EP4339052A1 - Cableway for goods transport - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to enable easier transport of objects in a circulation cable car (1) with at least two cable car stations (2a-2c) and with a number of cable car vehicles (3) which can be moved between the cable car stations (2a-2c) with a conveyor cable (4). and to increase safety for people, a first detection device (D1) is provided in a first cable car station (2a), which is designed to load a cabin in a loading area (6) of the first cable car station (2a). (K) to detect an object (O) provided on a cable car vehicle (3) and to determine an object type for the object (O), and that a control unit (5) is provided which is designed to control the circulation cable car (1) in a defined manner To operate transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type.

Description

The invention relates to a circulation cable car with at least two cable car stations and with a number of cable car vehicles which can be moved with a conveyor cable between the cable car stations, the number of cable car vehicles each having a cabin for receiving objects and a control unit for controlling the circulation cable car being provided. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a circulation cable car. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a circulating cable car with at least two cable car stations and with a number of cable car vehicles which can be moved between the cable car stations with a conveyor rope, the number of cable car vehicles each having a cabin for receiving objects and the circulating cable car being operated by a control unit is controlled.

In circular cable cars, the cable car vehicles are moved in a known manner in a circular loop between two end stations. In the past, cable cars were mainly used for transporting people in ski areas. Mostly skiers with ski equipment were transported between a valley station and a mountain station. Later, snowboarders with snowboards also arrived. In smaller cabins, the skis and snowboards are usually transported in standardized transport baskets that are arranged on the outside of the cabins. In larger cabins, all equipment is usually transported within the cabins. In addition to skis and snowboards, there are also other, rather bulky, winter sports equipment such as snow bikes or sledges, which usually have to be transported within the cabin. The cable cars are increasingly being used in ski areas in the summer. For example, strollers, wheelchairs or mountain bikes are transported, usually within the cabins due to their size.

Cable cars are also increasingly being used as public transport in urban areas. Here, too, in addition to pure passenger transport, objects are often transported, although the range of different object types is generally larger than in the ski areas. Particularly in urban areas, in addition to the objects already mentioned, luggage, such as suitcases or bags, or goods are often transported. Because of the wide range of objects, the use of standardized transport baskets outside of the cabins is not easily possible. In addition to the objects mentioned that are used by people, goods are often also transported, for example food or similar. In contrast to the others In the above-mentioned objects, such goods are generally not tied to the people and are therefore usually not taken by the people in the cabins. For example, goods are loaded into a cabin by the operating staff at a first cable car station, for example a valley station in a ski area, and transported unattended to a second cable car station, for example a mountain station. At the mountain station, the goods are unloaded from the cabin by the operating staff. The cable car vehicles can, for example, be used for the mixed transport of people and goods or they can be used exclusively for the transport of goods. However, for example, cable car vehicles with specially designed transport cabins can also be provided, which are intended exclusively for the transport of goods.

Due to the wide range of objects to be transported, different challenges arise when loading and unloading. For example, while loading handy, personal objects (e.g. skis, suitcases, etc.) can be done relatively easily and quickly, loading the cabins with unwieldy personal objects (e.g. wheelchairs, bicycles, strollers, etc.) and/or Unwieldy, non-personal objects (e.g. goods such as food, etc.) may be more complex and therefore take more time. However, in conventional cable cars, the cable car vehicles are usually moved in a fixed normal operating mode with a fixed, constant conveying speed.

The cabin doors are usually opened and closed automatically at fixed positions within the cable car stations. The position, time and available time for loading or unloading the cable car vehicles are therefore fixed and cannot be changed in normal operating mode. This can lead to accidents or unwanted emergency stops, especially at peak times, as there may not be enough time available for loading. Previously, the drive was only stopped manually by the operating personnel when the operating personnel recognized certain objects. However, since the future trend will increasingly move towards unattended operation, manual intervention is not a satisfactory solution. In addition, reliable detection of objects that may require a stop due to distraction or other activities cannot be guaranteed.

Systems are known with which manual interventions by operating personnel can be reduced. In AT 414 056 B A video camera is used to monitor a lift route and its surroundings in order to assess the movement of objects in terms of their position and speed. If there is a dangerous situation due to the movement of an object, an evaluation unit initiates an alarm signal or a shutdown the drive of the cable car. In EP 1 972 520 A1 The operating mode of the cable car can be adjusted as needed in the cable car station. For example, the conveying speed of the cable car vehicles is varied. In EP 1 849 674 A1 The conveying speed of the cable car vehicles is adjusted depending on the type of cable car vehicle. However, with these systems there is no adjustment of the operating mode of the cable car depending on the object to be transported.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a circulation cable car and a method for operating a circulation cable car, which enable easier transport of objects and increase safety for people.

The object is achieved with the circulation cable car mentioned at the beginning in that a first detection device is provided in a first cable car station, which is designed to detect an object intended for loading a cabin of a cable car vehicle in a loading area of the first cable car station and an object type for the object to determine, and that the control unit is designed to operate the circulation cable car in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object is a specified object type. This enables automatic detection and identification of desired objects and the operating mode of the cable car can be adjusted depending on this. In the case of mixed operations (transporting people and goods), the loading area can be located, for example, in the boarding area for passengers. However, the loading area could, for example, be located before or after the boarding area for the passengers, viewed in the direction of movement.

