server 300 is provided, for example, in the information center (monitoring center) of the maintenance company. The terminal 400 can be provided in the information center of the maintenance company or at any place. The terminal 400 and the remote inspection device 100 can be connected to the management server 300 via a communication line.

[0048] The management server 300 manages various data such as customer information, building information, information of elevators installed in the building, and remote inspection results of each building that has signed a maintenance contract for the elevator. The management server 300 is a device that manages the remote inspection device 100, sends an execution instruction for remote inspection to the remote inspection device 100, and obtains the inspection result of the remote inspection executed by the remote inspection device 100.

[0049] The terminal 400 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a smart phone, or a tablet. The terminal 400 includes a display unit 410 that displays various information, and an input unit 420 that can input operations from a user using the terminal 400. In the present embodiment, the terminal 400 is used by a maintenance worker of the maintenance company. That is, the "user" using the terminal 400 refers to a maintenance worker of the maintenance company, but is not limited thereto, and anyone who may use the terminal 400 can be included in the user. For example, the user may also be an employee other than the maintenance worker of the maintenance company, or a person who manages the building 2. The terminal 400 can cause the remote inspection device 100 to execute remote inspection via the management server 300 by an operation of the maintenance worker from the input unit 420. In addition, the inspection result of the remote inspection that the terminal 400 can cause the remote inspection device 100 to execute is displayed on the display unit 410.

[0050] The elevator system 200 includes a control panel 210 and an elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 is composed of various devices including an elevator and landing devices of the elevator. The control panel 210 controls various devices of the elevator equipment group 220.

[0051] The control panel 210 inputs and outputs signals to and from the elevator equipment group 220 via a plurality of signal lines. Among the signals transmitted and received between the elevator equipment group 220 and the control panel 210, there are signals transmitted and received through parallel transmission (parallel communication) and signals transmitted and received through serial transmission (serial communication).

[0052] The former (parallel transmission) is, for example, a signal directly obtained from various switches or various sensors of the elevator equipment group 220. In the present embodiment, a contact signal of a switch (for example, a specified voltage is detected in the switch ON (closed) state) is assumed, but it may also be a signal such as a pulse signal obtained from a rotary encoder.

[0053] The latter (serial transmission) is a signal transmitted and received through serial communication between a control board included in a device provided on the landing side or car side of the elevator and the control panel 210. For example, assume the following scenario: Communication is established between the elevator management software (program) started in the control panel 210 and the software (program) started in the control board on the car side, and data (internal signals) such as the position and traveling direction of the car are transmitted and received through serial communication.

[0054] In the present embodiment, a part of the signal lines for transmitting and receiving signals through parallel transmission among the signal lines connecting the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 is branched and connected to a terminal included in the remote inspection device 100. As a result, a part of the signals transmitted and received through parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 can be input and output on the remote inspection device 100 side.

[0055] On the other hand, the control panel 210 of the elevator system 200 is configured to be able to connect to various maintenance devices of the elevator. A connector 261 is provided on the control board included in the control panel 210. By connecting the connector 262 of the cable connected to the maintenance device to the connector 261 of the control panel 210, a communication connection based on serial communication (serial transmission) can be established between the maintenance device and the control panel 210.

[0056] Various maintenance devices of the elevator, such as a maintenance computer, a remote monitoring device, a remote inspection device, etc., are used as dedicated devices of the elevator system 200. These maintenance devices are developed and used by the manufacturer of the elevator system 200 or the maintenance company of the manufacturer's system corresponding to each model of the elevator. Therefore, these maintenance devices cannot be connected to elevators of different manufacturers. Here, the maintenance company of the manufacturer's system refers to, for example, a subsidiary or an affiliated company of the manufacturer, hereinafter referred to as the "manufacturer-related maintenance company".

[0057] On the other hand, the remote inspection device 100 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to connect to the elevator system 200 regardless of the manufacturer of the elevator system 200. However, as will be described later, the types of signals suitable for use in the remote inspection device 100 are quite limited (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, landing call signal, etc. described later).

[0058] The above-mentioned maintenance device can establish communication with the elevator management software started in the control panel 210 through the software started in the maintenance device, and can obtain the internal signals held by the elevator management software.

[0059] These internal signals include signals based on parallel transmission (switch contact signals, etc.) input and output between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220, signals based on serial transmission (various instructions, etc.), and signals generated according to these signals.

[0060] For example, the control panel 210 calculates the position, speed, traveling direction, state (acceleration traveling state, constant speed traveling state, deceleration traveling state), etc. of the car based on the signals obtained from the rotary encoder that measures the rotational position of the traction machine (motor) that drives the elevator. Thus, the control panel 210 can hold this information as internal signals in software.

[0061] Based on this, the maintenance device connected to the control panel 210 through serial communication can not only obtain the contact signals input and output through parallel transmission, but also obtain the internal signals of the software input and output through serial transmission. In addition, the maintenance device can, through communication with the control panel 210, send various instructions such as a stop instruction for the elevator and a waiting instruction for a specific floor, set various action options, and set and change various parameters.

[0062] The maintenance computer in the maintenance device that can be connected through serial communication is a computer (terminal device) that can be used in on-site elevator maintenance inspections. Various maintenance software that can be started on the maintenance computer can be started to confirm various internal signals of the elevator, perform various instructions for the elevator, set and change settings, and rewrite software.

[0063] The maintenance computer can be used on-site. On the other hand, the remote monitoring device and the remote inspection device are used at a remote location via a network. The remote monitoring device among the maintenance devices that can be connected by serial communication is a device that can acquire and display the above internal signals remotely via a network. The remote inspection device among the maintenance devices that can be connected by serial communication is a device that can acquire and display the above internal signals remotely via a network and issue action instructions for remote inspection for the elevator.

[0064] (Comparison with the conventional type of remote inspection system)

[0065] Hereinafter, the differences between the remote inspection device (conventional type) that can be connected by serial communication and the remote inspection device 100 in the present embodiment will be described. Figure 2 It is a diagram showing an example in which a conventional type of remote inspection system is connected to the elevator systems 200 and 200a.

[0066] In Figure 2 In the example, the elevator system 200 is installed in Building A, and the elevator system 200a is installed in Building B. The elevator system 200 is an elevator system manufactured by Company X, and the elevator model is Model M. Among the elevators of each company, there are multiple models according to usage, age, etc. The elevator system 200a is an elevator system manufactured by Company Y, and the elevator model is Model N.

[0067] Only the remote inspection device 500 (conventional type) manufactured by Company X can be connected to the elevator system 200 manufactured by Company X via the connector 261. The remote inspection device 500 can be connected to the management server managed by Company X via a network. In addition, in this example, Company X is both the elevator manufacturer and the elevator maintenance company (manufacturer-based maintenance company).

[0068] For example, the server of Company X is set in the information center of Company X. By communicatively connecting the terminal to the management server of Company X, remote inspection of the elevator system 200 can be performed through the operation of the terminal.

[0069] Only the remote inspection device 500a (conventional type) manufactured by Company Y can be connected to the elevator system 200a manufactured by Company Y via the connector 261. The remote inspection device 500a can be connected to the management server managed by Company Y via a network. In addition, in this example, Company Y is both the elevator manufacturer and the elevator maintenance company (manufacturer-based maintenance company).

[0070] For example, the server of Company Y is set in the information center of Company Y. By communicatively connecting the terminal to the management server of Company Y, remote inspection of the elevator system 200a can be performed through the operation of the terminal.

[0071] In such a configuration, as described above, the remote inspection device 500 of Company X can communicate with the control panel 210 to obtain various internal signals generated by the management software of the control panel 210, and can also send various commands for the elevator to the control panel 210. For example, by operating the terminal, a command to make the car travel between two floors can be sent, and as a result, the travel time and speed information between the two floors can be obtained. The same applies to the remote inspection device 500a of Company Y.

[0072] However, in such a configuration, for the elevator system 200 made by Company X, it is necessary to use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X corresponding to model M, and for the elevator system 200a made by Company Y, it is necessary to use the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y corresponding to model N. Thus, when setting up a remote inspection device based on serial communication, it is necessary to prepare remote inspection devices according to each elevator manufacturer. In addition, even if the manufacturers are the same, it is necessary to prepare remote inspection devices corresponding to the models.

[0073] Regarding such remote inspection devices, they are sometimes prepared according to each elevator manufacturer, but usually can only be used by the manufacturer of the installed elevator or the maintenance company affiliated with the manufacturer. In addition, in the case of old models, there may sometimes be no corresponding remote inspection device.

[0074] For Figure 2 example, the maintenance company (manufacturer) Company X affiliated with the manufacturer can use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X, but cannot use the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y. On the other hand, the maintenance company (manufacturer) Company Y affiliated with the manufacturer can use the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y, but cannot use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X.

[0075] This is because the communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized between manufacturers and models, and these specifications are not publicly available. Assuming that such communication specifications, signal specifications, or address mappings are made public, any internal signals, internal flags, or setting parameters can basically be obtained from external devices by establishing communication with the control panel 210.

[0076] In addition, among elevator maintenance companies, in addition to maintenance companies affiliated with manufacturers, there are also maintenance companies that have no association with any manufacturer (referred to as "independent maintenance companies"). Independent maintenance companies can neither use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X nor the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y.

[0077] In Figure 2In the example, the owner of Building A can perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 500 when a maintenance contract is signed with the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company X, but cannot perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 500 when a maintenance contract is signed with the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company Y or an independent maintenance company.

[0078] On the other hand, the owner of Building B can perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 500a when a maintenance contract is signed with the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company Y, but cannot perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 500a when a maintenance contract is signed with the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company X or an independent maintenance company. Assuming that elevators manufactured by Company X and Company Y are installed in the same building, in order to perform remote inspection of all elevators, it is necessary to sign maintenance contracts with both the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance companies X and Y.

[0079] In this way, for the owners of buildings who want to sign a maintenance contract including remote inspection, when the conventional type of remote inspection device is introduced, the range of options for the maintenance contract becomes narrow. Based on this situation, in recent years, the demand for remote inspection devices that can be applied regardless of the manufacturer and model has been increasing in Japan. Especially in the global market where elevators of various manufacturers are installed, maintenance companies need to respond to maintenance regardless of the elevator manufacturer and model (multi-brand maintenance).

[0080] Therefore, the remote inspection device 100 in the present embodiment is configured as a remote inspection device that can respond regardless of the manufacturer and model. As described above, since the communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers and models, it is difficult to construct a remote inspection device 100 that performs communication based on serial transmission.

[0081] Therefore, as described Figure 1 above, the remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200 through parallel transmission (such as taking in the contact signals of switches). In addition, since the signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers, the types of signals that can be commonly used are limited. In addition, even for signals that can be commonly used, there are signals that are not suitable for use due to hardware constraints (from the viewpoints of ease of installation and installation cost). Therefore, in order to implement the remote inspection device 100, it is necessary to fully study which signals are used and which methods are used to judge the inspection items of remote inspection. Then use Figure 7 the following figures to illustrate the signals used and the determination method of inspection items in the present embodiment.

[0082] Return to Figure 2According to the description, the remote inspection device 100 in this embodiment can be connected to both the elevator system 200 manufactured by Company X installed in Building A and the elevator system 200a manufactured by Company Y installed in Building B. The remote inspection device 100 installed in Building A and the remote inspection device 100 installed in Building B are connected to the management server 300 via a network. If the terminal 400 is used, remote inspection of the elevator system 200 in Building A and the elevator system 200a in Building B can be achieved.

[0083] In addition, in the case where both the elevator system 200 manufactured by Company X and the elevator system 200a manufactured by Company Y are installed in one building, it is configured that the elevator systems 200 and 200a can be connected by one remote inspection device 100.

[0084] In the case configured as above, regardless of which elevator is installed, the building owner can freely select a maintenance company and sign a maintenance contract for remote inspection regardless of whether it is a manufacturer-based maintenance company or an independent maintenance company.

[0085] In addition, the management server 300 is not limited to being composed of one server device, and can also be composed of multiple server devices. For example, server devices can also be set up for each region to respond to access requests from each region. In this case, it can also be configured that the server devices in each region communicate with each other and can share each other's information (customer information, elevator information, etc.). Or, a main server device for managing the servers in each region can also be provided, and the main server device manages the information in each region.

[0086] The above-mentioned each region is not limited to the regions of one country, and can also include regions of multiple countries. For example, it can also be configured to set up server devices in Japan and share information with server devices installed outside Japan. In addition, a main server device can also be set up in any country, and the information stored in the main server device can be referred to from the server devices installed in each country.

[0087] The server devices installed in each country can also be configured to have a language code for each country or region to be managed. For example, "Japanese" is set as the language code for the server device managing buildings in Japan. "Chinese" is set as the language code for the server device managing buildings in China. "English" is set as the language code for the server device managing buildings in English-speaking countries.

[0088] The server device has language data corresponding to each language code. For example, when there is access from terminals in Japan, information is displayed in Japanese on these terminals. When there is access from terminals in China, information is displayed in Chinese on these terminals. In addition, information can also be managed for each language. The management server 300 can also be composed of a server group such as a communication server (Web server), a data server, and an application server connected to the remote inspection device 100 and the terminal 400.

[0089] In such a configuration, the remote inspection system 1 can be used in various countries around the world. For example, in Figure 2 this example, an elevator system 200 (control panel 210 and elevator equipment group 220) and a remote inspection device 100 are installed in Building A in the first country (e.g., the United States), and an elevator system 200a (control panel 210a and elevator equipment group 220a) and a remote inspection device 100 are installed in Building B in the second country (e.g., Japan) different from the first country.

[0090] The management server 300 is installed in the information center in the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country can be connected to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country and the remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country via a network. The management server 300 can send an execution instruction for remote inspection to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country, and can receive the determination results of each inspection item of the remote inspection from the remote inspection device 100 that has received the execution instruction.

[0091] The terminal 400 can be installed in the first country or the second country. For example, it is also possible to access the management server 300 installed in the second country from the terminal 400 installed in the second country, and perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country. It is also possible to access the management server 300 installed in the second country from the terminal 400 installed in the first country, and perform remote inspection through the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country.

[0092] The remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country is network-connected using the communication line network (such as an LTE line network) in the first country. The remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country is network-connected using the communication line network in the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country is connected to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country via the communication line in the second country.

[0093] With the above configuration, the remote inspection device 100 for remotely inspecting the elevator system 200 operating in the first country can be managed by the management server 300 of the second country. Thus, regardless of where the elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are installed, the management server 300 can manage the remote inspection device 100 across countries.

[0094] In addition, not limited to the determination of each inspection item remotely inspected by the remote inspection device 100, the management server 300 can also perform the determination of each inspection item for remote inspection. In this case, the remote inspection device 100 sends the signal data for determination obtained from the elevator system 200 to the management server 300. The management server 300 can perform the determination of each inspection item based on this signal data. Of course, it can also be configured to set up the management server 300 for each country and manage the remote inspection device 100 for each country.

[0095] (Detailed structure of elevator system 200)

[0096] Figure 3 FIG. is an example showing the hardware structure of the elevator system 200. In the present embodiment, the building 2 where the elevator system 200 is installed is a five-story building. In addition, one elevator (this elevator is referred to as "Machine No. 1") is installed in the building 2.

[0097] The control panel 210 includes each control unit (car control unit) 212. Each control unit 212 is a control board for controlling the elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 includes landing devices 230 provided at each landing from the first floor (1F) to the fifth floor (5F), various sensors and various switches used in the elevator system 200 (for example, the slow-up switch and slow-down switch described later), and the traction machine 250 and car device 240 of Machine No. 1.

