System and method for assisting in retrieval of lost property in elevator

Abstract

Provided are a collection assisting system and a collection assisting method that can make it easier to collect a lost item in an elevator hoistway. In a collection assisting system (20), a detection unit (25) detects the presence of a lost item (16) in a hoistway (3) on the basis of a radio signal received by a receiver (21) attached to the outside of a car (9) from a transmitter (18) attached to the lost item (16) in the hoistway (3). An acquisition unit (24) acquires location information of the car (9) at the time when the receiver (21) receives the radio signal from the transmitter (18). A determination unit (26) determines the location of the lost item (16) in the hoistway (3) in the up-down direction on the basis of the location information of the car (9) acquired by the acquisition unit (24) when the detection unit (25) detects the presence of the lost item (16) in the hoistway (3). A notification unit (27) notifies of the location of the lost item (16) determined by the determination unit (26).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for assisting in the recovery of lost items in an elevator. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of an elevator. A camera is provided in the elevator to photograph the hall. Whether or not there is an item lost at the hall is determined based on the image of the hall photographed by the camera. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-202871 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an elevator user moves between the landing and the car and drops an item they are carrying, the item may fall through the gap between the landing and the car into the hoistway and become lost. The elevator in Patent Document 1 does not detect lost items that have fallen into the hoistway. For this reason, elevator maintenance personnel search for and retrieve lost items in the hoistway upon request from users, but it is not easy to find lost items and the retrieval work may take time.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a recovery assistance system and a recovery assistance method that make it easier to recover lost items in an elevator hoistway. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The lost item recovery support system in an elevator according to the present disclosure comprises a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in a hoistway and receiving a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter attached to a lost item in the hoistway, a detection unit that detects that the lost item is in the hoistway based on the radio signal received by the receiver from the transmitter, an acquisition unit that acquires position information representing the vertical position of the car in the hoistway when the receiver receives the radio signal from the transmitter, a determination unit that determines the vertical position of the lost item in the hoistway based on the car position information acquired by the acquisition unit when the detection unit detects that the lost item is in the hoistway, and a notification unit that notifies the position of the lost item determined by the determination unit.

[0007] The lost item recovery support system in an elevator according to the present disclosure comprises a transmitter attached to an item carried by a user and emitting a wireless signal when the user loses the item, a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in a hoistway and receiving the wireless signal emitted by the transmitter inside the hoistway, a detection unit that detects that the item is in the hoistway based on the wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter, an acquisition unit that acquires position information representing the vertical position of the car in the hoistway when the receiver receives the wireless signal from the transmitter, a determination unit that determines the vertical position of the item in the hoistway based on the position information of the car acquired by the acquisition unit when the detection unit detects that the item is in the hoistway, and an alarm unit that alerts the position of the item determined by the determination unit.

[0008] The method of supporting the recovery of lost items in an elevator according to the present disclosure includes a receiving step of receiving a radio signal transmitted by a transmitter attached to a lost item in a hoistway by a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in the hoistway; a detection step of detecting that the lost item is in the hoistway based on the radio signal received by the receiver from the transmitter; an acquisition step of acquiring position information representing the vertical position of the car in the hoistway when the receiver receives the radio signal from the transmitter; a determination step of determining the vertical position of the lost item in the hoistway based on the position information of the car acquired in the acquisition step when it is detected in the detection step that the lost item is in the hoistway; and a reporting step of reporting the position of the lost item determined in the determination step. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the recovery support system or recovery support method of the present disclosure, lost items in an elevator hoistway can be more easily recovered. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the collection support system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of a main part of a collection support system according to a first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The embodiments for carrying out the subject of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. Note that the subject of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any component of the embodiment may be modified or omitted within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0012] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0013] The elevator system 1 includes an elevator 2. The elevator 2 is applied, for example, to a building having a plurality of floors. A hoistway 3 for the elevator 2 is provided in the building. The hoistway 3 is a long space in the vertical direction spanning a plurality of floors. A pit 4 is provided at the bottom of the hoistway 3. A landing 5 adjacent to the hoistway 3 is provided at each floor of the building. A landing door 6 is provided at the landing 5 on each floor. The landing door 6 is a door that separates the hoistway 3 and the landing 5. The elevator 2 includes a hoisting machine 7, a main rope 8, a car 9, a counterweight 10, and a control panel 11.

