JP2006256800A - Elevator device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an elevator device capable of guiding a visually handicapped person to the place where an elevator is installed, properly with the aid of a guide dog, and conveying the person having got on the elevator safely. <P>SOLUTION: In the neighborhood of the place where the elevator 1 is installed, an aroma generating device 4 is mounted which generates an aroma with a level not sensible to human being but sensible to a guide dog 5, and thereby a function is provided to guide the visually handicapped person accompanied by guide dog to the place of elevator. The arrangement includes an electric wave receiving part mounted in the place of elevator and receiving the electric wave at a specific frequency emitted by a signal source attached to the dog and an elevating/sinking function specifying device to sense the distance between the signal source and the electric wave receiving part, and if the sensed distance has become the prescribed value or less, specifies the elevating/sinking function upon determining that the visually handicapped person is sensed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an elevator apparatus that uses a fragrance generating apparatus that generates a fragrance that can be sensed by a guide dog used by a visually impaired person, and that allows the guide dog to guide and guide a visually impaired person to elevators such as elevators and passenger conveyors.

In the conventional elevator, the user cannot be informed of the location of the elevator itself. For this reason, in a building having a complicated structure or a large floor area, when a visually handicapped person uses an elevator when moving, it is difficult to accurately reach the installation location of the elevator. For this reason, visually impaired people often refrain from visiting buildings such as the above, and as a result, the visually impaired themselves themselves have fewer opportunities to attend public venues, It was supposed to prevent the visually impaired from entering the society. In addition, the visually handicapped person in the building feels a great deal of stress until reaching the elevator, and at the same time cannot select an accurate route, and has to use extra labor.
In addition, as a conventional technique, a destination registration unit that is installed at a predetermined location of a building where an elevator is installed and performs destination registration on a portable terminal, and a predetermined location of a passage or elevator car through which a person carrying the portable terminal passes There is known an elevator guidance system provided with a detector that detects information on a portable terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Furthermore, an elevator installation including an aroma generator is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-106444 A JP 2000-318955 A

In conventional elevators, it is impossible to notify a visually impaired person of the installation location of the elevator itself, and it is difficult for a visually impaired person to reach a building with a complicated structure or a large floor area.
In addition, in the elevator induction system of the prior art, there are many installations for guidance equipment and users must prepare in the building, which increases installation costs and maintenance costs for the building owners and users. I was supposed to. This is an obstacle to the spread of elevator guidance systems.
Further, in an elevator facility including a conventional fragrance generating device, no reference is made to guiding a visually handicapped person.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can be used to inform a visually handicapped person of the location of the elevator by using a guide dog in the vicinity of the elevator installation location such as an elevator or a passenger conveyor. By providing a low-priced and low-priced guidance and guidance device and a lifting function designation device that can designate a lifting function, it is possible to accurately guide visually impaired people to the installation location of the elevator and to transport visually impaired people boarding the elevator safely. An object of the present invention is to provide an elevator apparatus.

  The elevator apparatus according to the present invention guides a visually impaired person using a guide dog by providing a fragrance generating apparatus that generates a fragrance of a level that can not be detected by humans but can be detected by a guide dog in the vicinity of the installation position of the elevator. It has a function that can guide.

  In addition, it is installed near the elevator installation site and cannot be detected by humans, but it can be detected by a fragrance generator that generates a level of fragrance that can be detected by a guide dog, and a transmission source installed at the elevator installation site and attached to the guide dog. Detecting the distance between the radio wave receiver that receives the generated radio wave of a specific frequency and the radio wave source and radio wave receiver of the specific frequency, and if the detected distance falls below a predetermined distance, the visually impaired person And a lifting function designating device capable of designating the lifting function.

  According to this invention, paying attention to the smell of a dog that is 1 million times sharper than a human being, a device that generates a fragrance that cannot be detected by a human being is installed in the vicinity of a person transporting elevator so that a visually impaired person can use it. Based on the fragrance, the guide dog can detect the location of the elevator and guide the visually impaired to the vicinity of the hoistway accurately. As a result, in a building with a complicated structure and a large floor area, even if a visually handicapped person moves in such a building and reaches the installation location of the hoistway, Without asking where it is, you can reach it yourself and reduce the stress on the visually impaired. Further, even when an elderly visually impaired person uses a guide dog to use the elevator in the building, it is possible to assist the elderly who are physically weak in the building.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a hall pushbutton device used in an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing how a visually handicapped person is guided and guided by the elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is.

