Transportation System

Abstract

A transportation system (1) for a building with multiple floors (14, 15) comprises a shaft (2), a traction sheave-driven elevator (3), and a lift (4). The elevator (3) for vertically transporting people has an elevator car (5) movable within the shaft (2) and at least two counterweights (6) movable together with the car (5) within the shaft (2) in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the elevator car (5). The elevator car (5) and counterweights (6) are driven by a drive engine (8) having a traction sheave (9). The lift (4) for vertically transporting objects is designed as a self-propelled lift. The lift (4) has a lift platform (11) designed as a vehicle for delivering goods that can enter and exit the shaft; when positioned within the shaft (2), the lift platform (11) is within the vertical projection of the elevator car (5).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a transport system for a building having several floors, the building comprising a shaft forming a base for an elevator for transporting people vertically and a lift for transporting goods vertically. [Background technology]

[0002] It is well known that elevators in buildings serve to transport passengers from one floor to another. To this end, a passenger inputs a call into a call input terminal, for example, at an entrance floor, and an elevator car responding to the call transports the passenger to the desired destination floor. Traction-sheave-driven elevators have been established for many years and are particularly successful, whereby the elevator includes an elevator car that can be moved up and down in a shaft by a drive engine with a traction sheave using a suspension means, for example, in the form of a cable or belt. Typically, an elevator car comprises a rectangular parallelepiped car body having floors, doors, side walls, a rear wall, and a ceiling. Passengers stand inside the car body as the car moves.

[0003] In addition to the people mentioned above, there is also a need for vertical transportation of unmanned objects within buildings. For example, there is an increasing use of autonomous vehicles, robots, and other unmanned objects within buildings. With the rise of internet purchasing, ordered goods must be delivered to the purchaser's apartment door whenever possible. Additionally, waste from apartments and other households may need to be collected and transported out of the building. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Such a need may be met by the subject matter of the independent claims. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a transportation system for a building having multiple floors is provided. The transportation system includes a traction pulley-driven elevator for vertically transporting people and a self-propelled lift for vertically transporting objects such as autonomous mobile robots or goods. The elevator includes an elevator car that is vertically movable within a shaft. The self-propelled lift includes a lift platform that is vertically movable within the same shaft. The elevator car is preferably guided along at least one car guide means within the shaft. The elevator further includes at least one counterweight, preferably connected to the car via at least one suspension means and movable together with the car within the shaft in a direction of movement opposite to that of the elevator car. The elevator car and counterweight are driven by at least one drive engine having a traction pulley. The counterweight may be movable along at least one counterweight guide means within the shaft.

[0006] For a powerful transport system, the self-propelled lift is equipped with at least one drive unit for ascending and descending in the shaft. The advantageous combination of a traction sheave-driven elevator and a self-propelled lift guarantees a high degree of flexibility. For example, a self-propelled lift may be equipped with a lift platform with a vertically operating friction wheel drive system, where the friction wheel is pressed horizontally against the associated shaft or guide rail. Other drive solutions may be applicable, such as a linear drive that allows the lift platform to ascend and descend in the shaft.

[0007] The lift platform of the self-propelled lift is at least temporarily arranged in the shaft and is vertically movable in the shaft independently of the elevator, so that the self-propelled lift for vertically transporting objects is based on a different drive type than the elevator, leading to beneficial redundancy and flexibility.

[0008] This transport system provides an efficient and effective method for vertically transporting people and unmanned vehicles within a building. Using the same shaft also provides significant cost advantages over time in terms of investment and expenses. The lift can be used, for example, for vertical transport of autonomous robots or vehicles between floors for waste collection and disposal in residential buildings. The robot may also be designed as a domestic robot. Another preferred application of the lift may be for postal services and package delivery within buildings.

[0009] The transport system may include at least two, preferably four, guide units arranged in the shaft to guide the lift platform of the self-propelled lift. Each guide unit may be formed by a guide rail. The guide rail may be formed as a hollow profile. Two of the four guide units may be arranged on or on opposite sides of the shaft. For example, each of the four guide units may interact with an associated wheel motorized by a drive unit of the at least one drive unit.

