Cableway for goods transport

Abstract

In order to facilitate the transport of objects and increase the safety of persons in a circulating ropeway (1) with at least two ropeway stations (2a-2c) and with a number of ropeway vehicles (3) that can be moved between the ropeway stations (2a-2c) by means of a haul rope (4), it is provided that a first detection device (D1) is provided in a first ropeway station (2a), which is configured to detect an object (O) intended for loading a cabin (K) of a ropeway vehicle (3) in a loading area (6) of the first ropeway station (2a) and to determine an object type for the object (O), and that a control unit (5) is provided which is configured to operate the circulating ropeway (1) in a defined transport operating mode when the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a circulating cable car with at least two cable car stations and with a number of cable car vehicles that can be moved between the cable car stations by means of a haulage cable, wherein the number of cable car vehicles each has a cabin for receiving objects and wherein a control unit is provided for controlling the circulating cable car. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a circulating cable car. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a circulating cable car with at least two cable car stations and with a number of cable car vehicles that can be moved between the cable car stations by means of a haulage cable, wherein the number of cable car vehicles each has a cabin for receiving objects and wherein the circulating cable car is controlled by a control unit.

[0002] In circulating cable cars, the cable car vehicles are moved in the usual way in a circular loop between two end stations. In the past, circulating cable cars were mainly used to transport people in ski areas. This mainly transported skiers with ski equipment between a valley station and a mountain station. Later, snowboarders with snowboards were also added. In smaller cabins, the skis and snowboards are usually transported in special, standardized transport baskets that are arranged on the outside of the cabin. In larger cabins, all of the equipment is usually transported inside the cabin. In addition to skis and snowboards, there is also other, rather bulky, winter sports equipment such as snow bikes or sleds, which usually have to be transported inside the cabin. Increasingly, however, circulating cable cars are also being used in ski areas in the summer.For example, strollers, wheelchairs or mountain bikes are transported, usually also within the cabins due to their size.

[0003] Increasingly, however, circulating cable cars are also being used as a means of public transport in urban areas. Here, too, in addition to pure passenger transport, objects are often transported, although the range of different object types is generally wider than in ski resorts. Particularly in urban areas, in addition to the objects already mentioned, luggage, e.g. suitcases or bags, or goods are often transported. Due to the wide range of objects, the use of standardized transport baskets outside the cable cars is not always possible. In addition to the objects used by people, goods are often also transported, for example food or similar. In contrast to the other objects mentioned, such goods are usually not tied to the people and are therefore usually not taken along by the people in the cable cars. Goods are, for example, picked up in the first cable car station, e.g.At a valley station in a ski resort, the operator loads the goods into a cabin and transports them unattended to a second cable car station, e.g., a mountain station. At the mountain station, the goods are unloaded from the cabin by the operator. The cable car vehicles can be used, for example, for the combined transport of people and goods, or they can be used exclusively for the transport of goods. However, there may also be cable car vehicles with specially designed transport cabins intended exclusively for the transport of goods.

[0004] Due to the wide range of objects to be transported, loading and unloading poses various challenges. While loading handy, person-related objects (e.g., skis, suitcases, etc.), for example, is relatively easy and quick, loading the cabins with bulky, person-related objects (e.g., wheelchairs, bicycles, strollers, etc.) and / or bulky, non-person-related objects (e.g., goods such as food, etc.) can be more complex and therefore take longer. In conventional circulating cable cars, however, the cable car vehicles are usually moved in a fixed normal operating mode at a fixed, constant conveying speed.

[0005] The opening and closing of the cabin doors usually occurs automatically at predetermined positions within the cable car stations. The position, time, and available time for loading and unloading the cable car vehicles are therefore fixed and cannot be changed during normal operation. Especially during peak times, this can lead to accidents or unwanted emergency stops, as there may be insufficient time for loading. Previously, the drive was only stopped manually by the operating personnel if they detected certain objects. However, as the future trend is increasingly toward unattended operation, manual intervention is not a satisfactory solution. Furthermore, reliable detection of objects that may require a stop cannot be guaranteed due to distraction or other activities.

[0006] Systems are known which can reduce manual intervention by operating personnel. In AT 414 056 B, a video camera is used to monitor a lift route and its surroundings in order to assess the movement of objects in terms of their position and speed. If a dangerous situation arises due to the movement of an object, an evaluation unit initiates an alarm signal or switches off the cable car drive. In EP 1 972 520 A1, the operating mode of the cable car can be adapted as required in the cable car station. For example, the conveying speed of the cable car vehicles is varied. In EP 1 849 674 A1, the conveying speed of the cable car vehicles is adapted depending on the type of cable car vehicle. In JP 2009 122863 A, a detection device is designed to recognize whether a wheelchair user is present in the cabin.However, these systems do not allow for the cable car's operating mode to be adjusted depending on the object to be transported.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a circulating cable car and a method for operating a circulating cable car which enable easier transport of objects and increase safety for people.

[0008] The object is achieved with the circulating cable car mentioned at the outset in that a first detection device is provided in a first cable car station, which is designed to detect an object intended for loading a cabin of a cable car vehicle in a loading area of the first cable car station and to determine an object type for the object, and in that the control unit is designed to operate the circulating cable car in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object is a fixed object type. This enables automatic detection and identification of desired objects and the operating mode of the cable car can be adapted accordingly. In mixed operation (passenger and goods transport), the loading area can, for example, be located in the boarding area for passengers.However, the loading area could also be located before or after the passenger boarding area, for example, when viewed in the direction of movement.

