Method of operating a platform lift

Abstract

Method of operating a platform lift (1), in particular a stairlift, the platform lift comprising a - a rail (2), - a drive unit (6), - an user interaction device (70), wherein during normal operation mode the drive unit (6) is enabled to drive along the rail (2); wherein the user interaction device (70) is transferable between a first condition (A) and a second condition (B), wherein in case that said user interaction device (70) is in the first condition (A) the platform lift is held in a safety mode, where during safety mode the drive unit is prevented to drive along the rail (2); wherein an interaction request lamp (71), which is allocated to said user interaction device (70); wherein illumination provided by said interaction request lamp (71) is controlled based on the status of said allocated user interaction device (70).

Description

[0001] Method of operating a platform lift

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention refers to a method of operating a platform lift and a platform lift. The platform may comprise a seat. In particular the platform lift is a stairlift having a seat.

[0004] EP 3 024 770 B1 discloses a stairlift guide rail. The rail is formed from a plurality of rail sections each having two holes for attaching the sections to each other. A light tube can be inserted into the rail sections.

[0005] DE 102017202288 A1 discloses a stairlift having an ambient light attached to the carrier.

[0006] WO 2020 / 030899 A1 discloses a stairlift including a rail; a carriage displaceable along said rail; a user control displaceable by a user to effect movement of said carriage along said rail. A diagnostic facility is configured to detect faults arising in the operation of the stairlift. The diagnostic facility identifies the nature of a fault issues to a stairlift user a voice based output in response to that fault.

[0007] CN 206 088 668 U discloses a stairlift having a handrail, which further comprises a gear arm. A LED infrared sensor lamp is mounted on the gear arm. The infrared sensor output terminal of the LED infrared sensor lamp acquires an infrared information of a human body. When the infrared information of the human body is located at a set distance, the LED infrared sensor lights.

[0008] CA 3 092 980 C A discloses a vertical platform lift assembly and control system. The control system is configured with monitoring sensors for the vertical platform lift to determine operating modes and fault conditions from the sensor data, and an indicator system for the vertical platform lift to provide user feedback based on sensor data and the status of the control system.

[0009] EP 0 625 896 B1 discloses an assembly for lifting a passenger having a mobile platform having a lift surface that is driven to transport passengers between different levels, a drive means for actuating the platform between the different levels, and including a manual switch for controlling the drive means; spaced-apart side passenger supports extending above said lift surface; a restraining belt comprising a buckle connected to one of the side passenger supports.

[0010] GB 2 463 734 A discloses a stairlift system that can be adapted for operation in different modes corresponding to different environments (public and multi-user or private and single user) by electronic programming. To switch between modes an electronic control unit (ECU) may be located within the stairlift carriage and may be reprogrammed via a facility on a stairlift armrest which may include a display. A LED display can indicate a fault.

[0011] JP 2004 307206 A discloses a staircase climbing device configured so that operation parts furnished at stages up and down with an ascending operating switch and a descending operating switch to generate a vertical motion of the climbing unit in the condition that the pressing operation is held are formed on the two surfaces of a first handle member and a second handle member. The device has a display which efficiently illuminates the lower part of a foot even at night by condensing the emitted light of the LED as parallel light by the lens member. In addition, when an abnormal state the first display unit is controlled to be in a predetermined light emission state, thereby reliably displaying this state by light emission.

[0012] CN 212 151 250 U discloses a shared smart seat elevator, the shared smart seat elevator comprising a seat and a driving device arranged at the lower part of the seat, the lower part of the seat is provided with a foot pedal. The elevator also includes a lifting headrest, a control module, control keys, a seat pressure sensor, and an NFC module. The lifting headrest includes a headrest, a sliding block, a screw motor and two sliding rails. The stairlift further comprises an LED warning light, the LED warning light is arranged on the seat armrest and the footrest, and the LED warning light is electrically connected with the control module.

[0013] CN 206 328 024 U discloses a stairlift of a rail, including a guide rail. The stairlift has a manual starting switch, wireless starting switch and limit switch.

