Car position detection method and car position detection device

Abstract

To provide a car position detection device that can detect the position of a car safely and accurately with a simple configuration. [Solution] The elevator car position detection device is installed on either the elevator shaft or the elevator car, and includes first to fifth optical sensors that detect objects on a straight line perpendicular to the floor surface of the other member by emitting light from the top to different positions on the straight line, in that order, and a first marker and a second marker that are provided on the straight line. When, due to the elevator car moving, the first and second optical sensors switch to a state in which they detect the first marker and the fourth and fifth optical sensors switch to a state in which they detect the second marker within a predetermined period of time, and the light emitted from the third optical sensor switches from a state in which it detects the first marker or the second marker to a state in which it does not detect the first marker or the second marker, the position detection device determines that the elevator car has reached a predetermined landing position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a car position detection method and a car position detection device. [Background technology]

[0002] When an elevator car lands at a landing on the building side and the doors open, in order for passengers to get on and off the car smoothly, the car needs to land so that its floor is at the same height as the floor of the landing.

[0003] In view of this, a car position detection device is installed inside the elevator, which is composed of a floor arrival detection plate (hereinafter referred to as "landing plate") and a plate detection device. Multiple landing plates are installed on each floor, corresponding to the height of the floor surface of the floors in the elevator shaft. The plate detection device has the function of detecting the landing plate and is installed on the car. By using this position detection device to stop the car when the plate detection device detects the landing plate while the car is moving, the car can be landed so that the floor surface of the car and the floor surface of the landing are at the same height. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-97536 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The inspection plate is installed protruding toward the car from a guide rail installed in the elevator shaft to guide the car's movement. Therefore, when an earthquake occurs and the car shakes sideways while it is on a floor, there is a risk that the plate may come into contact with the plate detector and be damaged.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a car position detection method and car position detection device that are capable of detecting the position of a car safely and accurately with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an embodiment for achieving the above object, a position detection device for a car is provided with first to fifth optical sensors that are installed on either an elevator shaft or a car, and that detect objects on a line perpendicular to the floor surface of the other member by emitting light from the top of the line toward different positions in that order, and a first marker and a second marker that are provided on the line. When, due to movement of the car, the first and second optical sensors switch to a state in which they detect the first marker and the fourth and fifth optical sensors switch to a state in which they detect the second marker, and when the light emitted from the third optical sensor switches from a state in which it detects the first marker or the second marker to a state in which it does not detect the first marker or the second marker, within a predetermined period of time, the position detection device determines that the car has reached a predetermined floor landing position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator (with a machine room) using a car position detection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator (without a machine room) using a car position detection device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A is a perspective view of the exterior of a guide rail in an elevator according to one embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a guide rail, a sensor bracket, a first hole portion, a second hole portion, and first to fifth optical sensors in an elevator according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a guide rail, a sensor bracket, a first hole portion, a second hole portion, and first to fifth optical sensors in an elevator according to another embodiment. [Figure 6]1 is a top view of a guide rail, a sensor bracket, a first hole portion, a second hole portion, and first to fifth optical sensors in an elevator according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a side view of a guide rail, a sensor bracket, a first hole portion, a second hole portion, and first to fifth optical sensors in an elevator according to one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 8] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the detection results (ON / OFF) of the first hole portion and the second hole portion by the first to fifth optical sensors that change over time when the elevator car is moving upward in one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] (a) is a side view of the state in which light is emitted from the first to fifth optical sensors onto the guide rail at time t5 in Figure 6, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the height of the car floor surface and the height of the landing floor surface. [Figure 10] (a) is a side view of the state in which light is emitted from the first to fifth optical sensors onto the guide rail at time t6 in Figure 6, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the height of the car floor surface and the height of the landing floor surface. [Figure 11] (a) is a side view of the state in which light is emitted from the first to fifth optical sensors onto the guide rail at time t11 in Figure 6, and (b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the height of the car floor surface and the height of the landing floor surface. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an adjustment mechanism installed on a guide rail in an elevator according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] (a) is a cross-sectional view of a guide rail when the first and second markers in an elevator according to one embodiment are configured as triangular prism-shaped recesses, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the guide rail when they are configured as triangular prism-shaped protrusions. [Figure 14] (a) is a cross-sectional view of a guide rail when the first and second markers in an elevator according to one embodiment are configured as rectangular prism-shaped recesses, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the guide rail when they are configured as rectangular prism-shaped protrusions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An elevator using a car position detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0010] First Embodiment FIG. 1 is an overall view showing the configuration of an elevator 1A according to a first embodiment. The elevator 1A includes a hoist 4 installed in a machine room 3 above a hoistway 2, a car 6 suspended from one end of a rope 5 hung on the hoist 4, a counterweight 7 suspended from the other end, and an elevator control device 9 installed in the machine room 3 and connected to the car 6 via a tail cord 8. Landing doors 12 are installed at landings 11 on each floor. The floor surface of the landing 11 is referred to as landing floor surface 13. The car 6 also has a car door 61. The floor surface of the car 6 is referred to as car floor surface 62.

