Elevator system

Abstract

This system suppresses unnecessary communication after an abnormality in the elevator car floor height is detected and an alarm is issued to notify the system of the abnormality. [Solution] The elevator system of the present disclosure comprises a positioning device for measuring the height of the elevator car floor, and a communication device capable of sending and receiving signals to and from a management center and the positioning device, respectively. The positioning device is configured to detect abnormalities in the stopping position of the car based on the positioning result of the car floor height. The communication device is configured to send an alarm to the management center if an abnormality in the stopping position of the car is detected by the positioning device, and to stop communication to the management center after sending the alarm until no more abnormalities in the stopping position of the car are detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an elevator system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a device for identifying the position of an elevator car. The car position identification device of Patent Document 1 includes a magnetic sensor and a pressure sensor. When the opening and closing operation of the door during car stop is detected from the detection signal of the magnetic sensor, correction of the pressure sensor is performed, and the position of the car is estimated using the output of the pressure sensor after correction. Further, in Patent Document 1, when the estimated car position (height) does not correspond to the height corresponding to each floor, it is diagnosed as an abnormal stop, and the control module notifies the monitoring server of the occurrence of an abnormality via the communication unit.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, after reporting the occurrence of an abnormality, for example, even during maintenance, the control module continues communication with the center, so reporting is repeated every time an abnormality is detected. Continuing communication after reporting an abnormality may lead to unnecessary dispatch of maintenance personnel due to unnecessary reporting, and may also lead to an increase in communication load due to unnecessary communication.

[0005] This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and when an abnormality in the car floor height of an elevator is detected and a report notifying the abnormality is made, an elevator communication device improved so as to suppress unnecessary communication with a management center until the abnormality is resolved is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The elevator system of this disclosure comprises a positioning device for measuring the height of the elevator car floor, and a communication device capable of sending and receiving signals to and from a management center and the positioning device, respectively. The positioning device is configured to detect abnormalities in the stopping position of the elevator car based on the positioning result of the height of the elevator car floor, and the communication device is configured to send an alarm to the management center if an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car is detected by the positioning device, and to stop communication to the management center after sending the alarm until no more abnormalities in the stopping position of the elevator car are detected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the elevator system of this disclosure, when the positioning device detects an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car, the communication device first sends an alert to the control center, and then stops sending alerts to the control center until the abnormality is resolved. This suppresses unnecessary alerts even when an abnormality is detected. Furthermore, since the communication suspension is lifted when no abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car is detected, communication can be quickly resumed once the abnormality is resolved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a table included in the database stored in the storage device of the elevator system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of a table included in the database stored in the storage device of the elevator system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a table included in the database stored in the storage device of the elevator system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a table included in the database stored in the storage device of the elevator system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows an example of a control operation performed by the positioning device according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows an example of a control operation performed by the communication device according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of a control operation performed by the management device of the management center according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are simplified or omitted.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a system according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure. The system shown in Figure 1 comprises an elevator 100 and a control center 200. The elevator 100 is a device that can stop at multiple different floor levels and is used to transport people or objects in a cage. The elevator 100 may include not only elevators but also cargo elevators, lifts for multi-story parking garages, and the like.

[0011] The elevator 100 is equipped with an elevator system. The elevator system includes a positioning device 110, a communication device 120, and a data management device 130. The positioning device 110 has the function of measuring the height of the elevator car floor and the function of determining whether or not there is an abnormality in the stopping position of the car based on the measured height of the car floor.

[0012] Various methods for determining the height of the elevator car floor (i.e., the position of the elevator car) are well known, and the positioning device 110 can determine the height of the elevator car floor based on any of these well known positioning methods. Specifically, for example, the positioning device 110 may be configured to detect the amount of rotation of the hoisting machine, etc., using an encoder installed on the hoisting machine, etc., of the elevator 100, and to determine the current height of the elevator car floor based on the detected amount of rotation. Alternatively, for example, the positioning device 110 may be configured to determine the height of the elevator car floor based on the output of sensors installed in the car, such as an acceleration sensor, an inertial sensor such as a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, etc.

[0013] The communication device 120 can send and receive signals with the positioning device 110. The communication device 120 can also send and receive signals with the management device 210 of the management center 200.

[0014] The data management device 130 includes a storage device for storing a database (hereinafter also referred to as "DB") 131, and also has functions for receiving signals from the positioning device 110 or the communication device 120 and registering, searching, acquiring, updating, and deleting information in the DB 131.

