Elevator control system

Abstract

To provide a control device of an elevator capable of requesting transmission of information on failure to a user of the elevator.SOLUTION: The control device 3 includes a maintenance management unit 35, a failure detection unit 31, a failure recording unit 32, and a notification control unit 34. The failure recording unit 32 is provided separately from the maintenance management unit 35, and causes the storage unit 30 to store failure information related to a failure whose occurrence is detected by the failure detection unit 31. A notification control part 34 notifies a user of the elevator of transmission request information for transmitting the past failure information stored in the storage part 30 to a manufacturer of the elevator or an affiliated company of the manufacturer from a notification device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for an elevator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator system. In the elevator system described in Patent Document 1, when an abnormality occurs, information including the details of the abnormality is notified to the user. If the abnormality is minor, the user can resolve the abnormality themselves. This eliminates the need for a staff member from a management center to visit the site. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-162390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, a control center such as that described in Patent Document 1 is operated by a maintenance company that manages elevators. When a malfunction occurs in an elevator, users can contact the maintenance company.

[0005] When a malfunction occurs in an elevator that is not managed by a maintenance company, users may contact the elevator manufacturer, etc. However, the elevator manufacturer, etc., is unable to obtain information from the elevator, making it difficult to respond.

[0006] In addition, even in elevators managed by a maintenance company, similar problems can occur if a user contacts the elevator manufacturer, etc.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator control device that can request elevator users to transmit information regarding a malfunction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The elevator control device according to the present disclosure comprises a maintenance management unit for remote monitoring by a maintenance company, a fault detection unit for detecting the occurrence of a fault, a fault recording unit provided separately from the maintenance management unit for storing fault information relating to a fault detected by the fault detection unit in a memory unit, and an alarm control unit for causing an alarm to notify elevator users of transmission request information for requesting transmission of past fault information stored in the memory unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer.

[0009] The elevator control device according to the present disclosure is a control device that is not remotely monitored by a maintenance company, and includes a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault, a fault recording unit that stores fault information related to the fault detected by the fault detection unit in a memory unit, and an alarm control unit that causes an alarm to notify elevator users of transmission request information that requests the elevator user to transmit the past fault information stored in the memory unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliate of the manufacturer. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The elevator control device according to the present disclosure can request users to send information about the malfunction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an elevator device including a control device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device in the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the control device. [Figure 4]10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a server device managed by an elevator manufacturer. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of hardware resources of a control device. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example of hardware resources of a control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following detailed description will be given with reference to the drawings. Duplicate descriptions will be simplified or omitted as appropriate. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0013] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator system 1 equipped with a control device 3 according to a first embodiment. The elevator system 1 includes a car 2 and the control device 3. The car 2 moves up and down in a hoistway 4. The hoistway 4 is a space formed in a building that extends up and down. The car 2 can stop at landings 5 ​​on multiple floors within the building.

[0014] In the example shown in Fig. 1, a display 6 is provided on the car 2. The display 6 is an example of an alarm provided on the car 2. Other devices such as an announcement device may be provided on the car 2 as an alarm. A plurality of devices may be provided on the car 2 as an alarm.

[0015] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , a display 7 is provided at each landing 5 at which the car 2 stops. The display 7 may be provided only at some of the landings 5 ​​at which the car 2 stops. For example, the display 7 may be provided only at the landings 5 ​​on the lobby floor. The display 7 is an example of an alarm provided at a landing 5. Other devices such as an announcement device may be provided at the landing 5 as an alarm. Multiple devices may be provided at one landing 5 as an alarm.

[0016] The elevator apparatus 1 preferably includes both an alarm provided in the car 2 and an alarm provided at the landing 5. The elevator apparatus 1 may include only one of the alarm provided in the car 2 or the alarm provided at the landing 5.

[0017] The control device 3 controls the operation of the car 2. When a call is registered, the control device 3 causes the car 2 to respond to the registered call. This allows elevator users to ride the car 2 and move from a hall 5 on one floor to a hall 5 on another floor. The control device 3 includes, for example, a memory unit 30, a fault detection unit 31, a fault recording unit 32, an information generation unit 33, and a notification control unit 34.

[0018] The control device 3 may include a maintenance management unit 35. The maintenance management unit 35 is a function that enables the elevator maintenance company to perform remote monitoring. For example, if a maintenance contract including remote monitoring is concluded with a maintenance company for the elevator device 1, the control device 3 is provided with the maintenance management unit 35, and the remote monitoring function by the maintenance management unit 35 is enabled. In such a case, the control device 3 can be accessed from a specific external device 9 via a network 8 such as the Internet. As an example, the external device 9 is a server device provided in an information center operated by the maintenance company. The external device 9 can send and receive signals to and from the control device 3.

