Elevator Control System

Abstract

To provide an elevator control system that improves safety for entry to a hoistway through a landing door opened by opening to the outside.SOLUTION: A safety belt attaching part to which a safety belt is attached is provided at a landing of an elevator. An elevator control system prohibits opening to the outside that opens a landing door of the elevator from the landing side if the safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attaching part, and allows opening to the outside if the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attaching part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to elevator control, and more particularly to controlling the external opening of landing doors. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, when inspecting the inside of an elevator shaft, an operator opens the landing door from the outside (the landing side), which is called external opening. External opening typically involves inserting a key into a specific keyhole from the landing side to unlock the landing door and manually opening it. When the landing door is opened by external opening, the operator enters the elevator shaft through the landing door.

[0003] A known technology for preventing falls into the elevator shaft is disclosed in Patent Document 1. According to Patent Document 1, a worker enters the pit with the safety belt hook fixed to a hook fitting provided at the hall landing (jamb). With this technology, the worker is wearing the safety belt when entering the pit, which is expected to prevent accidents of falling into the elevator shaft pit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-50047 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 does not take into consideration the possibility that when the landing door is opened by external exposure, the car position may be set incorrectly (for example, the car may be stopped at a floor above the floor where the landing is located) or the worker may become unstable.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to improve safety when entering a hoistway through a landing door that has been opened to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve such problems, in the present invention, a safety belt attachment part to which a safety belt is attached is provided at an elevator landing. When a safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attachment part, the elevator control system prohibits the external opening, which is the opening of the elevator landing door from the landing side, and permits the external opening when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment part. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve safety when entering a hoistway through a landing door that has been opened to the outside. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an elevator control system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of all floors of a building including an elevator control system. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an elevator control system according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of all floors of a building including an elevator control system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8A] FIG. 13 is a view showing a safety belt attachment part according to a fourth embodiment (before a safety belt hook is attached). [Figure 8B]FIG. 13 is a view showing a safety belt attachment part (after a safety belt hook is attached) according to a fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In the following description, an "interface apparatus" may refer to one or more communication interface devices. The one or more communication interface devices may be one or more homogeneous communication interface devices or two or more heterogeneous communication interface devices.

[0011] In the following description, a "memory" refers to one or more memory devices, typically a primary storage device. At least one of the memory devices in the memory may be a volatile memory device or a non-volatile memory device.

[0012] In the following description, a "persistent storage device" may be one or more persistent storage devices, which are an example of one or more persistent storage devices. A persistent storage device may typically be a non-volatile storage device (e.g., an auxiliary storage device), and more specifically, may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a non-volatile memory express (NVME) drive, or a storage class memory (SCM).

[0013] Also, in the following description, "storage device" may be at least one of memory and persistent storage device.

[0014] Furthermore, in the following description, a "processor" may be one or more processor devices. The at least one processor device may typically be a microprocessor device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but may also be other types of processor devices such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The at least one processor device may be a single-core or multi-core. The at least one processor device may be a processor core. The at least one processor device may also be a broader processor device such as a circuit that is a collection of gate arrays written in a hardware description language that performs part or all of the processing (e.g., an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)).

[0015] In the following description, functions may be described using the expression "yyy unit", but the functions may be realized by one or more computer programs being executed by a processor, or by one or more hardware circuits (e.g., FPGA or ASIC), or by a combination thereof. When a function is realized by a program being executed by a processor, the function may be at least a part of the processor, since the specified processing is performed using a storage device and / or an interface device, etc., as appropriate. Processing described with a function as the subject may be processing performed by a processor or a device having the processor. A program may be installed from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution computer or a storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory storage medium) that can be read by a computer. The description of each function is an example, and multiple functions may be combined into one function, or one function may be divided into multiple functions.

[0016] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [First embodiment]

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an elevator control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] The elevator control system according to this embodiment includes a safety belt attachment unit 7 and an external opening control unit 9.

[0019] The safety belt attachment part 7 is a member to which a safety belt is attached, and is provided at an elevator landing. Specifically, for example, a landing indicator box 2 provided at the landing is provided with an openable and closable box cover 3 in addition to a button for calling an elevator car. When the box cover 3 is opened, the safety belt attachment part 7 to which a safety belt (in this embodiment, a safety belt hook 4, which is an example of an attachment member provided on a lifeline 5 of the safety belt) is attached can be seen. That is, the safety belt attachment part 7 is provided inside the landing indicator box 2.

