WO2024106041A1

WO2024106041A1 - Elevator remote inspection system and elevator remote inspection method

Info

Publication number: WO2024106041A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/035880
Authority: WO
Inventors: 英典山▲崎▼; ヴァンマイングエン
Original assignee: 三菱電機ビルソリューションズ株式会社
Priority date: 2022-11-17
Filing date: 2023-10-02
Publication date: 2024-05-23
Also published as: TW202430463A; JP7361872B1; JP2024073118A

Abstract

A control unit (152) determines that the landing state is normal if a DZ signal continues being ON during a period TS2 from a third timing (time point t4) to a fourth timing (time point t5), the third timing being after a lapse of a specified time TS1 from a second timing (time point t3) after a first timing (time point t2). The control unit (152) determines that the landing state is abnormal if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF during the period TS2.

Description

Elevator remote inspection system and elevator remote inspection method

This disclosure relates to a remote elevator inspection system and a remote elevator inspection method for performing remote inspection of elevators.

In recent years, there has been an increasing need for remote elevator inspection systems that use communication lines to remotely inspect elevators in elevator maintenance work. One example of a system that performs such remote inspections is the remote monitoring support device disclosed in JP 2022-019900 A (Patent Document 1). This remote monitoring support device determines whether the elevator is in a normal operating state based on the output state of a signal obtained from the elevator's control board.

　Implementing remote inspections reduces the amount of inspection work at the maintenance site, greatly improving the efficiency of maintenance work. In addition, there are legal provisions (for example, the Common Specifications for Building Maintenance Work established by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) that allow the implementation of remote inspections to extend the implementation cycle of statutory regular inspection work, which can further improve the efficiency of maintenance work.

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

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

JP 2022-019900 A

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

When developing a remote elevator inspection system that is compatible with various elevators with different communication and signal specifications, it is necessary to devise ways to obtain signals exchanged through parallel transmission, such as by capturing switch contact signals. In addition, because signal specifications are not standardized between manufacturers, the types of signals that can be commonly used are greatly limited.

Furthermore, even if signals are commonly available, some signals may not be suitable for use due to hardware constraints such as the installation cost or difficulty of installing an elevator remote inspection system in a building. Therefore, in order to realize such an elevator remote inspection system, careful consideration must be given to what signals to use and what methods to use to determine the inspection items for remote inspection.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an elevator remote inspection system and elevator remote inspection method that can perform remote inspection as easily as possible for various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications.

The elevator remote inspection system according to the present disclosure is a system for remotely inspecting elevators. The elevator remote inspection system includes an acquisition unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between an elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group. The control unit judges an inspection item for the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal. The output unit outputs a judgment result for the inspection item. The determination signal includes a first signal, a second signal, a third signal, and a fourth signal. The first signal indicates either a first state in which the car is located within a door zone that indicates a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened and closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. The second signal indicates either a second state in which the elevator brake is released, or a non-second state that is not the second state. The third signal indicates either a third state in which the car door is closed, or a non-third state that is not the third state. The fourth signal indicates that the elevator is in either a fourth state in which the landing door, which opens and closes in conjunction with the elevator door, is closed, or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state. The inspection items include the elevator floor landing state. If the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing in which a specified time has elapsed since the second timing after the first timing, the control unit determines that the landing state is normal. If the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period, the control unit determines that the landing state is modulated. The first timing is the timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state. The second timing is the timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state. The fourth timing is the timing at which the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

The remote elevator inspection method according to the present disclosure is a method for remotely inspecting an elevator. The remote elevator inspection method includes the steps of acquiring, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between an elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group, judging an inspection item for the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal, and outputting a judgment result for the inspection item. The determination signals include a first signal, a second signal, a third signal, and a fourth signal. The first signal indicates either a first state in which the car is located within a door zone that indicates a position range of the car in which the elevator car door can be opened and closed, or a non-first state that is not the first state. The second signal indicates either a second state in which the elevator brake is released, or a non-second state that is not the second state. The third signal indicates either a third state in which the car door is closed, or a non-third state that is not the third state. The fourth signal indicates that the elevator is in either a fourth state in which the landing door, which opens and closes in conjunction with the elevator door, is closed, or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state. The inspection items include the elevator floor landing state. The determining step includes a step of determining that the landing state is a normal state if the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing in which a specified time has elapsed since the second timing after the first timing, and a step of determining that the landing state is a modulated state if the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period. The first timing is the timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state. The second timing is the timing at which the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state. The fourth timing is the timing when the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

According to the present disclosure, by determining the floor landing status based on the first signal, second signal, third signal, and fourth signal that are suitable for use in remote inspection, remote inspection can be performed as simply as possible for various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. In other words, multi-brand maintenance can be achieved in remote inspection. This allows maintenance companies to 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 remote inspection.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system and a remote inspection system. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of connecting a conventional remote inspection system to an elevator system. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an elevator system. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of an elevator. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an elevator hall. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the inside of an elevator car. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of an elevator system according to a modified example. 2 is a diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of the remote inspection system and signals used in the remote inspection system. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between car travel and signals during diagnostic operation. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional block diagram of a remote inspection system. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the remote inspection system. 13 is a flowchart of a remote inspection process and a terminal setting process. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a reference time DB. 13 is a flowchart of a reference time update process. 13 is a flowchart of a reference time acquisition process. 10 is a timing chart for explaining determination of a landing state. 13 is a flowchart of a determination process. 13 is a timing chart for explaining determination of a landing state according to a modified example. 13 is a flowchart of a determination process according to a modified example.

Below, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, identical 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]
Hereinafter, there will be described configurations of an elevator system 200 and an elevator remote inspection system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a "remote inspection system") 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of an elevator system 200 and a remote inspection system 1.

If an elevator is installed in a building, the building owner must enter into a maintenance contract with an elevator maintenance company. Maintenance staff from the maintenance company will perform maintenance inspections and regular inspections of the elevator based on the maintenance contract. When entering into a maintenance contract, the building owner can also include remote inspection or remote monitoring as an option.

Remote monitoring refers to a maintenance company's monitoring center (information center) etc. constantly monitoring the elevator for any abnormalities or malfunctions using communication lines etc. Remote inspection refers to, in addition to remote monitoring, a maintenance company's monitoring center etc. inspecting the areas required for normal elevator operation to see if the elevator's operating status and the operating status of each piece of equipment are normal, using communication lines etc.

Remote inspections include three types of elevator inspections: performance inspections, inspections of each piece of equipment, and inspections of usage status. Performance inspections involve inspections of the car's start-up state, accelerating running state, constant speed running state, decelerating running state, and landing state. Equipment inspections involve inspections of the machine room or control panel temperature, the state of the control equipment, the state of the destination floor button in the car, the state of the intercom, the state of the doors opening and closing, the state of the landing button, the state of the door switch, and whether there are any abnormalities in the electromagnetic brakes. Usage inspections involve inspections of the car's travel distance, travel time or number of starts, and the number of times the doors are opened and closed.

Implementing such remote inspections reduces the amount of inspection work at the maintenance site, greatly improving the efficiency of maintenance work. In addition, there are legal provisions that allow the implementation of remote inspections to extend the implementation cycle of statutory regular inspections, further improving the efficiency of maintenance work. For example, in Japan, implementing the remote inspections listed above can reduce the implementation cycle of legally required regular inspections from once a month to once every three months (as stipulated in the Common Specifications for Building Maintenance Work by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

Furthermore, as described below, there is an increasing need for maintenance companies to promote multi-branding of maintenance in the global market, and for building owners to freely select a maintenance company and enter into a maintenance contract that allows remote inspection. The remote inspection system 1 of this embodiment is a system for remotely inspecting elevators that is configured to meet these needs. It will be described 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. An elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are installed in a building 2. The remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200 and performs remote inspection of the elevators. The remote inspection device 100 is configured to include, 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. The terminal 400 may be installed in the information center of the maintenance company, or in any other location. The terminal 400 and the remote inspection device 100 can be connected to the management server 300 via a communication line.

The management server 300 manages various data such as customer information for each building that has an elevator maintenance contract, building information, information on the elevators installed in the building, and remote inspection results. The management server 300 is a device that manages the remote inspection device 100, and transmits commands to the remote inspection device 100 to perform remote inspections, and obtains the inspection results of remote inspections performed by the remote inspection device 100.

The terminal 400 is, for example, a PC (Personal Computer), a smartphone, or a tablet. The terminal 400 includes a display unit 410 that displays various information, and an input unit 420 that can input operations from a user who uses the terminal 400. In this embodiment, the terminal 400 is used by a maintenance worker of a maintenance company. In other words, the "user" who uses the terminal 400 refers to a maintenance worker of the 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 the maintenance worker of the maintenance company, or may be a person who manages the building 2. The terminal 400 can perform a remote inspection of the remote inspection device 100 via the management server 300 by the maintenance worker's operation from the input unit 420. In addition, the terminal 400 can display the inspection results of the remote inspection performed by the remote inspection device 100 on the display unit 410.

The elevator system 200 includes a control panel 210 and an elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 is made up of various equipment including elevators and elevator hall devices. The control panel 210 controls the various equipment in the elevator equipment group 220.