[0019] On the other hand, in an elevator device 1 that does not have a maintenance contract including remote monitoring with a maintenance company, the control device 3 is not provided with the maintenance management unit 35. Or, even if the control device 3 is provided with the maintenance management unit 35, the remote monitoring function of the maintenance management unit 35 is not enabled. In such a case, the control device 3 cannot transmit and receive signals to and from the external device 9 via the network 8.

[0020] The functions of the elevator device 1 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 4. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the control device 3 in the first embodiment.

[0021] The control device 3 determines whether a failure has occurred (S101). The failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure. The failures detected by the failure detection unit 31 may include minor failures that do not require the elevator to be stopped. For example, the failure detection unit 31 may detect, as a failure, an event in which the door of the car 2 can be closed but the time it takes to close is longer than normal (a reference time). The failure detection unit 31 may also detect an on failure of a direction button provided at the landing 5. When the failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure, a determination of Yes is made in S101.

[0022] If S101 returns Yes, the fault recording unit 32 stores information about the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31 in the memory unit 30 (S102). Hereinafter, this information will also be referred to as fault information. The fault information preferably includes at least information for identifying the elevator, the details of the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31, and the date and time of the fault. The information for identifying the elevator may be an identification code assigned to each elevator device. The details of the fault may be an error code used to identify the fault in the elevator device 1. The fault information may also include other information.

[0023] The process shown in S102 is performed every time the determination in S101 is Yes. As a result, the storage unit 30 accumulates failure information.

[0024] The fault recording unit 32 is not provided as a function (maintenance function) for performing maintenance of the elevator device 1, but is a function that is provided in advance in the elevator device 1 as a product. In other words, the fault recording unit 32 is provided separately from the maintenance management unit 35.

[0025] 3 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the control device 3. The control device 3 determines whether or not a notification condition is met (S201). The notification condition is set in advance. If the notification condition is met, the determination in S201 is Yes.

[0026] If the determination in S201 is Yes, the information generation unit 33 generates transmission request information (S202). The transmission request information is information for requesting elevator users to transmit past malfunction information stored in the storage unit 30 to the manufacturer of the elevator, i.e., the manufacturer of the elevator device 1. Note that the destination of the malfunction information may be an affiliated company of the manufacturer. In a preferred example, the transmission request information includes a two-dimensional code.

[0027] Next, the notification control unit 34 causes the transmission request information generated by the information generation unit 33 to be notified from an alarm (S203). The transmission request information may be notified from an alarm provided in the car 2, or from an alarm provided at the landing 5. The transmission request information may be notified from both an alarm provided in the car 2 and an alarm provided at the landing 5. For example, in S203, the notification control unit 34 causes the display 6 or the display 7 to display the transmission request information including the two-dimensional code.

[0028] As an example, when a specific operation is performed on the control panel of car 2 or the control panel of hall 5, the notification condition is met (Yes in S201). As a result, in S203, the two-dimensional code is displayed on the display 6 together with the message "If you photograph the displayed two-dimensional code with your mobile terminal, information about past malfunctions will be sent to the elevator manufacturer."

[0029] For example, the two-dimensional code displayed on the display 6 contains information on the 30 most recent malfunctions stored in the memory unit 30. When a user photographs this two-dimensional code with their mobile device, the malfunction information contained in the two-dimensional code is sent to a server device managed by the elevator manufacturer. Any mechanism may be adopted for transmitting the malfunction information to the server device when the user photographs the two-dimensional code with their mobile device. In order to transmit the malfunction information to the server device, the user may be required to perform some operation on their mobile device after photographing the two-dimensional code.

[0030] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a server device managed by an elevator manufacturer. In the following description, this server device will be referred to as server device A to distinguish it from other server devices.

[0031] The server device A determines whether or not it has received fault information (S301). As described above, when a user photographs the two-dimensional code displayed on the display device 6 with a mobile terminal, past fault information contained in the two-dimensional code is transmitted to the server device A. When the server device A receives the fault information, it determines "Yes" in S301. When it determines "Yes" in S301, the server device A stores the received fault information (S302). As a result, information related to faults that have occurred in the elevator device 1 is accumulated in the server device A.

[0032] In this way, in the example shown in this embodiment, the transmission request information is notified from the alarm. This allows the elevator user to be requested to transmit information related to the malfunction. When the user responds to the request, the manufacturer of the elevator device 1 or an affiliated company of the manufacturer can obtain information related to malfunctions that have occurred in the elevator device 1 in the past.

