JP2011184114A - Rope tension measuring device of elevator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rope tension measuring device of an elevator, allowing for easy installation and adjustment in a simple configuration, and automatically performing tension measurement of main ropes. <P>SOLUTION: In an elevator device, including a cage 1 lifting/lowering in an elevator shaft 2, and a plurality of main ropes 4 suspending the cage 1 in an elevator shaft 2, an image capturing device 7 for capturing the image of the main ropes 4 from the side is installed. Based on the image information captured by the image capturing device 7, the vibration frequency of each of the main ropes 4 is calculated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rope tension measuring device for measuring the tension of a main rope used in an elevator.

  A car that moves up and down in an elevator hoistway is generally suspended in the hoistway by a plurality of main ropes. If variations in tension occur in the main rope that suspends the car, the ride comfort of the elevator will deteriorate, and the wear of the main rope and the sheave around which the main rope is wound will be accelerated. For this reason, the elevator measures the variation in the tension of the main rope during the inspection.

  Conventionally, an elevator inspector rides on a car and hits the main rope one by one, and measures the number of reciprocations and the time at that time to calculate the vibration frequency of the main rope. For this reason, it takes time and labor to measure the tension, and there is a problem that the measurement can only be performed at the time of checking the elevator.

  In view of such circumstances, a technique for automatically measuring the tension of the main rope has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, in the thing of patent document 1, the vibration frequency of each main rope is calculated based on the detection result of a displacement sensor by installing a displacement sensor facing each main rope.

JP-A-8-268660

  In the thing of patent document 1, in order to measure the tension | tensile_strength of a main rope, the displacement sensor for the number of main ropes was needed, and there existed a problem that the installation and adjustment took a lot of effort. Further, since the detection range of the displacement sensor is narrow, if the vibration of the main rope is large, the displacement may not be detected.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an elevator that can be easily installed and adjusted with a simple configuration and can automatically measure the tension of the main rope. It is to provide a rope tension measuring device.

  An elevator rope tension measuring device according to the present invention is an elevator rope tension measuring device comprising: a car that moves up and down in an elevator hoistway, and a plurality of main ropes that suspend a car in the hoistway, An imaging apparatus that images the main rope from the side, and an image analysis unit that calculates the vibration frequency of each main rope based on image information captured by the imaging apparatus.

  The elevator rope tension measuring device according to the present invention can be easily installed and adjusted with a simple configuration, and can automatically measure the tension of the main rope.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of an elevator apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the rope tension measuring apparatus of the elevator in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the rope tension measuring apparatus of the elevator in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the image information imaged with the imaging device. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of an image analysis means. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of an elevator apparatus. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of an elevator apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the rope tension measuring apparatus of the elevator in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the other operation | movement of the rope tension measuring apparatus of the elevator in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of the elevator apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an elevator rope tension measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a car that moves up and down in the elevator hoistway 2, 3 denotes a counterweight that moves up and down in the hoistway 2 in directions opposite to each other, and 4 denotes a hoistway through the car 1 and the counterweight 3. A main rope suspended in a fishing bottle type in 2, a driving sheave of a hoisting machine that drives the car 1, and a deflecting wheel 6 for adjusting the arrangement of the main rope 4. A part of the main rope 4 is wound around the driving sheave 5 and moves in conjunction with the rotation of the driving sheave 5. That is, when the drive sheave 5 is driven to rotate, the main rope 4 moves along with the rotation, and the car 1 (and the counterweight 3) moves up and down in the hoistway 2.

  The main part of the rope tension measuring device provided in the elevator having the above-described configuration is constituted by the imaging device 7, the image analysis unit 8, the storage unit 9, the determination unit 10, and the operation control unit 11.

  The imaging device 7 consists of a camera etc. installed in the fixed body 12a of the hoistway 2, and images the main rope 4 arrange | positioned in the vicinity from the side. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the imaging device 7 is wound around a portion of the main rope 4 connected to the counterweight 3 and a sheave (the deflector 6) disposed above the counterweight 3. The installation position, the imaging direction (field of view 7a), and the like are set so that the portion arranged between the locations can be imaged from the side. Further, the main rope 4 is composed of a plurality of pieces (six in the example shown in FIG. 2), and the imaging device 7 has all the main ropes 4 within the visual field 7a, that is, the plurality of main ropes. It is installed so that 4 can be imaged simultaneously.