The first detection device preferably has at least one camera for detecting the loading area and an evaluation unit which is designed to detect the object located in the loading area from a number of images captured by the at least one camera and to determine the object type for the object , wherein the at least one camera preferably comprises a 3D camera, an infrared camera or a video camera and wherein an image recognition model is preferably stored in the evaluation unit. The image recognition model can, for example, include a suitable image recognition algorithm, for example in the form of an artificial intelligence (AI) model, which can be trained to distinguish the desired objects from other objects. The training can be carried out, for example, by first giving the model a large number of images of objects of the specified object type. With a sufficiently large number of images, the model learns to independently recognize the specified object types during later operation. Depending on how complex the defined object types are, a suitable model and also a suitable camera can be used. The at least one camera can be arranged, for example, above the loading area.

The circulating cable car naturally also has a drive device for driving the cable car vehicles, with the transport operating mode preferably comprising a loading operating mode. The control unit is designed to control the drive device in the loading operating mode in order to stop a drive of the cable car vehicles for a specified loading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period if a cable car vehicle is in the loading area of the first cable car station at a loading time. The loading time is preferably determined depending on a detection time at which the object of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device. As a result, the drive can be stopped automatically, for example, completely, without intervention by the operating personnel, when a specific object is detected, which experience shows requires a relatively long time to load. On the other hand, for certain objects, for example, it may also be sufficient if only the conveying speed is reduced, so that more time is available to load the object than in normal operating mode. The loading time can vary, for example, depending on the object type. Preferably, the transport operating mode also includes an unloading operating mode, wherein the control unit is designed to control the drive device in the unloading operating mode in order to stop the drive of the cable car vehicles for a specified unloading period or to increase the conveying speed for a specified unloading period reduce if the cable car vehicle, which is loaded with an object of the specified object type, is in a specified unloading area of a second cable car station at an unloading time. This means that in a defined unloading area, similar to the loading area, the drive can be stopped automatically or the conveyor speed can be reduced to make unloading the object easier. This is particularly advantageous if, for example, there are no operating personnel available in the exit area of a cable car station (e.g. a mountain station) to monitor the exit or unloading area. The discharging time can vary, for example depending on the object type. In a mixed operation (people and objects), the unloading area can, for example, be located in the exit area, but could also be located before or after the exit area in the direction of movement.

Preferably, a cabin door is provided on each of the cabins of the number of cable car vehicles and a door operating device is provided for operating the cabin doors, which can be controlled by the control unit. The transport operating mode then preferably also includes a drive-through operating mode, wherein the control unit is designed to control the door operating device in the drive-through operating mode so that in a cable car vehicle that is equipped with a Object of the specified object type is loaded, the cabin door is closed in a specified passage area of a cable car station. This can be advantageous, for example, if only one object, such as food, etc., is transported in mixed operation with a cable car vehicle. This means that the car door can remain closed, for example in a middle station, so that no one can board.

The control unit is preferably designed to determine the unloading time based on a transit time of the cable car vehicles between the loading area and the unloading area and/or based on a unique vehicle identifier of the cable car vehicles. The running time depends on the route length and the conveying speed and can be assumed to be known. The control unit can, for example, determine the unloading time from the known loading time, the loading duration and the running time. If the cable car vehicles have vehicle identifiers, then the control unit knows at all times where the cable car vehicles are and can determine the unloading time accordingly.

Advantageously, a first vehicle identification device can be provided in the first cable car station, which is designed to detect the vehicle identification of a cable car vehicle located in the loading area and the control unit can be designed to use the detected vehicle identification to determine the time of unloading. For example, in addition to object recognition, the first detection device could also be designed as a vehicle identification device for detecting the vehicle identification. For example, a unique optical feature on the outside of the cable car vehicle, which is suitable for being identified using image recognition, could be used as a vehicle identifier. However, the first vehicle identification device could also be a separate device that is provided in addition to the first detection device. For example, a QR code, bar code or RFID transponder can be used as vehicle identification and the first vehicle identification device can have a corresponding reading device.

A second vehicle identification device can also be provided in the second cable car station, which is designed to detect the vehicle identification of the cable car vehicles and the control unit can be designed to determine the unloading time based on the detected vehicle identification. The second vehicle identification device can, for example, be designed analogously to the first detection device and have a detection device with at least one camera and an evaluation unit. However, the second vehicle identification device can also have a suitable reading device for reading a QR code, bar code or RFID transponder. In this case the control unit Even without knowing the running time, determine the discharging time based on the signal from the second vehicle identification device and use it to switch to the discharging operating mode.

It can also be advantageous if a signaling device is provided in at least one cable car station and that the control unit is designed to control the signaling device to reproduce a signal when the circulating cable car is in transport operating mode. The signal can include, for example, an optical, acoustic or electronic signal. This means that passengers or operating staff can be warned with desired signals or informed with suitable information. Depending on the type of signal desired, a suitable signaling device can be provided, e.g. signal lamps, loudspeakers, screens for displaying information, a mobile device for playing back electronic messages, etc.

The orbital cable car can be designed as a gondola lift, with each cable car vehicle of the number of cable car vehicles comprising a cabin, or the orbital cable car can be designed as a combination cable car, with the number of cable car vehicles comprising a number of cable car vehicles with chairs and a number of cable car vehicles with cabins. The detection and analysis of objects according to the invention takes place in the entry and exit areas provided for the cabin vehicles.

