EP2540651B1 - Lift device, building and positioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a movable frame (2) supporting and guiding a lift cage (3). A position determining device determines a position of the lift cage within a lift shaft and/or relative to the movable frame. A marking unit (5) is attached at a guide rail of movable frame, and marks the position of the lift cage. A camera (4) detects and/or reads the marking unit. An evaluation unit evaluates measurement values of the camera. The marking unit is designed as a carrier i.e. band, of a bar code i.e. two dimensional code. An independent claim is also included for a building.

Description

The invention relates to an elevator device for the transport of persons and / or objects within an elevator shaft of a building or the like according to the preamble of claim 1 and a building according to the preamble of claim 7.
Elevators or elevator systems for buildings are known from the prior art, in which the position of the elevator car of the elevator car is detected by means of a magnetic tape. This magnetic tape is regularly attached to the mobile scaffold or on a guide rail of the mobile scaffold. This mobile scaffold serves to guide or support the elevator cage, ie the mobile scaffold provides a guide for the elevator cage, in which the elevator cage is moved or can be moved.

The object of the invention is to provide an elevator apparatus, a position determination apparatus or a building, in which an improved precise position determination of the elevator car is made possible taking into account that building structures can settle over time after they have been built.

The object is achieved, starting from an elevator device or a building of the type mentioned, by the characterizing features of claim 1 and of claim 7.

By the measures mentioned in the dependent claims are advantageous developments and embodiments of the invention possible.

Accordingly, an elevator device according to the invention is characterized in that the marking unit as a carrier of a bar code, in particular a 2-D code and the detection unit as an image sensor, in particular as a camera, are formed.

The elevator device according to the invention serves to transport persons and / or objects within an elevator shaft of a room structure or the like. For example, such a room structure can be a building. Under a building according to the invention is any kind of structure to understand, for example, a house, a high-rise, a tower, a hall, a stadium with a tribune, a warehouse, a transport or loading station or the like. But it can also be another, at least two floors comprehensive spatial structure. In principle, such a spatial structure may, for example, also be a vehicle which has a building-like structure, for example a ship. Also conceivable, for example, are elevator devices in mobile transport or lifting devices. Such an elevator device has a lift cage in which the persons and / or objects to be transported can be accommodated. The elevator cage is moved within a mobile scaffold for storage or guidance of the elevator cage. The mobile scaffold is installed inside a lift shaft.

In order to determine the position of the elevator cage within the elevator shaft or with respect to the mobile platform, a position determining device is provided. This comprises at least one marking unit for marking the position, furthermore a detection unit for detecting or reading out the marking unit and an evaluation unit for evaluating the measured values of the detection unit. This evaluation unit can, for example be designed as an electronic unit, which outputs output measured values of the detection unit and uses this to determine therefrom a position indication of the position of the elevator cage with respect to the mobile scaffold or the position within the elevator shaft.

By the measure that the marking unit as a carrier of a bar code, in particular a 2-D code, and the detection unit as an image sensor, in particular as a camera, are formed, the position determination can be improved. On the one hand, the use of a bar code or a 2-D code makes it possible to carry out a simple and cost-effective marking. Such a mark can be printed, for example, simply and inexpensively. Such a mark can also be read out with standard scanners or other image sensors provided for this purpose. In addition, this allows a particularly error-free reading. Since the corresponding barcodes or 2-D codes can be imaged very sharply and can also be placed very precisely in relation to the mobile scaffold or the elevator shaft and on a very precise image sensor detection is possible, the position can also be determined very precisely become.

Since such barcodes or 2-D codes have a correspondingly high black-and-white contrast, these markers are regularly less susceptible to contamination such. By dust. Conversely, it is also possible to visually determine the contrast of the detected marking units via the image sensor and, if appropriate, to output a corresponding error or warning signal or a maintenance signal, which indicates that the corresponding marking units must be cleaned or renewed. Such a maintenance or error signal can be output, for example, from the evaluation unit, in which also the contrast can be determined. Incidentally, a barcode or 2-D code can advantageously be read without contact and is also practically wear-free.

A correspondingly accurate detection is provided by image sensors having a corresponding optics such. have telecentric lenses allows. Furthermore, it is possible to provide the most compact and small image sensors available. Due to the simple and compact design it is possible that only small costs for the position determination occur. In addition, such a position determination allows low power consumption, since usually only a small power is required for the corresponding electronics.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the marking unit is further formed as a band, this measure, allows a continuous marking of the position on the route of the elevator car. Each individual marking can be separated from the next marking by a corresponding symbolism, for example a separating strip, so that a fine screening is also made possible.