  The image analysis unit 8 has a function of calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope 4 based on image information captured by the imaging device 7. The specific function of the image analysis means 8 will be described later.

  The storage means 9 is for storing the vibration frequency of each main rope 4 and various values necessary for its calculation. The calculation result by the image analysis means 8, that is, the vibration frequency is stored in the storage means 9 for each main rope 4.

  The determination unit 10 has a function of determining whether a tension abnormality has occurred in the main rope 4 based on the stored contents of the storage unit 9. For example, the determination unit 10 determines whether or not the variation in the vibration frequency of each main rope 4 stored in the storage unit 9 is within a predetermined specified value, and the variation exceeds the specified value. An abnormal tension is detected.

  The operation control means 11 has a function of controlling specific various operations when detecting the vibration frequency of each main rope 4. For example, the operation control unit 11 causes the image analysis unit 8 to calculate the vibration frequency by capturing image information from the imaging device 7 when the car 1 is stopped.

  Hereinafter, the operations of the rope tension measuring apparatus (particularly, the functions of the image analysis unit 8 and the operation control unit 11) will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the elevator rope tension measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing image information captured by the imaging apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the function of the image analysis means. FIG.

  When the tension measurement of the main rope 4 is started, the operation control unit 11 causes the car 1 to travel and stop at a predetermined stop position (S101, S102), and then the image analysis unit 8 causes the imaging device 7 to capture an image. The captured image information is taken in. For example, when the elevator has the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the operation control means 11 raises the car 1 from below and stops it at the landing on the top floor, and then outputs an image capture command to the image analysis means 8. .

Each operation of S101 and S102 is for causing the main rope 4 to generate horizontal vibration necessary for tension measurement.
In S102, the operation control means 11 is, for example, the central portion of the portion of the main rope 4 that is disposed between the connection point to the counterweight 3 and the winding point to the deflector 6 (in FIG. 1, L1 = The car 1 is stopped so that the image pickup device 7 picks up the image of the point A that becomes L2. Thereby, the image analysis means 8 can take in the image information of the portion having a large amplitude of the main rope 4. That is, when the elevator has the configuration shown in FIG. 1, when the car 1 stops at the landing on the top floor, the installation position and imaging direction of the imaging device 7 are set so that the central portion (point A) enters the visual field 7a. Set it up.

Also, immediately after the car 1 is stopped, the movement of the main rope 4 tends to become unstable, and if the image information in such a state is taken into the image analysis means 8, the vibration frequency cannot be calculated accurately. There is a fear. For this reason, the operation control means 11 may output the image capturing command after a predetermined time has elapsed after the car 1 is stopped at the stop position.
Further, since the operation control means 11 causes the main rope 4 to vibrate greatly, when the car 1 is stopped in S102, even if the car 1 is suddenly stopped at a deceleration larger than the deceleration in the normal operation of the elevator. good. In such a case, each operation of S101 and S102 is performed after it is detected that no passenger is in the car 1, for example.

  When receiving the image capture command from the operation control unit 11, the image analysis unit 8 captures one still image captured by the imaging device 7 immediately after receiving the command (S103), and analyzes the image of the still image. To start. FIG. 4 shows an example of the image information taken into the image analysis means 8.

  Specifically, when the image analysis unit 8 captures a still image from the imaging device 7, based on the image information, the image analysis unit 8 detects the horizontal position on the image of the edge 4 a for each main rope 4 and stores it in the storage unit 9. (S104). The horizontal position of the edge 4a of the main rope 4 can be specified from the boundary position between the main rope 4 and the background at a predetermined height, for example. Further, when the processing of S104 is completed for one still image, the image analysis means 8 determines whether or not the processing of S104 has been performed for a predetermined prescribed number (S105). Then, if the processing of S104 is not performed on the specified number of still images, the image analysis unit 8 takes in the next still image captured by the imaging device 7 and, similarly to the above, each main rope 4 Detection and recording of the horizontal position of the edge 4a are performed.

  When the processes in S103 and S104 are completed for the specified number of still images (Yes in S105), the image analysis unit 8 starts a process for calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope 4. Specifically, the image analysis unit 8 creates a graph shown in FIG. 5 for one main rope 4 based on the information stored in the storage unit 9 (S106). 5 indicates the elapsed time after the car 1 stops (after receiving the image capture command), and the Y axis indicates the horizontal position of the edge 4a of the main rope 4. In FIG.

