EP4634103A1

EP4634103A1 - Elevator door and method of operating an elevator door

Info

Publication number: EP4634103A1
Application number: EP23817775.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joe Zhou; Cherry SONG
Original assignee: Inventio AG
Current assignee: Inventio AG
Priority date: 2022-12-12
Filing date: 2023-12-06
Publication date: 2025-10-22
Also published as: WO2024126180A1

Abstract

An elevator door (501, 504) comprises a first door leaf (1, 101). The door leaf (1, 101) is moveable between an opened position and a closed position. A side of the first door leaf (1, 101) is recessed inwardly to form a first groove (2). The first door leaf (1, 101) comprises: at least one push plate (3) provided moveably in the first groove (2). One side of the push plate (3), which faces away from the first groove (2), is protruding outwardly from the first groove (2) and forming a protruding portion, a film pressure sensor (301) laying on the protruding portion (302), and a first drive device (5, 6, 9) in a transmission connection with the push plate, which first drive device is configured to drive the push plate between a retracted position in the first groove (2) to a stretched out position out of the first groove (2).

Description

Elevator Door and Method of Operating an Elevator Door

The present invention relates to an elevator, an elevator door thereof and a method of operating an elevator door.

An elevator has a car, which is travelling inside an elevator shaft between landings of a building or a structure. Each landing has at least one landing door, and the car has at least one car door. The elevator doors, being elevator car doors or elevator landing doors, have door leaves which can open and close. While closing the door leaves, obstruction of the space between the door leaves is often surveilled by a light curtain. A light curtain has difficulty in detecting small, thin and or transparent (for the used light) objects. Not detecting such object can be dangerous. Especially dog leashes, often in the shape of ribbons, are difficult to detect. This can lead to severe accident, if e. g. a dog leash is not detected by a closing door.

US 2019345751 Al describes the use of a pressure sensor to detect thin obstruction objects. The pressure sensor being exposed to all the passing persons and goods has a strongly reduced lifetime.

EP 2332876 Al uses special shapes of the closing profile of elevator doors, in combination with a specially located light barrier. The use of a vertical light barrier shows the risk, that the mirror at the lower end of light barrier is often covered by dirt, which makes the sensor useless.

Accordingly, there may be a need for an improved obstructions detection device for closing elevator doors with reduced maintenance requirements.

Such need may be met with the subject-matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and in the following specification.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an elevator door is proposed. The elevator door comprises a first door leaf. The door leaf is moveable between an opened position and a closed position. A side of the first door leaf is recessed inwardly to form a first groove. The first door leaf comprises: - at least one push plate provided moveably in the first groove. One side of the push plate, which faces away from the first groove, is protruding outwardly from the first groove and forming a protruding portion,

- a film pressure sensor laying on the protruding portion, and

- a first drive device in a transmission connection with the push plate, which first drive device is configured to drive the push plate between a retracted position in the first groove to a stretched out position out of the first groove.

According to a second aspect of the present invention an elevator, comprising the elevator door according to the first aspect of the present invention is disclosed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention a Method of operating an elevator door according to the first or the second aspect of the present invention is disclosed. The Method comprises the steps:

- a door closing movement is initiated,

- the push plate is moved to the stretched-out position by the first drive device

- while the door closing movement is ongoing, a pressure applied on the film pressure sensor is detected, which detection generates a pressure detected signal, if a limit pressure is exceeded, and

- on the pressure detected signal, the push plate is moved into the retracted position by the first drive device and the door closing movement is reversed and the door is opened.

Ideas underlying embodiments of the present invention may be interpreted as being based, inter aha, on the following observations and recognitions.

The elevator door may be a sliding elevator door. The elevator door has at least one door leaf. The elevator door may have two door leaves, which can be arranged in a centrally closing manner, where the two door leaves come together in the center of the door opening, or in a telescopic manner where the two door leaves move in the same direction to span the distance along the door opening.

A side, preferably the front side, of the first door leaf is recessed inwardly to form a first groove. The front side describes the side of the first door leaf, which forms the front of the first door leaf during a closing movement of the first door leaf. So, the front side is the one side of the first door leave, that touches or at least fits together with an opposing part, if the elevator door is closed. The opposing part may be another door leaf, in case of a central closing door. Alternatively, the opposing part may be a doorjamb, in case of a single first door leaf or a telescopic door.