[0014] It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved platform lift and in particular to provide an alternative to the solution disclosed in WO 2020 / 030899 A1. The invention comprises a method and a platform lift according to the main claims; embodiments are subject to the subclaims and the description.

[0015] In normal operation the drive unit is traveling along the rail upon a user request. This normal operation is under certain circumstances prevented, in particular due to safety reasons. So in particular in case that a certain safety feature is not in a second condition realizing a certain safety function, the platform lift is set into a safety mode, preventing normal operation. To support the user to get the platform lift back into the normal operation mode, the platform lift is requesting the user to perform a certain action. Such action leads to enable the safety function of a certain safety feature. The request is performed by illuminating an allocated user interaction device. By providing a user interaction with said illuminated user interaction device, the safety function is enabled again, which may be a basic requirement for normal operation.

[0016] In an embodiment, generally the interaction request lamp is allocated to said user interaction device in a manner, that said interaction request lamp is located at said user interaction device.

[0017] In an embodiment,

[0018] - the user interaction device is an armrest, and the interaction request lamp allocated to said armrest is located at said armrest; and / or

[0019] - the user interaction device is an emergency stop button, the interaction request lamp allocated to said emergency stop button is located at said armrest emergency stop button; and / or

[0020] - the user interaction device is a seat belt closure, and the interaction request lamp allocated to said seat belt closure is located at said seat belt closure.

[0021] The user interaction device is in particular separate to the joystick or another kind of travel request input device, by which the user provides the command to the platform lift to start the carrier traveling along the rail. Using said travel request input device has only an effect, in case that the platform lift is already in the normal operation mode. The travel request input device is not adapted to transfer the platform lift from safety mode into normal operation mode. In particular only during normal operation mode a user input to the travel request input device may lead to the result that the drive unit travels along the rail. In the safety mode the user input to the input to the travel request input device does not lead to the result that the unit travels along the rail.

[0022] The invention has the advantageous result, that the stairlift itself guides the user in an intuitive manner to the user action, which is mandatory to transfer the stairlift from the safety mode into the normal operation mode. In particular the interaction request lamp illuminates the respective user interaction device, which is mandatory to be activated or operated by the user to enter the normal operation mode.

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail by means of the figures, the figures show: figure 1 an inventive platform lift in two embodiments; figure 2 a top view on the drive unit of the inventive platform lift according to figure 1 ; figure 3 a block diagram of steps of the inventive method; figure 4 a top view on the drive unit of the inventive platform lift showing another feature; figure 5 schematically the emergency stop button from figure 2 in different stages.

[0024] Figure 1 shows exemplary embodiments of platform lifts 1. In figure 1a a platform lift 1 for the use with a wheelchair is shown. The platform 63 therefore comprises a kind of lifting ramp, which can travel along a direction of travel D form a first landing area 4 to a second landing area 5. The direction of travel D is defined by a rail 2, and follows in main by the course of an existing stairway 9 in a house or outside of a house. An alternative embodiment is shown in figure 1 b wherein the platform 63 comprises a seat. Here the platform lift is a stairlift with chair.

[0025] The rail 2 of the platform lift has in particular a curved shape, which at least partially deviates from a straight line; thus, a direction of travel D will change at least once during the course of the rail 2. There may be changes in the direction D in top view and in side view. The rail 2 may comprise a plurality of separate rail segments, which are joined together at rail connections.

[0026] The platform 63 is part of a driving unit 6, which further comprises a carrier 61 . The carrier 61 has non-shown rollers, which roll along the rail 2. For driving the carrier first positive engagements means 23 (only shown in detail in figure 1 b) are provided on the rail 2, which cooperates with driving means, in particular a driven gear, of the carrier 61 . A balancing system 62 is provided on the drive unit 6, to keep the platform 63 always in a horizontal orientation, even if the inclination of the rail 2 varies along its course. A controller 64 is provided and adapted to control the operation the stairlift in particular of components of the drive unit 6. The controller is in particular located on the drive unit 6.