[0010] Advantageously, each drive unit is designed as a gear drive. The lift platform of the self-propelled lift may comprise at least two, preferably four, electric gears that can interact with at least two, preferably four associated guide units. These guide units may comprise lifting aids such as toothed racks, toothed belts or roller chains. Each guide unit may comprise or be formed by a guide rail. It is also conceivable that instead of one gear per guide unit, two or more gears grouped together per guide unit may be foreseen.

[0011] When four guide units are provided, it may be particularly advantageous for the guide units to comprise two pairs of vertical posts and roller chains, one of which is attached to each post and extends parallel to the post, so that the roller chains are intended to receive the associated gears. Such roller chains provide a kind of climbing ladder at low cost. The roller chains are also easily maintainable. The vertical posts may be formed as hollow sections.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the lift platform of the lift is a mobile lift platform designed as a vehicle that can enter and exit the shaft and be moved within the floor, whereby the lift platform is equipped with rolling wheels for being able to be moved on the floor. It would be particularly advantageous if the lift platform is designed as an autonomous vehicle, which may also be known as a "robocar." Such a vehicle can sense its environment and be safely moved without human input. In particular, autonomous vehicles can be moved on the floor and may be used for various tasks, such as for the distribution of goods. These vehicles may also be integrated into building waste flow management. Autonomous vehicles can combine various sensors to perceive their environment, such as radar, laser, lidar, sonar, GPS, odometry, and inertial measurement units. Autonomous vehicles may be equipped with a control system capable of interpreting sensory information to determine an appropriate navigation path and identify obstacles and associated signs. The mobile lift platform may also be designed as an automated guided vehicle (AGV), for example, that follows marked lines or wires on the floor.

[0013] The lift platform may at least partially overlap the vertical projection of the elevator car when in the shaft, whereby preferably the vertical projection of the lift platform is smaller than the vertical projection of the elevator car.

[0014] Due to the compact and smaller design of the self-propelled lift or lift platform compared to the elevator, the self-propelled lift appears to be able to be operated in such a way that the performance of the elevator is not or only slightly affected. In a preferred embodiment, the transport system is characterized in that the base area occupied by the vertical projection of the lift platform is preferably less than 80%, particularly preferably less than 60%, of the base area occupied by the vertical projection of the elevator car.

[0015] In the shaft, the lift platform may be arranged, at least temporarily, below the elevator car, but when applying special arrangements of traction sheave-driven elevators, it is even conceivable that the lift platform is arranged, at least temporarily, above the elevator car.

[0016] Instead of the lift platform at least partially overlapping the vertical projection of the elevator car when in the shaft, it is conceivable that the lift platform does not overlap the vertical projection of the elevator car when in the shaft. In other words, the lift platform of the self-propelled lift remains outside the traffic area of ​​the elevator car. The self-propelled lift is therefore completely independently movable vertically in the shaft.

[0017] Furthermore, the self-propelled lift may comprise two or more lift platforms, in which case the lift platforms can be arranged vertically one above the other.

[0018] The self-propelled lift platform may be of a unique construction, essentially having a plate-like form or a flat configuration. Nevertheless, for special requirements, the lift may also be equipped with a lift cage, whereby the lift platform defines the floor of the cage.

[0019] The elevator car and the lift platform may have essentially the same width. The lift platform may therefore be shortened in terms of its depth compared to the elevator car, such that the depth of the lift platform is preferably less than 80%, particularly preferably less than 60%, of the depth of the elevator car. The direction in which the width is measured is perpendicular to the direction in which the depth of the car is measured. The depth is measured along the direction from the front to the back of the shaft.

[0020] For undisturbed and safe interaction of the flow of passengers and the flow of objects, it may be advantageous for the shaft to comprise a plurality of elevator shaft doors for providing passenger access to the elevator cars, the plurality of elevator shaft doors being arranged on a front side of the shaft, at least one of the elevator shaft doors being arranged on each of a plurality of floors, and for the shaft to comprise a plurality of lift shaft doors for providing object access to the lift platform, the plurality of lift shaft doors being arranged on a rear side opposite to the front side of the shaft, at least one of the lift shaft doors being arranged on each of a plurality of floors, each of the latter floors preferably being arranged at the same level as an adjacent one of the floors on the front side of the shaft. Each of the lift shaft doors may have an associated door drive for opening and closing the lift shaft door relative to one another.

