IL201005A - Lift system - Google Patents

Description

Lift System Dipl.-Ing. Wolf-Dieter Gohike Description Lift system The invention relates to a lift system having a transportable conveying part, in particular a transportable lift car, a transportable lift cage or a transportable platform, wherein in or on the conveying part there is fitted at least one display device, which is actuated by a display control unit, and the lift system has a lift-controlling device, which controls the travel motion of the conveying part.

Such a lift system with display device is known from US patent specification 5,485,897. The display device superimposes two image contents and displays the composite image which is thereby formed.

US patent specification 5,485,897 discloses a display device in which a self-enclosed display band is guided around two deflection rollers. Through turning of the deflection rollers, the display band is transported as soon as the conveying part of the lift system is moved. The display band displays the respective storey in which the conveying part is situated .

The object of the invention is to define a lift system which offers a high degree of travel comfort and/or travel enjoyment, but is nevertheless cheap to produce.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a lift system having the features according to Patent Claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the lift system according to the invention are defined in the sub-claims.

Accordingly, it is provided according to the invention that the display device is a rolling band display device, which has two mutually spaced, interacting rollers, one of which rolls up or reels up a display band as it is unwound or unreeled from the other one. The rollers thus form reels for reeling up and unreeling of the display band.

A basic advantage of the lift system according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the rolling band display provided according to the invention allows a large number of different display forms with - in comparison to previously known displays - low technical complexity and hence low costs. For instance, through the display of a moving image (film) , the image motion of which is matched to the travel motion of the lift, it can be suggested to the lift user that the conveying part, for example the lift car, is moving through different surroundings than is actually the case. For example, it is possible to display that the lift car is moving through water, for example an aquarium, or through space. Should the image motion be correlated to the travel motion of the lift car, a virtually perfect optical illusion, and hence a particularly high degree of travel enjoyment, can be created amongst the users of the lift system. Alternatively or additionally, the travel comfort can be enhanced by, for example, displaying information which relates, for instance, to the stopping places or floors or storeys next to be visited by the lift car, or which is assigned to these. A display can also include advertising contents and/or references to events which have a direct, an indirect or no relation to the visited stopping places or storeys . By altering the display in dependence on the location and/or speed of the lift car, a chronological change of the displayed image contents can also be achieved, so that the display does not become boring for the users of the lift system. Alternatively, the display of display images can also be realized stochastically.

As a result of the inventively provided winding-up of a display band on one of two rollers and the unwinding of the display band from the respectively other roller, a large number of display images can be quickly and easily displayed, the length of the display band and hence the displayable quantities of information not being limited by the distance apart of the rollers or reels; unlike, for instance, the display device described in the aforementioned US-patent specification 5,485,897, in which the length of the display band is determined by the distance apart of the deflection rollers, any chosen quantity of information can thus be displayed.

For instance, the rolling band display device can be actuated by the display control unit in such a way that the rolling speed of the display band is proportional to the speed of the conveying part. In this embodiment, a correlation of the image motion or image change with the actual travel motion is particularly easily possible.

Preferably, the display control unit is connected to the lift-controlling device, in particular such that it receives from the latter a control signal specifying the travel motion and/or location of the conveying part and/or the position of doors of the conveying part (for example open or closed) , and the display control unit controls the display on the display device in dependence on the travel motion and/or location of the conveying part and/or the position of the doors of the conveying part .

For instance, the display control unit can actuate the rolling band display device such that the position of the display band is matched to the respective position of the conveying part, and/or the rolling speed of the display bands is matched to the speed of the conveying part. For example, a moving image, such as a film, can be displayed on the display device, to be precise such that its image motion speed or film speed is increased as the speed of the conveying part rises and reduced as the speed of the conveying part falls.

With a view to a particularly high travel enjoyment, it is considered advantageous if a film is displayed which suggests a movement of the viewer.

Preferably the running speed of the images or film is controlled such that the suggested movement of the viewer is proportional to the respective speed of the conveying part.