[0011] In this embodiment, an elevator 1B without a machine room may be used as shown in Fig. 2. In the elevator 1B, the hoisting machine 4 and the elevator control device 9 are installed in the hoistway 2.

[0012] Within the hoistway 2, guide rails 10 that guide the movement of the car 6 are installed with their longitudinal axis aligned perpendicular to the floor surface. The hoisting machine 4 is driven under the control of an elevator control device 9. The car 6 rises and falls within the hoistway 2 along the guide rails 10 as the hoisting machine 4 operates.

[0013] Fig. 3(a) is an external perspective view of the guide rail 10, and Fig. 3(b) is a front view. The guide rail 10 is configured by connecting multiple rails 10a, 10b... formed for each floor using battens 100. Markings 101a, 101b... serving as identification information indicating the connection order are affixed to predetermined positions on each of the multiple rails 10a, 10b... Furthermore, a first hole 21a serving as a first marker and a second hole 22a serving as a second marker are formed in predetermined positions on the multiple rails 10a, 10b... as described below.

[0014] When installing the guide rail 10, the first hole 21a and the second hole 22a can be provided in appropriate positions by connecting the guide rail 10 based on the identification information indicated by the markings 101a and 101b and attaching it to the elevator shaft 2. The positions of the first hole 21a and the second hole 22a will be described later.

[0015] Figure 4 is an external perspective view of the guide rail 10, sensor bracket 30, first hole portion 21a, second hole portion 22a, and first optical sensor 31 to fifth optical sensor 35, Figure 6 is a view of these from above, and Figure 7 is a view of these from the side.

[0016] The guide rail 10 has a substantially T-shaped horizontal cross section, and guide shoes 104 or roller guides 105 are installed at the top and bottom of the car 6 along the substantially T-shaped convex portions 103 of the guide rail 10. A sensor bracket 30 is installed on the guide shoes 104 or roller guides 105 at the top or bottom of the car 6. The sensor bracket 30 may be installed on the top or bottom of the car 6 via an attachment member 30a. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the sensor bracket 30 installed on the top of the car 6. In this embodiment, a case where the sensor bracket 30 is installed on the guide shoe 104 or roller guide 105 at the top of the car 6 will be described as an example.

[0017] A first optical sensor 31, a second optical sensor 32, a third optical sensor 33, a fourth optical sensor 34, and a fifth optical sensor 35 are installed on the sensor bracket 30 in this order from above at predetermined intervals of a distance L. The first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 emit laser light in a direction parallel to the floor surface toward different positions on a line X that is perpendicular to the floor surface within the guide rail 10.

[0018] That is, the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is incident on different positions on the line X at equal intervals of a distance L, in order from the top. This distance L is the maximum distance that the elevator car 6 is set to be able to move from its landing position on a predetermined floor with the door open. The first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 also receive the emitted light that is reflected by an object.

