Elevator system and monitoring device

Abstract

To efficiently evacuate a user from a congested floor when a disaster occurs.SOLUTION: The elevator system comprises: an elevator car which a user gets on to be able to move between different floors; a group management device that controls the movement of the car between the different floors to respond to elevator call registration; a monitoring device that collects first user number information indicating the number of users of an elevator landing provided at each floor; and a monitoring device that monitors an operation of an elevator. The monitoring device determines, when a disaster occurs in an elevator installation place, the degree of congestion at each floor of the landing on the basis of the first user number information, and generates a call to a floor higher in congestion degree than the other floors to register the call in the group management device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to an elevator system and a monitoring device.

Background Art

[0002] When a disaster occurs at the installation location of an elevator in a building or the like, the use of the elevator for evacuation may be permitted. In the technology of Patent Document 1, when a fire breaks out, a camera extracts evacuation vulnerable people and determines the evacuation floor, and the elevator car is preferentially dispatched to the evacuation floor. Thereby, it is possible to preferentially evacuate the evacuation vulnerable people. Further, in the technology of Patent Document 2, floors below the floor where smoke is detected at the time of a fire are set as stoppable floors. Thereby, it is possible to evacuate the users while avoiding being caught in the smoke.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, there may be a situation where a specific floor is congested due to an event or the like at the time of a disaster. In the technology of Patent Document 1, even if the car is preferentially dispatched to the evacuation floor where the evacuation vulnerable people are, there may not be enough cars on the congested floor, and there is a risk that the users will be delayed in escaping.

[0005] In addition, in the technology of Patent Document 2, in order to execute an investigation operation in which an elevator car equipped with a smoke detector travels across each floor, the elevator cars are dispersedly arranged on each floor, and for example, it is not possible to intensively allocate elevator cars to a crowded floor. Therefore, also in the technology of Patent Document 2, there is a risk that the number of elevator cars is insufficient on the crowded floor and users may be delayed in escaping.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present embodiment is to provide an elevator system and a monitoring device capable of efficiently evacuating users on a crowded floor at the time of a disaster.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The elevator system according to the embodiment includes an elevator car in which users can board and move between different floors, a group management device that controls the movement of the elevator car between the floors and responds to call registrations for the elevator, a monitoring device that collects first user number information indicating the number of users in the elevator landing provided for each floor, and a monitoring device that monitors the operation of the elevator. When a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, the monitoring device determines the degree of congestion for each floor of the landing based on the first user number information, generates a call to a floor with a higher degree of congestion than others, and registers it with the group management device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] (Configuration Example of Elevator System) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator system 1 of the embodiment includes a monitoring panel 10, a monitoring device 20, a group management device 30, an elevator control device 40, a car 50, a landing 60, and a hoistway 70.

[0010] The hoistway 70 is provided inside a building or the like where the elevator system 1 is installed, spanning a plurality of floors. The plurality of cars 50 are configured to move up and down within the hoistway 70 so that users can board and move between different floors. On each floor of the building or the like, a landing 60 is provided where users can get on and off the car 50.

[0011] Inside the hoistway 70, a rope 71, a counterweight 72, and a hoisting machine 73 are provided.

[0012] Each individual car 50 is connected to the counterweight 72 via a rope 71. Further, the rope 71 is spanned over the hoisting machine 73, and when the rope 71 is fed by driving the hoisting machine 73, the car 50 moves up and down within the hoistway 70 while balancing with the counterweight 72.

[0013] Each individual car 50 is provided with a destination floor call device 51, a car door 52, a camera 53, and a load sensor 54.

[0014] The destination floor call device 51 is provided inside the car 50 and is configured to have buttons or the like indicating the destination floor. When a user inside the car 50 presses a predetermined destination floor button, a destination floor call is received by the destination floor call device 51 and transmitted and registered to the group management device 30 via the elevator control device 40 described later. Thereby, the user can direct the car 50 to the desired destination floor.

[0015] The car door 52 is provided at the entrance and exit of the car 50. The car door 52 is in a closed state while the car 50 is moving in the hoistway 70, and when the car 50 arrives at the landing 60 on a predetermined floor, it becomes open, enabling users to board and alight from the car 50.