[0033] For example, if there is no maintenance contract between the elevator device 1 and a maintenance company, the maintenance company will not remotely monitor the control device 3. In such a case, the building manager will make an inquiry to the manufacturer of the elevator device 1 as needed. In the example shown in this embodiment, the manager can request the manager to send information about malfunctions, and if the manager accepts the request, the manufacturer of the elevator device 1 can obtain information about malfunctions that have occurred in the past. This allows the manufacturer to take an appropriate action in response to the inquiry. The building manager is an example of a user.

[0034] Similar effects can be expected even when a maintenance contract is concluded between the elevator device 1 and a maintenance company. For example, if the maintenance contract includes a condition that maintenance personnel will not be dispatched at night, the building manager may make an inquiry to the manufacturer of the elevator device 1 at night. In the example shown in this embodiment, in such a case, the manager can request the manager to transmit information related to the malfunction. If the manager accepts the request, the manufacturer of the elevator device 1 can obtain information related to malfunctions that have occurred in the past and can take an appropriate action in response to the inquiry. Note that in this example, the destination of the malfunction information (e.g., server device A) is different from the communication destination of the maintenance management unit 35 (e.g., external device 9).

[0035] Next, another example in which the notification condition is met will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing another example of the operation of the control device 3. Specifically, Fig. 5 shows an example in which the notification condition is met due to the occurrence of a failure.

[0036] The process shown in S401 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the process shown in S201 in Fig. 3. That is, in S401, it is determined whether or not a failure has occurred in order to confirm whether or not the notification condition is met. As described above, the occurrence of a failure is detected by the failure detection unit 31. When the occurrence of a failure is detected by the failure detection unit 31, a determination of Yes is made in S401. That is, the notification condition is met when the failure detection unit 31 detects the occurrence of a failure.

[0037] The process shown in S402 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the process shown in S202 in Fig. 3. If the determination in S401 is Yes, the information generation unit 33 generates transmission request information (S402). The transmission request information generated in S402 is information for requesting the user to transmit information related to the failure detected by the failure detection unit 31 in S401 and past failure information stored in the memory unit 30 before the determination in S401 was Yes to the manufacturer of the elevator or an affiliated company of the manufacturer. As in the above example, the transmission request information preferably includes a two-dimensional code.

[0038] The process shown in S403 in Fig. 5 corresponds to the process shown in S203 in Fig. 3. In S403, the notification control unit 34 causes the alarm to notify the transmission request information generated by the information generation unit 33. In a preferred example, in S403, the notification control unit 34 causes at least one of the display unit 6 and the display unit 7 to display the transmission request information including the two-dimensional code.

[0039] In an example in which the notification condition is met by the occurrence of a failure, the control device 3 may further include a resolution determination unit 36. When the control device 3 includes the resolution determination unit 36, the processes shown in S404 and S405 are further performed.

[0040] The resolution determination unit 36 ​​determines whether the fault detected by the fault detection unit 31 in S401 has been resolved (S404). When the resolution determination unit 36 ​​determines that the fault has been resolved, a Yes result is returned in S404. When a Yes result is returned in S404, the notification control unit 34 terminates the notification of the transmission request information (S405).

[0041] 5 shows an example in which the notification condition is met every time a failure occurs. As another example, the notification condition may be met every time a certain number of pieces of failure information are stored in the storage unit 30. For example, the notification condition may be met when 30 new pieces of failure information are stored in the storage unit 30. In such a case, the information generation unit 33 generates transmission request information for requesting the manufacturer of the elevator or an affiliated company of the manufacturer to transmit the failure information stored in the storage unit 30, i.e., past failure information.

[0042] As another example, the fault condition may be established depending on the type of fault detected by the fault detection unit 31. For example, the notification condition may be established when the occurrence of a specific fault that requires the elevator operation to be stopped is detected in S401. In such a case, the notification control unit 34 causes the alarm to notify the transmission request information generated in S402. Examples of when the notification condition is established are not limited to these examples.

[0043] 6 is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of the control device 3. The control device 3 includes, as hardware resources, a processing circuit 40 including a processor 41 and a memory 42. The processing circuit 40 may include multiple processors 41. The processing circuit 40 may include multiple memories 42.

[0044] In this embodiment, the units denoted by reference numerals 30 to 36 represent functions possessed by the control device 3. The function of the storage unit 30 is realized by a memory 42. The functions of the units denoted by reference numerals 31 to 36 can be realized by software written as a program, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The program is stored in the memory 42. The control device 3 realizes the functions of the units denoted by reference numerals 31 to 36 by executing the program stored in the memory 42 using a processor 41 (computer).

