Position detection device for an elevator system with a movable elevator car

Abstract

The invention relates to a position detection device for an elevator system having a movable elevator car and a fixed positioning band. The positioning band extends in a longitudinal direction along the direction of movement of the elevator car and has a marking surface with optically readable position-indicating markings. An optical sensor is arranged such that its field of view faces a reading section of the marking surface of the positioning band. The reading section is arranged at a longitudinally central position of the guide element. The guide element is recessed at the reading section to form an enlarged window, so that no shadow is formed on the positioning band.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a position detection device for an elevator system having a movable elevator car. Background Technology

[0002] A device for determining the position of an elevator car is known from DE 44 01 977 A1. If the position of the elevator car is detected, the elevator control system can deduce the elevator's operation based on the detected position, such as deceleration and stopping, docking, opening the elevator doors, and retraction when the doors open. For this purpose, a sensor head is mounted on the car in a highly stable and torsion-resistant suspension, preferably on the top of the car. Furthermore, a so-called positioning strip (sometimes called a belt) is provided in the elevator shaft, which has markings as information carriers. This is achieved, for example, by magnetic markings. Lower and upper suspension devices are also provided in the shaft, which are immovable relative to the building, and are usually equipped with a safety switch to detect strip breakage. Besides magnets, optically detectable markings can also be used. The belt is guided relative to the sensor head by a guiding system.

[0003] Furthermore, an elevator system having a measurement system for determining the absolute car position is known from EP 1 412 274 B1. This elevator system has a length measuring system for determining the car position of an elevator car that can move along at least one guide rail. In this length measuring system, there is a coded marker pattern installed parallel to the direction of movement next to the elevator car, a code reading device installed on the elevator car for non-contact scanning of the coded marker pattern, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the scanned coded pattern.

[0004] It is generally desirable to determine the position of the elevator car in a reliable manner. Therefore, it is important to be able to reliably read the markings. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a position detection device for an elevator system is provided, wherein the reading process of coded marks applied on a positioning strip is improved.

[0006] According to the present invention, a position detection device for an elevator system is provided, the elevator system having a movable elevator car and a fixed positioning belt, wherein,

[0007] - The positioning band extends longitudinally along the direction of movement of the elevator car, and the positioning band has a marking surface with optically readable position indicator marks that indicate the position along the longitudinal direction of the positioning band, wherein...

[0008] The position detection device includes:

[0009] - Installed into the elevator car shell

[0010] -A pair of guide elements for guiding the positioning strip through the housing, and

[0011] - An optical sensor for sensing optical position indicator marks in the reading section, the optical sensor being arranged such that its field of view faces the mark surface of the positioning strip, the optical sensor having a sensing width in the positioning strip (4) in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (5) of the positioning strip (4).

[0012] According to the invention, the guide elements are mounted in the housing and extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0013] Each of the guide elements has a corresponding longitudinally facing opening in the lateral direction for receiving a corresponding side edge of the positioning band to guide the positioning band, and each guide element also has a C-shaped cross-section surrounding the corresponding longitudinal opening outside the reading section, wherein the C-shaped cross-section is defined by a first leg portion and a second leg portion (19) respectively parallel to the surface of the positioning band and a connecting portion interconnecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the first leg portion and the second leg portion pointing inward in the lateral direction from the connecting portion such that the inwardly facing longitudinal opening is disposed between the leg portions, and the first leg portion is arranged on the side facing the optical sensor. The position detection device according to the invention further includes an illumination mechanism configured to illuminate the marking surface in the reading section, wherein the reading section is disposed at the longitudinal central portion of the guide element.

[0014] Outside the reading section, the first leg portions of the pair of guide elements are separated from each other by a clear distance equal to or greater than the sensing width.

[0015] And among them,

[0016] - The guide element is recessed at the reading section to form an enlarged window.

