Elevator control device

Abstract

In the event that the door of the control panel installed in the elevator shaft opens, safety is ensured while preventing the occupants inside the elevator car from being trapped. [Solution] The elevator control device comprises: a door open detection unit that detects the open state of the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft; an operating mode detection unit that detects the operating mode selected by a changeover switch that selects the operating mode between manual operation mode and automatic operation mode; and a control unit that performs a door open operation to open the car door in the door zone of the evacuation floor when the door open detection unit detects that the door is open and all execution conditions, including the detection that the operating mode is automatic operation mode, are met.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology of an elevator control device that prevents entrapment of elevator passengers.

Background Art

[0002] In a machine-roomless elevator in which a hoist machine is installed in a hoistway, a control panel is also installed in the hoistway. Therefore, if the door of the control panel accidentally opens while the elevator is running, there is a risk that the car running in the hoistway may interfere with the door.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining a serviceable floor where service can be performed without contacting a door in an open state when the open state of the door of an elevator control panel is detected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When it is detected that the door of the control panel is open during the operation of the elevator, if the elevator is stopped immediately on the spot to prevent interference between the car and the door, there is a problem that the passengers in the car may be trapped. On the other hand, when the door of the control panel is open, it is conceivable that maintenance inspection is being carried out by a maintenance worker. Therefore, if the car is easily moved to evacuate the passengers outside the car, there is a risk of safety problems. In the technology of Patent Document 1, no consideration is given to the possibility that the door of the control panel is open due to maintenance inspection.

[0006] This disclosure was made to solve the problems described above, and aims to provide a technology that ensures safety while preventing the entrapment of occupants inside the elevator car when the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft is opened. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The elevator control device of this disclosure comprises: a door open detection unit that detects the open state of the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft; an operating mode detection unit that detects the operating mode selected by a changeover switch that selects the operating mode between manual operation mode and automatic operation mode; and a control unit that performs a door open operation to open the car door in the door zone of the evacuation floor when the door open detection unit detects that the door is open and all execution conditions, including the detection that the operating mode is automatic operation mode, are met. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the technology disclosed herein, it is possible to prevent the entrapment of occupants inside the elevator car while ensuring safety, even if the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft is opened. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a diagram illustrating the operation of an elevator device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the functions of the control device for an elevator system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a flowchart showing the processing routines executed in the control device of the elevator system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows the door opening process routine executed in the control unit of an elevator system. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the hardware resources of a control device. [Figure 7] This figure shows another example of the hardware resources of a control device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, elements common to all parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted.

[0011] Embodiment. 1. Schematic configuration of the elevator device of the embodiment Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an elevator system according to an embodiment. The elevator in the elevator system according to this embodiment is installed in a facility consisting of a building with multiple floors. In the facility, an elevator shaft 3 is provided. The elevator shaft 3 is a long space in the vertical direction that spans multiple floors.

[0012] The elevator system comprises, as its main components, a car 2, a counterweight 4, a main rope 6, a hoisting machine 8, and a control panel 10. The elevator system is a so-called machine-room-less elevator, in which the hoisting machine 8 and the control panel 10 are located within the hoistway 3.

[0013] The elevator car 2 is a device that transports passengers and other people inside between multiple floors by traveling up and down in the elevator shaft 3, which is the direction of movement. The counterweight 4 moves up and down in the elevator shaft 3. The elevator car 2 and the counterweight 4 are suspended from the elevator shaft 3 by a main rope 6. The main rope 6, also called the main cable, is wound around a sheave of a hoisting machine 8 installed at the top of the elevator shaft 3. When the sheave of the hoisting machine 8 rotates, the main rope 6 moves in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the sheave. The elevator car 2 rises or falls depending on the direction in which the main rope 6 moves. The movement of the elevator car 2 and the counterweight 4 is guided by guide rails (not shown) fixed inside the elevator shaft 3.

[0014] The control panel 10 is installed, for example, on the wall of the lowest floor in the elevator shaft 3. The control panel 10 is provided with a lockable door 12. A single-leaf door is shown as an example for the door 12, but a double-leaf door may also be used. Inside the control panel 10 is a control device 20 for controlling the operation of the elevator. The operation of the elevator controlled by the control device 20 includes, for example, opening and closing the door, managing registered calls, moving the car 2 in response to calls, and stopping the car 2's movement and issuing an alarm in the event of an abnormality.