The control panel 210 inputs and outputs signals to and from the elevator equipment group 220 via multiple 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 obtained directly from various switches or various sensors of the elevator equipment group 220. In this embodiment, a switch contact signal (for example, a predetermined voltage is detected when the switch is ON) is assumed, but it may also be, for example, a pulse signal obtained from a rotary encoder.

The latter (serial transmission) is a signal sent and received by serial communication between the control panel 210 and a control board provided in a device installed on the elevator landing side or car side. For example, a scenario can be envisioned in which communication is established between elevator management software (program) running on the control panel 210 and software (program) running on the control board on the car side, and data (internal signals) such as the car's position and running direction are sent and received by serial communication.

In this embodiment, among the signal lines connecting the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220, a portion of the signal line that transmits and receives signals by parallel transmission is branched and connected to a terminal provided on the remote inspection device 100. This makes it possible for a portion of the signals transmitted and received by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 to be input and output on the remote inspection device 100 side.

Meanwhile, the control panel 210 of the elevator system 200 is configured to be connectable to various maintenance devices for the elevator. 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) is possible between the maintenance device and the control panel 210.

The various types of elevator maintenance devices include, for example, a maintenance computer, a remote monitoring device, a remote inspection device, etc., that are used as dedicated devices for elevator system 200. These maintenance devices are developed and used by the manufacturer of elevator system 200 or a maintenance company affiliated with the manufacturer to correspond to each model of elevator. For this reason, these maintenance devices cannot be connected to elevators made by a different manufacturer. Here, a maintenance company affiliated with a manufacturer is, for example, a subsidiary or associated company of the manufacturer, and will be referred to as a "manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company" below.

On the other hand, the 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 described below, the types of signals suitable for use with the remote inspection device 100 are quite limited (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, hall call signal, etc., described below).

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

These internal signals include signals transmitted by parallel transmission (such as switch contact signals) and signals transmitted by serial transmission (such as various commands) input and output between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220, as well as signals generated from these signals.

For example, the control panel 210 calculates the car's position, speed, running direction, and state (accelerating running state, constant speed running state, decelerating running state), etc., based on a signal obtained from a rotary encoder that measures the rotational position of the hoist (motor) that drives the elevator. This allows the control panel 210 to hold this information as internal signals in the software.

In other words, a maintenance device connected to the control panel 210 via serial communication can obtain not only contact signals input and output via parallel transmission, but also internal software signals input and output via serial transmission. In addition, by communicating with the control panel 210, the maintenance device can send various commands, such as commands to pause the elevator or commands to wait at a specific floor, set various operation options, and change the settings of various parameters.

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

While the maintenance computer can be used on-site, the remote monitoring device and remote inspection device are used in remote locations via a network. Of 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 internal signals via a network. Of 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 and can issue operation commands to the elevator for remote inspection.

(Compared to conventional remote inspection systems)
Hereinafter, a difference between a remote inspection device connectable by serial communication (a conventional remote inspection device) and the remote inspection device 100 of this embodiment will be described. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example in which a conventional remote inspection system is connected to an

elevator system

200, 200a.

In the example of FIG. 2, elevator system 200 is installed in building A, and elevator system 200a is installed in building B. Elevator system 200 is an elevator system manufactured by company X, and the elevator model is model M. Elevators from each company come in multiple models depending on the purpose, era, etc. Elevator system 200a is an elevator system manufactured by company Y, and the elevator model is model N.

Only a 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, Company X is both an elevator manufacturer and an elevator maintenance company (a manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company).

For example, Company X's server is installed in Company X's information center. By connecting a terminal to Company X's management server, it becomes possible to remotely inspect the elevator system 200 by operating the terminal.

Only a remote inspection device 500a (conventional type) manufactured by Company Y can be connected to the elevator system 200a manufactured by Company Y 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, Company Y is both the elevator manufacturer and the elevator maintenance company (a manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company).

For example, Company Y's server is installed in Company Y's information center. By connecting a terminal to Company Y's management server, it becomes possible to remotely inspect elevator system 200a by operating the terminal.

When configured in this way, as described above, Company X's remote inspection device 500 can communicate with the control panel 210 to acquire various internal signals generated by the management software of the control panel 210, and can send various commands to the control panel 210 for the elevator. For example, by operating the terminal, it is possible to send a command to make the car travel between two floors, and as a result, it is possible to acquire information such as the travel time and speed between the two floors. The same is true for Company Y's remote inspection device 500a.

However, with this configuration, it is necessary to use a remote inspection device 500 made by company X that corresponds to model M for an elevator system 200 made by company X, and it is necessary to use a remote inspection device 500a made by company Y that corresponds to model N for an elevator system 200a made by company Y. In this way, when trying to install remote inspection devices using serial communication, not only is it necessary to prepare a remote inspection device for each elevator manufacturer, but even if the manufacturer is the same, it is necessary to prepare a remote inspection device that corresponds to the model.

Such remote inspection devices may be prepared by each elevator manufacturer, but they can usually only be used by the elevator manufacturer or a maintenance company affiliated with that manufacturer. Also, if the model is old, a compatible remote inspection device may not exist.

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

This is because communication and signal specifications are not standardized between manufacturers and models, and these specifications are not made public. If such communication specifications, signal specifications, or address maps were disclosed, then by establishing communication with the control board 210, it would basically be possible to obtain any internal signal, internal flag, or setting parameter from an external device.

In addition to elevator maintenance companies affiliated with manufacturers, there are also maintenance companies that are not affiliated with any manufacturer (called "independent maintenance companies"). Independent maintenance companies cannot use the remote inspection device 500 manufactured by Company X or the remote inspection device 500a manufactured by Company Y.

In the example of Figure 2, if the owner of building A enters into a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company X, he or she can perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500. However, if the owner enters into a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company Y or an independent maintenance company, he or she cannot perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500.

On the other hand, if the owner of building B enters into a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company Y, he or she can perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500a, but if the owner enters into a maintenance contract with manufacturer-affiliated maintenance company X or an independent maintenance company, he or she cannot perform remote inspection using the remote inspection device 500a. If elevators manufactured by company X and company Y are installed in the same building, it is necessary to enter into maintenance contracts with both manufacturer-affiliated maintenance companies X and Y in order to perform remote inspection of all the elevators.

As such, for building owners who want to enter into a maintenance contract that includes remote inspection, the range of maintenance contract options is limited when traditional remote inspection equipment is introduced. For these reasons, there has been a growing need in Japan in recent years for remote inspection equipment that can be used regardless of 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 regardless of elevator manufacturer or model (multi-brand maintenance).

The remote inspection device 100 in this embodiment is therefore configured as a remote inspection device that can be used regardless of manufacturer or model. As mentioned above, since communication specifications and signal specifications are not standardized across manufacturers and models, it is difficult to build a remote inspection device 100 that communicates via serial transmission.

For this reason, as explained using FIG. 1, the remote inspection device 100 connects to the elevator system 200 by parallel transmission (capturing switch contact signals, etc.). In addition, because signal specifications are not standardized between manufacturers, the types of signals that can be commonly used are limited. Furthermore, even if a signal is commonly usable, some signals are not suitable for use due to hardware constraints (in terms of ease of installation and installation costs). For this reason, in order to realize the remote inspection device 100, it is necessary to thoroughly consider what signals to use and what method to use to determine the inspection items for remote inspection. The signals used in this embodiment and the method of determining the inspection items will be described later using FIG. 7 and subsequent figures.

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

In addition, if an elevator system 200 manufactured by company X and an elevator system 200a manufactured by company Y are installed in the same building, the

elevator systems

200 and 200a can be configured to be connected by a single remote inspection device 100.

When configured as described above, building owners can freely select a maintenance company to conduct remote inspections, regardless of the type of elevator they have installed, whether it is a manufacturer-affiliated or independent maintenance company.

The management server 300 is not limited to being configured from one server device, but may be configured from multiple server devices. For example, a server device may be installed for 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 each other's information (customer information, elevator information, etc.). Alternatively, a main server device may be provided that manages the servers in each region, and the main server device may manage the information for each region.

The above-mentioned regions are not limited to regions 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 placed outside Japan. Also, a main server device may be placed in one of the countries, and the server devices placed in each country may refer to the information stored in the main server device.

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

The server device has language data corresponding to each language code. For example, when accessed from a terminal in Japan, information is displayed on the terminal in Japanese. When accessed from a terminal in China, information is displayed on the terminal in Chinese. Information may also be managed by language. The management server 300 may be composed of a group of servers such as a communication server (Web server), a data server, and an application server that are connected to the remote inspection device 100 and the terminal 400.

When configured in this manner, the remote inspection system 1 can be used in countries around the world. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, elevator system 200 (control panel 210 and elevator equipment group 220) and remote inspection device 100 are installed in building A in a first country (e.g., the United States), and elevator system 200a (control panel 210a and elevator equipment group 220a) and remote inspection device 100 are installed in building B in a second country (e.g., Japan) different from the first country.

