Elevator Equipment

Abstract

An elevator device (1) comprises a first beacon (11) installed in a landing (4), a second beacon (13) installed in a pit (10), a portable terminal (12) that can receive radio waves from the first beacon (11) and the second beacon (13), and a control device (9) that controls raising and lowering of an elevator car (7). The control device (9) restricts raising and lowering of the car (7) when the control device (9) has determined, from the radio wave intensity of the first beacon (11) and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon (13) in the portable terminal (12), that the portable terminal (12) is closer to the second beacon (13) than to the first beacon (11).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus that detects the position of a maintenance and inspection worker. [Background technology]

[0002] During elevator maintenance and inspection, the elevator car operation is switched to maintenance mode and the car is operated manually. During maintenance and inspection, work may be performed by descending into the pit of the elevator shaft, and during inspection work in the pit, it is necessary to restrict the up and down of the car (prohibit the car from operating).

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an elevator device that has a sensor attached to the end of the landing threshold on the lowest floor and restricts the ascent and descent of the car when it detects that the landing door has moved from the fully closed position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. WO2021 / 075048 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The elevator device in Patent Document 1 does not detect the presence of a worker in the pit, so if the restriction on the ascent and descent of the car is released when a worker is in the pit, it cannot detect the worker in the pit again. Therefore, it is necessary to detect the presence of a worker in the pit and more reliably restrict the ascent and descent of the car.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator device that can detect workers in a pit and more reliably restrict the ascent and descent of the car. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The elevator device of the present invention includes a first beacon installed at a landing, a second beacon installed in a pit, a mobile terminal capable of receiving radio waves from the first beacon and the second beacon, and a control device that controls the ascent and descent of an elevator car. The control device is characterized in that it restricts the ascent and descent of the car when it determines that the mobile terminal is closer to the second beacon than to the first beacon based on the radio wave strength of the first beacon and the radio wave strength of the second beacon at the mobile terminal.

[0008] Furthermore, the elevator control device of the present invention may be configured to restrict the ascent and descent of the car even when the difference between the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon is within a predetermined value.

[0009] Furthermore, the elevator device of the present invention may have a means for detecting the opening and closing of the hall door, and the control device may be configured to restrict the ascent and descent of the car when the hall door is open, regardless of the radio wave strength of the first beacon and the radio wave strength of the second beacon in the mobile terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The elevator device of the present invention can more reliably restrict the ascent and descent of the car by detecting workers in the pit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of an elevator apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the elevator apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which an operator is present at a landing. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the elevator device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when a worker is in a pit. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the elevator apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing the state when the hall door is open and an operator is present at the hall. [Diagram 5]13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of an elevator apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing the state when the landing door is open and an operator is in the pit. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, specific shapes, directions, values, etc. are examples for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and can be appropriately changed according to the application, purpose, specifications, etc. In addition, it is assumed from the beginning that the components of the embodiment and modified examples described below can be selectively combined.

[0013] First Embodiment Fig. 1 shows an external view of an elevator apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The elevator apparatus 1 includes a hoistway 2, a machine room 3 provided above the top floor of the hoistway 2, a hoist 5 and a control device 9 installed in the machine room 3, and a car 7 suspended from the hoist 5 via a main rope 6 and ascending and descending in the hoistway 2. The elevator apparatus 1 further includes a landing 4 and a landing door 8 on each floor. A landing operating panel 14 for calling the car 7 is installed on the landing 4. Although Fig. 1 shows the landing operating panel 14 only on the landing 4 on the lowest floor, the landings 4 on each floor are also equipped with a landing operating panel 14.

[0014] The control device 9 controls the operation, stopping, etc. of the car 7 of the elevator device 1. The control device 9 controls the raising and lowering of the car 7 by switching between normal operation of the car 7 (referred to as a normal mode) and operation of the car 7 during maintenance and inspection (referred to as a maintenance mode). The control device 9 is configured to switch the operation of the car 7 to the maintenance mode, for example, in response to the operation of a maintenance controller (not shown) by an operator. The control device 9 may also be configured to switch the operation of the car 7 to the maintenance mode when the car 7 stops at a floor other than the lowest floor and the landing door 8 at the lowest floor is open.

[0015] The control device 9 is configured as a computer including a processor that operates according to a program, a memory, an input / output port, a storage unit in which a control program, etc. are stored. Each function of the control device 9 can be realized, for example, by executing a control program stored in the storage unit. The control device 9 is configured to be able to communicate with a mobile terminal 12, which will be described later.

[0016] A pit 10 is provided under the elevator shaft 2. The pit 10 extends from the floor surface of the lowest floor to the bottom of the elevator shaft 2. Safety devices such as buffers (not shown) are installed in the pit 10. During maintenance and inspection, workers descend into the pit 10 to perform their work.