[0015] The control panel 10 is equipped with a door open detection switch 14 and a maintenance switch 16. Since the control panel 10 is installed on the wall of the elevator shaft 3, if the elevator car 2 travels through the elevator shaft 3 with the door 12 of the control panel 10 open, there is a risk that the elevator car 2 may interfere with the open door 12. The door open detection switch 14 is a switch that detects the open state of the door 12 of the control panel 10 in order to prevent such interference. The signal from the door open detection switch 14 is sent to the control device 20.

[0016] The maintenance switch 16 is a switch used by maintenance personnel to set the elevator's operating mode from normal mode to maintenance mode and to deactivate maintenance mode and return to normal mode. The signal from the maintenance switch 16 is sent to the control device 20. During normal elevator operation, the maintenance switch 16 is set to normal mode. When maintenance personnel perform inspection work on the elevator, they operate the maintenance switch 16 to set the operating mode to maintenance mode. When the operating mode is maintenance mode, the control device 20 does not trigger an alarm to indicate an abnormality, even if it detects elevator operation that would normally be judged as abnormal.

[0017] The car 2 includes a changeover switch 22 and an inspection switch 24. The changeover switch 22 switches the elevator operation mode between the automatic operation mode and the manual operation mode. The automatic operation mode is an operation mode in which the car 2 automatically responds to a registered call. The manual mode is an operation mode in which a maintenance worker or the like operates a dedicated device to manually move the car 2. The inspection switch 24 switches the elevator mode between "normal" and "inspection". During normal operation of the elevator, the inspection switch 24 is set to "normal". When performing an inspection of the elevator, the maintenance worker operates the inspection switch 24 to switch the mode to "inspection". When the elevator mode is "inspection", the control device 20 operates devices necessary for inspection, such as lighting in the hoistway 3. Note that the changeover switch 22 and the inspection switch 24 are arranged inside a door with a key, for example, inside the car 2 in order to restrict operation by general users. Signals from the changeover switch 22 and the inspection switch 24 are transmitted to the control device 20.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the elevator device according to the embodiment. When the door open detection switch 14 detects that the door 12 of the control panel 10 is in an open state, the elevator is immediately stopped on the spot to prevent interference between the door 12 and the car 2. However, if the elevator is stopped on the spot, the passengers in the car 2 will be trapped inside the car 2. On the other hand, since the state where the door 12 of the control panel 10 is open may be considered to be during maintenance and inspection by a maintenance worker, the car 2 cannot be easily moved. Therefore, when the door 12 of the control panel 10 is in an open state, the control device 20 executes a door opening process of moving to the door zone of the set evacuation floor and opening the door of the car 2 when the execution conditions for ensuring safety are satisfied. Hereinafter, the functions and operations of the control device 20 of the elevator device will be described in detail.

[0019] 2. Functions and Operations of the Control Device of the Elevator Device According to the Embodiment FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the control device of the elevator apparatus according to the embodiment. The control device 20 includes a door opening detection unit 202, a maintenance mode detection unit 204, an operation mode detection unit 206, an inspection switch detection unit 208, and a control unit 210.

[0020] When the car 2 approaches the control panel 10 while the door 12 of the control panel 10 is in an open state, there is a risk of interference between the door 12 and the car 2. In order to prevent such interference, the door 12 is provided with a lock, but it is also conceivable that the lock may come off due to vibration or the like and the door 12 may be unintentionally opened. It is also conceivable that a maintenance worker who has opened the door 12 for maintenance inspection or the like may forget to lock the door 12. The door opening detection unit 202 is a functional block for detecting the open state of the door 12 of the control panel 10 based on the signal of the door opening detection switch 14. The process executed in the door opening detection unit 202 is hereinafter referred to as "door opening detection process". The processing result in the door opening detection process is sent to the control unit 210.

[0021] The maintenance mode detection unit 204 is a functional block for detecting the set state of the maintenance mode based on the signal of the maintenance switch 16. The process executed in the maintenance mode detection unit 204 is hereinafter referred to as "maintenance mode detection process". The processing result in the maintenance mode detection process is sent to the control unit 210.

[0022] The operation mode detection unit 206 is a functional block for detecting whether the operation mode selected by the changeover switch 22 is the automatic operation mode or the manual operation mode based on the signal of the changeover switch 22. The process executed in the operation mode detection unit 206 is hereinafter referred to as "operation mode detection process". The processing result in the operation mode detection process is sent to the control unit 210.