The management server 300 is installed in an information center in the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country can be connected via a network to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country and the remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country. The management server 300 can send a command to execute a remote inspection to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country, and can receive the judgment results of each inspection item of the remote inspection from the remote inspection device 100 that has received the command to execute the remote inspection.

The terminal 400 may be installed in the first country or in the second country. For example, the management server 300 installed in the second country may be accessed from the terminal 400 installed in the second country, and remote inspection may be performed by the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country may be accessed from the terminal 400 installed in the first country, and remote inspection may be performed by the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country.

The remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country establishes a network connection using the communication line network of the first country (such as an LTE line network). The remote inspection device 100 installed in the second country establishes a network connection using the communication line network of the second country. The management server 300 installed in the second country connects to the remote inspection device 100 installed in the first country or the second country via the communication line of the second country.

By configuring as described above, the management server 300 in the second country can manage the remote inspection device 100 that performs remote inspection of the elevator system 200 operating in the first country. This allows the management server 300 to manage the remote inspection device 100 across countries, regardless of in which country the elevator system 200 and 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 signal data for determination 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 configured to manage the remote inspection device 100 for each country.

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

The control panel 210 includes a car control unit 212. The car control unit 212 is a control board that controls the elevator equipment group 220. The elevator equipment group 220 includes hall devices 230 installed at the halls of each floor from the first floor (1F) to the fifth floor (5F), various sensors and various switches (such as a slow-up switch and a slow-down switch, which will be described later) used in the elevator system 200, and the first car hoist 250 and car device 240.

The hoist 250 is a motor that drives the elevator car to raise and lower it. The car device 240 is various devices installed in the car, including a destination floor button for registering destination floors. The hall device 230 is various devices installed at the halls of each floor, including a hall button for registering hall calls. Details of these will be explained using Figure 4 and subsequent figures.

The individual car control units 212 are connected to the landing devices 230 on each floor, various sensors, various switches, etc., via a control cable 21 that bundles multiple signal lines. In addition, the individual car control units 212 are connected to the No. 1 hoisting machine 250 and car device 240, etc., via a control cable 22 that bundles multiple signal lines.

Each machine control unit 212 is equipped with a processor, memory, and a communication interface. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The memory is, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). These are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with each other.

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

The individual car control units 212 are configured to be able to communicate with the elevator equipment group 220, such as the hall device 230, the hoist 250, and the car device 240, or with the various maintenance devices shown in Figures 1 and 2, by serial or parallel communication via the communication interface.

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

The machine room 5 is provided directly above the elevator shaft 8. The machine room 5 contains a hoist 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 type elevator. A traction type elevator is one type of rope type elevator. This elevator is equipped with a car 10, a counterweight (balancing weight) 12, a rope 11, a hoist 250, and a deflector pulley 13. A rope (main rope) 11 is hung between the hoist 250 and the deflector pulley 13. The car 10 and counterweight 12 are suspended from both ends of the rope 11.

By driving the hoist 250, the elevator can run the car 10 installed in the hoistway 8 in an upward direction (also called the "UP direction") or a downward direction (also called the "DN direction").

The car 10 has a running direction that is either the UP direction, the DN direction, or no direction. When the car 10 runs in the UP direction or stops (stopped in a state where it is scheduled to run in the UP direction) to respond to a running command to a floor above the car 10, the running direction of the car 10 is the UP direction. When the car 10 runs in the DN direction or stops (stopped in a state where it is scheduled to run in the DN direction) to respond to a running command to a floor below the car 10, the running direction of the car 10 is the DN direction. 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 is 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 the "brake") of the hoist 250 is released. The car 10 enters a braking state (stationary state) when the brake of the hoist 250 is activated. The brake of the hoist 250 is configured to be able to brake by pressing the brake shoe against the brake drum with the force of a spring. By supplying power to the brake coil, the brake shoe is moved away from the brake drum, thereby releasing the brake. If the supply of power to the brake coil is cut off, the electromagnetic brake enters a braking state and the car 10 cannot run.

Elevators are designed so that the weight of the counterweight 12 balances with the weight of the car 10, including passengers, when the car 10 is loaded with 50% of its maximum load capacity. For example, when there are no passengers, the counterweight 12 is heavier than the car 10. For this reason, if the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the UP direction. On the other hand, when the car 10 is full, the car 10 will be heavier than the counterweight 12. For this reason, if the brake is simply released, the car 10 will travel in the DN direction.

A shock absorber (buffer) 14 is installed in the pit 6, which is the bottom of the elevator shaft 8. The shock absorber 14 is a device that absorbs the shock of the car 10 falling if an abnormality occurs.

The individual car control units 212 are connected to the car device 240 via a control cable 22 (Figure 3). Multiple signal lines are bundled within the control cable 22 for communication between the individual car control units 212 and the car device 240.

The platform control unit 212 is connected to the landing device 230, various sensors, and various switches installed on each floor via a control cable 21 (Figure 3) that runs along the wall of the elevator shaft 8. The control cable 21 is composed of multiple signal lines for communication between the platform control unit 212 and the landing device 230 or various switches, etc. If there is no machine room 5, the hoist 250 and control panel 210, etc. are installed inside the elevator shaft 8 (on the wall or in the pit 6, etc.).

The elevator is not limited to a traction type elevator in which the car 10 and counterweight 12 are balanced as described above. For example, it may be a drum type elevator in which the car 10 is raised and lowered by winding the rope 11 around a drum without using a counterweight 12. A drum type elevator is one form of a rope type elevator. It may also be a hydraulic elevator in which oil is sent to a hydraulic jack by an electric pump, and the car 10 is raised and lowered by the operation of the hydraulic jack.

In the case of hydraulic elevators, the position of the car 10 is controlled by controlling the amount of oil sent to the hydraulic jack. In hydraulic elevators, the properties of the oil change depending on the season or temperature, which can easily lead to differences in the running characteristics of the car 10. For example, compared to the high temperatures of summer, the oil thickens in winter, so it takes longer to start up. Also, in the case of hydraulic elevators, which control the amount of oil (hydraulic pressure), there is a greater tendency for the running time between floors to vary compared to rope elevators, which control the amount of motor rotation. Furthermore, when the car 10 is stopped on a certain floor, the car sinks little by little over time, and the floor surface of the car 10 may gradually drop relative to the floor surface of the landing (leaving the door zone while stopped).

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

In this embodiment, a platform call in the UP direction (upward) is also called an "UP call" or "UP platform call," a platform call in the DN direction (downward) is also called a "DN call" or "DN platform call," and a destination floor call in car 10 is also called a "car call." The buttons for registering each of these calls are called "call buttons."

The call buttons include car call buttons (also called "destination floor buttons") provided inside the car 10, and platform call buttons (also called "platform buttons") provided at the platforms. Platform call buttons (platform buttons) include upward platform call buttons (also called "UP call buttons" or "UP platform call buttons") provided at the platforms, and downward platform call buttons (also called "DN call buttons" or "DN platform call buttons") provided at the platforms.

As described above, each floor is equipped with a landing device 230. The landing device 230 includes a landing operating panel 70. Here, the first floor landing will be used as an example for explanation. The first floor landing is equipped with a door 61 and a landing operating panel 70.

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

The hall operating panel 70 is equipped with an indicator 71. The indicator 71 displays the direction in which the car 10 is traveling and the floor on which the car 10 is located (car position). In the example shown in the figure, it shows that the car 10 is traveling or stopped in the UP direction on the second floor.

Next, the inside of the car 10 will be described. Figure 5B is a diagram showing an example of the inside of an elevator car. Figure 5B shows a view of the inside of the car 10 looking toward the exit. The car device 240 includes a car operation panel 50. The car 10 is provided with a door 60 and the car operation panel 50. The car operation panel 50 is provided with 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 destination floors (car calls) from the 1st to 5th floors.

The car call buttons include a 1st floor car call button 31 for registering a car call to the 1st floor, a 2nd floor car call button 32 for registering a car call to the 2nd floor, a 3rd floor car call button 33 for registering a car call to the 3rd floor, 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. The car operation panel 50 is also provided with an indicator 51 that displays the running direction and car position of the car 10.

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

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

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

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 sent to the control panel 210. The control panel 210 registers the car call to the second floor. The car 10 responds to the car call to the second floor, travels to the second floor, then stops and opens the door.

Here, "the doors open" means that both the car 10 side door 60 and the hall side door 61 open in unison, and hereafter this will also be expressed as "the doors open." Similarly, "the doors close" means that both the car 10 side door 60 and the hall side door 61 close in unison, and hereafter this will also be expressed as "the doors close."

(Input/output signals to the control panel 210)
Here, among the signals input/output by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 that controls the elevator equipment group 220 and the elevator equipment group 220, the signals acquired by the remote inspection device 100 are referred to as "determination signals." The remote inspection device 100 uses the determination signals to determine each item of the remote inspection. The determination signals include 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 exemplified.

The landing device 230 provided on each floor includes a landing door switch (also called an "interlock switch") not shown. The landing door switch is ON when the landing side door 61 is closed, and is OFF when the landing side door 61 is open. When the landing door switch is OFF (door not closed), for safety reasons, it is controlled by the control panel 210 to prevent the car 10 from traveling.

