ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT

Abstract

 An elevator apparatus includes: door opening/closing detection means (2, 3); car-position detection means (1) for detecting whether or not the car is present within a preset allowable range of car running under the door-open state; means (4) for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, for determining a state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when at least one of the car door and the landing door is in the door-open state and the car position is out of the allowable range of car running under the door-open state, based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means (2, 3) and the car-position detection means (1); and virtual-signal generation means (6, 7) for generating a virtual signal for virtually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state when being operated in a test mode, in which, when the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means (2, 3) and the car-position detection means (1) and in preferential consideration of the virtual signal generated by the virtual-signal generation means (6, 7) in the test mode, the means (4) for preventing the car from starting under the door-open stops a car (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus having a function of preventing a car from starting under a door-open state for quickly stopping a car when the car in the door-open state moves out of an assumed allowable range of car running under the door-open state for some reason such as due to an abnormality of a brake, which enables easy confirmation of an operation of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state.

Background Art

[0002] In general, a car in a stopped state does not move under a door-open state except for a re-Ieveling operation for correcting a landing position. However, as a countermeasure against the movement of the car out of an assumed allowable range of car running under the door-open state for some reason although the car is in the door-open state, there exists an elevator apparatus having a function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state (for example, see Patent Literature 1).

[0003] When detecting the door is open, the elevator apparatus having the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state in the related art as described above determines whether or not a car position is within a predetermined range where the car may move under the door-open state. When detecting that the car moves out of the predetermined range under the door-open state, the elevator apparatus stops an elevator.

[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP 2007-55691 A

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the related art has the following problems.
When an inspection for a normal operation of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is conducted in a conventional elevator apparatus, it is necessary to actually create a state in which the car starts under the door-open state. However, the elevator apparatus is originally fabricated so as not to be brought into the state in which the car starts under the door-open state. Therefore, in the conventional elevator apparatus, a test mode for actually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state needs to be additionally provided so as to check the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state. Accordingly, an operation circuit for a normal operation mode needs to be masked for an operation test.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the problem described above, and therefore has an object to provide an elevator apparatus capable of easily verifying a function of preventing the car from starting under a door-open state.

Means for solving the Problems

[0007] An elevator apparatus according to the present invention includes: door opening/closing detection means for detecting an open/closed state of each of a car door and a landing door; car-position detection means for detecting whether or not a car is present within a preset allowable range of car running under a door-open state based on results of detection of a car position in a hoistway; means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the mean having a function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, for determining a state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when at least one of the car door and the landing door is in the door-open state and the car position is out of the allowable range of car running under the door-open state, based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means; and virtual-signal generation means for generating a virtual signal for virtually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state when being operated in a test mode for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, included in the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, in which, when the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means and in preferential consideration of the virtual signal generated by the virtual-signal generation means in the test mode, the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state stops the car.

Effects of the invention

[0008] The elevator apparatus according to the present invention includes the virtual-signal generation means for virtually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state in the test mode for performing the operation of verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state. As a result, the elevator apparatus capable of easily verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can be obtained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] 

[FIG. 1] A configuration diagram of an elevator apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 2] A flowchart illustrating a series of processing performed when a function of preventing a car from starting under a door-open state is tested in the elevator apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[FIG. 3] A configuration diagram of an elevator apparatus of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[FIG. 4] A flowchart illustrating a series of processing performed when the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is tested in the elevator apparatus of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[FIG. 5] An explanatory view illustrating a positional relation of an elevator apparatus of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Best Modes for carrying out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an elevator apparatus of the present invention are described referring to the drawings. In the following description, a door-open state includes a state in which a door is not closed (specifically, a state in which a door is not completely opened but is not closed, that is, a state in which a door is partially opened).

Embodiment 1

[0011] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an elevator apparatus of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The elevator apparatus includes car-position detection means 1, landing-door opening/closing detection means 2, car-door opening/closing detection means 3, means 4 for preventing a car from starting under a door-open state, car moving means 5, virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6, a car 10, a car door 11, and a landing door 12. The landing-door opening/closing detection means 2 and the car-door opening/closing detection means 3 correspond to door opening/closing detection means.

