JP7361873B1 - Elevator remote inspection system and elevator remote inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an elevator remote inspection system and an elevator remote inspection method that can perform remote inspection as easily as possible in response to various elevators having different communication specifications and signal specifications. A control unit 152 uses information including a DZ signal to specify the correspondence between the position of a car 10 and time between the first floor and the fifth floor. If the control unit 152 determines that the car 10 has made a round trip between the first and fifth floors without stopping on the floor between the first and fifth floors, the control unit 152 controls the It is determined that the state of the call button is normal. [Selection diagram] Figure 23

Description

The present disclosure relates to an elevator remote inspection system and an elevator remote inspection method that remotely inspect an elevator.

In recent years, in elevator maintenance work, there has been an increasing need for an elevator remote inspection system that performs remote inspection of elevators using communication lines. An example of a device that performs such remote inspection is the remote monitoring support device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2022-019900 (Patent Document 1). This remote monitoring support device determines whether the operating state of the elevator is the normal operating state based on the output state of the signal acquired from the control board of the elevator.

By implementing remote inspections, inspection work at the maintenance site is reduced, making maintenance work much more efficient. In addition, there are legal provisions (for example, the common specifications for building maintenance operations established by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) that allow the periodic inspection work to be carried out longer if remote inspections are carried out. Maintenance work can be made more efficient.

In particular, in the global market where elevators from a wide variety of manufacturers are installed, maintenance companies need to provide maintenance services regardless of elevator manufacturer or model (multi-brand maintenance). On the other hand, there is a strong need among building owners who enter into maintenance contracts to freely select maintenance companies and enter into maintenance contracts that allow remote inspections, regardless of the manufacturer of the installed elevators.

Under these circumstances, there is a growing need for an elevator remote inspection system that can perform remote inspections based on signals acquired from the elevator system, regardless of elevator manufacturer or model.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-019900

However, in the elevator industry, communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized for each manufacturer and model. Moreover, these specifications are also not disclosed to the public. For this reason, it is usually not possible to use a common elevator remote inspection system between different manufacturers.

When trying to develop a remote elevator inspection system that is compatible with a variety of elevators with different communication and signal specifications, it is necessary to devise measures such as capturing signals exchanged through parallel transmission, such as capturing switch contact signals. . In addition, since signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers, the types of signals that can be used in common are greatly limited.

Furthermore, even if signals are commonly available, some signals may not be suitable for use due to hardware constraints such as installation cost or difficulty when installing an elevator remote inspection system in a building. Therefore, in order to realize such an elevator remote inspection system, it is necessary to thoroughly consider what kind of signals are used and what methods are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection.

The present disclosure has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose is to enable remote inspection of elevators that can be performed as easily as possible in response to various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system and an elevator remote inspection method.

The elevator remote inspection system according to the present disclosure is a system that performs remote inspection of elevators. The elevator remote inspection system includes an instruction section, an acquisition section, a control section, and an output section. The instruction unit performs a transmission process to transmit a hall call signal for generating an elevator hall call to the elevator equipment group. The acquisition unit acquires, as a determination signal, a signal that is input and output through parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group. The control unit generates a hall call signal to be transmitted by the transmission process, and performs a determination process to determine inspection items for remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit as a result of the transmission process. The output unit outputs the determination results of the inspection items. The transmission process includes a first hall call signal that generates a first hall call in the upward direction on the first floor, and a second hall call signal that generates a second hall call in the downward direction on the second floor above the first floor. This is the process of transmitting the second hall call signal. The determination signal indicates that the elevator car is in either a first state in which the car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the door of the elevator car can be opened or closed, or a non-first state in which the elevator car door is not in the first state. A first signal is included. The inspection items include the state of the car call button that generates a car call for the car. The control unit uses information including the first signal to specify the correspondence between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor. The control unit determines that the car has made a round trip between the first floor and the second floor without stopping on the floor between the first floor and the second floor, based on the correspondence relationship. In this case, it is determined that the car call button is in a normal state.

The elevator interval inspection method according to the present disclosure is a method of remotely inspecting an elevator. The elevator interval inspection method includes a step of transmitting a hall call signal that generates an elevator hall call to the elevator equipment group, and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group and the elevator equipment group. a step of acquiring a signal input/output by parallel transmission between the two as a determination signal, a step of generating a hall call signal to be transmitted by the transmission process, and a step of acquiring the hall call signal as a result of the transmission process. The present invention includes a step of performing a determination process to determine inspection items for remote inspection based on the above, and a step of outputting a determination result of the inspection items. The transmission process includes a first hall call signal that generates a first hall call in the upward direction on the first floor, and a second hall call signal that generates a second hall call in the downward direction on the second floor above the first floor. This is the process of transmitting the second hall call signal. The determination signal indicates that the elevator car is in either a first state in which the car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the door of the elevator car can be opened or closed, or a non-first state in which the elevator car door is not in the first state. A first signal is included. The inspection items include the state of the car call button that generates a car call for the car. The step of performing the determination process includes the step of specifying the correspondence between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor using information including the first signal, and based on the correspondence, When it is determined that the car has made a round trip between the first and second floors without stopping on the floor between the first and second floors, the state of the car call button is determined. and determining that the is in a normal state.

According to the present disclosure, by determining the state of the car call button based on the first signal suitable for use in remote inspection, remote inspection can be performed as simply as possible in response to various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. It can be carried out. In other words, multi-brand maintenance can be realized in remote inspection. As a result, the maintenance company can reduce the frequency of maintenance inspections at the maintenance site and increase the number of elevators that can be maintained. Building owners can freely select a maintenance company and enter into a maintenance contract that allows for remote inspections.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system and a remote inspection system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a conventional remote inspection system is connected to an elevator system. It is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an elevator system. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of an elevator. It is a diagram showing an example of an elevator landing. It is a figure showing an example of the inside of an elevator car. It is a figure showing an example of the hardware composition of the elevator system concerning a modification. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of a remote inspection system and signals used in the remote inspection system. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the running of the car and the signals in the diagnostic operation. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of a remote inspection system. It is a figure showing an example of a display screen of a remote inspection system. It is a flowchart of remote inspection processing and terminal setting processing. It is a diagram showing an example of a reference time DB. It is a flowchart of a reference time update process. It is a flowchart of reference time acquisition processing. It is a timing chart for explaining a running state. It is a timing chart for explaining a running state. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination of the state of a car call button. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination of the state of a car call button. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination of the state of a car call button. It is a flowchart of processing at the time of driving diagnosis. It is a flowchart of running occurrence processing. It is a flowchart of car information measurement processing. It is a flowchart of determination processing. It is a flowchart of multi-car processing.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are given the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[Configuration of elevator system 200 and elevator remote inspection system 1]
The configurations of the elevator system 200 and the elevator remote inspection system (hereinafter also simply referred to as "remote inspection system") 1 will be described below. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system 200 and a remote inspection system 1.

When an elevator is installed in a building, the building owner is required to conclude a maintenance contract with an elevator maintenance company. Maintenance personnel from the maintenance company perform maintenance and periodic inspections of elevators based on the maintenance contract. Building owners can include remote inspection or monitoring as an option in their maintenance contracts.

Remote monitoring means that a maintenance company's monitoring center (information center) or the like constantly monitors elevators for abnormalities or malfunctions using communication lines. In addition to remote monitoring, remote inspection is performed by a maintenance company's monitoring center, etc., which uses communication lines to monitor the operating status of the elevator and the operating status of each device, targeting the areas necessary for normal elevator operation. This refers to checking whether or not the system is normal.

There are three types of remote inspection: elevator performance inspection, inspection of each equipment, and inspection of usage status. In the performance inspection, each inspection item of the car is inspected, including the startup state, accelerated running state, constant speed running state, decelerated running state, and landing state. When inspecting each device, we check the temperature of the machine room or control panel, the status of control equipment, the status of the destination floor button in the car, the status of the intercom, the door opening/closing status, the status of the landing button, the status of the door switch, and abnormalities in the electromagnetic brake. Each inspection item is checked for the presence or absence of. In checking the state of use, each inspection item is checked, such as the distance traveled by the car, the running time or number of times the car is started, and the number of times the door is opened and closed.

By implementing such remote inspections, the inspection work at the maintenance site is reduced, which greatly improves the efficiency of maintenance work. In addition, there are legal regulations that allow the periodic inspection work to be performed longer if remote inspections are carried out, which can further improve the efficiency of maintenance work. For example, in Japan, by implementing the remote inspections listed above, it is possible to reduce the periodic inspection frequency required by law from once a month to once every three months (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism stipulated in the Common Specifications for Architectural Maintenance Works).

Furthermore, as will be discussed later, there are maintenance companies' needs to promote multi-brand maintenance in the global market, and building owners' needs to freely select a maintenance company and enter into a maintenance contract that allows for remote inspections. It's increasing. The remote inspection system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that performs remote inspection of elevators and is configured to meet such needs. This will be explained in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote inspection system 1 includes a remote inspection device 100, a management server 300, and a terminal 400. Elevator system 200 and remote inspection device 100 are installed within building 2. The remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200 and performs remote inspection of the elevator. The remote inspection device 100 includes, for example, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).

The management server 300 is installed, for example, in an information center (monitoring center) of a maintenance company. Terminal 400 may be installed at an information center of a maintenance company, or may be installed at any location. Terminal 400 and remote inspection device 100 can be connected to management server 300 via a communication line.

The management server 300 manages various data such as customer information, building information, information on elevators installed in the building, remote inspection results, etc. of each building that has concluded an elevator maintenance contract. The management server 300 is a device that manages the remote inspection device 100, and transmits a remote inspection execution command to the remote inspection device 100, and acquires the inspection results of the remote inspection performed by the remote inspection device 100.

Terminal 400 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, or a tablet. The terminal 400 includes a display section 410 that displays various information, and an input section 420 that can input operations from a user using the terminal 400. In this embodiment, terminal 400 is used by a maintenance worker at a maintenance company. In other words, the "user" who uses the terminal 400 refers to a maintenance worker at a maintenance company, but is not limited to this, and may include any person who may use the terminal 400. . For example, the user may be an employee other than a maintenance worker at a maintenance company, or a person who manages the building 2. The terminal 400 can cause the remote inspection device 100 to perform remote inspection via the management server 300 by a maintenance worker's operation from the input unit 420. Furthermore, the terminal 400 can display the inspection results of the remote inspection performed by the remote inspection device 100 on the display unit 410.

Elevator system 200 includes a control panel 210 and an elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 is comprised of various equipment including elevators, elevator landing devices, and the like. The control panel 210 controls various devices of the elevator device group 220.

The control panel 210 inputs and outputs signals to and from the elevator equipment group 220 via a plurality of signal lines. The signals transmitted and received between the elevator equipment group 220 and the control panel 210 include those transmitted and received by parallel transmission (parallel communication) and those transmitted and received by serial transmission (serial communication).

The former (parallel transmission) is, for example, a signal directly acquired from various switches or various sensors of the elevator equipment group 220. In this embodiment, a contact signal of a switch (for example, a predetermined voltage is detected when the switch is ON) is assumed, but it may be a pulse signal obtained from a rotary encoder, for example. .

The latter (serial transmission) is a signal transmitted and received by serial communication between a control board provided in a device installed on the hall side or the car side of the elevator and the control panel 210. For example, communication is established between the elevator management software (program) started on the control panel 210 and the software (program) started on the car-side control board, and data such as the car position and running direction are transmitted through serial communication. A scenario is assumed in which an internal signal (internal signal) is transmitted and received.

In this embodiment, among the signal lines connecting the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220, a part of the signal line that sends and receives signals by parallel transmission is branched and connected to a terminal provided in the remote inspection device 100. ing. Thereby, a part of the signals transmitted and received by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 can be input and output on the remote inspection device 100 side.

On the other hand, the control panel 210 of the elevator system 200 is configured to be connectable to various elevator maintenance devices. A connector 261 is provided on a control board provided in the control panel 210. By connecting the connector 262 of the cable connected to the maintenance device to the connector 261 of the control panel 210, a communication connection by serial communication (serial transmission) can be established between the maintenance device and the control panel 210.

Various maintenance devices for the elevator include, for example, a maintenance computer, a remote monitoring device, a remote inspection device, etc. used as a dedicated device for the elevator system 200. These maintenance devices are devices developed and used for each type of elevator by the manufacturer of the elevator system 200 or a maintenance company affiliated with the manufacturer. Therefore, these maintenance devices cannot be connected to elevators made by different manufacturers. Here, the manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company is, for example, a subsidiary or affiliated company of the manufacturer, and is hereinafter referred to as a "manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company."

On the other hand, remote inspection device 100 of this embodiment is configured to be connectable to elevator system 200 regardless of the manufacturer of elevator system 200. However, as will be described later, the types of signals suitable for use in the remote inspection device 100 are considerably limited (such as the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, hall call signal, etc. described later).

The maintenance device can acquire internal signals held by the elevator management software by establishing communication between the software activated in the maintenance device and the elevator management software activated on the control panel 210.

These internal signals include parallel transmission signals (switch contact signals, etc.) that are input and output between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220, serial transmission signals (various commands, etc.), and signals derived from these signals. Contains generated signals.

For example, the control panel 210 controls the car's position, speed, running direction, and state (accelerated running state, constant speed running state, state, deceleration running state), etc. This allows the control panel 210 to hold this information as an internal signal on software.

In other words, the maintenance device connected to the control panel 210 via serial communication can acquire not only contact signals input/output via parallel transmission, but also software internal signals input/output via serial transmission. Furthermore, through communication with the control panel 210, the maintenance device can, for example, send various commands such as a stop command to the elevator, a standby command to a specific floor, set various operation options, change the settings of various parameters, etc. It is.

Among the maintenance devices that can be connected via serial communication, the maintenance computer is a computer (terminal device) that can be used for maintenance and inspection of elevators on site. By starting various maintenance software running on the maintenance computer, it is possible to check various internal signals of the elevator, give various commands to the elevator, change settings, rewrite the software, etc.

While maintenance computers can be used on-site, remote monitoring devices and remote inspection devices are used remotely via a network. Among the maintenance devices that can be connected via serial communication, the remote monitoring device is a device that can remotely acquire and display the above-mentioned internal signals via a network. Among the maintenance devices that can be connected via serial communication, the remote inspection device is a device that can remotely acquire and display the above internal signals via a network, as well as issue operation commands to the elevator for remote inspection. be.

(Comparison with conventional remote inspection system)
Hereinafter, the difference between a remote inspection device (conventional type remote inspection device) that can be connected via serial communication and remote inspection device 100 in this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a conventional remote inspection system is connected to elevator systems 200 and 200a.

In the example of FIG. 2, it is assumed that elevator system 200 is installed in building A, and elevator system 200a is installed in building B. It is assumed that the elevator system 200 is an elevator system made by company X, and the elevator model is model M. There are multiple models of elevators manufactured by each company, depending on the purpose, age, etc. The elevator system 200a is an elevator system made by company Y, and the elevator model is model N.

Only the remote inspection device 500 (conventional type) manufactured by Company X can be connected to the elevator system 200 manufactured by Company X via the connector 261. The remote inspection device 500 can be connected to a management server managed by Company X via a network. In this example, it is assumed that Company X is both an elevator manufacturer and an elevator maintenance company (manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company).

For example, Company X's server is installed within Company X's information center. By communicatively connecting the terminal to the management server of Company X, remote inspection of the elevator system 200 becomes possible by operating the terminal.

Only the remote inspection device 500a (conventional type) manufactured by Y Company can be connected to the elevator system 200a manufactured by Y Company via the connector 261. The remote inspection device 500a can be connected to a management server managed by Company Y via a network. In this example, it is assumed that Company Y is both an elevator manufacturer and an elevator maintenance company (manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company).

For example, the server of company Y is installed in the information center of company Y. By communicatively connecting the terminal to the management server of Company Y, remote inspection of the elevator system 200a becomes possible by operating the terminal.

With this configuration, as described above, the remote inspection device 500 of Company X can acquire various internal signals generated by the management software of the control panel 210 by communicating with the control panel 210, and can Various commands can be sent to the control panel 210. For example, by operating a terminal, it is possible to transmit a command to cause the car to run between two floors, and as a result, it is possible to obtain travel time, speed information, etc. between the two floors. The same applies to the remote inspection device 500a of Company Y.

However, with this configuration, for the elevator system 200 made by Company X, it is necessary to use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X that is compatible with model M, and for the elevator system 200a made by Company Y, it is necessary to use For this, it is necessary to use a remote inspection device 500a manufactured by Y company that is compatible with model N. In this way, if you try to install a remote inspection device using serial communication, you will need to prepare a remote inspection device for each elevator manufacturer. Equipment must be prepared.

Although such remote inspection devices are sometimes prepared by each elevator manufacturer, they can usually only be used by the manufacturer of the installed elevator or by a manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company. Furthermore, if the model is old, there may be no corresponding remote inspection device.

In the example of FIG. 2, manufacturer-related maintenance company (manufacturer) Company X can use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X, but cannot use the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y. On the other hand, manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company (manufacturer) Company Y can use the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y, but cannot use the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X.

This is because communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized between manufacturers and models, and these specifications are also not made public. If such communication specifications, signal specifications, or address maps are disclosed, by establishing communication with the control panel 210, basically any internal signals, internal flags, or setting parameters can be transmitted to external devices. It can be obtained from

In addition to manufacturer-affiliated maintenance companies, elevator maintenance companies include maintenance companies that are not affiliated with any manufacturer (referred to as "independent maintenance companies"). The independent maintenance company cannot use either the remote inspection device 500 made by Company X or the remote inspection device 500a made by Company Y.

In the example of FIG. 2, if the owner of building A signs a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company If a maintenance contract is concluded with a maintenance contract, remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500 cannot be performed.

