JP7155309B2 - Registration and elevator equipment - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to registration devices and elevator devices.

In recent years, preventive measures against infectious diseases such as novel coronaviruses and influenza viruses have been encouraged. Therefore, measures are taken to avoid contact infection in places where there is a risk of people crowding together. For example, in commercial facilities and office buildings, alcohol dispensers are installed at entrances to disinfect hands and fingers, and doorknobs and the like are disinfected and sterilized on a regular basis. Against this background, there is a demand for technology that enables elevator equipment used by an unspecified number of people to perform non-contact registration of car stop floors without using push buttons, instead of using push buttons. It is

However, it is difficult and costly to replace an operation panel with push buttons used in existing elevator systems with an operation panel with a non-contact interface. On the other hand, 60% of elevator systems have handrails in the car. In addition, there is an increasing demand for construction work to install handrails for cars of existing elevator systems.

As a conventional technology, there has been proposed a technology for detecting a passenger's contact with a handrail installed in a car and controlling the opening/closing time of the door. However, there is no technique for providing an interface for registering the stop floor of the car on the handrail.

Patent No. 4555748 JP 2015-189530 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a contactless operation for registering a stop floor of a car.

In order to solve the above problems, a registration device according to an embodiment is provided on a handrail of a car of an elevator device, and is a registration device for registering a stop floor of the car. A plurality of sensors provided on the handrail corresponding to and capable of non-contact detection of the fingers of approaching passengers, and a plurality of sensors provided on the handrail corresponding to the sensors, the position of the corresponding sensor, and the stop corresponding to the sensor and a display indicating a floor , wherein the handrail is cylindrical, the display is arranged along the surface shape of the handrail, and the plurality of sensors are positioned inside the handrail so that the fingers of passengers can be detected. placed in

1 is a perspective view of an elevator apparatus according to this embodiment; FIG. It is a figure which shows the inside of the car which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation panel which concerns on this embodiment. It is a block diagram showing a control system of the elevator apparatus according to the present embodiment. It is a block diagram of a registration device according to the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the sensor and communication unit which were incorporated in the handrail main body which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the handrail main body by which the sensor based on this embodiment was built. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit according to the embodiment; FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the registration process of the stop floor of the car which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows a detection signal typically in this embodiment.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The description uses an XYZ coordinate system made up of mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes as appropriate.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator apparatus 10 according to this embodiment. The elevator apparatus 10 is arranged inside a hoistway 100 provided in buildings such as commercial facilities and residential facilities. As shown in FIG. 1, the elevator apparatus 10 has a car 31, a counterweight 50, an elevating motor 40, guide rails 21-24, and a control panel .

Each of the guide rails 21 to 24 is a member whose longitudinal direction is the Z-axis direction. The guide rails 21 and 22 are a pair of members for guiding the car 31 so that it can move up and down. Also, the guide rails 23 and 24 are a pair of members for guiding the counterweight 50 so that it can move up and down. The guide rails 21 and 22 are spaced apart in the Y-axis direction. Similarly, the guide rails 23 and 24 are also spaced apart from each other in the Y-axis direction. In FIG. 1, the guide rails 23, 24 of the counterweight 50 are spaced apart from the guide rails 21, 22 of the car 31 in the X-axis direction. The arrangement of the guide rails 21-24 is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG.

The car 31 is a unit that accommodates passengers and ascends and descends the hoistway 100 . The car 31 is arranged between the guide rails 21 and 22 and attached to the guide rails 21 and 22 so as to be vertically movable.

An opening 31a is formed on the side surface of the car 31 on the +X side for entering and exiting the interior. The opening 31 a is closed or opened by a pair of doors 32 that move along the sides of the car 31 .

The counterweight 50 is attached to the guide rails 23 and 24 so as to be vertically movable. The weight of the counterweight 50 is adjusted to have a predetermined ratio with respect to the weight of the car 31 .

The elevating motor 40 is a motor for elevating the car 31 . The lifting motor 40 is arranged above the hoistway 100 so that its rotation axis is parallel to the Y-axis. A pulley 42 is fixed to the rotating shaft of the lifting motor 40 .