[0017] By configuring the guide elements as a pair, the assembly, disassembly, insertion into the guide elements, and retention by the guide elements of the positioning tape are facilitated. Furthermore, by providing a larger window in the reading section, access to the marking surface of the positioning tape is improved, resulting in reliable illumination and reading. In particular, the obstruction of the marking surface by the guide elements is reduced. By separating the first leg portions of the pair of guide elements with a clear distance equal to or greater than the width of the optical sensor's field of view, it is ensured that the position indicator marks on the positioning tape are not damaged by the guide elements in the area where the optical sensor reads the position information located on the positioning tape.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment, the guide element may be recessed at a reading section relative to another non-reading section at another longitudinal position of the guide element.

[0019] According to the invention, the C-shaped cross-section surrounding the respective longitudinal opening includes two inwardly projecting leg portions. The guide element can be recessed at the reading section by at least one of the inwardly projecting leg portions being recessed (e.g., shortened or omitted). For example, both guide elements may each have at least one (and preferably exactly one) of the inwardly projecting leg portions recessed at the reading section.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the enlarged window is formed on a first side of the plane defined by the band. According to another embodiment, an optical sensor and an illumination mechanism may be disposed on the first side of the plane defined by the band. According to yet another embodiment, the enlarged window is also formed on the other (second) side of the plane defined by the band.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the corresponding recessed leg portions of the two guide elements are preferably located on a first side of the plane defined by the band. In another embodiment, the leg portions of the two guide elements located on the other side (second side) of the plane defined by the band may not be recessed at the reading section.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the opening extends in a longitudinal direction, preferably a longitudinally extending slot (e.g., a slit or groove). According to another aspect, the opening is accessible from the inside in a lateral direction.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the corresponding side edge of the positioning strip is insertable / has been inserted into the opening from the inside in the lateral direction, such that the edge is located within the opening. A C-shaped cross-section surrounds the side edge of the positioning strip inserted into the opening.

[0024] The term "longitudinal central portion" does not mean a precise center, but rather refers to a central portion, characterized in that substantial longitudinal end portions of the guide element extend from the central portion toward each longitudinal side. Both longitudinal end portions of the guide element preferably extend at least 20% of the total length of the guide element.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the longitudinal opening is an inwardly facing slit provided in the guide element, and the longitudinal openings face each other to receive corresponding side portions of the positioning strip therein.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the first leg portion and the second leg portion of each guide element are disposed along corresponding portions of the marking surface and another surface.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the first leg portion of each guide element is disposed on the marking surface side of the positioning strip.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the first leg portion is shorter than the second leg portion in the lateral direction.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the first leg portion is shorter in the lateral direction in the cross-section at the reading section compared to the cross-section at the remaining portion of the guide element.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the first leg portion is missing in the cross-section at the reading section compared to the cross-section at the remaining section of the guide element.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the guide element is removably mounted in the housing and can be removed from or inserted into the housing by sliding the guide element longitudinally relative to the housing.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the optically readable location indicator includes a barcode or a QR code.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the positioning strip is a polymer strip.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the window size is adapted such that no shadow is formed on the positioning strip in the vertical direction.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the window size is adapted such that no particles fall onto the encoding band in the reading area.

[0036] According to one embodiment, an elevator system having a position detection device according to any of the preceding claims is provided. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Hereinafter, examples of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the basic structure of the elevator system according to the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 2 A first schematic cross-sectional view of a partial area of ​​the position detection device is shown.

[0040] Figure 3 A second schematic cross-sectional view of a partial area of ​​the position detection device is shown, and

[0041] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the enlarged window is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the basic structure of the elevator system 2 according to the present invention is shown.

[0043] The elevator system 2 shown has a position detection device 1 disposed in a shaft and a movable elevator car 3. The movable elevator car 3 can move vertically between multiple floors of a building in the direction of the double arrow 5. This vertical direction is also referred to below as the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the position detection device 1 includes a housing 8. Furthermore, the elevator system includes a fixed positioning belt 4, which is guided by a pair of guide elements 9 (such as...) installed in corresponding slots 8a, 8b of the housing 8. Figure 2 (As shown) is guided through housing 8.