[0098] The traction machine 250 is a motor that drives the elevator car to move up and down. The car device 240 is various equipment provided in the car and includes destination floor buttons for registering the destination floor. The landing device 230 is various equipment provided at each landing and includes landing buttons for registering landing calls. Use Figure 4 The following figures will be used to explain their details.

[0099] Each control unit 212 is connected to the landing devices 230, various sensors, and various switches on each floor via a control cable 21 formed by bundling a plurality of signal lines. In addition, each control unit 212 is connected to the traction machine 250 and car device 240 of Machine No. 1 via a control cable 22 formed by bundling a plurality of signal lines.

[0100] Each control unit 212 includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). They are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0101] The ROM stores a program for managing software for controlling the elevator equipment group 220. The CPU reads the program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes it to control the elevator equipment group 220. The RAM becomes a work area when the CPU executes the program, and temporarily stores programs, data when executing the program, and the like.

[0102] Each control unit 212 is configured to be able to communicate with the elevator equipment group 220 such as the landing device 230, the traction machine 250, the car device 240, etc. or Figure 1 , Figure 2 the various maintenance devices shown via the communication interface by serial communication or parallel communication.

[0103] Figure 4 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an elevator. The car 10 of the elevator is provided in a hoistway 8 provided in a building 2. The car 10 moves up and down in the hoistway 8 and moves between multiple floors. In the present embodiment, the car 10 can stop at each floor from the 1st floor (1F) to the 5th floor (5F).

[0104] A machine room 5 is provided directly above the hoistway 8. A traction machine 250, a control panel 210, and a remote inspection device 100 are provided in the machine room 5. The car device 240 is provided on the car 10.

[0105] In the present embodiment, the elevator is a traction elevator. The traction elevator is a type of rope elevator. This elevator includes a car 10, a counterweight 12, a rope 11, a traction machine 250, and a deflector pulley 13. A rope (main rope) 11 is suspended between the traction machine 250 and the deflector pulley 13. At both ends of the rope 11, the car 10 and the counterweight 12 are in a suspended state.

[0106] By driving the traction machine 250, the elevator can make the car 10 provided in the hoistway 8 travel in the upward direction (also referred to as the "UP direction") or the downward direction (also referred to as the "DN direction").

[0107] The car 10 has any travel direction among the UP direction, the DN direction, and the no direction. In order to respond to a travel command for the car 10 to move to an upper floor, when the car 10 travels or stops in the UP direction (stops in a state of being scheduled to travel in the UP direction), the travel direction of the car 10 becomes the UP direction. In order to respond to a travel command for the car 10 to move to a lower floor, when the car 10 travels or stops in the DN direction (stops in a state of being scheduled to travel in the DN direction), the travel direction of the car 10 becomes the DN direction. When the travel direction of the car 10 is neither the UP direction nor the DN direction, the car direction of the car 10 is defined as "no direction". Additionally, it is also possible that when the car 10 stops at the lowest floor, the car direction becomes the UP direction, and when the car 10 stops at the highest floor, the car direction becomes the DN direction.

[0108] The car 10 can travel when the electromagnetic brake (not shown, also simply referred to as the "brake") of the traction machine 250 is released. The car 10 becomes in a braking state (stationary state) when the brake of the traction machine 250 operates. The brake of the traction machine 250 is configured to be able to press the brake shoe against the brake drum by the force of a spring to perform braking. By supplying power to the brake coil, the brake shoe is separated from the brake drum, thereby releasing the brake. If the supply of power to the brake coil is cut off, the electromagnetic brake becomes in a braking state, and the car 10 can no longer travel.

[0109] The elevator is designed such that in a state where 50% of the maximum load weight of the car 10 is loaded, the weight of the counterweight 12 balances the weight of the car 10 including passengers. For example, in a state without passengers, the counterweight 12 is heavier than the car 10. Therefore, when the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the UP direction. On the other hand, if the car 10 is in a full-load state, the car 10 is heavier than the counterweight 12. Therefore, when the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the DN direction.

[0110] A buffer (shock absorber) 14 is provided in the pit 6 at the bottom of the hoistway 8. The buffer 14 is a device that absorbs the impact during the fall when the car 10 falls due to the occurrence of an abnormality.

[0111] Each control unit 212 is connected to the car device 240 via a control cable 22 ( Figure 3 ). A plurality of signal lines for enabling communication between each control unit 212 and the car device 240 are bundled within the control cable 22.

[0112] Each control unit 212 is connected via a control cable 21 laid along the wall surface of the hoistway 8 ( Figure 3) and is connected to the landing devices 230, various sensors, and various switches provided on each floor. The control cable 21 is composed of a plurality of signal lines for enabling each control unit 212 to communicate with the landing device 230 or various switches. In addition, in the case where there is no machine room 5, the traction machine 250, the control panel 210, etc. are provided in the hoistway 8 (such as on the wall surface or in the pit 6).

[0113] In addition, the elevator is not limited to the traction type elevator that balances the car 10 and the counterweight 12 as described above. For example, it may be a drum type elevator that winds the rope 11 around a drum to raise and lower the car 10 without using the counterweight 12. The drum type elevator is a type of rope type elevator. In addition, it may be a hydraulic type elevator that supplies oil to a hydraulic jack by an electric pump and raises and lowers the car 10 by the operation of the hydraulic jack.

[0114] In the case of a hydraulic type elevator, the position of the car 10 is controlled by controlling the amount of oil supplied to the hydraulic jack. In the case of a hydraulic type elevator, since the characteristics of the oil change according to the season or temperature, the running characteristics of the car 10 are likely to vary. For example, compared to when the temperature is higher in summer, the oil becomes thicker in winter, so starting takes time. In addition, in the case of a hydraulic type elevator that controls the amount of oil (hydraulic pressure), compared to a rope type elevator that controls the rotation amount of the motor, the running time between floors is likely to deviate. In addition, when the car 10 stops at a certain floor, over time, the car will sink slightly, and the floor of the car 10 may gradually descend relative to the floor of the landing (leave the landing area during stop).

[0115] Figure 5A is a diagram showing an example of the landing of an elevator. In Figure 5A shows a diagram when observing the landing of the elevator from the front.

[0116] Here, in the present embodiment, the landing call in the UP direction (upward direction) is also referred to as "UP call" or "UP landing call", the landing call in the DN direction (downward direction) is also referred to as "DN call" or "DN landing call", and the destination floor call in the car 10 is also referred to as "car call". The button for registering these various calls is called a "call button".

[0117] The call buttons include a car call button (also called "destination floor button") provided in the car 10 and a landing call button (also called "landing button") provided on the landing. The landing call button (landing button) includes an upward landing call button (also called "UP call button" or "UP landing call button") provided on the landing and a downward landing call button (also called "DN call button" or "DN landing call button") provided on the landing.

[0118] As described above, a landing device 230 is provided on each floor. The landing device 230 includes a landing operation panel 70. Here, the landing on the first floor will be taken as an example for explanation. A door 61 and a landing operation panel 70 are provided on the landing of the first floor.

[0119] The landing operation panel 70 is provided with an UP landing call button 81 and a DN landing call button 82. For example, when the UP landing call button 81 is pressed, the UP landing call on the first floor is registered.

[0120] The landing operation panel 70 is provided with an indicator 71. The traveling direction of the car 10 and the floor on which the car 10 is located (car position) are displayed on the indicator 71. In the example of the figure, it is shown that the car 10 is traveling or stopping in the UP direction on the second floor.

[0121] Next, the inside of the car 10 will be described. Figure 5B is a diagram showing an example of the inside of an elevator car. Figure 5B shows a diagram when observing the exit direction inside the car 10. The car device 240 includes a car operation panel 50. A door 60 and a car operation panel 50 are provided in the car 10. In the car operation panel 50, an open door button 52 for opening the door, a close door button 53 for closing the door, and car call buttons for registering the destination floors (car calls) from the first floor to the fifth floor are provided.

[0122] The car call buttons include a first-floor car call button 31 for registering a car call to the first floor, a second-floor car call button 32 for registering a car call to the second floor, a third-floor car call button 33 for registering a car call to the third floor, a fourth-floor car call button 34 for registering a car call to the fourth floor, and a fifth-floor car call button 35 for registering a car call to the fifth floor. In addition, in the car operation panel 50, an indicator 51 for displaying the traveling direction and car position of the car 10 is provided.

[0123] When a landing call button is pressed, a call signal corresponding to the pressed landing call is sent to the control panel 210 (each control unit 212). The control panel 210 registers the landing call. Then, the control panel 210 allocates the car 10 to the registered landing call, and the control panel 210 makes the car 10 respond to the registered landing call.

[0124] For example, when the UP landing call button 81 on the first floor is pressed, a signal corresponding to the UP landing call on the first floor is sent, and the control panel 210 registers the UP landing call on the first floor. The control panel 210 determines the allocation of the car 10 for the UP landing call on the first floor. The car 10 responds to the UP landing call on the first floor, stops and opens the door after traveling to the first floor.

[0125] When the car call button is pressed, a call signal corresponding to the pressed car call is transmitted to the control panel 210. The control panel 210 registers the car call. The control panel 210 causes the car 10 to respond to the registered car call.

[0126] For example, when the car call button 32 for the second floor is pressed, a call signal corresponding to the car call for the second floor is sent to the control panel 210. The control panel 210 registers the car call for the second floor. In response to the car call for the second floor, the car 10 stops at the second floor and opens the door.

[0127] Here, "door opening" means that the door 60 on the car 10 side and the door 61 on the landing side are opened in conjunction with each other, which is also referred to as "door opening" below. Similarly, "door closing" means that the door 60 on the car 10 side and the door 61 on the landing side are closed in conjunction with each other, which is also referred to as "door closing" below.

[0128] (Input and output signals for the control panel 210)

[0129] Here, among the signals input and output between the control panel 210 that controls the elevator equipment group 220 and the elevator equipment group 220 through parallel transmission, the signal obtained by the remote inspection device 100 is called a "judgment signal". The remote inspection device 100 uses the judgment signal to judge each item of the remote inspection. The judgment signal includes the first signal to the fourth signal. Each judgment signal has any state of the ON (valid) state and the OFF (invalid) state. In this embodiment, the DZ signal as a mode of the first signal, the LB signal as a mode of the second signal, the GS signal as a mode of the third signal, and the DS signal as a mode of the fourth signal are respectively exemplified.

[0130] The landing device 230 provided at each floor includes a landing door switch (also referred to as an "interlock switch") not shown. The landing door switch is turned on when the door 61 on the landing side is in a closed state, and is turned off when the door 61 on the landing side is in an open state. When the landing door switch is in an OFF state (not closed), the car 10 is controlled by the control panel 210 to be unable to travel for safety.

[0131] In this embodiment, when the door 61 of the floor station is closed and the floor station door switch is in the ON state (the contact becomes the ON state after the floor station door switch is pressed), the DS signal becomes the ON state; when the door 61 of the floor station is not closed and the floor station door switch is in the OFF state, the DS signal becomes the OFF state and is sent to the control panel 210.

[0132] In addition, the car device 240 includes a car door switch (also referred to as a "door switch") not shown. The car door switch is turned on when the door 60 on the car 10 side is in a closed state, and is turned off when the door 60 on the car 10 side is in an open state. When the car door switch is in an OFF state (a state in which the door is not closed), the car 10 is controlled by the control panel 210 to be unable to travel for safety.

[0133] In the present embodiment, when the door 60 of the car 10 is closed and the car door switch is in the ON state (the contact is in the ON state after the car door switch is pressed), the GS signal is in the ON state, and when the door 60 of the car 10 is not closed and the car door switch is in the OFF state, the GS signal is in the OFF state and is sent to the control panel 210. The door 60 of the car 10 is opened and closed in conjunction with the door 61 of the landing.

[0134] In addition, the car device 240 includes a door zone detection device (also called a "stop floor device") not shown in the figure. Here, the door zone indicates the position range of the car 10 in which the door 60 of the car 10 of the elevator can be opened and closed. The door zone detection device is installed in the car 10. In each floor, when the car 10 is located in the position range where the door can be opened (in the door zone), the door zone detection device detects the DZ signal as the ON state. When the car 10 is not located in the door zone, the DZ signal is detected as the OFF state and sent to the control panel 210.

[0135] For example, the door zone detection device provided in the car 10 is provided with a magnetic proximity sensor. On the other hand, a plate for door zone detection is provided at the stop position of each floor in the hoistway 8. For example, in a state where the magnetic proximity sensor of the door zone detection device detects the plate for door zone detection, the DZ signal is configured to be turned on. For example, in a case where the floor position of the car 10 is within 150 mm above and below the floor position of each floor station, the DZ signal is configured to be turned on.

[0136] When the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF), for safety, the door cannot be opened by the control panel 210. In addition, it can also be configured that the door zone detection device is arranged on the hoistway 8 side, and the plate used for door zone detection is arranged on the car 10 side.

[0137] In addition, when the elevator brake is released by supplying power to the brake coil of the traction machine 250, the LB signal becomes the ON state. When the elevator brake is operated (the brake is not released) by stopping the supply of power to the brake coil of the traction machine 250, the LB signal becomes the OFF state.

[0138] In addition, a slow-up switch (not shown) and a slow-down switch (not shown) are provided on the wall surface of the hoistway 8. The slow-up switch is a switch configured to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the top of the hoistway 8. The slow-up switch is configured to be in an ON state when the position of the car 10 traveling in the UP direction reaches a specified position between the 5th floor (the top floor) and the 4th floor by contacting a specified member installed on the car 10.

[0139] When the slow-up switch is in the ON state, the SUL signal becomes ON, and when the slow-up switch is in the OFF state, the SUL signal becomes OFF. When the car 10 approaches the top floor and the slow-up switch becomes ON, if the car 10 is traveling at a speed equal to or higher than a specified speed, for safety, the control panel 210 controls to decelerate the car 10.

[0140] The slow-down switch is a switch configured to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the bottom of the hoistway 8 (or entering the pit 6). The slow-down switch is configured to be in an ON state when the position of the car 10 traveling in the DN direction reaches a specified position between the 1st floor (the bottom floor) and the 2nd floor by contacting a specified member installed on the car 10.

[0141] When the slow-down switch is in the ON state, the SDL signal becomes ON, and when the slow-down switch is in the OFF state, the SDL signal becomes OFF. When the car 10 approaches the bottom floor and the slow-down switch becomes ON, if the car 10 is traveling at a speed equal to or higher than a specified speed, for safety, the control panel 210 controls to decelerate the car 10.

[0142] Alternatively, it can be configured such that the slow-up switch and the slow-down switch are provided on the car 10 side, and these switches become ON by contacting specified members provided on the hoistway 8 side.

[0143] In the present embodiment, in the building 2, only one elevator ( Figure 3 the car 10 of machine No. 1) is provided. Therefore, when a landing call is registered, machine No. 1 must be allocated, and machine No. 1 responds to the landing call.

[0144] For example, when a DN landing call is registered at the landing on the 2nd floor, machine No. 1 is allocated for the DN landing call on the 2nd floor. Machine No. 1 traveling in the DN direction responds to the DN landing call on the 2nd floor, stops at the 2nd floor, and then opens the door.

[0145] The above structure is a structure for controlling only one elevator (single-car structure) in the building 2. However, the structure for providing and controlling multiple elevators (multi-car structure) in the building 2 will be described below. Figure 6This is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the elevator system 200b in a modified example.

[0146] In this modified example, the elevator system 200b includes two elevators, namely "Unit 1" and "Unit 2". The elevator equipment group 220b includes landing devices 230 installed at the landings on each floor from the 1st floor to the 5th floor, the traction machine 250 and the car device 240 included in Unit 1, various sensors and various switches of Unit 1, the traction machine 250 and the car device 240 included in Unit 2, and various sensors and various switches of Unit 2.