The push plate provided moveably in the first groove. The push plate is provided such, that there is a relative motion possible between the door leaf and the push plate. Preferably the relative motion between the push plate and the door leaf is horizontally or has at least a component of the motion in horizontal direction.

One side of the push plate, which faces away from the first groove, which is also the closing direction of the first door leaf, is protruding outwardly from the first groove and forming a protruding portion.

The film pressure sensor laying on the protruding portion, is capable to measure the pressure applied on the protruding portion. The pressure sensor can measure a onedimensional array of sensor data or a two-dimensional array of pressure data. The film pressure sensor or its evaluation system may reduce the complete pressure state on the film pressure sensor to an average pressure value, a maximal pressure, or it may also implement a noise reduction to the measurement signal, to only measure relevant pressure applied to the protruding portion during closing of the first door leaf.

According to a second aspect of the present invention an elevator, comprising the elevator door according to the first aspect of the present invention is disclosed. The elevator door may be a landing door or a car door of the elevator system.

The push plate can retract completely inside the first groove to reach the retracted position. Therefore, the push plate may be completely hidden within the first groove in the retracted position. This may be the case if the door is open. This avoids that the protruding portion is hit by passing persons or objects. So, it is not hit by shoes or cargo. The push plate may be partially out of the first groove in the stretched-out position. The protruding portion is then protruding out of the first groove. This may be the case, during closing of the door. This allows that the film pressure sensor is the first element of the door to contact an obstructing body. The elevator door further may comprise a control system, which is configured to receive sensor data from the film pressure sensor and controls the activation of the first drive device.

The normal state of the push plate may be in the retracted position. If a door closing movement is initiated, then the push plate is moved to the stretched-out position by the first drive device. The control system controls the first drive device and causes the first drive device to move the push plate to the stretched-out position if a door closing movement is being initiated. The information regarding the initiation may reach the control system by an electrical signal, as e.g., by a bus system or voltage change on an electrical wire.

The pressure detected signal may be generated, if a local pressure at any of the location of the film pressure sensor is exceeded. It may also be generated if an average pressure on the film pressure sensor exceeds the limit pressure.

As soon as an exceeded limit pressure is detected, the door may reverse from closing movement to opening movement, and the push plate is moved in the retracted position.

The method may further comprise the steps:

- a door opening movement is initiated,

- while the door opening movement is ongoing, the push plate is kept in the retracted position.

The protruding portion may have a curved surface, on which the film pressure sensor is applied. The curved surface may be concave. A preferred surface is a prism with an ellipsoidal base surface or a cylinder. Such a curved surface allows that a string like element, as e.g., a dog leash, does touch the curved surface for a significant part of the circumference and the film pressure sensor can detect the so generated pressure.

The first drive device of the elevator may comprise an inflatable and deflatable airbag, which is provided between the bottom of the first groove and the push plate. The airbag is preferably made from an airtight material. The material of the airbag may be coated fab- ric, rubber, or plastic.

The first drive device of the elevator may comprise a spring, connected with the push plate and a bottom of the first groove, to bias the push plate in the retracted position or the stretched-out position. The spring may be made of steel or rubber. The spring may apply an elastic force, which biases the push plate in the retracted position. This may either be a pressure force or a tension force.

Preferably, the first drive device fulfills two functions, it may have the capability to hold the push plate in the retracted position and it may have the capability to push the push plate in the stretched-out position.

In a preferred embodiment the airbag is made from an elastic material. The material itself having the capability to contract the airbag and thereby act as the spring which keeps the push plate in the retracted position. In other words, the airbag has a bias position such that the push plate is kept in the retracted position, if the air pressure in the airbag is identical to the ambient air pressure.

The first drive device with an airbag of the elevator may comprise a pump connected to the airbag, designed to inflate, or deflate the airbag. The pump is preferably configured to inflate the airbag by preferably pump ambient air into the airbag. The pump can have any of the known pump systems. So, it can have e.g., a linear piston, a rotating piston or it can be a rotary vane pump.

The first drive device may further comprise a pump valve, to allow and control the fluid flow from the pump to the airbag, and/or a vent valve, to allow and control the venting of fluid out of or into the airbag.

