Group control device for elevators, group control system for elevators, and group control method for elevators

Abstract

The objective is to provide a group control device for elevators that suppresses a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators while controlling the elevator to wait on the evacuation floor during normal operation. [Solution] The elevator group control device 100 includes a reception unit 110 that receives landing calls from multiple elevators, a landing unit selection unit 150 that selects a landing unit from among the multiple elevators, a response unit selection unit 140 that, when the reception unit 110 receives a landing call, includes the landing unit as the target of group control of the multiple elevators and selects a response unit from among the multiple elevators, and a control unit 160 that has the car of the landing unit wait at the landing floor and has the car of the response unit respond to the landing call. The landing unit selection unit 150, when the response unit selection unit 140 has selected the landing unit as the response unit, selects a new landing unit from among the multiple elevators excluding the landing unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an elevator group management control device, an elevator group management control system, and an elevator group management control method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a group management elevator system that selects at least one elevator as an evacuation car during normal operation and performs group management control with the evacuation car excluded from the group.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the group management elevator system described in Patent Document 1, when a new landing call occurs in a situation where there are calls for which responses have not been completed for all elevators other than the evacuation car, a new landing call is assigned to the evacuation car. However, since the evacuation car is not always subject to group management control, there is a problem that the operating efficiency of the entire plurality of elevators decreases.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an elevator group management control device, an elevator group management control system, and an elevator group management control method that suppress a decrease in the operating efficiency of the entire plurality of elevators while performing control to make the evacuation car wait at the evacuation floor during normal times.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The elevator group control device according to this disclosure includes a reception unit that receives landing calls from multiple elevators, each having a car; a rescue unit selection unit that selects a rescue unit from among the multiple elevators to have its car wait at a pre-set rescue floor; a response unit selection unit that, when the reception unit receives a landing call, includes the rescue unit as the target of group control of the multiple elevators and selects a response unit from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call; and a control unit that has the car of the rescue unit selected by the rescue unit selection unit wait at the rescue floor and has the car of the response unit selected by the response unit selection unit respond to the landing call. The rescue unit selection unit, when the rescue unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, selects a new rescue unit from among the multiple elevators excluding the rescue unit.

[0007] The elevator group control system described herein comprises a plurality of elevators and a group control device for the elevators.

[0008] The elevator group control method described herein receives landing calls from multiple elevators, each having a car, selects a standby elevator from among the multiple elevators to have its car wait at a pre-set standby floor, includes the standby elevator as the target of the group control of the multiple elevators when a landing call is received, selects a response elevator from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call, has the car of the standby elevator wait at the standby floor, has the car of the response elevator respond to the landing call, and if the standby elevator is selected as the response elevator, selects a new standby elevator from among the multiple elevators excluding the standby elevator. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the elevator group control device, elevator group control system, and elevator group control method disclosed herein, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators while controlling the elevator to move to the evacuation floor during normal operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a side view of the elevator according to Embodiment 1, as seen from the landing side. [Figure 2] This is a functional configuration diagram of the group management control system according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by the group control device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the processing performed by the evacuation unit selection unit according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] This is a functional configuration diagram of the group management control system according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by the group control device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 7] This is a functional configuration diagram of the group management control system according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 8] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by the group control device according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 9] This is a functional configuration diagram of the group management control system according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 10] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by the group control device according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 11] This is a hardware configuration diagram of the group control device according to Embodiment 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiment 1. The elevator group control device, elevator group control system, and elevator group control method according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Note that the same reference numerals in each drawing represent the same or equivalent components.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of elevator 90a according to Embodiment 1 as viewed from the landing 80 side, and FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the elevator group management control system 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the elevator group management control system 1 includes a plurality of elevators and an elevator group management control device 100. In the following description, the elevator group management control system 1 is referred to as the group management control system 1, and the elevator group management control device 100 is referred to as the group management control device 100. The group management control system 1 also includes a landing call registration unit, a destination floor registration unit, and a position detection unit (not shown).

[0013] In this embodiment, the group management control system 1 includes elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c as a plurality of elevators. The number of elevators included in the group management control system 1 is not limited to this, and may be two or more. In the following description, the plurality of elevators refers to elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c.

[0014] The plurality of elevators are installed side by side in a row. In this embodiment, the plurality of elevators are assumed to be installed in a straight line in a single row, but it is not limited to this, and they may be installed in two or more rows, or may be installed side by side in a curved shape.

[0015] Each of the plurality of elevators has a car. Users, mobile bodies, and luggage are loaded and unloaded in the car. In this embodiment, elevator 90a has car 10a, elevator 90b has car 10b, and elevator 90c has car 10c.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, in the building where the elevator 90a is installed, a hoistway 22 for the car 10a to move up and down is provided. In FIG. 1, the configuration of the elevator 90a is typically shown, but the elevators 90b and 90c also have the same configuration as the elevator 90a. The hoistway 22 is a space extending in the vertical direction over a plurality of floors. Hereinafter, the vertically upward direction is referred to as "up", and the vertically downward direction is referred to as "down". A landing 80 is provided on each of the plurality of floors.

[0017] A landing call registration unit (not shown) is provided, for example, at the landing 80. The landing call registration unit has a landing call button (not shown). The landing call button is a button for calling the car by specifying the destination floor or a button for calling the car by specifying the up / down floor direction. In the present embodiment, the case where the landing call button is a button for calling the car by specifying the up / down floor direction will be described. When the landing call button is pressed by the user, the landing call registration unit registers the user's landing call and transmits the landing call information to the reception unit 110 described later. The landing call information includes information indicating which floor is the landing call floor where the user who pressed the landing call button is located, and information indicating the destination floor direction indicating the direction from the landing call floor to the destination floor. In the present embodiment, the form in which the landing call registration unit is provided at the landing 80 is described, but the landing call registration unit may be a terminal owned by the user, and the configuration may be such that the landing call information is transmitted to the reception unit 110 when the user operates the terminal.

[0018] A destination floor registration unit (not shown) is provided, for example, inside car 10a, car 10b, and car 10c. The destination floor registration unit has a destination floor registration button (not shown). When the destination floor button is pressed by the user, the destination floor registration unit registers the destination floor for car 10a, car 10b, and car 10c, and transmits destination floor information to the destination floor information acquisition unit 130, which will be described later. In this embodiment, a configuration in which the destination floor registration unit is provided inside car 10a, car 10b, and car 10c is described, but the destination floor registration unit may also be a terminal owned by the user, and the destination floor information may be transmitted to the reception unit 110 by the user operating the terminal. Furthermore, if the boarding call button on the boarding call registration unit is a button that allows calling the elevator car by specifying the destination floor, the boarding call registration unit can acquire destination floor information. Therefore, instead of the destination floor registration unit, the boarding call registration unit may transmit destination floor information to the destination floor information acquisition unit 130.

[0019] Elevator 90a will be described. The configurations of elevators 90b and 90c are the same as those of elevator 90a, so their descriptions will be omitted. Elevator 90a, shown in Figure 1, comprises a car 10a, a hoisting machine 30, a main rope 40, a deflector wheel 50, a counterweight 60, and a standalone control device 70a.

[0020] Inside the elevator shaft 22, the elevator car 10a and counterweight 60 are suspended by the main rope 40. One end of the main rope 40 is connected to the upper end of the elevator car 10a and is wrapped around a drive sheave (not shown) and a deflection wheel 50 of the hoisting machine 30. The other end of the main rope 40 is connected to the counterweight 60.

[0021] A machine room 21 is provided vertically above the hoistway 22. The machine room 21 houses a hoisting machine 30, a deflector 50, and a single control device 70a. A group control device 100 is also provided in the machine room 21. Alternatively, the hoisting machine 30, deflector 50, single control device 70a, and group control device 100 may be arranged within the hoistway 22, and the machine room 21 may not be provided. The single control device 70a controls the hoisting machine 30, which is connected to the car 10a via the main rope 40, based on instructions from the group control device 100. The hoisting machine 30 raises and lowers the car 10a and the counterweight 60 connected to the main rope 40 by rotating a drive sheave (not shown) with a motor (not shown). Note that one group control device 100 is sufficient for multiple elevators to be controlled. In the illustrated example, the group control device 100 is installed in the machine room 21 of elevator 90a, but it may also be installed in the machine room 21 of elevator 90b or elevator 90c. Alternatively, the group control device 100 does not necessarily have to be installed in the machine room 21, and may be installed in a location away from the multiple elevators.

[0022] A movement detection unit (not shown) detects the position of each elevator car in the direction of movement (also known as the vertical direction) based on the amount of rotation of the drive sheave (not shown) of the hoisting machine 30 that each elevator has. The movement detection unit also determines the direction of movement of the car from the rotation direction of the drive sheave. The method of detecting the position of the car by the movement detection unit is not limited to the method of detection based on the amount of rotation of the drive sheave. Similarly, the method of determining the direction of movement of the car by the movement detection unit is not limited to the method of determination based on the rotation direction of the drive sheave. For example, the movement detection unit may detect the absolute vertical position of the car by reading the vertical position information within the hoistway 22 attached to a linear scale (not shown) installed in the hoistway 22, which is provided on the car. Alternatively, the movement detection unit may determine the direction of movement of the car from the change in the absolute vertical position of the car. The position detection unit transmits the detected information indicating the position of the car in the direction of movement to a movement information acquisition unit 120, which will be described later. Furthermore, the position detection unit transmits information indicating the direction of movement of the identified cage to the movement information acquisition unit 120, which will be described later.