  When a graph of the horizontal position on the image of the edge 4a with respect to the elapsed time is created for one main rope 4, the image analysis means 8 uses the interval between the peak values on the Y axis (T1 shown in FIG. 5) as the vibration period. Then, the vibration frequency of the main rope 4 is calculated (S107). When the processing of S107 is completed for one main rope 4, the image analysis unit 8 determines whether or not the processing of S107 has been performed for all the main ropes 4 (S108). Then, when there is a main rope 4 that has not been subjected to the processing of S107, the image analysis means 8 creates a graph shown in FIG. 5 for the main rope 4, and the vibration frequency (vibration period) is similar to the above. Perform the operation.

  When the process of S107 is completed for all the main ropes 4 (Yes in S108), the determination unit 10 determines whether the variation in the vibration frequency (vibration period) of each main rope 4 is within a predetermined specified value ( S109). And the determination means 10 detects the tension | tensile_strength abnormality of the main rope 4 when the dispersion | variation in a vibration frequency (vibration period) exceeds the said regulation value.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to automatically measure the tension of the main rope 4 with a simple configuration without requiring time and labor for installation and adjustment of each device as in the prior art. Become.

  That is, with the rope tension measuring device having the above-described configuration, the vibration frequency of all the main ropes 4 can be calculated from the image information captured by one imaging device 7, and the number of main ropes can be calculated for the number of four main ropes as in the past. It is not necessary to install a detector or the like in the hoistway 2. Further, since the imaging device 7 such as a camera can easily adjust the visual field 7a, it is possible to easily prevent a situation in which the main rope 4 is out of the visual field 7a and the vibration frequency cannot be calculated.

  In the present embodiment, a specific case is described in which the imaging device 7 captures an image of a portion of the main rope 4 that is disposed between the connection portion to the counterweight 3 and the winding portion to the baffle 6. Although described, the imaging of the main rope 4 by the imaging device 7 may be performed on the car 1 side as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the elevator apparatus. In FIG. 6, the imaging device 7 is installed on the fixed body 12 b of the hoistway 2, and images the main rope 4 on the side of the car 1 that is arranged close to the imaging device 7 from the side. Specifically, the imaging device 7 is disposed between a portion of the main rope 4 connected to the car 1 and a portion wound around a sheave (drive sheave 5) disposed above the car 1. The installation position, the imaging direction (field of view 7a), and the like are set so that the captured portion can be imaged from the side. In addition, the imaging device 7 is installed so that all the plurality of main ropes 4 can be accommodated in the visual field 7a in the same manner as described above.

In such a case, for example, in S101 and S102 of FIG. 3, the operation control means 11 lowers the car 1 from above and stops it at the lowest floor landing, and then outputs an image capture command to the image analysis means 8. . At this time, the operation control means 11 is, for example, a central portion of the portion of the main rope 4 that is disposed between the connection portion to the car 1 and the winding portion to the drive sheave 5 (in FIG. 6, L1 = The car 1 is stopped so that the image pickup device 7 picks up the image of the point A that becomes L2.
Even with this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as described above.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the case where the imaging device 7 is installed on the fixed body 12a or 12b of the hoistway 2 has been specifically described. In the present embodiment, a case where the imaging device 7 is installed in the car 1 will be described as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the elevator apparatus. In FIG. 7, the image pickup device 7 is installed on a fixed body such as an upper portion of the car 1 and picks up an image of the main rope 4 arranged close to the car 1 from the side. Specifically, the imaging device 7 is provided between a portion of the main rope 4 connected to the counterweight 3 and a portion wound around a sheave (the deflector 6) disposed above the counterweight 3. The installation position, imaging direction (field of view 7a), etc. are set so that the arranged part can be imaged from the side. Further, the imaging device 7 is installed so that all of the plurality of main ropes 4 can be accommodated in the visual field 7a.