[0015] DB131 contains at least four tables: positioning table T1, car location master T2, threshold master T3, and periodic alert master T4. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 show examples of positioning table T1, car location master T2, threshold master T3, and periodic alert master T4, respectively.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the positioning table T1 records by associating the height of the car floor measured by the positioning device 110 with the positioning time. As shown in FIG. 3, the car position master T2 records information on the height of each floor of the building where the elevator 100 is installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the threshold master T3 records a threshold value which is a value for determining whether or not the car has stopped at a normal position. As shown in FIG. 5, the periodic reporting master T4 records the time for performing periodic reporting from the communication device 120 to the management center 200 and the message content at the time of communication stop. Here, the message content at the time of communication stop is the content of the message transmitted to the management center 200 at the time of periodic reporting when the communication with the management center 200 has been stopped by the process described later.

[0017] The management center 200 remotely monitors and controls elevators such as the elevator of the building to be monitored, and performs maintenance management. A management device 210 capable of communicating with the communication device 120 is arranged in the management center 200, and a notification device for notifying information to the monitor of the management center 200 is arranged. The notification device includes a display device for displaying information such as a display. The notification device may include, in addition to the display device, an audio notification device such as an alarm, a warning light, and a mobile terminal possessed by the monitor. The management device 210 receives the report from the communication device 120 and causes the notification device to notify the received information.

[0018] In the present embodiment, the positioning device 110 measures the height of the car floor at the timing when the car of the elevator 100 stops at any floor. The measurement result of the height of the car floor and the data of the positioning time are transmitted to the data management device 130 and recorded in the positioning table T1 of the DB131.

[0019] Further, the positioning device 110 determines whether there is an abnormality in the stop position of the car based on the positioning result of the height of the car floor. When determining whether there is an abnormality in the stop position of the car, the positioning device 110 compares the positioning result of the height of the car floor with the height information of each floor recorded in the car position master T2 of the DB131. If there is height information of a floor within the threshold (in the example of FIG. 4, 3 cm) from the positioning result among the information in the car position master T2, the stop position of the car is determined to be normal, and if not, the stop position of the car is determined to be abnormal.

[0020] When it is determined by the positioning device 110 that there is an abnormality in the stop position of the car, the communication device 120 issues a landing failure report to notify the management device 210 of the management center 200 of the occurrence of an abnormality in the stop position of the car. After issuing the landing failure report, the landing failure report from the communication device 120 is stopped until the abnormality in the stop position of the car is resolved. Further, when the abnormality in the stop position of the car is resolved, the communication device 120 issues a communication recovery report to the management device 210 of the management center 200, and thereafter, the communication device 120 returns to a state where it can report to the management center 200.

[0021] When the regular reporting time recorded in the regular reporting master T4 arrives while the reporting from the communication device 120 is stopped after the landing failure report is issued, the communication device 120 reports the message at the time of communication stop recorded in the regular reporting master T4 to the management center 200. Thereby, even when the reporting from the communication device 120 has been stopped for a long time, the management center 200 can check the status of the elevator 100.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the control operation executed by the positioning device 110. The control operation shown in FIG. 6 starts when the elevator 100 starts running.

[0023] In the control operation shown in Figure 6, the fault flag is first set to "0" in step S001. The fault flag is initially set to "0," and if an abnormality is detected in the stopping position of the elevator car through the process described later, it is set to "1" until that abnormal state is resolved.

[0024] In step S002, it is determined whether or not the elevator car 100 has stopped. If it is determined in step S002 that the car has stopped, then in step S003, the current height of the car floor is measured. The measurement result (for example, 10m in the example in Figure 2) is associated with the measurement time (9:00 in the example in Figure 2), transmitted to the data management device 130, and written to the measurement table T1 of DB131.

[0025] Next, in step S004, the positioning result obtained in step S003 is compared with the floor height information of the car position master T2 in DB131, and it is determined whether there is any information in the car position master T2 where the difference between the positioning result and the floor height is within a threshold. The threshold is the value recorded in the threshold master T3. If it is determined that there is information in the car position master T2 where the difference between the positioning result and the floor height is within a threshold, that is, if the determination result in step S004 is "YES", then it is determined that the floor height and the positioning result match, and the car has landed normally on the floor where the positioning result matched.

[0026] If the result in step S004 is "YES", then in step S005, it is determined whether the failure flag is "0". If the failure flag is determined to be "0", the process returns to step S002.

[0027] On the other hand, if the fault flag is determined not to be "0" in step S005, the fault flag is currently "1," which means that an abnormality was detected in the car's stopping position during the previous control operation. Now, since the result of the determination in step S004 is "YES," it can be said that the abnormality has been resolved and no abnormality is detected in the car's stopping position. In this case, the process proceeds to step S006, and the fault flag is set to "0."

[0028] Next, in step S007, a signal is sent to the communication device 120 requesting the activation of a communication restoration notification. The process then returns to step S002.

[0029] Furthermore, if the result in step S004 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that there is no information in the car position master T2 where the difference from the positioning result is within the threshold height, the process proceeds to step S008, where it is determined whether the fault flag is "1" or not.