[0147] The control panel 210b includes a group control unit 211 and two car control units 212. The group control unit 211 is a control board for managing multiple elevators. Each car control unit 212 is a control board for controlling the operation of the corresponding elevator. The group control unit 211 communicates with the two car control units 212 to exchange various data related to the elevator.

[0148] The group control unit 211 uniformly controls the landing devices 230 on each floor. The group control unit 211 is connected to the landing devices 230 installed at the landings on each floor from the 1st floor to the 5th floor via the control cable 21. Each car control unit 212 is connected to the traction machine 250, the car device 240, and various sensors and various switches of each unit via the control cables 22 and 23.

[0149] In Figure 6 In the shown modified example, the landing device 230 on each floor includes a landing operation panel 70 provided with landing call buttons. However, in this modified example, the indicator 71 is not included in the landing operation panel 70. In this modified example, one landing operation panel 70 is provided on each floor, and the quantity corresponding to the number of elevators (two) of indicators 71 is provided.

[0150] The group control unit 211 is connected to the landing devices 230 (landing call buttons) installed on each floor via the control cable 21 laid along the wall surface of the hoistway 8. Each car control unit 212 is connected to the traction machine 250 and the car device 240 of the unit corresponding to each car control unit 212 via the control cable 22. The car device 240 includes a car operation panel 50 provided with destination floor buttons, a car door switch, and a door zone detection device.

[0151] Each car control unit 212 is connected to various sensors and various switches of the unit corresponding to each car control unit 212 via the control cable 23 laid along the wall surface of the hoistway 8. The various sensors and various switches include a slow-up switch, a slow-down switch, landing door switches on each floor, and indicators 71 provided for each unit.

[0152] In this example, when a landing call button is pressed, the group management control unit 211 registers the landing call corresponding to the landing call button. Then, the group management control unit 211 assigns any one of the plurality of cars 10 (car No. 1 and car No. 2) to the registered landing call. Each control unit 212 corresponding to the assigned car 10 (assigned car) causes the assigned car to respond to the registered landing call.

[0153] For example, when the UP landing call button 81 on the first floor is pressed, the first floor UP landing call signal becomes ON. The group management control unit 211 receives the first floor UP landing call signal in the ON state and registers the first floor UP landing call. The group management control unit 211 assigns any one of car No. 1 and car No. 2 to the first floor UP landing call.

[0154] For example, the group management control unit 211 assigns the car 10 of car No. 1. In this case, the group management control unit 211 sends an instruction to each control unit 212 of car No. 1 to respond to the first floor UP landing call. Each control unit 212 of car No. 1 causes the car 10 of car No. 1 to travel to respond to the first floor UP landing call. The car 10 stops at the first floor and opens the door after traveling to the first floor.

[0155] In addition, the control panel 210b may not include the group management control unit 211 and only include two control units 212 each. In this case, the functions of the group management control unit 211 may be provided by each control unit 212 of car No. 1. Each control unit 212 of car No. 1 controls the landing device 230 via the control cable 21 and is directly communicatively connected to each control unit 212 of car No. 2.

[0156] (Forced stop and waiting operations)

[0157] In addition, the elevator system 200 (200a, 200b) can set a forced stop floor and a waiting floor. When the forced stop floor is set, when the car 10 passes through the forced stop floor, the car 10 must stop at the forced stop floor and open the door. For example, assume a scenario where the second floor is the lobby of a hotel and the second floor is set as the forced stop floor. When the car 10 travels from the first floor to the fifth floor, the car 10 must stop at the intermediate second floor and open the door.

[0158] When the waiting floor is set, after the car 10 finishes responding to all landing calls and car calls (this state is called "available"), the car 10 travels to the set waiting floor. For example, the first floor (main floor) is set as the waiting floor. When the car 10 finishes responding to the final call on the fifth floor and becomes available, the car 10 travels from the fifth floor to the first floor and waits at the first floor (waiting floor).

[0159] When setting the waiting floor, it is also possible to set the presence or absence of door-opening waiting and the number of waiting cars. For example, as in the case of Figure 6 where there are two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, one or two cars 10 can wait on the waiting floor. At this time, it is possible to wait on the waiting floor with the door open or closed. In the case of door-opening waiting, after the car 10 arrives at the waiting floor and the door opens, the door closes after a specified time (for example, 1 minute or 3 minutes). The waiting floor where door-opening waiting is set is also referred to as the "door-opening waiting floor".

[0160] In addition, the elevator system 200b can also perform a decentralized waiting operation. For example, in the case of two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, the two cars 10 are made to wait dispersedly so that the two available cars 10 do not stop at the same floor or adjacent floors. For example, when both of the two available cars 10 stop at the first floor (main floor), one car is made to travel upward (for example, to the third floor) and then wait with the door closed.

[0161] In this way, even when there is no landing call or car call, sometimes the car 10 travels or the door opens due to the setting of the forced stop floor, the setting of the waiting floor, or the decentralized waiting operation.

[0162] (Detailed Structure and Signals Used in the Remote Inspection System 1)

[0163] Hereinafter, the Figure 3 illustrated elevator system 200 (with one car) will be used as a premise for explanation. Figure 7 is a diagram for explaining the hardware structure of the remote inspection system 1 and the signals used in the remote inspection system 1.

[0164] As described above, the elevator system 200 includes a control panel 210 and an elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 includes landing devices 230 on the first to fifth floors. The control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 are connected by a plurality of signal lines, whereby a plurality of signals can be transmitted and received.

[0165] These multiple signals include the above-mentioned DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, DN signal, the UP landing call signal on the first floor, and the DN landing call signal on the fifth floor. All the signals exemplified here are transmitted and received by parallel transmission.

[0166] The DZ signal is the signal detected by the door zone detection device as described above. When the car 10 is within the position range where the door can be opened (in the door zone) on each floor, the DZ signal becomes the ON state, and when it is outside the door zone, the DZ signal becomes the OFF state.

[0167] The LB signal is a signal that becomes ON when the brake is released by supplying power to the brake coil of the traction machine 250 as described above. When the supply of power to the brake coil of the traction machine 250 is stopped and the brake is actuated, the LB signal becomes OFF.

[0168] The GS signal is a signal detected by the car door switch as described above. When the car-side door 60 is in the closed state, the GS signal becomes ON, and when the car-side door 60 is in the open state, the GS signal becomes OFF.

[0169] The DS signal is a signal detected by the landing door switch as described above. When the landing-side door 61 is in the closed state, the DS signal becomes ON, and when the landing-side door 61 is in the open state, the DS signal becomes OFF.

[0170] The SUL signal is a signal detected by the slow-up switch as described above. When the slow-up switch is in the ON state, the SUL signal becomes ON, and when the slow-up switch is in the OFF state, the SUL signal becomes OFF.

[0171] The SDL signal is a signal detected by the slow-down switch as described above. When the slow-down switch is in the ON state, the SDL signal becomes ON, and when the slow-down switch is in the OFF state, the SDL signal becomes OFF.

[0172] When the traveling direction of the car 10 is the UP direction, the UP signal becomes ON, and when the traveling direction of the car 10 is other than the UP direction, the UP signal becomes OFF. When the traveling direction of the car 10 is the DN direction, the DN signal becomes ON, and when the traveling direction of the car 10 is other than the DN direction, the DN signal becomes OFF.

[0173] The 1st floor UP landing call signal is a signal that becomes ON when the UP landing call button 81 of the landing device 230 on the 1st floor is in the pressed state. In the pressed state of the UP landing call button 81, the contact becomes ON, and when the pressed state of the UP landing call button 81 is released, the contact becomes OFF.

[0174] The 5th floor DN landing call signal is a signal that becomes ON when the DN landing call button 82 of the landing device 230 on the 5th floor is in the pressed state. In the pressed state of the DN landing call button 82, the contact becomes ON, and when the pressed state of the DN landing call button 82 is released, the contact becomes OFF.

[0175] In addition, although not shown, the landing call signals output from the landing call buttons on other landings and the car call signals output from the car call buttons are also input to the control panel 210.

[0176] The remote inspection device 100 includes a control device 110, an input IF (interface) 130, an output IF (interface) 140, and a communication IF (interface) 120.

[0177] The input IF 130 is a board for inputting a part of the signals input and output by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 as determination signals. The signal lines of the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal input to the control panel 210 are each branched, and each branched signal line is connected to the terminals provided in the input IF 130. Each signal input to the input IF 130 is also sent to the control device 110.

[0178] The output IF 140 is a board for outputting signals to the elevator equipment group 220. The control device 110 can output a UP landing call signal for the 1st floor and a DN landing call signal for the 5th floor to the output IF 140. When the output IF 140 receives the UP landing call signal for the 1st floor from the control device 110, it outputs the received UP landing call signal for the 1st floor to the elevator equipment group 220, and when it receives the DN landing call signal for the 5th floor from the control device 110, it outputs the received DN landing call signal for the 5th floor to the elevator equipment group 220.

[0179] The 1st floor landing device 230 is provided with a UP landing call button 81 for the 1st floor. A signal line for transmitting the UP landing call signal for the 1st floor is provided between the 1st floor landing device 230 and the control panel 210. The 5th floor landing device 230 is provided with a DN landing call button 82 for the 5th floor. A signal line for transmitting the DN landing call signal for the 5th floor is provided between the 5th floor landing device 230 and the control panel 210. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the landing call signals are transmitted from the landing device 230 to the control panel 210 by serial transmission, it is not possible to branch the parallel transmission line from the control panel 210 side to input and output the landing call signals with respect to the remote inspection device 100.

[0180] When the UP landing call button 81 on the 1st floor is pressed, the contacts are short-circuited, and a signal in the ON state is input to the landing device 230 on the 1st floor. Thereby, the landing device 230 on the 1st floor sends (serial transmission) a 1st floor UP landing call signal in the ON state to the control panel 210. A signal line for sending the 1st floor UP landing call signal is connected to the terminal of the output IF140, and this signal line is connected to the landing device 230. Moreover, it is modified such that when the 1st floor UP landing call signal in the ON state is output from the output IF140, the contacts of the 1st floor UP landing call button 81 are short-circuited. Thereby, a 1st floor UP landing call signal in the ON state is sent from the landing device 230 on the 1st floor to the control panel 210. That is, by sending a 1st floor UP landing call signal in the ON state from the output IF140, the state of pressing the 1st floor UP landing call button 81 can be simulatedly generated.

[0181] When the DN landing call button 82 on the 5th floor is pressed, the contacts are short-circuited, and a signal in the ON state is input to the landing device 230 on the 5th floor. Thereby, the landing device 230 on the 5th floor sends (serial transmission) a 5th floor DN landing call signal in the ON state to the control panel 210. A signal line for sending the 5th floor DN landing call signal is connected to the terminal of the output IF140, and this signal line is connected to the landing device 230. Moreover, it is modified such that when the 5th floor DN landing call signal in the ON state is output from the output IF140, the contacts of the 5th floor DN landing call button 82 are short-circuited. Thereby, a 5th floor DN landing call signal in the ON state is sent from the landing device 230 on the 5th floor to the control panel 210. That is, by sending a 5th floor DN landing call signal in the ON state from the output IF140, the state of pressing the 5th floor DN landing call button 82 can be simulatedly generated.

[0182] In the present embodiment, for remote inspection, the situation where the remote inspection device 100 generates a simulated landing call and makes the car 10 travel is called "diagnostic operation". In this example, the remote inspection device 100 generates a simulated 1st floor UP landing call and a 5th floor DN landing call as described above. By combining these two landing calls, a diagnostic operation in which the car 10 travels between the lowest floor (1st floor) and the highest floor (5th floor) can be implemented.

[0183] The elevator equipment group 220 and the input IF130 and the output IF140 transmit and receive signals through parallel transmission. The input IF130 and the output IF140 also transmit and receive signals with the control device 110 through parallel transmission. The signals input from the respective signal lines connecting the elevator equipment group 220 and the input IF130 have deviations in voltage, etc. (for example, 24V, 48V, 100V) depending on each manufacturer. Therefore, the signals are made common through the input IF130 and then input to the control device 110.

[0184] In addition, in the present embodiment, a temperature sensor 15 is provided in the machine room 5. The control device 110 is configured to be able to obtain the detection result of the temperature sensor 15. Thus, the control device 110 can detect the temperature of the machine room 5. The temperature sensor 15 is not limited to the machine room and may be provided at any position in the hoistway 8 of the elevator, the periphery of the hoistway 8, or the periphery of the elevator. In addition, in the present embodiment, the control device 110 is configured to be able to obtain the voltage of the intercom 16 installed in the car 10. These pieces of information can be used to determine whether the temperature of the machine room 5 or the like and the state of the intercom are normal.

[0185] The control device 110 is a PLC that includes at least a processor (CPU) 111 and a memory 112. The memory is, for example, a ROM and a RAM. They are connected to each other via a bus so as to be able to communicate. The ROM stores a program for controlling the control device 110. The CPU reads the program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes it to control the control device 110. The RAM becomes a work area when the CPU executes the program and temporarily stores the program, data when executing the program, and the like. The control device 110 is configured to be able to communicate with the input IF 130, the output IF 140, and the communication IF 120. The communication IF 120 is a board for communicating with the management server 300 via a network.

[0186] As described above, the terminal 400 includes a display unit 410 and an input unit 420. The display unit 410 is, for example, a display. The input unit 420 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel display integrated with the display unit 410.

[0187] The management server 300 issues an instruction for remote inspection of the control device 110 via the communication IF 120 and obtains the result of the remote inspection from the control device 110. The terminal 400 and the management server 300 also include a processor (CPU) and a memory (ROM, RAM) in the same manner as the control device 110.

[0188] The control device 110 sends a 1st floor UP landing call signal to the landing device 230 on the 1st floor via the output IF 140, thereby simulating the generation of a 1st floor UP landing call. The control device 110 sends a 5th floor DN landing call signal to the landing device 230 on the 5th floor via the output IF 140, thereby simulating the generation of a 5th floor DN landing call. Thus, the car 10 can travel between the 1st floor and the 5th floor to perform the above-described diagnostic operation.

[0189] The control device 110 acquires, via the input IF 130, the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal input and output with respect to the control panel 210. In addition, the control device 110 acquires the detection result of the temperature sensor 15 and the voltage of the intercom 16 as signals. The control device 110 determines each item of remote inspection based on these signals, and sends the determination result to the management server 300 via the communication IF 120. The determination result can be confirmed on the terminal 400.

[0190] Here, the specifications of the respective signals input from the elevator system 200 sometimes differ depending on the elevator manufacturer or the elevator model. For example, when acquiring signals corresponding to the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal, the ON state and the OFF state may be input in opposite states. For example, regarding the LB signal, assume two cases: the signal becomes ON in the state where the brake is applied (the state where the brake is not released), and the signal becomes ON in the state where the brake is released.

[0191] In the present embodiment, the memory 112 of the control device 110 stores a conversion map corresponding to each manufacturer or each model. Each signal is converted by the conversion map (for example, conversion that reverses the ON / OFF of the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal) so that the signal specifications are standardized. In addition, the SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not essential signals, and there is no problem even if these signals cannot be acquired (described in detail later).

[0192] For example, the signals of the rotary encoder of the traction machine 250 may be taken in, and the UP signal and the DN signal may be generated based on this. The UP signal and the DN signal may also be generated based on the DZ signal (described in detail later). In this case, using the above conversion map, the signal of the rotary encoder or the DZ signal may be converted into the UP signal and the DN signal.

[0193] In addition, as described above, Figure 2 it is configured such that the control panel 210 and the maintenance device manufactured by Company X can be communicatively connected based on serial communication via the connector 261 provided on the control panel 210.