[0023] The group control device 100 manages the operation of multiple elevators and performs group control by assigning landing calls to multiple elevators according to their operating status. As shown in Figure 2, the group control device 100 includes a reception unit 110, a movement information acquisition unit 120, a destination floor information acquisition unit 130, a response elevator selection unit 140, a evacuated elevator selection unit 150, and a control unit 160. The group control device 100 also includes a storage unit (not shown). The group control device 100 processes information stored in the storage unit as appropriate.

[0024] The reception unit 110 receives landing calls from multiple elevators, each having its own car, and identifies the landing floor from which the landing call was made. More specifically, the reception unit 110 obtains landing call information from a landing call registration unit (not shown) and identifies the landing floor from the landing call information. The reception unit 110 transmits information indicating that a landing call has been received and information indicating the landing floor as reception information to the response unit selection unit 140. The reception unit 110 may further identify the destination floor direction from the landing floor as indicated by the landing call information, and transmit information indicating that a landing call has been received, information indicating the landing floor, and information indicating the destination floor direction as reception information to the response unit selection unit 140.

[0025] The movement information acquisition unit 120 acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of multiple elevator cars and information indicating the position of the multiple elevator cars in the direction of movement. More specifically, the movement information acquisition unit 120 acquires information indicating the direction of movement and position information of cars 10a, 10b, and 10c from a movement detection unit (not shown). The movement information acquisition unit 120 transmits the acquired movement information to the response car selection unit 140 and the evacuation car selection unit 150.

[0026] The destination floor information acquisition unit 130 acquires the destination floor information of the elevator car. More specifically, the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 acquires destination floor information indicating the user's destination floor from a destination floor registration unit (not shown). The destination floor information acquisition unit 130 transmits the acquired destination floor information to the evacuation unit selection unit 150.

[0027] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects an elevator from among several elevators to be stationed at a pre-set evacuation floor. In buildings with multiple elevators, evacuation floors and hazardous floors are pre-set. An evacuation floor is a floor where the elevator car is stationed in preparation for disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, fires, or floods. In particular, during earthquakes or strong winds, there is a risk that long objects such as the main rope 40 may come into contact with the hoistway 22 on resonant floors where vibrations of long objects tend to increase due to building vibrations. If the long objects shake with enough force to come into contact with the hoistway 22, it will be necessary to perform repair work such as inspection or parts repair to ensure the safety of the elevator, and the elevator operation will be stopped. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 performs the operation of selecting an evacuation unit not only during disasters but also during normal times when no disaster has occurred. In this embodiment, the evacuation floor is designated as a non-resonant floor that is less likely to resonate with building sway, and the evacuation unit is kept on standby at the evacuation floor even during normal times. This suppresses the long objects coming into contact with the hoistway 22 during an earthquake, which would cause the elevator to stop operating for an extended period. Furthermore, the evacuation floor does not have to be a non-resonant floor; any floor may be designated. The dangerous floor is designated as a floor that is more susceptible to the effects of a disaster during an earthquake. In this embodiment, the resonant floor is designated as the dangerous floor. Note that the resonant floor may be designated arbitrarily based on the building design or elevator design, and the dangerous floor does not have to be a resonant floor. Information about the resonant floor and non-resonant floor, as well as the evacuation floor and dangerous floor set based on them, is stored in advance in a memory unit (not shown).

[0028] The method by which the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 initially selects an evacuation unit is not particularly limited. The evacuation unit initially selected by the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 may be predetermined by the elevator administrator or the elevator manufacturer. The method by which the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects another evacuation unit will be explained later. When the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects an evacuation unit, it transmits evacuation unit selection information indicating the elevator selected as the evacuation unit to the control unit 160, which will be described later.

[0029] When the reception unit 110 receives a landing call, the response unit selection unit 140 includes the retracted elevator as part of the group control of multiple elevators and selects a response elevator from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. In other words, in order to suppress a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators, the response unit selection unit 140 always includes the retracted elevator as part of the group control, and when the reception unit 110 receives a landing call, it can select the retracted elevator as the response elevator to respond to the landing call, even if there are other elevators with cars waiting besides the retracted elevator. "Always" includes normal times and times when there are other elevators with cars waiting besides the retracted elevator. In this embodiment, the case in which the response unit selection unit 140 selects the retracted elevator as the response elevator is described, but the response unit selection unit 140 may also select an elevator other than the retracted elevator as the response elevator. When the response elevator selection unit 140 selects a response elevator, it transmits response elevator selection information indicating the elevator selected as the response elevator to the control unit 160, which will be described later.

[0030] The response elevator selection unit 140 will now be explained in detail. Based on the reception information identified by the reception unit 110 and the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, the response elevator selection unit 140 identifies an elevator that meets predetermined conditions from among multiple elevators and selects the elevator that meets the conditions as the response elevator. If the elevator that meets the conditions is a retracted elevator, the response elevator selection unit 140 selects the retracted elevator as the response elevator. If the response elevator selection unit 140 selects a retracted elevator as the response elevator, it transmits a response elevator selection signal to the retracted elevator selection unit 150 indicating that a retracted elevator has been selected as the response elevator.

[0031] An elevator that meets predetermined conditions is, for example, an elevator that has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit 110. When this condition is applied, the response unit selection unit 140 identifies an elevator from among multiple elevators that has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit 110, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, and selects the elevator with the car on the closest floor as the response unit. More specifically, the response unit selection unit 140 acquires the position of the car in the direction of movement from the position information included in the movement information, identifies the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor based on the position of the car in the direction of movement, and selects the elevator with that car as the response unit. If the elevator with the car on the closest floor is a retracted unit, the response unit selection unit 140 selects the retracted unit as the response unit.

[0032] If the response elevator selection unit 140 selects a response elevator, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150 selects a new evacuation elevator from among multiple elevators excluding the response elevator. Even when a new evacuation elevator is selected, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150 transmits evacuation elevator selection information, indicating the elevator selected as the evacuation elevator, to the control unit 160, which will be described later.

[0033] The following describes the case where the response elevator selection unit 140 selects an evacuation elevator as the response elevator, and there is an elevator among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation elevator that has a car waiting in a non-direction position. The evacuation elevator selection unit 150, for example, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, selects as the new evacuation elevator the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor, from among the elevators excluding the evacuation elevator that have a car waiting in a non-direction position.

[0034] The following describes the case where the evacuating elevator is selected as the responding elevator by the response elevator selection unit 140, and all of the elevators other than the evacuating elevator are responding to landing calls or car calls (i.e., there are no elevators with cars waiting in a non-direction position except for the evacuating elevator). The evacuating elevator selection unit 150, for example, based on the destination floor information acquired by the destination floor information acquisition unit 130, selects as the new evacuating elevator the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of pre-set dangerous floors that it passes through from the last destination floor to the evacuating floor. The last destination floor to which the elevator lands refers to the destination floor to which the elevator responds last among the destination floors set for the car.

[0035] The control unit 160 places the elevator car of the elevator selected by the elevator selection unit 150 on standby at the emergency floor. More specifically, when the control unit 160 receives elevator selection information from the elevator selection unit 150, it instructs the standalone control device of the elevator selected as the new elevator indicated by the elevator selection information to place the elevator car on standby at the emergency floor. If there are still landing call or car call responses remaining for the elevator selected as the emergency elevator, the control unit 160 should wait at the emergency floor only after confirming that the landing call or car call response for the selected elevator has finished (after confirming that the elevator car of the selected elevator has landed at its final destination floor).

[0036] Furthermore, the control unit 160 causes the car of the response unit selected by the response unit selection unit 140 to respond to the landing call. More specifically, when the control unit 160 receives response unit selection information from the response unit selection unit 140, it instructs the standalone control device of the elevator selected as the response unit indicated by the response unit selection information to cause the car to respond to the landing call. If the elevator selected as the response unit is a retracted unit, the control unit 160 causes the car of the response unit to respond to the landing call only after receiving retracted unit selection information from the retracted unit selection unit 150, that is, after confirming that a new retracted unit has been selected by the retracted unit selection unit 150.

[0037] An example of the processing in the response unit selection unit 140, the evacuation unit selection unit 150, and the control unit 160 of the group control device 100 will be specifically described. In the following description, the building will be assumed to have 30 floors from the 1st to the 30th floor, but it is not limited to this, and there may be any number of floors. Also, the evacuation floor will be described as the 1st floor, but the evacuation floor may be a non-resonant floor other than the 1st floor, or may be located on multiple non-resonant floors. Also, the resonant floors which are dangerous will be described as being from the 14th to the 16th floor, but the dangerous floors may be resonant floors other than the 14th to the 16th floor.

[0038] First, the evacuation unit selection unit 150 selects the first evacuation unit. The evacuation unit selection unit 150 selects elevator 90a as the evacuation unit. The evacuation unit selection unit 150 transmits evacuation unit selection information to the control unit 160 indicating that elevator 90a is the evacuation unit. The evacuation unit selection unit 150 stores in a storage unit (not shown) that elevator 90a is the evacuation unit. Upon receiving the evacuation unit selection information, the control unit 160 instructs the standalone control device 70a to have the elevator car 10a wait at the evacuation floor.

[0039] Assume that the response elevator selection unit 140 has received reception information from the reception unit 110, which includes information indicating that the reception unit 110 has received a landing call, and information indicating that the landing call floor is the 2nd floor. At this time, if car 10b is waiting on the 4th floor and car 10c is waiting on the 20th floor, the response elevator selection unit 140 receives movement information from the movement information acquisition unit 120, which indicates that car 10a is waiting on the 1st floor, car 10b is waiting on the 4th floor, and car 10c is waiting on the 20th floor. Based on this information, the response elevator selection unit 140 identifies an elevator that meets predetermined conditions and selects the elevator that meets the conditions as the response elevator.

