Elevator system, as well as elevator control device, control method, and control program

Abstract

The present invention provides an elevator system that can suppress a decrease in convenience for human users in an elevator where a moving object rides in the car, as well as an elevator control device, control method, and control program. [Solution] A mobile body 24 capable of riding in the car 13 of an elevator 3 includes a mobile body operation panel 26 and a communication unit 25. The mobile body operation panel 26 accepts car call operations from users riding in the car 13. The communication unit 25 transmits user car call information whose operation is accepted by the mobile body operation panel 26 to a control device 29 that controls the operation of the elevator 3. The control device 29 includes a reception unit 30 and control units such as a group management device 21 and a control panel 15. The reception unit 30 accepts user car call information transmitted by the communication unit 25. The control unit controls the operation of the car 13 so as to respond to the user car call whose information is accepted by the reception unit 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator system, as well as a control device, a control method, and a control program for an elevator.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of an elevator system including a moving body and an elevator. In the elevator system, when the moving body rides in the elevator car during movement between floors, if a human user performs a predetermined operation such as long-pressing or simultaneous pressing of buttons using an in-car operation panel or the like provided inside the car while the car door is open, the elevator system gets the moving body riding in the car to get off.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the system of Patent Document 1, a user may be pushed to the rear of the car by other users sharing the car. At this time, the user cannot freely operate the in-car operation panel, and the convenience of using the elevator may be reduced.

[0005] The present disclosure relates to solving such problems. The present disclosure provides an elevator system, as well as a control device, a control method, and a control program for an elevator, which can suppress a decrease in the convenience of a human user in an elevator where a moving body rides in a car.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The elevator system according to the present disclosure includes a moving body that moves in a facility where an elevator is provided and can board the car of the elevator, and a control device that controls the operation of the elevator. The moving body includes an on-vehicle operation panel that receives an operation of a car call of a user boarding the car, and a communication unit that transmits information on the car call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel to the control device. The control device includes a reception unit that receives the information on the car call of the user transmitted by the communication unit, and a control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user received by the reception unit.

[0007] The control device according to the present disclosure is a control device that is provided in a facility where a moving body moves and controls the operation of an elevator that the moving body can board the car. The control device includes a reception unit that receives from the moving body information on a car call of a user boarding the car received by an on-vehicle operation panel provided on the moving body, and a control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user received by the reception unit.

[0008] The control method according to the present disclosure is a method in which a control device that is provided in a facility where a moving body moves and controls the operation of an elevator that the moving body can board the car receives from the moving body information on a car call of a user boarding the car received by an on-vehicle operation panel provided on the moving body, and controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user who has received the information.

[0009] The control program according to the present disclosure causes a control device that is provided in a facility where a moving body moves and controls the operation of an elevator that the moving body can board the car to receive from the moving body information on a car call of a user boarding the car received by an on-vehicle operation panel provided on the moving body, and to control the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user who has received the information.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the elevator system, or the elevator control device, control method, or control program according to the present disclosure, even when a moving body gets on the car, the convenience of a human user is less likely to decrease.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] The modes for carrying out the subject matter of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are appropriately simplified or omitted. Note that the subject matter of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and within the scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure, deformation of any component of the embodiment or omission of any component of the embodiment is possible.

[0013] Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator system 1 according to Embodiment 1.

[0014] The elevator system 1 is applied to the facility 2. The facility 2 includes, for example, one or more buildings. The facility 2 may be part or all of a building. The facility 2 may include one or both of the outdoor and indoor parts of the building. The facility 2 may be, for example, a commercial facility, an office building, a lodging facility, a residential facility, a public facility, or other facilities, or a complex of these. In the facility 2, a plurality of floors are provided. The elevator system 1 includes an elevator 3.

[0015] The elevator 3 is a device that transports users who use the elevator 3, etc. between the plurality of floors of the facility 2. In the facility 2, an elevator shaft 4 for the elevator 3 is provided. The elevator shaft 4 is a vertically long space extending over a plurality of floors. On each floor of the facility 2, a landing 5 for the elevator 3 is provided. The landing 5 is a place that communicates with the elevator shaft 4. At each landing 5, a landing door 6, an in-landing operation panel 7, a landing camera 8, and a landing speaker 9 are provided. The landing door 6 is a door that partitions the landing 5 and the elevator shaft 4. The in-landing operation panel 7 is a device that receives an operation for registering a landing call for the elevator 3 by a user at the landing 5. The landing call is a call made at the landing 5 on the departure floor where the use of the elevator 3 starts. The landing camera 8 is a device that captures an image of the landing 5. The landing speaker 9 is a device that notifies information to the users of the elevator 3 at the landing 5 by voice. The landing speaker 9 is an example of a notification device.

