EP1666399B1 - Method for transporting passengers in a building - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for transporting persons in a building by means of an elevator installation, which comprises at least one elevator car, wherein the elevator car is entered by persons in at least one first access floor. The invention further relates to an arrangement for transporting persons in a building with an elevator installation comprising at least one elevator car, at least one access floor being provided.

In publicly used buildings, elevator systems are used to transport people. Passengers in train stations, airports and shopping centers usually carry bulky luggage or shopping carts with them. Due to the high utilization of the elevator systems, elaborate elevator control programs are used to increase the efficiency of transportation of persons. For example, a destination call control is used, via which a passenger inputs his destination by means of an input device. An elevator control then assigns an elevator car to the corresponding person on the basis of the desired destination floor. Thus, it is achieved that persons are concentrated in an elevator car, which have common destination floors, so that the travel time of the elevator car is not extended by many stops.

From the EP 1 418 147 A1 For example, a control device for controlling an elevator installation with a multiple cabin is known. The multiple cab has a plurality of cabin decks which are simultaneously accessible at a main stop via various main stop levels. With the multiple cabin are with a stop two floors of a building at the same time. At the main station, a call registration device is provided, by means of which a passenger can enter his desired destination floor. In order to allow a faster filling of the building and to minimize the number of stops of the multi-cabin, a conversion unit is provided, which is designed to determine soft on the basis of the destination call input of a passenger at the main stop and on the basis of already assigned and / or requested driving assignments Cabin deck of the multiple cabin is to be assigned to the passenger at the main station. Thus, the passenger is assigned, according to his destination call input, a level that enables effective transportation of persons by means of the multi-cabin. After entering the destination call, the passenger must then go to the appropriate level to enter the multi-cabin on the corresponding level.

The assignment of persons to multiple cabins by means of a destination call control and even the assignment of persons to simple elevator cars by means of destination call control requires complex control. Despite this destination call control, there are delays in the transport of persons, especially at peak times, since, for example, people board elevator cars that have not entered a destination call. US 6065570 discloses elevator cars that are assigned to specific floor zones.

Against this background, the object of the present invention to provide a method and an arrangement for transporting people in buildings, in which the number of stops on floors of a building is minimized and shorter travel times can be achieved.

The invention is based on the idea that at least one destination floor is permanently assigned to an access floor, ie at least one elevator is provided at an access floor which travels to a predetermined destination floor. This fixed predetermined destination floor is not defined as usual by a manual call input of a passenger, but is automatically determined by the elevator control. , The fixed predetermined destination floor is the most likely destination of a passenger per building part and at a certain time. Specifically assigned means in particular that the floor is not changed after at least one person has entered the elevator car.

For example, during store opening hours in a parking of a building, the dedicated floor may be the floor where a shopping mall is located, as the people in the parking are most likely to drive to the floor of the mall at this time.

In conventional one-touch dialing controls, passengers explicitly enter their destination requests at so-called destination-dialing terminals by entering a destination floor. Furthermore, the destination request can also be communicated implicitly by the presentation of an identification medium, provided that for the corresponding day before an automatic destination was stored in a database.

The present invention, on the other hand, is that the elevator control is situationally aware of the current destination. For example, in a mall, when individuals move from a park floor to elevators, they are more likely to reach the mall floor. If, on the other hand, they move with a filled shopping cart from the shopping floor towards the lifts, they probably want to go back to the parking level. Depending on the floor and direction of movement, the destination is predictable in these two cases and can therefore be automatically triggered and signaled. Also, with several possible destinations, such as multiple parking floors, these destinations can be routed to different elevators in a group. On the other hand, however, several destinations can be controlled by the elevator control expediently predetermined manner one after another assigned to a lift.

The invention offers, inter alia, the following advantages:

Particularly in the case of heavily frequented elevator systems for passengers with luggage or shopping trolleys, the passenger flows can be efficiently controlled in such a way that congestion caused by waiting or undecided passengers is largely avoided. In the case of large cabins, it can be further avoided that passengers standing in the door area have to board their luggage prematurely and board again in order to make room for passengers who wish to get out of the car. This is achieved by having only passengers with the same destination in the cabins. The invention is particularly advantageous in publicly used buildings, where frequent location-unfamiliar passengers or passengers, who have no hand free because of bulky luggage for a specific call input.