Alternatively or additionally, information can be displayed which extends beyond a storey indication, at least for one of the stopping points ahead in the direction of travel . For instance, different locations of the conveying part can be assigned different display images or display films containing stored information on the respectively next stopping points, the display images or display films being displayed, for instance, in dependence on the respective position of the conveying part. The information can also, for instance, have an advertising character and comprise company emblems or company logos .

It can also be provided that display images or display films are displayed in dependence on the respective position of the conveying part and in dependence of the storeys elected by the lift user, display images or display films of storeys selected by the lift users preferably being shown, in particular for longer or exclusively.

Particularly preferably, the display control unit is designed such that it transports the display band of the rolling band display device in such a way that the display band, already during the journey, displays predefined information pertaining to a stopping point selected by the passengers and assigned to this selected stopping point.

Preferably, the display control unit will transport the display band into the display position for displaying the information assigned to the passenger-selected stopping point as soon as the door or doors of the conveying part are shut or as soon as the travel of the conveying part commences . The roll-up and unrolling speed of the display band is preferably chosen such that the display position is set before the passenger-selected stopping point has yet been reached.

Preferably, the roll-up and unrolling speed of the display band is set such that the display position is reached within a predefined time span after the closing of the door or doors, or within a predefined time span after the commencement of travel. The predefined time span maximally amounts, for example, to half the length of time required by the conveying part to travel between two consecutive storeys, or, for instance, maximally 5 seconds. The journey time between two consecutive storeys can be averaged, for example, and the average journey time can be used to determine the maximum period of transport of the display band.

Preferably, the display control unit has a random generator, with which the display control unit can perform the selection of the display images stochastically. For instance, the random generator is started and a new display image, a new cascade of display images or a new display film is randomly selected as soon as the door or doors of the conveying part are shut or as soon as the travel of the conveying part commences .

With a view to the displayed information, it is considered advantageous if the display band is transported such that it displays information, extending beyond a storey indication (in the form of display images, for instance) , pertaining to the respectively next passenger- selected stopping point.

The stopping points are preferably assigned different priorities, and the display control unit is preferably designed such that the display band is transported in dependence on the next passenger-selected stopping points, as well as the priorities assigned to these stopping points.

Preferably, the display band is transported such that the predefined information (in the form of display images, for instance) is first displayed for the stopping point with the highest priority. Should two or more stopping points have the same highest priority, the information pertaining to the highest-priority stopping point lying next in the direction of travel is preferably displayed.

Moreover, it can also be provided that different locations of the conveying part are assigned different display images containing stored information on the respectively next stopping point. In such a case, the display control unit is designed, for instance, such that the display images are displayed in dependence on the respective position of the conveying part and/or in dependence on the storeys elected by the lift users. For instance, display images of storeys elected by the lift users are preferably shown, in particular for longer or exclusively.

In or on the conveying part there can be fitted, for instance, two or more display devices, which are actuated by the display control unit; the display control unit can be configured, for instance, such that the display on the display devices is realized synchronously in dependence on the travel motion of the conveying part.

For instance, the direction of transport of the display band can be opposite to the direction of transport of the conveying part .

A film can also be displayed on the rolling band display device, to be precise such that its film speed is increased as the speed of the conveying part rises and reduced as the speed of the conveying part falls.

Moreover, the display area of the rolling band display device can be segmented, so that, despite the use of a single display band, the visual impression is created that a plurality of mutually independent display elements is present .

Preferably, the display control unit has a storage device, in which the display control unit stores the display time for each display image. The display control unit preferably additionally has an interface, via which the storage device can be read from the outside. A storage of the display times for each display image allows the wear of the display images to be determined: based on experience, display images fade as a result of the light irradiation, so that their image quality declines with their display time. If the display times are stored individually for each display image and are periodically read, then it is possible to establish whether individual or a plurality of display images have already reached or exceeded a predefined display period and should be exchanged. Where the display images take the form of advertising, a billing of the advertising fees can also be made after the respective display period, e.g. such that higher fees can be charged for longer displayed display images than for display images displayed for shorter.