[0030] If "NO" is determined in step S0004, it can be determined that there is an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car. However, if the fault flag is determined to be "1" in step S008, it is considered that this abnormal condition has already been detected in the previous control operation and that a landing failure alarm has been triggered. Therefore, if the fault flag is determined to be "1" in step S008, the process returns to step S002.

[0031] On the other hand, if the fault flag is determined not to be "1" in step S008, it is considered that the abnormality in the current stopping position of the elevator car was detected for the first time in this control operation. In this case, the fault flag is set to "1" in step S009. Next, in step S010, a signal is sent to the communication device 120 requesting the issuance of a landing failure alert. The process then returns to step S002.

[0032] If it is determined in step S002 that the elevator 100 is not stopped, then in step S012 it is determined whether the current time is the periodic alarm time recorded in the periodic alarm master T4. If it is determined in step S012 that the current time is not the periodic alarm time, the process returns to step S002.

[0033] On the other hand, if step S012 determines that the current time is the scheduled alarm time, then step S013 determines whether the fault flag is "1". If step S013 determines that the fault flag is not "1", the process returns to step S002.

[0034] If the fault flag is determined to be "1" in step S013, a signal is sent to the communication device 120 requesting that the periodic notification master T4 execute a periodic notification with the message content for when communication was stopped. The process then returns to step S002.

[0035] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a control operation performed by the communication device 120. The control operation in Figure 7 is initiated when the elevator 100 starts operating.

[0036] In the control operation shown in Figure 7, step S101 determines whether or not a notification request has been received from the positioning device 110. This notification request is one of the following: a communication recovery notification sent in step S007 of Figure 6, a landing failure notification sent in step S010, or a periodic notification request sent in step S014. If it is determined in step S101 that a notification request has been received, step S102 executes a notification to the management device 210 according to the content of the received request. After that, the process returns to step S101.

[0037] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that no alarm request has been received, then in step S103, it is determined whether or not an information transmission request has been received from the management device 210. The information transmission request is the request that is transmitted from the management device 210 in the process of step S204 in Figure 8, which will be described later.

[0038] If it is determined in step S103 that no information transmission request has been received, the process returns to step S101.

[0039] If it is determined in step S103 that an information transmission request has been received, the information recorded in the positioning table T1 is transmitted in step S104. In this case, the system may be configured to transmit only information that has been updated or added since the last information transmission. Alternatively, after the information is transmitted in step S104, a process may be executed to delete the transmitted information from the positioning table T1. Furthermore, along with the positioning table T1, the information of the height of each floor in the elevator car position master T2 may be transmitted simultaneously. After the information is transmitted in step S104, the process returns to step S101.

[0040] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a control operation performed by the control device 210 of the control center 200. The control operation in Figure 8 is initiated when the control center 200 starts monitoring the elevator 100 and is repeated at predetermined control intervals.

[0041] In the control process shown in Figure 8, step S201 determines whether or not an alert has been received from the communication device 120. If it is determined in step S201 that an alert has been received, in step S202 the information of the received alert is displayed on a display or the like of the management device 210. However, the notification method of the alert is not limited to display on a display, and may be a format suitable for other notification devices provided by the management center 200. After that, the process returns to step S201.

[0042] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that no signal has been received from the communication device 120, then in step S203 it is determined whether or not an information acquisition operation has been performed. An information acquisition operation is performed, for example, by a monitor at the management center 200 operating the input means of the management device 210. If it is determined in step S203 that no information acquisition operation has been performed, the process returns to step S201.

[0043] If it is determined in step S203 that an information acquisition operation has been performed, then in step S204, an information transmission request is sent to the communication device 120. When the communication device 120 receives the information transmission request, it is determined to be "YES" in the process of step S103 in Figure 7 described above, and in the process of step S104, the information of the positioning table T1 is transmitted to the management device 210.

[0044] When the management device 210 receives the positioning table T1 information transmitted from the communication device 120, in step S205, it displays the received information on a display device such as the display of the management device 210. After that, the process returns to step S201.

[0045] As explained above, if a landing failure occurs, for example, due to a malfunction of the elevator 100, such as the elevator car stopping at a location different from the intended landing position, the positioning device 110 will detect the abnormality in the car's stopping position, and the landing failure will be reported to the management center 200 from the communication device 120 without going through the elevator 100's control device. After the landing failure is reported, the communication device 120 will stop reporting landing failures until the abnormality is resolved (i.e., until the fault flag becomes "0"), and communication will be stopped. Therefore, unnecessary reports to the management center 200 are suppressed, and the communication load is reduced.

[0046] Furthermore, after a landing failure alarm is issued, if the abnormality is resolved through maintenance or other means, the positioning device 110 automatically recognizes the resolution of the abnormality by correctly detecting the height of the elevator car floor. Then, communication from the communication device 120 is restored, and if an abnormality in the elevator car's stopping position is detected again, the communication device 120 returns to a state where a landing failure alarm is issued.