The specified object type preferably includes at least one of the following object types: suitcase, transport pallet, box, transport cart, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, object with a size that exceeds a specified size. This allows the most common object types to be recognized, although the list is of course not exhaustive. Object types that are not taken into account can be added later, for example by retraining the image recognition model.

The task is also achieved with the method mentioned at the beginning in that an object is detected by means of a first detection device, which is loaded into a cabin of a cable car vehicle in a loading area of a first cable car station, that an object type is determined for the object and that the control unit Circulating cable car operates in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object is a defined object type.

Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in claims 11 to 17.

The present invention is described below with reference to Figure 1 explained in more detail, which show exemplary, schematic and non-restrictive advantageous embodiments of the invention. This shows
Fig.1 a circulation cable car in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

In Fig.1 a circular cable car 1 with three cable car stations 2a-2c is shown. In the following, the term cable car is used as a synonym for circulation cable car. The cable car 1 has a number of cable car vehicles 3, which can be moved with a conveyor cable 4 between the cable car stations 2a-2c. The first cable car station 2a and the second cable car station 2b are designed as end stations in which the conveyor cable 4 is each deflected around a cable pulley 15 in order to form a closed cable loop. The cable car vehicles 4 can be moved in a rotating movement along this cable loop. The third cable car station 2c is merely optional and is designed as a middle station which is arranged between the two end stations 2a, 2b. In the third cable car station 2c, a cable pulley 15 is also provided here as an example. However, the conveyor rope 4 is not deflected within the third cable car station 2c, but runs straight through the cable car station 2c. The pulley 15 essentially serves to guide the conveyor rope 4.

Separating the conveyor rope 4 into two rope loops would also be conceivable, for example. Here, a first conveyor rope would be provided, which forms a closed first rope loop between the first cable car station 2a and the third cable car station 2c (middle station), and a second conveyor rope would be provided, which forms a closed second rope loop between the third cable car station 2c (middle station) and the second Cable car station 2b forms. In the third cable car station 2c, a first pulley would be provided around which the first conveyor rope is deflected and a second pulley would be provided around which the second conveyor rope is deflected. Of course, the design with three cable car stations 2a-2c is only an example and the middle station 2c could in principle be dispensed with.

A drive device 9 for driving the cable car vehicles 3 is also provided in the cable car 1. The drive device 9 has at least a first drive unit 9a, for example a suitable electric machine, for driving the conveyor rope 4. The first drive unit 9a can, for example, be arranged in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c and be designed to drive the cable pulley 15. In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 1 For example, a first drive unit 9a is provided in the second cable car station 2b. If necessary, further first drive units 9a can also be provided in the other cable car stations 2a, 2c in order to drive the respective cable pulley 15. This can be advantageous, for example, to enable redundancy of the drive or for particularly long cable lengths and/or particularly large loads and/or large inclines.

The cable car 1 shown is designed as a cable car, in which all cable car vehicles 3 each have a cabin K for receiving objects O. Of course, the cabins K can also be intended for transporting people. Within the scope of the invention, conventional cabin vehicles can be used, which are primarily used for transporting people, but can also be used for transporting goods if necessary. A cabin door 12 is provided in a known manner on the side of the cabins K, which can, for example, have two door leaves that can be opened in opposite directions, as in Fig.1 is indicated on a cable car vehicle 3 in the first cable car station 2a. The cabin doors 12 are arranged so that they each face a platform 16 in the cable car stations 2a-2c. People can get into cabins K or objects O can be loaded via platform 16.

The cable car vehicles 3 can be detachably coupled to the conveyor cable 4 in a known manner. For this purpose, operable cable clamps (not shown) are provided on the cable car vehicles 3. While traveling on the open route between the cable car stations 2a-2c, the cable clamp of a cable car vehicle 3 is closed, so that the cable car vehicle is firmly coupled to the conveyor cable 4. The driving force generated by the first drive unit 9a is transmitted from the conveyor rope 4 to the cable car vehicle 3 in a frictional manner via the rope clamp. When entering a cable car station 2a-2c, the cable clamp can be opened by an actuating device (not shown) in order to decouple the cable car vehicle 3 from the conveyor cable 4. While the conveyor rope 4 is moved further around the pulley 15 at a substantially unchanged and constant conveying speed, the cable car vehicle 3 decoupled in the entrance area E can be braked after decoupling and moved at a reduced speed from the entrance area E to an exit area A of the respective cable car station 2a-2c .

To guide the decoupled cable car vehicles 3, stationary guide rails 17 are provided in the cable car stations 2a-2c. The guide rails 17 each extend from the entrance area E to the exit area A of a cable car station 2a-2c. In the exit area A, the cable car vehicles 3 can first be accelerated again to the conveying speed of the conveyor cable 4 and the cable clamps of the cable car vehicles 3 can be actuated by an actuating device (not shown) in order to couple the cable car vehicle 3 to the conveyor cable 4 again. A number of guide rollers (not shown) can be provided on the cable car vehicles 3, with which the cable car vehicles 3 can be guided along the guide rails 17 when decoupled from the conveyor cable 4.