The invention further relates to a method for operating a lift system having a transportable conveying part, in particular a transportable lift car, a transportable lift cage or a transportable platform, wherein in this method the conveying part is transported in a multi-storey building and a display on at least one planar display device disposed in or on the conveying part is altered.

According to the invention, it is in this regard provided that the display band of a rolling band display device is transported by the display band being rolled up or reeled up on one of two mutually spaced, interacting rollers or reels and being at the same time unrolled or unreeled from the respectively other roller or reel.

Regarding the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference should be made to the above statements in connection with the lift system according to the invention, since the advantages of the lift system according to the invention substantially correspond to those of the method according to the invention.

The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to illustrative embodiments; here, by way of exam le : Figures 1 and 2 show a first illustrative embodiment of a lift system according to the invention, on the basis of which the method according to the invention is also explained by way of example ; Figures 3 and 4 show a second illustrative embodiment of a lift system according to the invention, in which a display of information for the floors selected by the lift users is realized; Figures 5 and 6 show an illustrative embodiment of a lift system according to the invention, in which on a display device a moving image is displayed, the motion of which is matched to the motion of the lift; Figures 7 and 8 show a further illustrative embodiment lift system according to the invention, which a moving image is displayed; Figure 9 shows an illustrative embodiment of a transportable conveying part for the lift system according to Figures 1 to 8 and 10- 13; Figures 10-11 show an illustrative embodiment of a lift system according to the invention, in which a display of information is realized in dependence on the floor selected by the lift users which is next to be visited; and Figures 12-13 show an illustrative embodiment of a lift system according to the invention, in which the display of information is realized for that floor selected by the lift users which has the highest priority.

In the figures, the same reference symbols are always used for identical or comparable components for the sake of clarity.

In Figure 1, a multi-storey building 10 equipped with a lift system 20 is shown by way of example. The lift system 20 extends through a lift shaft 25 from the ground floor 30, via four storeys 40, 50, 60 and 70, to the roof of the building 10. On each of the storeys there is respectively disposed an access door 80, by which a conveying part 100 movable in the lift shaft 20 can be entered or exited.

The conveying part 100 is equipped with a display device 110, which is actuated in dependence on the travel motion of the conveying part 100. In Figure 1, there can be seen on the display device 110, by way of example, display elements 200, 210 and 220, which respectively display information about the floors or storeys which are next to be visited by the conveying part 100. The information displayed by the display elements 200, 210 and 220 extends in terms of content beyond a pure storey indication. Thus the display element 200 can display, for instance, that on the first storey or on the first floor a doctor's practice operates. Correspondingly, with the display elements 210 and 220, information about the second and third floors can be displayed. With the display device 110, therefore, information about those storeys which are next to be visited by the conveying part 100 is respectively displayed.

If the conveying part 100 is set in motion, then the display on the display device 110 is altered according to the location of the conveying part 100. This is shown, by way of example, by Figure 2.

In Figure 2, it can be seen that the conveying part 100 is situated between the first and the second floor and is going up. Accordingly, a display of information pertaining to the first storey is no longer necessary, and the display element 200 is no longer displayed on the display device 110. The freed space on the display device 100 can now be filled with information relating to further storeys, for example the fourth storey. Ultimately, for instance, the display represented in Figure 2 is obtained, where the two display elements 210 and 220 relating to the second and the third storey, as well as a further display element 230 relating to the fourth storey, can be seen.

To sum up, the display device 110 according to Figures 1 and 2 is thus actuated as a function of the location, to be precise such that different locations of the conveying part 100 are assigned different display images, containing stored information on the respectively next stopping points . The information here extends beyond a pure storey indication.

The display device 110 is preferably actuated such that the direction of transport of the display elements correlates with the direction of transport of the conveying part. If, therefore, the conveying part 100 moves upward in the lift shaft, then the display elements are likewise transported upwards, as is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Correspondingly, should the conveying part 100 be moved downwards, the display elements would be transported downwards .