A wire 60 is wound around the pulley 42 of the lifting motor 40 . The wire 60 has one end fixed to the car 31 and the other end fixed to the counterweight 50 .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the inside of the car 31. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the car 31 is provided with an operation panel 36 and handrails 33 .

The operation panel 36 is provided on the inner wall surface of the car 31 . The operation panel 36 is an interface for accepting destination floors and the like from passengers in the car 31 . FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation panel 36 provided on the car 31. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 36 has push buttons B1 to B5 corresponding to the stop floors of the car 31 and push buttons BO and BC for opening and closing the door 32. As shown in FIG. The push buttons B1 to B5 are provided corresponding to the stop floors of the car 31, and also function as indicator lights. In this embodiment, the push buttons B1 to B5 correspond to the first to fifth stop floors. A passenger can register the destination floor of the car 31 and open/close the door 32 by operating the operation panel 36 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the handrail 33 has a cylindrical, horizontally arranged handrail main body 33a and a support portion 33b fixed to the inner wall surface of the car 31 and supporting the handrail main body 33a. . The handrails 33 are provided, for example, on three inner wall surfaces of the car 31 .

Returning to FIG. 1 , the control panel 70 is arranged in the hoistway 100 . The control panel 70 accommodates the lift motor 40 and a control device for controlling the devices provided in the car 31 .

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system of the elevator apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. The control system includes a control unit 80 and a drive unit 91 housed in the control panel 70 and an operation panel 36 and a registration device 37 provided in the car 31 .

The drive unit 91 includes a power supply for supplying electric power to the lifting motor 40, an inverter, and the like. The drive unit 91 drives the lift motor 40 based on instructions from the control unit 80 . In addition, based on instructions from the control unit 80, the door 32 provided on the car 31 and the door provided at the landing of each floor are opened and closed.

The operation panel 36 is connected to the control unit 80 . Passengers can register their destination floors and the like in the control unit 80 by operating the operation panel 36 .

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the registration device 37. As shown in FIG. The registration device 37 comprises five sensors S1-S5 and a communication unit . These sensors S1 to S5 and the communication unit 38 are built in the handrail main body 33a of the handrail 33. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the sensors S1 to S5 and the communication unit 38 built into the handrail main body 33a. The sensors S1 to S5 are, for example, human sensors using infrared rays, and are arranged at regular intervals inside the handrail main body 33a. These sensors S1 to S5 are provided corresponding to the stop floors of the car 31, and in this embodiment, the sensors S1 to S5 correspond to the first to fifth stop floors. Each of the sensors S1 to S5 emits infrared rays vertically downward through an opening provided below the handrail main body 33a, for example. Then, the passenger's fingers or the like positioned below the sensors S1 to S5 are detected, and the detection results are output to the communication unit . The detection results from the sensors S1 to S5 are output as binary detection signals that become high level when the detection target is detected, and become low level otherwise.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a handrail main body 33a in which sensors S1 to S5 are built. Indications M1 to M5 corresponding to the sensors S1 to S5 are provided on the surface of the handrail main body 33a. The displays M1-M5 show the numbers (1-5) indicating the stop floors of the car 31, and the displays M1-M5 are located above the sensors S1-S5. Therefore, the passenger of the car 31 confirms the numbers shown on the displays M1 to M5 and inserts his/her fingers below the desired sensors S1 to S5 to specify the floor to stop the car 31. becomes possible. In FIGS. 6 and 7, the sensors S1 to S5 irradiate infrared rays downward, but if the sensors S1 to S5 are arranged so that the fingers of the passengers can be detected, the direction of irradiating the infrared rays is limited downward. not to be In the case of irradiating infrared rays downward, it is preferable in that it is possible to prevent erroneous registration when there is no intention of registering the destination floor, such as when the passenger puts his or her hand on the handrail 33 .