[0012] The car 10 of an elevator is controlled to be moved and stopped by the car moving means 5. The means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state has a function of stopping the car 10 when a state in which the car starts under the door-open state is detected. Further, the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6 has a function of generating a dummy signal and of feeding the dummy signal to the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state when operating in a test mode, for verifying a function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state.

[0013] Next, a specific operation is described mainly for an operation for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, which is a technical characteristic of Embodiment 1.
The car-position detection means 1. detects a position of the car 10. The landing-door opening/closing detection means 2 detects an open/closed state of the landing door 12 provided on each floor. Further, the car-door opening/closing detection means 3 detects an open/closed state of the car door 11 provided to the car 10.

[0014] In a normal operation mode, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state receives a detection signal from each of the car-position detection means 1, the landing-door opening/closing detection means 2, and the car-door opening/closing detection means 3. Then, when the position of the car 10, which is detected by the car-position detection means 1, is out of an allowable range of car running under the door-open state (range where the car 10 is allowed to be raised and lowered under the door-open state; hereinafter, referred to simply as "allowable range") and, in addition, the landing door 12 is not in a closed state or the car door 11 is not in the closed state (specifically, in the door-open state), the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines that the car has started under the door-open state and stops the car 10.

[0015] On the other hand, in the test mode, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state receives a detection signal from each of the car-position detection means 1 and the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6. Specifically, in the test mode, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state preferentially receives the dummy signal from the virtue door-open/closed signal generation means 6 as a virtual-door open/closed signal in place of the detection signals from the landing-door opening/closing detection means 2 and the car-door opening/closing detection means 3.

[0016] Then, when the position of the car 10, which is detected by the car-position detection means 1, is out of the allowable range (range where the car 10 is allowed to be raised and lowered under the door-open state) and, in addition, a signal indicating that the door is not in the closed state is received as the dummy signal from the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines that the car has started under the door-open state and stops the car 10.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processing for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state when the elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is operated in the test mode.

[0018] First, the car 10 is placed in the door-closed state (specifically, both the car door 11 and the landing door 12 are placed in the closed state) at a position where door-opening is allowed (specifically, in a state in which the car 10 is stopped within the range where the door-opening is allowed on each floor) (Step S21). When the door(s) is(are) open, the door(s) is(are) closed. At this time, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can determine whether or not the car 10 is present within a preset range of positions at which the door-opening is allowed, based on the position of the car 10, which is detected by the car-position, detection means 1.

[0019] Next, in the test mode for the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6 outputs a signal indicating that the door is not in the closed state as the dummy signal (Step S22). The other hand, in the test mode for the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state preferentially receives the dummy signal from the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6 in place of the detection signals from the landing-door opening/closing detection means 2 and the car-door opening/closing detection means 3 (Step S23).

[0020] Next, the car moving means 5 starts the moving of the car 10 (Step S24), and then the car 10 moves out of the allowable range (Step S25). At this time, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can determine whether or not the car 10 is present within the preset allowable range, based on the position of the car 10, which is detected by the car-position detection means 1 (Step S26). Alternatively, a signal indicating that the position of the car is out of the allowable range may be generated by the car-position detection means 1 so as to be input to the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state.

[0021] As a result, by receiving the dummy signal from the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state virtually determines that the car 10 is moving with the door open although the car 10 is present outside the allowable range and stops the car 10 (Step S27). Therefore, in practice, the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can be easily verified while the car 10 is moved in the door-closed state.

[0022] As described above, according to Embodiment 1, in the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the dummy signals indicating that the door(s) is(are) virtually in the open state is output from the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means. As a result, the car is moved while being actually maintained in the door-closed state to easily obtain the results of verification. As a result, the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can be reliably performed without needing to forcibly perform an unsteady operation of causing the car to run under the door-open state.