[0020] The external opening control section 9 prohibits external opening when the safety belt hook 4 is not attached to the safety belt attachment section 7. Specifically, for example, a landing is provided with a keyhole 10 into which a key is inserted for external opening, and a keyhole cover 11 for opening and closing the keyhole 10. In this embodiment, "prohibition of external opening" may mean maintaining the keyhole cover 11 so as not to open (maintaining the keyhole cover 11 in a closed state (the keyhole cover 11 in a locked state)).

[0021] The external opening control unit 9 permits external opening when the safety belt hook 4 is attached to the safety belt attachment part 7. In this embodiment, "permission of external opening" may mean unlocking the keyhole cover 11 and automatically opening the keyhole cover 11 (or unlocking the keyhole cover 11 so that it can be opened manually).

[0022] With the above configuration, the safety of entering the elevator shaft through the landing door opened by the external opening is improved. The external opening control unit 9 may be a device including an interface device, a storage device, and a processor, or may be a function realized by the device.

[0023] The elevator control system further includes a detection unit that detects a safety belt (in this embodiment, the safety belt hook 4). "When the safety belt hook 4 is not attached to the safety belt attachment part 7" means that the safety belt hook 4 is not detected by the detection unit. "When the safety belt hook 4 is attached to the safety belt attachment part 7" means that the safety belt hook 4 is detected by the detection unit. This makes it possible to control whether or not to permit external release depending on whether or not it is detected that the safety belt hook 4 is attached to the safety belt attachment part 7.

[0024] In this embodiment, the detection unit is an attachment short-distance sensor 8 (an example of a second communication unit) which is a short-distance sensor on the side of the safety belt attachment unit 7. That is, the attachment short-distance sensor 8 detects the safety belt hook 4 by performing short-distance wireless communication with a hook short-distance sensor 6 (a short-distance sensor on the side of the safety belt hook 4, an example of a first communication unit) which is a short-distance sensor provided on the safety belt hook 4. The short-distance sensor here may be a sensor authenticated by a communication technology using a short-distance wireless communication standard such as NFC or FeliCa (registered trademark). The detection of the safety belt hook 4 (detection that the safety belt hook 4 has been attached) may be the result of communication being performed as a result of the sensors approaching each other. Alternatively, the detection of the safety belt hook 4 (detection that the safety belt hook 4 has been attached) may be the result of infrared transmission and reception between an infrared transmitter (an example of the hook short-distance sensor 6) and a receiver (an example of the attachment short-distance sensor 8).

[0025] In addition, the detection of the safety belt hook 4 is notified to the external opening control unit 9 by an electric contact signal or electronic data. When the external opening control unit 9 receives such a signal or data, it unlocks the keyhole cover 11 that locks the keyhole 10.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of all floors of a building including an elevator control system.

[0027] Each floor is provided with a safety belt attachment part 7 and an attachment part short distance sensor 8. The external opening control part 9 is common to a plurality of floors, but may be provided for each floor.

[0028] The building 102 can be roughly divided into a building landing side 103 and an elevator shaft inside 104. The elevator shaft inside 104 includes a car 105, a pit 106, and an elevator control panel 108.

[0029] After the landing door 1 is opened to the outside, typically, the worker gets on top of the car 105 if he / she enters the elevator shaft 104 from the landing door 1b or 1c other than the lowest floor, and enters the pit 106 in the elevator shaft 104 if he / she enters the elevator shaft 104 from the landing door 1a of the lowest floor.

[0030] In addition, an on-car stop switch 107 is provided on the car 105. The on-car stop switch 107 is an example of an ascent / descent stop unit that is turned on to stop the ascent / descent of the car. When boarding the car 105, a worker turns on the on-car stop switch 107 before boarding the car 105 in order to confirm that the car 105 is in a position suitable for boarding or is lower than the boarding floor so as not to fall. Then, an input signal of the on-car stop switch 107 is input to the elevator control panel 108. In response to the input signal, the elevator control panel 108 notifies the external release control unit 9 of the on-car stop switch 107. The external release control unit 9 issues an alert via the elevator control panel 108 based on the removal of the safety belt hook 4 and the no-notification state of the on-car stop switch 107, specifically, controls the operation of an alarm device 109 that warns against the removal of the safety belt, for example.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the first embodiment.