In the rope tension measuring apparatus having such a configuration, the operation control means 11 raises the car 1 from below and stops it at a predetermined stop position in S101 and S102 of FIG. Outputs the capture command. At this time, the operation control means 11 is, for example, the central portion of the portion of the main rope 4 that is disposed between the connecting portion to the counterweight 3 and the winding portion to the deflecting wheel 6 (in FIG. 7, L1 = The car 1 is stopped so that the image pickup device 7 picks up the image of the point A that becomes L2.
Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  Even with this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and the tension and tension of the main rope 4 can be achieved with a simple configuration without requiring time and labor for installation and adjustment of each device as in the past. Measurement can be performed automatically.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the first embodiment, the image analysis unit 8 detects the horizontal position on the image with respect to the elapsed time for the edge 4a of each main rope 4, and sets the interval between the peak values of the horizontal position as the vibration period. The case where the vibration frequency of the rope 4 is calculated has been described. In the present embodiment, another method for calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope 4 will be specifically described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the elevator rope tension measuring apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Each process shown in S201 to S206 of FIG. 8 is the same as S101 to S106 of FIG. That is, the image analysis means 8 detects the horizontal position on the image with respect to the elapsed time for the edge 4a of each main rope 4 based on the image information from the imaging device 7, and creates the graph shown in FIG.

When a graph of the horizontal position of the edge 4a with respect to the elapsed time is created for one main rope 4, the image analysis means 8 calculates the fundamental frequency by performing FFT (Fourier transform) on the graph created in S206. The basic frequency is stored in the storage means 9 as the vibration frequency of the main rope 4 (S207). When the process of S207 is completed for one main rope 4, the image analysis unit 8 determines whether or not the process of S207 has been performed for all the main ropes 4 (S208).
Note that the processes after S208 are the same as those after S108 in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing another operation of the elevator rope tension measuring apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Each process shown in S301 to S303 in FIG. 9 is the same as S101 to S103 in FIG. That is, the operation control unit 11 causes the car 1 to run and stop at a predetermined stop position, and then causes the image analysis unit 8 to capture image information captured by the imaging device 7.

  Upon receiving the image capture command from the operation control unit 11, the image analysis unit 8 captures one still image captured by the imaging device 7 immediately after receiving the command (S303), and performs image analysis processing on the still image. To start.

  Specifically, when the image analysis unit 8 captures a still image from the imaging device 7, based on the image information, the image analysis unit 8 detects the horizontal position on the image of the left edge of each main rope 4 and stores it in the storage unit 9. (S304). Next, the image analysis means 8 detects the horizontal position on the image of the right edge of each main rope 4 based on the same image information, and stores it in the storage means 9 (S305). When the image analysis means 8 detects the horizontal position of the left and right edges for each main rope 4, it calculates the average value of each main rope 4 and stores the calculation result as the center position of each main rope 4. The information is stored in the means 9 (S306).

  When the processing of S304 to S306 is completed for one still image, the image analysis means 8 determines whether or not the above processing has been performed for a predetermined prescribed number (S307). Then, when the processing of S304 to S306 is not performed for the specified number of still images, the image analysis unit 8 takes in the next still image captured by the imaging device 7, and similarly to the above, The center position of the rope 4 is detected and recorded.

  When the processes in S303 to S306 are completed for the specified number of still images (Yes in S307), the image analysis unit 8 starts a process for calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope 4. Specifically, the image analysis unit 8 creates a graph shown in FIG. 5 for one main rope 4 based on the information stored in the storage unit 9 (S308). In the present embodiment, the Y axis in FIG. 5 is the center position of the main rope 4.

  When the graph of the center position with respect to the elapsed time is created for one main rope 4, the image analysis means 8 calculates the vibration frequency of the main rope 4 with the interval between the peak values of the Y axis as the vibration period (S309). . Alternatively, the fundamental frequency is calculated by performing FFT (Fourier transform) on the graph created in S <b> 308, and the calculated fundamental frequency is stored in the storage unit 9 as the vibration frequency of the main rope 4.

When the calculation of the vibration frequency for one main rope 4 is completed, the image analysis unit 8 determines whether or not the processes of S308 and S309 have been performed for all the main ropes 4 (S310). Then, when there is a main rope 4 that has not been subjected to the above processing, the image analysis unit 8 creates a graph shown in FIG. 5 for the main rope 4 and calculates a vibration frequency (vibration period).
In addition, the process of the determination means 10 shown to S311 is the same as S109 of FIG.

  Even if each of the above methods is employed for calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope 4, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. Other configurations and operations in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first or second embodiment.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
In each of the above embodiments, a specific description has been given of the case where the tension measurement is performed using the vibration generated in the main rope 4 when the traveling car 1 is stopped. On the other hand, in order to forcibly generate vibration in the main rope 4, other methods can be employed. For example, in the present embodiment, the tension of the main rope 4 is measured using vibration generated when a passenger gets on the car 1 or when a passenger gets off the car 1.