[0014] The hoisting machine 7 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 3. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 2 is provided above the hoistway 3, the hoisting machine 7 may be disposed in the machine room. The hoisting machine 7 includes a motor and a sheave. The motor of the hoisting machine 7 is a device that generates driving force. The sheave of the hoisting machine 7 is a device that rotates by the driving force generated by the motor of the hoisting machine 7.

[0015] The main ropes 8 are wound around the sheaves of the hoisting machine 7. The main ropes 8 support the load of a car 9 on one side of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 7. The main ropes 8 support the load of a counterweight 10 on the other side of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 7. The main ropes 8 move such that either side of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 7 is wound up by the rotation of the sheaves of the hoisting machine 7.

[0016] The car 9 is a device that transports users of the elevator 2 and the like between multiple floors by traveling up and down the hoistway 3. The car 9 travels up and down the hoistway 3 in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 8 caused by the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine 7. The car 9 is equipped with a car door 12. The car door 12 is a door that separates the inside and outside of the car 9. The car door 12 is a device that opens and closes in conjunction with the landing door 6 of a floor when the car 9 stops at that floor.

[0017] The counterweight 10 is a device that balances the load acting on both sides of the sheave of the hoisting machine 7 between the car 9 and the counterweight 10. The counterweight 10 travels in the hoistway 3 on the opposite side of the car 9 in the vertical direction in conjunction with the movement of the main rope 8 caused by the rotation of the sheave of the hoisting machine 7.

[0018] The control panel 11 is a device that controls the operation of the elevator 2. The control panel 11 is disposed, for example, at the upper or lower part of the hoistway 3. For example, when a machine room of the elevator 2 is provided above the hoistway 3, the control panel 11 may be disposed in the machine room. The operation of the elevator 2 controlled by the control panel 11 includes the running of the car 9 and the opening and closing of the car door 12. For example, the control panel 11 runs the car 9 between a plurality of floors so as to respond to a registered call. When the control panel 11 stops the car 9 at any floor, it links the landing door 6 to open the car door 12. The control panel 11 maintains the car door 12 and the landing door 6 in a fully open state for a preset door-opening time. After the door-opening time has elapsed since the car door 12 was fully opened, the control panel 11 links the landing door 6 to close the car door 12.

[0019] The elevator system 1 includes a remote monitoring device 13. The remote monitoring device 13 is a device used for remote monitoring of the state of the elevator 2. The remote monitoring device 13 is connected to the control panel 11 or the like so as to collect information on the state of the elevator 2. The remote monitoring device 13 collects, for example, information input to the control panel 11 and information output from the control panel 11 as information on the state of the elevator 2. The information collected by the remote monitoring device 13 is output to, for example, a central management device 15 or the like through a communication network 14 such as the Internet or a telephone line network. The central management device 15 is a device that collects, accumulates, or manages information on the state of the elevator 2. The central management device 15 is disposed in, for example, an information center. The information center is a base that collects and manages information on the state of the elevator 2. Here, the control panel 11 of the elevator 2 may receive a control signal for remote control from outside the elevator 2. The control signal for remote control is input to the control panel 11 through, for example, the remote monitoring device 13.

[0020] A user of the elevator 2 gets on from the landing 5 to the inside of the car 9 at the departure floor. Also, the user gets off from the inside of the car 9 to the landing 5 at the arrival floor. In this way, when getting on and off the car 9, the user passes between the landing 5 and the car 9. Between the landing 5 and the car 9, there is a gap so that the car 9 can move in the vertical direction. Here, when the user goes back and forth between the landing 5 and the car 9, the user may drop an item that he or she is carrying. The item may be smaller than the gap between the landing 5 and the car 9, such as a key. At this time, the item may fall into the hoistway 3 through the gap between the landing 5 and the car 9, and the user may lose the item. In this way, the item that becomes the lost item 16 may get on or get caught on a structure 17 in the hoistway 3 and remain at any position in the vertical direction in the hoistway 3 without falling to the pit 4. The structure 17 in the hoistway 3 includes, for example, a beam or a column, a housing or a cable of the equipment in the hoistway 3, or a support or an arm that supports the equipment in the hoistway 3. When the lost item 16 remains at a position in the hoistway 3, it may be difficult to find the lost item 16 if the position of the lost item 16 cannot be specified.