[0016] The elevator 3 includes one or more units 10. In this example, the elevator 3 includes a plurality of units 10. Note that the elevator 3 may include a single unit 10. Each unit 10 includes a hoist 11, a main rope 12, a car 13, a counterweight 14, and a control panel 15. The hoist 11 includes a motor that generates a driving torque and a sheave that rotates by the driving torque generated by the motor. The hoist 11 is disposed, for example, at the upper part or the lower part of the hoistway 4. The main rope 12 is wound around the sheave of the hoist 11. The main rope 12 supports the load of the car 13 on one side of the sheave of the hoist 11. The main rope 12 supports the load of the counterweight 14 on the other side of the sheave of the hoist 11. When the sheave of the hoist 11 rotates, the main rope 12 moves so that one side of the sheave of the hoist 11 is wound up. The car 13 and the counterweight 14 are disposed in the hoistway 4. The car 13 and the counterweight 14 travel in opposite directions in the vertical direction when the main rope 12 is moved by the hoist 11. The car 13 transports the passengers on board between a plurality of floors by traveling up and down in the hoistway 4. The car 13 includes a car door 16, an in-car operation panel 17, a car camera 18, a car speaker 19, and a weighing device 20. The car door 16 is a door that partitions the inside and the outside of the car 13. When the car 13 arrives at any floor, the car door 16 opens and closes in conjunction with the landing door 6 provided at the landing 5 of the floor so that passengers can get on and off. The car door 16 maintains the fully open state until a preset full open time elapses after the opening operation and then performs a closing operation when it arrives at any floor during normal operation. The in-car operation panel 17 is a device that receives an operation for registering a car call of the elevator 3 by a passenger inside the car 13. The car call is a call that designates the destination floor to stop the car 13. The car camera 18 is a device that captures an image inside the car 13. The car speaker 19 is a device that notifies information to the passengers of the elevator 3 inside the car 13 by voice. The car speaker 19 is an example of a notification device. The weighing device 20 is a device that measures the load of passengers or the like getting on the car 13.The control panel 15 is a device that controls the travel of the car 13 through the control of the hoist 11 and the like. The control panel 15 is connected to the hoist 11, the car 13, etc. so as to be able to acquire operation information including the position of the car 13. The control panel 15 is arranged, for example, at the upper part or the lower part of the hoistway 4. When a machine room of the elevator 3 is provided above the hoistway 4, the hoist 11 and the control panel 15 may be arranged in the machine room.

[0017] The elevator 3 is provided with a group management device 21. The group management device 21 is a device that manages the operation of each unit 10 of the elevator 3. The group management device 21 is connected to the control panel 15 of each unit 10 so as to be able to collect information such as the position of the car 13. The group management device 21 is connected to each device such as the landing operation panel 7, the landing camera 8, and the landing speaker 9 provided in the landing 5 so as to be able to communicate information used for the management of the operation of the elevator 3. The group management device 21, for example, receives the registration of a landing call from the landing operation panel 7 or the like. The group management device 21 assigns the landing call to any one of the units 10. The group management device 21 notifies the control panel 15 of the assigned unit 10 of the information of the call. The control panel 15 controls the travel of the car 13 so as to respond to the call. Note that when the elevator 3 includes a single unit 10, etc., the elevator 3 may not be provided with the group management device 21.

[0018] In the elevator 3, a remote monitoring device 22 is applied. The remote monitoring device 22 is a device that collects information on the elevator 3 so that the status of the elevator 3 can be monitored from a remote location or the like. The remote monitoring device 22 is directly or indirectly connected to the group management device 21 and the control panels 15 of each unit 10 so as to be able to collect operation information and the like. The remote monitoring device 22 is connected to a communication network 23 so as to be able to communicate the collected information. The communication network 23 includes, for example, the Internet, a telephone line network, or an optical communication line network. The communication network 23 may include a local network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) within the facility 2, or may include industrial communication such as short-range wireless communication. The communication network 23 may include a wired or wireless intranet. The remote monitoring device 22 transmits the collected information to, for example, an information center that manages information on the elevator 3.

[0019] In the facility 2, one or more mobile bodies 24 that provide services to human users are operating. In the facility 2, only a single mobile body 24 may be operating. Each mobile body 24 is a device that can move within the facility 2. The mobile body 24 is, for example, an autonomous mobile body that autonomously moves within the facility 2. The mobile body 24 may be, for example, a robot, an autonomous vehicle, or other movable device. Each mobile body 24 rides in the car 13 of the elevator 3 and moves between the floors of the facility 2. Some or all of the mobile bodies 24 operating in the facility 2 may be devices within the system of the elevator system 1, or may be devices outside the system that cooperate with the elevator system 1. Each mobile body 24 includes a communication unit 25, an on-board operation panel 26, and a boarding status detection unit 27.