To drive the decoupled cable car vehicles 3 along the guide rails 17, an auxiliary drive (not shown) can be provided for each guide rail 17 in the cable car stations. The auxiliary drive can, for example, be in the form of a known one Tire conveyor can be formed, which has a plurality of driven tires which are arranged one behind the other along the respective guide rail 17. The tires can interact with friction linings on the cable car vehicles 3 to drive the cable car vehicles 3. A suitable second drive unit 9b, for example an electric machine, can be provided to drive the auxiliary drives. The second drive unit 9b is only indicated as an example in the second cable car station 2b. Of course, a second drive unit 9b is also provided in the first cable car station 2a in an analogous manner. In the third cable car station 2c, a guide rail 17 is provided for each direction of travel, and a separate auxiliary drive with a second drive unit 9b can be provided for each guide rail 17.

At least one control unit 5 for controlling functions of the cable car 1 is also provided in the cable car 1. The control unit 5 serves, among other things, to control the drive device 9, in particular to control the available first drive unit (s) 9a for driving the conveyor rope 4 and to control the available second drive unit (s) 9a for driving the auxiliary drives. In addition, the control unit 5 could of course also be designed to control other functions, which, however, are not relevant to the invention, for example for lighting control, etc. The position of the control unit 5 is in Fig.1 only shown as an example. The control unit 5 can be arranged, for example, in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c, for example in a control room of a cable car station 2a-2c. The control unit 5 could, for example, also have several separate control units that communicate with one another via a suitable communication connection. The control unit 5 can have suitable hardware and/or software.

The first cable car station 2a can, for example, be a valley station in a valley of a ski area and the second cable car station 2b can be a mountain station on a mountain of the ski area. The third cable car station 2c can be arranged at a suitable location between mountain and valley. When operating cable car 1, people and objects O are therefore mainly transported from the valley to the mountain. Of course, transport from the mountain to the valley is also possible. Of course, passenger transport can also take place. Of course, the use in a ski area is only an example and the cable car 1 could alternatively be intended for urban operation, for example. In this case, a height difference does not necessarily have to be bridged, but movement on the flat or with only a small height difference or a river can be bridged, etc. could also take place. The transport of people and/or goods can also take place in essentially equal proportions in both directions. To describe the invention, only the transport of goods of objects O in one direction from the valley station 2a to the middle station 2c or further to the mountain station 2b will be considered below.

On the platform 16 in front of the exit area A of the first cable car station 2a, a loading area 6 is provided for loading cable car vehicles 3 with objects O. The loading area 6 is to be understood as meaning that area in which the cabin doors 12 on the cabins K of the passing cable car vehicles 3 are open. In the example shown, there is a single cable car vehicle 3 in the loading area 6 at a time. Contrary to the illustration shown, the loading area 6 could also be longer in the direction of movement B of the cable car vehicles 3, so that several cable car vehicles 3 can be in the loading area 6 at the same time. In a mixed operation (transport of goods + transport of people), the loading area 6 can, for example, also serve as an entry area for people. The loading area 6 could, for example, also be separated from the boarding area for people and, for example, be arranged in the direction of movement B before or after the boarding area on the platform 16.

Furthermore, a first detection device D1 is provided in the first cable car station 2a, which is designed to detect an object O intended for loading a cabin K of a cable car vehicle 3 in the loading area 6 and to determine an object type for the object O. In the example shown, the first detection device D1 has a camera 7 and an evaluation unit 8. The camera 7 serves to capture the loading area B and to generate a number of images. Several cameras 7 can also be provided. The camera 7 can, for example, have a 3D camera or an infrared camera. The camera 7 can also have a video camera that can record a temporal sequence of images of the loading area 6.

The camera 7 is mounted at a suitable location in the first cable car station 2a, so that the loading area 6 can be captured as smoothly as possible and as free from weather influences as possible. The camera 7 can, for example, be mounted on a stationary structure in an upper area of the cable car station 2a, so that an image axis of the camera 7 is essentially normal to the platform 16 on which the loading area 6 is located. In this case, it may be sufficient, for example, if a single camera 7 is used, whereby the object recognition can be carried out by the evaluation unit 8 on the basis of the normal projection of the objects O located in the loading area 6 onto the image plane. However, several cameras 7, which are arranged at different positions or a 3D camera, are advantageously used to generate a three-dimensional image of the objects O.

The evaluation unit 8 is designed to detect the object O located in the loading area B from the images captured by the camera 7 and to determine the object type for the object O. The following object types can be defined as defined object types: suitcase, transport pallet, box, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, Wheelchair, scooter, object with a size exceeding a specified size. For example, a projected area of the object O or a smallest circumscribed rectangle area can be used as a measure of the size. Of course, the list of object types is not exhaustive and can be expanded to include other desired objects. It would of course also be conceivable to subsequently add object types that were not taken into account at the beginning.

To recognize the objects O and identify the object type, a suitable image recognition model can be stored in the evaluation unit 8, for example. In the example shown, the evaluation unit 8 is designed as a separate unit and is connected to the camera 7 via a suitable first communication connection 18 and is connected to the control unit 5 via a suitable second communication connection 19. The camera 7 can transmit the recorded images to the evaluation unit 8 via the first communication connection 18 and the evaluation unit can process the images in order to recognize an object O and identify the object type. The evaluation unit 8 can send this information to the control unit 5 via the second communication connection 19 and the control unit 5 can operate the circulation cable car 1 in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object O is a defined object type, as will be explained in more detail below .