[0021] In this example, a user attaches a transmitter 18 to an item that has become a lost item 16 in order to find the item. The transmitter 18 is equipped with a function for emitting a wireless signal. The transmitter 18 is, for example, a wireless tag. The wireless signal emitted by the transmitter 18 is, for example, a wireless signal such as a short-distance wireless communication. The wireless signal is, for example, a signal by electromagnetic waves. The wireless signal is, for example, a wireless signal such as a wireless PAN (Personal Area Network) or UWB (Ultra Wide Band). The transmitter 18 emits a wireless signal including identification information for identifying the transmitter 18. The transmitter 18 may constantly emit a wireless signal, or may start emitting a wireless signal when the item to which the transmitter 18 is attached is lost.

[0022] For example, when an article with a transmitter 18 attached is lost in a passageway of a building, a mobile terminal carried by a passerby passing near the article may receive a wireless signal from the transmitter 18. At this time, the location of the article and the like are notified from the passerby's mobile terminal to a mobile terminal 19 carried by a user via communication network 14 and a server device connected to communication network 14. The mobile terminal 19 carried by the user is, for example, a portable general-purpose information processing terminal such as a smartphone.

[0023] On the other hand, when lost item 16 is found in hoistway 3, there is no pedestrian passing through hoistway 3, and therefore lost item 16 cannot be found by a portable terminal or the like carried by a pedestrian. In addition, it is difficult to receive a wireless signal from transmitter 18 attached to lost item 16 inside car 9 made of metal or the like, and lost item 16 cannot be found by a portable terminal or the like carried by a passenger riding in car 9. For this reason, when lost item 16 is found in hoistway 3, it is difficult to identify the location of lost item 16 by a portable terminal of a person passing nearby. For this reason, a recovery support system 20 is applied to elevator system 1.

[0024] The collection support system 20 is a system that supports the collection of lost item 16 in the hoistway 3 by a maintenance worker of the elevator 2 or the like. The collection support system 20 may be an external system of the elevator system 1, or an internal system included in the elevator system 1. In this example, the collection support system 20 includes a control panel 11 of the elevator 2. The transmitter 18 attached to the lost item 16 may be an external device of the collection support system 20, or may be an internal device.

[0025] The recovery support system 20 includes a receiver 21. The receiver 21 is attached to the outside of the car 9. In this example, the receiver 21 is attached to the underside of the car 9. The receiver 21 is attached to, for example, the bottom surface of the car 9. The receiver 21 moves up and down in the elevator 3 as the car 9 travels. The receiver 21 is equipped with a function for receiving a wireless signal transmitted by a transmitter 18 attached to the lost item 16. The receiver 21 continuously receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, for example, while the car 9 passes within the communication range of the wireless signal emitted by the transmitter 18. At this time, the receiver 21 may treat the reception period from when the receiver 21 starts receiving the wireless signal to when the receiver 21 stops receiving the wireless signal as one reception of the wireless signal.

[0026] The control panel 11 includes a call management unit 22, a travel control unit 23, an acquisition unit 24, a detection unit 25, a determination unit 26, and an alarm unit 27.

[0027] The call management unit 22 is a part that has a function of managing calls to which the car 9 responds. The calls to which the car 9 responds include, for example, hall calls corresponding to travel to a departure floor or the like of a user, and car calls corresponding to travel to a destination floor or the like of a user.

[0028] The travel control unit 23 is a part that has a function of controlling the travel of the car 9. The travel control unit 23 travels the car 9 in response to, for example, a call managed by the call management unit 22. The travel control unit 23 controls the travel of the car 9 based on the position information of the car 9. The travel control unit 23 controls the travel of the car 9 based on, for example, the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24. The position information of the car 9 is information that represents the vertical position of the car 9 in the elevator shaft 3. The position information of the car 9 is acquired, for example, based on the amount of rotation of the motor of the hoist 7. In the case where the elevator 2 is provided with a floor arrival detection device (not shown) that detects the floor on which the car 9 has arrived at any floor, the position information of the car 9 may be acquired, for example, using detection information from the floor arrival detection device.

[0029] In this example, the travel control unit 23 switches the operation mode to control the travel of the car 9. The operation modes include normal operation. The normal operation is a normal operation mode in which passengers and the like are transported between multiple floors. In normal operation, the travel control unit 23 travels the car 9 according to a speed pattern set according to, for example, the departure floor and the destination floor. The speed pattern is, for example, a pattern in which the car 9 departing from the departure floor is accelerated to a rated speed, the car 9 is made to travel at a constant speed at the rated speed, and then the car 9 is decelerated from the rated speed and stopped at the destination floor.