[0032] A worker who intends to open the landing door 1 of a certain floor (the "target floor" in the explanation of FIG. 3) to the outside unlocks the box cover 3 of the target floor (step S1) and attaches the safety belt hook 4 to the safety belt attachment part 7 (step S2). At this time, it is desirable to protect the contact part of the safety belt hook 4 with a rag or the like in order to prevent damage due to wear of the safety belt hook 4 to the landing indicator box 2.

[0033] The external opening control unit 9 is connected to the attachment unit short-distance sensor 8. When the external opening control unit 9 receives a signal (including, for example, a number representing a target floor) output from the attachment unit short-distance sensor 8 during communication (transmission and reception) between the hook short-distance sensor 6 and the attachment unit short-distance sensor 8, the external opening control unit 9 determines that the safety belt hook 4 has been attached to the safety belt attachment unit 7 (step S3: YES). In this case, the external opening control unit 9 unlocks the keyhole cover 11 of the target floor (step S4). Note that, when the attachment of the safety belt hook 4 cannot be detected for the target floor (step S3: NO), the external opening control unit 9 does not unlock the keyhole cover 11 of the target floor until the attachment of the safety belt hook 4 for the target floor can be detected.

[0034] After the worker inserts the key into the keyhole 10 to unlock the door, the landing door 1 is manually opened (step S5). When the landing door 1 of the target floor is opened, a signal representing the opening of the landing door 1 of the target floor is input to the external opening control unit 9. In this case, the external opening control unit 9 determines whether the target floor is the lowest floor or not (step S6).

[0035] If the target floor is other than the lowest floor (step S6: NO), the external opening control unit 9 may instruct the worker to turn on the car top stop switch 107. Regardless of whether or not such an instruction is given, if the position of the car 105 is suitable for boarding, the worker turns on the car top stop switch 107 (step S7). A signal indicating that the car top stop switch 107 has been turned on is notified to the external opening control unit 9 via the elevator control panel 108. As a result, the external opening control unit 9 detects that the car top stop switch 107 has been turned on (step S8).

[0036] If the on-car stop switch 107 is not detected (step 8: NO), in other words, from the time when the opening of the landing door 1 is detected in step S5 until the on-car stop switch 107 is detected, the external opening control unit 9 prompts the on-car stop switch 107 to be turned on by the alarm device 109, and / or keeps the mechanism that locks the safety belt hook 4 to the safety belt attachment part 7 locked so that the safety belt hook 4 cannot be removed (step S9). This makes it possible to prevent a worker from removing the safety belt hook 4 and entering the elevator shaft 104 even when the position of the car 105 is not suitable for boarding.

[0037] After step S7, the worker removes the safety belt hook 4 from the safety belt attachment part 7 (step S10), and gets on top of the car 5 (step S11).

[0038] If the target floor is the lowest floor (step S6: YES), the worker turns on the pit switch (a designated switch provided in the pit) (step S12), removes the safety belt hook 4 from the safety belt attachment part 7 (step S13), and enters the pit (step S14). When turning on the pit switch, it is possible that the lifeline 5 cannot be reached due to the length limit of the building, so the pit switch may be turned on (step S12) after removing the safety belt hook 4 (step S13). [Second embodiment]

[0039] The second embodiment will be described. In this regard, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described, and descriptions of commonalities with the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified (this also applies to the third and fourth embodiments).

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an elevator control system according to the second embodiment.

[0041] The outside opening control unit 9 identifies the worker who will perform the maintenance work and / or the start time of the maintenance work. In addition to detecting that the safety belt hook 4 has been attached to the safety belt attachment part 7, the outside opening control unit 9 permits outside opening when the identified worker and / or start time match the work information 112 that indicates the worker and / or the time period for the scheduled maintenance work. This makes it possible to prevent unscheduled outside opening, such as outside opening by an outsider (a person other than the worker) or outside opening at an unscheduled time.

[0042] The second embodiment will now be described in detail.

[0043] In the embodiment described above, anyone can release the safety belt to the outside at any time as long as they have a hook short-distance sensor 6 capable of detecting the attachment of the safety belt hook 4.

[0044] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the door from being opened to the outside by an unscheduled worker or at an unscheduled time.