On the other hand, if the owner of Building B signs a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company Y, he can perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500a; If the contract is concluded, remote inspection cannot be performed using the remote inspection device 500a. If elevators manufactured by Company X and Company Y are installed in the same building, maintenance contracts must be concluded with both manufacturer-affiliated maintenance companies X and Y in order to remotely inspect all elevators. There is.

As described above, for building owners who wish to enter into a maintenance contract that includes remote inspection, if a conventional remote inspection device is introduced, the range of maintenance contract options will be narrowed. Due to these circumstances, there has been an increasing need in Japan in recent years for remote inspection devices that can be applied to any manufacturer or model. In particular, in the global market where elevators from a wide variety of manufacturers are installed, maintenance companies need to provide maintenance services (multi-brand maintenance) regardless of elevator manufacturer or model.

Therefore, the remote inspection device 100 in this embodiment is configured as a remote inspection device that can be used regardless of manufacturer or model. As described above, since communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers and models, it is difficult to construct a remote inspection device 100 that communicates by serial transmission.

For this reason, as explained using FIG. 1, the remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200 through parallel transmission (intake of switch contact signals, etc.). Furthermore, since signal specifications are not standardized among manufacturers, the types of signals that can be used in common are limited. Furthermore, even if the signals are commonly usable, there are some signals that are not suitable for use due to hardware constraints (in terms of ease of installation and installation cost). Therefore, in order to realize the remote inspection device 100, it is necessary to thoroughly consider what kind of signal is used and what method is used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection. The method for determining the signals and inspection items used in this embodiment will be described later with reference to FIG. 7 and subsequent figures.

Returning to the explanation of FIG. 2, the remote inspection device 100 in this embodiment is installed in either an elevator system 200 manufactured by company X installed in building A or an elevator system 200a manufactured by company Y installed in building B. can also be connected. Remote inspection device 100 installed in building A and remote inspection device 100 installed in building B are connected to management server 300 via a network. Using the terminal 400, it is possible to remotely inspect both the elevator system 200 in building A and the elevator system 200a in building B.

Note that if an elevator system 200 made by Company X and an elevator system 200a made by Company Y are installed in one building, the elevator systems 200 and 200a should be configured to be connected by one remote inspection device 100. Bye.

With the above configuration, building owners are free to choose a maintenance company, regardless of the type of elevator installed, regardless of whether it is a manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company or an independent maintenance company. It is possible to conclude a maintenance contract for remote inspection.

Note that the management server 300 is not limited to being configured by one server device, but may be configured by multiple server devices. For example, a server device may be installed in each region to respond to access requests from each region. In this case, the server devices in each region may be configured to communicate with each other and share information (customer information, elevator information, etc.) with each other. Alternatively, a main server device may be provided to manage servers in each region, and the main server device may manage information in each region.

Each region mentioned above is not limited to each region of one country, but may include regions of multiple countries. For example, a server device may be placed in Japan and configured to share information with a server device installed outside Japan. Alternatively, the main server device may be installed in any country, and the information stored in the main server device may be referenced from the server devices installed in each country.

Server devices installed in each country may be configured to have language codes for each country or region they manage. For example, "Japanese" is set as the language code for a server device that manages buildings in Japan. "Chinese" is set as the language code for server devices that manage buildings in China. "English" is set as the language code for server devices that manage buildings in English-speaking countries.

The server device has language data corresponding to each language code. For example, if access is made from a terminal in Japan, information will be displayed in Japanese on those terminals. If the site is accessed from a device within China, the information will be displayed in Chinese on those devices. Furthermore, information may be managed for each language. The management server 300 may be configured by a group of servers such as a communication server (web server), a data server, and an application server that connect to the remote inspection device 100 and the terminal 400.

With this configuration, the remote inspection system 1 can be used in countries around the world. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, an elevator system 200 (control panel 210 and elevator equipment group 220) and remote inspection device 100 are installed in a building A in a first country (for example, the United States), and the first country is Assume that an elevator system 200a (control panel 210a and elevator equipment group 220a) and remote inspection device 100 are installed in a building B in a different second country (for example, Japan).

It is assumed that the management server 300 is installed at an information center in the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country can be connected to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country and the remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country via a network. The management server 300 is capable of transmitting a remote inspection execution command to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country, and also transmits each remote inspection from the remote inspection device 100 that has received the execution instruction. It is possible to receive the judgment results of inspection items.

Terminal 400 may be installed in the first country or in the second country. For example, even if the terminal 400 installed in the second country accesses the management server 300 installed in the second country and performs a remote inspection using the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country, good. The terminal 400 installed in the first country may access the management server 300 installed in the second country to perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country.

The remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country performs network connection using the communication line network (LTE line network, etc.) of the first country. The remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country performs network connection using the communication line network of the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country is connected to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country via a communication line in the second country.

With the above configuration, the management server 300 of the second country can manage the remote inspection device 100 that remotely inspects the elevator system 200 operating in the first country. Thereby, the remote inspection device 100 can be managed by the management server 300 across countries, regardless of in which country the elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are installed.

Note that the remote inspection device 100 is not limited to determining each inspection item of the remote inspection, and the management server 300 may determine each inspection item of the remote inspection. In this case, the remote inspection device 100 transmits the determination signal data acquired from the elevator system 200 to the management server 300. The management server 300 may determine each inspection item based on the signal data. Of course, the management server 300 may be installed in each country, and the remote inspection device 100 may be managed in each country.

(Detailed configuration of elevator system 200)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the elevator system 200. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the building 2 in which the elevator system 200 is installed has five floors. Further, it is assumed that one elevator (this elevator will be referred to as "No. 1") is installed in the building 2.

The control panel 210 includes a car control unit 212 . Each car control unit 212 is a control board that controls the elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 includes hall equipment 230 installed in the halls of each floor from the first floor (1F) to the fifth floor (5F), various sensors and various switches used in the elevator system 200 (for example, slow up switch, slow down switch, etc.), a No. 1 hoisting machine 250, and a car device 240.

The hoist 250 is a motor that drives the elevator car to move it up and down. The car device 240 is various devices installed in the car, and includes a destination floor button for registering a destination floor. The hall device 230 is a variety of equipment installed in the hall of each floor, and includes a hall button for registering a hall call. These details will be explained using the figures from FIG. 4 onwards.

Each car control unit 212 is connected to the hall equipment 230, various sensors, various switches, etc. on each floor via a control cable 21 that bundles a plurality of signal lines. Further, each car control unit 212 is connected to the hoisting machine 250 of the first car, the car device 240, etc. via a control cable 22 that bundles a plurality of signal lines.

Each unit control unit 212 includes a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory is, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). These are communicably connected to each other via a bus.

The ROM stores a management software program for controlling the elevator equipment group 220. The CPU loads programs stored in the ROM into the RAM and executes them to control the elevator equipment group 220. The RAM serves as a work area when the CPU executes a program, and temporarily stores programs and data used when executing the program.

Each car control unit 212 communicates with the elevator equipment group 220 such as the hall device 230, the hoisting machine 250, and the car device 240, or the various maintenance devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 through serial or parallel communication via a communication interface. Configured to enable communication.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the elevator. An elevator car 10 is installed in a hoistway 8 provided within a building 2. The car 10 moves up and down within the hoistway 8 and between a plurality of floors. In this embodiment, the car 10 can stop at each floor from the first floor (1F) to the fifth floor (5F).

A machine room 5 is provided directly above the hoistway 8. The machine room 5 is provided with a hoisting machine 250, a control panel 210, and a remote inspection device 100. The car device 240 is provided in the car 10.

In this embodiment, the elevator is a traction elevator. A traction elevator is one type of rope elevator. This elevator includes a car 10, a counterweight 12, a rope 11, a hoist 250, and a deflection wheel 13. A rope (main rope) 11 is hung around the hoist 250 and the deflection wheel 13. A cage 10 and a counterweight 12 are suspended from both ends of the rope 11.

The elevator can cause the car 10 installed in the hoistway 8 to travel upward (also referred to as the "UP direction") or downward (also referred to as the "DN direction") by driving the hoisting machine 250. can.

The car 10 has one of the following running directions: UP direction, DN direction, and no direction. When the car 10 is running or stopping in the UP direction (stopping while planning to run in the UP direction) in order to respond to a command to run to a floor above the car 10, the running direction of the car 10 is in the UP direction. becomes. When the car 10 is running or stopping in the DN direction (stopping while planning to run in the DN direction) in order to respond to a command to run to the floor below the car 10, the running direction of the car 10 is in the DN direction. becomes. When the running direction of the car 10 is neither the UP direction nor the DN direction, the car direction of the car 10 is defined as "no direction." Note that when the car 10 is stopped at the lowest floor, the car direction may be the UP direction, and when the car 10 is stopped at the top floor, the car direction may be the DN direction.

The car 10 becomes able to run when the electromagnetic brake (not shown, also simply referred to as "brake") of the hoist 250 is released. When the brake of the hoisting machine 250 operates, the car 10 enters a braking state (stationary state). The brake of the hoisting machine 250 is configured to be able to perform braking by pressing a brake shoe against a brake drum using the force of a spring. Applying power to the brake coil causes the brake shoes to move away from the brake drum, thereby releasing the brake. If the power supply to the brake coil is cut off, the electromagnetic brake will be in a braking state, and the car 10 will no longer be able to travel.

The elevator is designed so that the weight of the counterweight 12 and the weight of the car 10 including passengers are balanced when the car 10 is loaded with 50% of its maximum loading weight. For example, when there are no passengers, the counterweight 12 is heavier than the car 10. Therefore, if the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the UP direction. On the other hand, if the car 10 is full, the car 10 is heavier than the counterweight 12. Therefore, if the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the DN direction.

A buffer 14 is installed in the pit 6, which is the bottom of the hoistway 8. The shock absorber 14 is a device that absorbs the impact when the car 10 falls due to an abnormality.

Each car control section 212 is connected to the car device 240 via the control cable 22 (FIG. 3). A plurality of signal lines for communication between each car control section 212 and the car device 240 are bundled in the control cable 22.

Each car control unit 212 is connected to a hall device 230, various sensors, and various switches installed on each floor via a control cable 21 (FIG. 3) that runs along the wall of the hoistway 8. The control cable 21 is composed of a plurality of signal lines for communication between each car control section 212 and the hall device 230 or various switches. In addition, when the machine room 5 is not provided, the hoisting machine 250, the control panel 210, etc. are installed within the hoistway 8 (on the wall surface, inside the pit 6, etc.).

Note that the elevator is not limited to the traction type elevator that balances the car 10 and the counterweight 12 as described above. For example, a drum type elevator may be used in which the car 10 is raised and lowered by winding the rope 11 around a drum without using the counterweight 12. A drum elevator is one type of rope elevator. Alternatively, a hydraulic elevator may be used in which oil is sent to a hydraulic jack using an electric pump and the car 10 is raised and lowered by the operation of the hydraulic jack.

In the case of a hydraulic elevator, the position of the car 10 is controlled by controlling the amount of oil sent to the hydraulic jack. In the case of a hydraulic elevator, the characteristics of oil change depending on the season or temperature, which tends to cause differences in the running characteristics of the car 10. For example, compared to when the temperature is high in the summer, the oil becomes thicker in the winter, so it takes longer to start up. Furthermore, in the case of a hydraulic elevator that controls the amount of oil (hydraulic pressure), the travel time between floors tends to vary more than a rope elevator that controls the amount of rotation of the motor. Furthermore, when the car 10 is stopped on a certain floor, the car sinks little by little over time, and the floor of the car 10 gradually lowers with respect to the floor of the landing (while the car is stopped) may be outside the door zone).

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of an elevator landing. FIG. 5A shows a front view of the elevator hall.

Here, in this embodiment, the hall call in the UP direction (upward direction) is called "UP call" or "UP hall call", and the hall call in the DN direction (downward direction) is "DN call" or "DN hall call". , the destination floor call within the car 10 is also referred to as a "car call." The buttons for registering each of these calls are called "call buttons."

The call buttons include a car call button provided in the car 10 (also referred to as a "destination floor button") and a hall call button provided in a landing (also referred to as a "hall button"). The hall call button (boarding hall button) is an upward hall call button (also referred to as a "UP hall call button" or "UP hall call button") provided at a boarding hall, and a downward hall call button (also referred to as a "UP hall call button") provided at a boarding hall. (also referred to as "DN call button" or "DN hall call button").

As described above, each floor is equipped with a hall device 230. The hall device 230 includes a hall operation panel 70. Here, the explanation will be given using the landing area on the first floor as an example. The landing on the first floor is equipped with a door 61 and a landing operation panel 70.

The hall operation panel 70 is provided with a UP hall call button 81 and a DN hall call button 82. For example, when the UP hall call button 81 is pressed, a UP hall call on the first floor is registered.

The hall operation panel 70 is equipped with an indicator 71. The indicator 71 displays the running direction of the car 10 and which floor the car 10 is on (car position). In the illustrated example, the car 10 is shown running or stopping on the second floor in the UP direction.

Next, the inside of the car 10 will be explained. FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an example of the interior of an elevator car. FIG. 5B shows a view of the inside of the car 10 looking toward the exit. Car device 240 includes a car operation panel 50. The car 10 is provided with a door 60 and a car operation panel 50. The car operation panel 50 includes a door open button 52 for opening the door, a door close button 53 for closing the door, and a car call button for registering the destination floor (car call) from the 1st floor to the 5th floor. is provided.

The car call buttons are the 1st floor car call button 31 for registering a car call to the 1st floor, the 2nd floor car call button 32 for registering a car call to the 2nd floor, and the 3rd floor car call button 32 for registering a car call to the 3rd floor. It includes a car call button 33, a 4th floor car call button 34 for registering a car call to the 4th floor, and a 5th floor car call button 35 for registering a car call to the 5th floor. Furthermore, the car operation panel 50 is equipped with an indicator 51 that displays the running direction of the car 10 and the car position.

When the hall call button is pressed, a call signal corresponding to the pressed hall call button is transmitted to the control panel 210 (each car control unit 212). The control panel 210 registers the hall call. Then, the control panel 210 allocates the car 10 to the registered hall call, and causes the car 10 to respond to the registered hall call.

For example, when the UP hall call button 81 on the first floor is pressed, a signal corresponding to the UP hall call on the first floor is transmitted, and the control panel 210 registers the UP hall call on the first floor. The control panel 210 determines the assignment of the car 10 to the UP hall call on the first floor. The car 10 responds to the UP landing call on the first floor, travels to the first floor, then stops and opens the door.

When the car call button is pressed, a call signal corresponding to the pressed car call is transmitted to the control panel 210. Control panel 210 registers the car call. Control panel 210 causes car 10 to respond to registered car calls.

For example, when the second floor car call button 32 is pressed, a call signal corresponding to a car call to the second floor is transmitted to the control panel 210. Control panel 210 registers car calls to the second floor. The car 10 responds to a car call to the second floor, and after traveling to the second floor, stops and opens the door.

Here, "the door opens" means that both the door 60 on the car 10 side and the door 61 on the landing side open in conjunction with each other, and hereinafter also expressed as "the door opens." Similarly, "the door closes" means that both the door 60 on the car 10 side and the door 61 on the landing side close in conjunction with each other, and is also expressed as "close the door" hereinafter.

(Input/output signal to control panel 210)
Here, among the signals input and output by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 that controls the elevator equipment group 220 and the elevator equipment group 220, the signal acquired by the remote inspection device 100 is referred to as a "judgment signal." The remote inspection device 100 uses the determination signal to determine each item of remote inspection. The determination signal includes a first signal to a fourth signal. Each determination signal has either an ON state or an OFF state. In this embodiment, a DZ signal as one aspect of the first signal, an LB signal as one aspect of the second signal, a GS signal as one aspect of the third signal, and a DS signal as one aspect of the fourth signal are used. Examples are given below.

The landing device 230 provided on each floor includes a landing door switch (also referred to as an "interlock switch"), which is not shown. The hall door switch is in an ON state when the door 61 on the hall side is in a closed state, and is in an OFF state when the door 61 on the hall side is in an open state. When the landing door switch is in the OFF state (the door is not closed), the control panel 210 controls the car 10 so that it cannot run for safety reasons.

In this embodiment, when the hall door 61 is closed and the hall door switch is in the ON state (the hall door switch is pressed and the contact is in the ON state), the DS signal is in the ON state, and the hall door switch is in the ON state. When the door 61 is not closed and the hall door switch is in the OFF state, the DS signal is in the OFF state and is transmitted to the control panel 210.

The car device 240 also includes a car door switch (also referred to as a "gate switch"), which is not shown. The car door switch is in an ON state when the door 60 on the car 10 side is in a closed state, and is in an OFF state when the door 60 on the car 10 side is in an open state. When the car door switch is in the OFF state (the door is not closed), the control panel 210 controls the car 10 so that it cannot run for safety reasons.

In this embodiment, when the door 60 of the car 10 is closed and the car door switch is in the ON state (the car door switch is pressed and the contact is in the ON state), the GS signal is in the ON state, and the car door switch is in the ON state. When the door 60 of No. 10 is not closed and the car door switch is in the OFF state, the GS signal is in the OFF state and is transmitted to the control panel 210. The door 60 of the car 10 opens and closes in conjunction with the door 61 of the landing.

Furthermore, the car device 240 includes a door zone detection device (also referred to as a "landing device"), which is not shown. Here, the door zone indicates a positional range of the elevator car 10 in which the door 60 of the elevator car 10 can be opened and closed. The door zone detection device is installed in the car 10, and on each floor, when the car 10 is located within the position range where the door can be opened (inside the door zone), the door zone detection device detects the DZ signal as an ON state, and the door zone is detected as being in the door zone. When the car 10 is not located, the DZ signal is detected as being in an OFF state and is sent to the control panel 210.

For example, the door zone detection device installed in the car 10 includes a magnetic proximity sensor. On the other hand, a door zone detection plate is installed at the landing position of each floor in the hoistway 8. For example, the magnetic proximity sensor of the door zone detection device is configured to turn on the DZ signal while detecting the door zone detection plate. For example, the DZ signal is configured to turn ON when the floor position of the car 10 is within 150 mm above and below the floor position of each floor landing.