Contrary to the embodiment shown, the evaluation unit 8 could also be integrated in the camera 7, for example as a so-called smart camera. Alternatively, the evaluation unit 8 could also be integrated in the control unit 5, for example in the form of suitable software. For example, a suitable algorithm in the form of an artificial intelligence (AI model) can be used as the image recognition model. Such an algorithm can be, for example, an artificial neural network that enables machine learning. The AI model can first be trained with a variety of data in order to be able to recognize certain objects and identify the associated object type. Such models are known in the prior art, which is why no detailed description will be given here. The person skilled in the art can select a suitable image recognition model for use within the scope of the invention.

The transport operating mode can include, for example, a loading operating mode. In the loading operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the drive device 9 (first drive unit 9a and/or second drive unit 9b) of the cable car 1 in order to stop a drive of the cable car vehicles 3 for a specified loading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period at a loading time. This means, for example, that if an object O that corresponds to a specified object type was detected in the loading area 6, the drive can be stopped automatically and without intervention by the operating personnel. The object O can then pass through a person can be invited through the open cabin door 12 of the cabin K of the cable car vehicle 3 located in the loading area 6. This is particularly advantageous for relatively large and heavy objects O because a longer loading time is available compared to normal operation.

The loading time can, for example, be fixed or could also be adjustable, for example via a user interface in a control room of a cable car station 2a-2c. The loading time does not have to be the same for all objects O; instead, different object types could, for example, be assigned different loading times. This can take into account the fact that loading some objects O, e.g. a suitcase, is comparatively quick, while loading bulky objects O, such as bicycles, takes significantly longer. The drive could also be stopped for some object types and only the conveying speed could be reduced for other object types.

After the loading period has elapsed, the control unit 5 can automatically restart normal operation by restarting the drive device 9 or increasing the conveying speed again. Alternatively, the normal operating mode could only be resumed through manual intervention. After the object O has been loaded and the cabin door 12 has been closed, the cable car vehicle 3 can be moved in a conventional manner to the second cable car station 2b or, if available, possibly only to the third cable car station 2c (middle station). As soon as a new object O, which corresponds to a specified object type, is recognized in the loading area 6, the control unit 5 can automatically switch back to the loading operating mode, etc. The loading time is preferably determined depending on a detection time at which the object type is detected by the first detection device D1 is recognized.

“Dependent” can mean, for example, that the loading time corresponds to the detection time, but could also be a certain time after the detection time.

In order to unload the object O loaded in the first cable car station 2a from the cable car vehicle 3, a suitable unloading area 10 can be defined in the second cable car station 2b and/or in the third cable car station 2c. Similar to the loading area 6, the unloading area 10 can also serve as an exit area for people in mixed operation (transport of goods + transport of people). Alternatively, the unloading area 10 could also be arranged in the direction of movement before or after the exit area for the people. In Fig.1 only an exemplary unloading area 10 is provided in the second cable car station 2b. Of course, a corresponding unloading area could additionally (or alternatively) be provided in the third cable car station 2c (not shown). To remove the object O in the unloading area 10 In order to be able to unload the cable car vehicle 3, the transport operating mode advantageously also includes an unloading operating mode.

Similar to the loading operating mode, the control unit 5 controls the drive device 9 (first drive unit 9a and/or second drive unit 9b) in the unloading operating mode in order to stop the drive of the cable car vehicles 3 for a specified unloading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified unloading period, if the cable car vehicle 3, which is loaded with the object O of the specified object type, is located in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b at an unloading time. In order to determine the unloading time at which the cable car vehicle 3, which is loaded with an object O of the specified object type, is in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b, there are various options, as explained below.

On the one hand, the control unit 5 can, for example, be designed to determine the unloading time based on a running time of the cable car vehicles 3 between the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a and the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b. The transit time is generally known or can be determined based on a route length and a conveyor speed. The route length can be assumed to be known or could also be measured if necessary. The conveying speed can also be assumed to be known or can possibly also be measured with a sensor, for example on the conveying rope 4 or on the drive device 9, or can be determined from other available variables, for example a speed of the first drive unit 9a. The control unit 5 can then calculate the unloading time, for example based on the loading time, based on the transit time between the loading area 6 and the unloading area 10. As already mentioned, the loading time can be, for example, the time at which an object O of a specified object type is recognized by the first detection device D1. The control unit 5 can then calculate the unloading time, for example based on the loading time, from a sum of the specified loading duration and the running time.

On the other hand, each cable car vehicle 3 could also have a unique vehicle identifier Determine X. The positions of the cable car vehicles 3 along the conveyor route can be assumed to be known. This means that the control unit 5 always knows where a cable car vehicle 3 with a specific vehicle identifier X is located on the route (including the cable car stations). The control unit 5 can then, for example, the vehicle identifier X of the cable car vehicle 3, in which the object O of the specified Object type is loaded in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station 2a, based on the loading time. The unloading time is then the time at which the cable car vehicle 3 with the corresponding vehicle identifier X is in the unloading area 10 of the second cable car station 2b.

A first vehicle identification device could also be provided in the first cable car station 2a, which is designed to recognize the vehicle identifier to transmit. The vehicle identifier , barcodes or the RFID transponder. The control unit 5 can then use the vehicle identifier This can be done either via the known position of the cable car vehicle on the route, via the running time or by providing a second vehicle identification device in the second cable car station 2b, which transmits to the control unit 5 the recognition and thus the presence of the cable car vehicle 3 with the corresponding vehicle identifier X.