Modern office buildings often have several access stories. If there are several access stories over which the building is accessed, the performance of the elevator installation can be increased if at least one destination floor is firmly allocated to the access stories. In the embodiment according to the invention, the elevator car moves from a first access floor to at least one fixed destination floor. As a result, according to the invention, the persons can be forwarded to the elevator in such a way that they are conveyed from an access storey without an intermediate stop to the assigned destination storey. By feeding the persons to the respective correct elevator persons with the same destination floor enter the same elevator car. From there, the elevator car drives directly into the corresponding destination floor.

In contrast to the known from the prior art allocation of elevator cars by means of destination call control takes place here a line of people to elevator cars with fixed destination floors.

This ensures that, for example, the customers of a shopping center, who travel to the same destination floor, always enter the same elevator car in the access floor and drive from there to their destination floor. Customers of another company located on another floor use e.g. another elevator car that goes to the destination floor where the other company has its offices. Carriage in the elevator cars takes place without stopping in the floors.

In a simple embodiment, the invention can be carried out with an elevator car, which drives in particular at appropriate times from a first access storey in a fixed destination floor. Thus, people with the same destination floors can be the same elevator cars forward, which travel times of the elevator cars are significantly reduced.

This allows efficient transport of people, especially at peak times. With the method according to the invention, flows of people can be conducted, with several lifts being effectively utilized. It is avoided that all persons who wish to be transported in this building have to wait for a single elevator car in an access floor and to be assigned the elevator cars in accordance with the destination call inputs. It also prevents customers from both a shopping center and a second company in the access floor from getting into the same elevator cars and from there to their destination floors. In this case, the elevator car would have to stop both in the access floor and in the first and second destination floor. Especially when two elevator cars are provided for carriage is making it more efficient to drive an elevator car from the access floor directly to the first destination floor and the second elevator car from the access floor to the second destination floor. The only requirement for effective transport is that the people in the access floors get into the right elevator cars.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is possible for an access floor to be assigned a first group of destination floors for an elevator car. This achieves a reduction in possible stops, which minimizes travel time.

Display devices can be used which represent the fixed allocation of destination floors to the respective elevators. Persons who want to go to a first facility can read the respective elevator and move there without the passenger actively entering the destination floor. This is particularly advantageous if the assignment of the destination floors to the elevators can be changed, so that the users have to reorient themselves, which elevator car travels to their destination floor. In the case of an unalterable allocation of the destination floors to the elevators, the assignment or supply of the persons to the elevators can be effected by a permanent inscription in the building.

By means of the method according to the invention, the flows of persons can be efficiently coordinated so that, for example, people who want to go to a shopping center on the top floor will be recognized by an access terminal as they enter the building and will then be assigned an elevator from which an elevator car will enter directly into the elevator Floor drives, in which the shopping center is located. Other destination floors are not accessible to visitors to the shopping center without manual destination entry.

Preferably, the access terminal has sensors, e.g. optical, acoustic, infrared, radar, motion or video sensors which can detect the persons approaching the elevators.

Features of the passengers, such as the carrying of shopping carts or sports bags, are preferably recognized by the sensor in order to be able to propose a suitable destination floor.

The inventive method can be used particularly efficiently if the elevator installation has several elevator cars, with a first elevator car serving a first destination floor and a second elevator car serving a second destination floor. Moreover, if further elevator cars are arranged in the elevator system for the carriage of persons, it is possible that several elevator cars drive from an access floor to a destination floor or an additional elevator car is provided for the transportation of persons to other destination floors, for which no Fixed allocation exists.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the destination floors are permanently assigned to the access stories only at certain times. Especially at peak times, the fixed allocation of destination floors to the elevators is an obvious way to efficiently cover the increased transport needs. Between rush hours, the elevator car can reach all destination floors in the building.