When the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF), the control panel 210 prevents the door from being opened for safety reasons. Note that the door zone detection device may be installed on the hoistway 8 side, and the door zone detection plate may be installed on the car 10 side.

Further, when the brake of the elevator is released by supplying electric power to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250, the LB signal is turned on. When the brake of the elevator is operated (the brake is not released) by stopping the supply of electric power to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250, the LB signal becomes OFF.

Furthermore, a slow-up switch (not shown) and a slow-down switch (not shown) are installed on the wall of the hoistway 8. The slow-up switch is a switch provided to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the top of the hoistway 8. The slow-up switch is turned on by contact with a predetermined member attached to the car 10 when the car 10 traveling UP reaches a predetermined position between the 5th floor (top floor) and the 4th floor. It is configured so that

When the slow-up switch is in the ON state, the SUL signal is in the ON state, and when the slow-up switch is in the OFF state, the SUL signal is in the OFF state. When the car 10 approaches the top floor and the slow-up switch is turned on, if the car 10 is running at a speed higher than the specified speed, the car 10 is controlled to be decelerated for safety. Controlled by board 210.

The slowdown switch is a switch provided to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the bottom of the hoistway 8 (or from entering the pit 6). The slow-up switch is turned ON by contact with a predetermined member attached to the car 10 when the car 10 traveling in the DN reaches a predetermined position between the first floor (lowest floor) and the second floor. It is configured to be in a state.

When the slowdown switch is in the ON state, the SDL signal is in the ON state, and when the slowdown switch is in the OFF state, the SDL signal is in the OFF state. When the car 10 is close to the bottom floor and the slowdown switch is turned on, if the car 10 is running at a speed higher than the specified speed, the car 10 will be decelerated for safety. It is controlled by a control panel 210.

Note that a slow-up switch and a slow-down switch may be installed on the car 10 side, and configured such that these switches are turned on by contact with a predetermined member installed on the hoistway 8 side.

In this embodiment, only one elevator (car 10 of the first car in FIG. 3) is installed in the building 2. Therefore, when a hall call is registered, car No. 1 is always assigned, and car No. 1 responds to the hall call.

For example, if a DN hall call is registered at a landing on the second floor, car No. 1 is assigned to this DN hall call on the second floor. Car No. 1, which is traveling in the DN direction, responds to this DN call on the second floor, stops on the second floor, and then opens its doors.

The above configuration is a configuration in which only one elevator is controlled in building 2 (single car configuration), but below, it is a configuration in which multiple elevators are controlled in building 2 (multi-car configuration). (configuration) will also be explained. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of an elevator system 200b according to a modification.

In this modification, the elevator system 200b includes two elevators, "No. 1" and "No. 2". The elevator equipment group 220b includes a landing device 230 installed at the landing on each floor from the first floor to the fifth floor, a hoisting machine 250 and a car device 240 of the first car, various sensors and various switches of the first car, etc. It includes the hoisting machine 250 and car device 240 of the No. 2 machine, and various sensors, various switches, etc. of the No. 2 machine.

The control panel 210b includes a group control unit 211 and two car control units 212. The group management control unit 211 is a control board that manages a plurality of elevators. Each car control unit 212 is a control board that controls the operation of the corresponding elevator. The group management control unit 211 and the two individual car control units 212 communicate with each other and exchange various data regarding the elevators.

The group management control unit 211 collectively controls the hall devices 230 on each floor. The group management control unit 211 is connected via a control cable 21 to hall devices 230 installed at the halls on each floor from the first floor to the fifth floor. Each car control unit 212 is connected to the hoisting machine 250 and car device 240, and various sensors and switches of each car via control cables 22 and 23.

In the modification shown in FIG. 6, the hall device 230 on each floor includes a hall operation panel 70 provided with a hall call button. However, in this modification, the hall operation panel 70 does not include the indicator 71. In this modification, it is assumed that one hall operation panel 70 is installed on each floor, and as many indicators 71 as there are elevators (two) are installed.

The group management control unit 211 is connected to a hall device 230 (hall call button) installed on each floor via a control cable 21 running along the wall of the hoistway 8. Each car control unit 212 is connected to the hoisting machine 250 and car device 240 of the car corresponding to each car control unit 212 via the control cable 22. The car device 240 includes a car operation panel 50 provided with a destination floor button, a car door switch, and a door zone detection device.

Each car control unit 213 is connected to various sensors, various switches, etc. of the machine corresponding to each car control unit 213 via a control cable 23 that runs along the wall of the hoistway 8. The various sensors and switches include a slow-up switch, a slow-down switch, a landing door switch on each floor, and an indicator 71 on each floor, which are installed for each car.

In this example, when the hall call button is pressed, the group management control unit 211 registers the hall call corresponding to the hall call button. Then, the group management control unit 211 allocates one of the plurality of cars 10 (car No. 1, car No. 2) to the registered hall call. Each car control unit 212 corresponding to the assigned car 10 (assigned car) causes the assigned car to respond to the registered hall call.

For example, when the first floor UP hall call button 81 is pressed, the first floor UP hall call signal is turned on. The group management control unit 211 receives the first floor UP hall call signal which is in the ON state, and registers the first floor UP hall call. The group management control unit 211 allocates either the first car or the second car 10 to the first floor UP hall call.

For example, assume that the group management control unit 211 allocates the car 10 of car No. 1. In this case, the group management control unit 211 transmits a command to each car control unit 212 of the first car to respond to the first floor UP landing call. The car control unit 212 of the first car causes the car 10 of the first car to travel and respond to the first floor UP hall call. After the car 10 travels to the first floor, it stops there and opens the door.

Note that the control panel 210b may not include the group management control section 211, but may include only two individual control sections 212. In this case, the function of the group management control unit 211 may be provided in each unit control unit 212 of the first car. Each car control unit 212 of the first car controls the hall equipment 230 via the control cable 21, and is directly connected to the car control unit 212 of the second car.

(Forced stop and standby operation)
Further, the elevator system 200 (200a, 200b) can set a forced stop floor and a waiting floor. When a forced stop floor is set and the car 10 passes by the forced stop floor, the car 10 always stops at the forced stop floor and opens the door. For example, if the lobby of a hotel is on the second floor, a situation can be assumed in which the second floor is set as the forced stop floor. When the car 10 travels from the first floor to the fifth floor, the car 10 always stops at the second floor midway and opens the door.

If a waiting floor is set, the car 10 travels to the set waiting floor after responding to all hall calls and car calls (this state is referred to as "available"). For example, assume that the first floor (main floor) is set as the waiting floor. When the car 10 becomes available after responding to the final call on the 5th floor, it travels from the 5th floor to the 1st floor and then waits on the 1st floor (standby floor).

When setting the waiting floor, it is also possible to set whether or not there will be waiting with doors open and the number of waiting cars. For example, as in the example of FIG. 6, when there are two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, one or two cars 10 can be made to wait on the waiting floor. At that time, the vehicle can be made to wait on the waiting floor with the door open or closed. When waiting with the door open, the car 10 arrives at the waiting floor and opens the door, and then closes the door after a predetermined period of time (for example, 1 minute or 3 minutes) has elapsed. A waiting floor on which door-open standby is set is also referred to as a "door-open standby floor."

Further, the elevator system 200b may perform a distributed standby operation. For example, when there are two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, the two cars 10 are dispersed and placed on standby so that the two cars 10 that become available do not stop on the same floor or on nearby floors. . For example, if two available cars 10 are both stopped on the first floor (main floor), one car is moved to an upper floor (for example, the third floor) and then placed on standby with the door closed.

In this way, even if there is no hall call or car call, the car 10 may run or the door may open due to the setting of a forced stop floor, the setting of a waiting floor, or the distributed waiting operation.

(Detailed configuration of remote inspection system 1 and signals used)
The following description is based on the elevator system 200 (with one car) shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the remote inspection system 1 and signals used in the remote inspection system 1.

As described above, the elevator system 200 includes a control panel 210 and an elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 includes hall devices 230 for the first to fifth floors. The control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 are connected by a plurality of signal lines, so that a plurality of signals can be transmitted and received.

These multiple signals include the above-mentioned DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, DN signal, 1st floor UP hall call signal, and 5th floor DN hall call signal. including. All of the signals illustrated here are transmitted and received by parallel transmission.

The DZ signal is a signal detected by the door zone detection device, as described above. When the car 10 is located within the position range where the door can be opened (inside the door zone) on each floor, the DZ signal is in the ON state, and when the car 10 is located outside the door zone, the DZ signal is in the OFF state.

As described above, the LB signal is a signal that becomes ON when the brake is released by supplying electric power to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250. When the brake is operated by stopping the power supply to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250, the LB signal becomes OFF.

The GS signal is a signal detected by the car door switch, as described above. When the car side door 60 is in the closed state, the GS signal is in the ON state, and when the car side door 60 is in the open state, the GS signal is in the OFF state.

The DS signal is a signal detected by the hall door switch, as described above. When the door 61 on the hall side is in the closed state, the DS signal is in the ON state, and when the door 61 on the hall side is in the open state, the DS signal is in the OFF state.

The SUL signal is a signal detected by the slow-up switch, as described above. When the slow-up switch is in the ON state, the SUL signal is in the ON state, and when the slow-up switch is in the OFF state, the SUL signal is in the OFF state.

The SDL signal is a signal detected by the slowdown switch, as described above. When the slowdown switch is in the ON state, the SUL signal is in the ON state, and when the slowdown switch is in the OFF state, the SUL signal is in the OFF state.

When the running direction of the car 10 is in the UP direction, the UP signal is in the ON state, and when the running direction of the car 10 is in a direction other than the UP direction, the UP signal is in the OFF state. When the running direction of the car 10 is in the DN direction, the DN signal is in the ON state, and when the running direction of the car 10 is in a direction other than the DN direction, the DN signal is in the OFF state.

The first floor UP hall call signal is a signal that is turned ON when the UP hall call button 81 of the first floor hall device 230 is in the pressed state. When the UP hall call button 81 is pressed down, the contact is turned on, and when the UP hall call button 81 is released from the pressed state, the contact is turned off.

The fifth floor DN hall call signal is a signal that is turned on when the DN hall call button 82 of the fifth floor hall device 230 is in the pressed state. When the DN hall call button 82 is pressed down, the contact is turned on, and when the DN hall call button 82 is released from the pressed state, the contact is turned off.

Although not shown, hall call signals output from other hall call buttons and car call signals output from other car call buttons are also input to the control panel 210.

The remote inspection device 100 includes a control device 110, an input IF (interface) 130, an output IF (interface) 140, and a communication IF (interface) 120.

The input IF 130 is a board for inputting a part of the signal input/output by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 as a determination signal. The signal lines of the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal input to the control panel 210 are branched, and the input IF 130 is provided with each branched signal line. connected to the terminal. Each signal input to the input IF 130 is further transmitted to the control device 110.

The output IF 140 is a board for outputting signals to the elevator equipment group 220. The control device 110 can output a first floor UP hall call signal and a fifth floor DN hall call signal to the output IF 140. When the output IF 140 receives the first floor UP hall call signal from the control device 110, it outputs the received first floor UP hall call signal to the elevator equipment group 220, and outputs the fifth floor DN hall call signal to the control device 110. When received, the received 5th floor DN hall call signal is output to the elevator equipment group 220.

The first floor landing device 230 is provided with a first floor UP hall call button 81. A signal line for transmitting a first floor UP hall call signal is provided between the first floor hall device 230 and the control panel 210. The fifth floor hall device 230 is provided with a fifth floor DN hall call button 82. A signal line for transmitting a 5th floor DN hall call signal is provided between the 5th floor hall device 230 and the control panel 210. In this embodiment, since the hall call signal is transmitted from the hall device 230 to the control panel 210 by serial transmission, a parallel transmission line is branched from the control panel 210 side to input the hall call signal to the remote inspection device 100. It shall not be possible to output it.

When the UP hall call button 81 on the first floor is pressed, the contacts are short-circuited and a signal that is in an ON state is input to the hall device 230 on the first floor. As a result, the first floor hall device 230 transmits (serial transmission) a first floor UP hall call signal in an ON state to the control panel 210. A signal line for transmitting a first floor UP hall call signal is connected to a terminal of the output IF 140, and this signal line is connected to the hall device 230. When the output IF 140 outputs the ON state 1st floor UP hall call signal, the contacts of the 1st floor UP hall call button 81 are modified so as to short-circuit. As a result, a first floor UP hall call signal in an ON state is transmitted from the first floor hall device 230 to the control panel 210. That is, by transmitting the first floor UP hall call signal in the ON state from the output IF 140, it is possible to create a state in which the first floor UP hall call button 81 is pressed in a pseudo manner.

When the fifth floor DN hall call button 82 is pressed, the contacts are short-circuited and a signal that is in an ON state is input to the fifth floor hall apparatus 230. As a result, the fifth floor hall device 230 transmits (serial transmission) a fifth floor DN hall call signal in an ON state to the control panel 210. A signal line for transmitting a 5th floor DN hall call signal is connected to a terminal of the output IF 140, and this signal line is connected to the hall device 230. When the output IF 140 outputs the ON state 5th floor DN hall call signal, the contacts of the 5th floor DN hall call button 82 are modified so as to short-circuit. As a result, a 5th floor DN hall call signal in an ON state is transmitted from the 5th floor hall device 230 to the control panel 210. That is, by transmitting the 5th floor DN hall call signal in the ON state from the output IF 140, it is possible to create a state in which the 5th floor DN hall call button 82 is pressed in a pseudo manner.

In the present embodiment, in order to perform a remote inspection, the remote inspection device 100 generates a pseudo hall call and causes the car 10 to run thereby, which is referred to as "diagnostic operation." In this example, the remote inspection device 100 generates a pseudo 1st floor UP hall call and a 5th floor DN hall call as described above. By combining these two hall calls, it is possible to perform a diagnostic operation in which the car 10 travels between the bottom floor (first floor) and the top floor (fifth floor).

Signals are transmitted and received between the elevator equipment group 220, the input IF 130, and the output IF 140 through parallel transmission. Signals are transmitted and received between the input IF 130 and the output IF 140 and the control device 110 through parallel transmission. The signals input from each signal line connecting the elevator equipment group 220 and the input IF 130 vary in voltage, etc. depending on the manufacturer (for example, 24 V, 48 V, 100 V), so they are shared by the input IF 130 and sent to the control device 110. Input the signal.

Further, in this embodiment, a temperature sensor 15 is installed in the machine room 5. The control device 110 is configured to be able to acquire the detection results of the temperature sensor 15. Thereby, the control device 110 can detect the temperature of the machine room 5. The temperature sensor 15 is not limited to the machine room, but may be installed at any position within the elevator hoistway 8, around the hoistway 8, or around the elevator. Further, in the present embodiment, control device 110 is configured to be able to acquire the voltage of intercom 16 attached to car 10. Using this information, it is possible to determine whether the temperature of the machine room 15 or the like or the state of the intercom is normal.

The control device 110 is a PLC that includes at least a processor (CPU) 111 and a memory 112. The memory is, for example, ROM and RAM. These are communicably connected to each other via a bus. The ROM stores a program for controlling the control device 110. The CPU controls the control device 110 by reading a program stored in the ROM into the RAM and executing it. The RAM serves as a work area when the CPU executes a program, and temporarily stores programs and data used when executing the program. The control device 110 is configured to be able to communicate with an input IF 130, an output IF 140, and a communication IF 120. Communication IF 120 is a board for communicating with management server 300 via a network.

As described above, the terminal 400 includes the display section 410 and the input section 420. Display unit 410 is, for example, a display. Input unit 420 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel display integrated with display unit 410.

The management server 300 issues a command for remote inspection to the control device 110 via the communication IF 120, and acquires the results of the remote inspection from the control device 110. Like the control device 110, the terminal 400 and the management server 300 also include a processor (CPU) and memory (ROM, RAM).

The control device 110 generates a pseudo first floor UP hall call by transmitting a first floor UP hall call signal to the first floor hall device 230 via the output IF 140. The control device 110 generates a pseudo 5th floor DN hall call by transmitting a 5th floor DN hall call signal to the 5th floor hall device 230 via the output IF 140. This allows the car 10 to travel between the first floor and the fifth floor and perform the above-described diagnostic operation.

The control device 110 acquires the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal input and output to the control panel 210 via the input IF 130. Further, the control device 110 acquires the detection result of the temperature sensor 15 and the voltage of the intercom 16 as signals. Control device 110 determines each item of remote inspection based on these signals, and transmits the determination results to management server 300 via communication IF 120. The determination result can be confirmed on the terminal 400.

Here, the specifications of each signal input from the elevator system 200 may differ depending on the elevator manufacturer or elevator model. For example, when acquiring signals corresponding to the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal, the ON state and the OFF state may be input in reverse. For example, regarding the LB signal, it is assumed that there are cases in which the signal is turned ON when the brake is applied (brake not released) and cases where the signal is turned ON when the brake is released.

In this embodiment, the memory 112 of the control device 110 stores conversion maps corresponding to each manufacturer or model. Using the conversion map, each signal is converted so that the specifications of the signals are made common (for example, conversion to invert ON/OFF of the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal). Further, the SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not essential signals, and there is no problem even if these signals cannot be obtained (details will be described later).

For example, the signal from the rotary encoder of the hoisting machine 250 may be captured and the UP signal and DN signal may be generated based on this signal, or the UP signal and DN signal may be generated based on the DZ signal (details will be described later). ). In this case, the rotary encoder signal or DZ signal may be converted into an UP signal and a DN signal using the above conversion map.

As explained using FIG. 2, the configuration is such that the control panel 210 and the maintenance equipment manufactured by Company X can be connected via serial communication via the connector 261 provided on the control panel 210. has been done.