Advantageously, the first detection device D1 of the first cable car station 2a (in addition to object detection) could also be used as the first vehicle identification device. In this case, the first detection device D1 could be designed to detect and transmit to the control unit 5 the vehicle identifier For example, a characteristic optical feature on the cabin K of the cable car vehicles 3 can serve as the vehicle identifier It would be conceivable, for example, for an identification number or a unique image, which is attached to the cabin K in the form of a sticker, for example.

In the second cable car station 2b, a second detection device D2 could be provided as a second vehicle identification device, which is designed to detect the vehicle identifier X and transmit it to the control unit 5. The second detection device D2 can be designed analogously to the first detection device D1, whereby only detection of the vehicle identifier X is necessary and not necessarily also detection of objects O of the specified object type. The Control unit 5 can then operate the cable car 1 in the unloading operating mode when the vehicle identifier

In conventional cable cars, the opening and closing of the cabin doors 12 usually takes place via a mechanical forced control, such as a link guide. A stationary guide arranged in the cable car station 2a-2c interacts with an actuating element of the cable car vehicle 3 in order to open or close the respective cabin door. Usually, an opening guide rail for opening the cabin doors 12 is arranged in the entrance area E of a cable car station 2a-2c in the direction of movement B in front of the unloading area 10 (and possibly exit area for people). In addition, a closing guide rail for closing the cabin doors 12 is arranged in the exit area A of a cable car station 2a-2c in the direction of movement B after the loading area 6 (and possibly entry area for people). This forced control is a passive control, with the opening or closing of the cabin doors 12 only taking place due to the movement of the cable car vehicles 3 relative to the respective guide. The opening and closing position or the opening and closing time therefore depend on the arrangement of the guides in the cable car station 2a-2c and is therefore fixed and unchangeable (or only with great structural effort).

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a door operating device 13 for actuating the cabin doors 12 of the cable car vehicles 3 can be provided in at least one of the cable car stations 2a-2c, which can be controlled by the control unit 5 for opening and / or closing. It is already known that, as an alternative or in addition to forced control, active door actuation can be provided by means of a door actuation device 13. The door operating device 13 is in Fig. 1 shown as an example in the third cable car station 2c. The door operating device 13 can, for example (in Fig.1 (not shown) have movable guide elements with which an actuating force can be exerted on the respective actuating element of the cable car vehicle 3 in order to open or close the cabin door (s) 12. To generate the actuating force, at least one electrically controllable actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or servo motor, can be provided on each of the movable guide elements. If a cable car vehicle 3 is in the area of the movable guide element of the door operating device 13, then the control unit 5 can control the corresponding actuator in order to open or close the car door 12. As a result, the opening and/or closing of the cabin doors 12 can be actively controlled by the control unit 5. The Door operating device 13 can be arranged at a desired location of the cable car station 2c where opening or closing is desired.

Alternatively, the door operating device 13 could also have one (in Fig. 1 (not shown) have an electrically controllable door actuator, which can be controlled by the control unit 5 to open or close the cabin door 12. As a result, the opening and closing positions within the cable car station 2c can be set very flexibly and essentially freely. In this embodiment, the opening or closing position is therefore not tied to a position of a guide of the cable car station 2c.

If an actively controllable door operating device 13 is provided, then the transport operating mode can include a drive-through operating mode. In the drive-through operating mode, the control unit 5 controls the door actuation device 13 (e.g. the actuator of the movable guide element arranged in the cable car station 2c or the door actuator provided on the cable car vehicle 3) in such a way that, in the case of a cable car vehicle 3 that is loaded with an object O of the specified object type, the Cabin door 12 is closed in a defined passage area 20 of a cable car station 2a-2c, here the third cable car station 2c. If a mechanical forced control for opening the cabin doors 12 is already provided, then the cabin door 12 can, for example, be actively closed again by the door operating device 13 immediately after the forced opening and remain in the closed state while the cable car vehicle 3 passes through the passage area 20.

This makes it possible, for example, for the cabin door 12 of a cable car vehicle 3, which was loaded with an object O in the loading area 6 of the first cable car station and is therefore occupied by the object O in the third cable car station 2c, to pass through the third cable car station 2c with the cabin door 12 closed (Middle station) is moved, as indicated in Fig. The passage area 20 essentially corresponds to the entire length of the platform 16, as in Fig.1 is indicated. This makes it possible, for example, when transporting certain goods (e.g. food, drinks) to ensure that people do not accidentally get into the cabin in an undesirable manner. Even with bulky objects O, such as bicycles, strollers, etc., the cabin door 12 can be prevented from opening, so that no additional people can get in.

Of course, the transit operating mode is not limited to the third cable car station 2c, but could of course also be used in the second cable car station 2b. It would be conceivable, for example, for the unloading area 10 for objects O in the direction of movement B to be arranged after the entry area (or a combined entry/exit area) for people. In this case it can be advantageous if the object loaded with the O Cable car vehicle 3 passes through the entry area with the cabin door 12 closed and the cabin door 12 is only opened in the unloading area 10. The passage area 20 thus essentially corresponds to the length between the entrance area E of the cable car station 2b and the unloading area 10. The vehicle recognition of the loaded cable car vehicle 3 can be carried out in an analogous manner, as already described in connection with the unloading time, for example based on the transit time between loading area 6 the first cable car station 2a and the unique vehicle identifier X in the area to be passed through.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a signaling device 11 can be provided in at least one of the cable car stations 2a-2c and the control unit 5 can be designed to control the signaling device 11 to reproduce a signal S when the circulation cable car 1 is in transport operating mode. The signaling device 11 can be provided, for example, to provide information to passengers and/or to inform the operating staff. In Fig. 1 A signaling device 11 in the form of a traffic light in the third cable car station 2c is shown merely as an example. The traffic light can, for example, have a green signal lamp and a red signal lamp. When the cable car 1 is in normal operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the traffic light to switch on the green lamp. When the cable car 1 is in the transit operating mode, the control unit 5 can control the traffic light to switch on the red lamp. This means that people can be informed via the red signal light that the cabin door 12 of the passing cable car vehicle 3 remains closed.