[0017] A worker working in the pit 10 carries a mobile terminal 12. The mobile terminal 12 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, etc. However, the mobile terminal 12 may be any device that has a function of receiving radio waves transmitted from beacons (first beacon 11, second beacon 13) described later and transmitting and receiving information to the control device 9.

[0018] The first beacon 11 is installed on the hall operating panel 14. It is preferable that the first beacon 11 in the present invention is a beacon provided in a call registration system, which will be described later. By using a beacon provided in an existing system, it is possible to easily configure the elevator device 1 that detects a worker in the pit 10 and restricts the ascent and descent of the car 7.

[0019] The second beacon 13 is installed in the pit 10. The second beacon 13 is a configuration unique to the elevator device 1 of the present invention.

[0020] The mobile terminal 12 is configured to receive radio waves from the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 and detect the radio wave intensity. The mobile terminal 12 transmits the received radio wave intensity to the control device 9.

[0021] When the radio wave strength of the second beacon is greater than that of the first beacon, the control device 9 determines, from the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave strength of the second beacon received from the mobile terminal 12, that the mobile terminal 12 is closer to the second beacon 13 than to the first beacon 11. When the mobile terminal 12 is closer to the second beacon, the control device 9 determines that a worker is in the pit 10 and restricts the raising and lowering of the car 7. On the other hand, when the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 is greater than that of the second beacon, the control device 9 determines that a worker is not in the pit 10 and does not restrict the raising and lowering of the car 7.

[0022] <About the first beacon installed on the platform control panel> Some elevator systems are equipped with a call registration system that automatically calls the elevator car.

[0023] A call registration system is an elevator device that includes a beacon that is installed at the elevator hall and transmits radio signals, a mobile terminal that detects the beacon signal and transmits registration information of the destination floor, and a control device that receives the registration information transmitted from the mobile terminal and moves the elevator car. When an elevator user approaches the elevator hall carrying a mobile terminal with a dedicated application installed, the system communicates with the beacon installed at the hall, calls the elevator car, and automatically sets the destination floor that was previously set in the application.

[0024] The elevator device 1 of the present invention can be configured to use a beacon provided in a call registration system as the first beacon 11 installed at the hall 4. This allows the equipment of an existing system to be used as the first beacon 11, making it easy to configure the elevator device 1 of the present invention.

[0025] The operation of the elevator device 1 of the first embodiment will be further described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows the case where the worker is at the landing 4 of the lowest floor, and Figure 3 shows the case where the worker is at the pit 10. In Figures 2 and 3, the landing door 8 is closed.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 2, when a worker is at the landing 4, it is, for example, before starting an inspection work or after completing the inspection work. Therefore, the control device 9 does not restrict the ascent and descent of the car 7. In this case, the worker can perform operations such as moving the car 7 to a floor higher than the lowest floor for inspection work in the pit 10. After moving the car 7 to a floor other than the lowest floor, the worker opens the landing door 8 of the landing 4 on the lowest floor and descends to the pit 10.

[0027] 3 shows a state in which a worker has descended into the pit 10. When a worker is inside the pit 10, the control device 9 restricts the raising and lowering of the cage 7 to prevent the cage 7 from moving, thereby ensuring the safety of the worker inside the pit 10.

[0028] The elevator device 1 of the present embodiment restricts the ascent and descent of the car 7 when a worker is present in the pit 10. A method for detecting a worker present in the pit 10 will be described below.

[0029] 2, when the worker is at the landing 4, the first beacon 11 is located closer to the mobile terminal 12, and therefore the radio wave strength from the first beacon 11 is greater than the radio wave strength from the second beacon received by the mobile terminal 12. Therefore, when the radio wave strength of the first beacon is greater than the radio wave strength of the second beacon, the mobile terminal 12 can detect that it is at the landing 4. In other words, it can detect that the worker is at the landing 4.

[0030] 3, when the worker is in the pit 10, the second beacon is located closer to the mobile terminal 12, and therefore the radio wave strength from the second beacon 13 is greater than the radio wave strength from the first beacon 11 received by the mobile terminal 12. Therefore, when the radio wave strength of the second beacon is greater than the radio wave strength of the first beacon, the mobile terminal 12 can detect that it is in the pit 10. That is, it can detect that the worker is in the pit 10.

[0031] The mobile terminal 12 is configured to receive radio waves from a first beacon 11 installed at the boarding area 4 and a second beacon 13 installed in the pit 10, and to transmit the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave strength of the second beacon 13 to the control device 9.

[0032] The control device 9 receives the radio wave intensity of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon 13 from the mobile terminal 12. When the radio wave intensity of the second beacon 13 is greater than the radio wave intensity of the first beacon, based on the radio wave intensity of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon in the mobile terminal, the control device 9 determines that the mobile terminal 12 is closer to the second beacon 13 than to the first beacon 11. In this case, the control device 9 determines that the worker carrying the mobile terminal 12 is in the pit 10, and restricts the raising and lowering of the car 7.