(Diagnostic operation)
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the running of the car 10 and the signals in the diagnostic operation. As described above, in this embodiment, a pseudo 1st floor UP hall call and a 5th floor DN hall call are generated, and the car 10 is given a call between the lowest floor (1st floor) and the highest floor (5th floor). It is possible to carry out a diagnostic operation in which the vehicle is driven. This makes it possible to measure, for example, the travel time from the first floor to the fifth floor.

The diagnostic operation is performed in a state in which the car 10 is not excluded from the allocated cars, that is, in a state in which the car 10 is able to respond to a hall call from an elevator user. Therefore, even if you call the car 10 to the 1st floor by diagnostic operation and then try to make it run to the 5th floor, there is a possibility that the car will run to a different floor than the 1st floor due to a passenger calling the hall. During business operations, the train may stop on a floor between the first and fifth floors due to a passenger's car call. For this reason, the diagnostic operation is performed, for example, once a month, such as late at night when there are no customers using the elevator.

The determination of inspection items for remote inspection includes determination based on "driving diagnosis" and determination based on "continuous diagnosis." Performing diagnostic driving and diagnosing remote inspection items based on the diagnostic driving is referred to as "driving diagnosis." In the driving diagnosis, a determination is made using a determination signal obtained when the car 10 travels in response to a hall call signal transmitted by the instruction unit 155 (described later) of the remote inspection device 100.

On the other hand, diagnosing remote inspection items not only during diagnostic operation but also every time the car 10 is operated by an elevator passenger's operation is referred to as "continuous diagnosis." In the constant diagnosis, determination is made using the acquired determination signal regardless of whether or not a hall call signal has been transmitted by the instruction unit 155 of the remote inspection device 100.

In this example, assume that the car 10 is stopped on the first floor at time t0. At this time, since the car 10 is stopped at the lowest floor (first floor), the SUL signal is in the OFF state and the SDL signal is in the ON state. Since the brake of the hoisting machine 250 is operating, the LB signal is in the OFF state. Since the car 10 is located on the first floor in a position range where the door can be opened (within the door zone), the DZ signal is in the ON state. Since the door 60 on the car 10 side is in the closed state, the GS signal is in the ON state. Since the door 61 on the landing side is in the closed state, the DS signal is in the ON state.

Here, in order to perform diagnostic operation, it is assumed that the remote inspection device 100 outputs the 5th floor DN hall call signal to the ON state to the 5th floor hall device 230. As a result, a pressed state of the DN hall call button 82 of the hall device 230 on the fifth floor is generated in a simulated manner.

As a result, the 5th floor DN hall call is registered, and at time t1, the car 10 starts traveling toward the 5th floor. At this time, the brake of the hoist 250 is released, and the LB signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Since the position of the car 10 is out of the first floor door zone, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Furthermore, since the slowdown switch changes from the ON state to the OFF state, the SDL signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. The car 10 is in an accelerated running state and is running in the UP direction.

Thereafter, the car 10 enters a constant speed running state (the speed of the car 10 reaches the rated speed and the car 10 is running while maintaining the rated speed), and at time t2, the position of the car 10 is on the second floor. Suppose it became. At this time, the position of the car 10 enters the second floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Further, when the position of the car 10 moves out of the second floor door zone, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t3, the position of the car 10 has reached the fourth floor, the position of the car 10 has entered the door zone of the fourth floor, and the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. When the position of the car 10 leaves the fourth floor door zone, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Thereafter, at time t4, the car 10 changes to a decelerated running state in order to stop at the 5th floor.

Assume that the car 10 stops at the fifth floor (top floor) at time t5. As the slowdown switch changes from the ON state to the OFF state, the SDL signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. As the position of the car 10 enters the fifth floor door zone, the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The brake of the hoisting machine 250 is operated (released from the open state), and the LB signal is changed from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t6, when the car 10 is in the open state (the door 60 on the car 10 side and the door 61 on the hall side are in the open state), the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the door of the car 10 is closed. As a result, the GS signal and the DS signal change from the OFF state to the ON state.

In this way, when the remote inspection device 100 outputs the 5th floor DN hall call signal to the elevator system 200 in the ON state while the car 10 is stopped on the 1st floor, the car 10 is stopped on the 1st floor. It can run up to the 5th floor. At that time, various changing signals of the elevator are acquired by the remote inspection device 100, and remote inspection can be performed based on these signals.

In order to stop the car 10 on the first floor, the remote inspection device 100 may turn on and output the first floor UP hall call signal to the elevator system 200. As a result, the car 10 travels toward the first floor.

Furthermore, when the remote inspection device 100 outputs the UP hall call signal for the first floor to the elevator system 200 in the ON state while the car 10 is stopped on the 5th floor, the car 10 is moved from the 5th floor to the 1st floor. It can be run up to. At that time, various changing signals of the elevator are acquired by the remote inspection device 100, and remote inspection can be performed based on these signals.

Note that the diagnostic operation is not limited to the one performed by generating a UP hall call for the lowest floor and the DN hall call for the top floor, but may be performed by a hall call for any second floor. For example, assume that the service is set to be disconnected so that the elevator service for the top floor (fifth floor) is not provided (the elevator cannot stop at the top floor). In this case, a diagnostic operation may be performed by generating a UP hall call for the first floor and a DN hall call for the fourth floor. However, in this case, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to modify so that the fourth floor DN hall call signal is output to the hall device 230 on the fourth floor instead of the hall device 230 on the fifth floor.

(About signals suitable for remote inspection)
In this embodiment, signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used for determining conditions for operating the safety circuit of the elevator are used as signals for determining remote inspection. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (workability), hall calls rather than car calls are used as output signals for remote inspection operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation). The reason for this will be explained below.

Elevators are equipped with safety circuits that stop the operation of the elevator when hardware or software detects a predetermined abnormality. For example, when any one of the plurality of contacts included in the safety circuit is opened, the power supply to the hoisting machine 250 and the brake coil of the electromagnetic brake of the hoisting machine 250 is cut off. . As a result, the driving force of the hoisting machine 250 is lost, and the electromagnetic brake is brought into a braking state to stop the car 10.

The elevator system 200 is equipped with a speed governor (not shown), an emergency stop device (not shown), a shock absorber 14, and the like as safety devices. The speed governor is a device that is installed in the car 10 and physically detects the speed of the car 10. The emergency stop device is a device that is installed in the car 10 and physically applies a brake to the car 10 when the speed governor detects an abnormal speed. The shock absorber 14 is installed in the pit 6 and is a device that absorbs the impact when the car 10 falls.

For example, if hardware (speed governor) or software (internal signal) detects that car 10 is running at an abnormal speed, the software issues a command to stop car 10, and the hardware or software also activates a safety circuit. Activate. When the safety circuit is activated, the power supplied to the elevator is stopped, and the operation of the car 10 is stopped. Furthermore, the car 10 can be physically stopped by an emergency stop device or a shock absorber 14.

When the safety circuit is activated, power supply to the brake coil of the electromagnetic brake of the hoisting machine 250 is cut off (the LB signal is in the OFF state), and as a result, the electromagnetic brake enters the braking state and the car 10 stops.

Alternatively, the limit switch (final limit switch) installed at the bottom of the slow-down switch or the top of the slow-up switch is turned ON, and a safety circuit is activated to prevent a collision with the top or bottom of the hoistway. It operates and the car 10 stops.

Further, if the car 10 runs with the door open, there is a risk that a passenger may fall into the hoistway 8 from the landing side, or a person may be caught between the doorway and the car 10 on the landing side. Therefore, when the door 61 on the landing side is open (the landing door switch (DS signal) is OFF) or the door 60 on the car side is open (the car door switch (GS signal) is OFF), the car 10 is Elevators are controlled so that they do not run.

Further, when the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF), the elevator is controlled so that the door does not open. For example, when the car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF) and the door is open (DS signal or GS signal is OFF), the safety circuit is activated and the car 10 is stopped.

The elevator safety device and safety circuit described above operate as described above in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Building Standards Act. For this reason, each manufacturer's elevators use DS signal (ON/OFF of hall door switch), GS signal (ON/OFF of car door switch), LB signal (release/braking of electromagnetic brake), and DZ signal (door zone detection). /non-detection) or a similar signal is normally output as a contact signal. These signals are used to determine conditions for operating the elevator safety circuit.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, DZ signal, or similar signals, which are commonly used by all companies, are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection. Other signals may or may not be acquired as parallel transmission signals depending on the manufacturer or elevator model. When such a signal is used, depending on the elevator, there will be cases where it is possible to determine the items for remote inspection and cases where it is not possible.

The DZ signal can be used to calculate travel time between floors or car position. For example, assume that the car 10 is currently stopped at the lowest floor (first floor). When the car 10 starts traveling, the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state, and when the car position reaches the second floor, the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state.

Therefore, when the car 10 is stopped on the first floor, the time from when the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state to when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state is calculated by the car 10 from the first floor to the second floor. It can be calculated that the travel time is . Further, the car position may be changed from the first floor to the second floor at the timing when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. In this way, it is possible to calculate the travel time between floors and the floor position based on the change timing of the DZ signal.

At this time, the car position may be set as the first floor (lowest floor) when the SDL signal is in the ON state, and the car position may be set as the fifth floor (the top floor) when the SUL signal is in the ON state. Additionally, when the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON, the car position is increased by one floor if the UP signal is ON, and the car position is decreased by one floor if the DN signal is ON. That's fine.

However, in remote inspection, the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not necessarily essential signals. For example, suppose that late at night, when there are no elevator users, a first floor UP hall call is generated by diagnostic operation. It is also possible to set the floor where the car 10 has stopped in response to the 1st floor UP hall call as the "1st floor". Alternatively, a 5th floor DN hall call is generated. It is also possible to set the floor where the car 10 has stopped as the "5th floor" in response to the 5th floor DN hall call.

In addition, in late-night diagnostic operation, when generating a 1st floor UP hall call, 5th floor DN hall call, and 1st floor UP hall call, when responding to the first 1st floor UP hall call, car position = 1st floor, Set the car direction = UP direction. Next, while the car is running due to the 5th floor DN hall call, the floor of the car position is incremented by 1 each time the DZ signal changes to the ON state. In the state in which the 5th floor DN hall call is answered, the car position is set as the 5th floor and the car direction is set as the DN direction. Next, while the car is running due to the 1st floor UP hall call, each time the DZ signal changes to the ON state, the floor of the car position is decremented by 1. In the state in which the 1st floor UP hall call is answered, the car position is set as 1st floor and the car direction is set as UP direction. With this configuration, the car position and running direction can be determined without taking in the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal.

Furthermore, when the UP signal and the DN signal cannot be obtained, it is also possible to use the detection results of the door zone detection device. For example, it is assumed that the door zone detection device includes a plurality of sensors, and a plurality of door zone detection plates are installed corresponding to each of the plurality of sensors. The detection timings of the plurality of sensors differ depending on the position of the car 10. If the timing at which each sensor changes to the ON state (or the timing at which it changes to the OFF state) differs depending on whether the car direction is the UP direction or the DN direction, the timing at which each sensor changes state is used to change the car direction. Just specify the direction.

Further, when the UP signal and the DN signal cannot be obtained, it is also possible to use pulse information of the rotary encoder of the hoisting machine 250. In this case, the signal line output from the rotary encoder to the control panel 210 is branched so that the signal can be input to the remote inspection device 100. In this case, the direction of the car can be determined depending on which of the A-phase and B-phase pulses is output first. For example, if the B-phase pulse is output with a 1/4 period delay after the A-phase pulse, the car direction is set to the UP direction, and the A-phase pulse is output with a 1/4 period delay after the B-phase pulse. The car direction may be set to the DN direction.

Note that when output information from the rotary encoder is used, it is also possible to calculate the car position and car speed of the car 10. It is possible to calculate the distance traveled by the car 10 (car position) from the number of pulses detected from the rotary encoder. It is also possible to calculate the car speed based on the number of pulses detected per unit time. In this case, it is possible to know whether the car 10 is in a stopped state, an accelerated running state, a constant speed running state, or a decelerated running state, and it can be determined whether the car position and car speed are appropriate. It also becomes easier to do.

However, the relationship between the number of pulses output from the rotary encoder and the car position varies depending on the rated speed of the elevator, the type of elevator, the manufacturer of the elevator, the type of rotary encoder, etc. Therefore, it becomes necessary to actually measure the relationship between the number of pulses and the car position at each site, which complicates the construction design and installation work of the remote inspection system 1. Therefore, in view of ease of installation and installation cost, it is desirable to use the DZ signal to grasp the position information of the elevator, as described above.

Further, in the present embodiment, when performing a diagnostic operation in which the car 10 is run, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to output the top floor DN hall call and the bottom floor UP hall call in a pseudo manner. There is. This allows the car 10 to run between the bottom floor and the top floor.

When it is desired to run the car 10 between the bottom floor and the top floor in this way, the remote inspection device 100 simulates the car call to the top floor and the car call to the bottom floor instead of the landing call. It may also be configured to output. However, in this embodiment, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (workability), the remote inspection device 100 outputs hall calls instead of car calls.

As described above, in order to generate a hall call in a pseudo manner, the contact point of the hall call button of the hall apparatus 230 installed in the hall is modified so that a signal input short-circuits the hall call button. A signal line (signal cable) for transmitting a hall call signal runs from the remote inspection device 100 installed in the machine room 5 to the top floor embedded in the wall of the hoistway 8. And what is necessary is just to connect to the hall call button of the hall apparatus 230 of the lowest floor. When the signal line is installed along the wall of the hoistway 8 in this way, the installation is relatively easy because there are no obstacles on the way.

On the other hand, in order to generate a car call in a pseudo manner, the car call button is modified so that the contacts of the car call button of the car device 240 installed in the car 10 are short-circuited by signal input. To do this, the signal line for transmitting the car call signal needs to be connected from the remote inspection device 100 installed in the machine room 5 to the car call button of the car device 240 installed inside the car 10. .

In this case, since it is necessary to insert a signal line inside the car 10, it is necessary to use an empty line among the signal lines in the control cable 22 connecting the machine room 5 and the car 10. However, it is necessary to check which lines are vacant, and there is a possibility that there are no vacant lines. Furthermore, it is necessary to check whether the signal lines of the control cable 22 match between the machine room 5 side and the car 10 side, which makes installation difficult. Under these circumstances, in the present embodiment, hall calls are generated in a pseudo manner in the diagnostic operation, and car calls are not generated in a pseudo manner.

As described above, in this embodiment, signals transmitted in parallel are used to determine inspection items for remote inspection, instead of signals transmitted serially, which have different communication specifications depending on the manufacturer and model. In particular, in this embodiment, signals that are commonly used regardless of manufacturer and model and are suitable for use from the viewpoint of ease of installation (workability) and installation cost are used to determine inspection items for remote inspection. I am using it.

Specifically, hall call signals, DS signals, GS signals, LB signals, DZ signals, or similar signals used to determine conditions for operating elevator safety circuits are used to determine inspection items for remote inspections. I am using it. As described above, a major issue in this embodiment is how to carry out remote inspection under a situation where signals suitable for use with remote inspection device 100 are greatly limited.

For example, when using serial transmission signals (for example, the remote inspection device 500 manufactured by Company X that communicates serially with the control panel 210 shown in FIG. 2), remote inspection can be easily carried out as follows. can.

Elevators have unique speed patterns for each model and rated speed. The speed pattern indicates the relationship between the elapsed time and the car speed when traveling from the starting floor to the destination floor. When the car 10 starts traveling from the travel start floor, it enters an accelerated traveling state, then enters a constant speed traveling state, and immediately before arriving at the destination floor, it enters a decelerated traveling state. The control panel 210 is capable of calculating and holding the actual measured value of the speed pattern from the travel start floor to the destination floor based on the pulse signal acquired from the rotary encoder of the hoisting machine 250. Therefore, by comparing the measured value of the speed pattern with the speed pattern specific to the elevator (pre-prepared values), it is possible to check whether the elevator's starting state, acceleration running state, constant speed running state, and deceleration running state are normal. It can be determined whether or not. As shown in FIG. 2, if the remote inspection device 500 is connected to the control panel 210 through serial communication, it is possible to access the internal signals held by the control panel 210, so remote inspection can be easily performed using this method. It becomes realizable.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the remote inspection device 100 uses a "DZ signal" (a signal that specifies whether or not it is within the door zone) as a signal that specifies the position due to restrictions on signals suitable for use in remote inspection. ). From the DZ signal, it cannot be determined whether the car 10 is in an accelerated running state, a constant speed running state, or a decelerated running state. Therefore, in order to perform remote inspection using limited signals, it is necessary to devise a determination method. In other words, when implementing remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500 capable of serial communication, the inspection items for remote inspection are determined by combining signals such as the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, and DZ signal. I have no motivation, and I can't even think of such an idea.

In this embodiment, on the premise that the control panel 210 controls one elevator (car 10) (see FIG. 3), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, for the elevator system 200, One remote inspection device 100 is configured to be connected. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the control panel 210b controls multiple elevators (cars 10) (multi-car configuration), each of the multiple elevators (cars 10) can be remotely inspected. What is necessary is just to configure so that the apparatus 100 is installed. Alternatively, one remote inspection device 100 may be installed for a plurality of elevators.

When installing the remote inspection device 100 in each of a plurality of elevators (cars 10), the configuration may be as follows. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, some of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect the each car control unit 212 that controls the No. 1 car and the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the No. 1 car are It may be configured such that the determination signal such as the DZ signal of the first machine is input to the remote inspection device 100 (input IF 130) connected to the first machine.

Similarly, a part of the signal line included in the control cables 22 and 23 connecting the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the second car and the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the second car is branched, and The configuration may be such that the determination signal such as the DZ signal is input to the remote inspection device 100 (input IF 130) connected to the second machine. In this case, each remote inspection device 100 acquires the determination signal of the elevator car 10 (the target car to be determined by the control unit 152) connected to the remote inspection device 100, and performs remote inspection on the target car. Make a judgment on the item.