[0016] The camera 53 as the second imaging device is, for example, a surveillance camera that monitors the inside of the car 50. The camera 53 is provided at a position where it can image substantially the entire inside of the car 50, such as near the ceiling inside the car 50.

[0017] The load sensor 54 is provided, for example, on the lower surface outside the car 50 and detects the weight of the entire car 50. Since the weight of the car 50 itself is known, by detecting the weight of the entire car 50, the total weight of passengers and the like inside the car 50 can be detected. Thereby, it is possible to estimate the number of users inside the car 50.

[0018] Each landing 60 for each floor is provided with a landing call device 61, a landing door 62, and a camera 63.

[0019] The landing call device 61 is configured to have up and down buttons and the like. When a user on the landing 60 presses either the up or down button, a landing call is received by the landing call device 61 and transmitted and registered to the group management device 30 via the elevator control device 40 described later. Thereby, the user can call the car 50 going to the desired destination floor to the landing 60.

[0020] The landing door 62 is provided at the entrance and exit to the car 50 inside the landing 60. The landing door 62 is in a closed state until the car 50 arrives at that landing 60, and when the car 50 arrives, it becomes open in conjunction with the car door 52 of the car 50. Thereby, users can board and alight from the car 50.

[0021] The camera 63 as the first imaging device is, for example, a surveillance camera that monitors the landing 60. The camera 63 is provided at a position where it can image substantially the entire landing 60, such as near the ceiling of the landing 60.

[0022] The monitoring panel 10, the monitoring device 20, the group management device 30, and the elevator control device 40 are each configured as a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc.

[0023] These monitoring panel 10, monitoring device 20, group management device 30, and elevator control device 40 are connected by wire or wirelessly so that information can be exchanged with each other. Further, the monitoring panel 10 is connected by wire or wirelessly to a disaster prevention center 100 provided in a building or the like where the elevator is installed so that information can be exchanged with each other. The disaster prevention center 100 aims to prevent disasters in the building where the elevator is installed. When a disaster such as a fire, earthquake, flood, or power outage occurs, the monitoring panel 10 can obtain disaster information regarding the disaster from the disaster prevention center 100.

[0024] The elevator control device 40 is provided for each individual car 50 and controls the corresponding car 50 respectively.

[0025] The group management device 30 controls the operation of a corresponding plurality of cars 50 via the elevator control device 40. More specifically, the group management device 30 registers the destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51 and the landing call from the landing call device 61, and causes any one of the plurality of cars 50 to respond to these call registrations.

[0026] The monitoring device 20 collects and manages information regarding the operation of the elevator from the group management device 30 via the monitoring panel 10. As an example, the monitoring device 20 calculates the number of users in each individual car 50 and the number of users at each individual landing 60, etc., from information such as the number of destination floor calls in each individual car 50 and the number of landing calls at each individual landing 60.

[0027] The monitoring panel 10 as a monitoring device monitors the operation of the elevator including the car 50, etc. Further, the monitoring panel 10 of the embodiment identifies the congested floors where users are concentrated or staying based on information such as the number of users in the car 50 and at the landing 60 calculated by the monitoring device 20 at the time of a disaster, and directs a predetermined car 50 to the congested floor via the group management device 30.

[0028] Here, the availability of using the elevator for evacuation during a disaster is regulated by laws and regulations for each installation location of the elevator. In the elevator system 1 of the embodiment, it is assumed that the use of the elevator during a disaster is permitted in the building where the elevator is installed.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the elevator system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the car 50 includes a destination floor calling device 51, a car door 52, a camera 53, and a load sensor 54. These destination floor calling device 51, car door 52, camera 53, and load sensor 54 exchange various information with the elevator control device 40.

[0031] For example, when the destination floor calling device 51 receives a destination floor call from a user, it transmits the destination floor call to the elevator control device 40. Further, the car door 52 performs an opening and closing operation according to a control signal received from the elevator control device 40. Further, the camera 53 images the state inside the car 50 and transmits the image to the elevator control device 40. Further, the load sensor 54 detects the weight of the car 50 and transmits it to the elevator control device 40.

[0032] In addition, a hoisting machine 73 is provided in the hoistway 70 to exchange various information with the elevator control device 40. Specifically, the hoisting machine 73 is driven according to a control signal or the like received from the elevator control device 40 to move the car 50 up and down in the hoistway 70.