[0019] When the emitted light is incident on the first hole 21a or the second hole 22a and the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 no longer detect the reflected light, the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that the hole 21a or 22a into which the emitted light has entered has been detected. The first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 transmit detection information of the hole 21a, 22a based on the light-receiving state of the reflected light when the laser light is emitted to the elevator control device 9 via the tail cord 8.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 may be installed at positions offset from one another in the light emission direction within the sensor bracket 30, or may be installed side by side at equal intervals on a straight line perpendicular to the floor surface.

[0021] A constriction 102 is formed in a generally T-shaped protrusion 103 of the guide rail 10. The first hole 21a and the second hole 22a are provided at different positions on a straight line X that is perpendicular to the floor surface within the constriction 102.

[0022] The first hole portion 21a and the second hole portion 22a have the same shape and are large enough to allow up to two adjacent laser beams out of the laser beams emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 to simultaneously enter and pass through.

[0023] 7, the first hole 21a and the second hole 22a have a length (L+a) that is the above-mentioned distance L plus a tolerance a in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 10. The tolerance a is a margin provided to allow two incident light beams spaced apart by the distance L to pass through simultaneously.

[0024] The first hole portion 21a and the second hole portion 22a are arranged on a straight line X so that when the elevator car 6 reaches a predetermined landing position, the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 detect the first hole portion 21a, and the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 detect the second hole portion 22a.

[0025] The elevator control device 9 has a car position detection unit 91 and an operation control unit 92. The car position detection unit 91 detects the position of the car 6 based on the detection information of the holes 21a, 22a acquired from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35. The operation control unit 92 controls the hoisting machine 4 and the like based on the position information of the car 6 detected by the car position detection unit 91, and moves the car 6 appropriately.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first hole portion 21a, the second hole portion 22a, the sensor bracket 30, and the car position detection portion 91 constitute a position detection device for the car 6.

[0027] The position detection process of the car 6 executed by the car position detection unit 91 will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a table showing the detection states of the hole 21a or 22a by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 at times t1 to t6 and times t11 to t15 when the car 6 is moving upward. When the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 receive reflected light of the emitted laser light, they determine that they have not detected the hole 21a or 22a (detection OFF), and when they do not receive reflected light of the emitted laser light, they determine that they have detected the hole 21a or 22a (detection ON).

[0028] While the elevator car 6 is moving, laser light is emitted at predetermined time intervals from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35. First, at time t1, all of the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10 and received by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35, respectively. As a result, at time t1, all of the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0029] Information on the detection results by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is transmitted to the elevator control device 9. From the acquired information on the detection results, the elevator control device 9 recognizes that the distance between the car floor surface 62 of the car 6 and the landing floor surface 13 of the landing 11 is greater than L×4, and that the car 6 is located between floors.

[0030] Next, at time t2, the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 passes through the second hole portion 22a, and the laser light emitted from the second optical sensors 32 to the fifth optical sensors 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t2, the first optical sensor 31 determines that detection is ON, and the second optical sensors 32 to the fifth optical sensors 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0031] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen higher than at time t1 and is approaching the landing 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the landing 11 is between distance L×4 and distance L×3.

[0032] Next, at time t3, the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 passes through the second hole portion 22a, and the laser light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t3, the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 determine that detection is ON, and the third optical sensor 33 to the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0033] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t2 and is approaching the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L x 3.

[0034] Next, at time t4, the laser light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the third optical sensor 33 passes through the second hole portion 22a, and the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31, the fourth optical sensor 34, and the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t4, the second optical sensor 32 and the third optical sensor 33 determine that detection is ON, and the first optical sensor 31, the fourth optical sensor 34, and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0035] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t3 and is approaching the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L x 2.

[0036] Next, at time t5, the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 passes through the first hole 21a, the laser light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 and the fourth optical sensor 34 passes through the second hole 22a, and the laser light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t5, the first optical sensor 31, the third optical sensor 33, and the fourth optical sensor 34 determine that detection is ON, and the second optical sensor 32 and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0037] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t4 and is approaching the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L.