[0047] Furthermore, even if an abnormality in the cage's stopping position is detected and a landing failure alarm is triggered, and subsequent alarms are stopped, the communication device 120 automatically sends a message to the management center 200 indicating that the elevator is stopped when the scheduled alarm time arrives. This allows the management center 200 to understand the status, such as whether maintenance is underway, without having to make an inquiry.

[0048] Furthermore, the management center 200 can request the communication device 120 to transmit positioning history information. This allows for a more accurate understanding of the elevator 100's usage status, even when communication is down for an extended period.

[0049] In this embodiment, the case in which the operation of the communication device 120 to transmit information is controlled by a control signal from the positioning device 110 or the management device 210 has been described. However, for example, the communication device 120 may be equipped with a processor and configured to determine whether or not it is necessary to transmit a signal performed by the positioning device 110 or the management device 210. More specifically, for example, the communication device 120 can be configured to perform the same processing as in steps 012 to S014. In this case, for example, as processing after "NO" is determined in step S103 in Figure 7, the following are added: the processing in step S012 which determines whether the current time is a periodic alarm time; the processing in step S013 which determines whether the fault flag is "1" if it is a periodic alarm time; and the processing which reads the message at the time of communication failure from the periodic alarm master T4 of DB131 and sends it to the management device 210 if the fault flag is "1".

[0050] Furthermore, the functions realized by the components of each device described in the above embodiments may be implemented using circuits including general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPUs (Central Processing Units), conventional circuits, or combinations thereof, which are programmed to realize the described functions. A processor is considered a circuit because it includes transistors and other circuits. A processor may execute a program stored in memory. Also, the circuits, units, and means in the embodiments are hardware programmed to realize or execute the described functions. Such hardware may be any hardware disclosed in the embodiments, or any hardware known to be programmed to realize or execute the described functions. If the hardware is a processor that can be considered a type of circuit, such circuit, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to constitute such hardware and / or processor.

[0051] Although preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0052] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix. (Note 1) A positioning device that measures the height of the elevator car floor, A communication device capable of sending and receiving signals to the management center and the positioning device, Equipped with, The positioning device is The system is configured to detect abnormalities in the stopping position of the car based on the positioning result of the height of the car floor, The aforementioned communication device is If the positioning device detects an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car, it will send an alert to the control center indicating that an abnormality has occurred. After the aforementioned abnormality is reported, communication to the management center is stopped until no abnormality is detected in the stopping position of the elevator car. An elevator system configured in such a way. (Note 2) The communication device is configured to send a communication restoration notification to the management center when, after the positioning device detects an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car and issues an alarm regarding the occurrence of the abnormality, the abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car is no longer detected. The elevator system described in Appendix 1. (Note 3) The communication device is configured to transmit information regarding the status of the elevator to the management center at a predetermined periodic notification timing, even when the communication is stopped. The elevator system described in Appendix 1 or 2. (Note 4) The communication device is configured to transmit information about the history of the positioning results to the management center when it receives a request from the management center. An elevator system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 3. (Note 5) The positioning device is configured to compare the positioning result with information on the height of each floor of the building where the elevator is installed, and to detect an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car if there is no information on the height of a floor in which the difference from the positioning result is within a threshold value. An elevator system as described in any one of the appendices 1 to 4. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 100 Elevators, 110 Positioning devices, 120 Communication devices, 130 Data management devices, 131 DB, 200 Management center, 210 Management devices

Claims

1. A positioning device that measures the height of the elevator car floor, A communication device capable of sending and receiving signals to the management center and the positioning device, Equipped with, The positioning device is, The system is configured to detect abnormalities in the stopping position of the car based on the positioning result of the height of the car floor, The aforementioned communication device is If the positioning device detects an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car, it will send an alert to the control center indicating that an abnormality has occurred. After the aforementioned abnormality is reported, communication to the management center is stopped until no abnormality is detected in the stopping position of the elevator car. An elevator system configured in such a way.

2. The communication device is configured to send a communication restoration notification to the management center when, after the positioning device detects an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car and issues an alarm regarding the occurrence of the abnormality, the abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car is no longer detected. The elevator system according to claim 1.

3. The communication device is configured to transmit information regarding the status of the elevator to the management center at a predetermined periodic notification timing, even when the communication is stopped. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The communication device is configured to transmit information about the history of the positioning results to the management center when it receives a request from the management center. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The positioning device is configured to compare the positioning result with information on the height of each floor of the building where the elevator is installed, and to detect an abnormality in the stopping position of the elevator car if there is no information on the height of a floor in which the difference from the positioning result is within a threshold value. The elevator system according to claim 1 or 2.

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