[0044] The housing 8 is mounted to the elevator car 3. The housing 8 has slots 8a and 8b through which a fixed positioning band 4 extends. The fixed positioning band 4 extends in the longitudinal direction 5 along the direction of movement of the elevator car 3.

[0045] The fixed positioning strip 4 has a marking surface 6 on which optically readable position indicator marks 7 are applied. These optically readable position indicator marks 7 contain barcodes or QR codes that can be read and evaluated when the elevator car 3 passes over them. The positioning strip 4 is preferably a polymer strip.

[0046] Figure 2 A first schematic cross-sectional view of a local area of ​​the position detection device 1 is shown.

[0047] This first schematic cross-sectional view shows the housing 8 mounted to the elevator car 3 and several other components positioned within the housing 8. These other components positioned within the housing 8 include a pair of guide elements 9 for guiding the fixed positioning band 4. These guide elements 9 are mounted within the housing 8 and extend longitudinally (along the longitudinal direction 5) parallel to each other. Each of these guide elements 9 has a longitudinally facing inwardly extending opening 10 for receiving a corresponding side edge of the positioning band 4 to guide it. Each guide element 9 has a C-shaped cross-sectional area surrounding the corresponding longitudinal opening 10.

[0048] like Figure 2 As shown, the guide elements 9 are spaced apart from each other, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0049] The longitudinal opening 10 is an inwardly facing slit provided in the guide element 9 for receiving the corresponding lateral side of the fixed positioning band 4 therein.

[0050] Each C-shaped cross-section is defined by a first leg portion 20 and a second leg portion 19 parallel to the surface of the positioning band 4. A connecting portion 21 interconnects the first leg portion 20 and the second leg portion 19 such that the first leg portion 20 and the second leg portion 19 point inward in the lateral direction from the connecting portion 21. Therefore, an inwardly facing longitudinal opening 10 is provided between the leg portions 20, 19.

[0051] The first leg portion 20 and the second leg portion 19 are disposed along corresponding portions of the marking surface 6 of the positioning band 4 and another surface of the positioning band 4. The first leg portion 20 is disposed on the marking surface side 6 of the positioning band 4. Or in other words, the first leg portion 20 faces... Figure 3 The optical sensor 11 shown is shown.

[0052] As described above, the guide elements 9 are spaced apart from each other. Therefore, the first leg portion 20 of one guide element 9 is separated from the first leg portion 20 of the other guide element 9 by... Figure 2 The clear distance indicated by the double arrow 22 is separated. In other words, the first leg portions are separated from each other by the clear distance.

[0053] Furthermore, the first leg portion 20 may be shorter than the second leg portion 19.

[0054] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the first leg portion 20 is in the lateral direction (in Figure 2 and Figure 4 The lengths of the sections (indicated by double arrows 40) vary depending on their location within the housing 8. Outside the reading section 42 (also referred to as the remaining section) or the non-reading section 44, the first leg portion 20 of each guide element 9 has the aforementioned form, which... Figure 2 The dashed line indicates this. Because the first leg portion 20 in the non-reading segment 44 is longer in the lateral direction than in the reading segment 42, therefore... Figure 2 This difference is indicated only by dashed lines. The second leg portion 19 and the connecting portion 21 are identical in the non-reading section 44 and the reading section 42, and... Figure 2 The middle part is represented by a solid line.

[0055] Specifically, the cross-section of the first leg portion 20 within the reading section 42 is... Figure 2 The first leg portion 20 is shown in solid line within the reading section 42, compared to the cross-section of the remaining (non-reading) section 44 of the guide element 9. In other words, the additional portion of the first leg portion 20 present in the remaining section 44 but not in the reading section 42 is... Figure 2 It is shown in dashed lines.

[0056] Therefore, since the first leg portion 20 is shortened relative to the remaining portion 44 in the reading section 42 (or, in other embodiments not shown, is missing), the guide element 9 is recessed in the reading section 42. If the first leg portion 20 is missing in the reading section, the cross-section of the guide element in the reading section is L-shaped instead of C-shaped.