Certain destination floors may advantageously be assigned only if the facilities located there, such as shops, restaurants, recreational facilities, transport, etc., are open or operational.

The fixed allocation of destination floors to access floors may be time-dependent.

In an arrangement according to the invention for transporting persons in a building with an elevator installation, the elevator installation comprises at least one elevator cage, at least one access floor being provided and at least one destination floor being fixedly assigned to the access floor.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a building control unit undertakes the assignment or supply of persons to elevators in accordance with their destination floors, the building control unit advantageously being coupled with access terminals. The access terminals may be formed as part of the building control unit. The access terminals recognize a passenger. From this recognition, an elevator call is operated directly in the access terminal or in the building control unit and the person is displayed an elevator car.

Furthermore, a display device for indicating an assignment of the destination floors to the access stories is preferably provided. The display device may be in the form of a display to indicate a variable assignment of elevators to destination floors. However, the display device can also be designed as a simple sign with a fixed assignment.

In the elevator car itself, the next or the next destinations are advantageously displayed and announced, so that the passengers receive an acknowledgment of the destination floor even without active destination input.

In addition, the system is advantageously able to learn and offers due to the user habits of the passengers at certain times of the day independently of the desired destination floors.

In addition, entry terminals advantageously also allow the targeted entry of a destination floor, if this should not be offered at the desired time. It is possible to use the fixed allocation of destination floors to the elevators in combination with a destination call control.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer alternativen Aufzugsanlage gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung zur Zuleitung von Personen und eine Anzeige von Zielstockwerken gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage und der Zuleitung von Personen gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung einer Aufzugsanlage und der Zuleitung von Personen gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of exemplary embodiments, which are shown schematically in the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an elevator installation according to the present invention;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of an alternative elevator installation according to the present invention;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation for the supply of persons and a display of destination floors according to the present invention;

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of an elevator installation and the supply of persons according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of an elevator installation and the supply of persons according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A schematic representation of a building with a lift system 10 and with seven floors is in Fig. 1 shown. Of these, the floors S1 and S2 are designed as access floors and the floors S4 to S7 as destination floors. In the elevator system 10 is an elevator car 11 is moved to convey persons from the respective access socks S1 or S2 to a destination floor S4, S5, S6 or S7. The access floor S1 is an underground car park, get to the vehicles 23 of the people and where the people are detected by an access terminal 13. Persons entering the elevator car 11 in the underground car park or the access floor S1 are transported either to the destination floor S4 or S5. Persons who enter the elevator car 11 in the access floor S2 are conveyed to the destination floors S5, S6 or S7. The two access terminals 13 are coupled either wirelessly via the indicated antennas or via a connecting line with a building control unit 12. From the first access storey S1, a first group G1 of destination storeys can be reached, which comprises the destination floors S4 and S5. The second access floor S2 is a group G2 associated with the destination floors S5, S6, S7. The destination floors S4, S5 are assigned to the access floor S1. The destination floors S5, S6, S7 are assigned to the access floor S2.

An alternative embodiment of an elevator installation 10 for the application of the method according to the invention is described in Fig. 2 shown. The elevator installation 10 according to Fig. 2 has four elevator cars 11 arranged to carry persons. The elevator installation 10 comprises four separate access stories S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b. Persons who enter the elevator car 11 in the access floor S1a are conveyed to the destination floor S6. Persons entering the elevator car 11 in the access floor S1b are conveyed to the destination floor S7. Persons who enter the elevator car 11 in the second access floor S2a are conveyed to the destination floors S3 and S4. On the other hand, persons entering the elevator car 11 on the other side of the second destination floor S2b are conveyed only to the destination floor S4. The respective access stories S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b are opened via doors or barriers 15 respectively after recognition at an access terminal 13. Destination floors S4, S5, S6 or S7, the individual elevator cars 11 not are approachable, are provided with a large cross. There are also destination floors S5, which are accessible via other lift systems, not shown, or only accessible by stairs. Such destination floors S5 can be reached, for example, only by a manual elevator car control, for example when used as a warehouse or security area without significant passenger traffic.