[0027] Attached to the drive unit 6 is a travel request input device 65, as example in the form of a joystick (only shown in the figure 1 b). The travel request input device 65 receives a request from a user that the drive unit should travel along the rail. In other words: If the user pushes the joystick in a certain direction during normal operation mode, the drive unit travels along the rail. Operating the travel request input device leads merely to a result, that the drive unit is traveling, in case that the stairlift is in a normal mode of operation.

[0028] Figure 2 shows parts of the drive unit 6, in particular the chair of a stairlift.

[0029] The platform lift 1 has several user interaction devices 70, with which the user interacts during usage of the lift.

[0030] As an example there is an armrest 70a as a user interaction device. Said user interaction device 70a can be transferred by the user between a first condition A and a second condition B. In a first condition A the armrest is held in an open position. In the second condition B the armrest 70a is held in a closed position, thereby acting as a safety device, which prevents a user from leaning too far outward of the platform.

[0031] By standard the armrest 70a is locked in the open condition A or closed second condition B. For transferring the armrest between both conditions, the armrest needs to be unlocked by the user. For this reason, the armrest 70a comprises as a user interaction subdevice 700a in the form of an armrest unlocker. By default (urged by a spring) the armrest unlocker is in a lock position. The user can shift the armrest unlocker 700a into an unlock position (arrow P1 in figure 2), thereby unlocking the armrest 70a for transfer between the open first condition A and closed second condition B and vice versa.

[0032] As another example there are seat belt closures 70b, in the form of a seat belt buckle and a seat belt plug, as a user interaction device. Said user interaction device70b can be transferred by the user between a first condition A and a second condition B. In a first condition A the seat belt closures 70b are in an open position. In the second condition B the seat belt closures 70b are held in a closed position, thereby acting as a safety device, which prevents a user from falling out of the stairlift during travel.

[0033] As another example there is an emergency stop button 70c as a user interaction device, which is in general a safety device providing the user always an easy and reliable possibility to transfer the stairlift into a safety mode. Said user interaction device70b can be transferred between a first condition A and a second condition B. In a first condition A the emergency button 70c is in an activated state, thereby preventing normal operation of the stairlift. In a second condition B the emergency button is in a nonactivated state, enabling I not preventing normal operation.

[0034] The central controller 64 is adapted to prevent normal operation of the platform lift in case that one of the user interfaces 70 is in the first condition. So, if the armrest 70a is in the open condition and / or the seat belt closures 70b are not closed and / or the emergency stop button 70c is in the active condition, the normal operation is prevented. Any user input to the travel request input device would not lead to a lifting operation of the stairlift during the safety mode. At least one safety device keeps the stairlift in the safety mode and during safety mode a lifting operation is prevented due to safety reasosns.

[0035] A platform lift, in particular a stairlift, is often used by elderly person, who may not be familiar with technical devices. Conventionally, in case that the platform lift is prevent from normal operation, the user may have difficulties to realize, for which reason the normal operation is prevented and what the user may contribute to get the lift back to normal operation. The present invention solves this by automatically providing a request to the user to enable normal operation again. Accordingly, the controller 64 determines, which user interface is in the first condition A preventing normal operation. Based on that determination, the controller 64 issues an input interaction request to the user, requesting the user to interact with a said user interaction device 70 being in the first condition.

[0036] A first interaction request lamp 71a is allocated to the armrest 70a and more specifically to armrest unlocker 700a of said armtest. In case that the armrest is in the open condition A, the controller requesting the user to transfer the arm rest into the closed condition B by illuminating the armrest unlocker 700a by means of the first interaction request lamp 71a with a red light. Otherwise or as soon as the user has complied with the request, the first interaction request lamp 71a outputs a green light or stops illumination at all. The colors mentioned within this description are merely exemplary.