[0020] The communication unit 25 is a part equipped with a wireless communication function so that the mobile body 24 can transmit or receive information to / from an external device or the like. The communication unit 25 communicates with an external device directly or indirectly via a communication network 23 or the like. Here, part or all of the mobile body 24 operating in the facility 2 may be controlled by a device external to the mobile body 24 such as the mobile body control device 28. The mobile body control device 28 is, for example, a computer system composed of one or more server devices or the like, or a device including the system. Here, a computer system composed of one or more devices may be simply referred to as a computer. When the mobile body 24 is controlled by the mobile body control device 28, the mobile body 24 communicates with the mobile body control device 28 through the communication unit 25. When the mobile body 24 uses the car 13 for movement between floors, the mobile body 24 may transmit information about its own call to the elevator 3 through the communication unit 25. Also, when the mobile body 24 is controlled by the mobile body control device 28, the mobile body control device 28 may transmit information about the call of the mobile body 24 to the elevator 3.

[0021] The on-vehicle operation panel 26 is a part that receives operations from users of the facility 2 near the mobile body 24. The on-vehicle operation panel 26 is provided at, for example, the back, front, side, top, or other locations of the mobile body 24. The on-vehicle operation panel 26 may be, for example, a touch panel capable of displaying and inputting information to the user, a physical push button, or other interfaces. The operations of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26 may be switched according to the position and situation of the mobile body 24.

[0022] The boarding status detection unit 27 is a part equipped with a function of detecting the boarding status of the moving body 24 when the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13. The boarding status of the moving body 24 includes information on at least either the position of the moving body 24 inside the car 13 or the orientation of the moving body 24 inside the car 13. The boarding status detection unit 27 detects the boarding status of the moving body 24 based on, for example, a captured image of a camera mounted on the moving body 24 or a measurement result of a sensor.

[0023] The elevator system 1 includes a control device 29. The control device 29 is a device equipped with a function of coordinating the moving body 24 and the elevator 3 in the facility 2. The control device 29 communicates with an external device via, for example, the communication network 23. A part or all of the control device 29 may be a device within the elevator system 1, or may be a device outside the system that coordinates with the elevator system 1. The control device 29 is, for example, a computer system composed of one or more server devices, or a device including the system. The plurality of server devices constituting the control device 29 may be arranged at different locations. At this time, the plurality of server devices communicate information with each other via, for example, the communication network 23. A part or all of the control device 29 may be arranged in the facility 2, or may be arranged outside the facility 2. A part or all of the functions of the control device 29 may be implemented on a virtual machine on a cloud service, or may be implemented by resources such as processing or storage on a cloud service. A part or all of the functions of the control device 29 may be mounted on a device of the elevator 3 such as the group management device 21 or the control panel 15 of each unit 10. Also, the control device 29 may include a device of the elevator 3 such as the group management device 21 or the control panel 15 of each unit 10. The control device 29 includes a control unit that controls the operation of the elevator 3. The group management device 21 of the elevator 3 and the control panel 15 of each unit 10 are examples of the control unit. The control device 29 includes a reception unit 30 and a notification unit 31.

[0024] The reception unit 30 is a part equipped with a function to receive information such as calls from outside the elevator 3. The reception unit 30 receives, for example, the call information transmitted by the moving body 24 through the communication unit 25. The reception unit 30 outputs the received call information to, for example, the group management device 21 or the like. The group management device 21 assigns the call received from the reception unit 30 to any one of the units 10.

[0025] The notification unit 31 is a part equipped with a function to cause notification devices such as the landing speaker 9 and the car speaker 19 to notify information. The notification unit 31 causes the notification devices to notify information, for example, by outputting the information to be notified.

[0026] Subsequently, an example of the operation of the elevator system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0027] In step S101, the moving body 24 transmits, through the communication unit 25, the call information of the moving body 24 itself to the elevator 3 so that it can move between floors. In this example, the moving body 24 transmits the call information by designating the unit 10 of the elevator 3. Further, the moving body 24 transmits the call information with information for identifying that it is the call of the moving body 24 itself added thereto. The call information of the moving body 24 may be transmitted from the movement control device 28 that controls the moving body 24. The reception unit 30 receives the call information of the moving body 24 itself transmitted by the moving body 24. The reception unit 30 outputs the call information of the moving body 24 itself to the group management device 21. The group management device 21 assigns the call of the moving body 24 itself to the unit 10 designated by the moving body 24. Thereafter, the car 13 of the unit 10 arrives at the departure floor of the moving body 24. The moving body 24 gets on the arriving car 13. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S102.

[0028] In step S102, the moving body 24 in the car 13 determines whether an operation on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 has been performed by a user who is also in the car 13. Here, the on-vehicle operation panel 26 accepts, for example, operations possible on the in-car operation panel 17. Operations possible on the in-car operation panel 17 include, for example, an operation of calling the car with a specified destination floor, an operation of extending the fully open time of the car door 16, and an operation of closing the car door 16. Note that the on-vehicle operation panel 26 may also accept an operation of designating a floor that has already been registered as a destination floor by the in-car operation panel 17 or the like as the destination floor. When an operation on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 by the user is not performed, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, when an operation on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 by the user is performed, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S104.