[0009] The first detection device preferably has at least one camera for detecting the loading area and an evaluation unit which is designed to detect the object located in the loading area from a number of images captured by the at least one camera and to determine the object type for the object, wherein the at least one camera preferably comprises a 3D camera, an infrared camera or a video camera and wherein an image recognition model is preferably stored in the evaluation unit. The image recognition model can, for example, comprise a suitable image recognition algorithm, e.g. in the form of an artificial intelligence (K1) model, which can be trained in order to be able to distinguish the desired objects from other objects. The training can, for example, take place by first providing the model with a large number of images of objects of the specified object type.With a sufficiently large number of images, the model learns to independently recognize the specified object types during subsequent operation. Depending on the complexity of the specified object types, a suitable model and a suitable camera can be used. At least one camera can be located above the loading area, for example.

[0010] The circulating cable car naturally also has a drive device for driving the cable car vehicles, wherein the transport operating mode preferably includes a loading operating mode. The control unit is designed to control the drive device in the loading operating mode in order to stop the drive of the cable car vehicles for a specified loading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period if a cable car vehicle is located in the loading area of the first cable car station at a loading time. The loading time is preferably determined as a function of a detection time at which the object of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device. This allows the drive to be stopped completely, for example, automatically, without intervention by the operating personnel, if a specific object is detected that, based on experience, requires a relatively long time to load.On the other hand, for certain objects, it may be sufficient to simply reduce the conveyor speed, allowing more time than in normal operating mode to load the object. The loading time can vary depending on the object type, for example.

[0011] The transport operating mode preferably also comprises an unloading operating mode, wherein the control unit is designed to control the drive device in the unloading operating mode in order to stop the drive of the cable car vehicles for a specified unloading period or to reduce the conveying speed for a specified unloading period if the cable car vehicle, which is loaded with an object of the specified object type, is located in a specified unloading area of a second cable car station at an unloading time. As a result, in a specified unloading area, analogous to the loading area, the drive can be automatically stopped or the conveying speed reduced in order to facilitate the unloading of the object. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, no operating personnel are available in the exit area of a cable car station (e.g. a mountain station) to monitor the exit or unloading area. The unloading period can in turn be, e.g.This may vary depending on the type of object. In a mixed operation (people and objects), the unloading area may be located in the exit area, but could also be located before or after the exit area in the direction of movement.

[0012] Preferably, a car door is provided on each of the cabins of the number of cable car vehicles, and a door actuating device for actuating the car doors is provided, which can be controlled by the control unit. The transport operating mode then preferably also comprises a through-passage operating mode, wherein the control unit is designed to control the door actuating device in the through-passage operating mode such that, in a cable car vehicle loaded with an object of the specified object type, the car door is closed in a specified passage area of a cable car station. This can be advantageous, for example, when in mixed operation with a cable car vehicle only one object, e.g. food or similar, is transported. This means that the car door can remain closed, e.g. in a middle station, so that no people can board.

[0013] The control unit is preferably designed to determine the unloading time based on the travel time of the cable car vehicles between the loading area and the unloading area and / or based on a unique vehicle identification of the cable car vehicles. The travel time depends on the route length and the conveying speed and can be assumed to be known. The control unit can, for example, determine the unloading time from the known loading time, the loading duration, and the travel time. If the cable car vehicles have vehicle identifications, the control unit knows the location of the cable car vehicles at all times and can determine the unloading time accordingly.

[0014] Advantageously, a first vehicle identification device can be provided in the first cable car station, which is designed to detect the vehicle identifier of a cable car vehicle located in the loading area, and the control unit can be designed to use the detected vehicle identifier to determine the unloading time. For example, the first detection device could also be designed as a vehicle identification device for detecting the vehicle identifier in addition to object detection. For example, a unique optical feature on the exterior of the cable car vehicle, which is suitable for identification by image recognition, could be used as the vehicle identifier. However, the first vehicle identification device could also be a separate device provided in addition to the first detection device.For example, a QR code, barcode or RFID transponder can be used as vehicle identification and the first vehicle identification device can have a corresponding reading device.

[0015] A second vehicle identification device can also be provided in the second cable car station, which is designed to detect the vehicle identification of the cable car vehicles, and the control unit can be designed to determine the unloading time based on the detected vehicle identification. The second vehicle identification device can, for example, be designed analogously to the first detection device and have a detection device with at least one camera and an evaluation unit. However, the second vehicle identification device can also, in turn, have a suitable reading device for reading a QR code, barcode, or RFID transponder. In this case, the control unit can determine the unloading time based on the signal from the second vehicle identification device, even without knowledge of the running time, and use it to switch to the unloading operating mode.

[0016] It may also be advantageous if a signaling device is provided in at least one cable car station, and if the control unit is configured to control the signaling device to reproduce a signal when the circulating cable car is in transport mode. The signal may, for example, comprise an optical, acoustic, or electronic signal. This allows passengers or operating personnel to be warned with desired signals or informed with suitable information. Depending on the desired type of signal, a suitable signaling device can be provided, e.g., signal lamps, loudspeakers, screens for displaying information, a mobile device for displaying electronic messages, etc.

[0017] The circulating cable car can be designed as a gondola lift, with each of the cable car vehicles comprising a cabin, or the circulating cable car can be designed as a combination lift, with the number of cable car vehicles comprising a number of cable car vehicles with chairs and a number of cable car vehicles with cabins. The detection and analysis of objects according to the invention takes place in the boarding and alighting areas provided for the cable car vehicles.