[0194] (Diagnostic operation)

[0195] Figure 8 It is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the travel of the car 10 and the signals during the diagnostic operation. As described above, in the present embodiment, an analog 1st floor UP landing call and a 5th floor DN landing call can be generated, and a diagnostic operation in which the car 10 travels between the lowest floor (1st floor) and the highest floor (5th floor) can be performed. Thus, for example, the travel time from the 1st floor to the 5th floor can be measured.

[0196] The diagnostic operation is performed in a state where the car 10 is not excluded from the cars to be allocated, that is, in a state where the car 10 can respond to the landing calls from the elevator passengers. Therefore, even if the car 10 is called to the first floor and then made to travel to the fifth floor during the diagnostic operation, it may travel to a floor different from the first floor due to the landing calls from the elevator passengers, and during the diagnostic operation, it may sometimes stop at a floor between the first floor and the fifth floor due to the car calls from the elevator passengers. Therefore, for example, the diagnostic operation is performed once a month at late night when there are no elevator passengers.

[0197] The determination of the inspection items for remote inspection includes the determination based on "operation diagnosis" and the determination based on "normal diagnosis". The case where the diagnostic operation is performed and the diagnosis of the remote inspection items is carried out based on this diagnostic operation is called "operation diagnosis". In the operation diagnosis, the determination is made using the determination signal obtained when the car 10 travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the instruction unit 155 (described later) of the remote inspection device 100.

[0198] On the other hand, not limited to the diagnostic operation, the case where the diagnosis of the remote inspection items is carried out each time the car 10 is operated by the operation of the elevator passengers, etc. is called "normal diagnosis". In the normal diagnosis, the determination is made using the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the landing call signal is sent by the instruction unit 155 of the remote inspection device 100.

[0199] In this example, at time t0, the car 10 stops at the first floor. At this time, since the car 10 stops at the lowest floor (the first floor), the SUL signal is in the OFF state, and the SDL signal is in the ON state. Since the brake of the traction machine 250 is operating, the LB signal is in the OFF state. Since the position of the car 10 is within the position range where the door can be opened (in the door zone) on the first floor, the DZ signal is in the ON state. Since the door 60 on the car 10 side is in the closed state, the GS signal is in the ON state. Since the door 61 on the landing side is in the closed state, the DS signal is in the ON state.

[0200] Here, in order to perform the diagnostic operation, the remote inspection device 100 sets the DN landing call signal on the fifth floor to the ON state and outputs it to the landing device 230 on the fifth floor. Thus, the pressed state of the DN landing call button 82 of the landing device 230 on the fifth floor is simulated.

[0201] As a result, the 5th floor DN landing call is registered. At time t1, car 10 starts moving towards the 5th floor. At this time, the brake of the traction machine 250 is released, and the LB signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Since the position of car 10 has left the landing area of the 1st floor, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. In addition, since the slow-down downward switch changes from the ON state to the OFF state, the SDL signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Car 10 enters the accelerated driving state and moves in the UP direction.

[0202] After that, car 10 enters the constant-speed driving state (the state where the speed of car 10 reaches the rated speed and car 10 maintains the rated speed while driving). At time t2, the position of car 10 reaches the 2nd floor. At this time, the position of car 10 enters the landing area of the 2nd floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. In addition, when the position of car 10 leaves the landing area of the 2nd floor, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

[0203] At time t3, the position of car 10 reaches the 4th floor. The position of car 10 enters the landing area of the 4th floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. When the position of car 10 leaves the landing area of the 4th floor, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. After that, at time t4, car 10 changes to the decelerated driving state in order to stop at the 5th floor.

[0204] At time t5, car 10 stops at the 5th floor (the top floor). By the slow-up switch changing from the OFF state to the ON state, the SUL signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. By the position of car 10 entering the landing area of the 5th floor, the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The brake of the traction machine 250 operates (the released state is released), and the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

[0205] At time t6, if car 10 becomes the door-open state (the doors 60 on the car 10 side and the doors 61 on the landing side are in the door-open state), the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state. When the specified time has passed, car 10 becomes the door-closed state. As a result, the GS signal and the DS signal change from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0206] In this way, when the remote inspection device 100 outputs the 5th floor DN landing call signal as the ON state to the elevator system 200 in the state where car 10 is stopped at the 1st floor, car 10 can be made to move from the 1st floor to the 5th floor. At this time, various signals of the elevator that change can be obtained in the remote inspection device 100, and remote inspection can be performed based on these signals.

[0207] In order to make the car 10 stop at the first floor, the remote inspection device 100 only needs to set the UP landing call signal of the first floor to the ON state and output it to the elevator system 200. Thus, the car 10 travels towards the first floor.

[0208] In addition, when the car 10 is in a state of stopping at the fifth floor and the remote inspection device 100 sets the UP landing call signal of the first floor to the ON state and outputs it to the elevator system 200, the car 10 can be made to travel from the fifth floor to the first floor. At this time, various signals of the elevator that change can be obtained in the remote inspection device 100, and remote inspection can be performed based on these signals.

[0209] In addition, the diagnostic operation is not limited to generating and implementing the UP landing call of the lowest floor and the DN landing call of the highest floor, and can also be implemented by the landing calls of any two floors. For example, a service cut-off setting is made so that elevator service for the highest floor (the fifth floor) is not performed (the car cannot stop at the highest floor). In this case, the diagnostic operation can also be implemented by generating the UP landing call of the first floor and the DN landing call of the fourth floor. However, in this case, in the Figure 7 example shown, it is necessary to modify it so that the DN landing call signal for the fourth floor is output not to the landing device 230 for the fifth floor but to the landing device 230 for the fourth floor.

[0210] (Regarding signals suitable for remote inspection)

[0211] In the present embodiment, signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used for condition determination for operating the safety circuit of the elevator are used as determination signals for remote inspection. In addition, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (constructability), landing calls are used instead of car calls as output signals for the operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) of remote inspection. The reasons are described below.

[0212] The elevator is equipped with a safety circuit that stops the operation of the elevator when a specified abnormality is detected in hardware or software. For example, it is configured such that when any one of the multiple contacts provided in the safety circuit is released, the supply of power to the traction machine 250 and the brake coil of the electromagnetic brake of the traction machine 250 is cut off. As a result, the driving force of the traction machine 250 disappears, and the electromagnetic brake becomes a braking state, and the car 10 stops.

[0213] In the elevator system 200, as safety devices, a speed governor (not shown), an emergency stop device (not shown), a buffer 14, etc. are provided. The speed governor is a device provided in the car 10 that physically detects the speed of the car 10. The emergency stop device is a device provided in the car 10 that physically applies a brake to the car 10 when the speed governor detects an abnormal speed. The buffer 14 is a device provided in the pit 6 that absorbs the impact when the car 10 falls.

[0214] For example, when the car 10 is detected to be running at an abnormal speed by hardware (speed governor) or software (internal signal), a stop command of the car 10 is issued by software, and the safety circuit is operated by hardware or software. When the safety circuit is operated, the power supplied to the elevator is stopped, and the movement of the car 10 is stopped. In addition, the car 10 can be physically stopped by an emergency stop device or a buffer 14.

[0215] When the safety circuit is activated, the power supply to the brake coil of the electromagnetic brake of the hoisting machine 250 is cut off (LB signal is in the OFF state), whereby the electromagnetic brake is in the braking state and the car 10 is stopped.

[0216] Alternatively, by turning on a limit switch (final limit switch) disposed below the slow down switch or above the slow up switch, the safety circuit operates and the car 10 stops to prevent collision with the top or bottom of the shaft.

[0217] In addition, when the car 10 is running with the door open, there is a danger that a passenger will fall from the landing side into the hoistway 8 or be caught by the entrance and exit of the landing side and the car 10. Therefore, the elevator is controlled so that the car 10 does not run when the door 61 on the landing side is open (the landing door switch (DS signal) is OFF) or the door 60 on the car side is open (the car door switch (GS signal) is OFF).

[0218] In addition, when the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF), the elevator is controlled not to open the door. For example, when the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF) and in the door open state (DS signal or GS signal is OFF), the safety circuit operates and the car 10 stops.

[0219] The elevator safety device and safety circuit described above operate as described above in accordance with the provisions of laws such as the Building Standards Act. Therefore, elevators of various manufacturers usually output DS signals (ON / OFF of the landing door switch), GS signals (ON / OFF of the car door switch), LB signals (release / brake of the electromagnetic brake), DZ signals (detection / non-detection of the door zone), or similar signals as contact signals. These signals are used for condition determination to make the elevator safety circuit operate.

[0220] Therefore, in the present embodiment, DS signals, GS signals, LB signals, DZ signals, or signals similar thereto that are commonly used in each company are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection. Depending on the manufacturer or the type of elevator, other signals may or may not be obtained as parallel transmission signals. When using such signals, depending on the elevator, there will be cases where the items for remote inspection can be determined and cases where they cannot be determined.

[0221] The DZ signal can be used for calculating the inter-floor travel time or the car position. For example, currently, the car 10 is parked on the lowest floor (the first floor). When the car 10 starts to move, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state, and when the car position reaches the second floor, the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0222] Therefore, when the car 10 is parked on the first floor, the time from when the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state until it changes from the OFF state to the ON state can be calculated as the travel time of the car 10 from the first floor to the second floor. In addition, at the timing when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the car position can be changed from the first floor to the second floor. In this way, at the change timing of the DZ signal, the inter-floor travel time and the floor position can be calculated.

[0223] At this time, when the SDL signal is in the ON state, it can be set that the car position = the first floor (the lowest floor), and when the SUL signal is in the ON state, it can be set that the car position = the fifth floor (the highest floor). In addition, when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state, if the UP signal is in the ON state, the car position can be increased by the amount of one floor, and if the DN signal is in the ON state, the car position can be decreased by the amount of one floor.

[0224] However, in remote inspection, the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not necessarily required signals. For example, in the state where there are no elevator passengers at all late at night, through diagnostic operation, a call for the first floor UP landing is generated. In response to the call for the first floor UP landing, the car 10 can also set the parked floor to "the first floor". Or, a call for the fifth floor DN landing is generated. In response to the call for the fifth floor DN landing, the car 10 can also set the parked floor to "the fifth floor".

[0225] In addition, during the diagnostic operation at midnight, when a call for the 1st floor UP landing, a call for the 5th floor DN landing, and a call for the 1st floor UP landing are generated, in the state where the first call for the 1st floor UP landing has been responded to, the car position is set to the 1st floor and the car direction is set to the UP direction. Next, in the state of traveling due to the call for the 5th floor DN landing, each time the DZ signal changes to the ON state, the floor of the car position is incremented by 1. In the state where the call for the 5th floor DN landing has been responded to, the car position is set to the 5th floor and the car direction is set to the DN direction. Next, in the state of traveling due to the call for the 1st floor UP landing, each time the DZ signal changes to the ON state, the floor of the car position is decremented by 1. In the state where the call for the 1st floor UP landing has been responded to, the car position is set to the 1st floor and the car direction is set to the UP direction. In such a configuration, even without taking in the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal, the car position and the traveling direction can be grasped.

[0226] In addition, in the case where the UP signal and the DN signal cannot be obtained, the detection result of the landing zone detection device can also be used. For example, the landing zone detection device includes a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of plates for landing zone detection are provided corresponding to the plurality of sensors respectively. The detection timings of the plurality of sensors are different according to the position of the car 10. When the car direction is the UP direction and when it is the DN direction, when the timings (or the timings of changing to the OFF state) at which each sensor changes to the ON state are different, the car direction can be determined using the state change timings of the respective sensors.

[0227] In addition, in the case where the UP signal and the DN signal cannot be obtained, the pulse information of the rotary encoder of the traction machine 250 can also be used. In this case, it is configured such that the signal line output from the rotary encoder to the control panel 210 is branched, and signal input can be performed to the remote inspection device 100. In this case, the car direction is judged based on which pulse of the A phase and the B phase is output first. For example, it may be that when the pulse of the B phase is output with a 1 / 4 cycle delay relative to the pulse of the A phase, the car direction is set to the UP direction, and when the pulse of the A phase is output with a 1 / 4 cycle delay relative to the pulse of the B phase, the car direction is set to the DN direction.

[0228] In addition, when the output information from the rotary encoder is used, the car position and the car speed of the car 10 can also be calculated. The distance (car position) traveled by the car 10 can also be calculated based on the number of pulses detected from the rotary encoder. In addition, the car speed can also be calculated based on the number of pulses detected per unit time. In such a case, it is possible to grasp which state among the stop state, the accelerating traveling state, the constant speed traveling state, and the decelerating traveling state the car 10 is in, and it is also easy to judge whether the car position and the car speed are appropriate.

[0229] However, the relationship between the number of pulses output from the rotary encoder and the car position varies depending on the rated speed of the elevator, the type of elevator, the elevator manufacturer, the type of rotary encoder, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to actually measure the relationship between the number of pulses and the car position at each site, and the construction design and installation work of the remote inspection system 1 become complicated. Therefore, in view of the ease of installation and installation cost, it is desirable to use the DZ signal in grasping the position information of the elevator as described above.

[0230] In addition, in the present embodiment, in the case of performing diagnostic operation to make the car 10 travel, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to simulate the output of the uppermost floor DN landing call and the lowermost floor UP landing call. Thereby, the car 10 can travel between the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor.

[0231] In the case of wanting to make the car 10 travel between the lowermost floor and the uppermost floor like this, the remote inspection device 100 may also be configured to simulate the output of the car call to the uppermost floor and the car call to the lowermost floor instead of the landing call. However, in the present embodiment, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (constructability), the landing call is output from the remote inspection device 100 instead of the car call.

[0232] As described above, in order to simulate the generation of the landing call, the contact of the landing call button of the landing device 230 provided at the landing is short-circuited by signal input for transformation. The signal line (signal cable) for transmitting the landing call signal may be connected from the remote inspection device 100 provided in the machine room 5 along the wall surface of the hoistway 8 to the landing call buttons of the uppermost floor and the lowermost floor landing devices 230 buried in the wall surface of the hoistway 8. In the case of arranging the signal line along the wall surface of the hoistway 8 like this, there are no obstacles in the middle, so the arrangement is relatively easy.

[0233] On the other hand, in order to simulate the generation of the car call, the contact of the car call button of the car device 240 provided in the car 10 is short-circuited by signal input for transformation. For this purpose, the signal line for transmitting the car call signal needs to be connected from the remote inspection device 100 provided in the machine room 5 to the car call button of the car device 240 provided inside the car 10.

[0234] In this case, since it is necessary to lead the signal line into the car 10, it is necessary to use the vacant line among the signal lines in the control cable 22 connecting the machine room 5 and the car 10. However, it is necessary to confirm which line is the vacant line, and there is also a possibility that there is no vacant line. In addition, it is also necessary to confirm whether the signal lines of the control cable 22 are consistent on the machine room 5 side and the car 10 side, and the setting is not easy. According to such a situation, in the present embodiment, in the diagnostic operation, the landing call is simulated and the car call is not simulated.

[0235] As described above, in the present embodiment, in the determination of the inspection items for remote inspection, instead of using signals based on serial transmission that vary according to each manufacturer and model in terms of communication specifications, signals based on parallel transmission are used. In particular, in the present embodiment, signals that are commonly used regardless of the manufacturer and model are used for the determination of the inspection items for remote inspection, and these signals are suitable for use from the viewpoints of ease of installation (workability) and installation cost.

[0236] Specifically, landing call signals, and DS signals, GS signals, LB signals, DZ signals, or similar signals used for the condition determination for operating the safety circuit of the elevator are used for the determination of the inspection items for remote inspection. Thus, how to perform remote inspection becomes a major issue in the present embodiment in a situation where the signals suitable for use in the remote inspection device 100 are severely restricted.