[0040] Here, we will explain the case where the response unit selection unit 140 selects an elevator that satisfies the condition that it has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor. Based on the received movement information, the response unit selection unit 140 identifies the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor, which is the 2nd floor. Since the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor, which is the 2nd floor, is car 10a located on the 1st floor, the response unit selection unit 140 selects elevator 90a, which has car 10a, as the response unit. The response unit selection unit 140 then refers to the information stored in a memory unit (not shown) to determine whether or not it has selected a retracted unit as the response unit. Since elevator 90a has been selected as a retracted unit by the retracted unit selection unit 150, the response unit selection unit 140 determines that it has selected a retracted unit as the response unit. The response unit selection unit 140 transmits a response unit selection signal to the evacuated unit selection unit 150 indicating that it has selected the evacuated unit as the response unit. The response unit selection unit 140 also transmits response unit selection information to the control unit 160 indicating that it has selected the cage 10a as the response unit.

[0041] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects a new Evacuation Unit from among several elevators excluding the Evacuation Unit.

[0042] First, let's assume that car 10b is waiting on the 4th floor and car 10c is waiting on the 20th floor, and we will explain the case where the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects as the Evacuation Unit the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass through before moving to the Evacuation Floor from among the elevators that are waiting in a non-directional direction. Assume that the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 has received movement information from the Movement Information Acquisition Unit 120 indicating that car 10a is waiting on the 1st floor, car 10b is waiting on the 4th floor, and car 10c is waiting on the 20th floor. Based on the received movement information, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects as the Evacuation Unit the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass through before moving from the waiting floor to the Evacuation Floor from among the elevators (elevators 90b and 90c) that are waiting in a non-directional direction, excluding the Evacuation Unit (elevator 90a). Since the dangerous floors are from the 14th to the 16th floor, the number of dangerous floors that car 10b passes through when moving from the 4th floor where it is waiting to the 1st floor which is the evacuation floor is 0, and the number of dangerous floors that car 10c passes through when moving from the 20th floor where it is waiting to the 1st floor which is the evacuation floor is 3. Therefore, the evacuation unit selection unit 150 selects elevator 90b, which has car 10b that passes through the fewest number of dangerous floors when moving from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor, as the evacuation unit.

[0043] Next, we will explain the case where, excluding the evacuated elevator, there are no elevators with cars waiting in a non-direction position, and the evacuated elevator selection unit 150 selects as the new evacuated elevator the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass from the last destination floor to the evacuated floor. Here, we assume that car 10b responds to a landing call or car call with the 4th floor as the destination floor, and car 10c responds to a landing call or car call with the 20th floor as the destination floor. Assume that the evacuated elevator selection unit 150 has received destination floor information from the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 indicating that the destination floor for car 10a is not set, that the last destination floor for car 10b is the 4th floor, and that the last destination floor for car 10c is the 20th floor. Based on the received destination floor information, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass through from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor, from among the multiple elevators (elevators 90b and 90c) excluding the Evacuation Unit (elevator 90a), as the new Evacuation Unit. Since the dangerous floors are from the 14th to the 16th floor, the number of dangerous floors that car 10b passes through from the 4th floor, the last destination floor to which it lands, to the 1st floor, which is the evacuation floor, is 0, and the number of dangerous floors that car 10c passes through from the 20th floor, the last destination floor to which it lands, to the 1st floor, which is the evacuation floor, is 3. Therefore, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects elevator 90b, which has the car 10b that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass through from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor, as the Evacuation Unit.

[0044] The elevator selection unit 150 transmits elevator selection information to the control unit 160 indicating that elevator 90b is the elevator to be evacuated.

[0045] The control unit 160 receives response unit selection information indicating that elevator 90a has been selected as the response unit, and emergency unit selection information indicating that elevator 90b is the emergency unit. Upon learning that elevator 90a, which was the emergency unit, has been selected as the response unit, the control unit 160 receives emergency unit selection information indicating that a new emergency unit has been selected, and then instructs the standalone control device 70a to have car 10a respond to the landing call based on the response unit selection information. The control unit 160 also instructs the standalone control device 70b to have car 10b wait at the emergency floor based on the emergency unit selection information.

[0046] Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the group control device 100. The operation of the group control device 100 will be explained using Figure 3.

[0047] In step S100, the elevator selection unit 150 selects the first elevator to be evacuated. For example, the elevator selection unit 150 selects a predetermined elevator as the elevator to be evacuated. The elevator selection unit 150 transmits elevator selection information to the control unit 160 indicating the elevator selected as the elevator to be evacuated. The elevator selection unit 150 also stores in a storage unit (not shown) that elevator 90a is the elevator to be evacuated.

[0048] In step S110, the control unit 160 evacuates the elevator car of the evacuation unit to the evacuation floor. The control unit 160 receives evacuation unit selection information from the evacuation unit selection unit 150 and instructs the standalone control unit corresponding to the evacuation unit indicated in the evacuation unit selection information to keep the elevator car of the evacuation unit on standby at the evacuation floor.

[0049] In step S120, the movement information acquisition unit 120 acquires movement information from a movement detection unit (not shown). The movement information acquisition unit 120 transmits the acquired movement information to the response unit selection unit 140 and the evacuated unit selection unit 150.

[0050] In step S130, the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 acquires destination floor information from a destination floor registration unit (not shown). The destination floor information acquisition unit 130 transmits the acquired destination floor information to the elevator selection unit 150. In Figure 3, for convenience, the movement information acquisition unit 120 acquires movement information at the timing of step S120 and the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 acquires destination floor information at the timing of step S130. However, the processing in steps S120 and S130 is performed as needed during the group control of multiple elevators in order to grasp the positions and destinations of multiple cars in real time. That is, the movement information acquisition unit 120 acquires movement information as needed, and the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 acquires destination floor information as needed.

[0051] In step S140, the reception unit 110 determines whether or not there is a landing call. If the reception unit 110 obtains landing call information from a landing call registration unit (not shown), it determines that there is a landing call and accepts the landing call. If the reception unit 110 determines that there is a landing call, it identifies the landing call floor from the landing call information and transmits information indicating that the landing call has been accepted, as well as information indicating the landing call floor, to the response unit selection unit 140 as reception information. Then, the process proceeds to step S150. If the reception unit 110 has not obtained landing call information from the landing call registration unit, it determines that there is no landing call and proceeds to step S120.

[0052] In step S150, the response elevator selection unit 140 selects a response elevator. Upon receiving reception information from the reception unit 110, the response elevator selection unit 140, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, includes the retracted elevator as the target of group control of multiple elevators, identifies an elevator that satisfies predetermined conditions from among the multiple elevators, and selects the elevator that satisfies the conditions as the response elevator. For example, the response elevator selection unit 140 identifies the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit 110, and selects the elevator with the car located on the closest floor as the response elevator. After selecting the response elevator, the response elevator selection unit 140 transmits response elevator selection information indicating the elevator selected as the response elevator to the control unit 160. Then, the response elevator selection unit 140 refers to the information stored in a storage unit (not shown) to determine whether or not the retracted elevator was selected as the response elevator. If the response unit selection unit 140 determines that it has selected the evacuated unit as the response unit, it transmits a response unit selection signal to the evacuated unit selection unit 150 indicating that the evacuated unit will be the response unit.

[0053] In step S160, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 determines whether the Evacuation Unit has been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140. If the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the Response Unit, it determines that the Evacuation Unit has been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 and proceeds to step S170. If the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 has not received a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the Response Unit, it determines that the Evacuation Unit has not been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 and proceeds to step S180.

[0054] In step S170, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects a new Evacuation Unit. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 selects a new Evacuation Unit when the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 140 has selected an Evacuation Unit as the response unit. The operation of the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 in selecting an Evacuation Unit will be explained later. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150 transmits Evacuation Unit Selection Information to the Control Unit 160, indicating the elevator selected as the Evacuation Unit.

[0055] In step S180, the control unit 160 causes the response elevator to respond. If a retracted elevator was selected as the response elevator in step S150, and a new retracted elevator has been selected in step S170, the control unit 160 receives retracted elevator selection information from the retracted elevator selection unit 150 indicating that a new retracted elevator has been selected, and then instructs the standalone control device corresponding to the elevator selected as the response elevator, as indicated by the response elevator selection information received from the response elevator selection unit 140, to cause the elevator car to respond to the landing call.

[0056] In step S190, the control unit 160 prompts the evacuating elevator to respond. The control unit 160 instructs the standalone control unit corresponding to the elevator selected as the new evacuating elevator, as indicated by the evacuating elevator selection information received from the evacuating elevator selection unit 150, to have the elevator car wait at the evacuating floor. Then, the process ends. However, if the response elevator selection unit 140 determines in step S160 that the evacuating elevator has not been selected as the response elevator, the process ends without performing the process in step S190.

[0057] In Figure 3, steps S100 and S110 are used to select the first evacuated unit and place it on standby at the evacuation floor. However, these steps may be omitted if an evacuated unit has already been selected. Also, in Figure 3, for convenience, step S180 is shown to be performed before step S190, but this embodiment is not limited to this example. Steps S180 and S190 may be performed in parallel, or step S190 may be performed before step S180.

[0058] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the process performed by the evacuation unit selection unit 150. More specifically, Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a more concrete example of the process of step S170 shown in Figure 3, performed by the evacuation unit selection unit 150. The operation performed by the evacuation unit selection unit 150 will be explained using Figure 4.