[0018] The specified object type preferably includes at least one of the following object types: suitcase, transport pallet, box, trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, or an object with a size exceeding a specified size. This allows the most common object types to be recognized, although this list is of course not exhaustive. Object types not considered can be added subsequently, for example, by retraining the image recognition model.

[0019] The object is also achieved with the method mentioned at the outset in that an object is detected by means of a first detection device, which object is loaded into a cabin of a cable car vehicle in a loading area of a first cable car station, that an object type is determined for the object and that the control unit operates the circulating cable car in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object is a specified object type.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in claims 11 to 17.

[0021] The present invention is described below with reference to the Figur 1 which show exemplary, schematic and non-limiting advantageous embodiments of the invention. Fig.1 a circulating cable car in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0022] In Fig.1 1 shows a circulating cable car 1 with three cable car stations 2a-2c. In the following, the term "cable car" is used synonymously with "circulating cable car". The cable car 1 has a number of cable car vehicles 3, which can be moved between the cable car stations 2a-2c by means of a haulage cable 4. The first cable car station 2a and the second cable car station 2b are designed as end stations, in which the haulage cable 4 is each deflected around a cable pulley 15 to form a closed cable loop. The cable car vehicles 4 can be moved in a circulating movement along this cable loop. The third cable car station 2c is merely optional and is designed as a middle station, located between the two end stations 2a, 2b. In the third cable car station 2c, a cable pulley 15 is also provided here, by way of example. However, the haulage cable 4 is not deflected within the third cable car station 2c, but runs straight through the cable car station 2c.The cable pulley 15 is essentially used to guide the hoist cable 4.

[0023] A separation of the haulage rope 4 into two rope loops would also be conceivable, for example. In this case, a first haulage rope would be provided, forming a closed first rope loop between the first cable car station 2a and the third cable car station 2c (middle station), and a second haulage rope would be provided, forming a closed second rope loop between the third cable car station 2c (middle station) and the second cable car station 2b. In the third cable car station 2c, a first rope pulley would thus be provided, around which the first haulage rope is deflected, and a second rope pulley would be provided, around which the second haulage rope is deflected. Of course, the embodiment with three cable car stations 2a-2c is only an example, and the middle station 2c could in principle be dispensed with.

[0024] Furthermore, a drive device 9 is provided in the cable car 1 for driving the cable car vehicles 3. The drive device 9 has at least a first drive unit 9a, e.g. a suitable electric machine, for driving the haulage cable 4. The first drive unit 9a can, for example, be arranged in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c and be designed to drive the cable pulley 15. In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig.1 For example, a first drive unit 9a is provided in the second cable car station 2b. However, additional first drive units 9a can also be provided in the other cable car stations 2a, 2c to drive the respective cable pulley 15. This can be advantageous, for example, to enable drive redundancy or for particularly long cable lengths and / or particularly large loads and / or steep gradients.

[0025] The cable car 1 shown is designed as a gondola lift, in which all cable car vehicles 3 each have a cabin K for accommodating objects O. Of course, the cabins K can also be provided for the transport of persons. Within the scope of the invention, conventional cabin vehicles can be used, which are primarily used for the transport of persons, but which can also be used for the transport of goods if necessary. A cabin door 12 is provided on the side of each cabin K in a known manner, which can, for example, have two oppositely opening door leaves, as shown in Fig.1 on a cable car vehicle 3 in the first cable car station 2a. The cabin doors 12 are arranged such that they each face a platform 16 in the cable car stations 2a-2c. Persons can board the cabins K or objects O can be loaded onto them via platform 16.

[0026] The cable car vehicles 3 can be detachably coupled to the haulage cable 4 in a known manner. For this purpose, actuatable cable clamps (not shown) are provided on the cable car vehicles 3. During travel on the open route between the cable car stations 2a-2c, the cable clamp of a cable car vehicle 3 is closed, so that the cable car vehicle is firmly coupled to the haulage cable 4. The drive force generated by the first drive unit 9a is transmitted frictionally via the cable clamp from the haulage cable 4 to the cable car vehicle 3. Upon entering a cable car station 2a-2c, the cable clamp can be opened by an actuating device (not shown) to decouple the cable car vehicle 3 from the haulage cable 4.While the haulage rope 4 continues to move around the rope pulley 15 at a substantially unchanged and constant conveying speed, the cable car vehicle 3 uncoupled in the entry area E can be braked after uncoupling and moved at a reduced speed from the entry area E to an exit area A of the respective cable car station 2a-2c.

[0027] To guide the decoupled cable car vehicles 3, stationary guide rails 17 are provided in the cable car stations 2a-2c. The guide rails 17 each extend from the entry area E to the exit area A of a cable car station 2a-2c. In the exit area A, the cable car vehicles 3 can initially be accelerated back to the conveying speed of the conveying cable 4, and the cable clamps of the cable car vehicles 3 can be actuated by an actuating device (not shown) in order to recouple the cable car vehicle 3 to the conveying cable 4. A number of guide rollers (not shown) can be provided on each of the cable car vehicles 3, with which the cable car vehicles 3 can be guided along the guide rails 17 when decoupled from the conveying cable 4.

[0028] To drive the decoupled cable car vehicles 3 along the guide rails 17, a (not shown) auxiliary drive can be provided for each guide rail 17 in the cable car stations. The auxiliary drive can, for example, be designed in the form of a known tire conveyor having a plurality of driven tires arranged one behind the other along the respective guide rail 17. The tires can interact with friction linings on the cable car vehicles 3 to drive the cable car vehicles 3. A suitable second drive unit 9b, e.g., an electric machine, can be provided to drive the auxiliary drives. The second drive unit 9b is indicated merely by way of example in the second cable car station 2b. Of course, a second drive unit 9b is also provided in an analogous manner in the first cable car station 2a.In the third cable car station 2c, a guide rail 17 is provided for each direction of travel, whereby a separate auxiliary drive with a second drive unit 9b can be provided for each guide rail 17.