The plurality of remote inspection devices 100 connected to the plurality of elevators may be configured to be connected to one management server 300 and one terminal 400. Note that in the case of a multi-car, a hall call signal is not transmitted to the hall device 230. If it is a multi-car vehicle and a hall call signal is to be transmitted to the hall device 230, each remote inspection device 100 (output IF 140) and the hall device 230 are connected by a signal line. The hall device 230 may be configured so that the contact point of the hall call button can be short-circuited by a signal output from any of the remote inspection devices 100.

When installing one remote inspection device 100 for a plurality of elevators (cars 10), the configuration may be as follows. In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, a signal line that is a branch of a part of the signal line included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connects each unit control unit 212 that controls the first car and the elevator equipment group 220b of the first car, and Each of the signal lines, which are branched parts of the signal lines included in the control cables 22 and 23 that connect each unit control unit 212 that controls the No. 2 car and the elevator equipment group 220b of the No. 2 car, is connected to one remote inspection device. 100 may be input. In this case, the remote inspection device 100 may judge the remote inspection items for each car and send the judgment results for each car to the management server 300.

(Processing executed by remote inspection system 1)
The processing executed by the remote inspection system 1 will be specifically described below. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a functional block diagram of the remote inspection system 1. The remote inspection system 1 includes an acquisition section 151, a control section 152, an output section 153, a reception section 154, and an instruction section 155, and stores a data group 156.

The reception unit 154 receives an operation by a maintenance worker (a user who operates the terminal 400) from the input unit 420 of the terminal 400. For example, on the display screen of the display unit 410 of the terminal 400, the maintenance worker can set the date and time for conducting the driving diagnosis, manually execute the driving diagnosis, etc. by operating the input unit 420 (see FIG. reference).

The control unit 152 can access the data group 156. The data group 156 includes setting data 422, a reference time database (also referred to as “DB”) 423, an operation history 424, and a determination result 425. The control unit 152 reads or updates the setting data 422, the reference time DB 423, the operation history 424, and the determination result 425.

The setting data 422 is data in which various information related to remote inspection is stored. For example, the setting data 422 records information about the building 2 and elevators related to remote inspection. When the date and time for performing the diagnostic operation is set by operating the input unit 420, the control unit 152 records the date and time in the setting data 422.

The reference time DB 423 is a database in which the control unit 152 records reference times (for example, a reference time KA of startup time, which will be described later) that is used for determining each inspection item of remote inspection. The details will be described later using FIGS. 12 and 13. The operation history 424 is historical data of signals of the elevator system 200 acquired by the remote inspection system 1. The determination result 425 is data in which the determination result of each inspection item of the remote inspection is stored.

The control unit 152 is configured to control a hall that generates an elevator hall call in order to carry out an operation diagnosis based on the execution date and time of the operation diagnosis recorded in the setting data 422 or an operation diagnosis execution command operated (manually) by a maintenance worker. Generate a call signal.

The instruction unit 155 transmits the hall call signal generated by the control unit 152 to the elevator equipment group 220 of the elevator system 200. By responding to this hall call, elevator system 200 executes diagnostic operation.

The acquisition unit 151 acquires determination signals (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, etc.) from the elevator equipment group 220 of the elevator system 200. The acquisition unit 151 constantly acquires signals from the elevator equipment group 220, as well as the determination signals at the time of the operation diagnosis.

The control unit 152 determines inspection items for remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit 151 (performs determination processing), and generates a determination result. The inspection items for remote inspection are the starting state, accelerating running state, constant speed running state, decelerating running state, landing state, destination floor button state, landing button state, door open/close state, and brake state (electromagnetic) of the car 10. including the presence or absence of brake abnormalities). The control unit 152 records the acquired determination signal in the operation history 424 and records the determination result of the inspection item of the remote inspection in the determination result 425.

The output unit 153 outputs information such as determination results of inspection items of the remote inspection to be displayed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400. This allows maintenance personnel to check the determination results of the remote inspection on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400.

In this embodiment, the remote inspection system 1 is configured by a remote inspection device 100, a management server 300, and a terminal 400. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the remote inspection system 1 may be configured without including the management server 300 and the terminal 400, or may be configured as a device that integrates these. For example, the remote inspection system 1 may be configured only by the remote inspection device 100, or may be configured by the remote inspection device 100 and the management server 300. Further, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to include a control device 110, an input IF 130, an output IF 140, and a communication IF 120. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the functions of the input IF 130, output IF 140, and communication IF 120 may be integrated so that all functions are realized in the control device 110.

The processing executed by the acquisition unit 151, the control unit 152, the output unit 153, the reception unit 154, and the instruction unit 155 may be a process executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110, or the processing executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110, or the processing executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110. It may be executed by any processor of the board included in the computer. For example, the acquisition unit 151 may be a process executed by a processor of the input IF 130. The instruction unit 155 may be a process executed by a processor of the output IF 140. The output unit 153 and the reception unit 154 may be processes executed by any one of the processors of the communication IF 120, the management server 300, and the terminal 400. The remote inspection device 100 may be configured to include an acquisition unit 151, a control unit 152, an output unit 153, a reception unit 154, and an instruction unit 155, or the remote inspection device 100 may include an acquisition unit 151 and an instruction unit 155. , the management server 300 may be configured to include a control section 152, an output section 153, and a reception section 154. The data group 156 may be stored in the memory 112 of the control device 110, or a portion thereof may be stored in the memory of the management server 300.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen 421 of the remote inspection system 1. Display screen 421 is displayed on display unit 410 of terminal 400. The display screen 421 displays remote inspection setting information, determination results for each remote inspection item, setting buttons, and the like.

At the top of the display screen 421, it is shown that the property name of Building 2 is "ABC Building." Below that, the judgment status related to driving diagnosis is displayed. In this example, the results of the diagnostic operation between the first floor and the fifth floor as shown in FIG. 8 are shown for each traveling direction.

The "UP direction" column shows the results when traveling from the 1st floor to the 5th floor in the UP direction. "Traveling time" is the time required to travel from the first floor to the fifth floor. "Start-up time" is the time required to start the car 10 (until it passes through the door zone) when starting traveling from the first floor. In addition, when traveling from the 1st floor to the 5th floor, the time required to travel from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor (including acceleration traveling state), and the time required to travel from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor (constant speed traveling state) The time taken to travel from the 3rd floor to the 4th floor (constant speed running state), and the time required to travel from the 4th floor to the 5th floor (including decelerated running state) are shown. The same applies to the "DN direction" column.

Here, the "measured time" is the time actually measured during the diagnostic operation. The "reference time" is a time that serves as a reference for determining whether or not the measured time is normal. The "determination condition" is a condition determined based on a reference time, and when the measured time is within the numerical range of the determination condition, it is determined that the state is in a "normal state." On the other hand, if the measured time is outside the numerical range of the determination conditions, it is determined that the state is in a "modulation state."

In this implementation, the "modulation state" refers to a state that does not correspond to a normal state. Although the modulation state cannot be called an abnormal state, it is a state that includes a state that indicates a failure of some equipment in the elevator system 200 or a sign of an abnormal state. By determining whether or not the device is in a "modulated state," it is possible to detect a sign of a failure (a state before a failure occurs). In the "judgment" column, a circle mark is displayed when the judgment result is a "normal state", and a triangle mark is displayed when the judgment result is a "modulation state".

For example, in "Startup time" on the display screen 421, the reference time is KA, the measurement time is TA, the determination conditions are KAL to KAH, and the determination result is a normal state. This means that since the condition of KAL≦TA≦KAH is satisfied, a normal state is obtained as a result of determining the startup time.

Furthermore, the determination result based on the driving diagnosis is shown at the bottom. In this example, the starting state, running state, car call button state, and hall call button state are determined to be the "normal state", and the door opening/closing state is determined to be the "modulating state". At the bottom, the results of the constant diagnosis are shown. In this example, the brake state and landing state are determined to be "normal states."

At the bottom of the display screen 421, various buttons that can be clicked by the input unit 420 are arranged. In "Driving diagnosis setting", it is possible to set the date and time for executing the driving diagnosis. In this example, 23:59 on the 23rd is input by the input unit 420 in the "driving diagnosis setting". When the "setting" button is clicked, the driving diagnosis is executed at 23:59 on the 23rd of every month. This setting information is recorded in the setting data 422.

Furthermore, in addition to automatically executing the driving diagnosis once a month, by clicking the "manual driving diagnosis" button, the driving diagnosis can be executed immediately. When the driving diagnosis is executed, the display of "measured time" is updated based on the execution result, and a "normal state" or "modulated state" is indicated as a determination result.

In the "Reference time" column, in principle, the operation diagnosis is performed when the remote inspection system 1 is installed in the building 2, and the measurement time at that time is set as the reference time. However, when the "save reference time" button is clicked, the time measured in the most recently executed driving diagnosis is updated as the reference time, and the determination conditions are updated based on the updated reference time.

For example, in the example of FIG. 10, the measurement time of the startup time in the most recent driving diagnosis is measured as "TA", and the reference time is "KU". In this state, when the "Save reference time" button is clicked, the reference time is updated to "TA", and the determination conditions KAL and KAH are updated based on the updated reference time.

Hereinafter, the processing executed by the remote inspection system 1 will be explained based on the flowchart. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the remote inspection process and terminal setting process. The remote inspection system 1 executes remote inspection processing. The remote inspection process is a process of determining inspection items for remote inspection based on the determination signal. The remote inspection process may be activated periodically (for example, every 100 msec). Hereinafter, the "step" will also be simply referred to as "S".

On the other hand, when an operation button is clicked on the display screen 421 of the terminal 400, the terminal setting process is executed. When the terminal setting process starts, the terminal 400 determines in S151 whether or not the "manual driving diagnosis" button has been clicked. When the "manual driving diagnosis" button is clicked (YES in S151), the terminal 400 sets a request for manual driving diagnosis (S152), and advances the process to S153. In this case, a request for manual driving diagnosis is sent to the remote inspection device 100. If the "manual driving diagnosis" button is not clicked (NO in S151), the terminal 400 directly advances the process to S153.

In S153, the terminal 400 determines whether the "save reference time" button has been clicked. When the "save reference time" button is clicked (YES at S153), the terminal 400 sets a request for saving the reference time (S154), and advances the process to S155. In this case, a request to save the reference time is sent to the remote inspection device 100. If the "save reference time" button is not clicked (NO in S153), the terminal 400 directly advances the process to S155.

In S155, the terminal 400 determines whether the "settings" button has been clicked. When the "setting" button is clicked (YES in S155), the terminal 400 requests setting of the driving diagnosis setting time (S156), and ends the terminal setting process. In this case, the driving diagnosis setting time is transmitted to the remote inspection device 100. If the "setting" button is not clicked (NO in S155), the terminal 400 ends the terminal setting process.

On the other hand, when the remote inspection process starts, the control unit 152 of the remote inspection system 1 executes a reference time acquisition process (see FIG. 14 described later) in S100. In the reference time acquisition process, the reference time used in determining inspection items for remote inspection is acquired from the reference time DB 423 and set.

In S101, the control unit 152 determines whether a "manual driving diagnosis" request has been made or whether the current time has reached the driving diagnosis setting time. When the "manual driving diagnosis" button is clicked, a request for "manual driving diagnosis" is set (S152). The driving diagnosis setting time is the time set based on the driving diagnosis setting time setting request (S156).

If any of the above conditions is satisfied (YES in S101), the control unit 152 advances the process to S102. On the other hand, if the control unit 152 determines that any of the above conditions is not satisfied (NO in S101), the control unit 152 advances the process to S104.

The control unit 152 executes a driving diagnosis process in S102. The process at the time of driving diagnosis is a process of transmitting a hall call signal and executing a determination process based on the hall call signal when performing a driving diagnosis. In the driving diagnosis process, a hall call signal is generated. For example, as explained using FIG. 8, the 1st floor UP hall call signal and the 5th floor DN hall call signal are generated to cause the car 10 to travel from the 1st floor to the 5th floor and from the 5th floor to the 1st floor. Ru.

The instruction unit 155 then outputs the hall call signal generated by the control unit 152 to the elevator system 200. This causes the car 10 to travel in response to the hall call. Then, a determination process is performed based on this driving result. Details of the process during driving diagnosis will be described later.

The acquisition unit 151 acquires determination signals (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, etc.) from the elevator system 200 in S104. The control unit 152 continues to obtain the determination signal from the elevator system 200 until the termination condition is satisfied (YES in S105).

For example, the termination condition may be satisfied at the timing when the car 10 reciprocates between the first floor and the fifth floor, or the car 10 may complete a predetermined operation (for example, opening/closing a door, releasing/braking a brake, etc.). The termination condition may be satisfied each time the patient is placed on the bed, or the termination condition may be satisfied periodically (for example, every few minutes).

If the control unit 152 determines that the termination condition is met (YES in S105), it executes the determination process (S106). In the determination process, inspection items for remote inspection are determined. Inspection items include one or more of the following: starting state, accelerating running state, constant speed running state, decelerating running state, landing state, destination floor button state, landing button state, door opening/closing state, and brake state. Make judgments regarding the following items.

In S<b>107 , the control unit 152 records the acquired determination signal in the operation history 424 and records the determination result obtained in the determination process in the determination result 425 .

In S108, the output unit 153 outputs the determination result obtained in the determination process. For example, the output unit 153 outputs (sends) the determination result to the management server 300 via the network. The terminal 400 can obtain the determination result by accessing the management server 300 via the network. Thereby, the determination result can be confirmed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400, as shown in FIG.

In S109, the control unit 152 executes a reference time update process and ends the remote inspection process. Although the details will be explained later using FIG. 13, this process updates the reference time of mode B in the reference time DB 423.

(Switching reference time)
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the reference time DB 423. The "reference time" shown in FIG. 10 is a value read from the reference time recorded in the reference time DB 423.

In the reference time DB 423, values such as "running time" and "starting time" are set, as in FIG. 10. Any one of modes A to D can be set in advance as a mode when reading the reference time DB 423. Although not shown, the configuration may be such that the setting can be changed to any one of modes A to D by a maintenance worker's operation on the terminal 400.

In the example of FIG. 10, mode A is set. For this reason, the time KU is read out as the "travel time" in the UP direction in the reference time DB 423, and the time KA is read out as the "startup time" and displayed on the display screen 421 in FIG.

Here, mode A is set when it is desired to use a fixed value every time as the reference time. When mode A is set, the reference time set in the mode A item of the reference time DB 423 is used every time. In principle, these reference times are set to those measured when the remote inspection device 100 is installed in the building 2. However, when the "save reference time" button is clicked on the display screen 421, the reference time is replaced with the time measured during the most recent driving diagnosis (diagnostic driving).

Mode B is set when it is desired to use the previous value as the reference time. When mode B is set, the reference time set in the mode B item of the reference time DB 423 is used. The reference time set in the mode B item is updated every time driving diagnosis (diagnosis driving) is performed.

In the example of FIG. 10, diagnostic operation is performed once a month at 23:59 on the 23rd. For example, in the diagnostic operation at 23:59 on January 23rd, if the reference time is time KA1 and the measurement time is time TX at the startup time in the UP direction, then the reference time for mode B in the reference time DB 423 is time. It is updated from KA1 to time TX. As a result, in the next diagnostic operation at 23:59 on February 23rd (next month), the time TX is used as the reference time for the startup time in the UP direction.

Mode C is set when it is desired to change the reference time according to the temperature of the machine room 5. The temperature of the machine room 5 is measured by a temperature sensor 15. The reference time set in the item of mode C is set when the temperature of the machine room 5 is less than K1℃ (~K1℃), when it is higher than K1℃ and less than K2℃ (K1℃~), and when the temperature of the machine room 5 is K2℃ These are values measured by classifying the temperature into cases where the temperature is above K3°C and below K3°C (K2°C~) and cases where the temperature is above K3°C (K2°C~). For example, the reference time may be changed in 5°C increments or 10°C increments.

This reference time may be set based on the results of the diagnostic operation. For example, if the temperature of the machine room 5 when the diagnostic operation is performed to measure the reference time is K1°C or more and less than K2°C, the temperature in the reference time DB 423 is K1°C or more and less than K2°C (K1°C or more and less than K2°C). Record the reference time in the item ~). The diagnostic operation may be performed multiple times and the average value may be set as the reference time.

When mode C is set, the reference time set in the mode C item of the reference time DB 423 is used according to the current temperature of the machine room 5. For example, if the temperature of the machine room 5 during diagnostic operation is less than K1°C (~K1°C), the reference time set for the item below K1°C (for example, "KA2" in the startup time in the UP direction) is used.

Note that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is not limited to the temperature of the machine room 5. The temperature sensor 15 may be installed at any position within the elevator hoistway 8, around the hoistway 8, or around the elevator.

Mode D is set when it is desired to change the reference time depending on the season. The reference time set in the mode D item is a value measured by classifying the seasons into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. For example, if diagnostic driving was performed to measure the reference time in the summer, the reference time is recorded in the summer item.

When mode D is set, the reference time set in the mode D item of the reference time DB 423 is used depending on the season. For example, if the season during the diagnostic operation is spring, the reference time set in the spring item (for example, "KU126" in the UP direction startup time) is used.

Modes B to D are modes prepared for hydraulic elevators. In the case of a hydraulic elevator, the characteristics of the oil change depending on the season and temperature, which tends to cause differences in the running characteristics of the car 10. For example, compared to when the temperature is high in the summer, the oil is thicker in the winter, so it takes longer to start up and the running time tends to vary. For this reason, the standard time is changed depending on the season or temperature, which changes the characteristics of the oil. Furthermore, the reason why the value at the previous diagnosis (value from last month) is used in mode B is to use a reference time in which the temperature environment or device environment is close to that at the time of the most recent diagnosis.

Further, the reference time recorded in the reference time DB 423 includes "the time when the vehicle is outside the door zone (also referred to as "DZ")." This measures the time from when the car 10 stops at a certain floor (the LB signal changes from ON to OFF) to when it leaves the door zone (when the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF). This is what I did. For example, in the mode A item of the reference time DB 423, time KX is set as "time outside the DZ".