[0029] In step S103, the control panel 15 performs normal operation without extending the fully open time of the car door 16 when stopping at each floor. Then, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends.

[0030] In step S104, the communication unit 25 transmits the information of the user operation performed on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 to the reception unit 30. In this example, a car call operation is being performed on the on-vehicle operation panel 26. The communication unit 25 transmits the information of the call to the reception unit 30. Also, the moving body 24 adds information for identifying that it is a call from the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26 and transmits the call information. Further, the moving body 24 adds information for specifying the unit 10 of the car 13 in which it is riding and transmits the call information. Thereby, in the control device 29, it becomes possible to specify which user's call is being made from the unit 10 in which the user is riding. The call information of the user received by the moving body 24 on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 may be transmitted from the movement control device 28 that controls the moving body 24. The reception unit 30 receives the call information of the user transmitted by the moving body 24. The reception unit 30 outputs the received call information of the user to the group management device 21. The group management device 21 assigns the call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26 to any one of the units 10, similar to the car call operated by the in-car operation panel 17, for example. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S105.

[0031] In step S105, the boarding situation detection unit 27 determines whether it is detecting the boarding situation of the moving body 24 as a rear boarding situation. The rear boarding situation represents at least one of the situations where the moving body 24 is boarding behind the car 13 or the direction of the on-vehicle operation panel 26 of the moving body is facing the rear of the car 13. The boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation, for example, when the position of the moving body 24 is behind a preset position within the car 13. The preset position within the car 13 is, for example, the center of the car 13. The boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation, for example, when the angle formed by the direction of the on-vehicle operation panel 26 and the direction representing the rear of the car 13 is smaller than a preset angle. The preset angle is, for example, a right angle or an acute angle smaller than that. The boarding situation detection unit 27 may detect the rear boarding situation when both the position and direction conditions of the moving body 24 are satisfied, or may detect the rear boarding situation when only one of the conditions is satisfied. When the boarding situation detection unit 27 does not detect the rear boarding situation of the moving body 24, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S103. On the other hand, when the boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation of the moving body 24, the communication unit 25 transmits the detection result to the control device 29. The communication unit 25 may transmit, for example, the detection result of the rear boarding situation at the time of the operation together with the operation information when the on-vehicle operation panel 26 of the moving body receives the user's operation. After that, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S106.

[0032] In step S106, the control panel 15 extends the full opening time of the car door 16 when stopping at the destination floor of the user who has operated on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 by, for example, a preset time. The destination floor may be, for example, a floor registered as the destination floor only by the operation on the on-vehicle operation panel 26, or a floor registered as the destination floor by the operation on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 after being already registered on the in-car operation panel 17 or the like. Note that the control panel 15 may lengthen the time of the opening operation or closing operation of the car door 16 when stopping at the destination floor of the user who has operated on the on-vehicle operation panel 26 by a preset time and slow down the operation speed of the opening operation or closing operation. Then, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S107.

[0033] In step S107, the notification unit 31 causes the notification device to notify that there is a user getting off from the rear of the car 13 at the timing of arriving at the destination floor of the user who has operated on the on-vehicle operation panel 26. The notification unit 31 may cause one or both of the car speaker 19 and the landing speaker 9 of the destination floor to notify, for example, at the timing when the control panel 15 starts to decelerate the car 13 so as to be able to stop at the destination floor. Also, the notification unit 31 may cause one or both of the car speaker 19 and the landing speaker 9 of the destination floor to notify, for example, at the timing when the car stops at the destination floor and the car door 16 starts to open. Then, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends.

[0034] As described above, the elevator system 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes a moving body 24 that moves in a facility 2 where an elevator 3 is provided, and a control device 29 that controls the operation of the elevator 3. The moving body 24 can board the car 13 of the elevator 3. The moving body 24 includes an on-board operation panel 26 and a communication unit 25. The on-board operation panel 26 receives an operation of a car call from a user boarding the car 13. The communication unit 25 transmits information on the car call of the user, which the on-board operation panel 26 has received an operation for, to the control device 29. The control device 29 includes a reception unit 30 and a control unit. The reception unit 30 receives the information on the car call of the user transmitted by the communication unit 25. Control units such as the group management device 21 and the control panel 15 control the operation of the car 13 so as to respond to the car call of the user whose information has been received by the reception unit 30.

[0035] With such a configuration, even when a user boarding the car 13 is in a place away from the in-car operation panel 17, the user can operate the elevator 3 using the on-board operation panel 26 of the moving body 24. Information on the operation performed on the on-board operation panel 26 is transmitted to the control device 29 through the communication unit 25. The control device 29 controls the operation of the car 13 according to the information on the operation received by the reception unit 30. As a result, even when the moving body 24 boards the car 13, a decrease in the convenience of the user, who is a person, can be suppressed.