The pump valve is opened when the airbag is to be inflated. It allows the air, which is pumped from the pump to flow into the airbag. When the airbag is filled, then the pump valve can be closed, and the pump can be switched off. The air is now kept in the airbag, by the closed pump valve. The fill state of the airbag may be checked by a pressure sensor or by a switch. Alternatively, the pump can pump for a preset time, which is long enough to ensure, that the airbag is filled. The vent valve allows to vent the air from the airbag directly to the ambient air. The push plate is thereby moved back into the retracted position by the spring.

The bottom of the first groove may be provided with a guide hole, the push plate is provided with a guide rod to be fit with and partially inserted into the guide hole in a sliding way, wherein preferably the spring is sleeved on the guide rod. Thereby, the rod and the guide form a guiding system for the push plate. This guiding system allows to use a metal spring, which shows increased lifetime. The guiding system still can be combined with the pump, the pump valve and/or the vent valve as introduced above.

The at least one push plate may comprise a plurality of the push plate parts provided one by one along a height direction of the first door leaf, wherein each push plate part is provided with two respective guide rods respectively hinged therewith and one respective airbag provided between the respective two guide rods.

The push plate parts may be provided with more than two guide rods. In this case it is advantageous to use one airbag less, than there are guide rods provided at the single push plate parts.

The first drive device may comprise a telescopic rod comprising a front half connected with the push plate and a rear half, both of which are slidably sleeved together with each other; and a linear motor or a cylinder provided in the first door leaf and connected with the rear half and configured to pull and/or push the push plate in the first groove.

This has the advantage, that there is no need for a spring. In one embodiment, the linear motor or the cylinder provided, is capable to not only push, but also pull the push plate into the first groove. E. g. the linear motor can directly apply the pull force. A cylinder may generate the pull force by applying pressure in a second chamber which generates the pull force, additionally to a first chamber, which applies the push force. Or only the first chamber is activated via pressure or vacuum. Or preferably, the cylinder has a first chamber to generate the push force and a spring to generate the pull force, if there is no pressure applied in the first chamber. In another embodiment, the linear motor or the cylinder provided, may pull the push plate into the first groove, and thereby move the push plate in the retracted position. Then a spring would be used to push the push plate in the stretched-out position.

The elevator door may further comprise a second door groove which is provided opposite to the first door groove, the second door groove is provided at a door frame of the elevator door or at a second door leaf, the second door groove fits with the curved surface of the push plate in the closed position of the elevator door, such that a distance between the film pressure sensor and the second groove is less than 1mm.

The elevator door may further comprise a second door leaf which is provided opposite to the first door leaf, the second door leaf is provided with a second groove which is opposite to the first groove and fits with the curved surface of the push plate closed position of the door, such that, a distance between the film pressure sensor and the second groove is less than 1mm. So, whenever the door is reaching its closed position, and there is something with a thickness of 1mm or more in the gap, the film pressure sensor will detect it. Favorably, this may lead to a door opening movement.

Each of the first door leaf and the second door leaf may be provided with both the first groove and the second groove, the first groove on the first door leaf is provided opposite to the second groove on the second door leaf, and the second groove on the first door is provided opposite to the first groove on the second door.

It shall be noted that possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention are described herein. One skilled in the art will recognize that the features may be suitably transferred from one embodiment to another, and features may be modified, adapted, combined and/or replaced, etc. in order to achieve further embodiments of the invention.

In the following, advantageous embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the enclosed drawing. However, neither the drawing nor the description shall be interpreted as limiting the invention.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a partial three-dimensional view of first door leaf according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a partial structure of the first door leaf shown in Fig.1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view, at another angle of view of first door leaf shown in Fig.l, Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the protruding portion of the push plate of the first door leaf shown in Fig.l,

Fig. 5 schematically shows a sectional view of a first door leaf in another embodiment of the present disclosure,

Fig. 6 schematically shows a sectional view of a first door leaf in yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, and

Fig. 7 schematically shows a sectional view of a first door leaf in still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 schematically shows a view of a first door leaf in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 schematically shows a sectional view of an elevator in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 1 shows the elevator door. The elevator door comprises a first door leaf 1, at least one push plate 3, a film pressure sensor 301, a first drive device. A side of the first door leaf 1 is recessed inwardly to form a first groove 2 defined thereby. The push plate 3 is slidably provided in the first groove, with one side of the push plate 3 which faces away from the first groove 2 protruding outwardly to be formed into a protruding portion.