[0030] The acquisition unit 24 is a part equipped with a function of acquiring position information of the car 9. When the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, the acquisition unit 24 acquires the position information of the car 9 at that time. When the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, the acquisition unit 24 may acquire the position information of the car 9, for example, from the travel control unit 23, or may acquire the position information of the car 9 directly from the amount of rotation of the motor of the hoist 7. In addition, the acquisition unit 24 acquires information on the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the receiver 21 from the transmitter 18. The acquisition unit 24 acquires, for example, the signal strength information from the receiver 21. For example, when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, the acquisition unit 24 acquires the signal strength information in association with the position information of the car 9 acquired at that time.

[0031] The detection unit 25 is a part equipped with a function of detecting that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3 based on a wireless signal received by the receiver 21 from the transmitter 18 attached to the lost item 16 in the elevator 3. The detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3, for example, when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 multiple times. The detection unit 25 may compare the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24, for example, every time the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, and detect that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3 when the acquired multiple pieces of position information match within a preset error range. The error range is set, for example, to a degree that includes the communication range of the wireless signal emitted by the transmitter 18. The detection unit 25 determines that the multiple pieces of position information match within the error range, for example, when the difference between the highest value and the lowest value of the acquired multiple pieces of position information is smaller than the size of the error range. Alternatively, the detection unit 25 may, for example, read the identification information included in the wireless signal every time it receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18, and detect that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3 when the identification information included in each of the wireless signals received multiple times matches. The detection unit 25 may detect that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3 by combining the multiple conditions described above. Note that the detection unit 25 may detect that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3, for example, when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 once.

[0032] The determination unit 26 is a part that has a function of determining the vertical position of the lost item 16 in the elevator 3. For example, when the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3, the determination unit 26 determines the position of the lost item 16. For example, the determination unit 26 determines the position of the lost item 16 based on the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24. For example, the determination unit 26 determines the position of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 as the position of the lost item 16. Alternatively, the determination unit 26 may determine the position of the lost item 16 by adding a correction value based on the height of the car 9 or the installation position of the receiver 21 in the car 9 to the position of the car 9. When the detection unit 25 detects the lost item 16 based on multiple receptions of the wireless signal from the transmitter 18, the determination unit 26 may determine the position of the lost item 16 based on the average value of the positions of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 corresponding to each reception.

[0033] The notification unit 27 is a part that has a function of notifying the location of the lost item 16 determined by the determination unit 26. The notification unit 27 notifies the central management device 15 through the communication network 14, for example. Alternatively, the notification unit 27 may notify a maintenance terminal carried by a maintenance worker of the elevator 2 through the communication network 14, for example. The maintenance terminal is, for example, a portable general-purpose information processing terminal such as a smartphone. Furthermore, the notification unit 27 may notify the management room when a management room is provided in a building to which the elevator 2 is applied. The notification unit 27 may also notify the identification information included in the wireless signal from the transmitter 18. When there is a server device that notifies the mobile terminal 19 of the user who has lost the lost item 16 to which the transmitter 18 is attached based on the identification information, the notification unit 27 may notify the server device of the identification information. When information can be obtained to notify the mobile terminal 19 of a user who has lost the lost item 16 to which the transmitter 18 is attached based on the identification information, the notification unit 27 may notify the user's mobile terminal 19 of information such as the building to which the elevator 2 is applied.

[0034] In this example, the operation mode switched by the travel control unit 23 includes a search operation. The search operation is an operation mode for searching for a lost item 16 in the hoistway 3. For example, when the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3 during normal operation, the travel control unit 23 switches the operation mode to the search operation. The travel control unit 23 may suspend switching to the search operation while a hall call or a car call is registered for the car 9 by the call management unit 22. In the search operation, the travel control unit 23 causes the car 9 to travel from the start position to the end position of the search range. The start position of the search range is one of the upper and lower boundaries of the range. The end position of the search range is the other of the upper and lower boundaries of the range. The search range includes, for example, the position of the car 9 where the receiver 21 received a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 during normal operation. For example, when the receiver 21 receives a radio signal when the car 9 is located between floors during normal operation, the search range is the range between adjacent floors so as to include the position between the adjacent floors. At this time, the start position of the search range is the stop position of one of the adjacent floors. Also, the end position of the search range is the stop position of the other adjacent floor. Note that the search range is not limited to the range between adjacent floors. In the search operation, the travel control unit 23 makes the car 9 travel at a speed slower than that in the normal operation. The travel control unit 23 makes the car 9 travel at a speed slower than the rated speed, for example. Alternatively, the travel control unit 23 may make the car 9 travel according to a speed pattern in which the speed is reduced by multiplying the speed pattern in the normal operation by a preset coefficient, for example. Alternatively, when the receiver 21 receives a radio signal when the car 9 is located between floors during normal operation, the travel control unit 23 may perform a search operation so as to make the car 9 travel at a speed slower than the travel speed of the car 9 at that time.