Of course, the signal device 11 shown is only to be understood as an example and the signal device 11 could also be designed in any other way. A signaling device 11 could also be provided additionally or alternatively in the first cable car station 2a or in the second cable car station. The signaling device 11 could, for example, also be designed to reproduce information as a signal, for example via a screen. For example, the operating personnel in the second cable car station 2b or in the third cable car station 2c could be informed in advance via the screen about the object type of the object O, which was loaded into a cable car vehicle 3 in the first cable car station 2a. Furthermore, it would be conceivable for the remaining time until the entry of a loaded cable car vehicle 3 to be displayed via the signaling device 11 in the second cable car station 2b. It would also be conceivable for the time until the specified loading time has elapsed to be displayed in the first cable car station 2a, for example in the form of a countdown on a display. Likewise, the time until the specified unloading period expires could be displayed in the second cable car station 2a.

The signaling device 11 can alternatively or additionally, for example, also be designed to reproduce an acoustic warning signal and/or an electronic signal. For example, a characteristic signal tone could be played for each operating mode of the different transport operating modes. A warning tone could also be generated when the loading time or the unloading time has expired, which warns of the imminent start of the cable car 1. In particular, in cable cars with only a few operating personnel, a signaling device 11 can also be provided, which sends an electronic signal to a mobile device, for example a smartphone or a tablet computer. As a result, a member of the operating staff who is not currently in one of the cable car stations 2a-2c can be informed about a transport operating mode, for example about the impending arrival of a specific object O. It is therefore apparent that there are a variety of ways in which the signaling device 11 can be specifically designed, so that a final list is not possible at this point. Depending on the specific design of the cable car 1, the person skilled in the art can provide a suitable signaling device 11 in one or more cable car stations 2a-2c.

The circulating cable car 1 shown is designed as a cable car, with each cable car vehicle 3 of the number of cable car vehicles 3 comprising a cabin K. However, the invention is not limited to this, but could also be used, for example, in a circular cable car 1 designed as a combination cable car. The number of cable car vehicles 3 includes a number of cable car vehicles 3 with chairs (chair vehicles) for accommodating people and a number of cable car vehicles 3 with cabins K (cab vehicles). As a rule, a certain number of chair vehicles and a certain number of cabin vehicles are provided alternately one behind the other. For example, three chair vehicles can be followed by a cabin vehicle, etc. In a combination train, a separate entry area or exit area is usually provided for the chair vehicles. The detection devices D1, D2 according to the invention are analogous to those in Fig.1 shown cable car, each provided in a loading area 6 or unloading area 10 for the cabin vehicles.

Claims (17)