The communication unit 38 is a unit that communicates with the control unit 80 wirelessly or by wire. The communication unit 38 outputs information indicating the stop floor designated by the passenger to the control unit 80 based on the detection results of the sensors S1 to S5. Specifically, the communication unit 38 detects the high level of the detection signal from one of the sensors S1 to S5 when the detection time of the detection signal from the sensor S1 to S5 is equal to or longer than the threshold value. It is determined that the stop floor corresponding to one of the above has been designated, and a signal indicating the determination result is output to the control unit 80 .

The above-described operation panel 36, registration device 37, and the like are connected to a control unit 80 housed in a control panel 70 via a cable 71 shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the control unit 80. As shown in FIG. The control unit 80 is a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81 , a main storage section 82 , an auxiliary storage section 83 and an interface section 84 interconnected via a bus 85 .

The CPU 81 executes processes described later according to programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 83 .

The main storage unit 82 has a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like. A main storage unit 82 is used as a work area for the CPU 81 .

The auxiliary storage unit 83 has a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a semiconductor memory. The auxiliary storage unit 83 stores programs executed by the CPU 81, various parameters, and the like.

The interface section 84 has a serial interface, a parallel interface, a wireless LAN interface, and the like. The operation panel 36 , the registration device 37 and the drive unit 91 are connected to the CPU 81 via the interface section 84 .

In the elevator apparatus 10 configured as described above, the CPU 81 controls the drive unit 91 based on inputs from the operation panel 36 and the registration device 37 . For example, when the CPU 81 forwardly rotates the lift motor 40 via the drive unit 91, the car 31 is lifted and the counterweight 50 is lowered. When the CPU 81 reverses the elevation motor 40 via the drive unit 91, the car 31 is lowered and the counterweight 50 is raised.

Further, the CPU 81 registers the stop floor of the car 31 as the car 31 moves up and down. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the passenger's finger 120 is inserted below the display M3, the finger 120 is detected by the sensor S3.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing detection signals. When finger 120 is detected by sensor S3, the detection signal from sensor S3 becomes high level from time t1 when finger 120 is detected. Then, when the passenger pulls back the finger 120 and the finger 120 is no longer detected by the sensor S3, the detection signal from the sensor S3 becomes low level from time t2 when the finger 120 is no longer detected.

The communication unit 38 determines that the third floor corresponding to the sensor S3 is specified as the stop floor when the time T1 at which the detection signal becomes high level becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value Th, and outputs a signal indicating the determination result. Output to control unit 80 .

Upon receiving the determination result from the communication unit 38, the CPU 81 controls the car 31 based on the determination result. Specifically, when the CPU 81 receives the judgment result that the 3rd floor is designated as the stop floor, it registers the 3rd floor as the stop floor. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the push button B3 on the operation panel 36 is lit. Next, the CPU 81 drives the elevator motor 40 to move the car 31 to the third floor.

As described above, as shown in FIG. 9, the passengers of the car 31 can get on by inserting their fingers 120 below the displays M1 to M5 corresponding to the stop floors to which the car 31 moves. The stop floor of the car 31 can be designated and registered without contact. Passengers in the car 31 can also register stop floors via the operation panel 36 .

As described above, the registration device 37 according to this embodiment is provided on the handrail 33 provided on the car 31 of the elevator device 10 . Then, the passenger of the car 31 designates and registers the stop floor of the car 31 in a non-contact manner by inserting the finger 120 below the handrail 33 using the indications M1 to M5 provided on the handrail 33 as a mark. can do. Therefore, contact infections such as viruses can be suppressed.

The registration device 37 according to this embodiment is composed of a plurality of sensors S1 to S5, a communication unit 38, and displays M1 to M5. Therefore, for example, it is possible to install the registration device 37 at the same time as the handrail replacement work or installation work of the car 31 of the existing elevator device 10 is performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the introduction cost of the device.

In addition, if the communication unit 38 can communicate with the existing control unit 80, modification or replacement of existing equipment can be minimized, and the non-contact registration device 37 can be easily installed together with the installation of handrails. It becomes possible to go to Specifically, it is possible to install the registration device 37 only by installing or replacing handrails while minimizing the processing or replacement of the interior or exterior panels of the car 31 .