In the figure, 1 is an elevator device provided in a building having a complicated structure or a large floor area, 2 is a push button device provided at an elevator hall, 3 is a destination floor designation button, 4 is a destination floor designation button 3 It is a fragrance generating device that is provided in the vicinity and generates a fragrance that can be detected only by the guide dog 5 so that the installation location of the elevator apparatus 1 can be specified for the guide dog 5 used by the visually impaired person 6. In particular, it uses the fact that the sense of smell is one million times sharper than humans, which is a characteristic of guide dogs.
As an example of selecting an aroma that can only be detected by a guide dog, first of all, a plurality of fragrances that are not perceptible by human olfaction are harmless to a guide dog, and at the same time, it is not likely to occur in an environment in daily life. Choose a characteristic fragrance. Then, by using the selected fragrance, the guide dog training school reminds the guide dog of the selected fragrance repeatedly, so that the place where the guide dog selected the fragrance is the place where the elevator apparatus is installed. Let them learn.

Therefore, in the elevator apparatus according to the first embodiment, by providing the fragrance generating device 4 as described above in the vicinity of the destination floor designation button 3 of the push button device 2 provided on each floor, the visually impaired person 6 can construct the building. The guide dog 5 aims at the installation location of the elevator apparatus 1 based on the fragrance described above, by a signal equivalent to “aim at the place where the elevator is located” or by direct wording. When it arrives at the destination area 7 (for example, directly below the destination floor designation button 3) 7 of the installation location of the elevator apparatus 1, the guide dog 5 is notified that it has arrived at the destination area 7 by a signal or operation equal to “arrived”. The visually impaired person 6 can be notified (see FIG. 2).
It is to be noted that a signal issued to a visually impaired guide dog, a signal issued to a visually impaired person and a motion of the guide dog, and the like can be realized by having both learn at a guide dog training school. Thereby, a visually handicapped person can be accurately guided to the installation location of the elevator.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an elevating function designating device capable of designating an elevating function used in an elevator apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The configuration of the elevator apparatus according to the first embodiment is implemented as it is, and a radio wave transmission unit 8 that generates a specific radio wave is attached to a part of the body of the guide dog 5 that guides and guides the visually impaired person 6, for example, a collar. A radio wave receiving unit 9 for receiving a specific radio wave generated by the radio wave transmitting unit 8 is provided in the vicinity of the elevator hall, and the distance between the radio wave transmitting unit 8 and the radio wave receiving unit 9 as a specific radio wave generation source is provided. Is calculated by the distance calculation unit 10. The calculated distance is compared by the comparison unit 12 with the distance value stored in the predetermined distance storage unit 11 that stores a predetermined distance. As a result of the comparison, if the calculated distance value is equal to or less than the predetermined distance value, it is determined that a visually impaired person has been detected, and the door closing speed of the elevator is relaxed by the elevator door control device 13 so that the visually impaired person 6 It switches to the corresponding door-closed mode, and has an elevating function so that the visually handicapped person 6 can safely pass through the gate and get into the car.

  Therefore, by adopting the configuration as in the second embodiment, not only can the visually impaired person be accurately guided to the place where the elevator apparatus is installed, but also the visually impaired person can be safely boarded in the elevator car. .

Embodiment 3 FIG.
4 is a front view showing the structure of a single user detection device used in a passenger conveyor device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a user detection device used in the passenger conveyor device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a passenger conveyor device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In the figure, 21 is a passenger conveyor device such as an escalator installed between the upper and lower floors of a building having a complicated structure or a large floor area, and 22 is spaced at a boarding / exiting portion below the passenger conveyor device 21. One of the lower user detection devices provided so as to face each other includes a light emitting device 22a, and the other includes a light receiving device 22b that receives light from the light emitting device 22a. Reference numeral 23 denotes an upper user detection device provided so as to face the boarding / alighting portion above the passenger conveyor device 21 with a space therebetween, one of which is opposed to each other includes a light emitting device 23a, and the other is light from the light emitting device 23a. Receiving light receiving device 23b. Since the lower user detection device 22 and the upper user detection device 23 are provided so as to face the upper and lower boarding portions of the passenger conveyor device 21 with an interval, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. For example, during the ascending operation of the passenger conveyor device 21, when the lower user detection device 22 detects a user (C1), until the upper user detection device 23 detects the outgoing user (D1), “There are users”. Moreover, after the upper user detection device 23 detects the outgoing user (D1) and until the lower user detection device 22 detects the next user (C2), it is “no user”. . Further, when the lower user detection device 22 detects the next user (C2), the upper user detection device 23 becomes “user present” until the outgoing user is detected (D2). For example, 24 is provided in the lower part of the lower user detection device 22 and the upper user detection device 23, and generates a fragrance that can only be detected by the guide dog 5, and the passenger conveyor device 21 is used for the guide dog 5 used by the visually impaired person 6. It is a fragrance generator that makes it possible to specify the installation location.

