Method for inspecting a multi-car elevator and elevator system

Abstract

Provided is a point inspection method for a multi-car elevator and an elevator system. An elevator maintenance worker's smartphone (2) uses a service application for the elevator to transmit a car call request specifying a building, a car, and a landing to a management center device (3) via the Internet (9), and the management center device (3) transmits an instruction to move the specified car of the specified building to the landing to a control device (1) of the elevator upon receiving the car call request. The control device (1) of the elevator moves the specified car to the landing upon receiving the instruction to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to inspection methods for multi-car elevators and elevator systems. Background Technology

[0002] When maintenance personnel inspect elevators, especially in multi-car elevator systems, it's difficult to accurately call the specific elevator number to be inspected. If a different elevator arrives when a maintenance worker presses the floor button, the worker must then move that elevator to a distant floor. Because this process needs to be repeated until the desired elevator arrives, there is a problem with work efficiency.

[0003] The elevator group management control system in the patent document includes: a control unit that controls the operation of multiple cars; and a portable terminal device that is input with the target car information of the target car among the multiple cars and the stopping floor information of the stopping floor where the target car stops, and sends the target car information and the stopping floor information to the control unit.

[0004] In the system described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-044668, a dedicated communication circuit and communication line are required for communication between the portable terminal and the elevator control device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides a method and system for inspecting multi-car elevators, which can efficiently inspect multi-car elevators without the need for a separate dedicated communication circuit and line for communication between a portable terminal and the elevator control device.

[0006] The inspection method for multi-car elevators disclosed herein includes the following steps: the elevator maintenance operator uses a portable terminal to send a car call request specifying the building, car number, and floor to the management center device via the Internet; upon receiving the car call request, the management center device sends an instruction to the elevator control device to move the specified car number of the specified building to the floor; and upon receiving the movement instruction, the elevator control device moves the specified car number to the floor.

[0007] The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention as understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of the elevator system in Implementation Method 1.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 1.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing an example of a maintenance work schedule.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a diagram representing the history of car call requests stored in the car call database 5.

[0012] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing the movement status of the car displayed on smartphone 2.

[0013] Figure 6 This is an example of a smartphone 2 notifying the elevator car of its arrival.

[0014] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing the specific sequence of steps S109 in Implementation Method 1.

[0015] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 2.

[0016] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 3.

[0017] Figure 10A This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 4.

[0018] Figure 10B This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 4.

[0019] Figure 11 This is an example diagram showing building maintenance information displayed on a smartphone 2.

[0020] Figure 12 This is a diagram illustrating an example of the movement status of multiple machines. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Implementation method 1.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of the elevator system in Implementation Method 1.

[0024] The elevator system includes a smartphone (2), an elevator control device (1), and a management center device (3). The management center device (3) includes a service server (4), a remote monitoring server (6), a car call database (5), and a maintenance operation database (7).

[0025] The smartphone 2 and the receiving server 4 are configured to communicate via the Internet 9. The remote monitoring server 6 and the elevator control device 1 are configured to communicate via a remote monitoring network 8. The smartphone 2 is held by the elevator maintenance operator. An elevator smartphone service application is installed on the smartphone 2.

[0026] The elevator car call database 5 stores the history of elevator car call requests entered by maintenance workers from the elevator's smartphone service app.

[0027] The maintenance task database 7 stores the maintenance personnel's schedules for maintenance tasks. Each maintenance task schedule is determined by the maintenance personnel, building, machine number, and maintenance date and time.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 1.

[0029] In step S101, smartphone 2 activates the elevator's smartphone service application according to the maintenance operator's instructions.

[0030] In step S102, the smartphone 2 receives input from the maintenance operator specifying the building, car (number), and floor for the car call.

[0031] In step S103, the smartphone 2 sends the elevator call request, which includes the building, number, and floor, along with the maintenance worker's user ID (account), to the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 via the Internet 9.

[0032] In step S104, the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 receives the elevator call request from the car and the user ID (account).

[0033] In step S105, the receiving server 4 refers to the maintenance work plan table in the maintenance work database 7 to verify whether the maintenance worker of the received user ID has scheduled maintenance work for the building and elevator number included in the elevator call request. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S106. Figure 3 This is a diagram illustrating an example of a maintenance work schedule. The maintenance work schedule specifies the building, car, operator ID, work location, start date and time, and end date and time for each maintenance task.