[0029] Furthermore, at least one control unit 5 is provided in the cable car 1 for controlling functions of the cable car 1. The control unit 5 serves, among other things, to control the drive device 9, in particular to control the available first drive unit(s) 9a for driving the haulage cable 4 and to control the available second drive unit(s) 9a for driving the auxiliary drives. In addition, the control unit 5 could, of course, also be designed to control further functions which, however, are not relevant to the invention, e.g., lighting control, etc. The position of the control unit 5 is shown in Fig.1 shown merely as an example. The control unit 5 can, for example, be arranged in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c, e.g., in a control room of a cable car station 2a-2c. The control unit 5 could, for example, also comprise several separate control units that communicate with each other via a suitable communication connection. The control unit 5 can comprise suitable hardware and / or software.

[0030] The first cable car station 2a can, for example, be a valley station in a valley of a ski area, and the second cable car station 2b can be a mountain station on a mountain in the ski area. The third cable car station 2c can be located at a suitable point between the mountain and the valley. When the cable car 1 is in operation, the transport of people and objects O therefore mainly takes place from the valley to the mountain. Of course, transport from the mountain to the valley is also possible. Passenger transport can of course also take place. Of course, use in a ski area is only an example, and the cable car 1 could alternatively be intended for urban operation, for example. In this case, it is not necessarily necessary to bridge a difference in altitude, but movement on the flat or with only a small difference in altitude, or bridging a river, etc., could also take place.The transport of people and / or goods can also take place in essentially equal parts in both directions. However, for the description of the invention, only the transport of goods of objects O in one direction from the valley station 2a to the middle station 2c or further to the mountain station 2b will be considered below.

[0031] On platform 16 in front of the exit area A of the first cable car station 2a, a loading area 6 is provided for loading cable car vehicles 3 with objects O. The loading area 6 is understood to be the area in which the cabin doors 12 on the cabins K of the passing cable car vehicles 3 are open. In the example shown, a single cable car vehicle 3 is located in the loading area 6 at any one time. Contrary to the illustration shown, however, the loading area 6 could also be longer in the direction of movement B of the cable car vehicles 3, so that several cable car vehicles 3 can be in the loading area 6 at the same time. In mixed operations (goods transport + passenger transport), the loading area 6 can, for example, also serve as a boarding area for people.However, the loading area 6 could also be separated from the boarding area for people and be located, for example, in the direction of movement B before or after the boarding area on platform 16.

[0032] Furthermore, a first detection device D1 is provided in the first cable car station 2a, which is designed to detect an object O intended for loading a cabin K of a cable car vehicle 3 in the loading area 6 and to determine an object type for the object O. In the example shown, the first detection device D1 has a camera 7 and an evaluation unit 8. The camera 7 serves to capture the loading area B and generate a number of images. Multiple cameras 7 can also be provided. The camera 7 can, for example, have a 3D camera or an infrared camera. The camera 7 can also have a video camera that can record a temporal sequence of images of the loading area 6.

[0033] The camera 7 is mounted at a suitable location in the first cable car station 2a so that the loading area 6 can be captured as smoothly and as free from weather influences as possible. The camera 7 can, for example, be mounted on a stationary structure in an upper area of the cable car station 2a so that an image axis of the camera 7 is essentially perpendicular to the platform 16 on which the loading area 6 is located. It can, for example, be sufficient if a single camera 7 is used, wherein the object detection can be carried out by the evaluation unit 8 based on the normal projection of the objects O located in the loading area 6 onto the image plane. Advantageously, however, several cameras 7 are used, which are arranged at different positions, or a 3D camera, in order to generate a three-dimensional image of the objects O.

[0034] The evaluation unit 8 is designed to detect the object O located in the loading area B from the images captured by the camera 7 and to determine the object type for the object O. The following object types can be defined as defined object types, among others: suitcase, transport pallet, box, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, object with a size exceeding a defined size. As a measure of the size, for example, a projected area of the object O or a smallest circumscribed rectangular area can be used. Of course, the list of object types is not exhaustive and can be expanded to include other desired objects O. Subsequent addition of object types not initially considered would of course also be conceivable.

[0035] To detect objects O and identify the object type, a suitable image recognition model can be stored in the evaluation unit 8, for example. In the example shown, the evaluation unit 8 is designed as a separate unit and is connected to the camera 7 via a suitable first communication connection 18 and to the control unit 5 via a suitable second communication connection 19. The camera 7 can transmit the recorded images to the evaluation unit 8 via the first communication connection 18, and the evaluation unit can process the images to detect an object O and identify the object type.The evaluation unit 8 can send this information to the control unit 5 via the second communication connection 19 and the control unit 5 can operate the circulating cable car 1 in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object O is a specified object type, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0036] Contrary to the embodiment shown, the evaluation unit 8 could, for example, also be integrated into the camera 7, e.g. as a so-called smart camera. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 8 could also be integrated into the control unit 5, e.g. in the form of suitable software. A suitable algorithm in the form of artificial intelligence (KI model) can be used as the image recognition model. Such an algorithm can, for example, be an artificial neural network that enables machine learning. The KI model can first be trained with a large amount of data in order to be able to recognize specific objects O and identify the associated object type. Such models are known in the art, which is why a detailed description is no longer given here. A person skilled in the art can select a suitable image recognition model for use within the scope of the invention.