[0037] A second interaction request lamp 71 b is allocated to one or both of the seat belt closures 70b. In case that the seat belt closures 70b are not closed (condition A), the controller requests the user to transfer the seat belt closure is into the closed condition B by illuminating the seat belt closures 70b by means of the second interaction request lamp 71 b with a red light. Otherwise or as soon as the user has complied with the request, the interaction request lamp 71b outputs a green light or stops illumination at all.

[0038] A third interaction request lamp 71c is allocated to the emergency stop button 70c. In case that the emergency stop button is in the activated state (condition A), the controller requesting the user to transfer the emergency stop button into the non-activated state (condition B) by illuminating the emergency stop button 70c by means of the third interaction request lamp 71c with a red light. Otherwise or as soon as the user has complied with the request, the interaction request lamp 71c outputs a green light or stops illumination at all.

[0039] Figure 3 shows exemplary steps during controlling the inventive platform lift. In a first step S1 , the status of said allocated user interaction device 70 is checked. In case that the result of said check is, that the user interaction device 70 is in the first condition A, in a second step S2 a user request for interaction is provided by control an illumination said interaction request lamp 71 to transfer the allocated user interaction device 70 into the second condition B.

[0040] In a third step S3 a performed user interaction is detected, which transferring the allocated user interaction device 70 into the second condition B.

[0041] In a fourth step S4 said user interaction request is deactivating in response on said detection.

[0042] The invention is applicable to all other kinds of user interaction devices, which may be in a first condition A to prevent normal operation and which can be brought into a second condition B not preventing normal operation by a user interaction.

[0043] Figure 4 shows another exemplary feature of the present invention starting from figure 2. For the general understanding reference is made to the disclosure of WO 2018 / 162627 A1 , figures 2 and 3 and page 3, paragraph 3 to 5.

[0044] Figure 4a shows the stairlift with a larger user XL. Figure 4b shows the stairlift with a smaller user XS. To provides safety and comfort to the differently sized user, the closed position of the armrest 70a may differ. Therefore, the stairlift may be configured by programming in a manner, that the closed positions are defined by different angle positions of the armrest for the intended users.

[0045] In figure 4b the stairlift is configured for a smaller user XS. Here a condition of the armrest is shown in dotted lines. This angled position in dotted line is hereby the same as an angled position, which constitute the closed condition for a stairlift configured for a larger user as in figure 4a. But since the stairlift of figure 4b is configured for a smaller user, this condition is not considered as the closed condition. Accordingly, the lamp outputs for the same “dotted” position in figure 4b a red light, whereas for the same position in figure 4a, the lamp outputs a green light.

[0046] Figure 5 shows another exemplary feature of the present invention starting from figure 2. Here the different stages of the emergency button during the transfer form situation A to situation B are shown. Figure 5a shows the emergency stop button 70 initially in the first situation A, where the emergency stop button 70c is active. Here the lamps 70c illuminates the emergency stop button 70c in a red light. In the present embodiment the lamp 70c has three LEDs which can provide red light.

[0047] Figure 5d shows the emergency stop button 70 finally in the second condition B, where the emergency stop button 70c is inactive. Here the lamp 70c illuminates the emergency stop button 70c in a green light. Now the user can initiate normal operation by operating the travel request input device 65.

[0048] As soon as the user has operated the emergency stop button, e.g .by lifting the button upwards or in any other suitable manner, the emergency stop functionality is transferred into an intermediate stage, wherein the intermediate stage includes a timer functionality. In a first intermediate stage (figure 5b) the number of LEDs is reduced (here from three to two), leading to a weaker illumination. In a second intermediate stage (figure 5c) the number of LEDs is again reduced (here from two to one), leading to an even weaker illumination. In the intermediate stage the normal operation of the stairlift is still prevented.

[0049] The varying illumination during the timer functionality serves to inform the user, that the safety device will soon be transferred into the second condition. There are other embodiments to show the status of the timer functionality.

[0050] This is an example of providing a timer information after detected of said performed user interaction and prior transfer the allocated user interaction device into the second condition.