The film pressure sensor 301 is laid on the protruding portion. The first drive device is in a transmission connection with the push plate 3. The first drive device is configured to drive the push plate 3 to slide into the first groove 2 in response to a pressure detected by the film pressure sensor 301 and drive the protruding portion of the push plate 3 to stretch out of the first groove 2 in response to an action of closing of the first door leaf 1. The door drive device is in a transmission connection with the first door leaf 1 and configured to drive the first door leaf 1 to move towards a direction in which the first door leaf opens in response to the pressure detected by the film pressure sensor 301.

In this embodiment, the elevator door may accurately measure a force applied thereon by a foreign object via the film pressure sensor 301 thereof contacting the foreign object, the film pressure sensor 301 being laid on the protruding portion of the push plate 3 which is horizontally movable in the groove provided vertically on the side of the first door leaf 1. Thus, the elevator door 1 may accurately identify an elongated flexible object, improving safety of the elevator door while saving/reducing a space occupied by the anti-pinch device, improving a utilization rate of the hoistway space.

Fig.4 is a sectional view of the protruding portion of the push plate of the elevator door shown in Fig.l. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in (a)~(d) in Fig. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion is any one or a combination of trapezoid, rectangle, frustum, and bow.

According to some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, one side of the push plate 3 facing away from the first groove 2 protrudes outwardly to form a curved surface, on which the film pressure sensor 301 is laid.

According to some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the first door leaf 1 is a sliding door, the first door leaf 1 is slidably provided in an elevator door sill, and a side of the first door leaf 1 in a direction in which the first door leaf closes is recessed inwardly to form the first groove 2. A push plate 3 is slidably provided in the first groove 2 and movable in a direction parallel to a direction in which the first door leaf 1 travels.

According to some optional embodiments of the present disclosure, the film pressure sensor 301 is laid on the curved surface of the push plate 3. During use, the push plate 3 and the film pressure sensor 301 provided thereon move with the action of closing of the first door leaf 1. If an object is touched by the film pressure sensor 301 during its movement, that is, an impact force is applied onto the film pressure sensor 301 by the object, it is detected based on the film pressure sensor 301, then a pressure signal is generated and sent to a control system (see Fig. 8) of the elevator. Then the control system generates a corresponding instruction to prevent the door drive device from further driving the first door leaf towards the direction in which the first door leaf closes, and instead to urge the door drive device to drive the first door leaf 1 reversely towards an opposite direction in which the first door leaf opens again, so as to prevent people or objects from being caught/pinched by the first door leaf 1. An improvement of this disclosure lies in an improvement on the structure of the elevator door. Thus, for clarity, the control system will not be described here in more detail. In this embodiment, as compared with the safety touch plate in the related technology, which may only detect an impact force of several newtons, a detection accuracy of the fdm pressure sensor 301 is relatively higher. There are fdm pressure sensors available, which may accurately identify a force of 0. 1N-0.15N. So, any object generating significant pressure, if being pressed by the closing door with the push plate is accurately identified.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the film pressure sensor 301 monitors the pressure signal, i.e., successfully identifying presence of people or objects in an area within which the action of closing of the first door leaf occurs, the first drive device controls the push plate 3 and the film pressure sensor 301 provided thereon to slide towards the first groove 2 so as to reduce an impact of external force applied on the film pressure sensor 301 and prevent the external force which is excessively large from damaging the film pressure sensor 301.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig.2, the elevator door also comprises a second groove 4 which is provided to face towards the first door leaf 1. The second groove 4 and the first door leaf 1 are respectively provided on two opposite sides of a door opening of the elevator car. The second groove 4 is provided with a recess which is shaped to be adapted to (i.e., fit with) the curved surface of the push plate 3. The recess is configured such that in a condition that the first door leaf 1 is completely closed, the film pressure sensor 301 moves close to without contacting with an inner side of the recess. Based on above structure, when there is a thin rope with a relatively smaller diameter and a relatively lighter weight that may not be successfully identified by the film pressure sensor 301 during a closing process of the first door leaf 1, then the thin rope will be stuck in a narrow gap defined between the film pressure sensor 301 and the recess once the first door leaf 1 is completely closed, and the thin rope will apply a greater pressure to the film pressure sensor 301, and thus will be identified successfully, and the first door leaf 1 will be re-opened to eliminate risks.