[0057] In order to install the positioning band 4 in the housing 8, the guide element 9 (or at least one of the guide elements 9) is removably installed in the housing 8 and is adapted to be removed from or inserted into the housing 8 by sliding the guide element 9 relative to the housing 8 in the longitudinal direction 5.

[0058] Figure 3 A second schematic cross-sectional view is shown to explain a local area of ​​the position detection device 1 at the reading section 42. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The general description also applies to Figure 3 ,vice versa.

[0059] Figure 3 An optical sensor 11 is also shown, which faces the marking surface 6 of the positioning band 4 guided by the guide element 9 in the reading section 42 so as to be able to detect optically readable position indicator marks 7. The reading section 42 is disposed in the longitudinally oriented central portion of the housing 8, and therefore also in the longitudinally oriented central portion of the guide element 9 mounted in the housing 8.

[0060] The optical sensor 11 has a sensing width in the width direction of the positioning strip 4, which corresponds to the sensing width in the positioning strip 4. Figure 4 The lateral direction is indicated by the double arrow 40. The sensing width of the optical sensor 11 is measured at the marked surface 6 of the positioning band 4. This sensing width is selected such that the net distance 22 between the first leg portions 20 of the guide element 9 outside the reading section 42 is equal to or greater than the sensing width of the optical sensor 11. This ensures that the optically readable position indicator mark 7 on the positioning band 4 is not damaged by the guide element 9 due to movement of the car 3 and therefore the housing 8 including the guide element 9.

[0061] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, an illumination mechanism 12 is provided in the housing 8 to illuminate the positioning strip 4 in the reading section 42, thereby illuminating the marking surface 6 of the positioning strip 4. These illumination mechanisms 12 are LEDs or other suitable light-emitting elements. The illumination mechanisms 12 are arranged outside the field of view of the optical sensor 11 used for reading the optically readable position indicator marks 7 on the positioning strip 4. Light emitted from these LEDs is directed to the reading section 42 as an LED beam 15 using an angled light guide 16 and passes through the enlarged window 14 in its path.

[0062] Increase window size by 14 (e.g.) Figure 4 (As shown) is the section of guide element 9 that provides a larger opening between guide elements 9. The enlarged window 14 is formed so that illumination provided by the illumination mechanism 12 can reach the positioning band 4, while the other guide element sections (all or some of the remaining guide element sections, preferably the guide element sections on both sides of the enlarged window 14 along the band length direction) have narrower openings. This opening is only used to prevent friction against the optically readable position indicator 7 on the positioning band 4. The length of the enlarged window meets the illumination required for reading the optically readable position indicator 7 on the illuminated positioning band 4.

[0063] The size of window 14 is increased so that no shadow falls on the coded positioning band 4 in the read segment 42. Furthermore, the size of window 14 is increased so that no particles reach the coded positioning band 4 in the read area or read segment.

[0064] from Figure 3 Furthermore, the lighting mechanism 12 and the optical sensor lens 18 are placed inside the housing 8 and on the printed circuit board 17.

[0065] The potential advantages of this invention are particularly based on the fact that the two lateral guide elements 9 for the positioning band 4 have recesses in the central region in the form of enlarged windows 14. In other words, the two guide elements 9 are recessed in the reading section 42 in the form of enlarged windows 14. This results in the advantageous situation that no shadows fall on the positioning band 4 in the region of the reading section 42 of the positioning band. Due to the use of said enlarged windows 14, it is also advantageously achieved that no particles fall onto the positioning band in the reading section.

[0066] The guide element 9 can be formed by any suitable manufacturing process, such as integral molding, additive manufacturing, or subtractive manufacturing (e.g., machining), to name just a few.

[0067] The positioning tape 4, guided by two lateral guide elements 9, is advantageously a PET tape printed with a barcode or QR code. The reader used is an optical reader, such as an optical camera.