According to the invention, the first marking unit is mounted on the mobile scaffold, in particular on a guide rail of the mobile scaffold. This makes it possible that the mark is not obscured, for example, by struts or the like when the elevator car passes. In addition, it can be achieved that a certain, precisely defined distance between the sensor / image sensor and the marking unit is always maintained. As a result, on the one hand, the accuracy of the measurement can be increased, on the other hand, this measure also enables a simplified installation or maintenance. In particular, when determining the position, no influence must be taken into account with regard to a measurement that could be caused by a change in the distance between the marking strip and the sensor. In most cases, a small distance between the marking strip and the sensor makes it possible to determine the position precisely.

Building structures can "settle" over time after they have been built, ie walls, for example, have their position change and move easily. Such changes are known in construction technology and building physics and caused for example by aging or stress. Also conceivable are changes due to seismic activity or other changes in the subsurface (caused, for example, by subsidence, by groundwater, etc.). However, these shifts are not always linear or even. If such a shift occurs, it may mean that the building is being moved in a different way than, for example, the chassis in which the elevator cage is being guided. A further advantage of the attachment of the marking unit to the mobile scaffold can consequently be that at least partial decoupling of the position of the marking unit from displacements of the building is made possible. Thus, if a corresponding marking unit is attached directly to the building, for example to a wall of the building, this can change its relative position with respect to the detection by an image sensor of a lift cage movable in the mobile structure. If this effect were not taken into account, this could lead to the positioning being more inaccurate after a certain time, in which the building or individual walls move, than when installing the elevator; Accordingly, if appropriate, the shaft opening could no longer be approached precisely by the elevator car.

The second marking unit is attached to the elevator shaft or to another part, for example a wall of the building.

At least one first and one second marking unit are provided according to the invention. This can bring several advantages: On the one hand, a second marking unit can be used as a reference mark for adjusting the accuracy of the first marking unit. For example, the evaluation unit can perform such a comparison, if necessary automatically at certain time intervals. Thus, the elevator apparatus can determine whether with time between the first marking unit and the second Marking unit has made a change in relation to the relative position to each other. This can be used for maintenance purposes, but also for building security. In addition, a calibration of the position-determining device can thereby be carried out, so that an even more precise position determination is made possible. Such a calibration can be carried out in the evaluation unit. The second marking unit may, for example, be mounted near the shaft opening, for example per floor.

A second marking unit can also be used to transmit further information. For example, the second marking unit can be used to mark a specific zone on the route within the elevator shaft.

In addition, the evaluation unit can in turn be designed to determine whether the car or the elevator car is located within this zone or not. Such a zone can be, for example, the area around a shaft opening in which it is possible to get out of persons located in the elevator cage. Typically, a shaft opening is present in each floor, optionally also two manhole openings, if, for example, an exit to opposite sides is possible.

Depending on the type of elevator, either the elevator cage can have a door or exit hatch. It is also conceivable that the elevator shaft itself has a corresponding door or exit hatch. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention, an unlocking device for unlocking a door or an exit hatch of the elevator car, which is controllable by means of the evaluation device, be present. The purpose of such unlocking is to allow an emergency exit in case of a defect of the elevator, but only if the elevator car is located in the region of a shaft opening. It is also conceivable that the unlocking a Door of a shaft opening of the elevator shaft unlocked, so a door that is not directly attached to the elevator car. A control within the meaning of the invention means a control and / or control. For example, depending on whether the elevator car is within the zone, the unlocking device may or may not be activated.

The detection unit may be arranged in an embodiment variant on and / or under the car. It is also conceivable that the detection unit is attached to another position on the car. This means that the marking unit is fixed, for example on the running rail or on the building itself, while the car, which can perform a movement relative to this marking unit, has the corresponding detection unit, which then depending on their position with respect to the Marker unit corresponding position information can supply the evaluation device. In principle, however, it is conceivable that the detection unit is also mounted, for example, laterally on the elevator car. In general, the position of the detection unit relative to the car, inter alia, in the evaluation of the position of the car by the evaluation device to be considered, d. H. this must be configured accordingly or preprogrammed accordingly.