[0035] In the collection support system 20, a plurality of receivers 21 may be attached to one car 9. For example, a receiver 21 may be attached to each of the bottom surface and the top surface of one car 9.

[0036] Furthermore, the collection support system 20 may be applied to an elevator system 1 including a plurality of cars 9. In this case, the receiver 21 may be attached to each car 9. Alternatively, when the hoistway 3 through which each car 9 runs is not separated by a wall or the like, the receiver 21 may not be attached to any of the cars 9. When the elevator system 1 includes a plurality of cars 9, the call management unit 22 may have a function of assigning calls such as hall calls to any of the cars 9. The call management unit 22 may be mounted, for example, on a group management device (not shown).

[0037] Some or all of the functions of the collection support system 20, such as the call management unit 22, the travel control unit 23, the acquisition unit 24, the detection unit 25, the determination unit 26, and the notification unit 27, may be mounted on other devices in the control panel 11. Some or all of these functions may be mounted on other devices including the remote monitoring device 13, the central management device 15, the group management device, or a server device outside the information center.

[0038] Next, an example of the operation of the collection support system 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the collection support system 20 according to the first embodiment. 2 is executed at a preset timing during normal operation, for example. The timing may be regular, or may be when a processing start signal is input to the remote monitoring device 13, for example.

[0039] In step S01, the detection unit 25 determines whether the receiver 21 has received a wireless signal. If the result of the determination is NO, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S01 again, for example, after a preset time has elapsed. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is YES, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S02.

[0040] In step S02, the detection unit 25 reads the identification information of the transmitter 18 contained in the wireless signal received by the receiver 21. After that, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S03.

[0041] In step S03, the acquisition unit 24 acquires the position information of the car 9 when the receiver 21 received the wireless signal in step S01. After that, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S04.

[0042] In step S04, the detection unit 25 determines whether the number of times the receiver 21 receives the wireless signal is equal to or greater than a preset threshold. The threshold is, for example, two times. If the result of the determination is NO, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S01. On the other hand, if the result of the determination is YES, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S05.

[0043] In step S05, the detection unit 25 judges whether the identification information of the transmitter 18 included in each of the wireless signals received a number of times equal to or greater than the threshold matches. If the judgment result is NO, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S01. On the other hand, if the judgment result is YES, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S06.

[0044] In step S06, the detection unit 25 compares the position information of the car 9 acquired in step S03 for each reception of a wireless signal equal to or greater than the threshold. The detection unit 25 determines whether the position information of the car 9 for each reception matches within the error range. If the determination result is NO, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S01. On the other hand, if the determination result is YES, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S07.

[0045] In step S07, the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is present in the elevator shaft 3. After that, the process of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S08.

[0046] In step S08, the travel control unit 23 performs a preparation process for the search operation. The preparation process for the search operation includes, for example, setting a search range and a low travel speed of the car 9 in the search operation. The search range is set, for example, to include the position of the car 9 acquired in step S03. The travel speed of the car 9 is set, for example, to a predetermined speed lower than the rated speed. Alternatively, the travel speed of the car 9 is set to a speed lower than the travel speed of the car 9 when the receiver 21 received the wireless signal in step S01. At this time, the car 9 is traveling, for example, at the rated speed. The travel speed of the car 9 may be acquired by the acquisition unit 24 from the travel control unit 23 or the like, or may be calculated based on the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 24. Thereafter, the processing of the recovery support system 20 proceeds to step S09.

[0047] In step S09, the travel control unit 23 determines whether a call has been registered in the car 9 by the call management unit 22. Calls to be determined include, for example, hall calls and car calls. If at least one call has been registered in the car 9, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S09 again, for example, after a preset time has elapsed. On the other hand, if no call has been registered in the car 9, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S10.

[0048] In step S10, the travel control unit 23 starts a search operation. The travel control unit 23 causes the car 9 to travel to the start position of the search range set in step S08. Thereafter, the travel control unit 23 causes the car 9 to travel to the end position of the search range set in step S08 at the low travel speed set in step S08. When the car 9 travels in the search range, while the receiver 21 is receiving a wireless signal, the acquisition unit 24 acquires the signal strength of the wireless signal in association with the position of the car 9. When the car 9 travels to the end position of the search range, the travel control unit 23 ends the search operation. At this time, the travel control unit 23 switches the operation mode to normal operation. Thereafter, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S11.