[0021] However, it would also be conceivable that the lift shaft door could instead be located on one of the sides of the shaft, at the rear.

[0022] It may be particularly advantageous for the plurality of floors associated with the elevator shaft door at the front of the shaft to comprise a lowest floor and naturally at least one upper floor, and for the plurality of floors associated with the lift shaft door at the rear (or side) of the shaft to comprise at least one floor arranged below said lowest floor associated with the front elevator shaft door, the latter of which of the at least one floor arranged below the lowest front floor may face the exterior of the building and / or may be, for example, a goods pick-up point or a robot storage location.

[0023] The elevator may be configured as a so-called backpack elevator. The elevator car may be supported on a backpack frame. However, the backpack elevator may be frameless. The counterweight may be movable along the side of the shaft. The elevator car may be guided along at least one, preferably two, car guide means, and the counterweight may be guided along at least one, preferably two, counterweight guide means. The car guide means and the counterweight guide means are arranged on the same side of the shaft. The suspension means may be driven by a drive unit having a traction pulley, and may be guided on deflection rollers arranged transverse to the elevator car so that, in a vertical projection or when considered in a plan view of the elevator, the suspension means extend over their entire length outside the base area of ​​the elevator car.

[0024] The elevator car may be a front-support car guided along a pair of opposing car guide means, whereby each of the two car guide means is located on one of the sides of the shaft (and therefore of the elevator car) and in an area near the front of the shaft. Such an elevator may therefore be described as a "front-sack elevator."

[0025] To provide a particularly compact and well-balanced front-sack elevator design, an elevator with two opposing counterweights may be advantageous, whereby the counterweights are located on opposite sides of the shaft.

[0026] It may be particularly advantageous when these counterweights are guided along counterweight guide means, whereby the counterweight guide means and the cage guide means on each side of the shaft are formed by a common guide rail section, for example a preferably hollow rail section, more preferably formed as a rolled metal section defining a monolithic body, such guide rail section being easily attachable to the shaft.

[0027] The counterweights may extend horizontally to the imaginary boundary defined by the nearest boundary of the vertical projection of the lift platform. In other words, each of the two opposing counterweights extends to the lateral depth but does not interfere with the projection of the lift platform. This makes it easy to ensure trouble-free and safe operation of the transport system.

[0028] Each of the lift shaft doors may be provided with a controllable lift shaft door drive for opening and closing the lift shaft doors relative to one another, whereby the lift shaft door drive may be controlled by the mobile lift platform described above, or by an autonomous robot as an object to be transported on the lift platform when the lift platform is permanently installed in the shaft.

[0029] According to a further aspect, the self-propelled lift may include at least one signal receptor for receiving a signal from the autonomous robot as an object to be transported on a lift platform within the self-propelled lift, and a lift controller for controlling operation of the self-propelled lift. The lift controller may control operation of at least one lift drive engine to move the lift platform to a desired floor. Whereby, each of the lift shaft doors has an associated lift shaft door drive for mutually opening and closing the lift shaft doors, and a lift shaft door drive controller for controlling operation of the lift shaft door drive of the lift shaft door, and the at least one signal receptor is connected to the lift controller and the lift shaft door drive controller such that the autonomous robot can call the lift platform to the desired floor, enter the lift platform through the open lift shaft door, and drive on the lift platform to the destination floor.

[0030] For reliable functioning of the transportation system, a host elevator and lift controller may be provided, which is designed to be able to control the movement of the elevator car and the lift platform so that collisions between the elevator car and the lift platform can be prevented.