[0237] For example, in the case of using signals based on serial transmission (e.g., Figure 2 the remote inspection device 500 manufactured by Company X that performs serial communication with the control panel 210 as shown), remote inspection can be easily performed as follows.

[0238] Elevators have elevator-specific speed patterns according to each model and rated speed. The speed pattern is a pattern showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the car speed when traveling from the starting floor to the destination floor. The car 10 becomes an accelerating state when starting to travel from the starting floor, then becomes a constant-speed state, and becomes a decelerating state before reaching the destination floor. The control panel 210 can calculate and hold the measured value of the speed pattern from the starting floor to the destination floor based on the pulse signal obtained from the rotary encoder of the traction machine 250. Therefore, by comparing the measured value of the speed pattern with the elevator-specific speed pattern (a value prepared in advance), it is possible to determine whether the starting state, accelerating state, constant-speed state, and decelerating state of the elevator are normal respectively. As Figure 2 shown, if it is a remote inspection device 500 connected to the control panel 210 through serial communication, it is possible to access the internal signals held by the control panel 210, and thus remote inspection can be easily achieved by such a method.

[0239] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the remote inspection device 100 uses the "DZ signal" (a signal for determining whether it is within the door area) as the signal for determining the position according to the constraints of the signal suitable for use in remote inspection. It is impossible to determine from the DZ signal whether the car 10 is in an accelerating state, a constant-speed state, or a decelerating state. Therefore, in order to perform remote inspection using limited signals, it is necessary to devise a determination method. In other words, in the case of implementing remote inspection through the remote inspection device 500 capable of serial communication, there is neither a motivation nor an idea to combine signals such as the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, and DZ signal to determine the inspection items of remote inspection.

[0240] In the present embodiment, on the premise that the control panel 210 controls one elevator (car 10) (refer to Figure 3 ), as Figure 1 , Figure 7 shows, it is configured to connect one remote inspection device 100 to the elevator system 200. In contrast, as Figure 6 shows, in the case where the control panel 210b controls multiple elevators (cars 10) (multi-car structure), it is only necessary to provide remote inspection devices 100 for each of the multiple elevators (cars 10). Alternatively, it may also be configured to provide one remote inspection device 100 for multiple elevators.

[0241] In the case of providing remote inspection devices 100 for each of the multiple elevators (cars 10), the following configuration can be adopted. For example, in the structure shown in Figure 6 , it is configured to branch a part of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect the respective control units 212 for controlling the No. 1 machine to the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the No. 1 machine, and input the determination signals such as the DZ signal of the No. 1 machine into the remote inspection device 100 (input IF130) connected to the No. 1 machine.

[0242] Similarly, it is configured to branch a part of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect the respective control units 212 for controlling the No. 2 machine to the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the No. 2 machine, and input the determination signals such as the DZ signal of the No. 2 machine into the remote inspection device 100 (input IF130) connected to the No. 2 machine. In this case, each remote inspection device 100 obtains the determination signals of the car 10 of the elevator connected to the remote inspection device 100 (the target car as the determination object of the control unit 152), and determines the remote inspection items for the target car.

[0243] A plurality of remote inspection devices 100 connected to multiple elevators are configured to be connected to one management server 300 and one terminal 400. Additionally, in the case of multiple carriages, the landing call signal is not sent to the landing device 230. Assuming a case of multiple carriages and the landing call signal is sent to the landing device 230, each remote inspection device 100 (output IF 140) is connected to the landing device 230 via a signal line. Moreover, the landing device 230 is configured such that the contacts of the landing call button can be short-circuited regardless of the signal output from which remote inspection device 100.

[0244] In the case of providing one remote inspection device 100 for multiple elevators (carriages 10), the following configuration can be adopted. In Figure 6 the structure shown, it is configured such that a signal line obtained by branching a part of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect each control unit 212 controlling the No. 1 machine to the elevator equipment group 220b of the No. 1 machine, and a signal line obtained by branching a part of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect each control unit 212 controlling the No. 2 machine to the elevator equipment group 220b of the No. 2 machine are both input to one remote inspection device 100. In this case, the remote inspection device 100 determines the remote inspection items for each machine number and sends the determination results of each machine number to the management server 300.

[0245] (Processing performed by the remote inspection system 1)

[0246] Hereinafter, the processing performed by the remote inspection system 1 will be specifically described. Figure 9 FIG. is an example of a functional block diagram of the remote inspection system 1. The remote inspection system 1 includes an acquisition unit 151, a control unit 152, an output unit 153, a reception unit 154, an instruction unit 155, and stores a data group 156.

[0247] The reception unit 154 receives the operation of a maintenance worker (a user operating the terminal 400) from the input unit 420 of the terminal 400. For example, the maintenance worker can set the date and time for performing the operation diagnosis, execute the operation diagnosis based on manual operation, etc. in the display screen of the display unit 410 of the terminal 400 through the operation of the input unit 420 (refer to Figure 10 ) described later.

[0248] The control unit 152 can access the data group 156. The data group 156 includes setting data 422, a reference time database (also referred to as "DB") 423, an operation history 424, and a determination result 425. The control unit 152 reads or updates the setting data 422, the reference time DB 423, the operation history 424, and the determination result 425.

[0249] The setting data 422 is data storing various information related to the remote inspection. For example, the setting data 422 records information related to the remote inspection, such as the building 2 and the elevator. When the date and time for performing the diagnostic operation is set by operating the input unit 420, the control unit 152 records the date and time in the setting data 422.

[0250] The reference time DB 423 is a database that records the reference time (for example, the reference time KA of the start time described later) used by the control unit 152 in determining each inspection item of the remote inspection. Figure 12 , Figure 13 The operation history 424 is the history data of the signal of the elevator system 200 acquired by the remote inspection system 1. The determination result 425 is the data which stores the determination result of each inspection item of the remote inspection.

[0251] The control unit 152 generates a landing call signal for generating a landing call of the elevator based on the execution date and time of the operation diagnosis recorded in the setting data 422 or an execution instruction of the operation diagnosis by a maintenance worker's operation (manual) to perform the operation diagnosis.

[0252] The instruction unit 155 transmits the landing call signal generated by the control unit 152 to the elevator equipment group 220 of the elevator system 200. In response to the landing call, the elevator system 200 performs a diagnostic operation.

[0253] The acquisition unit 151 acquires determination signals (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, etc.) from the elevator equipment group 220 of the elevator system 200. The acquisition unit 151 acquires determination signals during the operation diagnosis and also acquires signals from the elevator equipment group 220 all the time.

[0254] The control unit 152 determines the inspection items of the remote inspection (performs a determination process) based on the determination signal obtained by the acquisition unit 151, and generates a determination result. The inspection items of the remote inspection include the starting state, accelerated driving state, constant speed driving state, decelerated driving state, floor stop state, destination floor button state, landing button state, door opening and closing state, and brake state (whether there is an abnormality of the electromagnetic brake) of the car 10. The control unit 152 records the obtained determination signal in the operation history 424, and records the determination result of the inspection items of the remote inspection in the determination result 425.

[0255] The output unit 153 outputs information such as the determination results of the inspection items of the remote inspection so as to be displayed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400 . Thus, the maintenance worker can confirm the determination results of the remote inspection and the like through the display unit 410 of the terminal 400 .

[0256] In this embodiment, the remote inspection system 1 is composed of a remote inspection device 100, a management server 300, and a terminal 400. However, it is not limited thereto. The remote inspection system 1 may also be configured not to include the management server 300 and the terminal 400, or may be configured as a device obtained by integrating them. For example, the remote inspection system 1 may be composed only of the remote inspection device 100, or may be composed of the remote inspection device 100 and the management server 300. In addition, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to be composed of a control device 110, an input IF 130, an output IF 140, and a communication IF 120. However, it is not limited thereto. It may also be configured to integrate the functions of the input IF 130, the output IF 140, and the communication IF 120, and implement all functions in the control device 110.

[0257] The processing executed by each of the acquisition unit 151, the control unit 152, the output unit 153, the reception unit 154, and the instruction unit 155 may be the processing executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110, or may be the processing executed by any processor in the substrate included in the remote inspection device 100. For example, the acquisition unit 151 may be the processing executed by the processor of the input IF 130. The instruction unit 155 may be the processing executed by the processor of the output IF 140. The output unit 153 and the reception unit 154 may be the processing executed by any processor in the communication IF 120, the management server 300, and the terminal 400. It may also be configured that the remote inspection device 100 includes the acquisition unit 151, the control unit 152, the output unit 153, the reception unit 154, and the instruction unit 155, or may be configured that the remote inspection device 100 includes the acquisition unit 151 and the instruction unit 155, and the management server 300 includes the control unit 152, the output unit 153, and the reception unit 154. The data group 156 may also be stored in the memory 112 of the control device 110, or a part of it may be stored in the memory of the management server 300.

[0258] Figure 10 It is a diagram showing an example of the display screen 421 of the remote inspection system 1. The display screen 421 is displayed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400. The setting information of the remote inspection, the determination results of each item of the remote inspection, setting buttons, etc. are displayed on the display screen 421.

[0259] At the uppermost part of the display screen 421, the property name of the building 2 is shown as "ABC Building". The determination status related to the operation diagnosis is displayed below it. In this example, the results obtained from the diagnostic operation between the 1st floor and the 5th floor are shown separately according to different driving directions. Figure 8 as shown.

[0260] The column of "UP direction" shows the result when traveling from the 1st floor to the 5th floor in the UP direction. "Travel time" is the time required to travel from the 1st floor to the 5th floor. "Starting time" is the time required (until leaving the door area) to start the car 10 when starting to travel from the 1st floor. In addition, when traveling from the 1st floor to the 5th floor, the time required to travel from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor (including the accelerating travel state), the time required to travel from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor (constant speed travel state), the time required to travel from the 3rd floor to the 4th floor (constant speed travel state), and the time required to travel from the 4th floor to the 5th floor (including the decelerating travel state) are shown respectively. The same applies to the column of "DN direction".

[0261] Here, the "measured time" is the time actually measured during the diagnostic operation. The "reference time" is the time used as a reference for determining whether the measured time is normal. The "judgment condition" is a condition determined based on the reference time. When the measured time is within the numerical range of the judgment condition, it is judged to be in the "normal state". On the other hand, when the measured time is outside the numerical range of the judgment condition, it is judged to be in the "out-of-tune state".

[0262] In the present embodiment, the "out-of-tune state" represents a state that does not conform to the normal state. The out-of-tune state cannot be said to reach the abnormal state, but it is a state that includes signs of failures or abnormal states of certain devices of the elevator system 200. By judging whether it is in the "out-of-tune state", it is possible to capture the signs of failures (the state before reaching the failure). In the column of "judgment", when the judgment result is the "normal state", a circle mark is displayed, and when the judgment result is the "out-of-tune state", a triangle mark is displayed.

[0263] For example, in the "starting time" of the display screen 421, it shows that the reference time is KA, the measured time is TA, the judgment condition is KAL to KAH, and the judgment result is the normal state. This means that since the condition of KAL ≤ TA ≤ KAH is satisfied, the normal state is obtained as the judgment result of the starting time.

[0264] In addition, the judgment result based on the operation diagnosis is shown below it. In this example, it is judged that the starting state, the traveling state, the car call button state, and the landing call button state are in the "normal state", and it is judged that the door opening and closing state is in the "out-of-tune state". The judgment result based on the normal diagnosis is shown below it. In this example, it is judged that the brake state and the landing state are in the "normal state".

[0265] At the bottommost part of the display screen 421, various buttons that can be clicked via the input unit 420 are arranged. In "Operation Diagnosis Setting", the date and time for executing operation diagnosis can be set. In this example, in "Operation Diagnosis Setting", 23:59 on the 23rd is input via the input unit 420. When the "Set" button is clicked, operation diagnosis is executed at 23:59 on the 23rd of each month. This setting information is recorded in the setting data 422.

[0266] In addition, different from the automatic execution of operation diagnosis once a month, operation diagnosis can be immediately executed by clicking the "Manual Operation Diagnosis" button. When operation diagnosis is executed, the display of "Measurement Time" is updated based on the execution result, and "Normal State" or "Maladjustment State" is shown as the determination result.

[0267] In the column of "Reference Time", in principle, when the remote inspection system 1 is installed in the building 2, operation diagnosis is performed, and the measurement time at this time is set as the reference time. However, when the "Save Reference Time" button is clicked, the reference time is updated to the measurement time in the most recently executed operation diagnosis, and the determination conditions are updated based on the updated reference time.

[0268] For example, in Figure 10 the example, the measurement time of the start time in the most recent operation diagnosis is measured as "TA", and the reference time is "KU". When the "Save Reference Time" button is clicked in this state, the reference time is updated to "TA", and the determination conditions KAL and KAH are updated based on the updated reference time.

[0269] Hereinafter, based on the flowchart, the processing executed by the remote inspection system 1 will be described. Figure 11 It is a flowchart of remote inspection processing and terminal setting processing. The remote inspection system 1 executes remote inspection processing. The remote inspection processing is processing for determining the inspection items of remote inspection based on the determination signal. The remote inspection processing only needs to be started periodically (for example, every 100 msec). Hereinafter, "step" will also be abbreviated as "S".

[0270] On the other hand, in the display screen 421 of the terminal 400, when an operation button is clicked, terminal setting processing is executed. After the start of the terminal setting processing, the terminal 400 determines in S151 whether the "Manual Operation Diagnosis" button has been clicked. When the terminal 400 has clicked the "Manual Operation Diagnosis" button (Yes in S151), a request setting for manual operation diagnosis is performed (S152), and the processing proceeds to S153. In this case, a request for manual operation diagnosis is sent to the remote inspection device 100. When the terminal 400 has not clicked the "Manual Operation Diagnosis" button (No in S151), the processing directly proceeds to S153.

[0271] In the terminal 400, it is determined in S153 whether the "reference time saving" button has been clicked. When the "reference time saving" button has been clicked in the terminal 400 (Yes in S153), a request setting for saving the reference time is performed (S154), and the process proceeds to S155. In this case, a request for saving the reference time is sent to the remote inspection device 100. When the "reference time saving" button has not been clicked in the terminal 400 (No in S153), the process directly proceeds to S155.

[0272] In S155, the terminal 400 determines whether the "setting" button has been clicked. When the "setting" button has been clicked in the terminal 400 (Yes in S155), a setting request for the operation diagnosis setting time is performed (S156), and the terminal setting process ends. In this case, the operation diagnosis setting time is sent to the remote inspection device 100. When the "setting" button has not been clicked in the terminal 400 (No in S155), the terminal setting process directly ends.

[0273] On the other hand, after the start of the remote inspection process, the control unit 152 of the remote inspection system 1 executes a reference time acquisition process in S100 (refer to Figure 14 described later). In the reference time acquisition process, the reference time used for the determination of the inspection items in the remote inspection is acquired from the reference time DB423 and set.

[0274] In S101, the control unit 152 determines whether there is a "manual operation diagnosis" request or whether the current time has become the operation diagnosis setting time. When the "manual operation diagnosis" button has been clicked, a request for "manual operation diagnosis" is set (S152). The operation diagnosis setting time is the time set based on the setting request for the operation diagnosis setting time (S156).

[0275] When any of the above conditions is satisfied (Yes in S101), the control unit 152 causes the process to proceed to S102. On the other hand, when it is determined that none of the above conditions is satisfied (No in S101), the control unit 152 causes the process to proceed to S104.

[0276] In S102, the control unit 152 generates landing call information. In the present embodiment, as described using Figure 8 , the 1st floor UP landing call and the 5th floor DN landing call for causing the car 10 to travel from the 1st floor to the 5th floor and from the 5th floor to the 1st floor are generated.