[0038] 9(a) is a side view showing the state at time t5 when light is emitted onto the guide rail from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35. At this time, the light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 passes through the first hole 21a, the light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 and the fourth optical sensor 34 passes through the second hole 22a, and the light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10.

[0039] 9(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the car floor surface 62 and the hall floor surface 13 at time t5. At this time, the height of the car floor surface 62 is lower than the height of the hall floor surface 13, and the difference therebetween is a distance L.

[0040] Next, at time t6, the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 passes through the first hole 21a, the laser light emitted from the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the second hole 22a, and the laser light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t6, the first optical sensor 31, the second optical sensor 32, the fourth optical sensor 34, and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is ON, and the third optical sensor 33 determines that detection is OFF.

[0041] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t5 and has reached a landing position where the floor surface of the car 6 and the floor surface of the hall 11 are at the same height.

[0042] In this way, the car position detection unit 91 determines that the car 6 has reached a predetermined landing position when, due to the movement of the car 6, within a predetermined period of time, the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 detect the second hole portion 22a and then detect the first hole portion 21a, and the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 switch to a state of detecting the second hole portion 22a, and the light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 switches from a state of detecting the second hole portion 22a to a state of not detecting it.

[0043] 10(a) is a side view showing the state at time t6 when light is emitted onto the guide rail from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35. At this time, the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 passes through the first hole 21a, the light emitted from the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the second hole 22a, and the light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 is reflected by the guide rail 10.

[0044] 10(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the car floor surface 62 and the hall floor surface 13 at time t6. At this time, the car floor surface 62 and the hall floor surface 13 are at the same height.

[0045] When the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the floor surface of the car 6 and the floor surface of the landing 11 have reached a landing position at the same height, the operation control unit 92 stops the car 6 and opens the car door 61 and the landing door 12. After that, when passengers have finished getting on and off the car 6, the operation control unit 92 closes the car door 61 and the landing door 12 and starts moving the car 6. " At time t11 after the car 6 starts moving, the laser light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the third optical sensor 33 passes through the first hole 21a, and the laser light emitted from the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the second hole 22a, and the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the fourth optical sensor 34 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t11, the second optical sensor 32, the third optical sensor 33, and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is ON, and the first optical sensor 31 and the fourth optical sensor 34 determine that detection is OFF.

[0046] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t6 and moved away from the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L.

[0047] 11(a) is a side view showing the state at time t11 when light is emitted onto the guide rail from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35. At this time, the light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the third optical sensor 33 passes through the first hole 21a, the light emitted from the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the second hole 22a, and the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the fourth optical sensor 34 is reflected by the guide rail 10.

[0048] 11(b) is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the car floor surface 62 and the hall floor surface 13 at time t11. At this time, the height of the car floor surface 62 is higher than the height of the hall floor surface 13, and the difference therebetween is a distance L.

[0049] Next, at time t12, the laser light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 and the fourth optical sensor 34 passes through the first hole portion 21a, and the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31, the second optical sensor 32, and the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t12, the third optical sensor 33 and the fourth optical sensor 34 determine that detection is ON, and the first optical sensor 31, the second optical sensor 32, and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0050] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t11 and moved away from the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L x 2.

[0051] Next, at time t13, the laser light emitted from the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the first hole portion 21a, and the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the third optical sensor 33 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t13, the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is ON, and the first optical sensor 31 to the third optical sensor 33 determine that detection is OFF.

[0052] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t12 and moved away from the hall 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the hall 11 has become distance L x 3.

[0053] Next, at time t14, the laser light emitted from the fifth optical sensor 35 passes through the first hole portion 21a, and the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fourth optical sensor 34 is reflected by the guide rail 10. As a result, at time t14, the fifth optical sensor 35 determines that detection is ON, and the first optical sensor 31 to the fourth optical sensor 34 determine that detection is OFF.