Embodiment 2

[0023] In Embodiment 1 described above, the case where the signal indicating that the door is in the open state is virtually generated as the dummy signal used in the test mode to easily conduct the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state has been described. On the other hand, in Embodiment 2, the case where the signal indicating that the car position is not within the allowable range is virtually generated as the dummy signal used in the test mode to easily conduct the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is described.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an elevator apparatus of Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The elevator apparatus includes car-position detection means 1, landing-door opening/closing detection means 2, car-door opening/closing detection means 3, means 4 for preventing a car from starting under a door-open state, car moving means 5, virtual car-position signal generation means 7, a car 10, a car door 11, and a landing door 12. In comparison with the configuration of Embodiment 1 described above, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, a configuration of Embodiment 2, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, differs in that virtual car-position signal generation means 7 is provided in place of the virtual door-open/closed signal generation means 6.

[0025] The virtual car-position signal generation means 7 has a function of generating a dummy signal and feeding the dummy signal to the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state when being operated in the test mode, for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state. Therefore, a specific operation is described mainly for an operation of verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, which is a technical characteristic of Embodiment 2. An operation performed in the normal operation mode is the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above and therefore, the description thereof is herein omitted.

[0026] In the test mode, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state receives a detection signal from each of the landing-door opening/closing detection signal 2, the car-door opening/closing detection signal 3, and the virtual car-position signal generation means 7. Specifically, in the test mode, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state preferentially receives the dummy signal from the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 as a virtual car position in place of the detection signal from the car-position detection means 1.

[0027] Then, when the dummy signal from the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 is out of the allowable range (range where the car 10 is allowed to be raised and lowered under the door-open state) and, in addition, the landing door is in the open state or the car door is in the open state, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines that the car has started under the door-open state and stops the car 10.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a series of processing for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state when the elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is operated in the test mode.

[0029] First, the car 10 is placed in the door-open state (specifically, both the car door 11 and the landing door 12 are placed in the opened state) at a position where door-opening is allowed (specifically, in a state in which the car 10 is stopped within the range where the door-opening is allowed on each floor) (Step S41). When the door(s) is(are) closed, the door(s) is(are) opened.

[0030] Next, in the test mode for the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 outputs a position signal indicating that the car is present within the allowable range as the dummy signal (Step S42). On the other hand, in the test mode for the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state preferentially receives the dummy signal from the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 in place of the detection signal from the car-position detection means 1 (Step S43). Next, the car moving means 5 starts moving the car 10 under the door-open state (Step S44).

[0031] Next, in the test mode for the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 outputs a position signal indicating that the car position is out of the allowable range as the dummy signal after the start of movement of the car 10 although the car 10 is actually present within the allowable range (Step S45). On the other hand, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state receives the position signal indicating that the car position is out of the allowable range as the dummy signal from the virtual car-position signal generation means 7 in place of the detection signal from the car-position detection means 1 (Step S46).

[0032] As a result, by receiving the dummy signal from the virtual car-position signal generation means 7, the means 4 for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state virtually determines that the car 10 is moving under the door-open state outside the allowable range although the car 10 is actually present within the allowable range, and thus stops the car 10 (Step S47). Therefore, the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can be easily verified in a state in which the car 10 is actually present within the allowable range.

[0033] As described above, according to Embodiment 2, in the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the dummy signal virtually indicating that the position of the car is out of the allowable range is output from the virtual car-position signal generation means. In this manner, the results of verification can be easily obtained in the state in which the position of the car is actually present within the allowable range. As a result, the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state can be reliably conducted without needing to forcibly perform an unsteady operation of causing the car to run under the door-open state outside the allowable range.

Embodiment 3

[0034] One of the purposes of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is to stop the car at an appropriate position. For this purpose, it is important to confirm the position of the stopped car when the verification test is conducted. Conventionally, however, for determining whether or not the stop position meets required criteria, the efforts are disadvantageously needed to measure the stop position by the car-position detection means after the car is actually moved and is then stopped. Therefore, in Embodiment 3, the case where a mark is put at a predetermined position so as to easily visually confirm the stop position of the car 10, which corresponds to the results of the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is described.

[0035] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view illustrating the positional relation of an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG 5, three marks 30a, 30b, and 30c are provided for visual confirmation. A reference distance for preventing a person from being caught between a crosshead 22 of a doorway of a hoistway 21 and a car floor surface 24 in the case where the car 10 starts under the door-open state is set to L1. For indicating a position at which the reference distance L1 can be ensured, a mark provided to the car door 11 is the mark 30a, whereas a mark provided to the landing door 12 is the mark 30b.