[0037] The transport operating mode can, for example, comprise a loading operating mode. In the loading operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the drive device 9 (first drive unit 9a and / or second drive unit 9b) of the cable car 1 in order to stop a drive of the cable car vehicles 3 for a specified loading period at a loading time or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period. This means, for example, that if an object O corresponding to a specified object type is detected in the loading area 6, the drive can be stopped automatically and without intervention by the operating personnel. The object O can then be loaded by a person through the open cabin door 12 of the cabin K of the cable car vehicle 3 located in the loading area 6. This is particularly advantageous for relatively large and heavy objects O because a longer loading period is available compared to normal operation.

[0038] The loading time can, for example, be fixed or could also be adjustable, for example via a user interface in the control room of a cable car station 2a-2c. The loading time does not have to be the same for all objects O; rather, different object types could, for example, be assigned different loading times. This allows for the fact that loading some objects O, e.g., a suitcase, is comparatively quick, while loading bulky objects O, such as bicycles, takes considerably longer. It would also be possible to stop the drive for some object types and simply reduce the conveying speed for others.

[0039] After the loading period has elapsed, the control unit 5 can automatically restart normal operation by restarting the drive device 9 or increasing the conveying speed again. Alternatively, normal operation could only be resumed through manual intervention. After the object O has been loaded and the car door 12 has been closed, the cable car vehicle 3 can be moved in the conventional manner to the second cable car station 2b or, if available, only to the third cable car station 2c (middle station). As soon as a new object O corresponding to a specified object type is detected in the loading area 6, the control unit 5 can automatically switch back to loading operation mode, etc. The loading time is preferably determined as a function of a detection time at which the object type is detected by the first detection device D1.For example, "Dependent" can mean that the loading time corresponds to the detection time, but could also be some time after the detection time.

[0040] In order to unload the object O loaded at the first cable car station 2a from the cable car vehicle 3, a suitable unloading area 10 can be defined in the second cable car station 2b and / or the third cable car station 2c. Similar to the loading area 6, the unloading area 10 can also serve as a disembarkation area for people in mixed operation (goods transport + passenger transport). Alternatively, the unloading area 10 could also be located before or after the disembarkation area for people in the direction of travel. Fig.1 Only an exemplary unloading area 10 is provided in the second cable car station 2b. Of course, a corresponding unloading area could additionally (or alternatively) also be provided in the third cable car station 2c (not shown). In order to be able to unload the object O from the cable car vehicle 3 in the unloading area 10, the transport operating mode advantageously also includes an unloading operating mode.

[0041] Similar to the loading operating mode, the control unit 5 controls the drive device 9 (first drive unit 9a and / or second drive unit 9b) accordingly in the unloading operating mode to stop the drive of the cable car vehicles 3 for a specified unloading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified unloading period when the cable car vehicle 3, which is loaded with the object O of the specified object type, is located in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b at an unloading time. There are various ways to determine the unloading time at which the cable car vehicle 3, which is loaded with an object O of the specified object type, is located in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b, as explained below.

[0042] On the one hand, the control unit 5 can, for example, be designed to determine the unloading time based on a running time of the cable car vehicles 3 between the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a and the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b. The running time is generally known or can be determined based on a route length and a conveying speed. The route length can be assumed to be known or could, if necessary, also be measured. The conveying speed can also be assumed to be known or can, if necessary, also be measured with a sensor, e.g. on the conveying cable 4 or on the drive device 9, or determined from other available variables, e.g. a rotational speed of the first drive unit 9a. The control unit 5 can then calculate the unloading time, for example based on the loading time, based on the running time between the loading area 6 and the unloading area 10.As already mentioned, the loading time can be, for example, the time at which an object O of a specified object type is detected by the first detection device D1. The control unit 5 can then calculate the unloading time, for example, based on the loading time from a sum of the specified loading time and the running time.

[0043] On the other hand, each cable car vehicle 3 could also have a unique vehicle identifier X, and the control unit 5 could determine the unloading time at which the cable car vehicle 3, loaded with an object O of the specified object type, is located in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b, based on the vehicle identifier X. The positions of the cable car vehicles 3 along the conveying route can be assumed to be known. Thus, the control unit 5 knows at all times where a cable car vehicle 3 with a specific vehicle identifier X is located on the route (including the cable car stations). The control unit 5 can then, for example, determine the vehicle identifier X of the cable car vehicle 3, into which the object O of the specified object type is loaded in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a, based on the loading time.The unloading time is then the time at which the cable car vehicle 3 with the corresponding vehicle identification X is located in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b.

[0044] A first vehicle identification device could also be provided in the first cable car station 2a, which is designed to recognize the vehicle identifier X of a cable car vehicle 3 that was loaded with an object O of a specified object type in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a and to transmit it to the control unit 5. The vehicle identifier X could, for example, be a QR code, a barcode, or an RFID transponder (RDIF = Radio Frequency Identification) provided at a suitable location on the cable car vehicles 3, and the vehicle identification device could have a suitable reading device for reading the QR code, barcode, or RFID transponder. The control unit 5 can then use the vehicle identifier X of the cable car vehicle 3, which is located in the loading area 6 at the time of loading, detected by the reading device to determine the unloading time in the unloading area 10.This can be done either via the known position of the cable car vehicle on the route, via the running time or by providing a second vehicle identification device in the second cable car station 2b, which transmits the detection and thus the presence of the cable car vehicle 3 with the corresponding vehicle identification X to the control unit 5.