[0031] When the lift platform is a mobile lift platform designed as a vehicle that can enter and exit the shaft, at least partial control of the lift controller may be located on the lift platform. Also in this case, each of the lift shaft doors may have an associated lift shaft door drive for opening and closing the lift shaft doors relative to each other, and a lift shaft door drive controller for controlling the operation of the lift shaft door drive of the lift shaft door, and at least one signal receptor is connected to the said partial control of the lift controller and lift shaft door drive controller on the mobile lift platform so that the mobile lift platform can open the lift shaft doors, thereby allowing the lift platform to enter and be transported within the shaft. The lift platform can then drive autonomously to its destination floor. However, the host elevator and lift controller can override the local lift controller and / or elevator controller on the mobile lift platform to prevent a collision with the elevator car.

[0032] As from the plurality of signal receptors described above for receiving signals from the autonomous robot or mobile lift platform, at least one of the signal receptors is positioned near the lift shaft door at each of the associated plurality of floors.

[0033] The plurality of signal receptors are capable of receiving request signals via short-range wireless data communication from a data communication device integrated into or at least associated with the autonomous robot or mobile lift platform.

[0034] Different aspects of the improved technique are described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, in which identical elements are identified by the same reference numerals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a transportation system including a traction sheave-driven elevator and a self-propelled lift in a common shaft, according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of the transportation system of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a simplified top view of an elevator of a transportation system according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 shows a lift platform of the lift of the transport system of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a vertical transportation system 1 for a building 10 having multiple floors. The transportation system 1 includes an elevator 3. The elevator 3 has an elevator car 5 arranged to be movable along a substantially vertical axis in a shaft 2 of the building 10. The elevator car 5 primarily serves to transport people. In the illustrated example, the elevator car 5 is connected to a counterweight 6 by a suspension means 7. The suspension means 7 for supporting the elevator car 5 and the counterweight 6 may be considered as a cable or belt or multiple cables or belts. A drive engine 8 with a traction sheave 9 is used to move the elevator car 5 and the counterweight 6. The drive engine 8 of this traction sheave-driven elevator is located, for example, in the shaft head region of the shaft 2. Instead of a so-called machine room-less elevator 3, it would also be conceivable to locate the drive engine 8 in a separate engine room in the shaft head region. In this specification, the term "building" refers to, for example, a residential building, an office building, a sports arena, or a shopping center, as well as a ship.

[0037] The transport system 1 further comprises a self-propelled lift 4 for transporting objects vertically. The self-propelled lift 4 comprises a lift platform 11 that is at least temporarily arranged in the shaft 2. The lift platform 11 may also be permanently installed in the shaft 2. On such a lift platform 11, an autonomous mobile robot (e.g., a domestic robot) or other unmanned object 29 can be transported. However, in the case of a particularly advantageous transport system 1, the lift platform 11 is designed as a mobile lift platform that is arranged or installed only in the shaft 2 so that it can be moved over the floors of the building and moved up and down to access different floors. The mobile lift platform 11 can carry and transport objects 29 as loose goods on the upper side of the platform or using special containers.

[0038] The self-propelled lift 4 is based on a different drive type than the elevator 3. The lift platform 11, which can be guided along lift platform guide means (not shown here, see FIG. 4), is therefore vertically movable independently in the shaft 2 relative to the elevator car 5. The lift platform 11 of the self-propelled lift 4 comprises at least one drive unit (not shown) for ascending and descending in the shaft 2. The combination of the traction pulley-driven elevator 3 and the self-propelled lift 4 ensures a high degree of flexibility.

[0039] The traction sheave-driven elevator 3 includes an elevator control system having an elevator controller 31 for controlling the operation of the drive engine 8 to move the elevator car 5 during operation in response to calls received, for example, from one of multiple (not shown) hall operation panels located at each floor in the building and / or from a car operation panel (not shown) located within the elevator car 5. The elevator controller 31 processes the received elevator calls and, in response, activates the drive engine 8 to move the elevator car 5 within the shaft 2 with the aid of the suspension means 7. The elevator control system also includes a door controller (not shown) for controlling the operation of the car doors and elevator shaft doors (not shown). The car doors and respective shaft doors of the elevator car 5 are opened upon arrival of the car at the desired floor. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , these shaft doors for accessing the elevator car 5 are located at the front side 12 of the shaft 2. The opposite side of the shaft 2, hereinafter referred to as the back side, is designated by the reference numeral 13. The shaft 2 further comprises two side faces 19 connecting the front face 12 to the rear face 13 .