[0045] The processor 41 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The memory 42 may be a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0046] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of the control device 3. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the control device 3 includes a processing circuit 40 including a processor 41, a memory 42, and dedicated hardware 43. Fig. 7 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 3 are realized by the dedicated hardware 43. It is also possible to realize all of the functions of the control device 3 by the dedicated hardware 43.

[0047] Examples of aspects that may be included in the present disclosure are set forth below as appendices.

[0048] [Appendix 1] A maintenance management department for remote monitoring by a maintenance company; a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault; a failure recording unit that is provided separately from the maintenance management unit and that stores failure information related to a failure detected by the failure detection unit in a storage unit; a notification control unit that causes an alarm to notify an elevator user of transmission request information for requesting transmission of the past fault information stored in the storage unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer; and An elevator control device comprising: [Appendix 2] A control device that is not remotely monitored by a maintenance company, a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault; a fault recording unit that stores fault information relating to a fault detected by the fault detection unit in a storage unit; a notification control unit that causes an alarm to notify an elevator user of transmission request information for requesting transmission of the past fault information stored in the storage unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer; and An elevator control device comprising: [Appendix 3] An elevator control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fault information includes information for identifying the elevator, details of the fault that occurred, and the date and time of the fault. [Appendix 4] The alarm is a display provided in a car or at a landing where the car stops, An elevator control device described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the notification control unit displays the transmission request information including a two-dimensional code on the display. [Appendix 5] 5. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit, when a preset notification condition is met, causes the alarm to notify the user of the transmission request information stored in the memory unit. [Appendix 6] 6. An elevator control device according to claim 5, wherein the notification condition is met each time a certain number of pieces of fault information are stored in the memory unit. [Appendix 7] the notification condition is met when the failure detection unit detects the occurrence of a failure, The elevator control device described in Appendix 5, wherein when the notification condition is met, the notification control unit causes the alarm to notify the user of the transmission request information to send failure information related to the failure and past failure information stored in the memory unit. [Appendix 8] An elevator control device as described in Appendix 7, wherein the notification condition is met depending on the content of the failure detected by the failure detection unit. [Appendix 9] a resolution determination unit that determines whether the failure detected by the failure detection unit has been resolved; An elevator control device as described in Appendix 7 or Appendix 8, wherein the notification control unit terminates the notification of the transmission request information when the resolution determination unit determines that the failure has been resolved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 elevator device, 2 car, 3 control device, 4 elevator shaft, 5 landing, 6 display, 7 display, 8 network, 9 external device, 30 memory unit, 31 fault detection unit, 32 fault recording unit, 33 information generation unit, 34 notification control unit, 35 maintenance management unit, 36 resolution determination unit, 40 processing circuit, 41 processor, 42 memory, 43 dedicated hardware

Claims

1. A maintenance management department for remote monitoring by a maintenance company; a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault; a failure recording unit that is provided separately from the maintenance management unit and that stores failure information related to a failure detected by the failure detection unit in a storage unit; a notification control unit that causes an alarm to notify an elevator user of transmission request information for requesting transmission of the past fault information stored in the storage unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer; and An elevator control device comprising:

2. A control device that is not remotely monitored by a maintenance company, a fault detection unit that detects the occurrence of a fault; a fault recording unit that stores fault information relating to a fault detected by the fault detection unit in a storage unit; a notification control unit that causes an alarm to notify an elevator user of transmission request information for requesting transmission of the past fault information stored in the storage unit to the elevator manufacturer or an affiliated company of the manufacturer; and An elevator control device comprising:

3. 3. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the fault information includes information for identifying the elevator, details of the fault that has occurred, and the date and time of the fault.

4. The alarm is a display provided in a car or at a landing where the car stops, The elevator control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the notification control unit causes the display device to display the transmission request information including a two-dimensional code.

5. 3. The elevator control device according to claim 1, wherein the notification control unit, when a preset notification condition is met, causes the alarm to notify the user of the transmission request information for requesting the user to transmit past fault information stored in the memory unit.

6. The elevator control device according to claim 5, wherein the notification condition is met every time a certain number of pieces of fault information are stored in the memory unit.

7. the notification condition is met when the failure detection unit detects the occurrence of a failure, 6. The elevator control device according to claim 5, wherein, when the notification condition is met, the notification control unit causes the alarm to notify the user of the transmission request information for requesting the user to transmit failure information related to the failure and past failure information stored in the memory unit.

8. The elevator control device according to claim 7, wherein the notification condition is satisfied depending on the type of the failure detected by the failure detection unit.

9. a resolution determination unit that determines whether the failure detected by the failure detection unit has been resolved; The elevator control device according to claim 7, wherein the notification control unit terminates the notification of the transmission request information when the resolution determination unit determines that the failure has been resolved.

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