As the distance between the film pressure sensor and the second groove is less than 1mm, the objects with a diameter or thickness of millimeter level can be detected. The travel distance for the film pressure sensor to measure an increased pressure level is generally micrometer or below. So, that a thin rope, a soft rope, a skirt, etc., are detected stably, accurately, and reliably when being compressed in the gap between the film pressure 301 sensor and the second groove 4. As such, a possibility of clamping/pinching objects on the order of millimeter or even micrometer is avoided, and a safe operation performance of the elevator is further improved.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first drive device comprises a spring 5, and an airbag 6, and an inflation pump (see fig. 8). Both ends of the spring 5 are respectively connected with the bottom of the first groove 2 and the push plate 3. The airbag 6 is provided between the bottom of the first groove 2 and the push plate 3. The airbag 6 is provided with an air inlet and an pump valve for the air inlet, as well as an air outlet and a vent valve (see e. g. Fig. 8) for the air outlet respectively. The inflation pump is fluidly communicated with the pump valve405a, 405b, and 405c and vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c. Wherein, the vent valve is configured to open and deflate the airbag in response to the pressure detected by the film pressure sensor 301, such that the spring 5 pulls the push plate 3 into the first groove 2 (retracted position); the inflation pump is configured to inflate the airbag 6 to push the curved surface of the push plate 3 out of the first groove 2 (stretched-out position) in response to the action of closing of the first door leaf 1.

The spring 5 may be a separate spring 5 as shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3, or Fig. 5. Such a separate spring 5 may be of metal and/or may be formed as spiral spring. The spring 5 may also be implemented as a part of the airbag 6. In this case, the airbag 6 has a shape, that biases the push plate 3 into the retracted position. Such an airbag 6 preferably has enough wall thickness, to generate the required force to move the push plate 3 into the retracted position. Such an airbag 6 is shown in Fig. 2.

The airbag 6 is provided between the push plate 3 and the bottom of the first groove 2, and both ends of the airbag 6 abut against the push plate 3 and the bottom of the first groove 2, respectively. The airbag 6 may be stretched or shortened/retracted in a horizontal direction based on a volume of inflation (i.e., inflated volume). When the spring 5 is at an undeformed length, the film pressure sensor 301 sinks into an interior of the first groove 2. With the inflation pump inflating the airbag 6, the airbag 6 is deformed to push the push plate 3 to move/stretch the film pressure sensor 301 out of the first groove 2. Based on the above structure, the push plate 3 may move in a relatively small range in the horizontal direction when subjected to a relatively large external force, reducing an impact of the external force on the fdm pressure sensor 301, preventing the fdm pressure sensor 301 from being damaged, and extending its service life. Furthermore, when the fdm pressure sensor 301 detects that the external force is applied at a position offset from a middle area on the push plate, for example, a trolley case contacts with a lower one third part (i.e., a lower 1/3 part) of the fdm pressure sensor 301, then the spring 5 in the first groove 2 and the airbag 6 in an area corresponding to the lower one third part are compressed, thus the fdm pressure sensor 301 in this area sinks into the first groove 2 so as to prevent from being damaged. At the same time, another spring 5 above in the first groove 2 and the airbag 6 in an upper area deforms relatively slightly or does not deform at all, in other words, the fdm pressure sensor 301 in the upper area sinks into the first groove 2 or remains unchanged in its position (or even extends out of the first groove 2 in an opposite direction), such that the fdm pressure sensor 301 in an area where a trigger occurs may sink into the first groove 2 more quickly. Optionally, an air pressure sensor is provided in the airbag to monitor a pressure in the airbag in real time and send a pressure signal to the control system (see Fig. 8 details to the control system) of the elevator. Based on the pressure signal, the control system controls the pump valve, the vent valve, and the inflation pump to control the pressure in the airbag 6 and the deformation of the airbag 6.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vent valve is further configured to deflate the airbag in response to the action of opening of the first door leaf 1, such that spring 5 pulls the push plate into the first groove 2, such that the push plate 3 and the fdm pressure sensor 301 sink into the first groove when the elevator door is opened, preventing people or objects from colliding with the push plate 3 and the fdm pressure sensor 301 when entering the elevator and in turn preventing from causing damage to them.