[0040] The lift platform 11 comprises a lift controller 32 that controls the movement of the lift platform 11 to a desired floor. In an exemplary embodiment, the lift controller 32 further comprises a transceiver unit designed to transmit and receive radio signals in order to communicate wirelessly with a host elevator and lift controller 33 via a communication network. The transmission may be realized according to one or more technologies, such as the aforementioned mobile radio communication technologies (e.g., WLAN / WiFi systems, 4G / LTE (Long Term Evolution)), or IP (Internet Protocol) technologies or wired technologies (e.g., Ethernet technologies). Among other things, the host elevator and lift controller 33 ensures the safe operation of the transport system 1, and in particular ensures that no collisions occur between the elevator cars 5 and the lift platform 11.

[0041] The lift platform 11, located below the elevator car 5, at least partially overlaps with the vertical projection of the elevator car 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the access provided by the lift shaft doors (not shown here) for the lift platform 11 may be located on one of the sides 19 of the shaft 2. In contrast to this, in the following FIG. 2, which refers to another exemplary embodiment, the access for the lift platform 11 is located on the back side 13 of the shaft 2.

[0042] 2 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a partially illustrated building 10, provided with a shaft 2 having a traction pulley-driven elevator 3 and a self-propelled lift 4 for vertically transporting objects based on a drive type different from that of the elevators described above. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the building 10 has a number of floors 14 and 15. The floors designated with the numeral 14 are associated with the front 12 of the shaft 2, whereby they comprise a first floor 14', a second floor 14'', etc., with the top floor illustrated here being the fifth floor 14. v Passengers can enter the elevator car 5 from this front 12 through elevator shaft doors 17 and adjacent car doors 35. At the opposite rear 13 of the shaft 2, a plurality of lift shaft doors 18 are arranged, which provide access to the lift platform 11. These shaft doors 18, which have smaller dimensions at least in terms of height, are intended to provide access for unmanned vehicles and do not serve as access for ordinary people. Each floor, i.e., floors 14', 14'', 14''', 14' v , 14 v , and floor 15', 15'', 15'', 15' v , 15 v may be connected to a common floor when they are on the same floor, so that, for example, floor 14 v A person on floor 14 can reach floor 14 by walking through a passageway or hallway (not shown here) within building 10. vThe plurality of floors 14 associated with elevator shaft doors 17 at the front 12 of shaft 2 have a lowest floor 14'. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the plurality of floors 15 associated with lift shaft doors 18 at the rear 13 of shaft 13 have a floor 15 located below said lowest floor 14'. N This floor has 15 N serves as the main entrance floor, which may be solely for the passage of autonomous vehicles, robots, and other unmanned objects coming from the outside via a building entrance (not shown), or from a storage facility or waiting area, for example.

[0043] 2 further shows that each of the lift shaft doors 18 is equipped with a controllable lift shaft door drive 34 for opening and closing the lift shaft doors 18 relative to one another. To open and close the lift shaft doors 18, the lift shaft door drive 34 can be controlled by the mobile lift platform 11. Accordingly, the lift controller 32 integrated into the mobile lift platform 11 has a transceiver unit designed to transmit and receive radio signals for wirelessly communicating with signal receptors (not shown) associated with the lift shaft door drive 34, as shown in FIG. 1. The mobile lift platform 11 is designed as a vehicle that can enter and exit the shaft 2 and be moved over the floor. Rollers 27 (shown by dashed lines) are provided on the mobile lift platform 11 to enable the lift platform 11 to be moved over the floor.