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

The car device 240 also includes a car door switch (also called a "gate switch"), not shown. The car door switch is ON when the door 60 on the car 10 side is closed, and is OFF when the door 60 on the car 10 side is open. When the car door switch is OFF (door not closed), for safety reasons, it is controlled by the control panel 210 so that the car 10 cannot run.

In this embodiment, when the car 10 door 60 is closed and the car door switch is ON (the car door switch is pressed and the contact is ON), the GS signal is ON, and when the car 10 door 60 is not closed and the car door switch is OFF, the GS signal is OFF and is sent to the control panel 210. The car 10 door 60 opens and closes in conjunction with the hall door 61.

The car device 240 also includes a door zone detection device (also called a "floor landing device"), not shown. Here, the door zone refers to the position range of the car 10 where 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 when the car 10 is located within the position range where the door can be opened (within the door zone) on each floor, the door zone detection device detects the DZ signal as being in the ON state, and when the car 10 is not located within the door zone, the door zone detection device detects the DZ signal as being in the OFF state and sends it to the control panel 210.

For example, the door zone detection device installed in the car 10 includes a magnetic proximity sensor. Meanwhile, a door zone detection plate is installed at the landing position of each floor in the elevator shaft 8. For example, the DZ signal is configured to be ON when the magnetic proximity sensor of the door zone detection device detects the door zone detection plate. For example, the DZ signal is configured to be ON when the floor position of the car 10 is within 150 mm above or below the floor position of each floor landing.

When the car 10 is outside the door zone (the DZ signal is OFF), for safety reasons, the control panel 210 controls the car so that the door cannot be opened. Note that the door zone detection device may be installed on the elevator shaft 8 side, and the door zone detection plate may be installed on the car 10 side.

In addition, when the elevator brake is released by supplying power to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250, the LB signal becomes ON. When the elevator brake is activated (the brake is not released) by stopping the supply of power to the brake coil of the hoisting machine 250, the LB signal becomes OFF.

In addition, a slow-up switch (not shown) and a slow-down switch (not shown) are installed on the wall of the elevator shaft 8. The slow-up switch is provided to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the top of the elevator shaft 8. The slow-up switch is configured to turn ON by contacting a specified member attached to the car 10 when the car 10 traveling UP reaches a specified position between the 5th floor (the top floor) and the 4th floor.

When the slow-up switch is ON, the SUL signal is ON, and when the slow-up switch is OFF, the SUL signal is OFF. When the car 10 approaches the top floor and the slow-up switch is ON, if the car 10 is traveling at a speed above the specified speed, the control panel 210 controls the car 10 to decelerate for safety reasons.

The slow-down switch is a switch that is installed to prevent the car 10 from colliding with the bottom of the elevator shaft 8 (or entering the pit 6). The slow-up switch is configured to be turned ON by contacting a specified member attached to the car 10 when the car 10 traveling in DN reaches a specified position between the first floor (the lowest floor) and the second floor.

When the slowdown switch is ON, the SDL signal is ON, and when the slowdown switch is OFF, the SDL signal is OFF. When the car 10 approaches the lowest floor and the slowdown switch is ON, if the car 10 is traveling at a speed above the specified speed, the control panel 210 controls the car 10 to slow down for safety reasons.

In addition, the slow-up switch and slow-down switch may be installed on the car 10 side, and these switches may be configured to be turned on by contact with a specified member installed on the elevator shaft 8 side.

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

For example, if a DN call is registered at a platform on the second floor, Locomotive No. 1 will be assigned to this DN call on the second floor. Locomotive No. 1, traveling in the DN direction, will respond to this DN call on the second floor, stop at the second floor, and then open its doors.

The above configuration is a configuration in which only one elevator is controlled in building 2 (single-car configuration), but below we will also explain a configuration in which multiple elevators are controlled in building 2 (multi-car configuration). Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of elevator system 200b relating to a modified example.

In this modified example, elevator system 200b includes two elevators, "Unit 1" and "Unit 2." Elevator equipment group 220b includes hall devices 230 installed at the halls of each floor from the first to the fifth floors, a hoist 250 and a car device 240 included in Unit 1, various sensors and switches, etc., of Unit 1, a hoist 250 and a car device 240 included in Unit 2, and various sensors and switches, etc., of Unit 2.

The control panel 210b comprises a group control unit 211 and two car control units 212. The group control unit 211 is a control board that manages multiple elevators. The car control unit 212 is a control board that controls the operation of the corresponding elevator. The group control unit 211 and the two car control units 212 communicate with each other and exchange various data related to 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 to the hall devices 230 installed at the halls on each floor from the 1st to the 5th floors via a control cable 21. The individual car control unit 212 is connected to the hoisting machine 250, the car device 240, and various sensors and switches of each car via

control cables

22 and 23.

In the modified example shown in FIG. 6, the hall device 230 on each floor includes a hall operating panel 70 equipped with a hall call button. However, in this modified example, the hall operating panel 70 does not include an indicator 71. In this modified example, one hall operating panel 70 is installed on each floor, and indicators 71 are installed for each elevator (two indicators).

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

The individual platform control units 212 are connected to the various sensors and switches of the vehicle corresponding to each platform control unit 212 via control cables 23 that run along the walls of the elevator shaft 8. The various sensors and switches include a slow-up switch, a slow-down switch, a landing door switch for each floor, and an indicator 71 for each floor, which are installed for each platform.

In this example, when a hall call button is pressed, the group management control unit 211 registers a hall call corresponding to the hall call button. The group management control unit 211 then assigns one of the multiple cars 10 (car No. 1, car No. 2) to the registered hall call. The individual 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 1st floor UP platform call button 81 is pressed, the 1st floor UP platform call signal turns ON. The group management control unit 211 receives the 1st floor UP platform call signal that is ON, and registers a 1st floor UP platform call. The group management control unit 211 assigns either car 10 No. 1 or No. 2 to the 1st floor UP platform call.

For example, suppose that the group management control unit 211 assigns car 10 of car No. 1. In this case, the group management control unit 211 sends a command to the individual car control unit 212 of car No. 1 to respond to the 1st floor UP hall call. The individual car control unit 212 of car No. 1 causes car 10 of car No. 1 to run and respond to the 1st floor UP hall call. After running to the 1st floor, car 10 stops at the 1st floor and opens the door.

The control panel 210b may not include the group management control unit 211, but may include only two individual car control units 212. In this case, the functions of the group management control unit 211 may be provided in the individual car control unit 212 of the first unit. The individual car control unit 212 of the first unit controls the hall device 230 via the control cable 21, and is directly connected to and communicates with the individual car control unit 212 of the second unit.

(Forced stop and standby operation)
Furthermore, the elevator system 200 (200a, 200b) can set forced stop floors and waiting floors. When a forced stop floor is set, if the car 10 passes a forced stop floor, the car 10 always stops at the forced stop floor and opens the doors. For example, a situation is assumed in which the hotel lobby is on the second floor, and the second floor is set as a 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 along the way and opens the doors.

If a waiting floor has been set, car 10 will travel to the set waiting floor after responding to all hall 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 car 10 responds to the final call on the fifth floor and becomes available, it will travel from the fifth floor to the first floor and then wait on the first floor (waiting floor).

When setting a waiting floor, it is also possible to set whether or not to wait with the doors open and the number of waiting cars. For example, as in the example of Figure 6, when there are two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, one or two cars 10 can be made to wait at a waiting floor. In this case, they can be made to wait at the waiting floor with the doors open or closed. When waiting with the doors open, the car 10 closes the doors a predetermined time (for example, one minute or three minutes) after arriving at the waiting floor and opening the doors. A waiting floor for which the door-open waiting setting has been set is also referred to as a "door-open waiting floor."

The elevator system 200b may also perform a distributed standby operation. For example, if there are two elevators managed by the control panel 210b, the two cars 10 that have become available are placed on standby in a distributed manner so that they do not stop on the same floor or on a nearby floor. For example, if two cars 10 that have become available are both stopped on the first floor (main floor), one car is made to run to a higher floor (e.g., the third floor) and then placed on standby with its doors closed.

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

(Detailed configuration of remote inspection system 1 and signals used)
The following description will be given on the assumption that the elevator system 200 (having one car) shown in Fig. 3 is used. 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, elevator system 200 includes control panel 210 and elevator equipment group 220. Elevator equipment group 220 includes hall devices 230 on the first to fifth floors. Control panel 210 and elevator equipment group 220 are connected by multiple signal lines, allowing multiple signals to 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, UP platform call signal on the 1st floor, and DN platform call signal on the 5th floor. All of the signals exemplified here are transmitted and received by parallel transmission.

As described above, the DZ signal is a signal that is detected by the door zone detection device. When the car 10 is located within the range of positions where the door can be opened on each floor (within the door zone), the DZ signal is ON, and when it is outside the door zone, the DZ signal is OFF.

As described above, the LB signal is a signal that goes ON when the brake is released by supplying power to the brake coil of the hoist 250. When the supply of power to the brake coil of the hoist 250 is stopped and the brake is activated, the LB signal goes OFF.