Accordingly, a building according to the invention with at least two floors is characterized in that an elevator device according to one of the preceding claims is provided.

According to the invention, the second marking unit is attached to the building. As a result, a relation between the mobile scaffold or the rail of the mobile scaffold and the building is advantageously made possible in particular. As has already been discussed, over time, aging, stress, etc. can cause an uneven change in the attitude between the building and the scaffold. By the measure to attach a second marking unit to the building, this relative position between the building and the mobile scaffolding, even at a non-uniform change at any time redetermined and recalibrated. In principle, it is also conceivable that a corresponding warning function, for example, by the evaluation, is activated when this change in position is too strong. This second marking unit can also carry, for example, floor information and position information. For example, it may contain the number of the single floor in coded form.

The position information can be represented in various ways: First, there is the possibility of point information, which can be used in principle for calibrating the code band, but also for calculating a position, for example, the zone in which an unlocking is to take place. Furthermore, an area information can be encoded, which z. B. enables direct detection of the unlocking zone. Such an area may be defined by a beginning and an end, for example, in the case of an unlocking zone, an area of about 20 cm below a manhole opening to 20 cm above a manhole opening. In principle, it is conceivable, for example, to detect the beginning or the end of an unlocking zone directly on the basis of a coding on the marking unit.

Furthermore, a length information can be transmitted, which can be used for a calibration of the code band, but can also lead to increased accuracy, if the vernier principle is exploited. Accordingly, in principle both an indirect and a direct detection of the unlocking zone is conceivable. Finally, floor information can also be coded. Image sensors can basically be used to read out the first and also the second marking unit. The marker units can also be used to define a breakpoint of the elevator cage. The floor information can basically be omitted if a position can be assigned to the code read out from the marking unit by the memory of the evaluation unit.

The corresponding information or allocation table is then corresponding to e.g. in the memory of the evaluation before deposit. The floor information may also be obtained by detecting a read-out breakpoint information and reading markings from an extreme position during a learning phase while driving. This measure enables good technical feasibility and cost-effective implementation.

It is conceivable that the second marking unit is arranged such that the zone marked by it forms an area around at least one of the shaft openings of the elevator shaft. This zone may, for example, serve as an unlocking zone, i. H. In this area, an emergency release can be made if the elevator stops, for example due to a technical defect or other unforeseen event. With the help of the emergency release then the doors can be brought in a safe for the persons or the transporting objects area through a manhole opening from the car. By this measure, the safety of the elevator device can be increased.

Embodiment:

Fig. 1 :

eine schematische Darstellung eines Gebäudes mit einem Aufzug gemäß der Erfindung,

Fig. 2 :

eine schematische Darstellung eines Codebandes,

Fig. 3 :

eine schematische Darstellung eines Codebandes.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail below, with further advantages and further details. In detail shows

Fig. 1:

a schematic representation of a building with a lift according to the invention,

Fig. 2:

a schematic representation of a code band,

3:

a schematic representation of a code band.

FIG. 1 shows an elevator device 1 with a mobile scaffold 2 and a lift cage 3. The elevator cage 3 carries on its underside a camera 4. On the mobile scaffold 2 is a first Marking unit 5 attached. The elevator device 1 in turn is located in a building 6, the building 6 in turn comprises an elevator shaft 7, in which in turn the elevator device 1 is arranged. In a wall of the building 6, which adjoins the elevator shaft 7, there is again a shaft opening 8. At the bottom edge of the shaft opening 8, a second marking unit 9 is attached to the wall of the building 6.

This embodiment is a preferred embodiment.

The camera 4 is designed as an image sensor to basically detect and read both the first and the second marking unit. Persons can pass through a shaft opening 8 in the car 3, if this is at the appropriate height, more precisely at the corresponding position in height of the shaft opening 8. In the car 3, the persons can be transported in the vertical direction. The elevator cage 3 in turn is supported and guided by the chassis 2. Furthermore, the car 3 includes doors that automatically open and close when the car has reached a corresponding position, for example at the level of the shaft opening 8.