[0044] The host elevator and lift controller 33 located in the building 10 includes an interface. The interface is communicatively linked to the elevator controller 31. Additionally, the interface is communicatively linked to the processing unit of the lift platform 11, which in turn is linked to the aforementioned lift controller 32. The interface generally serves to transmit data as well as store them, and is therefore designed for at least one of these purposes. According to an exemplary embodiment, interaction between the interface and the lift platform 11 may occur via a network. The network may include a mobile communication network enabling communication according to one of the known mobile radio communication standards, for example, a GSM, UMTS, or LTE mobile communication network. The network may further include a data network, which may be part of the IT infrastructure for so-called cloud computing. Cloud computing refers, for example, to the storage of data in a remote computer center, but also to the execution of programs that are not installed locally but rather remotely. Depending on the respective design, certain functions may be made available, for example, within the interface or via the "cloud." For example, a software application or program portion thereof may be executed in the cloud for this purpose. In this case, the interface accesses this infrastructure on demand to run software applications.

[0045] Figures 3 and 4 refer to schematic diagrams of an exemplary embodiment of a transport system 1. In Figure 3, an elevator car 5 of a traction sheave-driven elevator 3 is shown, illustrating some technical details. A lift platform 11 of a self-propelled lift 4 for vertically transporting objects is indicated by a dashed line. A lift guide unit 22 for guiding the lift platform 11 and a lift drive unit 23 for raising and lowering it are symbolically indicated (see Figure 4 below).

[0046] When the lift platform 11 is positioned in the shaft for ascending and descending, it overlaps the vertical projection of the elevator car 5, so that the vertical projection of the lift platform 11 is significantly smaller than that of the elevator car 5. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the lift platform 11 essentially projects completely into the elevator car 5. This projection also includes an arrangement whereby a small rear section of the lift platform 11 can be located outside the vertical projection of the car. For easy access and handling of the lift platform 11, it can be advantageous for the lift platform 11 to be close to, and more preferably in the immediate vicinity of, the rear surface 13 of the shaft 2, where the adjacent lift shaft door 18 is located. The base area occupied by the vertical projection of the lift platform 11 is approximately 50% of the base area occupied by the vertical projection of the passenger car 5.

[0047] The elevator car 5 is a front-supporting car guided along a pair of opposing car guide means 20, whereby each of the two car guide means 20 is located on one of the side surfaces 19 of the shaft 2 (and therefore on the sides of the car) and in an area close to the front surface 12. The elevator 3 is equipped with two opposing counterweights 6, whereby the counterweights 6 are located on opposite side surfaces 19 of the shaft 2. The counterweights 6 extend horizontally to a maximum extent up to an imaginary boundary defined by the nearest boundary of the vertical projection of the lift platform 11.

[0048] The counterweight 6 is guided along counterweight guide means 21. In this embodiment, the counterweight guide means 21 and the car guide means 20 on each side 19 of the shaft 2 are formed by a common guide rail section, for example made from a monolithic rolled metal section. Further details regarding this front-sack elevator with the above-mentioned special configuration of the common guide rail section and counterweight can be found in the applicant's international applications PCT / EP2019 / 085699 and PCT / EP2019 / 086382, the disclosures of which are included below. The elevator 3 is equipped with two drive engines 8 (not shown here), whereby one drive engine is provided for each of the counterweights.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows the transport system 1 for a better understanding and overview of the self-propelled lift 4 without the elevator 3. The lift platform 11 of the self-propelled lift 4 has two drive units 35 for ascending and descending in the shaft 2, whereby each of the two drive units 35 transmits power to two gears 26. Thus, the lift platform 11 has four gears 26. Four guide units 22 are arranged in the shaft 2, whereby two of the four guide units 22 are arranged on or on opposite sides 19 of the shaft 2. The guide units 22 have two pairs of vertical posts 25 and roller chains 26, one of which is attached to each of the posts 25 and extends parallel to the posts 25, whereby the roller chains 26 are intended to receive the associated gears 26. The posts 25 may be formed as hollow rail profiles. A similar lift platform having a motorized gear and roller chains and a vertical post so that the lift platform can rise and fall is disclosed in International Publication WO 2018 / 189110, but it refers to a different technical field. Surprisingly, the Applicant has found that such a lift platform from an order picking system running vertically between racks can be advantageously implemented in a vertical transport system within a building, the building having floors between which transport takes place.