As described above, the GS signal is a signal that is detected by the car door switch. When the car door 60 is closed, the GS signal is ON, and when the car door 60 is open, the GS signal is OFF.

As described above, the DS signal is a signal that is detected by the landing door switch. When the landing door 61 is closed, the DS signal is ON, and when the landing door 61 is open, the DS signal is OFF.

As described above, the SUL signal is a signal that is detected by the slow-up switch. 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.

As described above, the SDL signal is a signal that is detected by the slow-down switch. When the slow-down switch is in the ON state, the SDL signal is in the ON state, and when the slow-down switch is in the OFF state, the SDL signal is in the OFF state.

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

The UP platform call signal on the first floor is a signal that is turned ON when the UP platform call button 81 on the platform device 230 on the first floor is pressed. When the UP platform call button 81 is pressed, the contact is turned ON, and when the UP platform call button 81 is released from the pressed state, the contact is turned OFF.

The DN hall call signal for the fifth floor is a signal that is turned ON when the DN hall call button 82 of the hall device 230 for the fifth floor is pressed. When the DN hall call button 82 is pressed, the contact is turned ON, and when the pressed state of the DN hall call button 82 is released, the contact is turned OFF.

Although not shown, other hall call signals output from hall call buttons and car call signals output from 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 some of the signals input/output by parallel transmission between the control panel 210 and the elevator equipment group 220 as judgment signals. 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 each of the branched signal lines is connected to a terminal provided on the input IF 130. 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 1st floor UP hall call signal and a 5th floor DN hall call signal to the output IF 140. When the output IF 140 receives a 1st floor UP hall call signal from the control device 110, it outputs the received 1st floor UP hall call signal to the elevator equipment group 220, and when the output IF 140 receives a 5th floor DN hall call signal from the control device 110, it outputs the received 5th floor DN hall call signal to the elevator equipment group 220.

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

When the 1st floor UP platform call button 81 is pressed, the contacts are shorted and a signal that is in the ON state is input to the 1st floor platform device 230. As a result, the 1st floor platform device 230 transmits a 1st floor UP platform call signal in the ON state to the control panel 210 (serial transmission). A signal line that transmits the 1st floor UP platform call signal is connected to a terminal of the output IF 140, and this signal line is connected to the platform device 230. The 1st floor UP platform call button 81 is modified so that the contacts are shorted when the 1st floor UP platform call signal in the ON state is output from the output IF 140. As a result, the 1st floor UP platform call signal in the ON state is transmitted from the 1st floor platform device 230 to the control panel 210. In other words, by transmitting a 1st floor UP platform call signal in the ON state from the output IF 140, it is possible to create a pseudo state in which the 1st floor UP platform call button 81 is pressed.

When the 5th floor DN hall call button 82 is pressed, the contacts are shorted and a signal that is in the ON state is input to the 5th floor hall device 230. As a result, the 5th floor hall device 230 transmits a 5th floor DN hall call signal in the ON state to the control panel 210 (serial transmission). A signal line that transmits the 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. The contacts of the 5th floor DN hall call button 82 are modified so that when the 5th floor DN hall call signal in the ON state is output from the output IF 140, the 5th floor hall call button 82 is shorted. As a result, the 5th floor hall device 230 transmits a 5th floor DN hall call signal in the ON state to the control panel 210. In other words, by transmitting a 5th floor DN hall call signal in the ON state from the output IF 140, it is possible to create a pseudo state in which the 5th floor DN hall call button 82 is pressed.

In this embodiment, in order to perform remote inspection, the remote inspection device 100 generates a pseudo hall call, and the car 10 is made to run using this call 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 diagnostic operation in which the car 10 runs between the lowest floor (1st floor) and the top floor (5th floor).

Signals are sent and received between the elevator equipment group 220 and the input IF 130 and output IF 140 via parallel transmission. Signals are also sent and received between the input IF 130, output IF 140, and the control device 110 via 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, 24V, 48V, 100V), so the signals are standardized at the input IF 130 and input to the control device 110.

In addition, 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. This allows the control device 110 to detect the temperature of the machine room 5. The temperature sensor 15 is not limited to being installed in the machine room, but may be installed at any position within the elevator hoistway 8, around the hoistway 8, or around the elevator. In this embodiment, the control device 110 is configured to be able to acquire the voltage of the intercom 16 attached to the car 10. Using this information, it is possible to determine whether the temperature of the machine room 5, etc., or the state of the intercom is normal or not.

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

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

The management server 300 issues a command for remote inspection to the control device 110 via the communication IF 120, and obtains 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 have a processor (CPU) and memory (ROM, RAM).

The control device 110 generates a pseudo 1st floor UP hall call by sending a 1st floor UP hall call signal to the hall device 230 on the 1st floor via the output IF 140. The control device 110 generates a pseudo 5th floor DN hall call by sending a 5th floor DN hall call signal to the hall device 230 on the 5th floor via the output IF 140. This allows the car 10 to run between the 1st and 5th floors and perform the above-mentioned 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/output to/from the control panel 210 via the input IF 130. The control device 110 also acquires the detection result of the temperature sensor 15 and the voltage of the intercom 16 as signals. The control device 110 judges each item of the remote inspection based on these signals, and transmits the judgment results to the management server 300 via the communication IF 120. The judgment results can be confirmed on the terminal 400.

The specifications of each signal input from 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 and OFF states may be reversed. For example, with regard to the LB signal, it is conceivable that the signal will be ON when the brakes are applied (when the brakes are not released) and that the signal will be ON when the brakes are released.

In this embodiment, the memory 112 of the control device 110 stores a conversion map corresponding to each manufacturer or model. The conversion map converts each signal so that the signal specifications are standardized (for example, conversion that inverts the ON/OFF of the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal). In addition, the SUL signal, SDL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not essential signals, and it is not a problem if these signals cannot be obtained (details will be described later).

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

As described with reference to FIG. 2, the control panel 210 and the maintenance device manufactured by Company X are configured to be connected by serial communication via the connector 261 provided on the control panel 210.

(Diagnostic operation)
8 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the running of the car 10 and signals during 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 diagnostic operation can be performed in which the car 10 runs between the lowest floor (1st floor) and the top floor (5th floor). This makes it possible to measure, for example, the running time from the 1st floor to the 5th floor.

Diagnostic operation is performed when car 10 is not excluded from the cars to be assigned, that is, when car 10 is able to respond to hall calls from elevator passengers. For this reason, even if car 10 is called to the first floor by diagnostic operation and then tried to run to the fifth floor, there is a possibility that it will run to a floor other than the first floor due to a hall call from a passenger, and during diagnostic operation, it may stop at a floor between the first and fifth floors due to a car call from a passenger. For this reason, diagnostic operation is performed, for example, once a month, late at night when there are no elevator passengers.

　The judgment of the inspection items in the remote inspection includes judgment by "driving diagnosis" and judgment by "constant diagnosis." Performing diagnostic operation and diagnosing the remote inspection items based on the diagnostic operation is called "driving diagnosis." In the driving diagnosis, the judgment is made using the judgment signal acquired when the car 10 runs in response to the hall call signal transmitted by the instruction unit 155 (described later) of the remote inspection device 100.

On the other hand, diagnosis of remote inspection items every time the car 10 is operated by an elevator passenger or the like, regardless of whether or not it is a diagnostic operation, is called "continuous diagnosis." In continuous diagnosis, a judgment is made using the acquired judgment signal regardless of whether or not a hall call signal has been sent by the instruction unit 155 of the remote inspection device 100.

In this example, it is assumed that at time t0, car 10 is stopped on the first floor. At this time, car 10 is stopped on the lowest floor (first floor), so the SUL signal is OFF and the SDL signal is ON. The brake of the hoist 250 is operating, so the LB signal is OFF. The car 10 is located within the position range (within the door zone) where the door can be opened on the first floor, so the DZ signal is ON. The door 60 on the car 10 side is closed, so the GS signal is ON. The door 61 on the landing side is closed, so the DS signal is ON.

Here, the remote inspection device 100 outputs the DN hall call signal for the 5th floor to the hall device 230 on the 5th floor in the ON state in order to perform diagnostic operation. This simulates the pressed state of the DN hall call button 82 on the hall device 230 on the 5th floor.

As a result, a DN hall call for the fifth floor is registered, and at time t1, car 10 starts traveling toward the fifth floor. At this time, the brake of the hoist 250 is released, and the LB signal changes from OFF to ON. Because the position of car 10 is no longer in the first floor door zone, the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF. Furthermore, because the slow-down switch changes from ON to OFF, the SDL signal changes from ON to OFF. The car 10 is now in an accelerating traveling state and is traveling in the UP direction.

After that, car 10 enters a constant speed running state (a state in which the speed of car 10 reaches the rated speed and car 10 runs while maintaining the rated speed), and at time t2, the position of car 10 reaches the second floor. At this time, the position of car 10 enters the door zone of the second floor, and the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON. Furthermore, when the position of car 10 leaves the door zone of the second floor, the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF.