[0059] In step S171, the evacuated unit selection unit 150 receives a response unit selection signal from the response unit selection unit 140 indicating that the evacuated unit has been selected as the response unit. Based on the movement information acquired from the movement information acquisition unit 120, the unit determines whether or not there is a car in a state of no-direction standby. If the response unit selection unit 140 determines that there is a car in a state of no-direction standby, it proceeds to step S172. If the response unit selection unit 140 determines that there is no car in a state of no-direction standby, it proceeds to step S173.

[0060] In step S172, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, selects as the evacuation elevator the elevator with the fewest number of dangerous floors it must pass through from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor, from among the elevators with cars that are waiting in a non-directional direction, excluding the evacuation elevator. Then, the process proceeds to step S180.

[0061] In step S173, the elevator selection unit 150, based on the destination floor information acquired by the destination floor information acquisition unit 130, selects the elevator with the fewest number of pre-set dangerous floors that the elevator will pass through from the final destination floor to the evacuation floor, from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation elevator, as the new evacuation elevator. The process then proceeds to step S180.

[0062] As described above, in Embodiment 1, when the reception unit 110 receives a landing call, the response elevator selection unit 140 of the group control control device 100 includes the evacuated elevator as a target of group control of multiple elevators and selects a response elevator from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. When the response elevator selection unit 140 selects the evacuated elevator as the response elevator, the evacuated elevator selection unit 150 selects a new evacuated elevator from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuated elevator. In contrast, the technology described in Patent Document 1 performed group control with the evacuated elevator excluded from the group. Specifically, it prioritized assigning elevators other than the evacuated elevator to landing calls, and only assigned a new landing call to the evacuated elevator when a new landing call occurred while all elevators other than the evacuated elevator had calls that had not yet been answered. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 could lead to a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators. On the other hand, in the group control device 100 of Embodiment 1, as described above, the evacuating elevator is not treated as an exception, that is, it is not excluded from the group control, but rather a response elevator is selected from among the multiple elevators to respond to a landing call. As a result, even if there are elevators with cars waiting other than the evacuating elevator, if the predetermined conditions for group control are met, the evacuating elevator will be selected as the response elevator to respond to a landing call. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators while controlling the evacuating elevator to wait on the evacuating floor during normal operation.

[0063] Furthermore, the response elevator selection unit 140 identifies an elevator that meets predetermined conditions based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, and if the elevator that meets the conditions is a siding elevator, it selects the siding elevator as the response elevator. In other words, as described above, by making siding elevators subject to constant group control, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators. In addition, since the response elevator is selected based on predetermined conditions without treating siding elevators as exceptions, it is possible to suppress situations in which a siding elevator responds to a landing call even though it is not suitable as a response elevator, and to more favorably keep the siding elevator waiting on the siding floor.

[0064] Furthermore, the response unit selection unit 140 identifies the elevator car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit 110, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120. If the elevator car located on the closest floor is a retracted elevator car, the retracted elevator car is selected as the response unit. This configuration makes it possible to shorten the waiting time from when a user registers a landing call until the elevator car arrives at the landing floor.

[0065] Furthermore, if the response unit selection unit 140 has selected the evacuation unit as the response unit, and there is an elevator with a car waiting in a non-directional direction among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation unit, the evacuation unit selection unit 150, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, selects the elevator with the car that passes through the fewest dangerous floors from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor as the new evacuation unit. This configuration reduces the possibility that the car of the newly selected evacuation unit will be on a dangerous floor if a disaster occurs while it is moving from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor. In particular, if a dangerous floor is set as a resonant floor, the car of the evacuation unit being on a resonant floor during an earthquake or strong wind can prevent long objects in the elevator from coming into contact with the hoistway 22 and causing the evacuation unit to be stopped for a long time. Furthermore, by selecting a new evacuating elevator from among elevators with cars that are in standby mode, it is possible to avoid disrupting the operation of elevators that are responding to landing calls or car calls.

[0066] Furthermore, if the response elevator selection unit 140 has selected the evacuation elevator as the response elevator, and all of the elevators other than the evacuation elevator have responded to a landing call or car call, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150 selects the elevator with the fewest number of pre-set dangerous floors that the car passes through from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor, based on the destination floor information acquired by the destination floor information acquisition unit 130, as the new evacuation elevator. With this configuration, if the car of the newly selected evacuation elevator is moving from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor when a disaster occurs, the possibility of it being on a dangerous floor can be reduced. In particular, if a dangerous floor is set as a resonant floor, the car of the evacuation elevator being on a resonant floor during an earthquake or strong wind can prevent long objects in the elevator from coming into contact with the hoistway 22 and causing the evacuation elevator to be stopped for a long time. Furthermore, the elevator selection unit 150 selects a new elevator based on the final destination floor, rather than the current position of the elevator responding to the landing call or car call. In other words, the elevator selection unit 150 can select a new elevator based on the position after the elevator has finished responding to the landing call or car call, thereby prioritizing the use of the elevator by users.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the group control device 100 was described as comprising a movement information acquisition unit 120 and a destination floor information acquisition unit 130. However, the movement information acquisition unit 120 and the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 are not required. In other words, the group control device 100 does not need to use movement information and destination floor information when selecting the response elevator and the evacuating elevator. For example, if the movement information acquisition unit 120 is not provided, the response elevator selection unit 140 may, for example, randomly select a response elevator from among a plurality of elevators including the evacuating elevator, and the evacuating elevator selection unit 150 may randomly select a new evacuating elevator from among a plurality of elevators excluding the evacuating elevator selected as the response elevator. Also, for example, if the destination floor information acquisition unit 130 is not provided, the evacuating elevator selection unit 150 may randomly select a new evacuating elevator from among a plurality of elevators excluding the evacuating elevator selected as the response elevator.

[0068] In the above embodiment, if there are multiple floors designated as evacuation floors, the evacuation unit selection unit 150 may select multiple evacuation units so that an elevator is on standby at each of the multiple evacuation floors.

[0069] Furthermore, if there are multiple floors designated as evacuation floors, the evacuation unit selection unit 150 may select one evacuation floor from among the multiple evacuation floors and select an evacuation unit to be stationed on the selected evacuation floor. The evacuation unit selection unit 150 may, for example, prioritize selecting a floor with an entrance / exit to the building from among the multiple evacuation floors and select an evacuation unit to be stationed on the selected evacuation floor. Since floors with entrances / exits are floors where landing calls occur more frequently than other floors, if an evacuation unit stationed on a floor with an entrance / exit is selected as a response unit to a landing call that occurs on that floor, it can respond immediately to a user's landing call. Alternatively, the evacuation unit selection unit 150 may calculate the number of dangerous floors that each elevator car passes through from the floor where the car is waiting (which may also be the floor where it last lands) to the evacuation floor based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120, and select the evacuation floor and the evacuation unit to be stationed at that floor from the combination of evacuation floor and car that has the fewest dangerous floors to pass through.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the response unit selection unit 140 selected a response unit by identifying an elevator from among a plurality of elevators that has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit 110, but the conditions are not limited to this. The response unit selection unit 140 may also select a response unit by identifying an elevator among elevators responding to a landing call or car call that has a car whose direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and whose direction of movement coincides with the destination floor direction identified by the reception unit 110, and among elevators that have a waiting car including a siding unit, that has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor. In this case, the response unit selection unit 140 identifies an elevator that satisfies this condition based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120. If the elevator that satisfies this condition is a siding unit, the response unit selection unit 140 may select the siding unit as the response unit.

[0071] An example of the operation by which the response unit selection unit 140 selects a response unit in an elevator responding to a landing call or car call, applying the conditions that the elevator has a car whose direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and whose direction of movement coincides with the destination floor direction specified by the reception unit 110, and that among elevators having waiting cars including a evacuated unit, the unit has a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor.

[0072] For example, the response elevator selection unit 140 receives reception information from the reception unit 110, which includes information indicating that the reception unit 110 has received a landing call, information indicating that the landing call floor is the 2nd floor, and information indicating that the destination floor direction is downward. The response elevator selection unit 140 also receives movement information from the movement information acquisition unit 120, which includes information indicating that car 10a is located on the 1st floor and is waiting, information indicating that car 10b is located on the 4th floor and is moving downward, and information indicating that car 10c is located on the 4th floor and is moving upward. Based on the received movement information, the response elevator selection unit 140 identifies the elevator with the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor (2nd floor) from among elevators that are responding to a landing call or car call, which have a car whose direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and whose direction of movement coincides with the destination floor direction, and elevators that have waiting cars including a evacuating elevator. Among elevators responding to a landing call or car call, the elevator with a car whose direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and whose direction of movement coincides with the direction of destination floor is elevator 90b, which has car 10b. This is because car 10b is moving downwards from the 4th floor (it can be said that its direction of movement is toward the 2nd floor, which is the landing call floor), and its downward direction of movement coincides with its downward direction of destination floor. In addition, the elevator with a waiting car, including a siding unit, is elevator 90a, which has car 10a. The response unit selection unit 140 identifies the elevator with a car located on the floor closest to the 2nd floor, which is the landing call floor, from among elevators 90a and elevator 90b. The elevator with a car located on the floor closest to the 2nd floor, which is the landing call floor, is elevator 90a, which has car 10a located on the 1st floor, so the response unit selection unit 140 selects elevator 90a as the response unit. Since elevator 90a has been selected as the evacuating unit by the evacuating unit selection unit 150, the response unit selection unit 140 has selected the evacuating unit as the response unit.