[0033] In addition, a landing call device 61, a landing door 62, and a camera 63 are provided at the landing 60. These landing call device 61, landing door 62, and camera 63 exchange various information with the group management device 30.

[0034] For example, when the landing call device 61 receives a landing call by a user, it transmits the landing call to the group management device 30. In addition, the landing door 62 performs an opening / closing operation according to a control signal or the like received from the group management device 30. Further, the camera 63 captures an image of the state of the landing 60 and transmits the image to the group management device 30.

[0035] The elevator control device 40 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 41, a control unit 42, and a storage unit 45. These functional units are realized, for example, by the above-mentioned CPU included in the elevator control device 40 expanding a control program stored in a ROM or the like into a RAM and executing it.

[0036] The communication unit 41 communicates with external devices of the elevator control device 40.

[0037] For example, the communication unit 41 exchanges various information with the destination floor call device 51, car door 52, camera 53, and load sensor 54 provided in the car 50, and the hoisting machine 73 provided in the hoistway 70, receives the state information of these respective parts, and transmits a control signal or the like for controlling these respective parts. Further, the communication unit 41 receives a destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51 inside the car 50.

[0038] For example, the communication unit 41 exchanges various information with the group management device 30, and transfers the status information of each of the above units and the destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51. Also, the communication unit 41 receives instructions from the group management device 30 to each of the above units.

[0039] Based on the instructions from the group management device 30, the control unit 42 generates control signals for controlling the destination floor call device 51, the car door 52, the camera 53, and the load sensor 54 provided in the car 50, and the hoisting machine 73 provided in the hoistway 70, and controls these units via the communication unit 41.

[0040] The storage unit 45 stores a control program and control parameters for realizing the functions of the elevator control device 40.

[0041] The group management device 30 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, an instruction unit 33, a call management unit 34, and a storage unit 35. These functional units are realized, for example, when the above-mentioned CPU provided in the group management device 30 expands and executes a control program stored in a ROM or the like in a RAM.

[0042] The communication unit 31 communicates with external devices of the group management device 30.

[0043] For example, the communication unit 31 communicates with the elevator control device 40, and acquires the status information of each unit of the car 50 and the destination floor call from the destination floor call device 51 via the elevator control device 40. Also, the communication unit 31 transmits a command for controlling the car 50 to the elevator control device 40.

[0044] For another example, the communication unit 31 communicates with the landing call device 61, the landing door 62, and the camera 63 installed in the landing 60, and acquires the status information of these and the landing call from the landing call device 61. Also, the communication unit 31 transmits a control signal for controlling each unit of the landing 60.

[0045] For example, the communication unit 31 communicates with the monitoring panel 10 at least during a disaster to receive calls such as destination floor calls or landing calls generated by the monitoring panel 10.

[0046] The control unit 32 generates control signals for controlling the landing call device 61, the landing door 62, and the camera 63 provided at the landing 60, and controls these units via the communication unit 31.

[0047] The instruction unit 33 generates an instruction for causing the car 50 to respond to a destination floor call acquired from the destination floor call device 51 or the monitoring panel 10, or a landing call acquired from the landing call device 61 or the monitoring panel 10, and transmits the generated instruction to the elevator control device 40 via the communication unit 31.

[0048] The call management unit 34 stores the destination floor calls acquired from the destination floor call device 51 or the monitoring panel 10 in the storage unit 35 to perform destination floor call registration. Further, the call management unit 34 stores the landing calls acquired from the landing call device 61 or the monitoring panel 10 in the storage unit 35 to perform landing call registration.

[0049] The storage unit 35 stores a control program, control parameters, etc. for realizing the functions of the group management device 30. Further, the storage unit 35 stores a call registration database 36. In the call registration database 36, call registrations such as destination floor call registration and landing call registration registered by the call management unit 34 are stored.

[0050] The monitoring device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an arithmetic unit 22, and a storage unit 25 as functional units. These functional units are realized, for example, when the above-described CPU included in the monitoring device 20 expands a control program stored in a ROM or the like into a RAM and executes it.

[0051] The communication unit 21 communicates with external devices of the monitoring device 20.