Therefore, in the passenger conveyor device according to the third embodiment, the visually impaired person 6 can construct the building by providing the fragrance generating device 24 as described above in the vicinity of the lower user detecting device 22 and the upper user detecting device 23, for example. The guide dog 5 aims at the installation location of the passenger conveyor device 21 by using the fragrance as a clue to the guide dog 5 by a signal equivalent to “aim at the place where the escalator is located” or by directly issuing a word. When arriving near the boarding / alighting area, which is the target area of the place where the passenger conveyor device 21 is installed, the guide dog 5 informs the visually handicapped person 6 that it has arrived at the target area by a signal or operation equal to “arrived”. Can do.
It is to be noted that a signal issued to a visually impaired guide dog, a signal issued to a visually impaired person and a motion of the guide dog, and the like can be realized by having both learn at a guide dog training school. Thereby, a visually handicapped person can be accurately guided to the installation location of the elevator.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an elevating function designating device capable of designating an elevating function used in a passenger conveyor device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is an elevating function designating device of a passenger conveyor device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the function change by.

  The configuration of the passenger conveyor device according to the third embodiment is implemented as it is, and a radio wave transmission unit 8 that generates a specific radio wave is attached to a part of the body of the guide dog 5 that guides and guides the visually impaired person 6, for example, a collar. A radio wave receiving unit 9 for receiving a specific radio wave generated by the radio wave transmitting unit 8 is provided in the vicinity of the passenger boarding / alighting unit of the passenger conveyor device 21, and the radio wave transmitting unit 8 and the radio wave receiving unit, which are specific radio wave generating sources. The distance calculation unit 10 calculates the distance between 9. The calculated distance is compared by the comparison unit 12 with the distance value stored in the predetermined distance storage unit 11 that stores a predetermined distance. As a result of the comparison, if the calculated distance value is less than or equal to the predetermined distance value, it is determined that a visually impaired person has been detected, the elevator conveyor control device 25 changes the lifting function, and step selection corresponding to the visually impaired person 6 It is equipped with the raising / lowering function that the visually handicapped person 6 can board the passenger conveyor apparatus 21 safely.

Next, the function change by the lifting / lowering function designation device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 8 by taking an escalator device as an example.
When the guide dog 5 aims at the escalator device 21 that is a passenger conveyor device with the visually impaired person 6, the radio wave having a specific frequency transmitted from the radio wave transmission unit 8 attached to the collar or the like of the guide dog 5 is installed in the escalator device 21. A search is performed by the radio wave receiver 9 corresponding to the frequency (step S1), and the presence or absence of reception is determined (step S2). If not received, the receiving unit continues the search again (step S1). When a radio wave of a specific frequency is received in step S2, the radio wave receiver 9 sends the received frequency to the distance calculator 10, the distance between the transmission source and the reception source is calculated, and the calculated distance is a predetermined distance. The comparison unit 12 compares the distance value stored in the stored predetermined distance storage unit 11 (step S3). The comparison result is output to the escalator control device 25. If the calculated distance value is less than or equal to a predetermined distance value determined in advance, the escalator device 21 investigates whether there is a general user (step S4). Here, as an example of investigating the presence / absence of this user, as shown in FIG. 5, photoelectric sensors including light emitting devices 22 a and 23 a and light receiving devices 22 b and 23 b are installed on the upper and lower boarding portions through which the user of the escalator device 21 passes. User detection devices 22 and 23 equipped with the device are installed. The photoelectric device detects the passage of the user based on whether or not the light emitted from the light emitting devices 22a and 23a is received by the light receiving devices 22b and 23b. When the user moves up from the lower part of the escalator device 21 to the upper part, when the user passes through the lower photoelectric device and blocks the light beam, the lower light receiving side generates a pulse C1. When the user goes up the escalator device 21 and passes through the upper photoelectric device to block the light beam, the upper light receiving side generates a pulse D1. Using the pulses C1 and D1, it can be determined that there is a user between C1 and D1. Further, it can be determined that there is no user until the lower light receiving side again generates the pulse C2 by light shielding (D1 to C2).
After the general user presence / absence investigation is completed in step S4, if there is a general user, the escalator device 21 broadcasts a lifting function change notice and makes a lifting function change notice (step S5). If there is no general user in step S4, the escalator device 21 immediately outputs an elevation function change signal and proceeds to the elevation function change process (step S6). Prior to shifting to the function change, the escalator first pauses and selects the corresponding step used for the function change (step S7). As an example of the corresponding step selection method, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of steps are fixed on the same plane by using a step selection method of an escalator used for a wheelchair user, and visually The available boarding space 26 for the handicapped person 6 can be made flat and wide. As a result, the visually impaired person 6 and the guide dog 5 can safely board the visually impaired person boarding space 26 composed of a plurality of steps together. When the corresponding step selection is completed, the escalator device 21 announces to the visually impaired person 6 that the escalator can be used (step S8). Then, boarding of the visually handicapped person 6 is detected (step S9), and if it has already boarded, a lifting start warning announcement is broadcast (step S10), and lifting is started (step S11). If it is not yet boarded in step S9, a caution announcement is broadcast (step S12). Next, when the vehicle reaches a predetermined position just before the end of lifting, a lifting end warning announcement is broadcast to the passenger (step S13). And after the escalator apparatus 21 stops raising / lowering, it detects whether the visually handicapped person 6 passed (step S14). When the visually handicapped person 6 has not passed, a caution announcement for notifying the start of normal operation of the escalator device 21 is broadcast (step S15). When the visually handicapped person 6 passes, normal driving is resumed (step S16).