[0036] In addition, the communication unit 25 can transmit information about the call of the mobile body 24 itself to the control device 29. When transmitting the call of the mobile body 24 itself or the car call of the user, the communication unit 25 transmits information for identifying the call of the mobile body 24 itself and the car call of the user to the control device 29. With such a configuration, the control device 29 can identify and handle the car call of the user who is a person and the call of the mobile body 24 which is a device. As a result, the control device 29 can process the received call according to the entity that made the call. For example, when the mobile body 24 operates under the control of the movement control device 28 and the call of the mobile body 24 itself is output from the movement control device 28, the communication unit 25 may not output the call of the mobile body 24 itself. At this time, the call information output by the communication unit 25 can be identified from the transmission source as the car call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26 on the mobile body. In this case, the information for identifying the call of the mobile body 24 itself and the car call of the user may not be added to the call information transmitted by the communication unit 25.

[0037] In addition, the elevator system 1 includes a boarding situation detection unit 27. The boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation when the mobile body 24 is boarding the car 13. The rear boarding situation represents at least one of the situation where the mobile body 24 is boarding behind the car 13 or the situation where the direction of the on-vehicle operation panel 26 on the mobile body faces the rear of the car 13. When the control unit causes the car 13 to respond to the car call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26 and the boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation of the mobile body 24, the control unit makes the full opening time of the car door 16 of the car 13 longer than the normal full opening time. When the rear boarding situation is detected, the user who operates the on-vehicle operation panel 26 may be in a situation where it takes time to get off the car 13, for example, being behind the car 13. In such a case, since the full opening time of the car door 16 is automatically extended, the user can get off the car smoothly. As a result, a decrease in the convenience of the user can be suppressed.

[0038] In addition, the elevator system 1 includes a notification unit 31. When the control unit makes the car 13 respond to a car call of a user received by the on-vehicle operation panel 26, and the boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the rear boarding situation of the moving body 24, the notification unit 31 causes the notification device to perform a notification at the timing when the car 13 arrives at the destination floor of the user's car call. At this time, the notification unit 31 notifies that there is a user getting off from the rear of the car 13. With such a configuration, when a user who operates the on-vehicle operation panel 26 is behind the car 13, etc., this fact is notified. As a result, for example, it becomes easier for a user in the front to make way, so that the boarding and alighting of users can be performed smoothly. For this reason, a decrease in the convenience of users can be suppressed.

[0039] Note that the elevator 3 is not limited to the traction type elevator exemplified here. The elevator 3 may be, for example, a hydraulic elevator that runs the car 13 by a hydraulic mechanism, or may be an elevator of other types. Also, the notification device that the notification unit 31 causes to perform a notification may be a device that notifies information by, for example, an image such as signage or character information. The notification unit 31 may use the moving body 24 itself as a notification device to notify users.

[0040] Also, the boarding situation detection unit 27 may be provided outside the moving body 24. The boarding situation detection unit 27 is provided, for example, in the elevator 3 or the control device 29. The boarding situation detection unit 27 detects the boarding situation of the moving body 24 based on, for example, a captured image of the car camera 18 mounted on the car 13 or measurement results of sensors such as the weighing device 20.

[0041] In addition, the moving body 24 may board any car 13 without specifying the car 13 to board by itself. For example, the moving body 24 acquires information on the unit 10 to which the group management device 21 has assigned its own call from the group management device 21 or the like, and boards the car 13 of the unit 10. When transmitting information on the operation of the user performed on the operation panel 26 on the moving body, the moving body 24 adds information for identifying itself and transmits the call information. As a result, in the control device 29, based on the preliminary assignment performed by the group management device 21, it becomes possible to specify which user's call transmitted from the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13 of which unit 10.

[0042] Subsequently, with reference to FIG. 3, an example of the hardware configuration of the elevator system 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the main part of the elevator system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0043] Some or all of the functions of the elevator system 1 can 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 or in place of the processor 100a and the memory 100b.

[0044] When the processing circuit includes the processor 100a and the memory 100b, each function of the elevator system 1 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and the firmware is described as a program. The program is stored in the memory 100b. The processor 100a reads and executes the program stored in the memory 100b to realize each function of the elevator system 1. The program may be a program package including a plurality of subprograms, modules, or libraries. The program may also be called a program product.

[0045] The processor 100a is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a processing device, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 100b is composed of, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

[0046] When the processing circuit includes dedicated hardware 200, the processing circuit is implemented by, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel-programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0047] Each function of the elevator system 1 can be realized by a processing circuit respectively. Alternatively, each function of the elevator system 1 can also be realized collectively by a processing circuit. For each function of the elevator system 1, a part can be realized by the dedicated hardware 200, and the other part can be realized by software or firmware. Thus, the processing circuit realizes each function of the elevator system 1 by the dedicated hardware 200, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0048] Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, differences from the example disclosed in Embodiment 1 will be described in particular detail. For features not described in Embodiment 2, any features of the example disclosed in Embodiment 1 may be adopted.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the elevator system 1 according to Embodiment 2.