[0045] Advantageously, the first detection device D1 of the first cable car station 2a could also be used (in addition to object detection) as the first vehicle identification device. In this case, the first detection device D1 could be designed to detect the vehicle identifier X of the cable car vehicle 3, which was loaded with an object O of a specified object type in the loading area 6, and to transmit it to the control unit 5. For example, a characteristic optical feature on the cabin K of the cable car vehicles 3 can serve as the vehicle identifier X, which can be detected by the evaluation unit 8, e.g., by the image recognition model. An identification number or a unique image, e.g., attached to the cabin K in the form of a sticker, would be conceivable.

[0046] In the second cable car station 2b, a second detection device D2 could be provided as a second vehicle identification device, which is designed to detect the vehicle identifier X and transmit it to the control unit 5. The second detection device D2 can be designed analogously to the first detection device D1, whereby, if necessary, only detection of the vehicle identifier X is necessary and not necessarily also detection of objects O of the specified object type. The control unit 5 can then operate the cable car 1 in the unloading mode if the second detection device D2 has transmitted the vehicle identifier X of the cable car vehicle 3, which was loaded with an object O of a specified object type in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a.

[0047] In conventional cable cars, the opening and closing of the car doors 12 is usually carried out via a mechanical positive control, such as a slotted guide. A stationary guide arranged in the cable car station 2a-2c interacts with an actuating element of the cable car vehicle 3 to open or close the respective car door. Usually, an opening guide rail for opening the car doors 12 is arranged in the entry area E of a cable car station 2a-2c in the direction of movement B before the unloading area 10 (and possibly the disembarkation area for persons). In addition, a closing guide rail for closing the car doors 12 is arranged in the exit area A of a cable car station 2a-2c in the direction of movement B after the loading area 6 (and possibly the boarding area for persons). This positive control is a passive control, whereby the opening or closingClosing of the cabin doors 12 occurs only due to the movement of the cable car vehicles 3 relative to the respective guide. The opening and closing position, or the opening and closing time, thus depends on the arrangement of the guides in the cable car station 2a-2c and is thus fixed and unchangeable (or only with significant structural effort).

[0048] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a door operating device 13 for operating the cabin doors 12 of the cable car vehicles 3 can be provided in at least one of the cable car stations 2a-2c, which door operating device can be controlled by the control unit 5 for opening and / or closing. It is already known that, alternatively or in addition to the forced control, an active door operation can be provided by means of a door operating device 13. The door operating device 13 is in Fig.1 shown as an example in the third cable car station 2c. The door operating device 13 can, for example (in Fig.1 not shown) with which an actuating force can be exerted on the respective actuating element of the cable car vehicle 3 in order to open or close the car door(s) 12. To generate the actuating force, at least one electrically controllable actuator, e.g. hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or servo motor, can be provided on each of the movable guide elements. If a cable car vehicle 3 is located in the area of the movable guide element of the door actuating device 13, the control unit 5 can control the corresponding actuator in order to open or close the car door 12. As a result, the opening and / or closing of the car doors 12 can be actively controlled by the control unit 5. The door actuating device 13 can be arranged at a desired location in the cable car station 2c where opening or closing is desired.

[0049] Alternatively, the door operating device 13 could also be provided on the cable car vehicles 3 with a (in Fig.1 The door actuator 12 can have an electrically controllable door actuator (not shown), which can be controlled by the control unit 5 to open or close the cabin door 12. This allows the opening and closing positions within the cable car station 2c to be determined very flexibly and essentially freely. Thus, in this embodiment, the opening and closing positions are not tied to a guide position of the cable car station 2c.

[0050] If an actively controllable door operating device 13 is provided, the transport operating mode can comprise a through-passage operating mode. In the through-passage operating mode, the control unit 5 controls the door operating device 13 (e.g., the actuator of the movable guide element arranged in the cable car station 2c or the door actuator provided on the cable car vehicle 3) such that, for a cable car vehicle 3 loaded with an object O of the specified object type, the car door 12 is closed in a specified through-passage area 20 of a cable car station 2a-2c, here the third cable car station 2c. If a mechanical positive control for opening the car doors 12 is already provided, the car door 12 can, for example, be actively closed again by the door operating device 13 immediately after the positively controlled opening and remain in the closed state while the cable car vehicle 3 passes through the through-passage area 20.

[0051] This makes it possible, for example, for the cabin door 12 of a cable car vehicle 3, which has been loaded with an object O in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station and is thus occupied by the object O in the third cable car station 2c, to be moved through the third cable car station 2c (middle station) with the cabin door 12 closed, as indicated in Fig. The passage area 20 essentially corresponds to the entire length of the platform 16, as shown in Fig.1 This can be used, for example, to ensure that no unwanted persons accidentally enter the cabin during the transport of certain goods (e.g., food, beverages). Even with bulky objects O, e.g., bicycles, strollers, etc., this can prevent the cabin door 12 from opening, thus preventing further persons from entering.

[0052] Of course, the transit operating mode is not limited to the third cable car station 2c, but could also be used in the second cable car station 2b. For example, it would be conceivable for the unloading area 10 for objects O to be located in the direction of movement B after the boarding area (or a combined boarding / disembarkation area) for persons. In this case, it may be advantageous if the cable car vehicle 3 loaded with the object O passes through the boarding area with the cabin door 12 closed, and the cabin door 12 is only opened in the unloading area 10. The transit area 20 thus essentially corresponds to the length between the entrance area E of the cable car station 2b and the unloading area 10. The vehicle detection of the loaded cable car vehicle 3 can take place in a similar manner to that already described in connection with the unloading time, e.g.based on the running time between loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a and the area to be passed through, unique vehicle identification X.