Fig. 3 shows the bottom of the first groove, which is provided with a guide hole 7. The push plate 3 is provided with a guide rod 8 fitting with the guide hole 7. The guide rod 8 is partially inserted into the guide hole 7 in a sliding way, wherein the spring 5 is guided on the guide rod 8. The spring 5 is a tension spring, which is used to pull the push plate 3 in the retracted position. According to some alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig.5, the first drive device comprises a telescopic rod 9 and a linear motor 10 or a cylinder. The telescopic rod 9 comprises a front half 901 and a rear half 902 which are slidably sleeved together with each other. The front half 901 is connected with the push plate 3. A linear motor 10 or a cylinder is provided in the first door leaf 1, and an output end of the linear motor 10 or a cylinder is connected with the rear half. The linear motor 10 or cylinder is configured to pull and/or push the push plate 3 in the first groove 2.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig.6, the elevator door is configured as a center opening door, the first door leaf 1 comprises a first car door 101 and a second car door 102 provided opposite to each other, one of the first car door 101 and the second car door 102 is provided with a first groove 2, the other of the first car door 101 and the second car door 102 is provided with a second groove opposite to the first groove 2, the second groove is fit with the curved surface of the push plate 3 and is configured to move close to the curved surface of the push plate 3 in response to the action of closing of the first door leaf 1, wherein a minimum distance between the film pressure sensor 301 and the second groove is less than 1mm.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the elevator door also comprises a light curtain device having a transmitter and a receiver, both of which are respectively embedded in the first car door 101 and the second car door 102.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig.7, the elevator door is configured as a center opening door, the first door leaf 1 comprises a first door 101 and a second door 102 provided opposite to each other, each of the first door 101 and the second door 102 is provided with a first groove 2 and a second groove 4, the first groove 2 on the first car door 101 is provided opposite to the second groove 4 on the second car door 102, and the second groove on the first car door 101 is provided opposite to the first groove 2 on the second car door 102. This structure may realize the conventional anti-pinch functionality for people or objects, especially for elongated and thin flexible objects, without installing a safety touch plate or a light curtain device on the elevator door. Fig. 8 schematically shows a view of a first door leaf 1 in a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. There are three push plates 3. Each push plate 3 is guided by two guide rod 8, which are guided in two guide holes 7. On every guide rod, there is a spring

5 to bias the push plate 3 in the retracted position of the first groove 2. Each push plate 3 has one airbag 6, which is provided between the respective two guide rods 8 Each of the push plate 3 comprises film pressure sensor 301. The sensor Data of each of the film pressure sensors 301 is transmitted to a control system 401 by electrical wires 407a, 407b and 407c.

The control system 401 does control the pump 401. The pump 401 comprises an electrical motor 402 and a pump fan 403. When the electrical motor 402 is switched on, the pump fan 403 does pump air into the air duct 404. The control system 401 also controls the pump valves 405a, 405b, and 405c, which control the flow of the compressed air in the air duct 404 to the airbags 6. Each airbag 6 has its own pump valve. The control system 401 also controls the vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c. The pump valves 405a, 405b, and 405c as well as the vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c are mechanically controlled by valve servos 420. The valve servos 420 preferably are a type of solenoid actuators. The valve servos 420 are controlled by the control system 401. There is a pump valve bus 411 connecting the pump valves 405a, 405b, and 405c with the control system 401. There is a vent valve bus 412 connecting the vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c with the control system 401. All the pump valves 405a, 405b, and 405c and vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c can be controlled independently from each other, or they are all controlled together. A very simple bus, would be a power supply to the solenoid. Then all the pump valves 405a, 405b, and 405c would act simultaneous on a current applied to the pump valve bus 411. And all the vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c would act simultaneous on a current applied to the vent valve bus 412. But the bus systems 411 and/or 412 may also be addressable bus systems, which can address every single pump valve 405a, 405b, and 405c and every single vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c independently.

In an alternative embodiment the pump 401 may be a vacuum pump, which is capable to pump the air out the airbags 6. In this case, the spring 5 is a compression spring. The vent valves 406a, 406b, and 406c would then vent air into the airbag, instead out of the airbag.

Fig. 9 schematically shows a view of an elevator 500 in an embodiment of the present disclosure. The elevator 500 comprises an elevator car 503 which is moveable vertically between several landing floors 502. Each landing floor 502 has a landing door 501, and the elevator car 503 has a car door 504. The embodiment of one aspect of the present disclosure provides an elevator, including an elevator door as described above. The elevator provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure may monitor elongated soft ropes and other barriers. Compared with the traditional elevator equipped with a safe touch plate, as for the elevator provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, it does not need to reserve installation space, which improves the utilization of hoistway space.