[0033] On the other hand, when the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 is greater than that of the second beacon 13, the control device 9 determines that the worker is not in the pit 10 and does not restrict the raising and lowering of the car 7.

[0034] That is, the elevator device 1 of this embodiment can detect whether the mobile terminal 12 is near the second beacon or the first beacon depending on which of the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 is greater from the radio wave strength received by the mobile terminal 12. That is, by determining the positional relationship between the mobile terminal 12, the first beacon 11, and the second beacon 13 from the magnitude of the radio wave strength, it can be determined whether the worker carrying the mobile terminal 12 is in the pit 10.

[0035] As described above, the elevator device 1 of the present embodiment is capable of detecting a worker in the pit 10. When a worker is in the pit 10, the raising and lowering of the car 7 is restricted, thereby ensuring the safety of the worker.

[0036] In the conventional method of detecting a worker's entry into the pit 10 by the opening and closing of the landing door 8, if the restriction on the ascent and descent of the car 7 is lifted while a worker is in the pit 10, it is not possible to detect the worker in the pit 10 again.

[0037] In the elevator device 1 of this embodiment, even if the restriction on the ascent and descent of the car 7 is lifted while a worker is present in the pit 10, the mobile terminal 12 constantly detects the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13, making it possible to detect that a worker is present in the pit 10 and therefore to restrict the ascent and descent of the car 7.

[0038] In addition, the mobile terminal 12 may be configured to transmit the difference between the radio wave strength of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave strength of the second beacon 13, instead of transmitting the radio wave strength of the first beacon and the radio wave strength of the second beacon 13 to the control device 9.

[0039] This allows the control device 9 to determine whether the radio wave strength of the first beacon or the second beacon is greater, based on whether the difference in radio wave strength (=radio wave strength of the first beacon - radio wave strength of the second beacon) is positive or negative, received from the mobile terminal 12. Similarly, when the radio wave strength from the second beacon is greater, the control device 9 operates to restrict the raising and lowering of the cage 7 so that the cage 7 does not move.

[0040] Specifically, when the mobile terminal 12 transmits (radio wave strength of the first beacon) - (radio wave strength of the second beacon), if the received value is a negative value, the control device 9 determines that the radio wave strength of the second beacon is greater than the radio wave strength of the first beacon and restricts the raising and lowering of the cage 7.

[0041] In the elevator device 1 of this embodiment, the control device 9 determines the magnitude of the radio wave intensity of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon 13. However, the determination of the magnitude of the radio wave intensity of the first beacon 11 and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon is not limited to being performed by the control device 9 or the mobile terminal 12. The mobile terminal 12 may be configured to compare the radio wave intensity of the first beacon with the radio wave intensity of the second beacon and transmit information of the beacon with the greater radio wave intensity to the control device 9.

[0042] The elevator device 1 of this embodiment identifies the positional relationship between the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 of the mobile terminal 12 from the radio wave intensity received by the mobile terminal 12, and determines whether or not the worker is in the pit 10. That is, if the radio wave intensity of the second beacon received by the mobile terminal 12 is greater than the radio wave intensity of the first beacon, it is determined that the mobile terminal 12 is located near the second beacon, and that the worker is in the pit 10.

[0043] The elevator device 1 of this embodiment detects the radio wave intensity from a first beacon 11 installed at the landing 4 and a second beacon 13 installed in the pit 10 to identify the location of the worker, and when it determines that the worker is within the pit 10, it restricts the ascent and descent of the car 7.

[0044] <Second embodiment> Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the elevator apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the hall door 8 on the lowest floor is open to start inspection work in the pit 10. In this embodiment as well, it is assumed that the car 7 is stopped at a floor other than the lowest floor. The elevator apparatus 1 of this embodiment is provided with an opening / closing detection means 15 that detects the opening / closing of the hall door 8. The opening / closing detection means 15 for the hall door 8 can be realized by an optical or radio wave sensor, switch, or the like.

[0045] When the operator is at the landing 4, it is considered that the radio wave intensity received by the mobile terminal 12 from the first beacon 11 is greater than that from the second beacon 13. However, even in this case, it is preferable to configure the elevator car 7 to be restricted from moving up and down. That is, when the opening / closing detection means 15 detects that the landing door 8 at the lowest floor is open, the control device 9 operates to restrict the up and down movement of the elevator car 7 regardless of the radio wave intensities of the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 received by the mobile terminal 12.

[0046] As described above, not only the radio wave intensities from the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 received by the mobile terminal 12, but also detecting that the landing door 8 is open, and configuring to restrict the up and down movement of the elevator car 7 when descending from the landing 4 to the pit 10 can further improve the safety in maintenance and inspection work.