[0073] With the above configuration, the response unit selection unit 140 selects a response unit by taking into account the direction of the elevator car's movement and the direction of the destination floor in the landing call, thereby further reducing the waiting time from when a user registers a landing call until the elevator car arrives at the landing floor. The response unit selection unit 140 may also be configured to include an arrival time calculation unit (not shown) that calculates the arrival time from the floor where the elevator car last lands or is waiting to the landing call floor based on the movement information and reception information, and select the elevator car with the shortest arrival time as the response unit. In addition, various known conditions that are generally used in elevator group control may be applied as conditions for the response unit selection unit 140 to select a response unit.

[0074] Embodiment 2. Figure 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the group control system 1a according to Embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 5, the group control system 1a according to Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that it includes a detection unit 94, and the group control device 100a includes an evacuation unit selection unit 150a, a control unit 160a, a vibration information acquisition unit 170, and a determination unit 171. The other configurations are the same as those of Embodiment 1 described above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted, and the differences will be explained below.

[0075] The detection unit 94 is installed in a building with multiple elevators and detects vibrations in the building. The detection unit 94 is, for example, a vibration sensor, an acceleration sensor, a seismometer, etc. The detection unit 94 is installed, for example, in the elevator shaft 22, but is not limited to this and may be installed in the machine room 21, etc. The detection unit 94 detects the magnitude of the building's vibrations and transmits the detected magnitude of the vibrations as vibration information to the vibration information acquisition unit 170. In addition to the magnitude of the building's vibrations, the detection unit 94 may also detect the vibration period and duration of the vibrations and transmit them as vibration information to the vibration information acquisition unit 170.

[0076] The vibration information acquisition unit 170 acquires vibration information regarding the magnitude of vibrations in a building where multiple elevators are installed. More specifically, the vibration information acquisition unit 170 acquires vibration information from the detection unit 94. The vibration information acquisition unit 170 transmits the acquired vibration information to the determination unit 171.

[0077] Based on the vibration information acquired by the vibration information acquisition unit 170, the determination unit 171 determines, if the magnitude of the vibration is above a preset vibration threshold, whether or not there is a dangerous elevator among the multiple elevators that has a car moving to a preset dangerous floor, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120.

[0078] The determination unit 171 will now be described in more detail. The determination unit 171 receives vibration information from the vibration information acquisition unit 170. Based on the received vibration information, the determination unit 171 determines whether the magnitude of the vibration is equal to or greater than a preset vibration threshold. The set value of the vibration threshold is, for example, the magnitude of vibration at which it is estimated that a long elevator component, such as the main rope 40, may come into contact with the hoistway 22 on a resonant floor. The vibration threshold is preset, for example, by the elevator manager or the elevator manufacturer. If the determination unit 171 determines that the magnitude of the vibration is equal to or greater than the vibration threshold, it transmits a determination signal to the movement information acquisition unit 120. Upon receiving the determination signal, the movement information acquisition unit 120 transmits movement information to the determination unit 171.

[0079] If the determination unit 171 determines that the magnitude of the vibration is equal to or greater than a preset vibration threshold, it determines, based on the received movement information, whether or not there is a dangerous elevator among the multiple elevators that has a car moving to a preset dangerous floor. If the determination unit 171 determines that there is a dangerous elevator, it transmits the determination result and information indicating the elevator corresponding to the dangerous elevator as dangerous elevator information to the control unit 160a and the elevator selection unit 150a.

[0080] If the determination unit 171 determines that there is a dangerous elevator, the control unit 160a stops the movement of the elevator car belonging to the dangerous elevator. More specifically, when the control unit 160a receives dangerous elevator information from the determination unit 171, it instructs the standalone control device corresponding to the elevator that is the dangerous elevator to stop the movement of the elevator car.

[0081] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a selects a new evacuation unit from among multiple elevators excluding the hazardous unit if the hazardous unit is an evacuation unit. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a receives hazardous unit information from the Determination Unit 171. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a determines whether the elevator corresponding to the hazardous unit included in the received hazardous unit information matches the evacuation unit. Note that the storage unit (not shown) stores evacuation unit information indicating the evacuation unit selected by the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a, and the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a determines whether the elevator corresponding to the hazardous unit matches the evacuation unit while referring to the evacuation unit information stored in the storage unit. If the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a determines that the elevator corresponding to the hazardous unit matches the evacuation unit, that is, if the hazardous unit is an evacuation unit, it selects a new evacuation unit from among multiple elevators excluding the evacuation unit. When the dangerous elevator is a designated evacuation elevator, the selection method used by the evacuation elevator selection unit 150 described in Embodiment 1 may be used as appropriate for selecting a new evacuation elevator. After selecting a new evacuation elevator, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150a transmits evacuation elevator selection information indicating the elevator selected as the evacuation elevator to the control unit 160.

[0082] An example of processing in the determination unit 171, the evacuation unit selection unit 150a, and the control unit 160a of the group control device 100a will be specifically described. As in Embodiment 1, the building has 30 floors from the 1st to the 30th floor, with the evacuation floor being the 1st floor and the dangerous floors being the 14th to 16th floors. Furthermore, the description will assume that elevator 90a, which had car 10a waiting on the evacuation floor as an evacuation unit, has responded to a landing call after being selected as the responding unit, and that elevator 90b, selected as the new evacuation unit by the evacuation unit selection unit 150a, has car 10b heading towards the evacuation floor. Note that an evacuation unit information indicating that car 10b is an evacuation unit is stored in a storage unit (not shown).

[0083] The determination unit 171 receives vibration information from the vibration information acquisition unit 170 and, based on the received vibration information, determines that the magnitude of the vibration is equal to or greater than the vibration threshold. The determination unit 171 transmits a determination signal to the movement information acquisition unit 120 and requests movement information. For example, the determination unit 171 receives movement information from the movement information acquisition unit 120 indicating that car 10a is located on the 4th floor and is moving upwards, car 10b is located on the 16th floor and is moving downwards, and car 10c is located on the 30th floor and is moving downwards. Based on the received movement information, the determination unit 171 determines whether there is a dangerous unit among elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c that has a car moving on a dangerous floor. Since car 10b is located on the 16th floor, the determination unit 171 determines that there is a dangerous unit (elevator 90b, which has car 10b). The determination unit 171 transmits the determination result and information indicating that elevator 90b is a dangerous elevator as dangerous elevator information to the control unit 160 and the evacuation elevator selection unit 150a.

[0084] The control unit 160a receives the determination result and dangerous unit information from the determination unit 171, indicating that elevator 90b is a dangerous unit. The control unit 160a instructs the standalone control device 70b, which corresponds to elevator 90b being a dangerous unit, to stop the movement of car 10b.

[0085] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a receives the determination result and dangerous unit information from the determination unit 171 indicating that elevator 90b is a dangerous unit. Based on the dangerous unit information and the evacuation unit information, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a determines whether the elevator that is a dangerous unit matches the evacuation unit. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a determines that the elevator 90b that is a dangerous unit matches the elevator 90b that is an evacuation unit. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150a selects a new evacuation unit from among the multiple elevator cars excluding elevator 90b, which is the evacuation unit.

[0086] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the group control device 100a. Using Figure 6, the operations performed by the vibration information acquisition unit 170 and the determination unit 171, the operation by the control unit 160a to stop the movement of the cage of the dangerous elevator, and the operation by the evacuation elevator selection unit 150a to select a new evacuation elevator will be explained.

[0087] In step S200, the vibration information acquisition unit 170 acquires vibration information from the detection unit 94. The vibration information acquisition unit 170 transmits the acquired vibration information to the determination unit 171.

[0088] In step S210, the determination unit 171 determines whether the magnitude of the vibration is greater than or equal to the vibration threshold based on the vibration information received from the vibration information acquisition unit 170. If the determination unit 171 determines that the magnitude of the vibration is greater than or equal to the vibration threshold, it sends a determination signal to the movement information acquisition unit 120 and requests movement information. Then, the process proceeds to step S220. If the determination unit 171 determines that the magnitude of the vibration is less than the vibration threshold, the process proceeds to step S200.

[0089] In step S220, the determination unit 171 acquires movement information from the movement information acquisition unit 120.

[0090] In step S230, the determination unit 171 determines, based on the received movement information, whether or not there is a dangerous elevator car moving on a dangerous floor. If the determination unit 171 determines that there is a dangerous elevator car, it transmits the determination result and information indicating the elevator corresponding to the dangerous elevator car as dangerous elevator car information to the control unit 160a and the evacuation elevator selection unit 150a, and proceeds to step S240. If the determination unit 171 determines that there is no dangerous elevator car, it terminates the process.

[0091] In step S240, the control unit 160a stops the movement of the car belonging to the dangerous elevator based on the dangerous elevator information received from the determination unit 171. More specifically, the control unit 160a instructs the standalone control device corresponding to the elevator that is the dangerous elevator to stop the movement of the car based on the dangerous elevator information.

[0092] In step S250, the elevator selection unit 150a determines, based on the dangerous elevator information received from the determination unit 171, whether the elevator corresponding to the dangerous elevator information matches the elevator that is to be taken out of service. If the elevator selection unit 150a determines that the elevator corresponding to the dangerous elevator matches the elevator that is to be taken out of service, that is, if the dangerous elevator is the elevator that is to be taken out of service, the process proceeds to step S260. If the elevator selection unit 150a determines that the dangerous elevator is not the elevator that is to be taken out of service, the process ends.

[0093] In step S260, the elevator selection unit 150a selects a new elevator from among several elevators excluding the existing elevator. Then, it terminates the process.