[0053] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a signaling device 11 can be provided in at least one of the cable car stations 2a-2c, and the control unit 5 can be configured to control the signaling device 11 to reproduce a signal S when the circulating cable car 1 is in the transport operating mode. The signaling device 11 can, for example, be provided to inform passengers and / or to inform the operating personnel. Fig.1 A signaling device 11 in the form of a traffic light is shown in the third cable car station 2c merely by way of example. The traffic light can, for example, have a green signal lamp and a red signal lamp. When the cable car 1 is in normal operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the traffic light to switch on the green lamp. When the cable car 1 is in transit operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the traffic light to switch on the red lamp. This allows people to be informed via the red signal light that the cabin door 12 of the passing cable car vehicle 3 remains closed.

[0054] Of course, the signaling device 11 shown is only an example, and the signaling device 11 could also be designed in any desired way. Additionally or alternatively, a signaling device 11 could also be provided in the first cable car station 2a or in the second cable car station. The signaling device 11 could, for example, also be designed to display information as a signal, e.g. via a screen. For example, the operating personnel in the second cable car station 2b or in the third cable car station 2c could be informed in advance via the screen about the object type of object O that was loaded onto a cable car vehicle 3 in the first cable car station 2a. Furthermore, it would be conceivable for the signaling device 11 in the second cable car station 2b to display the time remaining until a loaded cable car vehicle 3 arrives.It would also be conceivable for the first cable car station 2a to display the time until the specified loading time expires, e.g., as a countdown on a display. Likewise, the second cable car station 2a could display the time until the specified unloading time expires.

[0055] However, the signaling device 11 can alternatively or additionally be designed, for example, to emit an acoustic warning signal and / or an electronic signal. For example, a characteristic signal tone could be emitted for each of the various transport operating modes. A warning tone could also be generated upon expiration of the loading or unloading time, warning of the impending start of the cable car 1. In particular, in cable cars with only a small number of operating personnel, a signaling device 11 can also be provided that sends an electronic signal to a mobile device, e.g., a smartphone or tablet computer. This allows an operating personnel member who is not currently in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c to be informed about a transport operating mode, for example, about the impending arrival of a specific object O.It is therefore clear that there are numerous possibilities for the specific design of the signaling device 11, so that a comprehensive list is not possible here. Depending on the specific design of the cable car 1, the person skilled in the art can provide a suitable signaling device 11 in one or more cable car stations 2a-2c.

[0056] The illustrated circulating cable car 1 is designed as a gondola lift, wherein each cable car vehicle 3 of the number of cable car vehicles 3 comprises a cabin K. However, the invention is not limited to this, but could, for example, also be used in a circulating cable car 1 designed as a combined cable car. In this case, the number of cable car vehicles 3 comprises a number of cable car vehicles 3 with chairs (chair vehicles) for accommodating persons as well as a number of cable car vehicles 3 with cabins K (cabin vehicles). As a rule, a certain number of chair vehicles and a certain number of cabin vehicles are provided alternately one behind the other. For example, three chair vehicles can be followed by a cabin vehicle, etc. Typically, a separate boarding and disembarkation area is provided for the chair vehicles in a combined cable car. The detection devices D1, D2 according to the invention are, analogously to the Fig.1 shown cable car, each provided in a loading area 6 or unloading area 10 for the cabin vehicles.

Claims

1. Circulating cableway (1) having at least two cableway stations (2a-2c) and having a number of cableway vehicles (3) which are moveable between the cableway stations (2a-2c) by means of a conveyor cable (4), wherein the number of cableway vehicles (3) each has a cabin (K) for receiving objects (O), and wherein a control unit (5) is provided for controlling the circulating cableway (1), characterized in that a first detection device (D1) is provided in a first cableway station (2a), which is designed to detect an object (O) provided for loading a cabin (K) of a cableway vehicle (3) in a loading region (6) of the first cableway station (2a) and to determine an object type for the object (O), and in that the control unit (5) is designed to operate the circulating cableway (1) in a defined transport operating mode when the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type, wherein the specified object type preferably comprises at least one of the following object types: suitcase, transport pallet, crate, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, object with a size exceeding a specified size.

2. Circulating cableway (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first detection device (D1) has at least one camera (7) for capturing the loading region (6), and an evaluation unit (8) which is designed to detect the object (O) located in the loading region (6) from a number of images captured by the at least one camera (7) and to determine the object type for the object (O), wherein the at least one camera (7) preferably comprises a 3-D camera, an infrared camera, or a video camera, and wherein an image recognition model preferably is stored in the evaluation unit (8).

3. Circulating cableway (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a drive device (9) for driving the cableway vehicles (3) is provided in the circulating cableway (1), in that the transport operating mode comprises a loading operating mode, and in that the control unit (5) is designed to control the drive device (9) in the loading operating mode in order to stop a drive of the cableway vehicles (3) for a specified loading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period when a cableway vehicle (3) is located, at a loading time point, in the loading region (6) of the first cableway station (2), wherein the loading time point preferably is specified as a function of a detection time point at which the object (O) of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device (D1).

4. Circulating cableway (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises an unloading operating mode, and in that the control unit (5) is designed to control the drive device (9) in the unloading operating mode in order to stop the drive of the cableway vehicles (3) for a specified unloading period or to reduce the conveying speed for a specified unloading period when the cableway vehicle (3) which is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type is located, at an unloading time point, in a specified unloading region (10) of a second cableway station (2b).