[0047] <The Third Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the elevator device 1 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows the case where the operator has opened the landing door 8 while in the pit 10. Also in this case, it is preferable to configure to restrict the up and down movement of the elevator car 7.

[0048] When the operator is in the pit 10 with the landing door 8 closed as shown in FIG. 3, the radio wave intensity received by the mobile terminal 12 from the first beacon 11 and the second beacon is stronger for the second beacon, and the mobile terminal 12 can determine that it is closer to the second beacon in the pit 10. However, when the landing door 8 is open, depending on the arrangement of the second beacon in the pit 10 and the position of the operator, the radio wave intensity of the first beacon may increase, or there may be no significant difference between the radio wave intensities of the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13. Especially when the operator is on the wall side near the landing 4, since the operator is located between the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13, it is considered that the difference between the radio wave intensities of the first beacon 11 and the second beacon 13 becomes small.

[0049] In this case, when the opening / closing detection means 15 detects that the landing door 8 is open, the means 15 operates to restrict the ascent and descent of the car 7, regardless of the radio wave strength of the first beacon and the radio wave strength of the second beacon received by the mobile terminal 12.

[0050] When a worker is in the pit 10 and opens the landing door 8, it may be that the worker has finished inspecting the inside of the pit 10 and is going up to the landing 4, or that the worker is going to perform work with the landing door 8 open. In either case, by restricting the ascent and descent of the car 7, safety can be improved.

[0051] <Placement of the second beacon> In the first to third embodiments, the second beacon 13 is disposed on the wall of the pit 10 on the opposite side of the landing door 8, but the arrangement of the second beacon 13 is not limited to the position shown in the figure. The second beacon 13 may be disposed on the wall of the pit 10 on the side where the landing door 8 is installed. By disposing the second beacon 13 in this manner, even if the worker is in a position closer to the landing 4 in the pit 10, the radio wave strength of the second beacon 13 is greater than that of the first beacon 11. Therefore, the presence of the worker in the pit 10 can be reliably detected. In addition, the height at which the second beacon 13 is disposed in the pit 10 is preferably lower than the floor height of the landing 4 on the lowest floor. Since the first beacon 11 is disposed on the landing operating panel 14 of the landing 4, the second beacon 13 is disposed below the floor of the landing 4, so that the second beacon 13 is disposed at a height close to the worker in the pit 10. Therefore, the radio wave strength of the second beacon 13 can be made greater than that of the first beacon 11 at the worker's position.

[0052] <Other embodiments> In the third embodiment, when the landing door 8 is open, the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon received by the mobile terminal 12 are approximately the same depending on the arrangement of the second beacon 13 in the pit 10 and the position of the worker. Furthermore, regardless of whether the landing door 8 is open or closed, depending on the arrangement of the second beacon in the pit 10 and the position of the worker, there may be cases where the difference between the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon received by the mobile terminal 12 is not large. That is, this is the case where the difference in the radio wave intensity received by the mobile terminal 12 is only about the same as the reception error.

[0053] In this case, it is difficult to identify the location of the mobile terminal 12 from the intensity of the radio waves received by the mobile terminal 12. There is a possibility that a false detection will result in the restriction on the ascent and descent of the car 7 being lifted even though a worker is in the pit 10. Therefore, in this case, it is preferable to prioritize safety and restrict the ascent and descent of the car 7. This can eliminate the possibility of a false detection and further improve safety.

[0054] As described above, when the difference between the radio wave strength of the first beacon and the radio wave strength of the second beacon is small and it is difficult to determine whether a worker is in the pit 10, the raising and lowering of the cage 7 can be restricted, thereby enabling maintenance mode control with improved safety.

[0055] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and its modified examples, and various modifications and improvements are possible within the scope of the matters described in the claims of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 elevator device, 2 hoistway, 3 machine room, 4 landing, 5 hoisting machine, 6 main rope, 7 cage, 8 landing door, 9 control device, 10 pit, 11 first beacon, 12 portable terminal, 13 second beacon, 14 landing operation panel, 15 opening / closing detection means

Claims

1. The first beacon installed at the boarding area, A second beacon installed in the pit; A portable terminal capable of receiving radio waves from the first beacon and the second beacon; A control device that controls the elevation and lowering of the elevator car; Equipped with When the control device determines that the mobile terminal is closer to the second beacon than to the first beacon based on the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon at the mobile terminal, the control device restricts the raising and lowering of the car. Elevator equipment.

2. The control device also restricts the raising and lowering of the car when a difference between the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon is within a predetermined value.

2. The elevator system of claim 1.

3. The vehicle further includes a means for detecting whether a landing door is opened or closed, When the landing door is open, the control device restricts the raising and lowering of the car regardless of the radio wave intensity of the first beacon and the radio wave intensity of the second beacon in the mobile terminal.

3. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

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