[0023] The inspection switch detection unit 208 is a functional block that detects whether the elevator mode selected by the inspection switch 24 is "normal" or "inspection" based on the signal from the inspection switch 24. The processing performed in the inspection switch detection unit 208 is hereinafter referred to as the "inspection switch detection process". The processing result of the inspection switch detection process is sent to the control unit 210.

[0024] The control unit 210 is a functional block for executing door opening processing. Typically, the control unit 210 includes a vehicle dispatch control unit 212, an evacuation floor setting unit 214, a door opening / closing control unit 216, and an information notification unit 218 as functional blocks for performing various processes related to door opening processing.

[0025] The dispatch control unit 212 is a functional block for controlling the operation of the elevator car 2 during door opening. Typically, when the door 12 of the control panel 10 is open, the dispatch control unit 212 will bring the elevator car 2 to a sudden stop if the execution conditions for ensuring safety are met. This process will be referred to as the "stopping process" below. In addition, if the stopping position of the elevator car 2 is outside the door zone of the evacuation floor, the dispatch control unit 212 will move the elevator car 2 to the door zone of that evacuation floor and bring it to a stop.

[0026] The evacuation floor setting unit 214 is a functional block for executing the process of setting the evacuation floor. This process is hereinafter referred to as the "evacuation floor setting process". In the evacuation floor setting process, the evacuation floor setting unit 214 sets the evacuation floor based on the stopping position of the elevator car 2 due to the stopping process. The door opening / closing control unit 216 is a functional block for controlling the opening and closing operation of the doors of the elevator car 2 during the door opening process. The information notification unit 218 is a functional block for notifying the occupants inside the elevator car 2 of an announcement during the door opening process.

[0027] 3. Specific processes performed in the elevator device of the embodiment Next, we will explain the specific processes executed in the control device 20 with reference to the flowchart. Figure 4 is a flowchart of the routine processes executed in the control device of the elevator system according to the embodiment. The routine shown in Figure 4 is repeatedly executed in the control device 20 at a predetermined control cycle.

[0028] In step S100 of the flowchart shown in Figure 4, it is determined whether the door 12 of the control panel 10 is open based on the processing result of the door open detection process. If the determination is not successful, the processing of this routine is terminated. If the determination is successful, the process proceeds to step S102.

[0029] In step S102, it is determined whether all the conditions for executing the door opening process have been met. If the door 12 of the control panel 10 is in an open state, it is possible that maintenance personnel are performing maintenance inspections. The execution conditions here are those necessary to execute the door opening process while ensuring safety, and specifically include that the operating mode is automatic operation mode, that maintenance mode is not set, and that the inspection switch 24 is selected as "normal". Here, it is determined whether all the execution conditions have been met based on the processing results of the operating mode detection process, the maintenance mode detection process, and the inspection switch detection process. If the result is that the conditions have not been met, the processing of this routine ends, and if the conditions have been met, the process proceeds to step S104.

[0030] In step S104, the door opening process is executed. Figure 5 is a flowchart of the door opening process routine executed in the control device of the elevator system. In step S104 of the routine shown in Figure 4, the processing of the routine shown in Figure 5 is executed.

[0031] In step S110 of the routine shown in Figure 5, the dispatch control unit 212 performs a stop process, causing the elevator to come to an abrupt stop. Once step S110 is completed, the process proceeds to step S112. In step S112, it is determined whether the stopping position of the elevator car 2 due to the stop process is between the lowest floor and the floor directly above the lowest floor. Since the control panel 10 is installed on the wall of the lowest floor, there is a risk that the elevator car 2 and the door 12 may interfere with each other if the elevator car 2 moves to the lowest floor. Therefore, if the determination in step S112 is found to be true, the process proceeds to step S114, where the evacuation floor setting process is performed in the evacuation floor setting unit 214. In this evacuation floor setting process, the floor directly above the lowest floor is set as the evacuation floor.

[0032] On the other hand, if the determination in step S112 is not found to be true, the process proceeds to step S116. In step S116, the evacuation floor setting process is executed in the evacuation floor setting unit 214, and the floor closest to the stopping position of the car 2 is set as the evacuation floor. Once the process in step S114 or step S116 is completed, the process proceeds to step S118.

[0033] In step S118, it is determined whether the stopping position of car 2 is outside the door zone of the evacuation floor. If the determination is not met, it is determined that moving car 2 for door opening is unnecessary, and the process proceeds to step S122. On the other hand, if the determination in step S118 is met, it is determined that moving car 2 for door opening is necessary, and the process proceeds to step S120.