[0034] In step S106, based on the instruction from the receiving server 4, the remote monitoring server 6 sends a movement instruction to the elevator control device 1 of the elevator in the designated building, through the remote monitoring network 8, to move the car of the designated elevator in the building requested by the car call to the designated floor.

[0035] In step S107, the receiving server 4 registers the received car call request into the car call database 5. Figure 4 This is a diagram representing the history of car call requests stored in the car call database 5. For each car call request, the building, car, car call date and time, and operator ID are determined.

[0036] In step S108, the elevator control device 1 receives a movement instruction.

[0037] In step S109, the elevator control device 1 controls the movement of the designated car of the elevator based on the received movement instruction.

[0038] In step S110, the elevator control device 1 notifies the remote monitoring server 6 of the movement status (current position and operating status) of the designated elevator car through the remote monitoring network 8.

[0039] In step S111, the remote monitoring server 6 receives a notification of the movement status (current position and operating condition) of the designated car. The notification is then forwarded to the receiving server 4.

[0040] In step S112, the receiving server 4 sends the movement status (current location and operating status) of the designated car to the smartphone 2 via the Internet 9.

[0041] In step S113, smartphone 2 receives the movement status (current position and operating status) of the designated car.

[0042] In step S114, the smartphone 2 displays the movement status (current position and operating status) of the specified car. Figure 5 This is a graph showing the movement status of the elevator car displayed on smartphone 2. The current position of the car is shown as "5th floor".

[0043] In step S115, when the remote monitoring server 6 receives a notification that the car has arrived at the designated stopping floor as the car's movement status, the receiving server 4 sends a notification of the car stopping to the smartphone 2 via the Internet 9.

[0044] In step S115, smartphone 2 notifies the maintenance operator that the car has stopped. Figure 6 This is an example of a smartphone 2 notifying the car that it has stopped. The voice message indicating the car has arrived is reproduced, and the smartphone 2 vibrates.

[0045] Figure 7 This is a flowchart showing the specific sequence of steps S109 in Implementation Method 1.

[0046] In step S201, if the car call for the machine number specified by the received movement instruction has already been registered, the process proceeds to step S202. In step S203, if the floor call for the machine number specified by the received movement instruction has already been registered, the process proceeds to step S204.

[0047] In step S202, the elevator control device 1 prioritizes registered car calls. That is, the elevator control device 1 moves the designated car based on the registered car calls. Then, the process proceeds to step S205.

[0048] In step S204, the elevator control device 1 reassigns the registered floor call to a number other than the designated one. Then, the process proceeds to step S205.

[0049] In step S205, the designated car is moved to the designated stopping floor according to the received movement instruction.

[0050] In step S206, if a floor call occurs before the maintenance work is completed, the process proceeds to step S207.

[0051] In step S207, the elevator control device 1 assigns the floor call to a number other than the designated number.

[0052] According to this embodiment, multi-car elevators can be inspected efficiently via the elevator's smartphone service application and the Internet.

[0053] Implementation method 2.

[0054] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Embodiment 2. The differences between the sequence of Embodiment 2 and the sequence of Embodiment 1 are as follows.

[0055] The flowchart of Implementation 2 includes steps S303 and S304 instead of steps S103 and S104. After successful authentication in step S105 and before step S106, the determination of step S306 is included.

[0056] In step S303, the smartphone 2 sends the elevator call request, including the building, elevator number, and floor, along with the maintenance worker's user ID (account) and the user's (maintenance worker's) current location, to the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 via the Internet 9. The user's current location can be obtained by the GPS receiver mounted on the smartphone 2.

[0057] In step S304, the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 receives the elevator call request from the car, the user ID (account), and the current location of the user (maintenance operator).

[0058] In step S306, the receiving server 4 refers to the maintenance work plan in the maintenance work database 7 to confirm whether the current location of the received user is the registered maintenance work location. If the user's current location is the maintenance work location, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0059] According to this embodiment, the maintenance worker can request an elevator car call for inspection only when the maintenance worker is at the location where the maintenance work is to be performed.

[0060] Implementation method 3.