5. Circulating cableway (1) according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that a cabin door (12) is provided on each of the cabin (K) of the number of cableway vehicles (3), in that a door actuation device (13) is provided for actuating the cabin doors (12), which can be controlled by the control unit (5), in that the transport operating mode comprises a pass-through operating mode, and in that the control unit (5) is designed to control the door actuation device (13) in the pass-through operating mode in such a way that, in the case of a cableway vehicle (3) which is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type, the cabin door (12) is closed in a specified pass-through region of a cableway station (2c).

6. Circulating cableway (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the control unit (5) is designed to determine the unloading time point on the basis of a running time of the cableway vehicles (3) between the loading region (6) and the unloading region (10) and / or on the basis of a unique vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3).

7. Circulating cableway (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that a first vehicle identification device is provided in the first cableway station (2a) and is designed to detect the vehicle identifier (X) of a cableway vehicle (3) located in the loading region (6), and in that the control unit (5) is designed to use the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time point, or in that a first vehicle identification device is provided in the first cableway station (2a) and is designed to detect the vehicle identifier (X) of a cableway vehicle (3) located in the loading region (6), and in that the control unit (5) is designed to use the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time point and a second vehicle identification device is provided in the second cableway station (2b) and is designed to detect the vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3), and in that the control unit (5) is designed to determine the unloading time point on the basis of the detected vehicle identifier (X), wherein the second vehicle identification device preferably has a detection device (D2) which has at least one camera (7) and an evaluation unit (8).

8. Circulating cableway (1) according to one of claims 1 through 7, characterized in that a signaling device (11) is provided in at least one cableway station (2c), and in that the control unit (5) is designed to control the signaling device to reproduce a signal (S) when the circulating cableway (1) is in the transport operating mode.

9. Circulating cableway (1) according to one of claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the circulating cableway (1) is designed as a cabin cableway, wherein each cableway vehicle (3) of the number of cableway vehicles (3) comprises a cabin (K), or in that the circulating cableway (1) is designed as a combination cableway, wherein the number of cableway vehicles (3) comprises a number of cableway vehicles (3) having chairs and a number of cableway vehicles (3) having cabins (K).

10. Method for operating a circulating cableway (1) having at least two cableway stations (2a-2c) and having a number of cableway vehicles (3) which are moveable between the cableway stations (2a-2c) by means of a conveyor cable (4), wherein the number of cableway vehicles (3) each has a cabin (K) for receiving objects (O), and wherein the circulating cableway (1) is controlled by a control unit (5), characterized in that, by means of a first detection device (D1), an object (O) which is loaded into a cabin (K) of a cableway vehicle (3) in a loading region (6) of a first cableway station (2a) is detected, in that an object type is determined for the object (O), and in that the control unit (5) operates the circulating cableway (1) in a defined transport operating mode when the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type, wherein the specified object type preferably comprises at least one of the following object types: suitcase, transport pallet, crate, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, object with a size exceeding a specified size.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one camera (7) is used as the first detection device (D1), by means of which camera the loading region (6) is captured, and in that an evaluation unit (8) is used which detects an object (O) located in the loading region (6) from a number of images captured by the at least one camera (6) and determines the object type for the object (O), wherein a 3-D camera or an infrared camera preferably is used as the at least one camera (6), and wherein an image recognition model preferably is stored in the evaluation unit (8).

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises a loading operating mode, wherein, in the loading operating mode, at a loading time point at which a cableway vehicle (3) is located in the loading region (6) of the first cableway station (2), a drive of the cableway vehicles (3) is stopped for a specified loading period, or a conveying speed is reduced for a specified loading period, wherein the loading time point preferably is specified as function of a detection time point at which the object (O) of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device (D1).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises an unloading operating mode, wherein, in the unloading operating mode, at an unloading time point at which a cableway vehicle (3) which is loaded with an object (O) of a specified object type is located in an unloading region (10) of a specified or specifiable second cableway station (2b), the drive of the cableway vehicles (3) is stopped for a specified unloading period, or a conveying speed is reduced for a specified unloading period.

14. Method according to one of claims 10 through 13, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises a pass-through operating mode, wherein, in the pass-through operating mode, in the case of a cableway vehicle (3) which is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type, the cabin door (12) remains closed in a specified pass-through region (20) of a cableway station (2c).

15. Method according to claim 13 or claim 14, characterized in that the unloading time point is determined on the basis of a running time of the cableway vehicles (3) between the loading region (6) and the unloading region (10) and / or on the basis of a unique vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3).

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3) is detected in the loading region (6) of the first cableway station (2a) by means of a first vehicle identification device, and in that the control unit (5) uses the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time point, or in that the vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3) is detected in the loading region (6) of the first cableway station (2a) by means of a first vehicle identification device, and in that the control unit (5) uses the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time point and the vehicle identifier (X) of the cableway vehicles (3) in the unloading region (10) of the second cableway station (2b) is detected by means of a second vehicle identification device, and in that the control unit (5) determines the unloading time point on the basis of the detected vehicle identifier (X), wherein a detection device (D2) which has at least one camera (7) and an evaluation unit (8) preferably is used as the second vehicle identification device.

17. Method according to one of claims 10 through 16, characterized in that, in at least one of the cableway stations (2c), a signal (S) is reproduced by means of a signaling device (11) when the circulating cableway (1) is operated in the transport operating mode.

Images