[0045] Specifically, in the elevator control system, the external opening control unit 9 refers to work information 112. The work information 112 is stored in a storage device inside or outside the external opening control unit 9. The work information 112 indicates a worker scheduled to perform maintenance work (for example, the ID of the worker or the authentication ID of the hook short-distance sensor 6 held by the worker) or a time period.

[0046] The external release control unit 9 permits external release, for example, when the work information 112 contains information representing a worker corresponding to the authentication ID of the hook close-range sensor 6, and / or when the work information 112 contains information representing the time period corresponding to the time when the safety belt hook 4 was detected (an example of the time considered to be the start time of work).

[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the second embodiment.

[0048] When a worker attaches the safety belt hook 4 (steps S1 to S3), an authentication ID (an example of a worker ID) obtained from the hook short-distance sensor 6 is notified to the external opening control unit 9 together with the detection result of the safety belt hook 4. The external opening control unit 9 determines whether information on the worker corresponding to the authentication ID is present in the work information 112 (step S21).

[0049] If the determination result in step S21 is true (step S21: YES), the outside opening control unit 9 permits the outside opening. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, riding on the car and entering the pit are possible (steps S4 to S14).

[0050] If the judgment result of step S21 is false (step S21: NO), taking into consideration that the worker is an external cooperating company, the external opening control unit 9 judges whether the work schedule represented by the work information 112 matches the current date and time (for example, the date and time of detection of the safety belt hook 4) (step S22).

[0051] When the determination result in step S22 is true (step S22: YES), the outside opening control unit 9 permits outside opening since it is considered that the person is a related party even if he / she is not a registered worker.

[0052] If the determination result in step S22 is false (step S22: NO), the outside opening control unit 9 maintains the locked state by the keyhole cover 11 (step S23). [Third embodiment]

[0053] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of all floors of a building including an elevator control system according to the third embodiment.

[0054] There is a first floor having a first landing where a safety belt attachment is provided, and a second floor having a second landing where no safety belt attachment is provided.

[0055] The external opening control unit permits external opening for the second landing when an elevator failure is detected and the elevator car is stopped at the floor of the second landing.

[0056] This eliminates the need to install safety belt attachment points 7 at all landings on all floors, and is expected to reduce the number of parts overall. Furthermore, for landings (floors) that do not have a safety belt attachment point 7, opening to the outside is permitted only in the event of a specified elevator malfunction, so improved safety can be expected when opening to the outside even for landings that do not have a safety belt attachment point 7.

[0057] The third embodiment will now be described in detail.

[0058] In the embodiment described above, all floors of the building 102 are provided with safety belt attachment points. However, if a floor on which no work is performed on the car is specified, the keyhole cover 11 on that floor may be kept locked at all times. In that case, however, in the event of a specific elevator malfunction (when a malfunction that qualifies as an emergency occurs), it may be necessary to open the landing door 1 to the outside.

[0059] Therefore, the keyhole cover 11 is unlocked only in the event of a specific elevator malfunction (in other words, an emergency).

[0060] Specifically, by having landings (floors) without safety belt attachment points, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, but on the other hand, it is necessary to unlock the keyhole cover 11 when a certain malfunction occurs (in an emergency).

[0061] For example, a monitoring unit 121 connected to the elevator control panel 108 is provided inside the elevator shaft 104. The monitoring unit 121 monitors the state of the elevator, and when it detects an elevator malfunction, it notifies the external opening control unit 9 of malfunction information indicating the detected malfunction.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the third embodiment.

[0063] When the floor to be opened to the outside is a floor having a safety belt fastening part (step S31: YES), the outside opening control unit 9 carries out steps S1 to S14.

[0064] On the other hand, if the floor to be opened to the outside is a floor without a safety belt attachment part (step S31: NO) and the malfunction detected by the monitoring unit 121 is a predetermined malfunction (step S32: YES), the outside opening control unit 9 unlocks the keyhole cover 11. This allows workers or emergency personnel to open the landing door 1 to the outside, and work on the car or in the pit can be performed (step S33).