  Therefore, by adopting the configuration as in the fourth embodiment, it is possible not only to accurately guide visually impaired persons to the place where the passenger conveyor device is installed, but also to safely board visually impaired persons on the steps of the passenger conveyor device. Can be made. That is, when the fragrance generating device is installed in the vicinity of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator, a guide dog attached with a collar that generates a radio wave of a specific frequency guides and guides a visually impaired person to the escalator using the generated fragrance as a clue. At the same time, the escalator device has a function of receiving radio waves of this specific frequency. The radio frequency of the specific frequency is searched by the reception function, and the distance between the radio wave transmission source and the reception source is measured. If the measured distance is smaller than the predetermined distance, the escalator control device is instructed to change the lifting function, and the escalator control device can be used for wheelchair accessible escalators so that visually impaired persons and guide dogs can easily board. In this way, a plurality of steps are selected and changed so as to fix them on the same plane. Also, considering that the person is visually impaired, there is an effect that the escalator informs the visually impaired of the operation status of the escalator by playing a caution announcement at the start and end of the lift.

It is a front view which shows the hall pushbutton apparatus used for the elevator apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that a visually handicapped person is guided and guided by the elevator apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the raising / lowering function designation | designated apparatus used for the elevator apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention in which the raising / lowering function designation | designated is possible. It is a front view which shows the structure of the user detection apparatus single-piece | unit used for the passenger conveyor apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a related block diagram which shows the arrangement configuration of the user detection apparatus used for the passenger conveyor apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention, and the detection signal by it. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the passenger conveyor apparatus in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the raising / lowering function designation | designated apparatus used for the passenger conveyor apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention in which the raising / lowering function designation | designated is possible. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the function change by the raising / lowering function designation | designated apparatus of the passenger conveyor apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Elevator apparatus 2 Pushbutton apparatus 3 Destination floor designation | designated button 4 Fragrance generating apparatus 5 Guide dog 6 Blind person 7 Target area 8 Radio wave transmission part 9 Radio wave reception part 10 Distance calculation part 11 Predetermined distance memory | storage part 12 Comparison part 13 Elevator door control apparatus 21 Passenger Conveyor (Escalator) Device 22 Lower User Detection Device 23 Upper User Detection Device 22a, 23a Light Emitting Device 22b, 23b Light Receiving Device 24 Fragrance Generator 25 Passenger Conveyor Control Device 26 Visually Impaired Boarding Space

Claims (5)

In buildings with elevators that carry people,
By providing a fragrance generating device that generates a fragrance of a level that can not be detected by humans but can be detected by guide dogs in the vicinity of the elevator installation location, it has a function that can guide and guide visually impaired persons using guide dogs. An elevator apparatus characterized by that. In buildings with elevators that carry people,
A fragrance generating device that is provided near the installation location of the elevator and cannot be detected by humans, but generates a level of scent that can be detected by a guide dog,
A radio wave receiving unit that is provided at a place where the elevator is installed and receives radio waves of a specific frequency generated from a transmission source attached to a guide dog;
The distance between the radio wave transmission source of the specific frequency and the radio wave receiver is detected, and if the detected distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, it is determined that a visually impaired person has been detected, An elevator apparatus comprising a function specifying device. The elevator is an elevator,
3. The elevator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the visually impaired person is detected, the elevator function designation apparatus switches the door closing speed of the elevator to a door closing mode corresponding to the visually impaired person. 4. The elevator is a passenger conveyor,
The elevator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the visually impaired person is detected, the elevator function designation apparatus temporarily stops the passenger conveyor and switches to an operation mode corresponding to a wheelchair user. The elevator is an escalator,
When the visually impaired person is detected, the lifting / lowering function designation device temporarily stops the escalator and fixes multiple steps on the same plane to make the boarding space available for visually impaired persons flat and wide. The elevator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the elevator apparatus is switched to the operation mode.

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