The for effective use of an elevator system 10 according to the Fig. 1 . 2 required coordination of the flow of visitors or people in a building is in the 3 and 4 shown.

Upon entering a building, a passenger is first recognized by an access terminal 13. The assignment of the destination floors is displayed on a display device 14. The users of the facility A (shopping center) are automatically directed to the first elevator A. Users of facility B (fitness) must make an elevator call. Via the automatic feed line to the elevator A, the elevator car A is automatically assigned to the shopping center users, from which they reach the fixed destination storey S3. If, in between, a passenger is recognized as a customer of the fitness center, another or second display will appear, for example with a note Fitness -> Elevator B.

Due to the configuration according to the invention, it is possible that the elevator car 11 must serve only a small number of different destinations, whereby a higher performance and a higher ride comfort of the elevator system 10 can be achieved.

The inventive idea can be analogously transferred to other applications. For restaurants extending over several floors, parking spaces for their vehicles 23 and lifts corresponding to their desired destination restaurant are allocated to the respective restaurant visitors as soon as they enter the car park. It is still possible to have lecture theaters or to reach each of the cinemas via an access floor, in which the parking spaces correspond to the respectively assigned destination floor from which an elevator car automatically drives to an auditorium or to a desired cinema. The cinema visitor is displayed on a display device 14, the corresponding elevator from which an elevator car 11 goes directly to the fixed floor with the cinema.

The inventive design of the method and the arrangement for transporting people, it is possible to enable a fast ride to a specific destination, with only a short waiting time and a short total travel time to the destination, are necessary.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an elevator installation and the supply of persons according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Motion detectors 13a detect the passengers already in advance of the elevators in the elevator sheds and automatically call an elevator car 11. Illuminated displays 14 inform which elevator moves to which floor. The passengers are transported without destination input and intermediate stop in the desired floor S3, S4. Manual destination entries are only necessary in exceptional cases. This control is particularly suitable for buildings with intensive public traffic between a few floors.

On those floors where the passenger flows are to be automatically assigned to the destinations and elevators, movement direction sensors 13a are to be mounted, which detect the direction of movement of the passengers. If the passengers move in the direction of the elevators, one or more destination calls are automatically triggered, which may display the relevant lifts on display boards. As direction sensors Radar video or other sensors can be used, which differentiate passengers from potentially entering passengers.

• Einkaufen → Lift B
• Fitness → Lift A
• Als Anzeigen können LED-Laufschrifttafeln, TFT-, Plasma- oder CRT-Anzeigen, Projektoren für die Projektion der Informationen auf eine Wand oder auf den Boden etc. verwendet werden. Auch ist eine akustische Ansage denkbar. Solche Wegweiser-Anzeigen machen vor allem Sinn, wenn zum Zeitpunkt der Richtungserfassung der Passagier die Anzeigen über den Aufzügen noch nicht eingesehen werden können. Um die Anzeige auffälliger zu gestalten, kann die Information auch blinkend dargestellt werden.

The automatic destinations and the elevators associated with the destinations are displayed on a display on the way to the elevators; for example:

• Shopping → Lift B
• Fitness → Lift A
• Displays may include LED moving signs, TFT, plasma or CRT displays, projectors for projecting information onto a wall or floor, etc. An acoustic announcement is also conceivable. Such signpost advertisements make sense above all when, at the time of the passenger's direction detection, the ads above the elevators can not yet be viewed. To make the ad more conspicuous, the information can also be displayed flashing.

Above or next to the elevator doors, display panels 14 are located where the destinations served by the elevator in question are listed, as long as the door is open. During the opening period, this display typically starts to flash, finally extinguishing shortly before the door is closed. These target indicators can use the same display technologies as the signpost displays.

In a department store, three panoramic lifts 10, e.g. the passengers between four floors: Parking -1 S2 and -2 S1, Purchase 0 S3 and Fitness Center S4.