[0049] In step S11, the determination unit 26 calculates the position of the cage 9 at which the signal strength acquired by the acquisition unit 24 in step S10 is maximum. The determination unit 26 determines the position of the lost item 16 based on the calculated position of the cage 9. For example, the determination unit 26 determines the calculated position of the cage 9 as the position of the lost item 16. Alternatively, the determination unit 26 may determine the position of the lost item 16 by adding a correction value based on the height of the cage 9 or the installation position of the receiver 21 in the cage 9 to the calculated position of the cage 9. Thereafter, the processing of the collection support system 20 proceeds to step S12.

[0050] In step S12, the notification unit 27 notifies the location of the lost item 16 determined by the determination unit 26 in step S11 and the identification information of the transmitter 18 read in step S02. After that, the processing of the collection support system 20 ends.

[0051] A maintenance worker performing the operation of retrieving the lost item 16 obtains the information notified by the notification unit 27, for example, via a maintenance terminal. After arriving at the building to which the elevator 2 is applied, the maintenance worker switches the operation mode of the elevator 2 from normal operation to manual operation. Manual operation is an operation mode in which the maintenance worker manually operates the elevator during maintenance work, etc. After that, the maintenance worker starts the operation of retrieving the lost item 16. In the operation of retrieving the lost item 16, the maintenance worker searches for the lost item 16 in the hoistway 3 while operating the car 9 by manual operation, etc., near the position of the lost item 16 notified by the notification unit 27. After finding and retrieving the lost item 16, the maintenance worker restores the operation mode of the elevator 2 from manual operation to normal operation.

[0052] It should be noted that a search operation does not have to be performed in the recovery support system 20. At this time, the determination unit 26 determines the location of the lost item 16 based on the location of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 during normal operation, for example. The location information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 may be represented by the travel distance of the car 9 from the lowest floor or the top floor, or may be represented by floor information such as the floor number in a building.

[0053] As described above, the collection support system 20 according to the first embodiment includes the receiver 21, the detection unit 25, the acquisition unit 24, the determination unit 26, and the notification unit 27. The receiver 21 is attached to the outside of the car 9 traveling in the vertical direction in the elevator 3. The receiver 21 receives a wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter 18. The transmitter 18 is attached to the lost item 16 in the elevator 3. The transmitter 18 transmits a wireless signal when the user loses the lost item 16. The detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3 based on the wireless signal that the receiver 21 receives from the transmitter 18. The acquisition unit 24 acquires position information of the car 9 when the receiver 21 receives the wireless signal from the transmitter 18. The position information of the car 9 indicates the vertical position of the car 9 in the elevator 3. When the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3, the determination unit 26 determines the vertical position of the lost item 16 in the hoistway 3 based on the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24. The notification unit 27 notifies the position of the lost item 16 determined by the determination unit 26. Moreover, the collection support method according to the first embodiment includes a receiving step, a detecting step, an acquiring step, a judging step, and a notifying step. The receiving step is a step in which the receiver 21 receives a radio signal transmitted by the transmitter 18 attached to the lost item 16 in the hoistway 3. The detecting step is a step in which the receiver 21 detects that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3 based on the radio signal received from the transmitter 18. The acquiring step is a step in which the receiver 21 acquires position information of the car 9 when receiving the radio signal from the transmitter 18. The judging step is a step in which, when the detection step detects that the lost item 16 is in the hoistway 3, the vertical position of the lost item 16 in the hoistway 3 is determined based on the position information of the car 9 acquired in the acquiring step. The notifying step is a step in which the position of the lost item 16 determined in the judging step is notified.

[0054] With this configuration, the lost item 16 in the elevator shaft 3 of the elevator 2 is detected based on the wireless signal, and its location is reported. If the location of the lost item 16 is not reported, the maintenance staff must search the entire area below the floor where the user testifies that the lost item 16 was lost. Also, if the floor where the user lost the lost item 16 is unclear, the maintenance staff may search the entire area of ​​the elevator shaft 3. Since the location of the lost item 16 is reported in the recovery support system 20, the search area can be narrowed down, making it easier to recover the lost item 16. As a result, the recovery work for the lost item 16 can be performed quickly, and the downtime during which the elevator 2 cannot be used during the recovery work can be shortened. This further increases the operating rate of the elevator 2.