[0052] For example, the communication unit 21 communicates with the group management device 30 via the monitoring panel 10 to obtain various types of information from the group management device 30. The information obtained by the communication unit 21 from the group management device 30 includes, for example, the state information from each part provided in the car 50, the landing 60, and the hoistway 70 obtained by the group management device 30, the instructions to the elevator control device 40 generated by the group management device 30, the control signals for controlling each part of the landing 60 generated by the group management device 30, and the destination floor call registration and landing call registration registered in the group management device 30, etc.

[0053] Also for example, the communication unit 21 communicates with the monitoring panel 10, at least when a disaster occurs, and transmits various types of information acquired and processed by the monitoring device 20 to the monitoring panel 10. The various types of information processed by the monitoring device 20 include, as will be described in detail below, for example, the number of users in the landing 60 for each floor in the building, and the number of users in each individual car 50, etc.

[0054] The calculation unit 22 processes the various types of information acquired from the group management device 30 and generates information indicating the operating status of the elevator. The information indicating the operating status of the elevator includes, for example, the change in the number of users in each individual car 50 and landing 60, the number of landings of each individual car 50 at the landing 60 on each floor, and the change in the number of operating times of the car 50, etc.

[0055] Also, the calculation unit 22 generates, as the processed information to be transmitted to the monitoring panel 10, for example, the number of users and the estimated number of users in the landing 60 for each floor, and the number of users in each individual car 50, etc.

[0056] The number of users at each floor's landing 60 can be calculated, for example, from the number of landing call registrations at each individual landing 60. The number of users in each individual car 50 can be calculated, for example, from the number of destination floor call registrations in each individual car 50. Also, the estimated number of users at each floor's landing 60 can be estimated and calculated by identifying the destination floor that the users in the car 50 are heading to from the destination floors indicated by the individual destination floor call registrations, so as to estimate the number of users arriving at each individual landing 60 after a predetermined time.

[0057] Note that the information on the number of users at each floor's landing 60 calculated from the number of landing call registrations is an example of the first user number information. Also, the information on the estimated number of users at each floor's landing 60 estimated from the destination floors indicated by the individual destination floor call registrations is an example of the second user number information.

[0058] The storage unit 25 stores a control program and control parameters for realizing the functions of the monitoring device 20, etc. Also, the storage unit 25 stores the monitoring information database 26. In the monitoring information database 26, various information acquired from the group management device 30, as well as information calculated by the calculation unit 22 such as the number of users and the estimated number of users at each floor's landing 60, and the number of users in each individual car 50, etc., are stored.

[0059] The monitoring panel 10 includes, as functional units, a communication unit 11, a monitoring unit 12, a determination unit 13, a call generation unit 14, and a storage unit 15. These functional units are realized, for example, when the above-mentioned CPU included in the monitoring panel 10 expands and executes a control program stored in a ROM or the like in a RAM.

[0060] The communication unit 11 as an acquisition unit communicates with external devices of the monitoring panel 10.

[0061] For example, the communication unit 11 communicates with the group management device 30 to acquire the various information described above. Also, the communication unit 11 transmits, at least during a disaster, the destination floor call or landing call generated by the monitoring panel 10 to the group management device 30.

[0062] For example, the communication unit 11 communicates with the monitoring device 20 and transmits the various types of information obtained from the group management device 30 to the monitoring device 20. Also, the communication unit 11 acquires, at least during a disaster, information such as the number of users and the estimated number of users at the landing 60 for each floor, and the number of users in each individual car 50, from the monitoring device 20.

[0063] For example, the communication unit 11 communicates with the above-described disaster prevention center 100 (FIG. 1) and acquires disaster information indicating the occurrence of disasters such as fires, earthquakes, floods, power outages, etc.

[0064] The monitoring unit 12 monitors the operation of the elevator based on the various types of information acquired from the group management device 30. Also, based on the disaster information transmitted from the disaster prevention center 100 at the time of a disaster occurrence, it estimates the impact on the operation of the elevator. When there is an obstruction in the operation of the elevator during normal times and disasters, the monitoring unit 12 instructs the group management device 30 via the communication unit 11 to take measures such as stopping the elevator.