[0061] Figure 9 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Embodiment 3. The differences between the sequence of Embodiment 3 and the sequence of Embodiment 1 are as follows.

[0062] The flowchart of Implementation 4 includes step S406 instead of step S306.

[0063] In step S406, the receiving server 4 refers to the maintenance job schedule in the maintenance job database 7 to confirm whether the current location of the received user is the registered maintenance job location and whether the current date and time are within the registered maintenance job date and time range. If the user's current location is the maintenance job location and the current date and time is the maintenance job date and time, the process proceeds to step S106. The range of the maintenance job date and time can be set between the maintenance job start date and time and the maintenance job end date and time. Alternatively, the range of the maintenance job date and time can be set from 30 minutes before the maintenance job start date and time to 30 minutes after the maintenance job end date and time.

[0064] According to this embodiment, the maintenance worker can request an elevator car call for inspection only when the maintenance worker is at the location where the maintenance work is originally to be performed and it is the scheduled time for the maintenance work.

[0065] Implementation method 4.

[0066] Figure 10A and Figure 10B This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of the inspection method for a multi-car elevator in Implementation Method 4.

[0067] In step S101, smartphone 2 activates the elevator's smartphone service application according to the maintenance operator's instructions.

[0068] In step S102, the smartphone 2 receives input from the maintenance operator specifying the building, car (number), and floor for the car call.

[0069] In step S303, the smartphone 2 sends the elevator call request, which includes the building, elevator number, and floor, along with the maintenance worker's user ID (account) and the user's (maintenance worker's) current location, to the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 via the Internet 9.

[0070] In step S304, the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 receives the elevator call request from the car, the user ID (account), and the current location of the user (maintenance operator).

[0071] In step S505, the receiving server 4 of the management center device 3 refers to the maintenance operation plan in the maintenance operation database 7 and sends the maintenance operation information of the specified building to the smartphone 2 via the Internet 9.

[0072] In step S506, smartphone 2 receives building maintenance information.

[0073] In step S507, the smartphone 2 displays building maintenance information. Figure 11 This is an example diagram showing building maintenance information displayed on a smartphone 2. The smartphone 2 displays the start time of the maintenance operation for building "〇〇", the end time of the maintenance operation, and two maintenance workers.

[0074] In step S105, the receiving server 4 refers to the maintenance work plan table in the maintenance work database 7 to confirm whether the maintenance worker with the received user ID has scheduled to perform maintenance work on the building and elevator number included in the car call request. If the authentication is successful, the process proceeds to step S406.

[0075] In step S406, the receiving server 4 refers to the maintenance job plan table in the maintenance job database 7 to confirm whether the current location of the received user is a maintenance job location and whether the current date and time is the maintenance job date and time. If the user's current location is a maintenance job location and the current date and time is the maintenance job date and time, the process proceeds to step S106.

[0076] In step S106, based on the instruction from the receiving server 4, the remote monitoring server 6 sends a movement instruction to the elevator control device 1 of the elevator in the designated building, through the remote monitoring network 8, to move the car of the designated elevator in the building requested by the car call to the designated floor.

[0077] In step S107, the receiving server 4 registers the received car call request into the car call database 5.

[0078] In step S108, the elevator control device 1 receives a movement instruction.

[0079] In step S109, the elevator control device 1 controls the movement of the designated car of the elevator based on the received movement instruction.

[0080] In step S110, the elevator control device 1 notifies the remote monitoring server 6 of the movement status (current position and operating status) of the designated elevator car through the remote monitoring network 8.

[0081] In step S508, the remote monitoring server 6 receives notifications of the movement status (current position and operating condition) of the designated car. The remote monitoring server 6 also receives notifications of movement statuses of cars other than the designated car. These notifications are forwarded to the receiving server 4.

[0082] In step S509, the receiving server 4 sends the movement status (current location and operating status) of multiple elevators to the smartphones 2 of all maintenance workers of the elevators in the designated building via the Internet 9.

[0083] In step S113, smartphone 2 receives the movement status (current location and operating status) of multiple machines including the designated car and other cars.

[0084] In step S114, smartphone 2 displays the movement status (current location and operating status) of multiple mobile phones. Figure 12 This is an example diagram showing the movement status of multiple elevators. On smartphone 2, "Elevator 1" is displayed as "Docked on 3F", "Elevator 2" is displayed as "Operator 2 is calling elevator on 4F", "Elevator 3" is displayed as "Docked on 1F", and "Elevator 4" is displayed as "Calling elevator on 5F".