If the passenger wants to get to the floor from Parking -1 and -2, he will automatically be transported to his destination. This also applies to the way back from shopping in the parking. Motion detectors 13a in the elevator sheds Parking -1 and -2 as well as purchasing can detect the passenger and immediately call an elevator car 11. Illuminated displays 14 above the entrance doors of the three panoramic elevators show which elevator is in which Floor drives. From the parking -1 and -2, the passenger directly and automatically reaches the floor purchasing S3. To get back into the parking garage after shopping, it is automatically provided by the motion 13a an elevator 11 for the parking -1 and a lift for the parking -2. The passenger can get into the appropriate elevator without entering a destination and is automatically transported to the desired permanently assigned floor. A voice prompt in the cabin confirms the passenger's desired destination. In the elevator car itself are only the door closing and opening buttons and the alarm call button. Through this installation, the passengers are already grouped in the elevator halls and thus benefit from direct rides. In the case of large cabins, the lift doors do not close automatically until a defined period of time has elapsed since the first passenger entered or when the cab is full. Afterwards, the cabin drives to the destination floor. Effortless entry and exit with the shopping carts between the individual floors and long waiting times are thus eliminated.

A manual destination entry is only necessary if the passenger wants to move between the two Parking Levels -1 and -2 or to get to the Floor Fitness Center S4. A manual target can be entered at the keyboard located between the three elevators. The passenger is assigned an elevator on the display above the keyboard, which in turn brings him directly to his desired destination.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of an elevator installation and the supply of persons according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The bullet "Purchase" is optional.

Motion detectors 13a detect the passengers in an airport already in advance of the elevators in the elevator sheds and automatically call an elevator car 11. Indicators 14 inform which elevator moves to which floor. Passengers are entered without destination and stop in transported the desired floor. Manual destination entries are only necessary exceptionally.

In an airport, three lifts 10 carry e.g. passengers between four floors: railway terminal S1, arrival S3, departure S4 and purchase S5.

When the passenger arrives at the railway terminal, an elevator car for the floor will be automatically departed and, if necessary, a second elevator car for the floor will be assigned arrival and the passenger will be automatically transported to its destination. The floor departure is the most likely destination of a passenger in this part of the building. This also applies to the way back from the floor arriving at the railway terminal. In comparison, few people who want to arrive from the railway terminal to the arrival, can also be expected to arrive via the departure to the destination and only at the second stop. Motion detector 13a in the elevator sheds Railway terminal and arrival can detect the passenger and immediately call an elevator car 11. Indicators 14 above the entrance doors of the three elevators show which elevator is traveling to which destination. From the railway terminal, the passenger directly reaches the floors S3 and S4 through the automatic elevator calls. To get back into the railway terminal, an elevator 11 in the floor S3 or S4 is automatically provided by the motion detector 13a. The passenger can get into the appropriate elevator without entering a destination and is transported directly to the desired floor. A voice prompt in the cabin confirms the passenger's desired destination. In the elevator car itself are only the Türschliess- and / or opening buttons and the alarm call button. Through this installation, the passengers are already grouped in the elevator halls and thus benefit from direct rides. Effortless boarding and disembarking with the luggage between each floor and long waiting times are thus eliminated.

A manual destination input is only necessary if the passenger wants to move between the two floors S3 and S4 or to enter the possibly existing floor shopping S5. A manual target can be entered at the keyboard located between the three elevators. The passenger is assigned an elevator on the display above the keyboard, which in turn brings him directly to his desired destination.

• Während offener Tür:
  • "erster Halt Abflug" oder
  • "dieser Aufzug bedient Parkgeschoss 2"
• Vor dem Türöffnen:
  • "Abflug hier aussteigen"
  • "Parkgeschoss 2 bitte aussteigen".

Optionally, the goals in the elevator can be repeated acoustically, for example:

• While the door is open:
  • "first stop departure" or
  • "this elevator serves parking level 2"
• Before the door opens:
  • "Get off here"
  • "Parking level 2 please get off".