[0054] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen higher than at time t13 and moved away from the platform 11, and that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the platform 11 is between distance L×4 and distance L×3.

[0055] Next, at time t15, all of the laser light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is reflected by the guide rail 10 and received by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35, respectively. As a result, at time t15, all of the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 determine that detection is OFF.

[0056] Based on this detection result, the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the car 6 has risen since time t14 and is now farther away than the distance L×4 between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the landing 11, and that the position of the car 6 has now become inter-floor.

[0057] The car position detection unit 91 can also detect the position of the car 6 when the car 6 moves downward.

[0058] The operation control unit 92 controls the hoist 4 and the like based on the position information of the car 6 detected by the car position detection unit 91 as described above, to move the car 6. For example, when, during a predetermined time, as when the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 detect the first hole portion 21a, and the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 switch to a state in which they detect the second hole portion 22a, and the light emitted from the third optical sensor 33 switches from a state in which it detects the first hole portion 21a or the second hole portion 22a to a state in which it does not detect it, as occurs when time t5 transitions to time t6, the operation control unit 92 recognizes that the floor surface of the car 6 and the floor surface of the hall 11 have reached a landing position at the same height, and stops the car 6 and opens the door.

[0059] Furthermore, when the height of the car 6 is slightly shifted due to passengers getting on or off while the car 6 is stopped at a predetermined landing position and the doors are open, if the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the landing 11 is within distance L, as at time t5 or t11, the operation control unit 92 uses wire stretch adjustment to adjust the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the landing 11 so that they are at the same height level.

[0060] Furthermore, when the car position detection unit 91 recognizes that the distance between the floor of the car 6 and the floor of the platform 11 has become greater than the distance L, as at time t4 or t12 while the doors of the car 6 are open, the operation control unit 92 determines that the car 6 is traveling with the doors open and stops the movement of the car 6.

[0061] In this way, elevator 1A is configured to detect the position of car 6 safely and accurately with a simple configuration without installing an inspection plate, so that when an earthquake or the like occurs and car 6 sways sideways, no contact occurs between car 6 and the inspection plate, preventing damage to components within elevator 1A.

[0062] Furthermore, by constructing the elevator 1A without installing an inspection plate, there are no components protruding from the guide rail toward the car, which increases the degree of freedom in the layout of the elevator shaft 2 and the car 6 and reduces the amount of work required to install the elevator.

[0063] Furthermore, when the above-mentioned sensor bracket 30 is installed on the top of the car, installation and inspection can be performed from the top of the car 6, and when the sensor bracket 30 is installed on the bottom of the car, installation and inspection can be performed from the pit, allowing workers to easily perform these management tasks.

[0064] Furthermore, if the car position detection unit 91 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the third optical sensor 33 when, due to the movement of the car 6, the first optical sensor 31 and the second optical sensor 32 switch to a state in which they detect the first hole portion 21a and the fourth optical sensor 34 and the fifth optical sensor 35 switch to a state in which they detect the second hole portion 22a within a predetermined period of time, but the third optical sensor 33 remains in a state in which it does not detect either the first hole portion 21a or the second hole portion 22a.

[0065] Furthermore, if the third optical sensor 33 switches from a state in which it detects the first hole portion 21a or the second hole portion 22a to a state in which it does not detect them, but the first optical sensor 31 or the second optical sensor 32 does not switch to a state in which it detects the first hole portion 21a, or the fourth optical sensor 34 or the fifth optical sensor 35 does not switch to a state in which it detects the second hole portion 22a, the car position detection unit 91 can determine that an abnormality has occurred in the optical sensor whose detection state has not switched.

[0066] In other words, the car position detection unit 91 duplicates the detection process of the position of the car 6 using a group of optical sensors consisting of the first optical sensor 31, the second optical sensor 32, the fourth optical sensor 34, and the fifth optical sensor 35, and the third optical sensor 33, thereby making it possible to easily determine the normal / abnormal state of each optical sensor.