[0065] For floors that do not have a safety belt attachment point, the external opening control unit 9 continues to lock the keyhole cover 11 in order to prevent unnecessary external opening of the landing door 1 until a specified malfunction occurs (step S34). [Fourth embodiment]

[0066] Fig. 8A is a diagram showing the safety belt attachment part according to the fourth embodiment (before the safety belt hook is attached) and Fig. 8B is a diagram showing the safety belt attachment part according to the fourth embodiment (after the safety belt hook is attached).

[0067] A safety belt mounting bracket-attached switch 132 is provided inside the landing indicator box 131. The safety belt mounting bracket-attached switch 132 is a specific example of a safety belt mounting portion according to the fourth embodiment.

[0068] When the safety belt hook 4 is attached to the switch 132 with the safety belt attachment bracket, the switch 132 with the safety belt attachment bracket is turned ON by the weight of the safety belt hook 4 (specifically, the attachment bracket is lowered by the weight of the safety belt hook 4) as shown in Figures 8A and 8B. When the ON signal of the switch 132 is input to the external opening control unit 9, the external opening control unit 9 detects that the safety belt hook 4 has been attached.

[0069] Although several embodiments have been described above, these are merely examples for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms. That is, it is possible to replace a certain component with another component, or to add another component to a certain component.

[0070] For example, the external opening control unit 9 and the monitoring unit 121 may be the same device.

[0071] Also, for example, the monitoring unit 121 may have a remote monitoring function and be remotely connected to a monitoring center, with the work information 112 being stored in the monitoring center.

[0072] Also, for example, the number of floors is not limited to three.

[0073] Also, for example, the external opening control section 9 may be a connection member (for example, a wire) that physically connects the safety belt attachment part having a mechanical switch whose position changes depending on the weight of the safety belt hook 4 when it is attached, and the keyhole cover 11. In this case, when the position of the switch changes as a result of the safety belt hook 4 being attached to the safety belt attachment part, the connection member may be pulled by the change in position of the switch, thereby unlocking the keyhole cover 11. In other words, when the safety belt hook 4 is attached to the safety belt attachment part, external opening may be mechanically permitted (the keyhole cover 11 may be unlocked). [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 landing door, 4 safety belt hook, 7 safety belt attachment part, 9 external opening control part

Claims

1. A safety belt attachment part provided at an elevator landing which is a member to which a safety belt is attached; an external opening control unit that prohibits an external opening, which is opening the landing door of the elevator from the landing side, when the safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attachment unit, and permits the external opening when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment unit; Equipped with The external opening control unit is Identifying the person performing the maintenance work and / or the start time of the maintenance work; permitting the release to the outside when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment part and when the identified worker and / or start time match work information that represents a worker and / or a time period for scheduled maintenance work; Elevator control system.

2. A safety belt attachment part provided at an elevator landing which is a member to which a safety belt is attached; an external opening control unit that prohibits an external opening, which is opening the landing door of the elevator from the landing side, when the safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attachment unit, and permits the external opening when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment unit; Equipped with A lift stopper that is inserted to stop the lifting or lowering of the elevator car is provided on the car, The external release control unit issues an alert to not remove the safety belt from the safety belt attachment unit during the period from when the external release is permitted until when the lift stop unit is turned on, and / or maintains the state in which the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment unit. Elevator control system.

3. A safety belt attachment part provided at an elevator landing which is a member to which a safety belt is attached; an external opening control unit that prohibits an external opening, which is opening the landing door of the elevator from the landing side, when the safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attachment unit, and permits the external opening when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment unit; Equipped with a first floor having a first landing where the safety belt attachment part is provided, and a second floor having a second landing where the safety belt attachment part is not provided, The external opening control unit permits the external opening of the second hall when a predetermined malfunction of the elevator is detected. Elevator control system.

4. Further comprising a detection unit for detecting the safety belt, When the safety belt is not attached to the safety belt attachment part, the safety belt is not detected by the detection part. The case where the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment part is the case where the safety belt is detected by the detection part. An elevator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The detection unit is a second communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with a first communication unit provided on the safety belt, or a switch that is turned on when the safety belt is attached to the safety belt attachment part, The case where the safety belt is not detected by the detection unit refers to a case where the detection unit is not performing short-distance wireless communication with the safety belt or a case where the switch is not turned on. The case where the safety belt is detected by the detection unit refers to a case where the detection unit is performing short-distance wireless communication with the safety belt or a case where the switch is in an on state.

5. The elevator control system of claim 4.

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