[0068] List of reference numerals

[0069] 1. Position detection device

[0070] 2. Elevator System

[0071] 3. Elevator car

[0072] 4. Fixed positioning belt

[0073] 5. Vertical direction

[0074] 6. Marking the surface

[0075] 7. Location indicator markers

[0076] 8. Housing

[0077] 9. Guide elements

[0078] 10. Longitudinal opening

[0079] 11 Optical Sensors

[0080] 12 Lighting Mechanism

[0081] 14 windows

[0082] 15 LED beams

[0083] 16 Light guides for LEDs

[0084] 17 Printed Circuit Boards

[0085] 18 Optical sensor lens

[0086] 19 Second leg section

[0087] 20 First leg section

[0088] 21 Connection Part

Claims

1. A position detection device (1) for an elevator system, the elevator system having a movable elevator car (3) and a fixed positioning belt (4), the positioning belt (4) extending in a longitudinal direction (5) along the direction of movement of the elevator car, and the positioning belt (4) having a marking surface (6) having an optically readable position indicator (7) indicating the longitudinal position along the positioning belt (4), the position detection device (1) comprising: Housing (8), the housing being adapted to be installed on the elevator car (3); A pair of guide elements (9) for guiding the positioning strip through the housing (8); An optical sensor (11) is used to sense the optical position indicator mark (7) in the reading section (42). The optical sensor (11) is arranged such that its field of view faces the mark surface (6) of the positioning band (4) guided by the pair of guide elements (9). The optical sensor (11) has a sensing width in the positioning band (4) in a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (5) of the positioning band (4). The guide elements (9) are mounted in the housing and extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction. Each guide element (9) has a corresponding longitudinal opening (10) facing inward in the lateral direction, which is used to receive a corresponding side edge of the positioning band (4) to guide the positioning band (4). Each guide element also has a C-shaped cross-section surrounding the corresponding longitudinal opening outside the reading section (42). The C-shaped cross-section is defined by a first leg portion (20) and a second leg portion (19) that are respectively parallel to the surface of the positioning band (4) and a connecting portion (21) that interconnects the first leg portion (20) and the second leg portion (19) with each other. The first leg portion and the second leg portion point inward in the lateral direction from the connecting portion such that the inward longitudinal opening is arranged between the leg portions (19, 20), and the first leg portion (20) is arranged on the side facing the optical sensor. The feature is that the position detection device (1) further includes: Illumination mechanism (12), the illumination mechanism being used to illuminate the marking surface in the reading section (42), in, The reading section (42) is located at the longitudinal central portion of the guide element (9). - Outside the reading section, the first leg portions (20) of the pair of guide elements (9) are separated from each other by a clear distance (22) equal to or greater than the sensing width, and The guide element (9) is recessed at the reading section (42) to form an enlarged window (14).

2. The position detection device according to claim 1, wherein, The longitudinal opening (10) is an inwardly facing slit provided in the guide element (9), and the longitudinal openings face each other to accommodate the corresponding lateral sides of the positioning band (4) in the longitudinal opening.

3. The position detection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first leg portion and the second leg portion are arranged along corresponding portions of the marked surface of the positioning band and corresponding portions of the other surface of the positioning band.

4. The position detection device according to claim 3, wherein, The first leg portion (20) is arranged on the marked surface side of the positioning band.

5. The position detection device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The first leg portion (20) is shorter than the second leg portion (19) in the lateral direction.

6. The position detection device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, Compared to the cross-section at the remaining section of the guide element, the first leg portion (20) is shorter in the lateral direction in the cross-section at the reading section.

7. The position detection device according to claim 6, wherein, Compared to the cross-section at the remaining section of the guide element, the first leg portion (20) is missing in the cross-section at the reading section.

8. The position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The guide element (9) is installed in the housing (8) in a removable manner, and the guide element is adapted to be removed from or inserted into the housing by sliding the guide element (9) relative to the housing (8) in the longitudinal direction (5).

9. The position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The optically readable location indicator (7) includes a barcode or a QR code.

10. The position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The positioning band (4) is a polymer band.

11. The position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The size of the window (14) is adapted such that no shadow is formed on the positioning strip (4) in the length direction.

12. The position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The size of the window (14) is adapted such that no particles fall onto the encoding band (4) in the reading area.

13. An elevator system comprising a position detection device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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