[0051] List of reference signs

[0052] 1 platform lift

[0053] 2 rail

[0054] 23 engagement means

[0055] 4 first landing area

[0056] 5 second landing area

[0057] 6 drive unit

[0058] 61 carrier

[0059] 62 balancing system

[0060] 63 platform

[0061] 64 controller

[0062] 65 joystick I travel request input device

[0063] 70 user interaction device

[0064] 70a armrest

[0065] 700a armrest unlocker (user interaction sub-device)

[0066] 70b seat belt closure (seat belt buckle I seat belt plug)

[0067] 70c emergency stop button

[0068] 71a.. c interaction request lamp

[0069] 9 stairway

[0070] D direction of travel

[0071] XS small user

[0072] XL large user

Claims

Claims1. Method of operating a platform lift (1 ), in particular a stairlift, the platform lift comprising a- a rail (2)- a drive unit (6),- an user interaction device (70), wherein during normal operation mode the drive unit (6) is enabled to drive along the rail (2); wherein the user interaction device (70) is transferable by a user interaction between a first condition (A) and a second condition (B), wherein in case that said user interaction device (70) is in the first condition (A) the platform lift is held in a safety mode, where during safety mode the drive unit is prevented to drive along the rail (2); characterized by an interaction request lamp (71 ), which is allocated to said user interaction device (70); wherein illumination provided by said interaction request lamp (71) is controlled based on the status of said allocated user interaction device (70).

2. Method according to the preceding claim characterized in that- in a first step (S1 ), checking the status of said user interaction device (70);- in case that the result of the check is, that the user interaction device (70) is in the first condition (A), providing in a second step (S2) a user request for interaction by controlling an illumination of said interaction request lamp (71) allocated to said user interaction device (70) to transfer the allocated user interaction device (70) into the second condition (B).

3. Method according to the preceding claim characterized in that- after the second step (S2) detecting in a third step (S3) a performed user interaction, which transferring the allocated user interaction device (70) into the second condition (B),- deactivating in a fourth step (S4) said user interaction request in response on said detection of the third step (S3).

4. Method according to the preceding claim characterized in providing a timer information to the user- after detection of said performed user interaction and- prior to the transfer of the allocated user interaction device (70) into the second condition (B).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said interaction request lamp (71) is allocated to said user interaction device (70) in a manner, that the interaction request lamp (71 ) is attached to the user interaction device.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform lift (1 ) further comprises travel request input device (65); wherein the travel request input device (65) is separate to the user interaction device (70); wherein a user input to said travel request input device (65) will- not lead to the result that the drive unit drives along the rail during safety mode;- lead to the result that the drive unit drives along the rail during normal operation mode.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in thata definition of the first situation (A) and / or the second situation (B) is amendable via a programmable configuration.

8. Platform lift (1 ), in particular a stairlift, the platform lift comprising a- a rail (2)- a drive unit (6),- an user interaction device (70),- in particular a travel request input device (65),- an interaction request lamp (71 ), which is allocated to the user interaction device (70),- a controller (64), adapted to control the operation of the platform lift (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims.

9. Platform lift (1 ) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the interaction request lamp (71 ) is allocated to the user interaction device (70) in a manner, that the interaction request lamp (71 ) is attached to the allocated user interaction device (70).

10. Platform lift (1 ) according to any of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the allocated user interaction device (70a) is an arm rest, the interaction request lamp (71 ) is attached at the armrest (70a); wherein a first condition (A) is an open position and a second condition (B) is a closed position of the armrest (70a).11 . Platform lift (1 ) according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the allocated user interaction device (70b) is a seat belt closure, the interaction request lamp (71 ) is attached to the seat belt closure (70b); wherein a first condition (A) is a non-closed condition and a second condition (B) is a closed condition of said seat belt closure (70b).

12. Platform lift (1 ) according to any of claims 8 to 11 , characterized in that the allocated user interaction device (70c) is an emergency stop button, the interaction request lamp (71 ) is attached to the emergency stop button (70c); wherein a first condition (A) the emergency button (70c) is in an activated state and in a second condition (B) the emergency button (70c) is a non-activated state.

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