At time t3, car 10 is on the fourth floor, enters the door zone of the fourth floor, and the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON. When car 10 leaves the door zone of the fourth floor, the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF. After that, at time t4, car 10 changes to a decelerating running state in order to stop on the fifth floor.

At time t5, car 10 stops on the fifth floor (the top floor). The slow-up switch changes from OFF to ON, causing the SUL signal to change from OFF to ON. As car 10 enters the door zone on the fifth floor, the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON. The brake of hoisting machine 250 operates (the release state is released), and the LB signal changes from ON to OFF.

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

In this way, when the car 10 is stopped on the first floor and the remote inspection device 100 outputs the DN hall call signal for the fifth floor to the elevator system 200 in the ON state, the car 10 can be made to run from the first floor to the fifth floor. At that time, the remote inspection device 100 can acquire various changing elevator signals and perform remote inspection based on these signals.

To stop the car 10 at the first floor, the remote inspection device 100 simply outputs the first floor UP hall call signal to the elevator system 200 in the ON state. This causes the car 10 to travel toward the first floor.

In addition, when the car 10 is stopped on the fifth floor, if the remote inspection device 100 outputs an ON state to the elevator system 200 an UP hall call signal for the first floor, the car 10 can be made to run from the fifth floor to the first floor. At that time, the remote inspection device 100 can acquire various changing elevator signals and perform remote inspection based on these signals.

The diagnostic operation is not limited to being performed by generating a UP hall call for the lowest floor and a DN hall call for the top floor, but may be performed by a hall call for any two floors. For example, assume that the service isolation setting is configured so that the elevator does not provide service to the top floor (fifth floor) (it cannot stop at the top floor). In this case, a UP hall call for the first floor and a DN hall call for the fourth floor may be generated to perform the diagnostic operation. However, in this case, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it is necessary to modify the system so that the 4th floor DN hall call signal is output to the hall device 230 for the fourth floor, rather than to the hall device 230 for the fifth floor.

(Signals suitable for remote inspection)
In this embodiment, the signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used to judge the conditions for operating the elevator safety circuit are used as the judgment signals for remote inspection. Also, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (construction), hall calls, rather than car calls, are used as output signals for operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) for remote inspection. The reason for this is explained below.

The elevator is equipped with a safety circuit that stops the operation of the elevator when the hardware or software detects a specified abnormality. For example, the safety circuit is configured to cut off the supply of power to the hoist 250 and the brake coil of the electromagnetic brake of the hoist 250 when any one of multiple contacts in the safety circuit is opened. This causes the driving force of the hoist 250 to be lost, and the electromagnetic brake to enter a braking state, stopping 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, etc. as safety devices. The speed governor is a device installed on the car 10 and physically detects the speed of the car 10. The emergency stop device is a device installed on the car 10 and physically brakes 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 the hardware (governor) or software (internal signal) detects that the car 10 is traveling at an abnormal speed, the software issues a command to stop the car 10, and the hardware or software activates a safety circuit. When the safety circuit is activated, the power supplied to the elevator is cut off, and the operation of the car 10 is halted. Furthermore, the car 10 can be physically stopped by an emergency stop device or buffer 14.

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

Alternatively, when a limit switch (final limit switch) installed below the slow-down switch or above the slow-up switch is turned on, a safety circuit is activated and the car 10 is stopped to prevent collision with the top or bottom of the elevator shaft.

In addition, if the car 10 were to move with the door open, there is a risk that a passenger could fall from the hall into the elevator shaft 8, or that a person could be caught between the hall entrance and the car 10. For this reason, the elevator is controlled so that the car 10 will not move when the hall door 61 is open (the hall door switch (DS signal) is OFF) or the car door 60 is open (the car door switch (GS signal) is OFF).

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

The elevator safety devices and safety circuits described above operate as described above in accordance with legal regulations such as the Building Standards Act. For this reason, elevators from each manufacturer typically output a DS signal (landing door switch ON/OFF), a GS signal (car door switch ON/OFF), a LB signal (electromagnetic brake release/braking), a DZ signal (door zone detection/non-detection), or a similar signal as a contact signal. These signals are used to determine the conditions for activating the elevator safety circuit.

For this reason, in this embodiment, the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, DZ signal, or similar signals commonly used by all elevator 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 signals are used, remote inspection items may or may not be determined depending on the elevator.

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

For this reason, when the car 10 is stopped on the first floor, the time from when the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF to when it changes from OFF to ON can be calculated as the travel time of the car 10 from the first floor to the second floor. Furthermore, the car position can be changed from the first floor to the second floor at the timing when the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON. In this way, it is possible to calculate the travel time between floors and the floor position at the timing when the DZ signal changes.

In that case, if the SDL signal is ON, the car position is set to the first floor (lowest floor), and if the SUL signal is ON, the car position is set to the fifth floor (top floor). Also, if the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON, the car position is increased by one floor if the UP signal is ON, and decreased by one floor if the DN signal is ON.

However, in remote inspection, the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal are not necessarily required signals. For example, suppose that a 1st floor UP call is generated by diagnostic operation late at night when there are no elevator passengers. The car 10 can respond to the 1st floor UP call and set the floor where it has stopped to "1st floor." Or, a 5th floor DN call is generated. The car 10 can respond to the 5th floor DN call and set the floor where it has stopped to "5th floor."

In addition, in late-night diagnostic operation, when a 1st floor UP call, a 5th floor DN call, and a 1st floor UP call are generated, when the first 1st floor UP call is responded to, the car position is set to 1st floor and the car direction is set to UP. Next, when traveling due to a 5th floor DN call, the floor of the car position is increased by 1 each time the DZ signal changes to ON. When the 5th floor DN call is responded to, the car position is set to 5th floor and the car direction is set to DN. Next, when traveling due to a 1st floor UP call, the floor of the car position is decreased by 1 each time the DZ signal changes to ON. When the 1st floor UP call is responded to, the car position is set to 1st floor and the car direction is set to UP. When configured in this way, it is possible to grasp the car position and traveling direction without taking in the SDL signal, SUL signal, UP signal, and DN signal.

In addition, when the UP signal and DN signal cannot be obtained, it is also possible to use the detection results of the door zone detection device. For example, the door zone detection device is equipped with multiple sensors, and multiple door zone detection plates are installed corresponding to each of the multiple sensors. The detection timing of the multiple sensors differs depending on the position of the car 10. If the timing at which each sensor changes to the ON state (or the OFF state) differs when the car direction is the UP direction and when it is the DN direction, the car direction can be identified by using the timing at which each sensor changes state.

It is also possible to use pulse information from the rotary encoder of the hoist 250 when the UP and DN signals cannot be obtained. In this case, the signal line output from the rotary encoder to the control panel 210 is branched and configured to be able to input a signal to the remote inspection device 100. In this case, the car direction can be determined based on whether the A-phase or B-phase pulse is output first. For example, the car direction can be set to the UP direction when the B-phase pulse is output 1/4 of a cycle behind the A-phase pulse, and the car direction can be set to the DN direction when the A-phase pulse is output 1/4 of a cycle behind the B-phase pulse.

When the output information from the rotary encoder is used, it is also possible to calculate the cage position and cage speed of the cage 10. It is possible to calculate the distance traveled by the cage 10 (cage position) from the number of pulses detected from the rotary encoder. It is also possible to calculate the cage speed from the number of pulses detected per unit time. In this way, it is possible to know whether the cage 10 is in a stopped state, an accelerating state, a constant speed state, or a decelerating state, and it is also easy to determine whether the cage position and cage speed are appropriate.

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 elevator model, the elevator manufacturer, the type of rotary encoder, etc. This makes it necessary to actually measure the relationship between the number of pulses and the car position for each site, which complicates the construction design and installation work of the remote inspection system 1. For this reason, in terms of ease of installation and installation costs, it is desirable to use a DZ signal to grasp elevator position information, as described above.

In addition, in this embodiment, when performing diagnostic operation in which the car 10 is running, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to output a pseudo-top floor DN hall call and a bottom floor UP hall call. This makes it possible to run the car 10 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 manner, the remote inspection device 100 may be configured to output pseudo car calls to the top floor and car calls to the bottom floor, rather than hall calls. However, in this embodiment, from the standpoint of ease of installation (construction), the remote inspection device 100 is configured to output hall calls, rather than car calls.

As described above, in order to generate a pseudo-hall call, the contacts of the hall call button of the hall device 230 installed at the hall are modified so that a signal input shorts out the contacts. The signal line (signal cable) for transmitting the hall call signal can be run from the remote inspection device 100 installed in the machine room 5 along the wall of the hoistway 8 and connected to the hall call buttons of the hall devices 230 on the top and bottom floors embedded in the wall of the hoistway 8. When running the signal line along the wall of the hoistway 8 in this way, installation is relatively easy as there are no obstacles in the way.

On the other hand, to generate a pseudo car call, the system is modified so that the contacts of the car call button of the car device 240 installed in the car 10 are shorted by signal input. To do this, the signal line for transmitting the car call signal must 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 place a signal line inside the car 10, it is necessary to use an available 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 available, and there is a possibility that there are no available lines. It is also necessary to check whether the signal lines of the control cable 22 on the machine room 5 side and the car 10 side match, which is not easy to install. For these reasons, in this embodiment, hall calls are generated artificially during diagnostic operation, but car calls are not generated artificially.