[0055] Furthermore, the detector 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator shaft 3 when the receiver 21 receives the wireless signal from the transmitter 18 multiple times.

[0056] This configuration suppresses false detection of lost item 16, thereby improving the reliability of the information reported by notification unit 27. For example, when transmitter 18 attached to an item carried by a user at platform 5 transmits a wireless signal, false detection of lost item 16 due to reception of the wireless signal is suppressed.

[0057] In addition, the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator shaft 3 when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 multiple times and the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 for each reception of the wireless signal matches within a predetermined error range.

[0058] This configuration suppresses false detection of the lost item 16, thereby improving the reliability of the information reported by the notification unit 27. For example, even if a wireless signal is accidentally received due to an environmental change such as a propagation condition of the wireless signal due to an obstruction or a reflector, false detection of the lost item 16 due to such reception of the wireless signal is suppressed.

[0059] Moreover, the transmitter 18 transmits a wireless signal including its own identification information. In this case, the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator shaft 3 when the receiver 21 receives a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 multiple times and the identification information included in each of the received wireless signals matches.

[0060] With this configuration, false detection of lost item 16 and the like is suppressed, and the reliability of the information reported by notification unit 27 is further improved. For example, when transmitter 18 attached to an item carried by a user at platform 5 transmits a wireless signal, false detection of lost item 16 due to reception of the wireless signal and the like is suppressed. In particular, even when multiple users carrying items with transmitters 18 attached sequentially arrive at platform 5 during times of congestion, false detection of lost item 16 due to wireless signals emitted by these transmitters 18 and the like is suppressed.

[0061] The recovery support system 20 also includes a travel control unit 23. When the detection unit 25 detects that the lost item 16 is in the elevator 3 based on the wireless signal received by the receiver 21 from the transmitter 18, the travel control unit 23 performs a search operation to make the car 9 travel in a search range at a low speed. The search range includes the position of the car 9 when the receiver 21 receives the wireless signal. The travel speed of the car 9 in the search operation is lower than the travel speed when the receiver 21 receives the wireless signal. The determination unit 26 determines the vertical position of the lost item 16 in the elevator 3 based on the position information of the car 9 acquired by the acquisition unit 24 during the search operation. The determination unit 26 may determine, for example, the midpoint between the position where the receiver 21 starts receiving the wireless signal and the position where the receiver 21 ends receiving the wireless signal during the search operation as the position of the lost item 16.

[0062] With this configuration, the location of the lost item 16 can be determined more accurately. Furthermore, by narrowing the search range, the time spent operating at low speed during the search operation can be shortened. This reduces the load on the motor of the hoist 7 or on circuits such as the inverter that supplies AC power to the motor.

[0063] During the search operation, the acquisition unit 24 acquires information on the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the receiver 21 in association with the vertical position of the car 9 in the elevator shaft 3. The determination unit 26 uses the signal strength information acquired by the acquisition unit 24 in determining the vertical position of the lost item 16 in the elevator shaft 3.

[0064] Such a configuration allows the location of the lost item 16 to be more accurately determined based on the signal strength of the wireless signal.

[0065] In addition, the travel control unit 23 suspends the search operation while the call is registered in the car 9.

[0066] With this configuration, the search operation is performed while users are not using the elevator 2. Therefore, the convenience of users is not likely to be reduced by the search operation.

[0067] In addition, the receiver 21 is attached to the underside of the car 9 .

[0068] With this configuration, the receiver 21 can easily receive a wireless signal from below the car 9. Since the lost item 16 falls below the car 9 in the elevator 3, the receiver 21 can easily receive a wireless signal from the transmitter 18 attached to the lost item 16.

[0069] Next, an example of the hardware configuration of the collection support system 20 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the main part of the collection support system 20 according to the first embodiment.

[0070] Each function of the processing in the collection support system 20 may be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit includes at least one processor 100a and at least one memory 100b. The processing circuit may include at least one dedicated hardware 200 together with the processor 100a and the memory 100b or in place of them.

[0071] When the processing circuit includes the processor 100a and the memory 100b, each function of the collection support system 20 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a realizes each function of the collection support system 20 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 100b.