[0050] The elevator system 1 includes a congestion detection unit 32. The congestion detection unit 32 is a part equipped with the function of detecting congestion inside the car 13. In this example, the congestion detection unit 32 is mounted on each of the moving body 24 and the control device 29. The congestion detection unit 32 may be mounted on only one of the moving body 24 or the control device 29. The congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 detects, for example, the congestion of the car 13 when the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13. The congestion detection unit 32 detects the congestion of the car 13 on which the moving body 24 is boarding based on, for example, the captured image of the camera mounted on the moving body 24 or the measurement result of the sensor. The congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 detects, for example, the congestion of the car 13 of each unit 10. The congestion detection unit 32 detects the congestion of the car 13 on which the moving body 24 is boarding based on, for example, the captured image of the car camera 18 mounted on the car 13 or the measurement result of the sensor such as the weighing device 20. The congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 may be mounted on, for example, one or more server devices arranged inside or outside the facility 2, similar to other parts of the control device 29, or its function may be implemented on a cloud service. Also, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 may be mounted on an elevator 3 device such as the group management device 21 or the control panel 15 of each unit 10. The control device 29 on which the congestion detection unit 32 is provided may include an elevator 3 device such as the group management device 21 or the control panel 15 of each unit 10. The congestion detection unit 32 detects the congestion of the car 13, for example, when the number of users boarding the car 13 is more than a preset number, or when the area or space inside the car 13 occupied by the users boarding the car 13 is larger than a preset standard.

[0051] The control device 29 includes an instruction unit 33. The instruction unit 33 is a part equipped with a function of outputting an instruction to the moving body 24. The instruction to the moving body 24 may be output, for example, through the movement control device 28 that controls the moving body 24. The instruction unit 33 outputs, for example, a boarding instruction for the moving body 24 to board the car 13 and a getting-off instruction for the moving body 24 to get off the car 13. The instruction by the instruction unit 33 is input, for example, to the communication unit 25 of the moving body 24 through the communication network 23.

[0052] Subsequently, an example of the operation of the elevator system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the elevator system 1 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, examples of the operations regarding boarding and getting off of the moving body 24 on the car 13 are shown. The processes such as reception of an operation on the on-board operation panel 26 after the moving body 24 boards the car 13, extension of the fully open time of the car door 16, and notification by the notification device are performed in the same manner as the elevator system 1 of the first embodiment.

[0053] In step S201, the control device 29 determines whether the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13. The control device 29 determines whether the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13 based on, for example, the captured image of the car camera 18 mounted on the car 13 or the measurement results of sensors such as the weighing device 20. If the moving body 24 is not boarding the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S202. On the other hand, if the moving body 24 is boarding the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S207.

[0054] In step S202, the control device 29 determines whether a call of the moving body 24 itself is registered. If there is no call of the moving body 24 itself, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, if there is a call of the moving body 24 itself, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S204.

[0055] In step S203, the instruction unit 33 of the control device 29 does not output an instruction to board the moving body 24. The moving body 24 waits at the landing 5. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends.

[0056] In step S204, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13 where the moving body 24 boards. The detection of congestion is performed, for example, when the car 13 to which the call of the moving body 24 is assigned arrives at the floor where the moving body 24 is located, or when the car 13 arrives at the floor and the car door 16 opens. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 detects congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S205.

[0057] In step S205, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13 where it boards. The detection of congestion is performed, for example, when the car 13 arrives at the floor where the moving body 24 is located and the car door 16 opens. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 detects congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S206.

[0058] In step S206, the instruction unit 33 of the control device 29 outputs an instruction to board the moving body 24. The moving body 24 boards the car 13 based on the boarding instruction. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends.

[0059] In step S207, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13 in which the moving body 24 is riding. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S208. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 detects congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S210.

[0060] In step S208, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 riding in the car 13 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S209. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 detects congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S210.

[0061] In step S209, the instruction unit 33 of the control device 29 does not output a getting-off instruction to the moving body 24 until the car 13 arrives at the destination floor of the moving body 24. The moving body 24 continues to ride in the car 13. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends. When the car 13 arrives at the destination floor of the moving body 24, the instruction unit 33 outputs a getting-off instruction to the moving body 24. At this time, the moving body 24 gets off the car 13 based on the getting-off instruction.

[0062] In step S210, the instruction unit 33 of the control device 29 outputs a getting-off instruction to the moving body 24 so as to get off the car 13 at the stop floor where the car 13 will stop next. In this example, the stop floor is a floor different from the destination floor of the moving body 24 and stops before arriving at the destination floor of the moving body 24. The stop floor may be, for example, the destination floor designated by the car call of the user received by the on-board operation panel 26 of the moving body, or the destination floor designated by the car call of the user received by the in-car operation panel 17. When the car 13 arrives at the next stop floor, the moving body 24 gets off the car 13 based on the getting-off instruction. After that, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S211.