Circulating cable car (1) with at least two cable car stations (2a-2c) and with a number of cable car vehicles (3) which can be moved with a conveyor cable (4) between the cable car stations (2a-2c), the number of cable car vehicles (3) being one each Cabin (K) for receiving objects (O) and wherein a control unit (5) is provided for controlling the circulating cable car (1), characterized in that a first detection device (D1) is provided in a first cable car station (2a), which is designed to detect an object (O) provided for loading a cabin (K) of a cable car vehicle (3) in a loading area (6) of the first cable car station (2a) and to determine an object type for the object (O), and that the control unit (5) is designed to operate the circulation cable car (1) in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type, the specified object type preferably comprising at least one of the following object types: suitcase , transport pallet, box, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter, object with a size exceeding a specified size. Circulating cable car (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first detection device (D1) has at least one camera (7) for detecting the loading area (6) and an evaluation unit (8) which is designed to select from a number of the images captured by the at least one camera (7), to detect the object (O) located in the loading area (6) and to determine the object type for the object (O), the at least one camera (7) preferably being a 3D camera Infrared camera or a video camera and wherein an image recognition model is preferably stored in the evaluation unit (8). Circulating cable car (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a drive device (9) for driving the cable car vehicles (3) is provided in the circulating cable car (1), that the transport operating mode includes a loading operating mode and that the control unit (5) is designed for this purpose is to control the drive device (9) in the loading operating mode in order to stop a drive of the cable car vehicles (3) for a specified loading period or to reduce a conveying speed for a specified loading period if a cable car vehicle (3) is in the loading area (6) at a loading time. the first cable car station (2), the loading time preferably being determined depending on a detection time at which the object (O) of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device (D1). Circulating cable car (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises an unloading operating mode and that the control unit (5) is designed to control the drive device (9) in the unloading operating mode in order to drive the cable car vehicles (3) for a set unloading period stop or reduce the conveying speed for a specified unloading period if the cable car vehicle (3), which is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type, is in a specified unloading area (10) of a second cable car station (2b) at an unloading time. Circulating cable car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a car door (12) is provided on the cabins (K) of the number of cable car vehicles (3), and a door operating device (13) for actuating the cabin doors (12 ) is provided, which can be controlled by the control unit (5), that the transport operating mode includes a drive-through operating mode and that the control unit (5) is designed to control the door operating device (13) in the drive-through operating mode in such a way that in the case of a cable car vehicle (3), the is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type, the cabin door (12) is closed in a specified passage area of a cable car station (2c). Circulating cable car (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the control unit (5) is designed to determine the unloading time based on a transit time of the cable car vehicles (3) between the loading area (6) and the unloading area (10) and / or based on a unique vehicle identifier (X) of the cable car vehicles (3). Circulating cable car (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that a first vehicle identification device is provided in the first cable car station (2a), which is designed to detect the vehicle identifier (X) of a cable car vehicle (3) located in the loading area (6) and that the control unit (5) is designed to use the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time, or that a first vehicle identification device is provided in the first cable car station (2a), which is designed to detect the vehicle identifier (X) of a vehicle in the loading area (6) located cable car vehicle (3) and that the control unit (5) is designed to use the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the unloading time and in the second cable car station (2b) a second vehicle identification device is provided, which is designed for this purpose is to detect the vehicle identification (X) of the cable car vehicles (3) and that the control unit (5) is designed to determine the unloading time based on the detected vehicle identification (X), the second vehicle identification device preferably has a detection device (D2) with at least one camera (7) and an evaluation unit (8). Circulating cable car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a signaling device (11) is provided in at least one cable car station (2c) and that the control unit (5) is designed to use the signaling device to reproduce a signal (S). to be controlled when the circulation cable car (1) is in transport operating mode. Circulating cable car (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the circulating cable car (1) is designed as a cable car, each cable car vehicle (3) of the number of cable car vehicles (3) comprising a cabin (K) or that the circulating cable car ( 1) is designed as a combination railway, wherein the number of cable car vehicles (3) includes a number of cable car vehicles (3) with chairs and a number of cable car vehicles (3) with cabins (K). Method for operating a circulating cable car (1) with at least two cable car stations (2a-2c) and with a number of cable car vehicles (3) which can be moved with a conveyor cable (4) between the cable car stations (2a-2c), the number of cable car vehicles ( 3) each has a cabin (K) for receiving objects (O) and wherein the circulating cable car (1) is controlled by a control unit (5), characterized in that an object (O) is detected by means of a first detection device (D1). , which is loaded into a cabin (K) of a cable car vehicle (3) in a loading area (6) of a first cable car station (2a), that an object type is determined for the object (O) and that the control unit (5) controls the circulation cable car (1 ) operates in a defined transport operating mode if the object type determined for the detected object (O) is a specified object type, the specified object type preferably comprising at least one of the following object types: suitcase, transport pallet, box, transport trolley, bicycle, stroller, wheelchair, scooter , Object with a size exceeding a specified size. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one camera (7) is used as the first detection device (D1), with which the loading area (6) is detected, and that an evaluation unit (8) is used, which consists of a number of, images captured by the at least one camera (6), an object (O) located in the loading area (6) is detected and the object type is determined for the object (O), the at least one camera (6) preferably being a 3D camera or an infrared camera is used and an image recognition model is preferably stored in the evaluation unit (8). Method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises a loading operating mode, wherein in the loading operating mode at a loading time at which a cable car vehicle (3) is in the loading area (6) of the first cable car station (2), a drive of the cable car vehicles ( 3) is stopped for a specified loading period or a conveying speed is reduced for a specified loading period, the loading time preferably being determined depending on a detection time at which the object (O) of the specified object type is detected by the first detection device (D1). Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises an unloading operating mode, wherein in the unloading operating mode at a time of unloading at which a cable car vehicle (3), which is loaded with an object (O) of a specified object type, is in an unloading area (10) a fixed or definable second cable car station (2b), the drive of the cable car vehicles (3) is stopped for a specified unloading period or a conveying speed is reduced for a specified unloading period. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the transport operating mode comprises a transit operating mode, wherein in the transit operating mode in a cable car vehicle (3) which is loaded with an object (O) of the specified object type, in a specified transit area (20). Cable car station (2c) the cabin door (12) remains closed. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the unloading time is determined based on a running time of the cable car vehicles (3) between the loading area (6) and the unloading area (10) and / or based on a unique vehicle identifier (X) of the cable car vehicles (3). . Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the vehicle identifier (X) of the cable car vehicles (3) is detected in the loading area (6) of the first cable car station (2a) with a first vehicle identification device and that the control unit (5) uses the detected vehicle identifier (X). Determination of the unloading time is used, or that the vehicle identifier (X) of the cable car vehicles (3) is detected in the loading area (6) of the first cable car station (2a) with a first vehicle identification device and that the control unit (5) uses the detected vehicle identifier (X) to determine the Unloading time is used and the vehicle identifier (X) of the cable car vehicles (3) is detected in the unloading area (10) of the second cable car station (2b) with a second vehicle identification device and that the control unit (5) determines the unloading time based on the detected vehicle identifier (X), whereby as second Vehicle identification device preferably a detection device (D2) with at least one camera (7) and an evaluation unit (8) is used. Method according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that in at least one of the cable car stations (2c) a signal (S) is reproduced by means of a signaling device (11) when the circulating cable car (1) is operated in the transport operating mode.

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