[0065] At the time of a disaster occurrence, the determination unit 13 determines the congestion level of each individual landing 60 based on information such as the number of users and the estimated number of users at the landing 60 for each floor, and the number of users in each individual car 50, acquired from the monitoring device 20.

[0066] The congestion level of the landing 60 is determined based on the number of users including the estimated value of each individual landing 60, the degree of stay of the flow of people at each individual landing 60, etc. The stay of the flow of people at each individual landing 60 is determined based on, for example, the congestion level of the car 50 arriving at that landing 60, that is, the number of users in the car 50, and the number of users left behind who could not board the car 50.

[0067] Further, the determination unit 13 identifies, as a congestion level, the level of the landing 60 with a higher congestion level than others based on the congestion level determined for each landing 60. The identification of the congestion level can be performed, for example, for levels equal to or higher than a preset threshold value for the congestion level. Alternatively, the identification of the congestion level may be performed, for example, for one or more upper levels including the top level of the congestion level.

[0068] The call generation unit 14 generates at least one of a landing call at the congestion level and a destination floor call with the congestion level as the destination floor in order to dispatch the car 50 to the congestion level identified by the determination unit 13. Which of the landing call and the destination floor call is generated is determined, for example, based on the arrangement and congestion level of the plurality of cars 50 at that time so that the car 50 can be dispatched to the congestion level earlier. Also, the number of calls to be generated, that is, the number of cars 50 to be dispatched to the congestion level is determined according to, for example, the congestion level of the congestion level and the availability of the cars 50.

[0069] The call generation unit 14 transmits and registers the generated landing call or destination floor call to the group management device 30 via the communication unit 11.

[0070] The storage unit 15 stores a control program and control parameters for realizing the functions of the monitoring panel 10. The storage unit 15 also stores the user number information 16. The user number information 16 stores the number of users and the estimated number of users at the landing 60 for each floor acquired from the monitoring device 20, and the number of users in each car 50.

[0071] (Processing example of elevator system) Next, with reference to FIG. 3, a processing example by the monitoring panel 10 of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the car 50 dispatching process in the event of a disaster by the monitoring panel 10 according to the embodiment.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 3, when the communication unit 11 of the monitoring panel 10 receives disaster information from the disaster prevention center 100 (step S101), the determination unit 13 acquires information such as the number of users and the estimated number of users at the landing 60 for each floor, and the number of users in each individual car 50 from the monitoring device 20 via the communication unit 11 (step S102).

[0073] Further, the determination unit 13 determines the number of users including the estimated value at the landing 60 for each floor, the number of remaining users, and the congestion level of the car 50 based on the information acquired from the monitoring device 20. Further, the determination unit 13 identifies the congested floor based on the above determination result (step S103).

[0074] The call generation unit 14 generates at least one of the landing call at the congested floor identified by the determination unit 13 and the destination floor call to the congested floor (step S104). Further, the call generation unit 14 transmits the generated call to the group management device 30 (step S105).

[0075] Thus, the vehicle allocation process for the car 50 by the monitoring panel 10 of the embodiment is completed.

[0076] Note that based on the determination result of the determination unit 13, after allocating the car 50 to the congested floor, the processes of steps S102 to S103 may be performed again, and the determination unit 13 may determine whether the congestion at the congested floor has been resolved. If the congestion still remains after the allocation of the car 50, or if new congestion has occurred on a different floor, the processes of steps S104 to S105 may be further performed to allocate another car 50. Further, the processes of steps S102 to S105 may be repeated a plurality of times until the congestion in the building is resolved.

[0077] (Summary) An elevator system may be configured to include, for example, a monitoring panel that monitors the operation of an elevator and a monitoring device that collects various data related to the operation of the elevator. The monitoring device only collects data exclusively without cooperating with other components such as the monitoring panel.

[0078] Here, for example, at the time of a disaster, an elevator system generally performs control to stop the car at the nearest floor. Also, depending on the location where the elevator is installed, evacuation using the elevator is permitted by laws and regulations, etc.

[0079] However, when an event or the like is being held at the location where the elevator is installed, or when the evacuation route for a specific floor is unusable due to the impact of a disaster, etc., there is a possibility that the specific floor will become more crowded than other floors.