[0094] As described above, in Embodiment 2, the determination unit 171 of the group control device 100a determines, based on vibration information acquired by the vibration information acquisition unit 170, whether there is a dangerous elevator car among the multiple elevators that is moving to a predetermined dangerous floor, if the magnitude of the vibration is above a preset vibration threshold, based on movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit 120. If the determination unit 171 determines that there is a dangerous elevator car, the control unit 160a stops the movement of the car belonging to the dangerous elevator car. If the dangerous elevator car is an evacuation elevator car, the evacuation elevator selection unit 150a selects a new evacuation elevator car from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation elevator car. With this configuration, even if the car of an evacuation elevator that was moving toward an evacuation floor stops in the event of a disaster, a different car from the stopped car can be made to wait at the evacuation floor by selecting a new evacuation elevator car.

[0095] Embodiment 3. Figure 7 is a functional configuration diagram of the group control system 1b according to Embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 7, the group control device 100b according to Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiments 1 or 2 in that it includes an evacuation unit selection unit 150b, a congestion information acquisition unit 180, a congestion floor detection unit 181, and a setting unit 185. The other configurations are the same as those of Embodiments 1 or 2 described above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted, and the differences will be explained below.

[0096] The setting unit 185 sets the operating floors that each of the multiple elevators can operate on. For example, if the setting unit 185 sets the operating floors of elevator 90a to floors 1 through 20, elevator 90a will only respond to landing calls that occur on floors 1 through 20. Also, the destination floors that can be registered to elevator 90a will be limited to floors 1 through 20. The operating floors may be determined by the elevator manager or the elevator manufacturer, or they may be appropriately determined by a determination unit (not shown) based on, for example, past performance, to ensure that there is no bias in the congestion level of each of the multiple elevators. The setting unit 185 transmits information indicating the operating floors set for each of the multiple elevators as setting information to the elevator selection unit 150b.

[0097] The congestion information acquisition unit 180 acquires congestion information for each floor of the building. In this embodiment, the congestion information is described as information about the number of people on each floor acquired from an access control system of a building where multiple elevators are installed, but the congestion information is not limited to this. For example, the congestion information may be image information of users staying on each floor taken by a camera (not shown). Alternatively, the congestion information may be information indicating the degree of congestion on each floor for each pre-set time period, or information indicating the degree of congestion estimated based on information about events held on each floor. The congestion information acquisition unit 180 transmits the acquired congestion information to the congestion floor detection unit 181.

[0098] The crowded floor detection unit 181 detects floors where the degree of congestion is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold, based on the congestion information acquired by the congestion information acquisition unit 180, as crowded floors. For example, if the crowded floor detection unit 181 receives information about the number of people on each floor as congestion information, and that number of people is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold, it detects the floor corresponding to that number of people as a crowded floor. The congestion threshold is preset by the elevator manager or elevator manufacturer. When the crowded floor detection unit 181 detects a crowded floor, it transmits information indicating the detected crowded floor as crowded floor information to the evacuation unit selection unit 150b. The crowded floor detection unit 181 may also further detect floors where the degree of congestion is less than a sparse floor threshold, which is set lower than the congestion threshold, as sparse floors, and transmit information indicating the detected crowded floors and sparse floors as crowded floor information to the evacuation unit selection unit 150b.

[0099] Similar to Embodiment 1, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140. When it receives a response unit selection signal indicating that the Evacuation Unit is to be the response unit, that is, when the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 selects the Evacuation Unit as the response unit, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b selects a new Evacuation Unit from among multiple elevators excluding the Evacuation Unit and elevators where the congested floor is set as the operating floor, based on the setting information received from the Setting Unit 185 and the congested floor information received from the Congested Floor Detection Unit 181. Specifically, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b identifies elevators where the congested floor is set as the operating floor based on the setting information and the congested floor information, and selects a new Evacuation Unit from among multiple elevators excluding the Evacuation Unit and the identified elevator. In the following description, elevators where the congested floor is set as the operating floor will be referred to as congested units. Furthermore, if the evacuation elevator selection unit 150b receives a response elevator selection signal from the response elevator selection unit 140 indicating that the evacuation elevator will be the response elevator, and has not received congestion floor information from the congestion floor detection unit 181 (i.e., the congestion floor detection unit 181 does not detect any congestion floors), it selects a new evacuation elevator from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation elevator, similar to the first embodiment.

[0100] The selection method used by the elevator selection unit 150b to select a new elevator from among multiple elevators excluding the elevators that are already in transit and the elevators that are congested may be the selection method used by the elevator selection unit 150 described in Embodiment 1. Alternatively, when the elevator selection unit 150b receives information indicating congested floors and information indicating uncrowded floors as congested floor information, it may select the elevator with the most uncrowded floors set as its operating floors from among multiple elevators excluding the elevators that are already in transit and the elevators that are congested, as the new elevator.

[0101] An example of processing in the congestion information acquisition unit 180, congestion floor detection unit 181, setting unit 185, and evacuation unit selection unit 150b of the group control device 100b will be specifically described. As in Embodiment 1, the building is assumed to have 30 floors, from the 1st to the 30th floor, with the evacuation floor being the 1st floor. Furthermore, the explanation will assume that elevator 90a, which had car 10a waiting on the evacuation floor as an evacuation unit, was selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit 140.

[0102] The setting unit 185 sets the operating floors that each of the multiple elevators can operate on. For example, the setting unit 185 sets the operating floors of elevator 90a to the 1st to 10th floors, the operating floors of elevator 90b to the 1st to 30th floors, and the operating floors of elevator 90c to the 20th to 30th floors. The setting unit 185 transmits information indicating the operating floors set for elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c to the evacuation unit selection unit 150b as setting information.

[0103] The congestion information acquisition unit 180 acquires congestion information for each floor of the building. The congestion information acquisition unit 180 transmits information about the number of people in each room on each floor as congestion information to the congestion floor detection unit 181.

[0104] The congestion floor detection unit 181 receives congestion information from the congestion information acquisition unit 180 and, based on the received congestion information, detects floors where the level of congestion is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold as congestion floors. The congestion floor detection unit 181 considers the number of people in a room as the level of congestion from the information on the number of people in the room received as congestion information, and if that number of people is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold, it detects the floor corresponding to that number of people as a congestion floor. In this example, the congestion floor detection unit 181 detects the 1st and 15th floors as congestion floors. The congestion floor detection unit 181 transmits information indicating the detected congestion floors as congestion floor information to the evacuation unit selection unit 150b.

[0105] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the response unit. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b also receives congestion floor information from the Congested Floor Detection Unit 181, indicating that the congested floors are the 1st and 15th floors, and receives setting information from the Setting Unit 185, indicating that elevator 90a operates from the 1st to 10th floors, elevator 90b operates from the 1st to 30th floors, and elevator 90c operates from the 20th to 30th floors. Upon receiving the response unit selection signal indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the response unit, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b identifies the elevators that have the congested floors set as their operating floors based on the received congestion floor information and setting information. In this example, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b identifies elevators 90a and 90b, which operate on the congested floors of the 1st or 15th floor, as elevators that have the congested floors set as their operating floors.

[0106] The elevator selection unit 150b selects a new elevator from among several elevators, excluding the elevator designated as an emergency elevator (elevator 90a) and elevators whose operating floors are set to be congested floors (elevators 90a and 90b). In this example, the elevator selection unit 150b selects elevator 90c as the new emergency elevator.

[0107] Figure 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing performed by the group control device 100b. Using Figure 8, we will explain the operations performed by the setting unit 185, the congestion information acquisition unit 180, and the congestion floor detection unit 181, as well as the operation of the evacuation unit selection unit 150b to select a new evacuation unit. It should be assumed that the group control device 100b acquires movement information from the movement information acquisition unit 120 and destination floor information from the destination floor information acquisition unit 130.

[0108] In step S300, the setting unit 185 sets the operating floor for each of the multiple elevators. The setting unit 185 transmits information indicating the operating floor set for each of the multiple elevators to the elevator selection unit 150b as setting information.

[0109] In step S310, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b determines whether the Evacuation Unit has been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140. If the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the Response Unit, it determines that the Evacuation Unit has been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 and proceeds to step S320. If the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150b has not received a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 indicating that the Evacuation Unit will be the Response Unit, it determines that the Evacuation Unit has not been selected as the Response Unit by the Response Unit Selection Unit 140 and proceeds to step S310 again.

[0110] In S320, the congestion information acquisition unit 180 acquires congestion information. The congestion information acquisition unit 180 transmits the acquired congestion information to the congestion floor detection unit 181.

[0111] In S330, the congestion floor detection unit 181 receives congestion information from the congestion information acquisition unit 180 and, based on the congestion information, detects floors where the level of congestion is equal to or greater than the congestion threshold as congestion floors. If the congestion floor detection unit 181 detects a congestion floor, it transmits information indicating the detected congestion floor as congestion floor information to the evacuation unit selection unit 150b and proceeds to step S340. If the congestion floor detection unit 181 does not detect a congestion floor, it proceeds to step S360.

[0112] In step S340, the evacuation unit selection unit 150b identifies a congested unit based on the congested floor information received from the congested floor detection unit 181 and the setting information received from the setting unit 185.

[0113] In step S350, the elevator selection unit 150b selects a new elevator from among several elevators, excluding the elevators that are already in a refuge position and those that are congested. Then, the process ends.

[0114] In step S360, the elevator selection unit 150b selects a new elevator from among several elevators excluding the elevator already in use. Then, it terminates the process.

[0115] In Figure 8, the operating floor is set by the setting unit 185 in step S300, but if the operating floor has already been set, the process in step S300 may be omitted.