In Figures 3 and 4, a further illustrative embodiment of a display on the display device 110 is represented. In this illustrative embodiment, on the display device 100 display elements 240 and 250 are displayed which relate to the floors which have been elected or selected as destination by the users of the lift system. In the illustrative embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4, it is assumed, by way of example, that in the conveying part persons are present who wish to travel to the third and the fourth storey.

Accordingly, on the display device 110, only information relating to the third and fourth storey is displayed.

The display can here remain unaltered, for instance, for as long as the conveying part 100 has not yet reached the third storey. Thus, it can be seen in Figure 4 that, also when the conveying part 100 is positioned between the first and the second storey, still the same display is displayed on the display device 110 as was the case when the conveying part 100 was still on the ground floor of the building 10 (cf. Figure 3) .

In Figures 5 and 6, an illustrative embodiment of a lift system is shown, in which a moving image, i.e. a film, is displayed on the display device 110. In Figure 5, three fish can be seen, labelled with the reference symbols 300, 310 and 320. The display on the display device 110 suggests to a person present in the conveying part 100 that the conveying part 100 would be in water, for example in an aquarium.

If the conveying part 100 now sets itself in motion and travels upwards, as shown by Figure 6, then the image on the display device 110 is altered or transported accordingly. In the event of an upward motion of the conveying part 100, the fish 310 and 320 on the display device 110 are hence displaced downwards and a further fish 330 becomes visible. Through the displacement of the image represented on the display device 110, it is suggested to the persons present in the conveying part 100 that they would be moving in relation to the fish or would be travelling through the aquarium.

In order to create the best possible optical illusion, the speed of transport of the image represented on the display device 110 or the running speed of the film represented on the display device 110 is chosen such that the transport or running speed of the image or film is matched to the speed of the conveying part. Preferably, the running speed of the films or the speed of transport of the image is proportional to the speed of the conveying part 110.

Figures 7 and 8 show an illustrative embodiment of a lift system 20, in which on the display device 110 stars are represented which give the impression of the conveying part 100 moving through space. Accordingly, upon a motion of the conveying part 100, the image represented on the display device 110 is also altered. If the vehicle part 100 travels upwards in the lift shaft 20, then the stars represented on the display device 110 are displaced downwards. It can thus be seen in Figure 8 that the Saturn 400 represented schematically in Figure 7, as well as the star 410 situated beneath it on the left, are displaced downwards, with the result that the three stars 420, 430 and 440 vanish from the image detail. Through the displacement of the image detail, other stars or planets which have not previously fitted onto the display device are able to be displayed. Thus, Figure 8 reveals further stars 450 and 460, which are represented above Saturn 400.

In Figure 9 is shown an illustrative embodiment of the structure of a conveying part 100 for the lift systems 20 according to Figures 1 to 8. It can be seen that in the conveying part 100 a person 500 is present, who can select by means of a floor selector 510 the floor to which the conveying part 100 should travel.

Figure 9 also reveals, by way of example, the structure of the display device 110, which takes the form of a rolling band display device. The display device comprises two rollers 600 and 610, one of which is driven by a motor 620. The roller 600 can therefore also be designated as a drive roller and the roller 610 as a counter roller. Rolled-up on the two rollers 600 and 610 is a display band 630, which is illuminated by two parallel-disposed strip lights 640 and 650. The strip lights can be formed by fluorescent lamps or else by a support profile on which a multiplicity of halogen lamps is arranged at a distance apart, preferably along a straight line.