[0277] In S103, the indicator unit 155 outputs the landing call generated by the control unit 152 to the elevator system 200. Accordingly, the car 10 travels in response to the landing call.

[0278] The acquisition unit 151 acquires a determination signal (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, etc.) from the elevator system 200 in S104. The control unit 152 continuously acquires the determination signal from the elevator system 200 until the end condition is satisfied (Yes in S105).

[0279] For example, in the case of performing an operation diagnosis, it may be that the end condition is satisfied at the timing when the car 10 reciprocates between the 1st floor and the 5th floor. In the case of performing a normal diagnosis, it may be that the end condition is satisfied each time the car 10 completes a specified operation (for example, opening / closing of the door, release / braking of the brake, completion of stopping at a floor), or it may be that the end condition is satisfied periodically (for example, every few minutes).

[0280] When the control unit 152 determines that the end condition is satisfied (Yes in S105), it executes a determination process (S106). In the determination process, a determination of the inspection items for remote inspection is performed. As the inspection items, a determination of any one or more of the items including the starting state, the accelerating state, the constant-speed state, the decelerating state, the stopping state, the state of the destination floor button, the state of the landing button, the door opening / closing state, and the brake state is performed.

[0281] The control unit 152 records the acquired determination signal in the operation history 424 in S107, and records the determination result obtained in the determination process in the determination result 425.

[0282] The output unit 153 outputs the determination result obtained in the determination process in S108. For example, the output unit 153 outputs (sends) the determination result to the management server 300 via a network. The terminal 400 can acquire the determination result by accessing the management server 300 via the network. Thus, as Figure 10 shown, the determination result can be confirmed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400.

[0283] The control unit 152 executes a reference time update process in S109 to end the remote inspection process. Specifically, it will be described using the Figure 13 to be described later, but the reference time of mode B in the reference time DB423 is updated by this process.

[0284] (Switching of the reference time)

[0285] Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the reference time DB423. Figure 10 The "reference time" shown is a value read from the reference time recorded in the reference time DB423.

[0286] In the reference time DB423, corresponding to Figure 10Values such as "travel time" and "start-up time" are similarly set. As the mode for reading the reference time DB423, any of the modes A to D can be set in advance. Although not shown, it is sufficient to be configured such that any of the modes A to D can be set and changed by the maintenance staff's operation on the terminal 400.

[0287] In Figure 10 the example of, mode A is set. Therefore, time KU is read as the "travel time" in the UP direction in the reference time DB423, and time KA is read as the "start-up time", and is displayed on Figure 10 the display screen 421.

[0288] Here, in the case of wanting to use a fixed value as the reference time each time, mode A is set. When mode A is set, the reference time set in the items of mode A of the reference time DB423 is used each time. Regarding these reference times, in principle, the times measured when the remote inspection device 100 is installed in the building 2 are set. However, when the "reference time save" button is clicked on the display screen 421, the reference time is replaced with the measurement time during the most recent operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation).

[0289] In the case of wanting to use the previous value as the reference time, mode B is set. When mode B is set, the reference time set in the items of mode B of the reference time DB423 is used. The reference time set in the items of mode B is updated each time an operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) is performed.

[0290] In Figure 10 the example of, a diagnostic operation is performed once at 23:59 on the 23rd of each month. For example, in the diagnostic operation at 23:59 on January 23rd, when the reference time is time KA1 and the measurement time is time TX in the start-up time in the UP direction, the reference time of mode B in the reference time DB423 is updated from time KA1 to time TX. Thus, in the next (next month's) diagnostic operation at 23:59 on February 23rd, time TX is used as the reference time for the start-up time in the UP direction.

[0291] In the case of wanting to change the reference time according to the temperature of the machine room 5, mode C is set. The temperature of the machine room 5 is measured by the temperature sensor 15. The reference times set in the items of mode C are the measured values classified according to the cases where the temperature of the machine room 5 is less than K1 °C (~K1 °C), is K1 °C or more and less than K2 °C (K1 °C~), is K2 °C or more and less than K3 °C (K2 °C~), and is K3 °C or more (K2 °C~). For example, the reference time can be changed every 5 °C or every 10 °C.

[0292] The reference time can be set based on the results of the diagnostic operation. For example, when the temperature of Machine Room 5 during the diagnostic operation for measuring the reference time is K1°C or higher and less than K2°C, record the reference time in the item of K1°C or higher and less than K2°C (K1°C~) in the reference time DB423. Multiple diagnostic operations can also be performed, and the average value can be set as the reference time.

[0293] When Mode C is set, the reference time set in the item of Mode C in the reference time DB423 is used according to the current temperature of Machine Room 5. For example, when the temperature of Machine Room 5 during the diagnostic operation is less than K1°C (~K1°C), use the reference time set in the item of less than K1°C (for example, "KA2" in the start time in the UP direction).

[0294] In addition, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is not limited to the temperature of Machine Room 5. The temperature sensor 15 can also be set at any position inside the hoistway 8 of the elevator, around the hoistway 8, or around the elevator.

[0295] When it is desired to change the reference time according to the season, set Mode D. The reference time set in the item of Mode D is the value measured by classifying the season into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. For example, when the season during the diagnostic operation for measuring the reference time is summer, record the reference time in the item of summer.

[0296] When Mode D is set, the reference time set in the item of Mode D in the reference time DB423 is used according to the season. For example, when the season during the diagnostic operation is spring, use the reference time set in the item of spring (for example, "KU126" in the start time in the UP direction).

[0297] Modes B to D are modes prepared for hydraulic elevators. In the case of a hydraulic elevator, the characteristics of the oil change according to the season and temperature, so the running characteristics of the car 10 are likely to vary. This is because, for example, compared to when the temperature is higher in summer, the oil becomes thicker in winter, so starting takes time and the running time is also likely to deviate. Therefore, switch the reference time according to the season or temperature at which the characteristics of the oil change. In addition, using the value from the previous diagnosis (the value from last month) in Mode B is to use a reference time with a temperature environment or equipment environment close to that during the most recent diagnosis.

[0298] In addition, the reference time recorded in the reference time DB423 includes "the time outside the landing door zone (also expressed as 'DZ'). This is obtained by measuring the time from when the car 10 stops at a certain floor (the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state) until it leaves the landing door zone in the stopped state (the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state). For example, in the item of mode A of the reference time DB423, the time KX is set as "the time outside the DZ".

[0299] In a hydraulic elevator, when the car 10 stops at a certain floor, as time passes, the car will sink slightly (the floor of the car gradually descends relative to the floor of the landing), and thus, it may leave the landing door zone. Moreover, due to the characteristics of the oil, this time will vary according to the season or temperature. Therefore, it is configured to be able to change the reference time in each hydraulic elevator.

[0300] In addition, the door opening times for floors 1 to 5 are included in the reference time recorded in the reference time DB423. The door opening time in the reference time DB423 is obtained by measuring the time (door opening time) from when the car 10 stops at a certain floor and the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state until they change from the OFF state to the ON state. For example, in the item of mode A of the reference time DB423, the time KY1 is set as the door opening time for the first floor. In the item of mode A of the reference time DB423, the time KY5 is set as the door opening time for the fifth floor.

[0301] Figure 13 It is a flowchart of the reference time update process. The reference time update process is a process executed in S109 of the remote inspection process shown in Figure 11 (after the execution of the determination process). In addition, the reference time update process is also executed when there is a reference time save request (S154).

[0302] After the start of the reference time update process, when the control unit 152 determines that there is a "reference time save" request (Yes in S251), it updates the reference time DB423 (S252) and makes the process enter S253. When the control unit 152 determines that there is no "reference time save" request (No in S251), it directly makes the process enter S253.

[0303] In S252 (when the "Reference Time Saving" button is clicked), the reference times (travel time, start time, passing time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) for each of update modes A to D are updated. For example, in the case of the UP direction travel time, when the season during the operation diagnosis executed before the "Reference Time Saving" button is about to be clicked is summer, the machine room temperature is K3°C or higher, and the measurement time is "TUX", the "KU" of mode A, the "KU1" of mode B, the "KU5" of "K3°C to" of mode C, and the "KU7" of "Summer" of mode D are respectively changed to "TUX". Thereby, when the operation diagnosis is executed, the reference time can be updated to the measurement time in this operation diagnosis.

[0304] When the control unit 152 calls the reference time update process in S109 after the determination process in the remote inspection process (Yes in S253), it updates the reference times (travel time, start time, passing time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) of mode B in the reference time DB423 (S254), and ends the reference time update process. When the control unit 152 is not in the case of calling the reference time update process in S109 (No in S253), it directly ends the reference time update process.

[0305] In S254, for example, in the case of the UP direction travel time and the measurement time during the operation diagnosis being "TUY", the "KU1" of mode B is changed to "TUY". Thereby, the measurement time is changed to the reference time of mode B each time the operation diagnosis is executed. Therefore, when mode B is set, the measurement time when the previous (last month's) operation diagnosis was executed is used as the reference time.

[0306] Figure 14 It is a flowchart of the reference time acquisition process. The reference time acquisition process is a process executed in S100 of the remote inspection process shown in Figure 11 When the control unit 152 sets mode A (Yes in S201), it acquires the reference time of mode A (S202), and makes the process enter S209. For example, in the case of the UP direction travel time, it acquires the "KU" of mode A.

[0307] When the control unit 152 does not set mode A (No in S201) and sets mode B (Yes in S203), it acquires the reference time of mode B (S204), and makes the process enter S209. For example, in the case of the UP direction travel time, it acquires the "KU1" of mode B.

[0308] When the control unit 152 has not set mode B (No in S203) and has set mode C (Yes in S205), it obtains the reference time of mode C suitable for the current machine room temperature (S206), and the process proceeds to S209. For example, when the current machine room temperature is K3°C or higher, during the UP direction travel time, it obtains "KU5" of "K3°C to" in mode C.

[0309] When the control unit 152 has not set mode C (No in S205) and has set mode D (Yes in S207), it obtains the reference time of mode C consistent with the current season (S208), and the process proceeds to S209. For example, when the current season is summer, during the UP direction travel time, it obtains "KU7" of "summer" in mode C.

[0310] When the control unit 152 has not set mode D (No in S207), the process proceeds to S209. In S209, the control unit 152 sets the obtained reference time as the reference time to be used, and ends the reference time setting process.

[0311] Regarding the switching of the reference time, the structure and effects in this embodiment are summarized below.

[0312] (A) The control unit 152 can update the reference time (travel time, start time, passing time between floors, time to become outside DZ, door opening time) of the reference time DB423 to the measured time calculated (measured) during operation diagnosis. For example, the control unit 152 can update the reference time KA (in the case of the UP direction) of the start time of the reference time DB423 to the measured start time TA during operation diagnosis. In this way, it is possible to determine the inspection items of remote inspection using values that conform to the operating state of the elevator on-site.

[0313] (B) The reference time (travel time, start time, passing time between floors, time to become outside DZ, door opening time) recorded in the reference time DB423 includes multiple values (values for spring, summer, autumn, winter) measured according to each season. The control unit 152 selects any value from the multiple values according to the current season to determine the inspection items. For example, the reference time of the start time recorded in the reference time DB423 includes multiple values (KA6 to KA9 (in the case of the UP direction) in mode D) measured according to each season. The control unit 152 selects KA7 to determine the start time when the current season is summer. In this way, not only for rope elevators, but also for hydraulic elevators whose oil characteristics change according to the season, high-precision determination results can be obtained.

[0314] (C) The reference times (running time, start time, passing time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) recorded in the reference time DB423 include multiple values for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15 (values for ~K1°C, K2°C~, K3°C~, K4°C~). The control unit 152 selects any value from the multiple values according to the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 and determines the inspection item. For example, the reference time (reference time KA) of the start time recorded in the reference time DB423 includes multiple values for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15 (KA2 to KA5 in mode C (in the case of the UP direction)). The control unit 152 selects KA5 to determine the start time when the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is 4°C or higher. In this way, highly accurate determination results can be obtained not only for rope elevators but also for hydraulic elevators in which the characteristics of the oil change according to temperature.

[0315] (D) The indication unit 155 periodically sends landing call signals. Specifically, as shown in S101 to S103, every time the operation diagnosis setting time of once a month arrives, a landing call is generated and output. After performing the operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 changes the reference times (running time, start time, passing time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) in the reference time DB423 to the measurement times calculated during the operation diagnosis (S109). For example, after performing the operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the start time in the reference time DB423 to the measurement time TA of the start time calculated during the operation diagnosis. In this way, highly accurate determination results can be obtained using the values of the latest operation state of the elevator that conforms to the site. For example, even when the state of the equipment changes due to the aging deterioration of the equipment or the adjustment of the valves in the hydraulic elevator, such situations can be dealt with.

[0316] (E) The acceptance department 154 accepts the operations of the maintenance staff (user) (“clicking the ‘Manual Operation Diagnosis’ button, clicking the ‘Reference Time Saving’ button, etc.). When the ‘Manual Operation Diagnosis’ button is clicked (S151, S101), the control unit 152 generates a landing call signal. The indication unit 155 sends the generated landing call signal. When the ‘Reference Time Saving’ button is clicked (S153), the control unit 152 changes the reference time (travel time, start time, passing time between floors, time outside DZ, door opening time) of the reference time DB423 to the measured time calculated during operation diagnosis (S252). For example, when the ‘Reference Time Saving’ button is clicked, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the start time of the reference time DB423 to the measured time TA of the start time calculated during operation diagnosis (in the case of the UP direction). In this way, by manually changing to the value that conforms to the latest operation state of the elevator on-site, a highly accurate determination result can be obtained. For example, even when the state of the equipment changes due to the aging deterioration of the equipment or the adjustment of valves in a hydraulic elevator, etc., this situation can be handled.

[0317] [Judgment of Remote Inspection Items]

[0318] Next, the judgment of the remote inspection items executed in this embodiment will be described. The judgment of the remote inspection items is performed in the judgment process (S106) of the remote inspection process shown in Figure 11 . The remote inspection items include the start state, acceleration driving state, constant speed driving state, deceleration driving state, stop state, state of the destination floor button, state of the landing button, door opening / closing state, and brake state of the car 10.

[0319] In the judgment process, any one or more of the above inspection items are judged. In this embodiment, the case where the opening / closing state of the door 60 of the car 10 and the door 61 of the landing (also referred to as the ‘door opening / closing state’ or the ‘opening / closing state of the door’.) is judged as a remote inspection item in the judgment process will be described. Hereinafter, the judgment of the opening / closing state of the door will be described using Figures 15 to 18 .

[0320] (Judgment of Door Opening / Closing State)

[0321] Figure 15 is a timing diagram for explaining the judgment of the door opening / closing state. Figure 15 The situation of Figure 8 is the same as the situation after time t4 in Figure 15 . As shown in , at time t0, in order to respond to the DN landing call on the 5th floor, the car 10 is traveling from the 4th floor towards the 5th floor and is about to stop at the 5th floor (stop).

[0322] At time t0, the car position of car 10 is outside the landing zone (the DZ signal is in the OFF state). The brake of the traction machine 250 is in the released state (the LB signal is in the ON state). The door 60 on the car 10 side is in the closed state (the GS signal is in the ON state). The door 61 on the landing side is in the closed state (the DS signal is in the ON state).

[0323] After that, at time t1, the car position of car 10 enters the landing zone on the 5th floor. As a result, the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Furthermore, car 10 stops at the 5th floor. At time t2, the brake of the traction machine 250 becomes the braking state. As a result, the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

[0324] At time t3, car 10 starts to open the door (the door 60 of car 10 and the door 61 on the landing open). As a result, the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state. At time t4, car 10 closes the door. As a result, the GS signal and the DS signal change from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0325] At the subsequent time t5, the car position of car 10 is within the landing zone (the DZ signal is in the ON state). The brake of the traction machine 250 is in the braking state (the LB signal is in the OFF state). The door 60 on the car 10 side is in the closed state (the GS signal is in the ON state). The door 61 on the landing side is in the closed state (the DS signal is in the ON state).