[0063] In step S211, the control device 29 determines whether the moving body 24 that got off at a floor other than the destination floor is set to re-board the car 13 after getting off. The setting is, for example, set in advance by the administrator of the facility 2 or the like. When it is not set to re-board, the call of the moving body 24 itself is canceled. On the other hand, the car call of the user received by the on-board operation panel 26 of the moving body 24 is not canceled. After that, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when it is set to re-board, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S212.

[0064] In step S212, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13 where the moving body 24 got off. The detection of congestion is performed, for example, after the moving body 24 gets off and while the car door 16 is open. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 detects congestion in the car 13, the call of the moving body 24 itself is canceled. On the other hand, the car call of the user received by the on-board operation panel 26 of the moving body 24 is not canceled. After that, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the control device 29 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S213.

[0065] In step S213, the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 determines whether congestion is detected in the car 13 where passengers have alighted. The detection of congestion is performed, for example, after the moving body 24 has alighted and while the car door 16 is open. When the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 detects congestion in the car 13, the call of the moving body 24 itself is canceled. On the other hand, the car call of the user received by the on-board operation panel 26 of the moving body 24 is not canceled. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when the congestion detection unit 32 provided in the moving body 24 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the operation of the elevator system 1 proceeds to step S214.

[0066] In step S214, the control panel 15 extends the fully open time of the car door 16 of the car 13 where the moving body 24 has alighted. The instruction unit 33 of the control device 29 outputs a boarding instruction to the moving body 24 to the car 13. The moving body 24 re-boards the car 13 based on the boarding instruction. Thereafter, the operation of the elevator system 1 ends.

[0067] As described above, the elevator system 1 according to the second embodiment includes a congestion detection unit 32 and an instruction unit 33. The congestion detection unit 32 detects congestion in the car 13. When the congestion detection unit 32 detects congestion in the car 13, the instruction unit 33 causes the moving body 24 to alight from the car 13 at the stop floor before arriving at the destination floor of the moving body 24. With such a configuration, the moving body 24 alights from the car 13 according to the congestion situation, so that it is easier for the user to alight from the car 13. Thereby, a decrease in the convenience of the user is suppressed.

[0068] Further, after causing the moving body 24 to alight from the car 13, when the congestion detection unit 32 does not detect congestion in the car 13, the instruction unit 33 causes the moving body 24 to re-board the car 13. With such a configuration, the moving body 24 can re-board the car 13 according to the congestion situation, so that a decrease in the operating efficiency of the moving body 24 is suppressed.

[0069] Summarizing the above description, the possible configurations of the technology according to the present disclosure include each configuration shown below as an appendix, etc. (Appendix 1) A moving body that moves in a facility provided with an elevator and can board the car of the elevator, A control device that controls the operation of the elevator, Comprising, The moving body includes an on-vehicle operation panel that receives an operation of a car call of a user boarding the car, A communication unit that transmits information on the car call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel to the control device, Comprising, The control device, A reception unit that receives the information on the car call of the user transmitted by the communication unit, A control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user received by the reception unit, Comprising, An elevator system. (Appendix 2) The communication unit can transmit information on a call of the moving body itself to the control device, and when transmitting a call of the moving body itself or a car call of the user, transmits information for identifying the call of the moving body itself and the car call of the user to the control device. The elevator system according to Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) A boarding situation detection unit that detects a rear boarding situation indicating at least one of a situation where the moving body is boarding behind the car or a situation where the direction of the on-vehicle operation panel faces the rear of the car when the moving body is boarding the car. The elevator system according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, comprising. (Appendix 4) When the control unit causes the car to respond to the car call of the user received by the on-vehicle operation panel, when the boarding situation detection unit detects the rear boarding situation of the moving body, the control unit makes the full opening time during which the car door of the car remains fully open longer than the normal full opening time. The elevator system according to Supplementary Note 3. (Supplementary Note 5) When the control unit makes the car respond to the car call of the user received by the on-board operation panel on the moving body, and when the boarding situation detection unit detects the boarding situation at the rear of the moving body, a notification unit that causes a notification device to notify that there is a user who gets off from the rear of the car at the timing when the car arrives at the destination floor of the car call of the user The elevator system according to Supplementary Note 3, comprising the same. (Supplementary Note 6) A congestion detection unit that detects congestion inside the car, When the congestion detection unit detects congestion inside the car, an instruction unit that causes the moving body to get off from the car at the stop floor before the moving body arrives at the destination floor, The elevator system according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, comprising the same. (Supplementary Note 7) After the instruction unit causes the moving body to get off from the car, when the congestion detection unit does not detect congestion inside the car, the instruction unit causes the moving body to re-board the car. The elevator system according to Supplementary Note 6. (Supplementary Note 8) A control device that is provided in a facility where a moving body moves and controls the operation of an elevator in which the moving body can board a car, A reception unit that receives, from the moving body, information on a car call of a user who is boarding the car operated by an on-board operation panel provided on the moving body, A control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user received by the reception unit, The control device, comprising the same. (Supplementary Note 9) A control device that is provided in a facility where a moving body moves and controls the operation of an elevator in which the moving body can board a car, receives, from the moving body, information on a car call of a user who is boarding the car operated by an on-board operation panel provided on the moving body, Controlling the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user who has received the information An elevator control method for executing the above. (Appendix 10) In a control device that controls the operation of an elevator provided in a facility where a moving body moves and the moving body can board the car, Receiving, from the moving body, information on a car call of a user who is boarding the car and has received an operation on an on-vehicle operation panel provided on the moving body Controlling the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user who has received the information An elevator control program for causing the above to be executed.