The two rollers 600 and 610 interact in such a way that the display band 630 is rolled up on the roller 610 as it is unrolled from the roller 600. Correspondingly, the display band 630 is rolled up on the drive roller 600 as it is unrolled from the roller 610. In order for the display band 630 to be rolled up on the roller 610 as the display band is unrolled from the drive roller 600, the roller 610 can, for instance, be spring- loaded in the wind-up direction - for example by means of a helical spring - so that the roller 610 automatically rolls up unless it is held or pulled in the unrolling direction. Alternatively, the roller 610 can also be connected up to the motor 620, for instance with a gear mechanism, so that should the motor 620 rotate in the wind-up direction (related to the roller 600) , an unwinding takes place on the roller 610, and conversely, should the motor 620 rotate in the unwinding direction (related to the roller 600), a wind-up takes place on the roller 610. To this end, the two rollers are preferably moved synchronously in the same rotational direction by the motor 620.

Connected to the motor 620 is a display control unit 660, which is connected to a lift-controlling device 670. The lift-controlling device 670 serves to control the travel motion of the conveying part 100. To the lift-controlling device 670 there can thus be transmitted the information as to the current location of the conveying part 100, its current speed and the position occupied by the doors. The lift-controlling device 670 is thus in a position to transmit to the display control unit 660 a control signal STl indicating the travel motion and/or location of the conveying part 100 and/or the door position.

The display control unit 660 evaluates the control signal STl and generates a display signal ST2, which is transmitted to the motor 620 and actuates this. The display signal ST2 will preferably actuate the motor 620 in the manner already described, i.e. for instance such that the travel speed of the display band 630 correlates with the speed of the conveying part 100. Preferably, the speed of transport of the display band 630 is proportional to the speed of transport of the conveying part 100.

If the conveying part 100 is now transported upwards, then the display band 630 is unrolled from the drive roller 600 and rolled up on the counter roller 610. Correspondingly, in converse, the display band 630 is rolled up on the drive roller 600 and unrolled from the counter roller 610 when the conveying part 100 moves downwards.

In Figures 10 and 11, a further illustrative embodiment of a display on the display device 110 is represented. In this illustrative embodiment, the display element 240 relating to the first floor is displayed on the display device 110. The first floor has been elected or selected as destination by the passengers of the conveying part 100, along with the third floor, by means of a floor selector. In the illustrative embodiment according to Figures 10 and 11, it is therefore assumed, by way of example, that in the conveying part persons are present who wish to travel to the first and the third storey and who have operated the floor selector accordingly. Since, coming from the ground floor in the direction of travel, the first floor is the first to be visited, in this illustrative embodiment the display control unit first displays on the display device 110 information assigned to the first storey. The display of the display element 240 is preferably realized as soon as the doors 80 of the conveying part have been closed and a corresponding control signal has reached the display control unit.

The display remains unaltered, for instance, for as long as the conveying part 100 has not yet reached the first storey. As soon as the first storey has been reached and the door 80 is closed for the journey to the third storey, or the journey to the third storey commences or is about to begin, the display on the display device 110 is changed and switched to the display element 250 assigned to the third storey (cf. Figure 11) .

In Figures 12 and 13, a further illustrative embodiment of a display on the display device 110 is represented. Just as in the illustrative embodiment according to Figures 10 and 11, it is here assumed, by way of example, that the conveying part 100 is initially situated on the ground floor 30 (cf. Figure 12) and that the passengers in the conveying part 100, by means of a floor selector, have selected the first and the third floor as destination. Unlike the illustrative embodiment according to Figures 10 and 11, the display is here conducted according to priorities allocated to the floors. For instance, the floors have been allocated by the operator or owner the following priorities: priority (ground floor) = 1 priority ( first floor) = 3 priorit (second floor) = 6 priority (third floor) = 5 priority (fourth floor) = 7.

The third floor 60 has in this illustrative embodiment a greater priority than the first floor 40, since: priority (third floor) = 5 > 3 = priority (first floor) .

For this reason, the display control unit of the lift system 20 will display the display element 250 for the third floor as soon as the doors 80 of the conveying part have been closed and a corresponding control signal has reached the display control unit, even though, coming from the ground floor in the direction of travel, the first floor is the first to be visited (cf. Figure 12).