When driving the elevator cage 3 in the vertical direction, the camera 4 receives corresponding images of the first measuring unit. These image information received by the first measuring unit are processed in the evaluation unit (not shown) and finally result in a position specification of the elevator car 3 within the chassis 2. Both the second marking unit and the first marking unit contain a barcode or 2-D code to be read out , The image area which the camera 4 detects, however, also makes it possible to read the second marking unit if it can be detected by the camera 4, which in turn depends on the position of the elevator cage 3. As in FIG. 1 illustrated, the camera 4 can then detect the second marking unit when the car 3 is located in the region of the shaft opening 8. Both the second marking unit and the camera 4 on the elevator car 3 are mounted so that the second marking unit at the shaft opening 8 can be read when the elevator car 3 is approximately 20 centimeters above or below the normal position at the level of the shaft opening 8, in usually takes a step out of the car. This is the case when the bottom of the car is at a level with the ground at the shaft opening 8. This zone 20 centimeters above to 20 centimeters below the normal holding position at the level of the shaft opening 8 in turn forms an unlocking zone. In the area of this unlocking zone, an emergency release can take place in permissible manner. Such an emergency release is necessary when the car 3 stops suddenly, for example as a result of an unforeseen event, a power failure, a blockage of the elevator or the like. In such a case, the persons can then be released from the pull-out basket 3 without any special danger, if this is located in a corresponding zone which is located close enough to the shaft opening 8. In this case, this zone, the unlocking zone, is located about 20 centimeters above or below the shaft opening 8.

The first marking unit is formed as a band carrying the bar code; Meanwhile, the second marking unit is formed as a 2-D code, wherein the marking unit is formed by a marking piece. In particular, these marking units can be formed by an adhesive strip which carries the corresponding marking or the corresponding bar or 2-D code.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a corresponding marking unit, namely a code tape 10. If the code tape for attachment as a second marking unit provided directly to a building, for example, the area 11 can serve as floor coding, the area 12 as a position coding and the area 13 as unlocking coding. In addition, marking lines 14 may also be present.

An encoding pattern in the 2-D code is shown by way of example in FIG. The marker lines 14 may occur at periodic intervals. The code tape 10, 11 itself consists of a reflective film, with corresponding black lines, areas or dots for coding are printed on it. The film is z. B. glued to a sheet or piece of metal and sealed for protection.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

winder

2

mobile scaffold

3

elevator car

4

camera

5

first marking unit

6

building

7

elevator shaft

8th

shaft opening

9

second marking unit

10

code strip

11

Floor-coding

12

position encoding

13

unlocking

14

code strip

Claims (9)

1. Lift device (1) for transporting persons and/or objects inside a lift shaft (7) of a three-dimensional space (6) comprising at least two stories, in particular of a building or the like comprising:

   - a lift cage (3), in which the persons and/or objects to be transported can be accommodated,

   - a drive frame (2) for mounting and guiding the lift cage,

   - a position determining device for determining the position of the lift cage in the lift shaft and/or in relation to the drive frame, which device comprises a marking unit for marking the position, a detection unit (4) for detecting and/or reading the marking unit and an evaluation unit for evaluating the measurement values of the detection unit,

   wherein the marking unit (5, 9, 10, 14) is configured as a carrier of a barcode, in particular a 2D code, and the detection unit (4) is configured as an image sensor, in particular as a camera, and wherein a first and second marking unit are provided, characterised in that the second marking unit (9) is in the form of a reference marking for comparing the accuracy of the first marking unit, and the evaluation unit is configured to make a comparison between a first a second marking unit, so that it is possible to establish whether there is a change in relation to the relative position between the first marking unit and the second marking unit, wherein the first marking unit (5) is attached on the drive frame, in particular on a guiding rail of the drive frame and the second marking unit (9) is attached onto the lift shaft or another part of the building, for example onto a wall of the building.
2. Lift device according to 1, characterised in that the marking unit (5, 9, 10, 14) is in the form of a strip.
3. Lift device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second marking unit (9) is configured to mark a specific zone on the driving section inside the lift shaft.
4. Lift device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaluation unit is configured to recognize whether the lift cage is located in the zone.
5. Lift device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an unlocking device is provided for unlocking a door of the lift cage and/or a shaft opening of the lift shaft which can be controlled by means of the evaluation device.
6. Lift device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detection unit is arranged on the lift cage, in particular on and/or under the lift cage.
7. Building (6) with at least two stories, characterised in that a lift device according to one of the preceding claims is provided.
8. Building according to claim 7, characterised in that the second marking unit is attached to the building.
9. Building according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the second marking unit is arranged so that the zone marked thereby forms an area around at least one of the shaft openings of the lift shaft.

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