[0067] When the car position detection unit 91 determines that an abnormality has occurred in any of the optical sensors, the operation control unit 92 shifts to a low-speed operation mode and moves the car 6, while using the normal optical sensors to land the car 6 at a predetermined landing position. This ensures safety and allows the car 6 to land at an appropriate position even if an abnormality occurs in any of the optical sensors.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 is set to be incident at different positions at equal intervals on the line X. However, this is not limiting, and the position and emission direction of each optical sensor may be set so that the first distance between the incident position of the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 and the incident position of the light emitted from the second optical sensor 32 and the second distance between the incident position of the light emitted from the fourth optical sensor 34 and the incident position of the light emitted from the fifth optical sensor 35 are the same on the line X.

[0069] The first marker and the second marker may be configured to be slidable while maintaining a constant distance between them on a straight line X. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, a third hole 23 larger than the first marker and a fourth hole 24 larger than the second marker are formed at predetermined positions on the guide rail 10, and the adjustment member 200 is placed on them.

[0070] The adjustment member 200 has a fifth hole portion 201 shaped to correspond to the first marker and a sixth hole portion 202 shaped to correspond to the second marker. The adjustment member 200 also has a first rail portion 203 and a second rail portion 204 arranged in the longitudinal direction, a first screw portion 205 installed at a predetermined position on the guide rail 10 to fix the adjustment member 200 to the guide rail 10 at any position within the first rail portion 203, and a second screw portion 206 installed at any position within the second rail portion 204 to fix the adjustment member 200 to the guide rail 10. The adjustment member 200 is installed so that the first rail portion 203 and the second rail portion 204 are aligned with the straight line X.

[0071] By attaching adjustment member 200 configured in this manner so that fifth hole portion 201 and sixth hole portion 202 are positioned above third hole portion 23 and fourth hole portion 24, respectively, it is possible to appropriately adjust the positions of fifth hole portion 201 and sixth hole portion by sliding first rail portion 203 and second rail portion 204. This makes it possible to appropriately adjust the positional relationship between the markers and the optical sensors after installing first marker, second marker, and first optical sensor 31 to fifth optical sensor 35.

[0072] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the first marker and the second marker are described as being configured as hole-shaped holes, but this is not limited to this, and other shapes are also acceptable as long as they can be detected by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35.

[0073] For example, as in the above-described embodiment, when the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 determine the detection status of the first marker and the second marker based on whether or not they receive reflected light of the emitted light, the first marker and the second marker may be configured to have a shape that refracts the light emitted from the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 in a direction other than the direction from which it was emitted.

[0074] Specifically, the first marker and the second marker are configured with triangular prism-shaped recesses 21b and 22b. Fig. 13(a) is a cross-sectional view of guide rail 10 when the first marker and the second marker are configured with recesses 21b and 22b. Alternatively, the first marker and the second marker are configured with triangular prism-shaped protrusions 21c and 22c. Fig. 13(b) is a cross-sectional view of guide rail 10 when the first marker and the second marker are configured with protrusions 21c and 22c.

[0075] By configuring the first marker and the second marker as recesses 21b and 22b, or protrusions 21c and 22c, when light emitted by the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 enters the first marker or the second marker, it is refracted in a direction other than the optical sensor from which it originated. This allows the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 to detect the first marker or the second marker when they do not receive reflected light of the emitted light.

[0076] Reflectors (not shown) may be attached to the surfaces of the recesses 21b, recesses 22b, protrusions 21c, and protrusions 22c, thereby enabling light to be refracted in a predetermined direction with even greater precision.

[0077] Alternatively, the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 may be configured as distance measurement sensors such as LiDAR, and the first and second markers may be configured as quadrangular prism-shaped recesses 21d and 22d, or quadrangular prism-shaped protrusions 21e and 22e. Fig. 14(a) is a cross-sectional view of the guide rail 10 when the first and second markers are configured as recesses 21d and 22d, and Fig. 14(b) is a cross-sectional view of the guide rail 10 when the first and second markers are configured as protrusions 21e and 22e.