[0072] The processor 100a is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 100b is composed of a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

[0073] Where the processing circuitry comprises dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuitry may be implemented, for example, as a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0074] Each processing function in the collection support system 20 can be realized by a processing circuit. Alternatively, each function of the collection support system 20 can be realized collectively by a processing circuit. Some of the functions of the collection support system 20 may be realized by dedicated hardware 200, and the other parts may be realized by software or firmware. In this way, the processing circuit realizes each function of the collection support system 20 by the dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination of these. [Industrial Applicability]

[0075] The lost item recovery support system and method disclosed herein can be applied to elevator systems. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 elevator system, 2 elevator, 3 hoistway, 4 pit, 5 landing, 6 landing door, 7 hoist, 8 main rope, 9 cage, 10 counterweight, 11 control panel, 12 cage door, 13 remote monitoring device, 14 communication network, 15 central management device, 16 lost property, 17 structure, 18 transmitter, 19 mobile terminal, 20 recovery support system, 21 receiver, 22 call management unit, 23 travel control unit, 24 acquisition unit, 25 detection unit, 26 judgment unit, 27 notification unit, 100a processor, 100b memory, 200 dedicated hardware

Claims

1. a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in a hoistway and receiving a radio signal transmitted from a transmitter attached to a lost object in the hoistway; a detection unit that detects that the lost item is in the elevator based on the wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter; an acquisition unit that acquires position information representing a vertical position of the car in the elevator shaft when the receiver receives the wireless signal from the transmitter; a determination unit that determines a vertical position of the lost item in the elevator shaft based on position information of the car acquired by the acquisition unit when the detection unit detects that the lost item is in the elevator shaft; a notification unit that notifies the location of the lost item determined by the determination unit; The system includes a function for supporting the recovery of lost items in an elevator.

2. The detection unit detects that the lost item is in the elevator when the receiver receives a wireless signal from the transmitter a plurality of times. The system for assisting in retrieving lost property in an elevator according to claim 1.

3. the detection unit detects that the lost item is in the elevator shaft when the receiver receives a wireless signal from the transmitter a plurality of times and when the position information of the car acquired by the acquisition unit for each of the plurality of receptions of the wireless signal coincides within a predetermined error range; The system for assisting in retrieving lost property in an elevator according to claim 1.

4. When the transmitter transmits a radio signal including its own identification information, the detection unit detects that the lost item is in the elevator shaft when the receiver receives a wireless signal from the transmitter a plurality of times and when identification information included in each of the wireless signals received a plurality of times matches with each other. The system for assisting in retrieving lost property in an elevator according to claim 1.

5. a travel control unit that performs a search operation in which, when the detection unit detects that the lost item is in the elevator based on the wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter, the vehicle travels through a search range including the position of the car when the receiver received the wireless signal at a speed lower than the travel speed when the receiver received the wireless signal. Equipped with The determination unit determines a vertical position of the lost item in the elevator shaft based on position information of the car acquired by the acquisition unit during the search operation. The elevator lost property recovery support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The acquisition unit acquires, during the search operation, information on the signal strength of the wireless signal received by the receiver in association with a vertical position of the car in the elevator shaft, The determination unit uses information on signal strength acquired by the acquisition unit in determining the vertical position of the lost item in the elevator shaft. The system for assisting in retrieving lost property in an elevator according to claim 5.

7. The travel control unit suspends the search operation while a call is registered in the car. The system for assisting in retrieving lost property in an elevator according to claim 5.

8. The receiver is mounted on the underside of the car. The elevator lost property recovery support system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. A transmitter attached to an item carried by a user, the transmitter transmitting a wireless signal when the user loses the item; a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in a hoistway and configured to receive a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter located within the hoistway; a detection unit that detects that the article is in the elevator based on the wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter; an acquisition unit that acquires position information representing a vertical position of the car in the elevator shaft when the receiver receives the wireless signal from the transmitter; a determination unit that determines a vertical position of the article in the elevator shaft based on position information of the car acquired by the acquisition unit when the detection unit detects that the article is in the elevator shaft; a notification unit that notifies the position of the object determined by the determination unit; The system includes a function for supporting the recovery of lost items in an elevator.

10. a receiving step of receiving a wireless signal transmitted by a transmitter attached to a lost object in the elevator by a receiver attached to the outside of a car traveling vertically in the elevator; a detection step of detecting that the lost item is in the elevator based on the wireless signal received by the receiver from the transmitter; an acquiring step of acquiring position information representing a vertical position of the car in the elevator shaft when the receiver receives the wireless signal from the transmitter; a determination step of determining a vertical position of the lost object in the elevator shaft based on the car position information acquired in the acquisition step when the lost object is detected in the detection step to be in the elevator shaft; a notification step of notifying the location of the lost item determined in the determination step; The method for assisting in the recovery of lost items in an elevator comprises:

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