[0085] In step S115, when the remote monitoring server 6 receives a notification that a certain car has arrived at the designated stop floor as the movement status of a certain car among multiple elevators, the receiving server 4 sends the notification of the car's stop to the smartphones 2 of all maintenance workers of the elevator in the designated building via the Internet 9.

[0086] In step S115, smartphone 2 notifies the maintenance operator that a certain car has stopped.

[0087] According to this embodiment, all building maintenance workers can share the movement status of the elevator car during maintenance work.

[0088] Variations.

[0089] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, it also includes variations such as those described below.

[0090] (1) In the above implementation, the maintenance operator used a smartphone, but other portable terminals may also be used.

[0091] (2) In the above embodiments, the management center device has two servers: an acceptance server and a remote monitoring server, but it is not limited to this. One server can also have the functions of two servers.

[0092] (3) Alternatively, the maintenance operator can receive the completion of the maintenance operation from the smartphone 2 and send it to the server. The remote monitoring server will then return the control of the elevator car to its original state after the maintenance operation is completed.

[0093] (4) Alternatively, when the maintenance worker requests the car to call the elevator, the elevator control device controls the movement of the car and broadcasts a voice message to postpone the elevator ride from the intercom of the designated car.

[0094] The above-described implementation methods are specific examples of the following notes.

[0095] (Note 1)

[0096] A method for inspecting a multi-car elevator, comprising the following steps: The elevator maintenance worker's portable terminal uses the elevator service application to send the car call request, specifying the building, machine number, and floor to be stopped, to the management center device via the Internet. When the management center receives the elevator call request, it sends an instruction to the elevator control device to move the designated elevator number of the designated building to the designated floor; and When the elevator control device receives an instruction to move, it moves the designated elevator number to the floor where it stops.

[0097] (Note 2)

[0098] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 1, wherein, The process of making the movement includes the following steps: if the elevator control device has already registered a car call for the designated number, it prioritizes the registered car call.

[0099] (Note 3)

[0100] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 1 or 2, wherein, The process of making the movement includes the following steps: if the elevator's control device has already assigned the floor call to the designated elevator number, it reassigns the floor call to an elevator other than the designated elevator number.

[0101] (Note 4)

[0102] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, wherein, The process of making the movement also includes the following steps: after receiving the instruction to make the movement, the elevator control device rejects the car call registration.

[0103] (Note 5)

[0104] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending operator information to identify the maintenance operator. The step of sending the instruction to make the movement to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device performs authentication to determine whether the maintenance operator, as determined by the operator information, is a pre-determined maintenance operator, and if the authentication is successful, sends the instruction to make the movement.

[0105] (Note 6)

[0106] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 5, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending the current location of the maintenance worker. The step of sending the instruction to move to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device sends the instruction to move when the authentication is successful and the current location of the maintenance worker is a predetermined maintenance work site.

[0107] (Note 7)

[0108] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 5, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending the current location of the maintenance worker. The step of sending the instruction to move to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device sends the instruction to move when the authentication is successful, the current location of the maintenance worker is a predetermined maintenance work location, and the current date and time are within the range of the predetermined maintenance work date and time.

[0109] (Postscript 8)

[0110] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 7, wherein, The inspection method for the multi-car elevator also includes the following steps: the management center device sends information indicating the current location and operating status of the designated elevator car to the portable terminal.

[0111] (Note 9)

[0112] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 8, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: the management center device sends information indicating the current location and operating status of the designated elevator to the portable terminals of all maintenance workers of the elevators in the designated building.

[0113] (Postscript 10)

[0114] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 8, wherein, The inspection method for the multi-car elevator also includes the following steps: when the car arrives at the stopping floor, the management center device notifies the portable terminal of the arrival.

[0115] (Postscript 11)

[0116] According to the inspection method for multi-car elevators described in Appendix 8, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the car arrives at the designated floor, the management center device notifies the portable terminals of all maintenance workers of the elevators in the designated building of the arrival.

[0117] (Postscript 12)

[0118] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 11, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the management center device receives the car call request, it records the car call request.