[0078] By configuring the first marker and the second marker as recesses 21d and 22d in this manner, the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 can detect the first marker or the second marker when the distance to the guide rail 10 being measured changes.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a mechanism constituted by a combination of the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 and the first and second markers that receive the light emitted from these sensors may be provided corresponding to the lower part of the car 6, or may be provided corresponding to both the upper and lower parts of the car 6. By providing this mechanism corresponding to both the upper and lower parts of the car 6, the position of the car 6 can be detected with even greater accuracy.

[0080] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of mechanisms each composed of a combination of the first optical sensor 31 to the fifth optical sensor 35 and the first and second markers that receive the light emitted from these sensors may be installed at different positions within the elevator 1A. For example, since two guide rails 10 are installed on both sides of the car 6, a first marker and a second marker are provided on the guide rails 10 on different sides for each floor, and sensor brackets 30 are installed at two positions within the car 6 corresponding to each of the two guide rails 10.

[0081] By configuring in this manner, for example, when using a position detection device in an elevator in which car doors are installed on two sides of the car and doors open and close in different directions on each floor of a building, even if the difference in height between different landings is smaller than the difference between normal floors, the landing position on each floor can be accurately detected by installing the above-mentioned mechanism on both the top and bottom of the car 6.

[0082] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, while the car 6 is traveling, the operation control unit 92 may measure the time from when one of the multiple markers provided on the guide rail 10 is switched from a detected state to an undetected state by any of the optical sensors until the next marker is detected, and calculate the traveling speed of the car 6 based on the measured time and the distance between these markers. The operation control unit 92 may use information on the calculated traveling speed to control the operation of the car 6.

[0083] In the above-described embodiment, the sensor bracket 30 is installed on the car 6, and the first and second markers are provided on the guide rail 10 on the hoistway 2 side. However, these installation positions may be reversed. In other words, the sensor bracket 30 may be installed on a member on the hoistway 2 side, and the first and second markers may be provided on the car 6.

[0084] In addition, the above-mentioned position detection device may be provided with optical sensors and markers so as to detect when the car 6 has reached an emergency stop position to prevent the rope from overwinding, in addition to the landing position corresponding to each floor landing of the car 6.

[0085] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1A, 1B... elevator, 2... hoistway, 3... machine room, 4... hoisting machine, 5... rope, 6... car, 7... counterweight, 8... tail cord, 9... elevator control device, 10... guide rail, 10a, 10b... rail, 11... landing, 12... landing door, 13... landing floor, 21a... first hole, 21b... recess, 21c... protrusion, 21d... recess, 21e... protrusion, 22a... second hole, 22b... recess, 22c... protrusion, 22d... recess, 22e... protrusion, 23... third hole, 24... fourth hole, 30... sensor blade Racket, 31...first optical sensor, 32...second optical sensor, 33...third optical sensor, 34...fourth optical sensor, 35...fifth optical sensor, 61...car door, 62...car floor, 91...car position detection unit, 92...operation control unit, 100...mesh plate, 101a, 101b...marking, 103...protrusion, 104...guide shoe, 105...roller guide, 200...adjustment member, 201...fifth hole portion, 202...sixth hole portion, 203...first rail portion, 204...second rail portion, 205...first screw portion, 206...second screw portion

Claims

1. a first optical sensor, a second optical sensor, a third optical sensor, a fourth optical sensor, and a fifth optical sensor that are installed on one of the elevator shaft and the car, and that detect an object on a straight line perpendicular to the floor surface of the other member by emitting light from the top toward different positions in this order; a position detection device including a first marker provided on the straight line of the other member to receive light emitted by the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor when the elevator car reaches a predetermined landing position, and a second marker provided to receive light emitted by the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor, A method for detecting the position of an elevator car, in which, when the elevator car moves, during a predetermined period of time, the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor detect the first marker, the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor switch to a state of detecting the second marker, and the third optical sensor switches from a state of detecting the first marker or the second marker to a state of not detecting them, it is determined that the elevator car has reached the landing position.