[0326] Here, the timing at which the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state after the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state is called the first timing (time t2). The timing after the first timing at which the GS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state and the DS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state is called the second timing (time t3). The timing after the second timing at which the GS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state and the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state is called the third timing (time t4).

[0327] Here, the time TG1 is the time from the first timing (time t2) to the second timing (time t3). In the case where the door does not open due to an abnormal situation or the like (the second timing does not occur), the time TG1 continues to be counted until the measurement end time. The time TG2 is the time from the second timing (time t3) to the third timing (time t4).

[0328] In this embodiment, DZ signals, LB signals, GS signals, and DZ signals are used to determine whether the opening / closing state of the door is normal. The control unit 152 determines whether the opening / closing state of the door is normal by using the time TG1 from the first timing when the brake becomes the braking state to the second timing when it becomes the door-opening state, and the time TG2 from the second timing of door opening to the third timing of door closing.

[0329] Hereinafter, an explanation will be given using a flowchart. Figure 16 It is a flowchart of the determination process. Figure 17 It is a diagram showing the determination conditions in the determination process. In this embodiment, in the determination process, the opening / closing state of the door is determined.

[0330] As described above, in the determination of the inspection items for remote monitoring, it includes determination based on operation diagnosis and normal diagnosis. The operation diagnosis is determined using the determination signal obtained when the car 10 travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the instruction unit 155. The normal diagnosis is determined using the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the instruction unit 155 has sent the landing call signal.

[0331] Here, the control panel 210 controls such that when the opening wait setting for the waiting floor is made, when the car 10 becomes available, the car 10 travels to the waiting floor and then waits in the door-open state at the waiting floor. The waiting floor for which the opening wait setting has been made is referred to as the "opening wait floor".

[0332] When the determination process starts, as Figure 16 shown, in S301, the control unit 152 determines whether the position of the car 10 is not the opening wait floor at the first timing (time t2).

[0333] When the control unit 152 determines in S301 that the position of the car 10 is not the opening wait floor at the first timing (Yes in S301), the process proceeds to S302. On the other hand, when the control unit 152 determines that the position of the car 10 is the opening wait floor at the first timing (No in S301), the process proceeds to S306.

[0334] In S302, when it is the operation diagnosis (Yes in S302), the control unit 152 makes the process proceed to S303. On the other hand, when it is not the operation diagnosis (No in S302), the control unit 152 makes the process proceed to S306.

[0335] In S303, when the control unit 152 determines that the second condition is satisfied (Yes in S303), it determines that the opening / closing state of the door is the normal state (S304), and ends the determination process. On the other hand, when the control unit 152 determines that the second condition is not satisfied (No in S303), it determines that the opening / closing state of the door is the out-of-adjustment state (S305), and ends the determination process.

[0336] As Figure 17 shown, the second condition is satisfied when the time TG1 is less than or equal to the reference time KG11 and the time TG2 is less than or equal to the reference time KG12. The reference time KG11 is 5 seconds. The reference time KG12 is 1 minute.

[0337] Return to Figure 16 , when the control unit 152 is in the normal diagnosis in S306 (Yes in S306), the process proceeds to S307. On the other hand, when the control unit 152 is not in the normal diagnosis (No in S306), the determination process ends.

[0338] When the control unit 152 determines that the first condition is satisfied (Yes in S307), it determines that the opening / closing state of the door is the normal state (S308), and ends the determination process. When the control unit 152 determines that the first condition is not satisfied (No in S307), it determines that the opening / closing state of the door is the out-of-adjustment state (S309), and ends the determination process.

[0339] The first condition is satisfied when the time TG2 is less than or equal to the reference time KG22 ( Figure 17 ). The reference time KG12 is shorter than the reference time KG22. The reference time KG22 is 15 minutes.

[0340] As described above, during the operation diagnosis, when the condition (the second condition) TG1 ≤ KG11 (5 seconds) and TG2 ≤ KG12 (1 minute) is satisfied, the control unit 152 determines that the opening / closing state of the door is normal. On the other hand, during the normal diagnosis, when the condition (the first condition) TG2 ≤ KG22 (15 minutes) is satisfied, the control unit 152 determines that the opening / closing state of the door is normal.

[0341] The operation diagnosis is performed during the time period when the elevator is not in use by passengers (for example, in the late-night time period) ( Figure 10 ). In this embodiment, during the operation diagnosis, the lowest floor (floor 1) UP landing call and the highest floor (floor 5) DN landing call are simulatedly generated. The car 10 responds to these landing calls, and thus, the door 60 of the car 10 and the door 61 of the landing open and close at floor 1 or floor 5.

[0342] When the car 10 stops at the 1st floor or the 5th floor and the brake becomes the braking state (first timing), the door is immediately opened (second timing). When the car 10 stops in response to a landing call but the door is not opened (the time TG1 is long), the control panel 210 determines that it is a "trapped state" where passengers are trapped in the car 10.

[0343] For example, the control panel 210 can determine that it is a trapped state when the time TG1 becomes 10 seconds or more, or can also determine that it is a trapped state when the time TG1 becomes 1 minute or more. In this way, when the door that should be immediately opened after docking is not opened, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is a malfunction state. In the present embodiment, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is a malfunction state when the time TG1 exceeds 5 seconds during operation diagnosis.

[0344] In addition, when the car 10 opens the door (second timing) at the 1st floor or the 5th floor, the door is automatically closed soon after (third timing). The time (time TG2) for which the car 10 keeps the door open when the user does not operate the door opening button 52 or the like varies depending on the elevator, but is about 10 seconds, for example.

[0345] Although the user does not operate the door opening button 52 or the like, it cannot be said to be a normal state when the time TG2 becomes long. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the time TG2 exceeds 1 minute, it is determined that the opening and closing state of the door is a malfunction state.

[0346] For example, when an abnormality occurs in the elevator and a trapped state is generated, TG1 ≤ KG11 (5 seconds). In addition, when the car 10 side door 60 cannot be opened due to being stuck by something or when the landing side door 61 cannot be opened due to being stuck by something, TG1 ≤ KG11 (5 seconds). In addition, when the car 10 side door 60 cannot be closed due to being stuck by something or when the landing side door 61 cannot be closed due to being stuck by something, TG2 ≤ KG12 (1 minute).

[0347] On the other hand, in the present embodiment, during operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 does not determine the opening and closing state of the door when the position of the car 10 is at the door waiting floor. For example, when the 1st floor is set as the door waiting floor, when the car 10 arrives at the 1st floor, the car 10 is in the door open state for a specified time (a few minutes) and waits at the 1st floor. Through this door waiting operation, the time TG2 may exceed KG12 (1 minute). Therefore, during operation diagnosis, the opening and closing state of the door is not determined at the door waiting floor.

[0348] In addition, without being limited to this, it is also possible that the control unit 152 determines the opening and closing state of the door even when the position of the car 10 is the door opening waiting floor during the operation diagnosis (that is, the determination of S301 may not be performed). For example, when the time KG12 is set to be longer than the door opening waiting time of the door opening waiting floor or when the door opening waiting floor is not set, there is no need to make a judgment like S301.

[0349] On the other hand, during the normal diagnosis, the determination conditions are different from those during the operation diagnosis. During the normal diagnosis, it is assumed that the passenger is using the elevator to determine the opening and closing state of the door. In this case, for example, it is possible that the passenger intentionally makes the door opening time longer by continuously pressing the door open button 52, etc.

[0350] Therefore, the time KG2 is made longer than the time KG12. During the normal diagnosis, when the time TG2 is within 15 minutes (time KG22) (the first condition), it is determined that the opening and closing state of the door is normal. In addition, during the normal diagnosis, the time TG1 (the time from docking to door opening) is not included in the judgment conditions. This is because the movement of the car 10 caused by the above waiting action is considered.

[0351] For example, the 2nd floor is set as the waiting floor and is set to wait in the closed door state at the waiting floor. In this case, the car 10 that docks at a floor other than the 2nd floor travels to the 2nd floor as the waiting floor and waits at the 2nd floor in the closed door state. In this case, a situation occurs where the door does not open even when reaching the 2nd floor (the second timing does not occur after the first timing), so the determination based on the time TG1 is not performed.

[0352] Similarly, for example, even in the case of multiple cars and when the distributed waiting action is effective, such a situation occurs. For example, when both of the available two cars 10 are docked at the 1st floor, a situation occurs where one car 10 travels to an upper floor (for example, the 3rd floor) and then waits with the door closed (the door does not open even when reaching the 3rd floor).

[0353] On the other hand, during the operation diagnosis, the car 10 must move by means of a landing call. In this case, the car 10 must open the door. Therefore, during the operation diagnosis, the determination based on the time TG1 is performed.

[0354] In addition, in the present embodiment, during the operation diagnosis, the door opening waiting floor is excluded from the judgment object, but without being limited to this, the following method may also be adopted. For example, in Figure 16 In the flowchart, the determination of S301 is not performed, and the determination of S302 is performed regardless of whether the position of the car 10 is the door opening waiting floor.

[0355] Moreover, the time KG12 may not be a fixed value (1 minute), but may be set based on a predetermined reference time. For example, it is also possible to select the reference time for the door opening time of each floor from the Figure 12 reference time DB423, and set the time KG12 based on this reference time.

[0356] For example, when the set mode is mode A and the elevator stops at the first floor, the door opening time of the first floor in mode A, that is, the time KY1, is selected from the reference time DB423. The time KY1 is the measured value of the time (door opening time) from when the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state until they change from the OFF state to the ON state when the car 10 stops at the first floor.

[0357] The time KG12 is determined based on the time KY1. For example, as shown in the Figure 17 modification example, it may be that time KG12 = time KY1 + 1 minute. Assume that the first floor is set as the door opening waiting floor and the door opening waiting time is 3 minutes. In this case, a time of about 3 minutes is set for the measured value of the time KY1. Moreover, time KG12 = 4 minutes (3 minutes + 1 minute). In such a case, even if the door is opened for 3 minutes by the door opening waiting setting, it will not be misjudged that the door opening state is a malfunction state (because TG2 (3 minutes) ≤ KG12 (4 minutes)).

[0358] When the set mode is mode B and the elevator stops at the fifth floor, the door opening time of the fifth floor in mode B, that is, the time KY51, is selected from the reference time DB423. The time KG12 is determined based on the time KY51. For example, assume that the fifth floor is set as the door opening waiting floor and the door opening waiting time is 2 minutes. In this case, a time of about 2 minutes is set for the measured value of the time KY51. Moreover, time KG12 = 3 minutes (2 minutes + 1 minute). In such a case, even if the door is opened for 2 minutes by the door opening waiting setting, it will not be misjudged that the door opening state is a malfunction state (because TG2 (2 minutes) ≤ KG12 (3 minutes)).

[0359] In addition, in the case of mode B, the value measured during the previous operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) is set as the time KY51. Therefore, even when the setting of the door opening waiting floor is changed, it is possible to respond accordingly.

[0360] As used above Figures 12 to 14As described above, in the reference time DB423, the measured values of the door opening times are recorded for each mode. Moreover, it is possible to determine whether the time TG2 is appropriate based on the measured values of the door opening times. Thus, even when the door opening time becomes longer due to the door opening waiting setting, it is possible to make an appropriate determination taking this into account. Thus, it is possible to configure as shown in the above-described configurations (A) to (E), and to achieve the effects shown in the configurations (A) to (E).

[0361] (Modification example of determination of door opening / closing state)

[0362] In the present embodiment, as Figure 16 shown, during operation diagnosis, the opening / closing state of the door is determined based on whether the second condition is satisfied, and during normal diagnosis, the opening / closing state of the door is determined based on whether the first condition is satisfied.

[0363] However, it is not limited thereto, and the opening / closing state of the door may be determined as follows according to the number of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210. Figure 18 is a flowchart of the determination process of the modification example. In addition, the timing chart in the modification example is the same as that of Figure 15 the example.

[0364] In the present modification example, it is configured to separately provide remote inspection devices 100 for a plurality of elevators (cars 10) (the remote inspection devices 100 are provided according to each unit number of the elevators). The determination process is performed according to each remote inspection device 100 corresponding to each elevator. In the case of multiple cars, the floors and cars 10 of the elevators connected to the remote inspection device 100 are used as the objects for the determination process. In S501, the control unit 152 determines whether the position of the car 10 at the first timing ( Figure 15 the moment t2) is not the door opening waiting floor. In S501, when the control unit 152 determines that the position of the car 10 at the first timing is not the door opening waiting floor (Yes in S501), the process proceeds to S502. When the control unit 152 determines that the position of the car 10 at the first timing is the door opening waiting floor (No in S501), the process proceeds to S506.

[0365] In S502, when it is a single car (the number of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210 is 1) and it is during operation diagnosis (Yes in S502), the control unit 152 causes the process to proceed to S503. On the other hand, when it is not a single car and it is not during operation diagnosis (No in S502), the control unit 152 causes the process to proceed to S506. When it is a single car and during operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 does not determine the opening / closing state of the door when the position of the car 10 is the door opening waiting floor.

[0366] When the control unit 152 determines that the second condition (Figure 17 ) When it holds (Yes in S503), it is determined that the opening / closing state of the door is the normal state (S504), and the determination process ends. When the control unit 152 determines that the second condition does not hold (No in S503), it is determined that the opening / closing state of the door is the out-of-adjustment state (S505), and the determination process ends.

[0367] In S506, when it is a multi-carriage (the number of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210 is two or more), or when it is a single-carriage and in the normal diagnosis case (Yes in S506), the control unit 152 makes the process proceed to S507. On the other hand, when the conditions of S506 are not satisfied (No in S506), the control unit 152 ends the determination process. In the case of a multi-carriage, the determination process is performed for the elevator to be determined (i.e., the elevator connected to the remote inspection device 100).

[0368] In S507, when the control unit 152 determines that the first condition ( Figure 17 ) holds (Yes in S507), it is determined that the opening / closing state of the door is the normal state (S508), and the determination process ends. When the control unit 152 determines that the first condition does not hold (No in S507), it is determined that the opening / closing state of the door is the out-of-adjustment state (S509), and the determination process ends.

[0369] In this way, in the case of a single-carriage, the control unit 152 determines the opening / closing state of the door based on the second condition during operation diagnosis and based on the first condition during normal diagnosis. On the other hand, in the case of a multi-carriage, the control unit 152 always determines the opening / closing state of the door based on the first condition. In the case of a multi-carriage, during operation diagnosis, even if a landing call is simulated, it is impossible to determine which one of the multiple cars 10 will be assigned. Therefore, in the case of a multi-carriage, only the judgment of the first condition is performed during normal diagnosis.

[0370] Regarding the determination of the opening / closing state of the door, the structure and effects in this embodiment are summarized as follows.

[0371] (1) The inspection items include the opening and closing states of the door 60 of the car 10 and the door 61 of the landing. The control unit 152 determines whether the opening and closing state of the door is a normal state based on the time TG2 from the second timing (time t3) after the first timing (time t2) to the third timing (time t4). The first timing (time t2) is the timing when the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state after the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The second timing (time t3) is the timing when the GS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state and the DS signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. The third timing (time t4) is the timing when the GS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state and the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0372] In the present embodiment, the signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used for determining the conditions for the safety circuit of the elevator to operate are used as the determination signals for remote inspection. In addition, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (constructability), the landing call is used instead of the car call as the output signal for the operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) of remote inspection. By using the limited signals (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal) suitable for remote inspection, remote inspection can be performed as simply as possible for various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. That is, multi-brand maintenance can be achieved in remote inspection. As a result, the maintenance company can reduce the frequency of maintenance inspections at the maintenance site and increase the number of elevators that can be maintained. The building owner can freely choose a maintenance company to sign a maintenance contract that enables remote inspection.