[0080] Therefore, as described above, if the car is randomly stopped at the nearest floor, a situation may occur where users cannot board the car on the crowded floor, and there is a risk of being left behind. Also, when the occurring disaster is accompanied by a power outage, a switchover to an emergency power source is performed, and the number of operable cars is restricted, so the shortage of the number of cars on the crowded floor may become even more serious.

[0081] According to the elevator system 1 of the embodiment, when a disaster occurs at the location where the elevator is installed, the monitoring panel 10 determines the degree of congestion for each floor of the landing 60 based on the information on the number of users at the landing 60 for each floor, generates a call to the floor with a higher degree of congestion than others, and registers it in the group management device 30. Thereby, the car 50 can be preferentially dispatched to the crowded floor, and users can be efficiently evacuated on the crowded floor at the time of a disaster.

[0082] According to the elevator system 1 of the embodiment, the monitoring panel 10 includes a communication unit 11 that acquires information on the number of users at the landing 60 for each floor from a monitoring device 20 that collects information on the number of users indicating the number of users at the elevator landing 60 provided for each floor. In this way, by linking the monitoring panel 10 and the monitoring device 20 and using the data collected by the monitoring device 20 to monitor the operation of the elevator to identify the crowded floor, the crowded floor can be efficiently and quickly identified, and users can be efficiently evacuated.

[0083] According to the elevator system 1 of the embodiment, the monitoring device 20 collects information on the number of users in the landing 60 for each floor based on the number of calls to the landing 60 received by the landing call device 61. In this way, by identifying the number of users in each individual landing 60 based on the landing calls generated at each individual landing 60, it is possible to accurately obtain information on the number of users in the landing 60.

[0084] According to the elevator system 1 of the embodiment, the monitoring device 20 collects information on the estimated number of users in the landing 60 for each floor, indicating the number of users heading to a predetermined destination floor, based on the number of calls to the predetermined destination floor received by the destination floor call device 51. By collecting such information and using it for determining the congestion level on the monitoring panel 10, it is possible to accurately determine the congestion level of each floor.

[0085] (Modification example) In the above-described embodiment, the number of users including the estimated value in the landing 60 for each floor is calculated based on the number of landing calls from the landing call device 61 and the number of destination floor calls from the destination floor call device 51. However, the method for calculating the number of users in the landing 60 is not limited to the above.

[0086] The number of users in the landing 60 for each floor may be calculated, for example, based on an image from a camera 63 installed in the landing 60. That is, the number of users in the landing 60 can be identified by performing image analysis on an image captured by the camera 63 in the landing 60.

[0087] In this case, the information on the number of users in the landing 60 for each floor obtained from the camera 63 in the landing 60 is an example of the first user number information.

[0088] Also, the estimated number of users in the landing 60 for each floor may be calculated, for example, based on an image from a camera 53 installed inside the car 50 or a detection result of a load sensor 54 installed on the lower surface of the car 50.

[0089] That is, when using the camera 53 inside the car 50, by image-analyzing the image captured by the camera 53 or the like, it is possible to identify the number of passengers getting on and off at each floor's landing 60 and estimate the number of users at each individual landing 60. Also, when using the load sensor 54 of the car 50, by analyzing the transition of the detection value by the load sensor 54, it is possible to estimate the number of passengers getting on and off at each floor's landing 60, and the number of users at the landing 60 is estimated.

[0090] In this case, the information on the estimated number of users at each floor's landing 60 obtained from the camera 53 inside the car 50 or the load sensor 54 of the car 50 is an example of the second user number information.

[0091] As described above, the number of users at each floor's landing 60 may be calculated by either the number of landing calls from the landing call device 61 or the analysis result of the image of the camera 63 at the landing 60, or a combination of these.

[0092] Also, the estimated number of users at each floor's landing 60 may be calculated by any one of the number of destination floor calls from the destination floor call device 51, the analysis result of the image of the camera 53 inside the car 50, and the detection value of the load sensor 54 of the car 50, or by arbitrarily combining some or all of these.

[0093] Also, in the above-described embodiment, it was decided to dispatch the car 50 to the congested floor identified by the determination unit 13. However, for example, by analyzing the images of the cameras 63 at the landings 60 for each floor, the determination unit 13 may identify the disaster-stricken floor where significant damage has occurred due to a disaster, and perform control so as not to stop the car 50 at the identified disaster-stricken floor. In this case, the call generation unit 14 of the monitoring panel 10 can be made not to generate a call to the disaster-stricken floor.