[0116] As described above, in Embodiment 3, when a response elevator is selected as a response elevator by the response elevator selection unit 140, the evacuating elevator selection unit 150b of the group control device 100b selects a new evacuating elevator from among multiple elevators, excluding the elevators where the evacuating elevator and the congested floor detected by the congested floor detection unit 181 are set as operating floors. With this configuration, by not selecting elevators that are frequently used by users as evacuating elevators, it is possible to suppress the waiting of elevator cars that are frequently used by users and to suppress a decrease in the overall operating efficiency of multiple elevators.

[0117] In this embodiment, the congested floor detection unit 181 has been described as detecting floors where the degree of congestion is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold as congested floors, but it is not limited to this. The congested floor detection unit 181 may also exclude predetermined floors from being congested floors. For example, floors with building entrances and exits can always be expected to be congested. If floors with building entrances and exits are set as operating floors for all of the multiple elevators, and if a floor with a building entrance or exit is detected as a congested floor, it is possible that all elevators will be excluded from the candidates for the evacuation unit selected by the evacuation unit selection unit 150b. Therefore, by excluding predetermined floors such as floors with building entrances and exits from being congested floors, it is possible to prevent all elevators from being excluded from the candidates for the evacuation unit selected by the evacuation unit selection unit 150b.

[0118] Embodiment 4. Figure 9 is a functional configuration diagram of the group control system 1c according to Embodiment 4. As shown in Figure 9, the group control device 100c according to Embodiment 4 differs from Embodiments 1 to 3 in that it includes an installation information acquisition unit 190 and a retraction unit selection unit 150c. The other configurations are the same as those of Embodiments 1 to 3 described above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted, and the differences will be explained below.

[0119] The installation information acquisition unit 190 acquires installation information indicating the positional relationship of multiple elevators installed in a row. In this embodiment, as described above, the multiple elevators are installed in a straight line, so the installation information acquisition unit 190 acquires information regarding the order in which these multiple elevators are arranged. The installation information is information that is pre-set in a storage unit (not shown) by the elevator manager, elevator manufacturer, etc., based on the design information of the elevator or the building in which the elevator is installed. In this embodiment, the installation information is assumed to be the order in which multiple elevators are arranged as described above, but it is not limited to this, and may also be the order in which multiple cars corresponding to multiple elevators are arranged, or the order in which multiple landings provided corresponding to multiple elevators are arranged, etc. The installation information acquisition unit 190 acquires the installation information from the storage unit and transmits the acquired installation information to the elevator selection unit 150c.

[0120] When the response unit selection unit 140 selects a response unit, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c selects the elevator located in the middle of the row from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuation unit, based on the installation information acquired by the installation information acquisition unit 190, as the new evacuation unit. More specifically, when the response unit selection unit 140 receives a response unit selection signal indicating that the evacuation unit will be the response unit, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c assigns numbers to the elevators in order from the one located in the middle of the row, based on the installation information. These numbers are called installation numbers. For example, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c assigns the smallest installation number to the elevator located in the very center of a row of multiple elevators, and assigns the largest installation numbers to the elevators located at both ends of the row of multiple elevators. The evacuation unit selection unit 150c selects the elevator car that is closest to the center of the row, that is, the elevator car with the smallest installation number, from among several elevator cars excluding the evacuation unit, as the new evacuation unit.

[0121] An example of processing in the installation information acquisition unit 190 and the evacuation unit selection unit 150c of the group control device 100c will be specifically described. As in Embodiment 1, the building is assumed to have 30 floors, from the 1st to the 30th floor, with the evacuation floor being the 1st floor. Furthermore, the explanation will assume that the elevator car 10a, which was waiting as an evacuation unit, was selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit 140.

[0122] The installation information acquisition unit 190 acquires information as installation information, for example, that elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c are installed in a straight line in the order of elevator 90a, elevator 90b, and elevator 90c. The installation information acquisition unit 190 transmits the installation information indicating the positional relationship of elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c to the evacuation unit selection unit 150c.

[0123] The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150c receives a response unit selection signal from the Response Unit Selection Unit 140. The Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150c also receives installation information from the Installation Information Acquisition Unit 190. Upon receiving the response unit selection signal indicating that the Evacuation Unit (i.e., elevator 90a) is the response unit, the Evacuation Unit Selection Unit 150c assigns installation numbers sequentially to the elevators, starting from the one in the middle of the row, based on the installation information indicating that elevators 90a, 90b, and 90c are installed in a straight line in that order. Since the elevator installed in the middle of the row is elevator 90b, elevator 90b is assigned an installation number, for example, 1. Elevators 90a and 90c are assigned an installation number, 2. The elevator selection unit 150c selects elevator 90b, which has the smallest installation number, from among several elevators excluding elevator 90a, which is the designated elevator for emergency evacuation, as the new elevator for emergency evacuation.

[0124] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the group control device 100c. Using Figure 10, the operation of selecting a new evacuated unit by the installation information acquisition unit 190 and the evacuated unit selection unit 150c will be explained.

[0125] In step S400, the installation information acquisition unit 190 acquires installation information from a storage unit (not shown). The installation information acquisition unit 190 transmits the acquired installation information to the evacuated unit selection unit 150c.

[0126] In step S410, the evacuated unit selection unit 150c determines whether the evacuated unit has been selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit 140. If the evacuated unit selection unit 150c receives a response unit selection signal from the response unit selection unit 140 indicating that the evacuated unit will be the response unit, it determines that the evacuated unit has been selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit 140 and proceeds to step S420. If the evacuated unit selection unit 150c has not received a response unit selection signal from the response unit selection unit 140 indicating that the evacuated unit will be the response unit, it determines that the evacuated unit has not been selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit 140 and proceeds to step S400.

[0127] In step S420, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c assigns installation numbers to multiple cages based on the installation information received from the installation information acquisition unit 190. More specifically, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c assigns numbers sequentially, starting from the cage installed in the center of the row.

[0128] In step S430, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c selects a cage from among several cages excluding the evacuation unit that is positioned in the center of the row as the new evacuation unit. More specifically, the evacuation unit selection unit 150c selects a cage from among several cages excluding the evacuation unit that is assigned a position number indicating it is positioned closest to the center of the row as the new evacuation unit. Then, the process ends.

[0129] As described above, in Embodiment 4, when the evacuated elevator selection unit 150c of the group control device 100c is selected as the response elevator by the response elevator selection unit 140, the evacuated elevator selection unit 150c selects the elevator located in the center of the row from among the multiple elevators excluding the evacuated elevator as the new evacuated elevator, based on the installation information acquired by the installation information acquisition unit 190. With this configuration, the elevator located in the center of the row is selected as the evacuated elevator, which is expected to have a reduced usage frequency by waiting on the evacuated floor. As a result, when users wait for a car in an elevator hall with multiple landings 80, users will be dispersed to the landings 80 of the elevators to the left and right of the evacuated elevator, thus alleviating congestion in the elevator hall.

[0130] In this embodiment, when the elevator selection unit 150c assigns installation numbers to multiple elevators, it assigns installation numbers to all of the multiple elevators, but it is not limited to this. The elevator selection unit 150c may assign installation numbers only to the multiple elevators excluding the elevator designated as an emergency elevator.

[0131] Figure 11 is a hardware configuration diagram of the group control device 100. Note that the hardware configurations of the group control device 100, group control device 100a, group control device 100b, and group control device 100c are the same as those of the group control device 100, so their explanation is omitted.

[0132] As shown in Figure 11, each function of the group control device 100 can be realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit comprises at least one processor 501, at least one memory 502, and a signal input / output unit 503. The processing circuit may also include at least one dedicated hardware component together with the processor 501 and memory 502, or as a substitute for them. The signal input / output unit 503 is, for example, a module or other component that performs signal input and output processing with an external device or equipment of the processing circuit.

[0133] When the processing circuit includes a processor 501 and a memory 502, each function of the group control device 100 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. This program is stored in the memory 502. The processor 501 realizes each function of the group control device 100 by reading and executing the program stored in the memory 502.

[0134] The processor 501 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 502 is composed of non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM.