In principle, it is possible that a single passenger triggers several calls (for example, Parking 1 and Parking 2 or even 3 calls). Although the invention has been designed to handle just large passenger flows in public buildings, it can be annoying for very small volumes of traffic that then one of the elevators runs its empty. In order to prevent this, the execution of the journey can be prevented by means of an empty recognition, the elevator simply stops after the door has been closed. For the empty detection all current zero load sensors can be used. Very interesting at the moment are video volume sensors, which reliably detect an empty car.

The method according to the invention can efficiently sort very large traffic streams according to destinations, optimally allocate means of transport and sustainably improve transport performance by bringing the passengers (with their pieces of luggage, shopping trolleys and luggage trolleys etc.) straight to their destinations. The process makes sense especially if the Objectives from the situation clearly and their number is not too large (preferably a maximum of 3).

• Ziel ist fix, bzw. Ziele sind fix, unabhängig von der Tages- oder Wochenzeit.
• Ziele sind abhängig von einer Zeitsteuerung; zum Beispiel ist vom Parkgeschoss aus während der Ladenöffnungszeit das Ziel "Einkaufen" und abends das Ziel "Fitness Studio".
• Ziele werden erlernt: die Passagiere geben Ihr Ziel an einem Terminal ein. Werden genügend gleiche Ziele eingegeben, wird dieses Ziel als automatisches Ziel generiert, bis am Terminal genügend andere Ziel eingegeben wurden etc.

For the implementation of the invention, the situations defining the automatic targets must be clearly known. It is easily possible, however, that targets can be reached from a certain floor that are not triggered automatically; These must then be entered at a terminal. The important thing is simply that the vast majority of passengers want a destination from the list of automatic destinations. There are several types of automatic targets:

• The goal is fixed, or objectives are fixed, regardless of the daily or weekly time.
• Goals are dependent on a timing; For example, during the store opening hours, the goal is "shopping" from the parking level and the goal "fitness studio" in the evening.
• Goals are learned: the passengers enter their destination at a terminal. If enough identical targets are entered, this target will be generated as an automatic target until enough other targets have been entered at the terminal etc.

Claims (14)

1. Method for transporting persons in a multi-storey building by means of a lift system (10) which comprises at least one lift cage (11), wherein the lift cage (11) is entered by persons in at least one first access storey (S1, S2), characterized in that the access storey (S1, S2) is permanently assigned a destination storey (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) which is the most probable travel destination of a passenger per building part and at a certain time.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the travel destination or destinations are indicated to the persons in advance by means of a display device (14).
3. Method according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the assignment is variable.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that arriving persons are recognized by an access terminal (13).
5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that the access terminal (13) has sensors (13a) such as, e.g., radar or video sensors.
6. Method according to Claim 5, characterized in that features of the passengers such as bringing along shopping trolleys or sports bags are recognized by the sensor in order to be able to propose a suitable destination storey.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lift system indicates to arriving persons by display and/or aurally one or more lifts for the predefined travel destination without the destination storey being actively input by the passenger.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the next travel destination and possibly also the next travel destinations but one are indicated visually and/or aurally within the cage.
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lift doors close automatically only after a fixed period of time has elapsed since the entry of the first passenger or when the cage is full.
10. Method according to one of the preceding claim, characterized in that a lift cage in each case serves only a small number of different travel destinations.
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that certain destination storeys are only assigned at particular times.
12. Method according to one of the preceding claim, characterized in that certain destination storeys are assigned only when the facilities located there, such as shops, restaurants, leisure facilities, means of transportation etc. are opened or ready for operation.
13. Arrangement for transporting persons in a building having a lift system (10) which comprises at least one lift cage (11), wherein at least one access storey (S1, S2) is provided, characterized in that an access storey (S1, S2) is permanently assigned a destination storey (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) which is the most probable travel destination of a passenger per building part and at a certain time.
14. Arrangement according to Claim 13, characterized by a display device (14) which is provided for indicating an assignment of the destination storeys (S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) at the access storeys (S1, S2).

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