In a hydraulic elevator, when the car 10 is stopped on a certain floor, the car sinks little by little over time (the floor of the car gradually lowers with respect to the floor of the landing). This may cause it to move out of the door zone. Since this time varies depending on the season or temperature depending on the characteristics of the oil, the reference time is configured to be changeable in each case.

Furthermore, the reference times recorded in the reference time DB 423 include door opening times for the first to fifth floors. The door open time in the reference time DB 423 is the time from when the car 10 stops at a certain floor and the GS signal and the DS signal change from the ON state to the OFF state until the time when the OFF state changes to the ON state (the door open time). (opening time). For example, in the mode A item of the reference time DB 423, time KY1 is set as the first floor door opening time. In the mode A item of the reference time DB 423, time KY5 is set as the door opening time for the 5th floor.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the reference time update process. The reference time update process is a process executed in S109 (after the determination process is executed) of the remote inspection process shown in FIG. 11. The reference time update process is also executed when there is a request to save the reference time (S154).

When the reference time update process starts, if the control unit 152 determines that there is a "reference time save" request (YES in S251), it updates the reference time DB 423 (S252) and advances the process to S253. If the control unit 152 determines that there is no request to save the reference time (NO in S251), the control unit 152 directly advances the process to S253.

In S252 (when the "Save reference time" button is clicked), each reference time for modes A to D (travel time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) is saved. Update. For example, in the driving time in the UP direction, the season at the time of the driving diagnosis executed immediately before the "Save reference time" button was clicked was summer, the machine room temperature was K3°C or higher, and the measurement time was "TUX". In this case, "KU" in mode A, "KU1" in mode B, "KU5" in "K3℃～" in mode C, and "KU7" in "summer" in mode D are changed to "TUX". Thereby, when a driving diagnosis is executed, the measured time in the driving diagnosis can be updated as the reference time.

When the reference time update process is called in S109 after the determination process in the remote inspection process (YES in S253), the control unit 152 updates each reference time (running time, startup time, floor time) of mode B in the reference time DB 423. The elapsed time between floors, the time outside the DZ, and the door open time) are updated (S254), and the reference time update process is ended. If the reference time update process is not called in S109 (NO in S253), the control unit 152 immediately ends the reference time update process.

In S254, for example, in the UP direction traveling time, if the measured time at the time of driving diagnosis is "TUY", "KU1" in mode B is changed to "TUY". Thereby, the measurement time is changed to the mode B reference time every time the driving diagnosis is executed. Therefore, when mode B is set, the time measured when the driving diagnosis was performed last time (last month) is used as the reference time.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the reference time acquisition process. The reference time acquisition process is a process executed in S100 of the remote inspection process shown in FIG. 11. If mode A is set (YES in S201), the control unit 152 acquires the reference time of mode A (S202), and advances the process to S209. For example, "KU" of mode A is acquired in the UP direction traveling time.

If mode A is not set (NO in S201) and mode B is set (YES in S203), the control unit 152 acquires the reference time of mode B (S204) and proceeds to S209. Proceed with the process. For example, "KU1" in mode B is acquired in the UP direction traveling time.

If mode B is not set (NO in S203) and mode C is set (YES in S205), the control unit 152 sets the reference time of mode C that matches the current machine room temperature. The information is acquired (S206), and the process advances to S209. For example, when the current machine room temperature is K3° C. or higher, “KU5” of “K3° C.~” in mode C is acquired during the UP direction travel time.

If mode C is not set (NO in S205) and mode D is set (YES in S207), the control unit 152 acquires the reference time of mode C that matches the current season. (S208), and the process advances to S209. For example, if the current season is summer, "KU7" for "summer" in mode C is acquired in the UP direction travel time.

If mode D is not set (NO in S207), the control unit 152 advances the process to S209. In S209, the control unit 152 sets the acquired reference time as the reference time to be used, and ends the reference time setting process.

Regarding switching of the reference time, the configuration and effects of this embodiment are summarized below.

(A) The control unit 152 uses the measurement time calculated (measured) at the time of driving diagnosis as the reference time of the reference time DB 423 (travel time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door open can be updated as (time). For example, the control unit 152 can update the startup time TA measured during driving diagnosis as the reference time KA (in the UP direction) of the startup time in the reference time DB 423. By doing so, inspection items for remote inspection can be determined using values that match the operational state of the elevator at the site.

(B) The reference times (traveling time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) recorded in the reference time DB 423 are based on multiple values measured for each season (spring, (summer, autumn, winter values). The control unit 152 selects one of a plurality of values depending on the current season to determine the inspection item. For example, the reference time of the startup time recorded in the reference time DB 423 includes a plurality of values (KA6 to KA9 (in the UP direction) of mode D) measured for each season. The control unit 152 selects KA7 and determines the activation time when the current season is summer. By doing so, highly accurate determination results can be obtained not only for rope elevators but also for hydraulic elevators whose oil characteristics change depending on the season.

(C) The reference times (traveling time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) recorded in the reference time DB 423 are multiple times for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15. (values of ~K1°C, K2°C~, K3°C~, K4°C~). The control unit 152 selects one of a plurality of values according to the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 and determines the inspection item. For example, the reference time (reference time KA) of the startup time recorded in the reference time DB 423 includes multiple values (KA2 to KA5 (in the UP direction) of mode C) for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15. include. The control unit 152 selects KA5 and determines the startup time when the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is K4° C. or higher. By doing so, highly accurate determination results can be obtained not only for rope-type elevators but also for hydraulic elevators whose oil characteristics change depending on temperature.

(D) The instruction unit 155 periodically transmits a hall call signal. Specifically, as shown in S101 and S102, a hall call is generated and output every time the driving diagnosis set time comes once a month. After performing the driving diagnosis, the control unit 152 calculates the reference times (travel time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) in the reference time DB 423 during the driving diagnosis. The measurement time is changed to the measured time (S109). For example, after performing the driving diagnosis, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the startup time in the reference time DB 423 to the measured time TA of the startup time calculated at the time of the driving diagnosis. In this way, highly accurate determination results can be obtained using values that correspond to the latest operating conditions of the elevator at the site. For example, it is possible to cope with cases where the state of the equipment changes due to aging of the equipment or adjustment of valves in a hydraulic elevator.

(E) The reception unit 154 receives operations (such as clicking a "manual operation diagnosis" button, clicking a "save reference time" button, etc.) by a maintenance worker (user). The control unit 152 generates a hall call signal when the "manual driving diagnosis" button is clicked (S151, S101). The instruction unit 155 transmits the generated hall call signal. When the "save reference time" button is clicked (S153), the control unit 152 saves the reference time (travel time, startup time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door opening time) in the reference time DB 423. ) is changed to the measurement time calculated at the time of driving diagnosis (S252). For example, when the "save reference time" button is clicked, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the startup time in the reference time DB 423 to the measurement time TA of the startup time calculated at the time of driving diagnosis (UP direction). In this way, by manually changing the value to a value that corresponds to the latest operating state of the elevator at the site, highly accurate determination results can be obtained. For example, it is possible to cope with cases where the state of the equipment changes due to aging of the equipment or adjustment of valves in a hydraulic elevator.

[Determination of inspection items for remote inspection]
Next, determination of inspection items in remote inspection performed in this embodiment will be explained. Determination of inspection items for remote inspection is performed in a determination process executed in a driving diagnosis process, etc., which will be described later. The inspection items for remote inspection are the starting state, acceleration running state, constant speed running state, decelerating running state, landing state, destination floor button (car call button) state, and landing button (hall call button) state of the car 10. status, door open/close status, and brake status.

In the determination process, one or more of the above inspection items is determined. In the present embodiment, the description will be made assuming that in the determination processing, the state of the car call button is determined as an inspection item of remote inspection. Determination of the state of the car call button will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15 to 24.

(Judgment of car call button status)
There are a plurality of running states. The plurality of running states include an accelerated running state in which the car 10 runs while accelerating, a constant speed running state in which the car 10 runs at a constant speed, and a decelerated running state in which the car 10 runs while decelerating.

Hereinafter, the process in which the instruction unit 155 transmits the hall call signal will be referred to as "transmission process." The transmission process includes a first floor UP hall call signal that generates a first floor hall call in the UP direction on the first floor (in this embodiment, the first floor), and a first floor UP hall call signal that generates a first floor hall call signal in the UP direction. This is a process of transmitting a second floor DN hall call signal that generates a second floor hall call in the DN direction on the second floor (in this embodiment, the fifth floor).

The transmission process includes a first transmission process and a second transmission process. The first transmission process is based on the transmission of the UP hall call signal of the first floor, and after the waiting time TW (in this embodiment, 30 seconds) has elapsed after the car 10 arrives at the first floor. This is a process of transmitting a DN hall call signal for the second floor that generates a hall call for the second floor in the DN direction. The second transmission process is performed at the UP landing on the first floor after the waiting time TW (30 seconds) has elapsed after the car 10 arrives at the second floor based on the transmission of the DN hall call signal on the second floor. This is the process of transmitting a call signal.

Note that the first transmission process is not limited to generating a hall call after the waiting time TW has elapsed, but simply transmits a DN hall call signal for the second floor after transmitting a UP hall call signal for the first floor. The second transmission process may include transmitting the UP hall call signal for the first floor after transmitting the DN hall call signal for the second floor.

In this embodiment, the first floor is the lowest floor (lowest floor on which the car 10 can be stopped) among the floors on which the car 10 can be stopped. The second floor is the fifth floor (the highest floor on which the car 10 can be stopped) among the floors on which the car 10 can be stopped. For example, if the 1st floor cannot be stopped because the service is set to be disconnected or the floor cannot be physically stopped, the 1st floor will be set to the 2nd floor, and even if the 5th floor cannot be stopped, the 1st floor will be set to the 2nd floor. In this case, the second floor is set to the fourth floor. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and any floor may be set as the first floor, and any floor above the first floor may be set as the second floor.

In this case, when the output IF 140 sends a pseudo first floor UP hall call signal to the first floor hall device 230, the contacts of the first floor UP hall call button 81 are short-circuited. (See Figure 7). When a pseudo second floor DN hall call signal is sent from the output IF 140 to the second floor hall device 230, the contacts of the second floor DN hall call button 82 are short-circuited. Remodel.

The control unit 152 generates a hall call signal to be transmitted through transmission processing. The instruction unit 155 performs a transmission process to transmit the generated hall call signal. In this embodiment, the operation of the car 10 based on the hall call signal transmitted through this transmission process is referred to as "diagnostic operation." Further, the process in which the control unit 152 performs a determination process based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit 151 as a result of the above transmission process is called "driving diagnosis."

15 and 16 are timing charts for explaining the running state. In FIG. 15, a case will be described in which the car 10 travels from the first floor to the fifth floor in response to a fifth floor DN hall call generated by the remote inspection device 100 (a fifth floor DN hall call signal transmitted by the instruction unit 155).

At time t0, the car 10 is stopped on the first floor. At this time, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone on the first floor (the DZ signal is in the ON state), and the speed of the car 10 is 0 (the car 10 is in the stopped state).

Here, it is assumed that the remote inspection device 100 generates a 5th floor DN hall call. The car 10 starts running in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call. As a result, at time t1, the position of the car 10 is outside the door zone on the first floor, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

When the car 10 starts running, the car 10 enters an accelerated running state. At time t2, when the speed of the car 10 reaches the rated speed, the car 10 changes from the accelerated running state to the constant speed running state. At time t3, when time TU12 has elapsed from time t1, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone on the second floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Furthermore, at time t4, the position of the car 10 is outside the door zone on the second floor, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t5, when time TU23 has elapsed from time t3, the position of the car 10 is within the third floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. At time t6, the position of the car 10 is outside the third floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t7, when time TU34 has elapsed from time t5, the position of the car 10 is within the fourth floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. At time t8, the position of the car 10 is outside the fourth floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t9, the car 10 changes from a constant speed running state to a decelerating running state in order to stop at the 5th floor. At time t10, when time TU45 has elapsed from time t7, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone on the fifth floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The car 10 stops at the 5th floor, and the car speed becomes 0 (it is in a stopped state). At time 11, the speed of the car 10 is 0, and the DZ signal is in the ON state.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16, a case will be described in which the car 10 travels from the fifth floor to the first floor due to a first floor UP hall call. At time t0, the car 10 has stopped on the 5th floor. At this time, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone of the fifth floor (the DZ signal is in the ON state), and the speed of the car 10 is 0 (the car 10 is in the stopped state).

Here, it is assumed that the remote inspection device 100 generates a 1st floor UP hall call (instruction unit 155 transmits a 1st floor UP hall call). The car 10 starts running in order to respond to the first floor UP hall call. As a result, at time t1, the position of the car 10 is outside the door zone on the fifth floor, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

When the car 10 starts running, the car 10 enters an accelerated running state. At time t2, when the speed of the car 10 reaches the rated speed, the car 10 changes from the accelerated running state to the constant speed running state. At time t3, when time TD54 has elapsed from time t1, the position of the car 10 is within the fourth floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. Further, at time t4, the position of the car 10 is outside the fourth floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t5, when time TD43 has elapsed from time t3, the position of the car 10 is within the third floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. At time t6, the position of the car 10 is outside the third floor door zone, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t7, when time TD32 has elapsed from time t5, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone on the second floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. At time t8, the position of the car 10 is outside the door zone on the second floor, and the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

At time t9, the car 10 changes from a constant speed running state to a deceleration running state in order to stop on the first floor. At time t10, when time TD21 has elapsed from time t7, the position of the car 10 is within the door zone on the first floor, and the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The car 10 stops on the first floor, and the car speed becomes 0 (it is in a stopped state). At time 11, the speed of the car 10 is 0, and the DZ signal is in the ON state.

FIGS. 17 to 19 are diagrams for explaining determination of the state of the car call button. Referring to FIG. 17, a case will be described in which the state of the car call button can be correctly determined. In FIG. 18, a case will be described in which the state of the car call button cannot be determined because a car call has occurred. Referring to FIG. 19, a case will be described in which the state of the car call button cannot be determined due to a malfunction of the car call button.

In the situation shown in FIG. 17, it is assumed that the operation diagnosis is performed when the car 10 is stopped on the second floor. At time t0, the remote inspection device 100 generates a first floor UP hall call 91. Thereby, the car 10 travels in the DN direction toward the first floor in order to respond to the first floor UP hall call 91.

The car 10 responds to the first floor UP hall call 91 and stops on the first floor. At time t1, the remote inspection device 100 generates a 5th floor DN hall call 92. As a result, the car 10 starts traveling up in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call 92. At time t2, the car 10 is running in the UP direction toward the 5th floor.

The car 10 responds to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 and stops at the 5th floor. At time t3, the remote inspection device 100 generates a first floor UP hall call 91. Thereby, the car 10 starts DN running in order to respond to the first floor UP hall call 91. At time t4, the car 10 is running in the DN direction toward the first floor. At time t5, the car 10 responds to the first floor UP hall call 91 and stops on the first floor.

According to the above procedure, the car 10 reciprocates between the bottom floor (first floor) and the top floor (fifth floor) from time t1 to t5. In this case, the state of the car call button can be correctly determined because the car shuttles between the first and fifth floors without stopping at intermediate floors.

Next, a case in which the state of the car call button cannot be correctly determined because a car call has been registered will be described using FIG. 18. At time t0, the car 10 is stopped on the first floor. At time t1, the car 10 is traveling in the UP direction toward the 5th floor in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 generated by the remote inspection device 100. In this case, a passenger is riding in the car 10. 4th floor car call 93 is registered by passengers heading to the 4th floor.

At time t3, the car 10 responds to the fourth-floor car call 93, stops on the fourth floor, and then opens its door. Furthermore, in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call 92, the vehicle starts traveling toward the 5th floor. At time t3, the car 10 responds to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 and stops at the 5th floor.

In this case, the train stops midway through the floor and the operation diagnosis is restarted. At time t4, the remote inspection device 100 again generates the first floor UP hall call 91, and the car 10 is stopped on the first floor.

Then, the remote inspection device 100 again generates the 5th floor DN hall call 92, and at time t5, the car 10 is traveling in the UP direction toward the 5th floor. At time t6, the car 10 responds to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 and stops at the 5th floor. In this case, the car does not stop halfway due to the car call.

Furthermore, similarly to time t3 to time t5 in FIG. 17, the remote inspection device 100 generates the first floor UP hall call 91, and the car 10 runs from the fifth floor to the first floor. As a result, the state of the car call button can be correctly determined in order to operate the car back and forth between the first floor and the fifth floor without stopping at intermediate floors.

Next, a case where the state of the car call button cannot be correctly determined due to a malfunction of the car call button will be described using FIG. 19. At time t0, the car 10 is stopped on the first floor. In this example, it is assumed that the 4th floor car call is always registered due to a malfunction of the 4th floor car call button. For example, a situation can be assumed in which the button is pushed in and does not return, and the switch for the fourth floor car call button is continuously turned on.

At time t1, the car 10 is traveling in the UP direction toward the 5th floor in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 generated by the remote inspection device 100. In this case, although there are no passengers in the car 10, the fourth floor car call 94 is registered due to a malfunction.

At time t3, the car 10 responds to the fourth-floor car call 93, stops on the fourth floor, and then opens its door. Furthermore, in order to respond to the 5th floor DN hall call 92, the vehicle starts traveling toward the 5th floor. At time t3, the car 10 responds to the 5th floor DN hall call 92 and stops at the 5th floor.

In this case, the UP travel time from the 1st floor to the 5th floor cannot be measured correctly, so the measurement is restarted. At time t4, the remote inspection device 100 again generates the first floor UP hall call 91, and the car 10 is stopped on the first floor. However, the fourth floor car call 94 remains registered.