[0094] In addition, when the determination unit 13 identifies the affected floor, if the disaster that has occurred is a fire or the like, control may be performed to stop the car 50 not only at the identified affected floor but also at least on the floor immediately above the affected floor.

[0095] In this way, according to the type of disaster that has occurred, or when several disasters such as fire, earthquake, flood, and power outage occur in combination, the above control by the monitoring panel 10 may be appropriately varied.

[0096] Also, in the above-described embodiment, when a disaster occurs, the monitoring panel 10 and the monitoring device 20 are coordinated to identify the congested floor, and the car 50 is preferentially dispatched to the identified congested floor. However, even during normal times, when the degree of congestion on a specific floor increases due to an event or the like, the above configuration may be applied and the car 50 may be dispatched to the congested floor by the monitoring panel 10.

[0097] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0098] 1... Elevator system, 10... Monitoring panel, 11... Communication unit, 12... Monitoring unit, 13... Determination unit, 14... Call generation unit, 15... Storage unit, 16... User number information, 20... Monitoring device, 30... Group management device, 40... Elevator control device, 50... Car, 51... Destination floor call device, 53, 63... Camera, 54... Load sensor, 60... Landing, 61... Landing call device, 100... Disaster prevention center.

Claims

1. A car of an elevator that allows users to board and move between different floors, A group management device that controls the movement of the car between the floors to respond to call registrations for the elevator, A monitoring device that collects first user number information indicating the number of users at the landing of the elevator provided for each floor, A monitoring device that monitors the operation of the elevator, comprising: The monitoring device, When a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, based on the first user number information, determines the congestion level for each floor of the landing, Generates a call to the floor with a higher congestion level than others and registers it with the group management device, An elevator system.

2. At each landing for each floor, There is provided a landing call device for receiving calls to the landing, The monitoring device, Based on the number of calls to the landing received by the landing call device, collects the first user number information for the landing of each floor, The elevator system according to claim 1.

3. At each landing for each floor, There is provided a first imaging device capable of imaging the users at the landing, The monitoring device, Based on the image captured by the first imaging device, collects the first user number information for the landing of each floor, The elevator system according to claim 1.

4. The monitoring device, When a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, based on the image captured by the first imaging device, identifies the affected floor and does not generate a call to the landing of the affected floor, The elevator system according to claim 3.

5. The monitoring device, When the disaster is a fire, does not generate a call to the landing of the affected floor and at least the floor immediately above the affected floor, The elevator system according to claim 4.

6. In the car, There is provided a destination floor call device for receiving calls to the destination floor, The monitoring device, Based on the number of calls to the destination floor received by the destination floor call device, collects second user number information indicating the number of users heading to the destination floor, The monitoring device, When a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, in addition to the first user number information, based on the second user number information, determines the congestion level for each floor of the landing, The elevator system according to claim 2 or claim 3.

7. In the car, a load sensor for detecting the load of the user in the car is provided, The monitoring device, based on the detection result of the load sensor, collects second user number information indicating the number of users getting on and off at each floor in the car, The monitoring device, when a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, in addition to the first user number information, based on the second user number information, determines the congestion level for each floor of the landing, The elevator system according to claim 2 or claim 3.

8. In the car, a second imaging device capable of imaging the users in the car is provided, The monitoring device, based on the image captured by the second imaging device, collects second user number information indicating the number of users getting on and off at each floor in the car, The monitoring device, when a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, in addition to the first user number information, based on the second user number information, determines the congestion level for each floor of the landing, The elevator system according to claim 2 or claim 3.

9. A monitoring device for monitoring the operation of an elevator having a car in which users can board and move between different floors, an acquisition unit that acquires the first user number information from a monitoring device that collects the first user number information indicating the number of users at the landing of the elevator provided for each floor, a determination unit that determines the congestion level for each floor of the landing based on the first user number information when a disaster occurs at the installation location of the elevator, a call generation unit that generates a call to a floor with a higher congestion level than others, and includes, The generation unit, registers the generated call in a group management device that controls the movement between the floors of the car and responds to the call registration for the elevator, Monitoring device.

Images