[0034] In step S120, the dispatch control unit 212 executes a process to move the elevator car 2 to the door zone of the evacuation floor and stop it. Once the process in step S120 is executed, the process proceeds to step S122.

[0035] In step S122, the information notification unit 218 notifies the passengers inside car 2 of an announcement. Examples of announcements here include those that encourage the passengers inside car 2 to evacuate safely, such as "Please evacuate outside through the open door" or "Please be careful of the step at the door." Once the processing in step S122 is completed, the process proceeds to step S124. In step S124, the door opening / closing control unit 216 executes the process of opening the door of car 2. Once the processing in step S124 is executed, this routine terminates.

[0036] According to the elevator device of the embodiment described above, if the door 12 of the control panel 10 is unintentionally opened while the elevator is in operation, it is possible to prevent interference between the car 2 and the door 12, and to evacuate the occupants inside the car 2 while ensuring safety.

[0037] 4. Variations The elevator device of this embodiment may employ the following modified forms.

[0038] 4-1. Hardware resources of the control device 20 Figure 6 shows an example of hardware resources for a control device. The control device 20 includes a processing circuit 34 as hardware resources, which includes a processor 30 and memory 32. The processing circuit 34 may include multiple processors 30. The processing circuit 34 may also include multiple memory 32.

[0039] In this embodiment, the functions of the control device 20 can be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware, which are written as programs. The programs are stored in the memory 32. The control device 20 realizes each function by having the processor 30 (computer) execute the programs stored in the memory 32.

[0040] The processor 30 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 32 may include semiconductor memory, magnetic disks, flexible disks, optical disks, compact disks, minidiscs, or DVDs. Possible semiconductor memories include RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, and EEPROM.

[0041] Figure 7 shows another example of hardware resources for a control device. In the example shown in Figure 7, the control device 20 includes, for example, a processor 30, memory 32, and a processing circuit 38 including dedicated hardware 36. Figure 7 shows an example in which some of the functions of the control device 20 are realized by the dedicated hardware 36. All of the functions of the control device 20 may also be realized by the dedicated hardware 36. The dedicated hardware 36 can be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0042] 4-2. Arrangement of control panel 10 The control panel 10 is not limited to being located on the wall of the lowest floor. In other words, the control panel 10 may be installed on the wall of the top floor. In this case, in step S112, it is determined whether the stopping position of the elevator car 2 due to the stopping process is between the top floor and the floor directly below the top floor, and in the evacuation floor setting process in step S114, the floor directly above the lowest floor should be set as the evacuation floor.

[0043] 4-3. Evacuation Floor The evacuation floor is not limited to the evacuation floor set according to the elevator car's stopping position through the evacuation floor setting process; it may also be a pre-set evacuation floor, for example.

[0044] 4-4. Execution Conditions The execution conditions include the condition that the operating mode is in automatic operation mode, but the conditions that maintenance mode is not set and that the inspection switch 24 is selected as "normal" are not mandatory.

[0045] 4-5. Placement of switches There are no limitations on the arrangement of the door open detection switch 14, maintenance switch 16, changeover switch 22, and inspection switch 24.

[0046] 5. Others Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0047] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix.