The remote inspection device 100 again generates a 5th floor DN hall call 92, and at time t5, the car 10 is traveling in the UP direction toward the 5th floor. However, at time t6, the car 10 stops on the fourth floor in response to the fourth floor car call 94. In this way, the car 10 stops on the fourth floor, so no matter how many times the car 10 tries, it is not possible to accurately measure the travel time. In this case, the state of the car call button cannot be determined correctly.

Hereinafter, a method for determining the driving state will be explained using a flowchart. FIG. 20 is a flowchart of processing during driving diagnosis. As shown in FIG. 11, the driving diagnosis process is executed in S102 of the remote driving process. That is, in the display screen 421 shown in FIG. 10, when the "manual driving diagnosis" button is clicked or when the set driving diagnosis setting time (for example, 23:59 on the 23rd of every month) comes, the driving diagnosis Time processing is executed.

When the driving diagnosis process starts, the control unit 152 executes a running generation process in S301. As will be described later, in the travel generation process, the control unit 152 generates a plurality of hall call signals. The instruction unit 155 performs a transmission process of sequentially transmitting the generated hall call signals, thereby executing the diagnostic driving. The control unit 152 calculates the car position, travel time, travel state, etc. of the car 10 based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit 151 during the diagnostic operation by the transmission process.

In S302, the control unit 152 determines whether there is any stoppage on floors (2nd to 4th floors) between the top floor (1st floor) and the bottom floor (5th floor), excluding the forced stop floor. do. When the control unit 152 determines that there is no stoppage on any intermediate floor except for the forced stop floor (YES in S302), the control unit 152 advances the process to S303. If the control unit 152 does not determine that there is no stoppage on any intermediate floor except for the forced stop floor (NO in S302), the control unit 152 advances the process to S305.

The control unit 152 uses information including the DZ signal to specify the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the first floor and the fifth floor (described later). Then, the control unit 152 determines whether the car 10 has stopped on a floor between the first floor and the fifth floor based on the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the first floor and the fifth floor. judge.

The control unit 152 executes determination processing in S303. As will be described later, in the determination process, the control unit 152 determines whether the car call button is in a normal state.

In S304, the control unit 152 determines whether the state of the car call button has been determined. If the control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button has been determined (YES in S304), it ends the driving diagnosis process.

On the other hand, if the control unit 152 does not determine that the car call button is in the car call button state (NO in S304), the control unit 152 advances the process to S305. The control unit 152 executes determination cancellation processing in S305. In the determination cancellation process, if there is a determination of the driving state that has already been made, this is canceled.

In this way, the control unit 152 determines that the car 10 has stopped on the floor between the first and fifth floors based on the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the first and fifth floors. If so, a cancellation process is performed to cancel the determination of the determination process based on the transmission process.

In S306, the control unit 152 determines whether the determination of the determination process has been canceled ten times in a row by the cancel process. When the control unit 152 determines that the determination process has been canceled ten times in a row by the cancel process (YES in S306), the control unit 152 advances the process to S307. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the determination process has been canceled ten times in a row by the cancel process (NO in S306), the control unit 152 advances the process to S308.

In S307, the control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button is in the modulated state, and ends the driving diagnosis process. That is, if the determination in the determination process is canceled ten times in a row by the cancel process, the control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button is in the modulated state. The control unit 152 executes a wait process (3 minutes) in S308, and returns the process to S301. As a result, the travel occurrence process and determination process are performed again after the 3-minute waiting time has elapsed.

As explained above, when the car 10 traveling between the first floor and the fifth floor stops on the floor between the first floor and the fifth floor based on the transmission process, the control unit 152 performs the determination process. Perform cancellation processing to cancel the judgment. What is canceled here is the determination of the determination process executed based on the hall call signal transmission process executed in the travel generation process.

When the cancellation process is performed, the instruction unit 155 performs the hall call signal transmission process again in the travel generation process after a specific time (3 minutes) has elapsed since the cancellation process. The control unit 152 performs the determination process again based on the transmission process that has been performed again. Note that if the vehicle stops at an intermediate floor in either the UP direction or the DN direction, the vehicle may be restarted only in the traveling direction in which the vehicle stopped at the intermediate floor.

The reason why the cancellation process is performed in this way is because if the train stops on a floor midway, it cannot be determined whether the travel time between the 1st floor and the 5th floor is appropriate during the travel state determination process. be. In addition, when determining the state of the car call button and the state of the hall call button, the car 10 is stopped by the car call button or hall call button pressed by the passenger between the 1st floor and the 5th floor. Since it is not possible to determine whether the car 10 has stopped due to a problem with the car call button or the hall call button, the cancellation process is performed and then reconfirmation is performed through the travel occurrence process and determination process.

Furthermore, if the car 10 has responded to another hall call registered by the passenger, the state of the car call button may not be determined (YES in S304). Even in such a case, after performing the cancellation process, the travel occurrence process and determination process are executed again.

However, if the floor between the first floor and the fifth floor is set as a forced stop floor, the control unit 152 does not perform the cancellation process even if the car 10 stops at the forced stop floor. This is because the car 10 always stops at the forced stop floor, and stopping at the forced stop floor is unrelated to the determination of whether or not it is in the modulation state. Therefore, when determining the travel time from the 1st floor to the 5th floor, it is advisable to set a reference time in advance, including stopping at the forced stop floor. set the travel time). Alternatively, the determination process may be performed by excluding the travel time between floors before and after the forced stop floor.

Diagnostic driving is performed late at night when there are no users. If a user happens to be present during this time period, the user may make a car call or a landing call, and the train may stop at an intermediate floor. In this case, since the traveling time between the first to fifth floors cannot be measured correctly, the cancellation process can be performed and the determination can be made again. Under such circumstances, the possibility that a car call or hall call will be made by a user ten times in a row and the car will stop at an intermediate floor is extremely close to zero. However, if the vehicle stops at an intermediate floor 10 times in a row, it is determined that the vehicle is in a modulated state because some kind of problem may have occurred.

If it is determined that the modulation state is present, maintenance personnel can confirm this on the terminal 400. In this case, for example, there is a possibility that a problem occurs in which a hall call button or a car call button on an intermediate floor is pushed in, and ON signals are constantly being transmitted from these buttons. For this reason, maintenance personnel go to the site and check the situation. As a result of checking, if the problem has been resolved, a manual driving diagnosis may be performed by clicking the "manual driving diagnosis" button (see FIG. 10) on the display screen 421.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the travel occurrence process. When the driving diagnosis process starts, the control unit 152 generates a hall call signal to be generated in S401. For example, the instruction unit 155 transmits a top floor (fifth floor) DN hall call signal. When the car 10 arrives at the top floor, the instruction unit 155 transmits a bottom floor (first floor) UP hall call signal after a waiting time TW (30 seconds) from arrival. When the car 10 arrives at the bottom floor, the instruction unit 155 transmits the top floor DN hall call signal after a waiting time TW (30 seconds) from the arrival. Thereby, the car 10 reciprocates between the bottom floor and the top floor. Note that the hall call signal may be transmitted at any timing without waiting for the waiting time TW (30 seconds) to elapse.

In this embodiment, "arriving" at a certain floor refers to the timing at which the vehicle enters the door zone on that floor (the timing at which the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state). In this embodiment, the judgment is made using the DZ signal, but if the judgment is also made using the LB signal, "arriving" at a certain floor means that the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. It may also refer to the timing at which the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state (that is, the timing at which the car 10 is braked by the brake).

Alternatively, the following may be used. The instruction unit 155 transmits a bottom floor UP hall call signal. When the car 10 arrives at the bottom floor, the instruction unit 155 transmits the top floor DN hall call signal after a waiting time TW (30 seconds) from the arrival. When the car 10 arrives at the top floor, the instruction unit 155 transmits a bottom floor UP hall call signal after a waiting time TW (30 seconds) from the arrival. Thereby, the car 10 reciprocates between the bottom floor and the top floor.

In S402, the instruction unit 155 performs a process of transmitting the next hall call signal. The "next hall call signal" refers to the hall call signal to be transmitted next. For example, assume that the signals are transmitted in the order of the top floor DN hall call signal, the bottom floor UP hall call signal, and the top floor DN hall call signal, as described above. In this case, in S402, if any hall call signal has not been transmitted, the first top floor DN hall call signal is transmitted, and if the first top floor DN hall call signal has been transmitted, If the second lowest floor UP hall call signal is transmitted and the second lowest floor UP hall call signal has also been transmitted, the third highest floor DN hall call signal is transmitted.

In S403, the control unit 152 executes car information measurement processing, which will be described later. Through the car information measurement process, the control unit 152 calculates the car position, running time, running state, etc. of the car 10 based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit 151 during the diagnostic operation by the transmission process.

In S404, the control unit 152 determines whether the car 10 has arrived at the floor where the hall call has occurred. When the control unit 152 determines that the car 10 has arrived at the floor where the hall call has occurred (YES in S404), the control unit 152 advances the process to S405. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the car 10 has arrived at the floor where the hall call has occurred (NO in S404), the control unit 152 returns the process to S404. Thereby, the car 10 waits until it arrives at the floor where the hall call occurs.

In S405, the control unit 152 determines whether all hall call signals have been transmitted. All hall call signals refer to all signals that were scheduled to be transmitted. When the control unit 152 determines that all the hall call signals have been transmitted (YES in S405), the control unit 152 ends the driving diagnosis process. If the control unit 152 does not determine that all the hall call signals have been transmitted (NO in S405), the processing of S402 to S405 of returning the process to S402 is repeated until there are no hall call signals to be transmitted.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of car information measurement processing. When the car information measurement process starts, the control unit 152 determines in S501 whether the SDL signal is in the ON state. The processes in S501 to S510 are performed when the car 10 travels from the lowest floor (first floor) to the highest floor (fifth floor).

When the control unit 152 determines that the SDL signal is in the ON state (YES in S501), the control unit 152 advances the process to S502. When the SDL signal is in the ON state, it can be determined that the car position is the lowest floor (first floor). Note that, as described above, it is possible to determine whether the car position is at the lowest floor without using the SDL signal.

If the control unit 152 does not determine that the SDL signal is in the ON state (NO in S501), the control unit 152 advances the process to S511. In S502, the control unit 152 sets the floor position i of the car 10 to be the lowest floor.

In S503, the control unit 152 determines whether the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state. If the control unit 152 determines that the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state (YES in S503), the control unit 152 advances the process to S504. In this case, the car 10 is in a running state.

If the control unit 152 does not determine that the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state (NO in S503), the process returns to S503. This waits until the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

The control unit 152 starts a timer in S504. As a result, the measurement of the travel time from the first floor is started at the timing when the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Note that if the LB signal is also used, the measurement of the traveling time from the first floor may be started at the timing when the LB signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (when the brake is released).

In S505, the control unit 152 determines whether the traveling direction is the UP direction. Whether or not the direction is UP may be determined based on the UP signal, or may be determined using another method described above without using the UP signal.

When the control unit 152 determines that the traveling direction is the UP direction (YES in S505), the control unit 152 advances the process to S506. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the traveling direction is the UP direction (NO in S505), it ends the car information measurement process. If the traveling direction is not the UP direction, there is a possibility that the vehicle is responding to another hall call. In this case, since driving diagnosis cannot be performed, the car information measurement process is ended.

In S506, the control unit 152 sets a stop flag at floor position i if the DZ signal continues to be in the ON state for a predetermined period of time (for example, 5 seconds) or more. Thereby, it can be determined whether there is a stop between the first floor and the fifth floor (halfway floor). In this way, using information including the DZ signal, based on the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the 1st and 5th floors, it is possible to determine whether the car 10 is on the floor between the 1st and 5th floors. Determine whether it has stopped. Note that if the travel time calculated based on the DZ signal is longer than the reference time by a predetermined time or more, it may be determined that there has been a stop at an intermediate floor.

In S507, the control unit 152 determines whether the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. If the control unit 152 determines that the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state (YES in S507), the control unit 152 advances the process to S508. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state (NO in S507), the process returns to S505. This waits until the DZ signal changes to the ON state.

In S508, the control unit 152 sets the travel time and travel state for floor positions i to i+1. For example, if the first floor is set as the floor location, the situation from time t1 to time t3 in FIG. 15 corresponds to this. From the timing when the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state (t1 in Fig. 15) to the timing when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (t3 in Fig. 15), the running time from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor is calculated. TU12 and the corresponding driving state (described later) are set.

The control unit 152 increases the floor position i by one in S509. In S510, the control unit 152 determines whether the floor position i is the top floor. If the control unit 152 determines that the floor position i is the top floor (YES in S510), it ends the car information measurement process. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the floor position i is the top floor (NO in S510), the control unit 152 returns the process to S505.

As a result, each time the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the floor position is updated from the lowest floor (i = 1) to the highest floor (i = 5), and the travel time and travel time are updated each time the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state. The state is set.

For example, if the second floor is set as the floor position, the situation from time t3 to time t5 in FIG. 15 corresponds to this. From the timing when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (t3 in Fig. 15), and the next timing when the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (t5 in Fig. 15), the floor position changes from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. A running time TU23 and a running state corresponding to this are set. Similarly, each time the DZ signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state, the floor position is updated, and the running time for the 3rd to 4th floor positions TU34 and the running time for the 4th to 5th floors are updated. TU45 and the corresponding driving state are set.

For example, when the vehicle is traveling only at a constant speed between floors, the traveling state may be set to be equal to the constant speed traveling state. When the traveling state includes traveling in an accelerated traveling state between floors, traveling state=accelerated traveling state may be set. When the traveling state includes traveling in a decelerated traveling state between floors, traveling state=decelerated traveling state may be set. In the example of FIG. 15, the traveling state=accelerated traveling state is set in the traveling section from the first floor to the second floor. In the running section from the second floor to the third floor and the running section from the third floor to the fourth floor, the running state=constant speed running state is set. In the travel section from the 4th floor to the 5th floor, the travel state=deceleration travel state is set.

The processing in S511 to S520 is performed when the car 10 travels from the top floor (fifth floor) to the bottom floor (first floor) (example in FIG. 16). In S511, the control unit 152 determines whether the SUL signal is in the ON state.

When the control unit 152 determines that the SUL signal is in the ON state (YES in S511), the control unit 152 advances the process to S512. When the SUL signal is in the ON state, it can be determined that the car position is the lowest floor (first floor). Note that, as described above, it is possible to determine whether the car position is at the lowest floor without using the SUL signal. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the SUL signal is in the ON state (NO in S511), it ends the car information measurement process.

In S512, the control unit 152 sets the floor position i of the car 10 to the top floor (fifth floor). In S513, the control unit 152 determines whether the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state. When the control unit 152 determines that the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state (YES in S513), the control unit 152 advances the process to S514. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the DZ signal has changed from the ON state to the OFF state (NO in S513), the process returns to S513. This waits until the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

The control unit 152 starts a timer in S514. As a result, the measurement of travel time from the 5th floor is started at the timing when the DZ signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state. Note that if the LB signal is also used, the measurement of the travel time from the 5th floor may be started at the timing when the LB signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state (when the brake is released).

In S515, the control unit 152 determines whether the traveling direction is the DN direction. Whether or not it is in the DN direction may be determined based on the DN signal, or may be determined using another method described above without using the DN signal. When the control unit 152 determines that the traveling direction is the DN direction (YES in S515), the control unit 152 advances the process to S516.

If the control unit 152 does not determine that the traveling direction is the DN direction (NO in S515), it ends the car information measurement process. If the traveling direction is not the DN direction, there is a possibility that the vehicle is responding to another hall call. In this case, the diagnostic data cannot be acquired normally, so the process ends.

In S516, the control unit 152 sets a stop flag at floor position i if the DZ signal continues to be in the ON state for a predetermined period of time or more. This makes it possible to determine whether there is a stop between the 5th floor and the 1st floor (halfway floor).

In S517, the control unit 152 determines whether the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state. If the control unit 152 determines that the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state (YES in S517), the control unit 152 advances the process to S518. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the DZ signal has changed from the OFF state to the ON state (NO in S517), the process returns to S515. This waits until the DZ signal changes to the ON state.

In S518, the control unit 152 sets the travel time and travel state for floor positions i to i-1. The control unit 152 decreases the floor position i by one in S519. In S520, the control unit 152 determines whether the floor position i is the lowest floor. When the control unit 152 determines that the floor position i is the lowest floor (YES in S520), the control unit 152 ends the car information measurement process. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the floor position i is the lowest floor (NO in S520), the control unit 152 returns the process to S515.

In this embodiment, the car position is specified by the floor position as described above. The car position (floor position) is updated every time the DZ signal changes from an OFF state to an ON state. Therefore, the timing at which the floor position is updated is different between the UP direction and the DN direction. For example, in the UP direction, the car position is defined as the second floor from when the car enters the door zone on the second floor until just before it enters the door zone on the third floor. On the other hand, in the DN direction, the car position is defined as the second floor from when the car enters the door zone on the second floor until just before it enters the door zone on the first floor. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the separation between floors may be set arbitrarily. For example, the car position may be defined as the second floor from the intermediate position between the door zone on the first floor and the door zone on the second floor to the intermediate position between the door zone on the second floor and the third floor. This intermediate position may be calculated based on travel time.

Further, the car position may be set based on the distance from the landing position on the lowest floor instead of the floor position. For example, if the distance between each floor is 3m, the car position when stopped on the 1st floor is 0m, the car position is 3m when stopped on the 2nd floor, and the car position is 3m when stopped on the 5th floor. The car position will be 12m (3m x 4).

As explained above, the control unit 152 uses information including the DZ signal to determine the position of the car 10 and each of the plurality of running states (accelerated running state, constant speed running state, deceleration running state) of the car 10. The running time of the car 10 in the running section is calculated. "Information including DZ signals" includes hall call signals and the like in addition to DZ. Alternatively, it may also include the SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal, but as described above, the driving state can be determined without using these signals. In this embodiment, the DZ signal is used to set the stop flag at floor position i in S506 and S516, but this is not limited to this, and A stop flag at floor position i may be set when the LB signal is in the OFF state (braking state of the brake) at position i.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of the determination process. Here, the state of the car call button is determined. When the determination process starts, in S601, the control unit 152 determines whether the lowest floor or the highest floor is the lowest floor or the highest floor based on the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the lowest floor (first floor) and the highest floor (fifth floor). It is determined whether the car 10 has reciprocated between the lowest floor and the highest floor without stopping on the floor between the floors.