[0119] (Postscript 13)

[0120] The inspection method for multi-car elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 12, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the management center device receives the elevator call request from the car, it sends the maintenance work plan of the elevator in the designated building to the portable terminal.

[0121] (Postscript 14)

[0122] A multi-car elevator system, the multi-car elevator system comprising: Portable terminal for elevator maintenance workers; Elevator control device; A first server device, configured to communicate with the portable terminal via the Internet; and The second server device is configured to communicate with the elevator's control device via a remote monitoring network. The portable terminal of the elevator maintenance worker is configured to use the elevator service application to send a car call request, specifying the building, car number, and floor to be stopped, to the first server device via the Internet. The second server device is configured such that, when the first server device receives the elevator call request, it sends an instruction via the remote monitoring network to the elevator control device to move the designated elevator number of the designated building to the designated floor. The elevator control device is configured to move the designated elevator number to the stop floor when it receives an instruction to make the movement.

[0123] Embodiments of the present invention have been described, but should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Claims

1. A method for inspecting a multi-car elevator, comprising the following steps: The elevator maintenance worker's portable terminal uses the elevator service application to send the car call request, specifying the building, machine number, and floor to be stopped, to the management center device via the Internet. When the management center receives the elevator call request, it sends an instruction to the elevator control device to move the designated elevator number of the designated building to the designated floor; and When the elevator control device receives an instruction to move, it moves the designated elevator number to the floor where it stops.

2. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The process of making the movement includes the following steps: if the elevator control device has already registered a car call for the designated number, it prioritizes the registered car call.

3. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The process of making the movement includes the following steps: if the elevator's control device has already assigned the floor call to the designated elevator number, it reassigns the floor call to an elevator other than the designated elevator number.

4. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The process of making the movement also includes the following steps: after receiving the instruction to make the movement, the elevator control device rejects the car call registration.

5. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending operator information to identify the maintenance operator. The step of sending the instruction to make the movement to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device performs authentication to determine whether the maintenance operator, as determined by the operator information, is a pre-determined maintenance operator, and if the authentication is successful, sends the instruction to make the movement.

6. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 5, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending the current location of the maintenance worker. The step of sending the instruction to move to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device sends the instruction to move when the authentication is successful and the current location of the maintenance worker is a predetermined maintenance work site.

7. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 5, wherein, The step of sending the elevator call request to the management center device includes the following steps: sending the current location of the maintenance worker. The step of sending the instruction to move to the control device of the elevator includes the following steps: the management center device sends the instruction to move when the authentication is successful, the current location of the maintenance worker is a predetermined maintenance work location, and the current date and time are within the range of the predetermined maintenance work date and time.

8. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The inspection method for the multi-car elevator also includes the following steps: the management center device sends information indicating the current location and operating status of the designated elevator car to the portable terminal.

9. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: the management center device sends information indicating the current location and operating status of the designated elevator to the portable terminals of all maintenance workers of the elevators in the designated building.

10. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 8, wherein, The inspection method for the multi-car elevator also includes the following steps: when the car arrives at the stopping floor, the management center device notifies the portable terminal of the arrival.

11. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 8, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the car arrives at the designated floor, the management center device notifies the portable terminals of all maintenance workers of the elevators in the designated building of the arrival.

12. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the management center device receives the car call request, it records the car call request.

13. The inspection method for a multi-car elevator according to claim 1, wherein, The inspection method for multi-car elevators also includes the following steps: when the management center device receives the elevator call request from the car, it sends the maintenance work plan of the elevator in the designated building to the portable terminal.

14. A multi-car elevator system, the multi-car elevator system comprising: Portable terminal for elevator maintenance workers; Elevator control device; A first server device, configured to communicate with the portable terminal via the Internet; and The second server device is configured to communicate with the elevator's control device via a remote monitoring network. The portable terminal of the elevator maintenance worker is configured to use the elevator service application to send a car call request, specifying the building, car number, and floor to be stopped, to the first server device via the Internet. The second server device is configured such that, when the first server device receives the elevator call request, it sends an instruction via the remote monitoring network to the elevator control device to move the designated elevator number of the designated building to the designated floor. The elevator control device is configured to move the designated elevator number to the stop floor when it receives an instruction to make the movement.

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