[0048] (Note 1) A door open detection unit that detects the open state of the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft, A driving mode detection unit that detects the driving mode selected by a toggle switch that selects the driving mode between manual driving mode and automatic driving mode, When the door opening detection unit detects that the door is open, and all execution conditions, including the detection that the operating mode is the automatic operation mode, are met, a control unit performs a door opening process to open the elevator door in the door zone of the evacuation floor, An elevator control device equipped with [a specific feature / feature]. (Note 2) The control unit, The evacuation floor setting unit for setting the aforementioned evacuation floor, A dispatch control unit that controls the operation of the elevator, Includes a door opening / closing control unit that controls the opening and closing operation of the cage door, In the aforementioned door opening process, The vehicle dispatch control unit executes a stop process to stop the elevator when the execution condition is met. The evacuation floor setting unit sets the evacuation floor based on the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process. The door opening / closing control unit opens the door of the elevator car in the door zone of the evacuation floor. The elevator control device described in Appendix 1 is configured as follows. (Note 3) The control panel is installed on the lowest floor of the elevator shaft. The elevator control device according to Appendix 2, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor directly above the lowest floor as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the car due to the stopping process is between the lowest floor and the floor directly above the lowest floor. (Note 4) The elevator control device according to Appendix 3, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor closest to the stopping position of the car as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the car due to the stopping process is above the floor directly above the lowest floor. (Note 5) The control panel is installed on the top floor of the elevator shaft. The elevator control device according to Appendix 2, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor directly below the top floor as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the car due to the stopping process is between the top floor and the floor directly below the top floor. (Note 6) The elevator control device according to Appendix 5, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor closest to the position of the elevator car as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process is lower than the floor directly below the top floor. (Note 7) In the aforementioned door opening process, If the stopping position of the elevator resulting from the aforementioned stopping process is outside the door zone of the evacuation floor, the dispatch control unit moves the elevator to the door zone of the evacuation floor and stops it there. An elevator control device as described in any one of the appendices 2 to 6, configured as such. (Note 8) The control unit, The system further includes an information notification unit that notifies the occupants inside the elevator car of an announcement when the elevator car door is opened during the aforementioned door opening process. The elevator control device described in any one of the items from Appendix 1 to Appendix 7. (Note 9) It includes a maintenance mode detection unit that detects the setting status of a maintenance switch that switches between setting and deactivating maintenance mode, The execution condition is the control device for the elevator described in any one of the appendices 1 to 8, which includes the detection that the maintenance mode has been deactivated. (Note 10) The elevator is equipped with an inspection switch detection unit that detects the setting state of an inspection switch that is switched from off to on during inspection, The control device for an elevator as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 9, wherein the execution condition is detected to be that the inspection switch is set to the off position. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 2 elevator car, 3 elevator shaft, 4 counterweight, 6 main rope, 8 hoisting machine, 10 control panel, 12 door, 14 door open detection switch, 16 maintenance switch, 20 control device, 22 changeover switch, 24 inspection switch, 30 processor, 32 memory, 34 processing circuit, 36 dedicated hardware, 38 processing circuit, 202 door open detection unit, 204 maintenance mode detection unit, 206 operation mode detection unit, 208 inspection switch detection unit, 210 control unit, 212 dispatch control unit, 214 evacuation floor setting unit, 216 door opening / closing control unit, 218 information notification unit

Claims

1. A door open detection unit that detects the open state of the door of a control panel installed in the elevator shaft, A driving mode detection unit that detects the driving mode selected by a toggle switch that selects the driving mode between manual driving mode and automatic driving mode, When the door opening detection unit detects that the door is open, and all execution conditions, including the detection that the operating mode is the automatic operation mode, are met, a control unit performs a door opening process to open the elevator door in the door zone of the evacuation floor, An elevator control device equipped with [a specific feature / feature].

2. The control unit, The evacuation floor setting unit for setting the aforementioned evacuation floor, A dispatch control unit that controls the operation of the elevator, Includes a door opening / closing control unit that controls the opening and closing operation of the cage door, In the aforementioned door opening process, The vehicle dispatch control unit executes a stop process to stop the elevator when the execution condition is met. The evacuation floor setting unit sets the evacuation floor based on the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process. The door opening / closing control unit opens the door of the elevator car in the door zone of the evacuation floor. The elevator control device according to claim 1, configured as follows.

3. The control panel is installed on the lowest floor of the elevator shaft. The elevator control device according to claim 2, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor directly above the lowest floor as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process is between the lowest floor and the floor directly above the lowest floor.

4. The elevator control device according to claim 3, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor closest to the stopping position of the car as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the car due to the stopping process is above the floor directly above the lowest floor.

5. The control panel is installed on the top floor of the elevator shaft. The elevator control device according to claim 2, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor directly below the top floor as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process is between the top floor and the floor directly below the top floor.

6. The elevator control device according to claim 5, wherein the evacuation floor setting unit is configured to set the floor closest to the position of the elevator car as the evacuation floor when the stopping position of the elevator car due to the stopping process is lower than the floor directly below the top floor.

7. In the aforementioned door opening process, If the stopping position of the elevator resulting from the aforementioned stopping process is outside the door zone of the evacuation floor, the dispatch control unit moves the elevator to the door zone of the evacuation floor and stops it there. An elevator control device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, configured as described above.

8. The control unit, The system further includes an information notification unit that notifies the occupants inside the elevator car of an announcement when the elevator car door is opened during the aforementioned door opening process. An elevator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. It includes a maintenance mode detection unit that detects the setting status of a maintenance switch that switches between setting and deactivating maintenance mode, The elevator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the execution condition includes the detection that the maintenance mode has been deactivated.

10. The elevator is equipped with an inspection switch detection unit that detects the setting state of an inspection switch that is switched from off to on during inspection, The elevator control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the execution condition includes the detection that the inspection switch is set to the off position.

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