If the control unit 152 determines that this condition is satisfied (YES in S601), it determines in S602 that the state of the car call button is normal, and ends the determination process. If the control unit 152 does not determine that this condition is satisfied (NO in S601), it immediately ends the determination process.

Next, as a modified example, determination of the running state in a case where there are a plurality of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210 (multi-car) will be described. FIG. 24 is a flowchart of multi-car processing. The multi-car process may be executed in place of the processes in S101 to S106 in the remote inspection process in FIG. 11.

When there are multiple cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210, the transmission process of the instruction unit 155 that transmits the generated hall call signal and the determination process of the control unit 152 based on the transmission process are not performed. In other words, if the vehicle is a multi-car vehicle, no driving diagnosis will be performed. Even if the instruction unit 155 transmits a hall call signal, it is not known which car 10 will be assigned to the hall call. For example, it is assumed that the first car is always assigned to a hall call, so that it is not possible to freely operate all the cars 10 through the transmission process.

Therefore, in this modification, if the user happens to travel from the lowest floor (1st floor) to the highest floor (5th floor) due to a hall call and car call, the determination signal at this time is The driving condition will be determined by acquiring the following information.

In this modification, a remote inspection device 100 is installed in each of a plurality of elevators (cars 10) (a remote inspection device 100 is installed for each elevator). The multi-car process is performed for each remote inspection device 100 corresponding to each elevator. When the multi-car process starts, in S701, the control unit 152 determines whether a predetermined period (for example, one month) has elapsed since the previous driving diagnosis setting time. If the control unit 152 determines that the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in S701), the control unit 152 advances the process to S705. If the control unit 152 does not determine that the predetermined period has elapsed (NO in S701), the control unit 152 advances the process to S702.

In S702, the acquisition unit 151 acquires the determination signal of the target car that is determined by the control unit 152. The target car is an elevator car 10 connected to the remote inspection device 100. In S703, the control unit 152 controls the target car's UP run from the lowest floor (first floor) to the top floor (5th floor) and the DN run from the top floor to the bottom floor (this is referred to as a "round trip"). It is determined whether or not the following event has occurred. If the control unit 152 determines that the target car has traveled back and forth (YES in S703), the control unit 152 advances the process to S704.

If the control unit 152 does not determine that the target car has made a round trip (NO in S703), the control unit 152 returns the process to S701. As a result, the determination signal continues to be acquired within the predetermined period until the target car starts to travel back and forth.

In S704, the control unit 152 executes the determination process for the target car, and ends the multi-car process. In addition, in the determination process, if multiple sets of data from the round trip are acquired within a predetermined period, the determination process may be performed using the latest data from the round trip. On the other hand, in S705, the control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button of the target car is in the modulated state, and ends the multi-car process.

As described above, in this embodiment, when there are a plurality of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210, the control unit 152 determines whether the target car is running from the bottom floor to the top floor, and if the car is running from the bottom floor to the top floor. When the round-trip travel is performed from the to the lowest floor, the determination process is executed based on the determination signal during the round-trip travel acquired from the acquisition unit 151. Then, when the target car does not make a round trip within a predetermined period, the control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button of the target car is in the modulated state. The management server 300 acquires the determination results for each car 10 from the remote inspection device 100 corresponding to the elevator.

Note that when one remote inspection device 100 is installed for a plurality of elevators (cars 10), multi-car processing may be performed for each of the plurality of cars 10. For example, when performing multi-car processing for the first car, a determination signal for the first car is acquired in S702, and it is determined in S703 whether or not the first car has traveled back and forth. good.

Regarding the determination of the state of the car call button, the configuration and effects of this embodiment are summarized below.

(1) The control unit 152 generates a hall call signal to be transmitted by the transmission process, and also performs a determination process to determine inspection items for remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit 151 as a result of the transmission process. conduct. The transmission process includes a 1st floor UP hall call signal that generates a 1st floor hall call in the UP direction on the 1st floor, and a 5th floor DN hall call signal that generates a 5th floor hall call in the DN direction on the 5th floor above the 1st floor. This is the process of transmitting. The inspection items include the state of the car call button that generates a car call for the car 10. The control unit 152 uses information including the DZ signal to specify the correspondence between the position of the car 10 and the time between the first floor and the fifth floor. If the control unit 152 determines that the car 10 has made a round trip between the first and fifth floors without stopping on the floor between the first and fifth floors, the control unit 152 controls the It is determined that the state of the call button is normal.

In this embodiment, signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used for determining conditions for operating the safety circuit of the elevator are used as signals for determining remote inspection. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (workability), hall calls rather than car calls are used as output signals for remote inspection operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation). By determining the state of the car call button based on the DZ signal and hall call signal, which are suitable for use in remote inspection, remote inspection can be performed as simply as possible in response to various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. can. In other words, multi-brand maintenance can be realized in remote inspection. As a result, the maintenance company can reduce the frequency of maintenance inspections at the maintenance site and increase the number of elevators that can be maintained. Building owners can freely select a maintenance company and enter into a maintenance contract that allows for remote inspections.

(2) If the control unit 152 determines that the car 10 has stopped on a floor between the first floor and the fifth floor based on the correspondence relationship, it performs a cancellation process to cancel the determination of the determination process based on the transmission process. . If the cancellation process is performed, the instruction unit 155 performs the transmission process again. The control unit 152 performs the determination process again based on the transmission process that has been performed again. The control unit 152 determines that the state of the car call button is in the modulated state when the determination in the determination process is canceled a predetermined number of times (10 times) in succession by the cancel process. By doing this, situations in which the car 10 is stopped due to a car call button or hall call button that is accidentally pressed by a passenger are excluded, and situations in which the car 10 is stopped due to a problem with the call button, etc. are detected. can do.

(3) When a forced stop floor is set, the control panel 210 controls the car 10 to always stop at the forced stop floor when the car 10 passes the forced stop floor. If the floor between the first floor and the fifth floor is set as a forced stop floor, the control unit 152 does not perform the cancellation process even if the car 10 stops at the forced stop floor. By doing so, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of a malfunction due to a stop on a forced stop floor, and to detect a call or the like that occurs due to a malfunction.

(4) The predetermined number of times is 10 times. By doing this, situations in which the car 10 is stopped due to a car call button or hall call button that is accidentally pressed by a passenger are excluded, and situations in which the car 10 is stopped due to a problem with the call button, etc. are detected. can do.

(5) When there are a plurality of cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210, the control unit 152 allows the target car to run from the first floor to the fifth floor without performing the determination process based on the transmission process. When a round trip from the 5th floor to the 1st floor is performed, a determination process is executed based on the determination signal during the round trip acquired from the acquisition unit 151. In the case of a multi-car, multiple cars 10 cannot be freely run by transmitting a hall call signal, but the state of the car call button can be determined by making them run back and forth using the above method.

(6) When there are multiple cars 10 controlled by the control panel 210, if the target car to be determined does not make a round trip within a predetermined period, the control unit 152 activates the car call button of the target car. It is determined that the state is a modulation state. By doing so, it is possible to detect a situation where the driving state cannot be determined in the case of a multi-car vehicle.

(7) The first floor (first floor) is the lowest floor where the car 10 can be stopped,
The second floor (fifth floor) is the top floor where the car 10 can be stopped.

(8) The management server 300 can transmit a remote inspection execution command to the remote inspection device 100 and can receive determination results from the remote inspection device 100. Elevator system 200 (elevator equipment group 220 and control panel 210) and remote inspection device 100 are installed in a first country (for example, America), and management server 300 is installed in a second country different from the first country (for example, Japan). will be installed in By doing so, the management server 300 of the second country can manage the remote inspection device 100 that remotely inspects the elevator system 200 operating in the first country. Thereby, the remote inspection device 100 can be managed by the management server 300 across countries, regardless of in which country the elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are installed.

[Additional notes]
The embodiment described above is a specific example of the following additional notes.

(Additional note 1)
An elevator remote inspection system that remotely inspects an elevator,
an instruction unit that performs a transmission process to transmit a hall call signal for generating a hall call for the elevator to a group of equipment of the elevator;
an acquisition unit that acquires, as a determination signal, a signal that is input and output through parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
A control unit that generates the hall call signal transmitted by the transmission process and performs a determination process of determining inspection items of the remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit as a result of the transmission process. and,
an output unit that outputs a determination result of the inspection item,
The transmission process includes generating a first hall call signal for generating a first hall call in an upward direction on a first floor, and generating a second hall call in a downward direction on a second floor above the first floor. This is a process of transmitting a second hall call signal to
The determination signal is either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened or closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. including a first signal indicating that
The inspection items include the state of a car call button of the car that generates a car call,
The control unit includes:
Using information including the first signal, specifying the correspondence between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor,
Based on the correspondence relationship, the car reciprocates between the first floor and the second floor without stopping on the floor between the first floor and the second floor. An elevator remote inspection system that determines that the car call button is in a normal state when it is determined that the car call button is in a normal state.

(Additional note 2)
When the control unit determines that the car has stopped on a floor between the first floor and the second floor based on the correspondence relationship, the control unit determines the determination process based on the transmission process. Perform the cancellation process to cancel,
The instruction unit performs the transmission process again when the cancellation process is performed,
The control unit includes:
Performing the determination process again based on the transmission process performed again,
The elevator remote inspection system according to supplementary note 1, wherein if the determination in the determination process is canceled a predetermined number of times in succession by the cancellation process, it is determined that the state of the car call button is in a modulated state.

(Additional note 3)
The control panel controls the car so that when the forced stop floor is set, the car always stops at the forced stop floor when the car passes the forced stop floor,
If a floor between the first floor and the second floor is set as the forced stop floor, the control unit may perform the cancellation process even if the car stops at the forced stop floor. The elevator remote inspection system described in Appendix 2 is not carried out.

(Additional note 4)
The elevator remote inspection system according to appendix 2 or 3, wherein the predetermined number of times is 10 times.

(Appendix 5)
When there are a plurality of cars controlled by the control panel, the control unit may be configured to perform the determination process from the first floor to the second floor in the target car to be determined without performing the determination process based on the transmission process. When traveling to a floor and reciprocating travel from the second floor to the first floor, the determination is made based on the determination signal during the reciprocating travel acquired from the acquisition unit. The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of appendices 2 to 4, which executes the process.

(Appendix 6)
In the case where there are a plurality of the cars controlled by the control panel, the control unit controls the state of the car call button of the target car when the target car does not make the round trip within a predetermined period. The elevator remote inspection system according to appendix 5, which determines that the modulation state is present.

(Appendix 7)
The first floor is the lowest floor on which the car can be stopped,
The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, wherein the second floor is the highest floor where the car can be stopped.

(Appendix 8)
a remote inspection device including the instruction section, the acquisition section, the control section, and the output section;
further comprising a management server that is connectable to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device;
The management server is capable of transmitting an execution command for the remote inspection to the remote inspection device, and is also capable of receiving the determination result from the remote inspection device,
the elevator equipment group, the control panel, and the remote inspection device are installed in a first country;
The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of Supplementary notes 1 to 7, wherein the management server is installed in a second country different from the first country.

(Appendix 9)
An elevator remote inspection method for remotely inspecting an elevator, the method comprising:
performing a transmission process to transmit a hall call signal for generating a hall call for the elevator to a group of equipment of the elevator;
a step of acquiring, as a determination signal, a signal that is input and output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
generating the hall call signal transmitted by the transmission process, and performing a determination process of determining inspection items for the remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired in the acquiring step as a result of the transmission process; and,
and a step of outputting a determination result of the inspection item,
The transmission process includes generating a first hall call signal for generating a first hall call in an upward direction on a first floor, and generating a second hall call in a downward direction on a second floor above the first floor. This is a process of transmitting a second hall call signal to
The determination signal is either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened or closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. including a first signal indicating that
The inspection items include the state of a car call button of the car that generates a car call,
The step of performing the determination process includes:
identifying a correspondence relationship between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor using information including the first signal;
Based on the correspondence relationship, the car reciprocates between the first floor and the second floor without stopping on the floor between the first floor and the second floor. a step of determining that the car call button is in a normal state if it is determined that the car call button is in a normal state.

The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and is not limited to the above content only. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and it is intended that all changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims are included.

1 Remote inspection system, 2 Building, 5 Machine room, 6 Pit, 8 Hoistway, 10 Car, 11 Rope, 12 Counterweight, 13 Deflection wheel, 14 Shock absorber, 15 Temperature sensor, 16 Intercom, 21 to 23 Control cable, 31 1st floor car call button, 32 2nd floor car call button, 33 3rd floor car call button, 34 4th floor car call button, 35 5th floor car call button, 50 car operation panel, 51 indicator, 52 door open button, 53 door Close button, 60, 61 Door, 70 Hall operation panel, 71 Indicator, 81 UP hall call button, 82 DN hall call button, 91 UP hall call, 92 DN hall call, 93, 94 Car call, 100 Remote inspection device, 110 Control device, 111 Processor, 112 Memory, 120 Communication IF, 130 Input IF, 140 Output IF, 151 Acquisition unit, 152 Control unit, 153 Output unit, 154 Reception unit, 155 Instruction unit, 156 Data group, 200, 200a, 200b Elevator system, 210, 210a, 210b control panel, 211 group management control section, 212 each car control section, 220, 220a, 210b elevator equipment group, 230 landing device, 240 car device, 250 hoisting machine, 261, 262 connector, 300 management server, 400 terminal, 410 display section, 420 input section, 421 display screen, 422 setting data, 423 reference time DB, 424 operation history, 425 judgment result, 500 remote inspection device made by company X, 500a remote inspection made by company Y Device.

Claims (9)

An elevator remote inspection system that remotely inspects an elevator,
an instruction unit that performs a transmission process to transmit a hall call signal for generating a hall call for the elevator to a group of equipment of the elevator;
an acquisition unit that acquires, as a determination signal, a signal that is input and output through parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
A control unit that generates the hall call signal transmitted by the transmission process and performs a determination process of determining inspection items of the remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired by the acquisition unit as a result of the transmission process. and,
an output unit that outputs a determination result of the inspection item,
The transmission process includes generating a first hall call signal for generating a first hall call in an upward direction on a first floor, and generating a second hall call in a downward direction on a second floor above the first floor. This is a process of transmitting a second hall call signal to
The determination signal is either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened or closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. including a first signal indicating that
The inspection items include the state of a car call button of the car that generates a car call,
The control unit includes:
Using information including the first signal, specifying the correspondence between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor,
Based on the correspondence relationship, the car reciprocates between the first floor and the second floor without stopping on the floor between the first floor and the second floor. An elevator remote inspection system that determines that the car call button is in a normal state when it is determined that the car call button is in a normal state. When the control unit determines that the car has stopped on a floor between the first floor and the second floor based on the correspondence relationship, the control unit determines the determination process based on the transmission process. Perform the cancellation process to cancel,
The instruction unit performs the transmission process again when the cancellation process is performed,
The control unit includes:
Performing the determination process again based on the transmission process performed again,
The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the elevator remote inspection system determines that the state of the car call button is in a modulated state when the determination in the determination process is canceled a predetermined number of times in succession by the cancellation process. The control panel controls the car so that when the forced stop floor is set, the car always stops at the forced stop floor when the car passes the forced stop floor,
If a floor between the first floor and the second floor is set as the forced stop floor, the control unit may perform the cancellation process even if the car stops at the forced stop floor. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the elevator remote inspection system does not carry out the inspection. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined number of times is ten times. When there are a plurality of the cars controlled by the control panel, the control unit may be configured to perform the determination process from the first floor to the second floor in the target car to be determined without performing the determination process based on the transmission process. When traveling to a floor and reciprocating travel from the second floor to the first floor, the determination is made based on the determination signal during the reciprocating travel acquired from the acquisition unit. The elevator remote inspection system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which executes the process. In the case where there are a plurality of the cars controlled by the control panel, the control unit controls the state of the car call button of the target car when the target car does not make the round trip within a predetermined period. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 5, wherein the elevator remote inspection system determines that the modulation state is present. The first floor is the lowest floor on which the car can be stopped,
The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the second floor is the highest floor where the car can be stopped. a remote inspection device including the instruction section, the acquisition section, the control section, and the output section;
further comprising a management server that is connectable to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device;
The management server is capable of transmitting an execution command for the remote inspection to the remote inspection device, and is also capable of receiving the determination result from the remote inspection device,
the elevator equipment group, the control panel, and the remote inspection device are installed in a first country;
The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the management server is installed in a second country different from the first country. An elevator remote inspection method for remotely inspecting an elevator, the method comprising:
performing a transmission process to transmit a hall call signal for generating a hall call for the elevator to a group of equipment of the elevator;
a step of acquiring, as a determination signal, a signal that is input and output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
generating the hall call signal transmitted by the transmission process, and performing a determination process of determining inspection items for the remote inspection based on the determination signal acquired in the acquiring step as a result of the transmission process; and,
and a step of outputting a determination result of the inspection item,
The transmission process includes generating a first hall call signal for generating a first hall call in an upward direction on a first floor, and generating a second hall call in a downward direction on a second floor above the first floor. This is a process of transmitting a second hall call signal to
The determination signal is either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened or closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. including a first signal indicating that
The inspection items include the state of a car call button of the car that generates a car call,
The step of performing the determination process includes:
identifying a correspondence relationship between the position of the car and the time between the first floor and the second floor using information including the first signal;
Based on the correspondence relationship, the car reciprocates between the first floor and the second floor without stopping on the floor between the first floor and the second floor. a step of determining that the car call button is in a normal state if it is determined that the car call button is in a normal state.

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