As explained above, in this embodiment, signals transmitted by parallel transmission are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection, rather than signals transmitted by serial transmission, the communication specifications of which vary depending on the manufacturer and model. In particular, in this embodiment, signals that are commonly used regardless of manufacturer and model, and that are suitable for use from the standpoint of ease of installation (construction) and installation costs, are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection.

Specifically, the hall call signal and the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, DZ signal, or similar signals used to determine the conditions for activating the elevator safety circuit are used to determine the inspection items for remote inspection. Thus, a major issue in this embodiment is how to carry out remote inspection in a situation where signals suitable for use with the remote inspection device 100 are greatly limited.

For example, when using a signal transmitted serially (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 performed as follows.

Elevators have their own speed patterns for each model and rated speed. The speed pattern indicates the relationship between elapsed time and car speed when traveling from the starting floor to the destination floor. The car 10 is in an accelerating state when it starts traveling from the starting floor, then in a constant speed state, and in a decelerating state just before arriving at the destination floor. The control panel 210 can calculate and store the actual measured value of the speed pattern from the starting floor to the destination floor based on the pulse signal obtained from the rotary encoder of the hoist 250. Therefore, by comparing the actual measured value of the speed pattern with the elevator's unique speed pattern (prepared value), it is possible to determine whether the elevator's start state, accelerating state, constant speed state, and decelerating state are normal or not. As shown in FIG. 2, if the remote inspection device 500 is connected to the control panel 210 by serial communication, it can access the internal signals held by the control panel 210, so that remote inspection can be easily realized by this method.

In contrast, in this embodiment, the remote inspection device 100 uses a "DZ signal" (a signal that identifies whether or not the car is within the door zone) as a signal to identify the position due to restrictions on signals suitable for use in remote inspection. From the DZ signal, it is not possible to determine whether the car 10 is accelerating, traveling at a constant speed, or decelerating. For this reason, in order to perform remote inspection using limited signals, it is necessary to devise a method of determination. In other words, when implementing remote inspection using a remote inspection device 500 capable of serial communication, there is no motivation to combine signals such as the DS signal, GS signal, LB signal, and DZ signal to determine the inspection items for remote inspection, and such an idea would not even occur to one.

In this embodiment, it is assumed that the control panel 210 controls one elevator (cage 10) (see FIG. 3), and as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, one remote inspection device 100 is connected to the elevator system 200. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 6, when the control panel 210b controls multiple elevators (cage 10) (multi-car configuration), a remote inspection device 100 may be installed in each of the multiple elevators (cage 10). Alternatively, one remote inspection device 100 may be installed for multiple elevators.

When installing a remote inspection device 100 in each of multiple elevators (cars 10), the following configuration may be used. For example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, part of the signal lines included in the

control cables

22, 23 connecting the individual car control unit 212 that controls the first elevator and the elevator equipment group 220b (car device 240, etc.) of the first elevator may be branched so that a judgment signal such as the DZ signal of the first elevator is input to the remote inspection device 100 (input IF 130) connected to the first elevator.

Similarly, a portion of the signal lines included in the

control cables

22, 23 connecting the individual car control unit 212 that controls the second elevator and the elevator equipment group 220b (such as the car device 240) of the second elevator can be branched so that a judgment signal such as the DZ signal of the second elevator is input to the remote inspection device 100 (input IF 130) connected to the second elevator. In this case, each remote inspection device 100 acquires a judgment signal of the elevator car 10 (the target car that the control unit 152 judges) connected to the remote inspection device 100, and judges the remote inspection items for the target car.

Multiple remote inspection devices 100 connected to multiple elevators may be configured to be connected to one management server 300 and one terminal 400. In the case of a multi-car system, no hall call signal is sent to the hall device 230. If a multi-car system is used and a hall call signal is sent to the hall device 230, each remote inspection device 100 (output IF 140) is connected to the hall device 230 by a signal line. The hall device 230 may be configured so that the contacts of the hall call button can be short-circuited by the signal output from any of the remote inspection devices 100.

When one remote inspection device 100 is installed for multiple elevators (cars 10), the following configuration may be used. In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, both a signal line branched from a portion of the signal line included in the

control cables

22, 23 connecting the individual car control unit 212 that controls the first elevator and the elevator equipment group 220b of the first elevator, and a signal line branched from a portion of the signal line included in the

control cables

22, 23 that connect the individual car control unit 212 that controls the second elevator and the elevator equipment group 220b of the second elevator, may be configured to be input to one remote inspection device 100. In this case, the remote inspection device 100 may determine the remote inspection items for each elevator and transmit the determination results for each elevator to the management server 300.

(Processing Executed by Remote Inspection System 1)
The following is a specific description of the processing executed by the remote inspection system 1. 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 unit 151, a control unit 152, an output unit 153, a reception unit 154, and an instruction unit 155, and stores a data group 156.

The reception unit 154 receives operations by a maintenance worker (a user who operates the terminal 400) from the input unit 420 of the terminal 400. For example, the maintenance worker can set the date and time for performing a driving diagnosis, manually execute a driving diagnosis, and the like, by operating the input unit 420 on the display screen of the display unit 410 of the terminal 400 (see FIG. 10 described below).

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, operation history 424, and judgment results 425. The control unit 152 reads or updates the setting data 422, the reference time DB 423, the operation history 424, and the judgment results 425.

The setting data 422 is data that stores various information related to remote inspection. For example, the setting data 422 records information about the building 2 and elevators related to the remote inspection. When the date and time for performing 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 that records the reference time (for example, the reference time KA for the start-up time described below) that the control unit 152 uses to judge each inspection item of the remote inspection. Details will be described later with reference to Figures 12 and 13. The operation history 424 is historical data of the signals of the elevator system 200 acquired by the remote inspection system 1. The judgment results 425 are data that store the judgment results of each inspection item of the remote inspection.

The control unit 152 generates a hall call signal to generate an elevator hall call in order to perform an operation diagnosis based on the date and time of the operation diagnosis recorded in the setting data 422 or an instruction to execute the operation diagnosis by a maintenance worker (manually).

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, the elevator system 200 executes a diagnostic operation.

The acquisition unit 151 acquires judgment 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 acquires not only judgment signals during the above-mentioned operation diagnosis, but also signals from the elevator equipment group 220 at all times.

The control unit 152 determines the inspection items for the remote inspection based on the determination signals acquired by the acquisition unit 151 (performs a determination process) and generates a determination result. The inspection items for the remote inspection include the start-up state, accelerating state, constant speed state, decelerating state, landing state, destination floor button state, hall button state, door open/close state, and brake state (presence or absence of an abnormality in the electromagnetic brakes) of the car 10. The control unit 152 records the acquired determination signals in the operation history 424, and records the determination results of the inspection items for the remote inspection in the determination result 425.

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

In this embodiment, the remote inspection system 1 is configured with the remote inspection device 100, the management server 300, and the terminal 400. However, this is not limited to the above, and the remote inspection system 1 may be configured without including the management server 300 and the terminal 400, or may be configured as an integrated device. For example, the remote inspection system 1 may be configured with only the remote inspection device 100, or may be configured with the remote inspection device 100 and the management server 300. Furthermore, the remote inspection device 100 is configured to be configured with the control device 110, the input IF 130, the output IF 140, and the communication IF 120. However, this is not limited to the above, and the functions of the input IF 130, the output IF 140, and the communication IF 120 may be integrated, and all functions may be realized in the control device 110.

The processes executed by each of the acquisition unit 151, the control unit 152, the output unit 153, the reception unit 154, and the instruction unit 155 may be processes executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110, or may be processes executed by any processor of the board provided in the remote inspection device 100. For example, the acquisition unit 151 may be processes executed by the processor of the input IF 130. The instruction unit 155 may be processes executed by the processor of the output IF 140. The output unit 153 and the reception unit 154 may be processes executed by any processor of the communication IF 120, the management server 300, and the terminal 400. The remote inspection device 100 may be configured to include the acquisition unit 151, the control unit 152, the output unit 153, the reception unit 154, and the instruction unit 155, or the remote inspection device 100 may be configured to include the acquisition unit 151 and the instruction unit 155, and the management server 300 may be configured to include the control unit 152, the output unit 153, and the reception unit 154. The data group 156 may be stored in the memory 112 of the control device 110, or a portion of it 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. The display screen 421 is displayed on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400. The display screen 421 displays remote inspection setting information, the judgment results of each item of the remote inspection, setting buttons, etc.

The top of the display screen 421 shows that the property name of Building 2 is "ABC Building." Below that, the status of the driving diagnosis-related judgments is displayed. In this example, the results of the diagnostic driving between the first and fifth floors, as shown in Figure 8, are shown by driving direction.