[0050] The lift platform 11 is designed as an autonomous vehicle for delivering goods that can enter and exit the shaft 2 and can be moved within the floor 15. To be able to move on the floor 15, the lift platform is equipped with motorized wheels 27 (see Figure 2). The lift platform 11 then acts like a robocar that senses its environment and can be safely moved on the floor without human input. Alternatively, the mobile lift platform 11 may be designed as an AGV that follows, for example, a marking or wire on the floor.

[0051] 2 shows, by way of example, how such a mobile lift platform 11 can be transported within a shaft 2. The shaft 2 comprises an extendable platform or ramp 36 located on each floor 15. The ramp 36 is designed to be able to extend from a rest position to an extended position. For actuation of the controllable ramp 36a (not shown), a sliding drive may be provided which may be electronically coupled with a lift door controller for controlling the operation of the lift shaft door 18. The main entrance floor 15 N The extended ramp 36 associated with the floor 15 is shown by a dashed line. By virtue of the ramp 36, the mobile lift platform 11 can N The mobile lift platform 11 can be moved into the shaft 2 via the extended ramp 36 from the entrance floor 15. The mobile lift platform 11 then docks with the lift guide unit and is ready to ascend and descend in the shaft 2. After the docking procedure, the ramp 36 slides back to its rest position. The respective closing movement of the ramp 36 is indicated by the arrow s. In this rest position, the ramp is fully retracted, allowing the mobile lift platform 11 to ascend and descend unhindered. The shaft 2 may be a pitless shaft. In this case, the mobile lift platform 11 can reach the entrance floor 15 without the need for such a ramp 36. N into the shaft 2. The extendable ramp 36 may comprise a number of elements forming the extendable ramp.

[0052] Other transport means for transporting the mobile lift platform 11 from the floors 15 to the shaft 2 should also be considered. For example, instead of the telescopic ramps 36 described above, foldable ramps may be provided on each floor 15, so that after actuation the foldable ramps can be pivotably moved from a vertical rest position to a horizontal drive-up position.

Claims

1. A transport system (1) for a building having several floors (14, 15), comprising: - a shaft (2), a traction-sheave-driven elevator (3) for transporting people vertically, comprising an elevator car (5) movable in a shaft (2) and at least one counterweight (6, 16) movable together with the car (5) in the shaft (2) in a direction of movement opposite to that of the elevator car (5), the elevator car (5) and the counterweight (6) being driven by at least one drive engine (8) having a traction sheave (9); a self-propelled lift (4) for vertically transporting objects based on a drive type different from that of an elevator (3), the lift (4) having a lift platform (11) movable in a shaft (2) and equipped with at least one lifting drive unit (23) for ascending and descending in the shaft (2); Equipped with The shaft (2) comprises a plurality of elevator shaft doors (17) for providing passenger access to the elevator car (5), the plurality of elevator shaft doors (17) being disposed on a front face (12) of the shaft (2) so that at least one of the elevator shaft doors (17) is disposed at each of a plurality of floors (14); a plurality of lift shaft doors (18) for providing access for objects to the lift platform (11) or the lift platform (11), the plurality of lift shaft doors (18) being arranged on a rear surface (13) opposite to the front surface (12) of the shaft, at least one of the lift shaft doors (18) being arranged on each of a plurality of floors (15), each of the latter floors (15) preferably being arranged at the same level as an adjacent one of the floors (14) on the front surface (12) of the shaft (2); Transportation system (1).

2. A transport system (1) for a building having several floors (14, 15), comprising: - a shaft (2), a traction-sheave-driven elevator (3) for transporting people vertically, comprising an elevator car (5) movable in a shaft (2) and at least one counterweight (6, 16) movable together with the car (5) in the shaft (2) in a direction of movement opposite to that of the elevator car (5), the elevator car (5) and the counterweight (6) being driven by at least one drive engine (8) having a traction sheave (9); a self-propelled lift (4) for vertically transporting objects based on a drive type different from that of an elevator (3), the lift (4) having a lift platform (11) movable in a shaft (2) and equipped with at least one lifting drive unit (23) for ascending and descending in the shaft (2); Equipped with At least two, preferably four lift guide units (22) are arranged in the shaft (2) for guiding the lift platform (11); The lift platform (11) of the self-propelled lift (4) comprises at least two, preferably four, electric gears (24) capable of interacting with at least two, preferably four, associated lift guide units (22); Each of the lift shaft doors (18) is provided with a controllable lift shaft door drive (34) for opening and closing the lift shaft doors (18) relative to one another, whereby the lift shaft door drive (34) can be controlled by the mobile lift platform (11) or, when the lift platform (11) is permanently installed in the shaft (2), by an autonomous robot (28) as an object to be transported on the lift platform (11); Transportation system (1).