[0036] Specifically, when the car 10 is raised and the mark 30a then reaches the crosshead 22 of the doorway of the hoistway 21 or the car floor surface 24 reaches the mark 30b in the case where the car starts under the door-open state, a distance between the car floor surface 24 and the crosshead 22 of the doorway of the hoistway 21 becomes equal to L1.

[0037] Moreover, a reference distance for preventing a person from falling into the hoistway 21 through a gap between a toe protecting plate 13 of the car and a plank 23 of the doorway of the hoistway 21 in the case where the car 10 starts under the door-open state is set to L2. A mark provided to the landing door 12 for indicating a position at which the reference distance L2 can be ensured is the mark 30c.

[0038] Specifically, when the car 10 is raised and then a lower end of the toe protecting plate 13 of the car reaches the mark 30c in the case where the car starts under the door-open state, a distance between the lower end of the toe protecting plate 13 of the car and the plank 23 of the doorway of the hoistway 21 becomes equal to L2.

[0039] As described above, according to Embodiment 3, in the inspection of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the marks are provided at the stop reference positions, each indicating an allowable maximum distance for preventing a person from being caught or falling. As a result, the relative positional relation between the car door and the landing door can be immediately determined visually while the car is maintained in a stopped state after the operation of verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is performed. Therefore, whether or not the results of inspection are good can be easily confirmed visually.

[0040] In Embodiment 3, the case where the marks are provided at the stop reference positions, each indicating the allowable maximum distance when the car is raised, has been described. However, marks may alternatively be provided at stop reference positions, each indicating an allowable maximum distance when the car is lowered. In this manner, the results of inspection can be easily confirmed visually even when the car is started to be lowered under the door-open state.

[0041] Further, in Embodiment 3, the case where the marks are provided so as to enable the visual confirmation of the stop reference positions, each indicating the allowable maximum distance, has been described. In addition, scale markings may be provided so as to know a distance from the mark. By providing the scale markings described above, a remaining distance to the allowable maximum distance can be easily and immediately confirmed visually.

[0042] Further, as in Embodiment 2 described above, even in the case where the test of the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is conducted by using the dummy signal as the virtual car position, a relative travel distance from the output of the dummy signal to the stop of the car can be measured based on the scale markings. As a result, correct verification results can be obtained.

Claims

1. An elevator apparatus, comprising:

door opening/closing detection means for detecting an open/closed state of each of a car door and a landing door;

car-position detection means for detecting whether or not a car is present within a preset allowable range of car running under a door-open state based on results of detection of a car position in a hoistway;

means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, the means having a function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, for determining a state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when at least one of the car door and the landing door is in the door-open state and the car position is out of the allowable range of car running under the door-open state, based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means; and

virtual-signal generation means for generating a virtual signal for virtually creating the state in which the car starts under the door-open state when being operated in a test mode for verifying the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state, included in the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state,

wherein, when the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state based on the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means and the car-position detection means and in preferential consideration of the virtual signal generated by the virtual-signal generation means in the test mode, the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state stops the car.

2. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the virtual-signal generation means generates a signal for virtually creating the door-open state as the virtual signal in the test mode; and

the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when the results of the detection by the car-position detection means indicate that the car is present outside the allowable range of car running under the door-open state and the door-open state is virtually created by the virtual-signal generation means in the test mode.

3. An elevator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the virtual-signal generation means generates a signal for virtually creating a state in which the car is present outside the allowable range of car running under the door-open state as the virtual signal in the test mode; and

the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines the state in which the car starts under the door-open state to stop the car when the results of detection by the door opening/closing detection means indicate that the car is in the door-open state and a state in which the car is present outside the allowable range of car running under the door-open state is virtually created by the virtual-signal generation means in the test mode.

4. An elevator apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one mark provided to any one of the car door and the landing door so as to visually confirm whether or not a stop position of the car is within a tolerance based on a relative positional relation between the car door and the landing door when the means for preventing the car from starting under the door-open state determines that the car is in the state in which the car starts under the door-open state and the function of preventing the car from starting under the door-open state is actuated to stop the car in the test mode.

Drawing