Explanation of Signs

[0070] 1 Elevator system, 2 Facility, 3 Elevator, 4 Hoistway, 5 Landing, 6 Landing door, 7 Landing operation panel, 8 Landing camera, 9 Landing speaker, 10 Unit, 11 Hoisting machine, 12 Main rope, 13 Car, 14 Counterweight, 15 Control panel, 16 Car door, 17 In-car operation panel, 18 In-car camera, 19 In-car speaker, 20 Weighing device, 21 Group management device, 22 Remote monitoring device, 23 Communication network, 24 Moving body, 25 Communication unit, 26 On-vehicle operation panel, 27 Boarding status detection unit, 28 Movement control device, 29 Control device, 30 Reception unit, 31 Notification unit, 32 Congestion detection unit, 33 Instruction unit, 100a Processor, 100b Memory, 200 Dedicated hardware

Claims

1. a mobile object that moves in a facility where an elevator is provided and that is capable of boarding a car of the elevator; A control device for controlling the operation of the elevator; Equipped with The moving body has an on-board operation panel that accepts car call operations by users riding in the car; A communication unit that transmits information on the car call of the user that has been operated by the mobile body operation panel to the control device; Equipped with The control device includes: A reception unit that receives car call information of the user transmitted by the communication unit; A control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user about which the reception unit has received information; Equipped with Elevator system.

2. the communication unit is capable of transmitting information of a call of the mobile object itself to the control device, and when transmitting a call of the mobile object itself or a car call of the user, transmits information for identifying the call of the mobile object itself and the car call of the user to the control device; 2. The elevator system of claim 1.

3. A riding state detection unit that detects a rear riding state that indicates at least one of a state in which the moving object is riding in the rear of the car when the moving object is riding in the car, and a state in which the direction of the operation panel on the moving object faces the rear of the car. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

4. when the on-vehicle operation panel causes the car to respond to a car call from the user that has been operated, and when the boarding status detection unit detects the rear boarding status of the mobile body, the control unit extends a full-open time during which the car door of the car is maintained in a full-open state, longer than a normal full-open time.

4. The elevator system of claim 3.

5. a notification unit that causes a notification device to notify the fact that there is a user getting off from the rear of the car at the timing when the car arrives at the destination floor of the car call of the user, when the control unit causes the car to respond to the car call of the user that has been operated by the operation panel on the moving body and the boarding status detection unit detects the rear boarding status of the moving body; The elevator system of claim 3 .

6. A congestion detection unit that detects congestion in the car; an instruction unit that, when the congestion detection unit detects congestion in the car, causes the moving object to disembark from the car at a stop floor before the moving object arrives at a destination floor; The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

7. the instruction unit, after causing the moving object to disembark from the car, causes the moving object to re-board the car when the congestion detection unit does not detect congestion in the car; 7. The elevator system of claim 6.

8. a control device that is provided in a facility in which a moving object moves and controls an operation of an elevator in which the moving object can ride, a reception unit that receives, from the mobile body, information on a car call of a user riding in the car that has been operated by a mobile body operation panel provided on the mobile body; A control unit that controls the operation of the car so as to respond to the car call of the user about which the reception unit has received information; A control device comprising:

9. A control device is provided in a facility in which a moving object moves and controls an operation of an elevator in which the moving object can ride, receiving, from the mobile body, information on a car call of a user riding in the car that has been operated by an on-mobile operation panel provided on the mobile body; Controlling the operation of the car to respond to a car call from the user whose information has been received; A method for controlling an elevator.

10. A control device is provided in a facility in which a moving object moves and controls an operation of an elevator in which the moving object can ride, receiving, from the mobile body, information on a car call of a user riding in the car that has been operated by an on-mobile operation panel provided on the mobile body; Controlling the operation of the car to respond to a car call from the user whose information has been received; An elevator control program that executes the following:

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