3. 2. A transport system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two, preferably four, lift guide units (22) are arranged in the shaft (2) for guiding the lift platform (11).

4. 4. A transport system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the lift platform (11) of the self-propelled lift (4) comprises at least two, preferably four, electric gears (24) capable of interacting with at least two, preferably four, associated lift guide units (22).

5. 5. A transport system (1) according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that when four lift guide units (22) are provided, the lift guide units (22) comprise two pairs of vertical posts (25) and roller chains (26), one of the roller chains (26) being attached to each of the posts (25) and extending parallel to the posts (25), whereby the roller chains (26) are intended to receive associated gears (24).

6. 6. A transport system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the posts (25) are formed as hollow rail profiles.

7. A transport system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lift platform (11) of the self-propelled lift (4) is a mobile lift platform designed as a vehicle that can be moved in and out of the shaft (2) and moved on the floor (15), whereby the lift platform (11) is provided with rollers (27) for enabling it to be moved on the floor (15).

8. A transport system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lift platform (11) of the self-propelled lift (4) at least partially overlaps with the vertical projection of the elevator car (5), whereby preferably the vertical projection of the lift platform (4) is smaller than the vertical projection of the elevator car (5).

9. 9. A transport system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the base area occupied by the vertical projection of the lift platform (11) is preferably less than 80%, particularly preferably less than 60%, of the base area occupied by the vertical projection of the elevator car (5).

10. The shaft (2) comprises a plurality of elevator shaft doors (17) for providing passenger access to the elevator car (5), the plurality of elevator shaft doors (17) being disposed on a front face (12) of the shaft (2) so that at least one of the elevator shaft doors (17) is disposed at each of a plurality of floors (14); 3. A transport system (1) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a plurality of lift shaft doors (18) for providing access for objects to the lift platform (11) or the lift platform (11), the plurality of lift shaft doors (18) being arranged on a rear surface (13) opposite to the front surface (12) of the shaft, at least one of the lift shaft doors (18) being arranged on each of a plurality of floors (15), each of the latter floors (15) preferably being arranged at the same level as an adjacent one of the floors (14) on the front surface (12) of the shaft (2).

11. The plurality of floors (14) associated with the elevator shaft door (17) at the front (12) of the shaft (2) comprises a lowest floor (14'), and the plurality of floors (15) associated with the lift shaft door (18) at the rear (13) of the shaft (2) comprises at least one floor (15) located below said lowest floor (14'). Ｎ 11. A transport system (1) according to claim 1 or 10, characterized in that it comprises:

12. 4. A transport system (1) according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that each of the lift shaft doors (18) comprises a controllable lift shaft door drive (34) for mutually opening and closing the lift shaft doors (18), whereby the lift shaft door drive (34) can be controlled by the mobile lift platform (11) or, when the lift platform (11) is permanently installed in the shaft (2), by an autonomous robot (28) as an object to be transported on the lift platform (11).

13. 13. A transport system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the elevator car (5) of the elevator (3) is a front-supporting car guided along a pair of opposite car guide means (20), whereby each of the two car guide means (20) is arranged in an area close to one of the side surfaces (19) of the shaft (2) and to the front surface (12) of the shaft (2).

14. A transport system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the elevator (3) comprises two opposing counterweights (6, 16), whereby the counterweights (6, 16) are arranged on opposite sides (19) of the shaft (2).

15. 14. A transport system (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the counterweights (6, 16) are guided along counterweight guide means (21), and the counterweight guide means (21) and the cage guide means (20) on each side (19) of the shaft (2) are formed by a common guide rail profile.

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