The display hence remains unaltered after the first storey has been reached and the door 80 is closed for the journey to the third storey, or after the journey to the third storey commences or is about to begin (cf . Figure 13) .

Reference symbol list building lift system lift shaft ground floor 40 first storey 50 second storey 60 third storey 70 fourth storey 80 access door 100 conveying part 110 display device 200 display element 210 display element 220 display element 230 display element 240 display element 250 display element 300 fish 310 fish 320 fish 400 Saturn 410 star 420 star 430 star 440 star 450 star 460 star 500 person 510 floor selector 600 drive roller 610 counter roller 620 motor 630 display band 640 strip light 650 strip light 660 display control unit 670 lift-controlling device ST1 control signal ST2 control signal

Claims (15)

GOH102IL 21 Patent claims

1. Lift system having a transportable conveying part, in particular a transportable lift car, a transportable lift cage or a transportable platform, wherein: in or on the conveying part there is fitted at least one display device, which is actuated by a display control unit, and - the lift system has a lift-controlling device, which controls the travel motion of the conveying part, characterized in that the display device is a rolling band display device, which has two mutually spaced, interacting rollers, one of which rolls up a display band of the rolling band display device as it is unrolled from the other one.

2. Lift system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the display control unit transports the display band of the rolling band display device in such a way that the display band, already during the journey, displays information pertaining to a stopping point selected by the passengers and assigned to the passenger- selected stopping point.

3. Lift system according to Claim 2, characterized in that the display band is transported into the display position for displaying information assigned to the passenger-selected stopping point as soon as the door or doors of the conveying part are shut or as soon as the travel of the conveying part commences, the roll-up and unrolling speed of the display band being such that the display position is set before the passenger-selected stopping point GOH102IL 22 has yet been reached.

4. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display position is reached within a predefined time span after the closing of the door or doors, or within a predefined time span after the commencement of travel, the predefined time span maximally amounting to half the length of time required by the conveying part to travel between two consecutive storeys.

5. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stopping points are assigned different priorities, and the display control unit is designed such that the display band is transported in dependence on the next passenger-selected stopping points, as well as the priorities assigned to these stopping points.

6. Lift system according to Claim .5, characterized in that the display band is transported such that the information is first displayed for the stopping point with the highest priority, should two or more stopping points have the same highest priority, the information pertaining to the highest-priority stopping point lying next in the direction of travel being displayed.

7. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display control unit has a storage device, in which the display control unit stores the display time for each display image . GOH102IL 23

8. Lift system according to Claim 7, characterized in that the display control unit has an interface, via which the storage device can be read from the outside.

9. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different locations of the conveying part are assigned different display images, and the display control unit is designed such that the display images are displayed in dependence on the respective position of the conveying part.

10. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - in or on the conveying part there are fitted at least two display devices, which are actuated by the display control unit, and - the display control unit controls the display on the display devices synchronously.

11. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the direction of transport of the display band is opposite to the direction of transport of the conveying part.

12. Lift system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the rolling band display device a film is displayed, the roll-up and unrolling speed of the display band, which speed is determinant of the film speed, being increased as the speed of the conveying part rises and reduced as the speed of GOH102IL 24 the conveying part falls.

13. Method for operating a lift system having a transportable conveying part, in particular a transportable lift car, a transportable lift cage or a transportable platform, wherein, in this method the conveying part is transported in a multi-storey building, and - a display on at least one planar display device disposed in or on the conveying part is altered, characterized in that a display band of a rolling band display device is transported by the display band being rolled up on one of two mutually spaced, interacting rollers and being at the same time unrolled from the respectively other roller.

14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that - the display band is transported into a display position for displaying information assigned to a passenger- selected stopping point as soon as the door or doors of the conveying part are shut or as soon as the travel of the conveying part commences.

15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the roll -up and unrolling speed of. the display band is chosen such that the display position is set before the passenger-selected stopping point has yet been reached. FOR THE APPLICANT Dr. Yitzhak Hess & Partners