[0373] (2) During normal diagnosis, when the first condition is satisfied and the time TG2 is less than or equal to the reference time KG22, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is a normal state. On the other hand, when the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is an out-of-adjustment state. In this way, by making a determination based on the time TG2, it is possible to determine whether the opening and closing time of the door is appropriate. In addition, by not making a determination based on the time TG1, false determination due to waiting actions (door closing waiting) can be avoided.

[0374] (3) During operation diagnosis, when the second condition that the time TG1 from the first timing (time t2) to the second timing (time t3) is less than or equal to the reference time KG11 and the time TG2 is less than or equal to the reference time KG12 holds, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is normal. On the other hand, when the second condition does not hold, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is out of adjustment. The reference time KG12 is shorter than the reference time KG22. In this way, by making a determination based on the time TG2, it is possible to determine whether the opening and closing time of the door is appropriate. In addition, by making a determination based on the time TG1, it is possible to determine whether the time from the brake operation to the door opening is appropriate. Furthermore, by making the reference time KG12 shorter than the reference time KG22, it is possible to make an appropriate determination according to the usage status of passengers (such as whether there is an opening operation by passengers).

[0375] (4) The reference time KG22 is 15 minutes. In this way, it is possible to make an appropriate determination considering the opening operation by passengers. The reference time KG11 is 5 seconds. In this way, it is possible to make an appropriate determination considering the occurrence of entrapment caused by poor door opening. The reference time KG12 is 1 minute. In this way, it is possible to make an appropriate determination in the absence of passenger usage.

[0376] (5) When there are two or more cars (multiple cars) controlled by the control panel 210, or when there is one car (single car) controlled by the control panel 210 and during normal diagnosis, for the elevator to be judged, when the first condition holds, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is normal. On the other hand, when the first condition does not hold, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is out of adjustment. When there is one car (single car) controlled by the control panel 210 and during operation diagnosis, when the second condition holds, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is normal. On the other hand, when the second condition does not hold, the control unit 152 determines that the opening and closing state of the door is out of adjustment. In this way, it is possible to make an appropriate determination corresponding to the number of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210.

[0377] (6) During operation diagnosis, when the position of the car 10 is the door waiting floor, the control unit 152 does not make a determination on the opening and closing state. In this way, it is possible to avoid misjudgment caused by door waiting.

[0378] (7) The management server 300 can send an execution instruction for remote inspection to the remote inspection device 100 and can receive a determination result from the remote inspection device 100. The elevator system 200 (the elevator equipment group 220 and the control panel 210) and the remote inspection device 100 are set in the first country (for example, the United States), and the management server 300 is set in a second country different from the first country (for example, Japan). In this way, the remote inspection device 100 for remotely inspecting the elevator system 200 operating in the first country can be managed by the management server 300 in the second country. Thus, regardless of which country the elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are set in, the management server 300 can manage the remote inspection device 100 across countries.

[0379] (8) As described above Figures 12 to 14 As described, in the reference time DB423, the measured values of the door opening time are recorded for each mode. Moreover, it is possible to determine whether the time TG2 is appropriate based on the measured value of the door opening time. Thus, even when the door opening time is lengthened by the door opening waiting setting, an appropriate determination considering this situation can be made. Thus, it can be configured as shown in the above structures (A) to (E) and can achieve the effects shown in the structures (A) to (E).

[0380] [Supplementary Note]

[0381] The above-described embodiment is a specific example of the following supplementary note.

[0382] (Supplementary Note 1)

[0383] An elevator remote inspection system that performs remote inspection of an elevator, wherein

[0384] The elevator remote inspection system includes:

[0385] An acquisition unit that acquires a signal input and output by parallel transmission between the equipment group of the elevator and the control panel that controls the equipment group of the elevator as a determination signal;

[0386] A control unit that determines the inspection items of the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal; and

[0387] An output unit that outputs the determination result of the inspection items,

[0388] The determination signal includes:

[0389] A first signal that represents either a first state or a non-first state that is not the first state, where the first state is a state in which the car of the elevator is located within the door zone, and the door zone indicates a position range of the car where the door of the car can be opened and closed;

[0390] a second signal indicating any state of a second state and a non-second state which is not the second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released;

[0391] a third signal indicating any of a third state and a non-third state which is not the third state, the third state being a state in which the door of the car is closed; and

[0392] a fourth signal indicating any of a fourth state and a non-fourth state which is not the fourth state, wherein the fourth state is a state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed,

[0393] The inspection items include the opening and closing status of the car door and the landing door.

[0394] The control unit determines whether the open / close state is a normal state based on a first time from a second timing after the first timing to a third timing,

[0395] The first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state.

[0396] The second timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state.

[0397] The third timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

[0398] (Note 2)

[0399] According to the elevator remote inspection system recorded in Appendix 1,

[0400] The elevator remote inspection system further includes an instruction unit that transmits a landing call signal for generating a landing call for the elevator to the equipment group of the elevator.

[0401] The determination of the inspection items includes: an operation diagnosis in which the determination signal obtained when the car travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the indicator is used for determination; and a normal diagnosis in which the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the landing call signal is sent by the indicator is used for determination.

[0402] During the normal diagnosis, when a first condition that the first time at the first timing is equal to or less than a first reference time is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the normal state; when the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the out-of-adjustment state.

[0403] (Supplementary Note 3)

[0404] The elevator remote inspection system according to Supplementary Note 1 or 2, wherein

[0405] During the operation diagnosis, when a second condition is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the normal state; when the second condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the out-of-adjustment state. The second condition is that the second time from the first timing to the second timing is equal to or less than a second reference time and the first time is equal to or less than a third reference time.

[0406] The third reference time is shorter than the first reference time.

[0407] (Supplementary Note 4)

[0408] The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, wherein

[0409] The first reference time is 15 minutes.

[0410] The second reference time is 5 seconds.

[0411] The third reference time is 1 minute.

[0412] (Supplementary Note 5)

[0413] The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, wherein

[0414] The elevator remote inspection system further includes an indication unit that sends a landing call signal for generating a landing call of the elevator to the equipment group of the elevator.

[0415] The determination in the inspection item includes: an operation diagnosis, in which the determination is made using the determination signal obtained when the car travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the indication unit; and a normal diagnosis, in which the determination is made using the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the indication unit has sent the landing call signal.

[0416] When there are two or more cars controlled by the control panel, or when there is one car controlled by the control panel and during the normal diagnosis, for the elevator to be judged, when the first condition that the first time is less than or equal to the first reference time is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the normal state; when the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the out-of-adjustment state.

[0417] When there is one car controlled by the control panel and during the operation diagnosis, when the second condition is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the normal state; when the second condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the out-of-adjustment state. The second condition is that the second time from the first timing to the second timing is less than or equal to the second reference time and the first time is less than or equal to the third reference time.

[0418] The third reference time is shorter than the first reference time.

[0419] (Supplementary Note 6)

[0420] According to the elevator remote inspection system described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein

[0421] The car can stop at multiple floors.

[0422] The control panel controls that, when the waiting floor opening waiting setting is made and the car is available, after the car travels to the waiting floor, the car waits in the open state at the waiting floor.

[0423] When the position of the car is at the waiting floor, the control unit does not perform the determination of the opening and closing state during the operation diagnosis.

[0424] (Supplementary Note 7)

[0425] According to the elevator remote inspection system described in any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6, wherein

[0426] The elevator remote inspection system further includes:

[0427] A remote inspection device including the acquisition unit, the control unit, and the output unit; and

[0428] A management server that can be connected to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device.

[0429] The management server can send an execution instruction for the remote inspection to the remote inspection device and can receive the determination result from the remote inspection device.

[0430] The equipment group of the elevator, the control panel and the remote inspection device are installed in the first country,

[0431] The management server is located in a second country different from the first country.

[0432] (Note 8)

[0433] A remote inspection method for an elevator is provided, wherein the remote inspection method for an elevator is performed.

[0434] The elevator remote inspection method comprises the following steps:

[0435] obtaining, as a determination signal, a signal input and output by parallel transmission between the equipment group of the elevator and a control panel that controls the equipment group of the elevator;

[0436] determining an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the obtained determination signal; and

[0437] Output the judgment result of the inspection item.

[0438] The determination signal includes:

[0439] a first signal indicating any state of a first state and a non-first state which is not the first state, wherein the first state is a state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone, wherein the door zone indicates a position range of the elevator car in which the door of the elevator car can be opened and closed;

[0440] a second signal indicating any state of a second state and a non-second state which is not the second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released;

[0441] a third signal indicating any of a third state and a non-third state which is not the third state, the third state being a state in which the door of the car is closed; and

[0442] a fourth signal indicating any of a fourth state and a non-fourth state which is not the fourth state, wherein the fourth state is a state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed,

[0443] The inspection items include the opening and closing status of the car door and the landing door.

[0444] The step of determining includes the steps of determining whether the open / close state is a normal state based on a first time from a second timing after the first timing to a third timing,

[0445] The first timing is the timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state.

[0446] The second timing is the timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state.

[0447] The third timing is the timing at which the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

[0448] The embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative and are not limited to the above. The scope of the present invention is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0449] Explanation of reference numerals

[0450] 1 Remote inspection system, 2 Building, 5 Machine room, 6 Pit, 8 Hoistway, 10 Car, 11 Rope, 12 Counterweight, 13 Deflection pulley, 14 Buffer, 15 Temperature sensor, 16 Intercom, 21 - 23 Control cables, 31 Car call button for the first floor, 32 Car call button for the second floor, 33 Car call button for the third floor, 34 Car call button for the fourth floor, 35 Car call button for the fifth floor, 50 Car operation panel, 51 Indicator, 52 Door open button, 53 Door close button, 60, 61 Doors, 70 Landing operation panel, 71 Indicator, 81 UP landing call button, 82 DN landing call button, 92 DN landing call, 100 Remote inspection device, 110 Control device, 111 Processor, 112 Memory, 120 Communication IF, 130 Input IF, 140 Output IF, 151 Acquisition unit, 152 Control unit, 153 Output unit, 154 Reception unit, 155 Instruction unit, 156 Data group, 200, 200a, 200b Elevator systems, 210, 210a, 210b Control panels, 211 Group management control unit, 212 Each unit control unit, 220, 220a, 210b Elevator equipment groups, 230 Landing devices, 240 Car devices, 250 Traction machine, 261, 262 Connectors, 300 Management server, 400 Terminal, 410 Display unit, 420 Input unit, 421 Display screen, 422 Set data, 423 Reference time DB, 424 Operation history, 425 Judgment result, 500 Remote inspection device made by Company X, 500a Remote inspection device made by Company Y.

Claims

1. An elevator remote inspection system, which performs remote inspection of elevators, wherein The elevator remote inspection system has: An acquisition unit that acquires, as a determination signal, a signal input and output by parallel transmission between the equipment group of the elevator and a control panel that controls the equipment group of the elevator; a control unit configured to determine an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the obtained determination signal; as well as an output unit that outputs the determination result of the inspection item, The determination signal includes: a first signal indicating any state of a first state and a non-first state which is not the first state, wherein the first state is a state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone, wherein the door zone indicates a position range of the elevator car in which the door of the elevator car can be opened and closed; a second signal indicating any state of a second state and a non-second state which is not the second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released; a third signal indicating any of a third state and a non-third state which is not the third state, the third state being a state in which the door of the car is closed; and a fourth signal indicating any of a fourth state and a non-fourth state which is not the fourth state, wherein the fourth state is a state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed, The inspection items include the opening and closing status of the car door and the landing door. The control unit determines whether the open / close state is a normal state based on a first time from a second timing after the first timing to a third timing, The first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state. The second timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state. The third timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

2. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein: The elevator remote inspection system further includes an instruction unit that transmits a landing call signal for generating a landing call for the elevator to the equipment group of the elevator. The determination of the inspection items includes: an operation diagnosis in which the determination signal obtained when the car travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the indicator is used for determination; and a normal diagnosis in which the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the landing call signal is sent by the indicator is used for determination. During the normal diagnosis, when a first condition that the first time is less than a first reference time is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the normal state, and when the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening and closing state is the disordered state.

3. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 2, wherein: During the operation diagnosis, when the second condition is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the normal state, and when the second condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the out-of-adjustment state. The second condition is that the second time from the first timing to the second timing is equal to or less than the second reference time and the first time is equal to or less than the third reference time. The third reference time is shorter than the first reference time.

4. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 3, wherein the first reference time is 15 minutes, the second reference time is 5 seconds, the third reference time is 1 minute.

5. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator remote inspection system further includes an instruction unit that sends a landing call signal for generating a landing call of the elevator to the equipment group of the elevator. The determination in the inspection item includes: operation diagnosis, in which the determination is made using the determination signal obtained when the car travels in response to the landing call signal sent by the instruction unit; and normal diagnosis, in which the determination is made using the determination signal obtained regardless of whether the landing call signal is sent by the instruction unit. In the case where there are two or more cars controlled by the control panel, or in the case where there is one car controlled by the control panel and during the normal diagnosis, for the elevator to be determined, when the first condition that the first time is equal to or less than the first reference time is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the normal state, and when the first condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the out-of-adjustment state. In the case where there is one car controlled by the control panel and during the operation diagnosis, when the second condition is satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the normal state, and when the second condition is not satisfied, the control unit determines that the opening / closing state is the out-of-adjustment state. The second condition is that the second time from the first timing to the second timing is equal to or less than the second reference time and the first time is equal to or less than the third reference time. The third reference time is shorter than the first reference time.

6. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the car can stop at multiple floors, the control panel controls such that, when the waiting floor opening waiting setting is made and the car is available, after the car travels to the waiting floor, the car waits in the open state at the waiting floor. When the position of the car is the waiting floor, the control unit does not perform the determination of the opening / closing state during the operation diagnosis.

7. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator remote inspection system further includes: a remote inspection device including the acquisition unit, the control unit, and the output unit; and a management server that can be connected to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device, The management server can send the remote inspection execution instruction to the remote inspection device, and can receive the determination result from the remote inspection device. The equipment group of the elevator, the control panel and the remote inspection device are installed in the first country, The management server is located in a second country different from the first country.

8. A method for remote inspection of an elevator, which performs remote inspection of an elevator, wherein: The elevator remote inspection method comprises the following steps: obtaining, as a determination signal, a signal input and output by parallel transmission between the equipment group of the elevator and a control panel that controls the equipment group of the elevator; determining an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the obtained determination signal; as well as Output the judgment result of the inspection item. The determination signal includes: a first signal indicating any state of a first state and a non-first state which is not the first state, wherein the first state is a state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone, wherein the door zone indicates a position range of the elevator car in which the door of the elevator car can be opened and closed; a second signal indicating any state of a second state and a non-second state which is not the second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the brake of the elevator is released; a third signal indicating any of a third state and a non-third state which is not the third state, the third state being a state in which the door of the car is closed; and a fourth signal indicating any of a fourth state and a non-fourth state which is not the fourth state, wherein the fourth state is a state in which the door of the landing that is opened and closed in conjunction with the door of the car is closed, The inspection items include the opening and closing status of the car door and the landing door. The step of determining includes the steps of determining whether the open / close state is a normal state based on a first time from a second timing after the first timing to a third timing, The first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state. The second timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state. The third timing is a timing at which the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

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