[0135] When a processing circuit has dedicated hardware, it can be implemented as, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0136] Each function of the group control device 100 can be implemented by a separate processing circuit. Alternatively, each function of the group control device 100 can be implemented collectively by a processing circuit. Some functions of the group control device 100 may be implemented by dedicated hardware, while others are implemented by software or firmware. Thus, the processing circuit implements each function of the group control device 100 using dedicated hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0137] The various aspects of this disclosure are summarized below as an appendix. (Note 1) A reception area that accepts calls for the landings of multiple elevators, each having its own car, A rescue unit selection unit selects a rescue unit from among the aforementioned multiple elevators to which the elevator car will be stationed at a predetermined rescue floor, When the reception unit receives the landing call, the response unit selection unit includes the retracted elevator as part of the group control of the multiple elevators and selects a response elevator from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. The system includes a control unit that causes the car of the evacuation unit selected by the evacuation unit selection unit to wait on the evacuation floor, and the car of the response unit selected by the response unit selection unit to respond to the landing call, The aforementioned elevator group control device is an elevator group control device that, when the aforementioned elevator selection unit selects the aforementioned elevator as the response unit, selects a new elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the aforementioned elevator. (Note 2) The system includes a movement information acquisition unit that acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of the cage and information indicating the position of the cage in the direction of movement, The reception desk identifies the landing call floor from which the landing call was made. The elevator group control device according to Appendix 1, wherein the response unit selection unit identifies, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, the elevator having the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit from among the plurality of elevators, and if the elevator having the car located on the closest floor is the evacuated unit, the evacuated unit is selected as the response unit. (Note 3) The reception unit further specifies the destination floor direction, which indicates the direction from the boarding call floor to the destination floor. The response unit selection unit, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, identifies an elevator having a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit, from among elevators responding to the landing call or car call, where the direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and the direction of movement coincides with the direction of destination floor, and among elevators having a waiting car including the evacuated unit, and if the elevator having a car located on the closest floor is the evacuated unit, the evacuated unit is selected as the response unit. (Appendix 4) The system includes a movement information acquisition unit that acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of the cage and information indicating the position of the cage in the direction of movement, The elevator group control device described in Appendix 1, wherein the evacuation unit selection unit, when the evacuation unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, and when there is an elevator with a car waiting in a non-directional direction among the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit, selects the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor from among the elevators with cars waiting in a non-directional direction excluding the evacuation unit as the new evacuation unit, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit. (Note 5) The system includes a destination floor information acquisition unit that acquires destination floor information for the aforementioned elevator car, The group control device for elevators according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, wherein the evacuation unit selection unit, when the evacuation unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, and all of the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit are responding to the landing call or car call, selects from among the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit the elevator having the car that passes through the fewest number of pre-set dangerous floors from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor, based on the destination floor information acquired by the destination floor information acquisition unit, as the new evacuation unit. (Note 6) A vibration information acquisition unit acquires vibration information relating to the magnitude of vibrations in a building where the aforementioned multiple elevators are installed, Based on the vibration information acquired by the vibration information acquisition unit, if the magnitude of the vibration is greater than or equal to a preset vibration threshold, the determination unit determines, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, whether or not there is a dangerous elevator among the plurality of elevators that has a car moving to a preset dangerous floor. If the determination unit determines that there is a dangerous car, the control unit stops the movement of the car belonging to the dangerous car. The elevator group control device according to any one of the appendices 1 to 5, wherein the emergency elevator selection unit selects a new emergency elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the emergency elevator when the emergency elevator is the emergency elevator. (Note 7) A congestion information acquisition unit that acquires congestion information on each floor of a building where the aforementioned multiple elevators are installed, Each of the aforementioned multiple elevators is provided with a setting unit that sets the operating floors on which it can operate, The system includes a congestion floor detection unit that detects floors where the level of congestion is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold, based on the congestion information acquired by the congestion information acquisition unit, The elevator group control device according to any one of the appendices 1 to 6, wherein the retraction unit selection unit, when the retraction unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, selects the new retraction unit from among the plurality of elevators, excluding the elevator in which the retraction unit and the congested floor detected by the congested floor detection unit are set as the operating floor. (Note 8) The system includes an installation information acquisition unit that acquires installation information indicating the positional relationship of the multiple elevators that are installed in a row, The elevator group control device according to any one of the appendices 1 to 7, wherein the retraction unit selection unit, when the retraction unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, selects the elevator installed in the center of the row from among the plurality of elevators excluding the retraction unit as the new retraction unit, based on the installation information acquired by the installation information acquisition unit. (Note 9) The aforementioned multiple elevators, An elevator group control system comprising an elevator group control device described in any one of the appendices 1 to 8. (Note 10) It accepts landing calls for multiple elevators, each with its own elevator car. From among the aforementioned multiple elevators, select an elevator unit that will wait at a predetermined evacuation floor, When the aforementioned landing call is received, the retracted elevator is included in the group control of the multiple elevators, and a response elevator is selected from the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. The elevator car of the aforementioned evacuation unit is made to wait on the evacuation floor, and the elevator car of the aforementioned response unit is made to respond to the landing call. A group control method for elevators, which, when the aforementioned retracted elevator is selected as the response elevator, selects a new retracted elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the aforementioned retracted elevator. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0138] 1 Group control system, 1a Group control system, 1b Group control system, 1c Group control system, 10a Car, 10b Car, 10c Car, 22 Hoistway, 40 Main rope, 70a Standalone control device, 70b Standalone control device, 70c Standalone control device, 90a Elevator, 90b Elevator, 90c Elevator, 100 Group control device, 100a Group control device, 100b Group control device, 100c Group control device, 110 Reception unit, 120 Movement information acquisition unit, 130 Destination floor information acquisition unit, 140 Response unit selection unit, 150 Evacuation unit selection unit, 150a Evacuation unit selection unit, 150b Evacuation unit selection unit, 150c Evacuation unit selection unit, 160 Control unit, 160a Control unit, 170 Vibration information acquisition unit, 171 Judgment unit, 180 Congestion information acquisition unit, 181 Congestion floor detection unit, 185 Setting unit, 190 Installation information acquisition unit, 501 Processor, 502 Memory, 503 Signal input / output unit

Claims

1. A reception area that accepts calls for the landings of multiple elevators, each having its own car, A rescue unit selection unit selects a rescue unit from among the aforementioned multiple elevators to which the elevator car will be stationed at a predetermined rescue floor, When the reception unit receives the landing call, the response unit selection unit includes the retracted elevator as part of the group control of the multiple elevators and selects a response elevator from among the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. The system includes a control unit that causes the car of the evacuation unit selected by the evacuation unit selection unit to wait on the evacuation floor, and the car of the response unit selected by the response unit selection unit to respond to the landing call, The aforementioned elevator group control device is an elevator group control device that, when the aforementioned elevator selection unit selects the aforementioned elevator as the response unit, selects a new elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the aforementioned elevator.

2. The system includes a movement information acquisition unit that acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of the cage and information indicating the position of the cage in the direction of movement, The reception desk identifies the landing call floor from which the landing call was made. The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein the response unit selection unit identifies, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, an elevator having the car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit from among the plurality of elevators, and if the elevator having the car located on the closest floor is the evacuated unit, the evacuated unit is selected as the response unit.

3. The reception unit further specifies the destination floor direction, which indicates the direction from the boarding call floor to the destination floor. The elevator group control device according to claim 2, wherein the response unit selection unit, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, identifies an elevator having a car located on the floor closest to the landing call floor identified by the reception unit from among elevators that are responding to the landing call or car call, having a car whose direction of movement is toward the landing call floor and whose direction of movement coincides with the direction of destination floor, and elevators having a waiting car including the evacuated unit, and if the elevator having a car located on the closest floor is the evacuated unit, the evacuated unit is selected as the response unit.

4. The system includes a movement information acquisition unit that acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of the cage and information indicating the position of the cage in the direction of movement, The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein the evacuation unit selection unit, when the evacuation unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, and when there is an elevator with a car waiting in a non-direction position among the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit, selects the elevator with the car that has the fewest number of dangerous floors to pass from the waiting floor to the evacuation floor from among the elevators with cars waiting in a non-direction position excluding the evacuation unit as the new evacuation unit, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit.

5. The system includes a destination floor information acquisition unit that acquires destination floor information for the aforementioned elevator car, The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein the evacuation unit selection unit, when the evacuation unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, and all of the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit are responding to the landing call or car call, selects, based on the destination floor information acquired by the destination floor information acquisition unit, the elevator having the car that passes through the fewest number of pre-set dangerous floors from the last destination floor to the evacuation floor from among the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit, as the new evacuation unit.

6. A vibration information acquisition unit acquires vibration information relating to the magnitude of vibrations in a building where the aforementioned multiple elevators are installed, A movement information acquisition unit acquires movement information including information indicating the direction of movement of the basket and information indicating the position of the basket in the direction of movement. Based on the vibration information acquired by the vibration information acquisition unit, if the magnitude of the vibration is greater than or equal to a preset vibration threshold, the determination unit determines, based on the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition unit, whether or not there is a dangerous elevator among the plurality of elevators that has a car moving to a preset dangerous floor. If the determination unit determines that there is a dangerous car, the control unit stops the movement of the car belonging to the dangerous car. The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein the emergency elevator selection unit selects a new emergency elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the emergency elevator when the emergency elevator is the emergency elevator.

7. A congestion information acquisition unit that acquires congestion information on each floor of a building where the aforementioned multiple elevators are installed, Each of the aforementioned multiple elevators is provided with a setting unit that sets the operating floors on which it can operate, The system includes a congestion floor detection unit that detects floors where the level of congestion is equal to or greater than a preset congestion threshold, based on the congestion information acquired by the congestion information acquisition unit, The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein the retraction unit selection unit, when the retraction unit is selected as the response unit by the response unit selection unit, selects a new retraction unit from among the plurality of elevators, excluding the elevators in which the retraction unit and the congested floor detected by the congested floor detection unit are set as the operating floor.

8. The system includes an installation information acquisition unit that acquires installation information indicating the positional relationship of the multiple elevators that are installed in a row, The elevator group control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the response unit selection unit selects the evacuation unit as the response unit, the evacuation unit selects, based on the installation information acquired by the installation information acquisition unit, an elevator installed in the center of the row from among the plurality of elevators excluding the evacuation unit to be the new evacuation unit.

9. The aforementioned multiple elevators, An elevator group control system comprising an elevator group control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. It accepts landing calls for multiple elevators, each with its own elevator car. From among the aforementioned multiple elevators, select an elevator unit that will wait at a predetermined evacuation floor, When the aforementioned landing call is received, the retracted elevator is included in the group control of the multiple elevators, and a response elevator is selected from the multiple elevators to respond to the landing call. The elevator car of the aforementioned evacuation unit is made to wait on the evacuation floor, and the elevator car of the aforementioned response unit is made to respond to the landing call. A group control method for elevators, which, when the aforementioned retracted elevator is selected as the response elevator, selects a new retracted elevator from among the plurality of elevators excluding the aforementioned retracted elevator.

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