Finally, it should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also, elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined. It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. An elevator door (501, 504), comprising a first door leaf (1, 101), the door leaf (1, 101) being moveable between an opened position and a closed position, a side of the first door leaf (1, 101) being recessed inwardly to form a first groove (2), the first door leaf (1, 101) comprising:

- at least one push plate (3) provided moveably in the first groove (2), with one side of the push plate (3) which faces away from the first groove (2) protruding outwardly from the first groove (2) and forming a protruding portion (302),

- a film pressure sensor (301) laying on the protruding portion (302), characterized in that, the elevator door (501, 504) further comprises

- a first drive device (5, 6, 9) in a transmission connection with the push plate (4), which first drive device (5, 6, 9) is configured to drive the push plate (4) between a retracted position in the first groove (2) to a stretched out position out of the first groove.

2. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 1, wherein the push plate (2) can retract completely inside the first groove (2) to reach the retracted position.

3. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the elevator door further comprises a control system (410), which is configured to receive sensor data from the film pressure sensor (301) and controls the activation of the first drive device.

4. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the protruding portion has a curved surface, on which the film pressure sensor (301) is applied.

5. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first drive device (5, 6,

9) comprises:

- an inflatable and deflatable airbag (6), which is provided between the bottom of the first groove (2) and the push plate (3).

6. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 5, wherein the first drive device (5, 6, 9) comprises:

- a spring (5), connected with the push plate (3) and a bottom of the first groove (2); to bias the push plate (3) in the retracted position or the stretched-out position.

7. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 5 or 6, wherein the first drive device (5, 6, 9) further comprises:

- a pump (401) connected to the airbag, designed to inflate or deflate the airbag (6).

8. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 7, wherein the first drive device (5, 6, 9) further comprises:

- a pump valve (405), to allow and control the fluid flow from the pump (401) to the airbag (6), and/or

- a vent valve (406), to allow and control the venting of fluid out of or into the airbag (6).

9. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein the bottom of the first groove (2) is provided with a guide hole (7), the push plate (3) is provided with a guide rod (8) to be fit with and partially inserted into the guide hole (7) in a sliding way, wherein preferably the spring (5) is sleeved on the guide rod.

10. The elevator door (501, 504) of to claim 7, wherein the at least one push plate (3) comprises a plurality of the push plate parts provided one by one along a height direction of the first door leaf, wherein each push plate part is provided with two respective guide rods (8) respectively hinged therewith and one respective airbag (6) provided between the respective two guide rods (8).

11. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 1 , 2, 3 or 4, wherein the first drive device (5, 6, 9) comprises: a telescopic rod (9) comprising a front half (901) connected with the push plate (3) and a rear half (902), both of which are slidably sleeved together with each other, and a linear motor (10) or a cylinder provided in the first door leaf (1, 101) and connected with the rear half (902) and configured to pull and/or push the push plate in the first groove (2).

12. The elevator door (501, 504) of any preceding claim, wherein the elevator door further comprises a second door groove (4) which is provided opposite to the first door groove (2), the second door groove (4) is provided at a door frame of the elevator door or at a second door leaf (102), the second door (4) groove fits with the curved surface of the push plate (3) in the closed position of the elevator door, such that a distance between the film pressure sensor (301) and the second groove (4) is less than 1mm.

13. The elevator door (501, 504) of claim 12, wherein each of the first door leaf (1,101) and the second door leaf (102) is provided with both the first groove (2) and the second groove (4), the first groove (2) on the first door leaf (1, 101) is provided opposite to the second groove on the second door leaf, and the second groove on the first door is provided opposite to the first groove on the second door.

14. An elevator (1, 101), comprising the elevator door according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method of operating an elevator door (501, 504) according to any one of claims 1 to 13 comprising the steps:

- a door closing movement is initiated,

- the push plate (3) is moved to the stretched-out position by the first drive device.

- while the door closing movement is ongoing, a pressure applied on the film pressure sensor (301) is detected, which detection generates a pressure detected signal if a limit pressure is exceeded, and

- on the pressure detected signal, the push plate (3) is moved into the retracted position by the first drive device (5, 6, 9) and the door closing movement is reversed and the door is opened.

16. The method of claim 14 or 15, wherein

- a door opening movement is initiated,

- while the door opening movement is ongoing, the push plate (3) is kept in the retracted position.