As shown in FIG. 10, the registration device 37 according to the present embodiment determines that the stop floor corresponding to the detection signal has been designated when the time T1 during which the detection signal is at high level is greater than or equal to the threshold value Th. be done. Therefore, when the passenger's finger 120 touches the handrail 33 by mistake, it is possible to avoid erroneously registering the stop floor. The threshold Th can be determined, for example, based on the installation location and application of the elevator apparatus 10, and is, for example, about 1 to 3 seconds.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the communication unit 38 determines that the stop floor has been designated when the time period during which the detection signal is high level is equal to or greater than the threshold. Not limited to this, the communication unit 38 detects when the output signals of two or more sensors S1 to S5 out of all the sensors S1 to S5 become high level at the same time, and the detection time is equal to or greater than the threshold. Also, it may not be determined that the stop floor has been designated. This avoids erroneous registration of the stop caused by a passenger simply gripping the handrail 33 .

In the above-described embodiment, the stop floor is registered when the time period during which the detection signal is high level is equal to or greater than the threshold. Not limited to this, for a stopping floor registered via the registration device 37, if an operation for registering the stopping floor again is performed from the registration device 37, the registration of the stopping floor may be canceled. good. Specifically, when the communication unit 38 determines that the stopping floor has been designated as the stopping floor again after outputting the determination result indicating that the stopping floor has been designated, the communication unit 38 designates the stopping floor. A signal for canceling may be output. Thus, even if a stop floor is erroneously registered by using the handrail 33, the registration of the stop floor can be canceled, and the elevator apparatus 10 can be used efficiently.

In the above embodiment, the case where the registration device 37 has five sensors S1 to S5 corresponding to the floors to be stopped has been described. Not limited to this, the registration device 37 may be provided with six or more sensors corresponding to the stop floors. Also, sensors for opening and closing the doors 32 may be provided respectively.

In the above embodiment, signals from the sensors S1 to S5 are output to the control unit 80 via the communication unit 38. FIG. Alternatively, the control unit 80 may directly receive the signals from the sensors S1-S5 and perform the processing performed by the communication unit 38 instead. Alternatively, the control unit 80 may be provided in the car 31 .

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

10 elevator device 21 to 24 guide rail 31a opening 32 door 33 handrail 33a main body 33b support portion 36 operation panel 37 registration device 38 communication unit 40 lifting motor 42 pulley 50 counterweight 60 wire 70 control panel 71 cable 80 control unit 81 CPU
82 main storage unit 83 auxiliary storage unit 84 interface unit 85 bus 91 drive unit 100 hoistway 120 fingers B1 to B5, BC, BO push buttons M1 to M5 display S1 to S5 sensor

Claims (6)

A registration device provided on a handrail of a car of an elevator system for registering a stop floor of the car,
a plurality of sensors provided on the handrail corresponding to the stop floor where the car stops and capable of detecting the fingers of approaching passengers in a non-contact manner;
displays provided on the handrail corresponding to the plurality of sensors and indicating positions of the corresponding sensors and stop floors corresponding to the sensors;
with
The handrail is cylindrical,
the indicia are arranged along the contour of the handrail;
The plurality of sensors are arranged inside the handrail at positions where the fingers of the passenger can be detected.
registration device. 2. The registration apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising output means for determining whether or not the stop floor of the car has been designated based on the detection results of the plurality of sensors and outputting the determination result. The output means is
3. The registration device according to claim 2 , wherein it is determined that a stop floor has been specified when the time during which the sensor detects the detection target is equal to or greater than a threshold. The output means is
4. The registration device according to any one of claims 2 and 3 , wherein when two or more of said sensors detect detection targets, it is not determined that a stop floor has been specified. The output means is
After outputting a judgment result indicating that the stop floor has been designated, when it is judged that the stop floor has been designated as the stop floor again, a cancellation of the designation of the stop floor is output. A registration device according to any one of the preceding paragraphs. A registration device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ;
a control device that controls the car based on the output from the registration device;
elevator installation.

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