2. As a result of the car moving, during a predetermined period, When the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor detect the second marker and then detect the first marker, and the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor switch to a state in which they detect the second marker, and the third optical sensor switches from a state in which it detected the first marker or the second marker to a state in which it does not detect the first marker or the second marker, or 2. The elevator position detection method of claim 1, wherein the elevator is determined to have reached the landing position when the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor detect the first marker, and the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor detect the first marker and then switch to a state of detecting the second marker, and the third optical sensor switches from a state of detecting the first marker or the second marker to a state of not detecting it.

3. On the straight line, a first distance between an incident position of light emitted from the first optical sensor and an incident position of light emitted from the second optical sensor; a second distance between an incident position of light emitted from the fourth optical sensor and an incident position of light emitted from the fifth optical sensor; 2. The elevator car position detection method according to claim 1, wherein the positions and emission directions of the first optical sensor, the second optical sensor, the fourth optical sensor, and the fifth optical sensor are set so that the same.

4. The elevator position detection method according to claim 3, wherein the first distance and the second distance are the maximum distances that the elevator can move from the landing position when the doors are open.

5. The elevator shaft member is a guide rail that guides the movement of the elevator car, and the first marker and the second marker are provided on the guide rail, The guide rail is configured by connecting a plurality of rails formed for each floor, and identification information indicating the order of connection is attached to a predetermined position of each of the plurality of rails, The elevator car position detection method according to claim 1 , wherein the positions of the first marker and the second marker are determined based on the positions of the identification information.

6. As a result of the car moving, during the predetermined period, When the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor have detected the first marker and the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor have switched to a state of detecting the second marker, but the third optical sensor remains in a state of not detecting either the first marker or the second marker, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the third optical sensor, A method for detecting the position of a car as described in claim 1, wherein, when the third optical sensor switches from a state in which it detects the first marker or the second marker to a state in which it does not detect the first marker, but the first optical sensor or the second optical sensor does not switch to a state in which it detects the first marker, or the fourth optical sensor or the fifth optical sensor does not switch to a state in which it detects the second marker, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the optical sensor whose detection state has not switched.

7. the first marker and the second marker have a hole shape or a shape that refracts the light emitted from the first to fifth optical sensors in a direction other than the direction from which the light was emitted, The elevator position detection method described in claim 1, wherein the first optical sensor, the second optical sensor, the third optical sensor, the fourth optical sensor, and the fifth optical sensor determine that they have detected the first marker or the second marker if they do not receive reflected light when emitting light.

8. 2. The elevator car position detection method according to claim 1, wherein the first marker and the second marker are configured to be slidable on the straight line while maintaining a constant distance therebetween.

9. A method for detecting the position of a car as described in claim 1, wherein a mechanism consisting of a combination of the first optical sensor, the second optical sensor, the third optical sensor, the fourth optical sensor, and the fifth optical sensor and the first marker and the second marker that receive the light emitted from them is installed in multiple locations within the elevator.

10. a first optical sensor, a second optical sensor, a third optical sensor, a fourth optical sensor, and a fifth optical sensor that are installed on one of the elevator shaft and the car, and that detect an object on a straight line perpendicular to the floor surface of the other member by emitting light from the top toward different positions in this order; a first marker provided on the straight line of the other member so as to receive light emitted by the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor when the elevator car reaches a predetermined landing position, and a second marker provided so as to receive light emitted by the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor; and a car position detection unit that determines that the car has reached the landing position when, due to the movement of the car, the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor detect the first marker, the fourth optical sensor and the fifth optical sensor switch to a state of detecting the second marker, and the third optical sensor switches from a state of detecting the first marker or the second marker to a state of not detecting them within a predetermined period of time.

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