In the rope tension measuring device having such a configuration, for example, a weighing device (not shown) for detecting the load on the car 1 is installed in the car 1 or the like. In an elevator in which a weighing device is already installed in the car 1 or the like, the existing weighing device is used. Then, the operation control means 11 determines that the passenger has boarded / exited when the change in the detected value of the scale device exceeds a predetermined reference value, and the image analysis means 8 sends the image information from the imaging device 7 to the image analysis means 8. And the vibration frequency of each main rope 4 is calculated.
Other configurations and operations are the same as those in any of the above embodiments.

  Also with this configuration, it is possible to achieve the same effects as in the above embodiments. Further, by adopting this configuration, it is possible to easily measure the tension of the main rope 4 even during normal operation of the elevator.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car 2 Hoistway 3 Counterweight 4 Main rope 4a Edge 5 Drive sheave 6 Baffle 7 Imaging device 7a Field of view 8 Image analysis means 9 Storage means 10 Judgment means 11 Operation control means 12a, 12b Fixed body

Claims (14)

The car that goes up and down in the elevator hoistway,
A plurality of main ropes for suspending the car in the hoistway;
A rope tension measuring device for an elevator equipped with
An imaging device for imaging the main rope from the side;
Image analysis means for calculating the vibration frequency of each main rope based on image information imaged by the imaging device;
An elevator rope tension measuring device comprising: Storage means for storing the vibration frequency calculated by the image analysis means for each main rope;
Determination means for determining whether or not the variation of the vibration frequency stored in the storage means is within a predetermined specified value;
The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 1, comprising:   The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the imaging device is installed in the car and images the main rope arranged close to the car from a side. . Operation control means for causing the image analysis means to capture image information from the imaging device and calculating the vibration frequency of the main rope when the car is stopped;
With
The imaging device images from a side a predetermined portion of the main rope that is disposed between a counterweight suspended on the main rope and a sheave above the counterweight,
The operation control means stops the car so that the image analysis means captures image information from the imaging device so that a central portion of the predetermined portion is imaged by the imaging device. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 3.   3. The rope tension measurement for an elevator according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is installed on a fixed body of the hoistway and images the main ropes arranged close to each other from the side. apparatus. Operation control means for causing the image analysis means to capture image information from the imaging device and calculating the vibration frequency of the main rope when the car is stopped;
With
The imaging device includes a first predetermined portion disposed between the car and a sheave above the car, or a counterweight suspended from the main rope and an area above the counterweight. Image the second predetermined portion arranged between the sheave and the side,
The operation control means causes the imaging device to capture the central portion of the first predetermined portion or the central portion of the second predetermined portion when the image analysis means causes the image information from the imaging device to be captured. 6. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the car is stopped. An operation control means for causing the image analysis means to capture image information from the imaging device and calculating the vibration frequency of the main rope after the car has traveled and stopped at a predetermined stop position;
The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:   The operation control means causes the image analysis means to capture image information from the imaging device after a predetermined time has elapsed after the car is stopped at the stop position. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 7.   The said operation control means, when stopping the said car in the said stop position, makes the said car stop suddenly with the deceleration larger than the deceleration at the time of the stop in the normal driving | running | working of an elevator. Item 9. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to Item 8. When a passenger gets on the car or when a passenger gets off from the car, an operation control means for causing the image analysis means to capture image information from the imaging device and to calculate the vibration frequency of the main rope;
The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: A scale device for detecting the load of the car;
With
The elevator according to claim 10, wherein the operation control unit causes the image analysis unit to capture image information from the imaging device when a change in a detection value of the scale device exceeds a predetermined value. Rope tension measuring device.   The image analyzing means detects a horizontal position on the image with respect to an elapsed time for the main rope based on image information from the imaging device, and sets an interval between peak values of the horizontal position as a vibration cycle. The rope tension measuring device for an elevator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a vibration frequency of the rope is calculated.   The image analysis unit detects a horizontal position on the image with respect to an elapsed time for the main rope based on image information from the imaging device, and performs a Fourier transform on the detection result to thereby obtain a vibration frequency of the main rope. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein:   The image analysis means calculates the center position of the main rope from the average value of the horizontal position on the image of the right edge of the main rope and the horizontal position on the image of the left edge, and the vibration frequency of the main rope 14. The elevator rope tension measuring device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the calculation is performed.

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