The "UP direction" column shows the results when traveling from the 1st to 5th floors in the UP direction. "Travel time" is the time required to travel from the 1st to 5th floors. "Start-up time" is the time required for the car 10 to start up when starting travel from the 1st floor (until passing the door zone). In addition, when traveling from the 1st to 5th floors, the time required to travel from the 1st to 2nd floors (including accelerating travel state), the time required to travel from the 2nd to 3rd floors (constant speed travel state), the time required to travel from the 3rd to 4th floors (constant speed travel state), and the time required to travel from the 4th to 5th floors (including decelerating travel state) are shown. The same is true for the "DN direction" column.

Here, the "measured time" is the time actually measured during diagnostic operation. The "reference time" is the reference time for judging whether the measured time is normal or not. The "judgment condition" is a condition determined based on the reference time, and if the measured time is within the numerical range of the judgment condition, it is judged to be in a "normal state." On the other hand, if the measured time is outside the numerical range of the judgment condition, it is judged to be in a "modulated state."

In this embodiment, a "modulated state" refers to a state that does not correspond to a normal state. A modulated state is a state that includes a state that does not go so far as to be an abnormal state, but that indicates a sign of a failure or abnormal state of some equipment in the elevator system 200. By determining whether or not it is a "modulated state," it is possible to capture a sign of failure (a state prior to failure). In the "Judgment" column, a circle is displayed if the judgment result is a "normal state," and a triangle is displayed if it is a "modulated state."

For example, the "Start-up time" on display screen 421 shows that the reference time is KA, the measured time is TA, the judgment conditions are KAL to KAH, and the judgment result is a normal state. This means that the condition KAL≦TA≦KAH is met, and therefore the normal state has been obtained as the judgment result for the start-up time.

Further below that, the results of the judgment based on the operation diagnosis are shown. In this example, the start-up state, running state, car call button state, and hall call button state are judged to be in a "normal state," and the door open/close state is judged to be in a "modulated state." Below that, the results of the judgment based on the continuous diagnosis are shown. In this example, the brake state and floor landing state are judged to be in a "normal state."

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

In addition to the monthly automatic driving diagnosis, you can also run a driving diagnosis immediately by clicking the "Manual Driving Diagnosis" button. When a driving diagnosis is run, the "Measurement Time" display is updated based on the results of the run, and the result is shown as "Normal State" or "Modulation State."

In principle, the "Reference time" column is set to the time measured during the operation diagnosis performed when the remote inspection system 1 is installed in the building 2 as the reference time. However, when the "Save reference time" button is clicked, the time measured during the most recently performed operation diagnosis is updated as the reference time, and the judgment conditions are updated based on the updated reference time.

For example, in the example of Figure 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 judgment conditions KAL and KAH are updated based on the updated reference time.

The processing executed by the remote inspection system 1 will be described below with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the remote inspection processing and the terminal setting processing. The remote inspection system 1 executes the remote inspection processing. The remote inspection processing is a processing for determining the inspection items of the remote inspection based on a determination signal. The remote inspection processing may be started periodically (for example, every 100 msec). Hereinafter, "step" may 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. If the "Manual Driving Diagnosis" button has been clicked (YES in S151), the terminal 400 sets a request for manual driving diagnosis (S152) and proceeds 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 has not been clicked (NO in S151), the terminal 400 proceeds to S153.

In S153, the terminal 400 determines whether the "Save Reference Time" button has been clicked. If the "Save Reference Time" button has been clicked (YES in S153), the terminal 400 sets a request to save the reference time (S154) and proceeds 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 has not been clicked (NO in S153), the terminal 400 proceeds to S155.

In S155, the terminal 400 determines whether the "Set" button has been clicked. If the "Set" button has been 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 "Set" button has not been 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 to be used in determining the inspection items of the remote inspection is acquired from the reference time DB 423 and set.

In S101, the control unit 152 determines whether or not a "manual driving diagnosis" request has been made, or whether or not 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 that has been set based on the request to set the driving diagnosis setting time (S156).

If any of the above conditions are met (YES in S101), the control unit 152 advances the process to S102. On the other hand, if the control unit 152 determines that none of the above conditions are met (NO in S101), the control unit 152 advances the process to S104.

The control unit 152 generates platform call information in S102. In this embodiment, as described with reference to FIG. 8, a 1st floor UP platform call and a 5th floor DN platform call are generated to allow the car 10 to travel from the 1st floor to the 5th floor and from the 5th floor to the 1st floor.

In S103, the instruction unit 155 outputs the hall call generated by the control unit 152 to the elevator system 200. This causes the car 10 to respond to the hall call and run.

In S104, the acquisition unit 151 acquires a determination signal (DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, DS signal, etc.) from the elevator system 200. The control unit 152 continues to acquire the determination signal from the elevator system 200 until the end condition is met (YES in S105).

For example, when performing operation diagnosis, the termination condition may be satisfied when the car 10 travels back and forth between the first and fifth floors. When performing continuous diagnosis, the termination condition may be satisfied each time the car 10 completes a specified operation (e.g., door opening/closing, brake release/application, completion of landing), or the termination condition may be satisfied periodically (e.g., every few minutes).

If the control unit 152 determines that the termination condition is met (YES in S105), it executes a judgment process (S106). In the judgment process, it judges the inspection items of the remote inspection. The inspection items include the start-up state, accelerating state, constant speed state, decelerating state, landing state, destination floor button state, hall button state, door open/close state, and brake state, and judges one or more of the following items.

In S107, 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 judgment result obtained in the judgment process. For example, the output unit 153 outputs (transmits) the judgment result to the management server 300 via the network. The terminal 400 can obtain the judgment result by accessing the management server 300 via the network. This makes it possible to check the judgment result on the display unit 410 of the terminal 400, as shown in FIG. 10.

In S109, the control unit 152 executes a reference time update process and ends the remote inspection process. This process updates the reference time for mode B in the reference time DB 423, as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 13.

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

In the reference time DB 423, values such as "running time" and "start-up time" are set, as in FIG. 10. One of modes A to D can be set in advance as the mode for reading out the reference time DB 423. Although not shown, it is possible to configure the terminal 400 so that the setting can be changed to one of modes A to D by a maintenance technician's operation.

In the example of FIG. 10, mode A is set. Therefore, time KU is read as the "running time" in the UP direction in the reference time DB 423, and time KA is read as the "start-up time," and these are displayed on the display screen 421 in FIG. 10.

Here, mode A is set when you want to use a fixed value as the reference time every 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 was installed in building 2. However, if 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 operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation).

Mode B is set when you want 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 a driving diagnosis (diagnostic 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 measured time is time TX for the startup time in the UP direction, the reference time for mode B in the reference time DB423 is updated from time KA1 to time TX. As a result, in the next diagnostic operation (next month) at 23:59 on February 23rd, 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 the temperature sensor 15. The reference time set in the Mode C item is a value measured by classifying the temperature of the machine room 5 into cases where it is less than K1°C (up to K1°C), K1°C or higher and less than K2°C (K1°C or higher), K2°C or higher and less than K3°C (K2°C or higher), and K3°C or higher (K2°C or higher). For example, the reference time can be changed in increments of 5°C or 10°C.

This reference time may be set based on the results of diagnostic operation. For example, if the temperature in the machine room 5 is equal to or higher than K1°C and lower than K2°C when diagnostic operation is performed to measure the reference time, the reference time is recorded in the item for equal to or higher than K1°C and lower than K2°C (K1°C or higher) in the reference time DB 423. Diagnostic operation may be performed multiple times and the average value 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 (up to K1°C), the reference time set in the item below K1°C (for example, "KA2" for the start time in the UP direction) is used.

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 you want to change the reference time according to the season. The reference time set in the Mode D item is a value measured for each season, classified as spring, summer, fall, or winter. For example, if the diagnostic operation to measure the reference time was performed in 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 according to the season. For example, if the season during diagnostic operation is spring, the reference time set in the spring item (for example, "KU126" for the start time in the UP direction) is used.

Modes B to D are modes prepared for hydraulic elevators. In hydraulic elevators, the oil characteristics change depending on the season and temperature, which can easily cause differences in the running characteristics of the car 10. For example, compared to the high temperatures of summer, the oil thickens in winter, so it takes longer to start up and running times are more likely to vary. For this reason, the reference time is switched depending on the season or temperature, which changes the oil characteristics. Also, the reason why the value from the previous diagnosis (the value from last month) is used in mode B is because it uses a reference time where the temperature environment or equipment environment is close to that of the most recent diagnosis.

The reference time recorded in the reference time DB 423 also includes the "time outside the door zone (also written as "DZ")." This is the time measured 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 while stopped (the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF). For example, in the item for mode A in the reference time DB 423, the time KX is set as the "time outside the DZ."

In a hydraulic elevator, when the car 10 is stopped at a certain floor, the car gradually sinks over time (the car's floor surface gradually drops relative to the landing floor surface), which can cause the car to fall out of the door zone. This time varies depending on the season and temperature due to the characteristics of the oil, so the reference time is configured to be changeable for each of these.

The reference time recorded in the reference time DB 423 also includes the door-opening times for the first to fifth floors. The door-opening times in the reference time DB 423 are measured from when the car 10 stops at a certain floor and the GS signal and DS signal change from ON to OFF until they change from OFF to ON (door-opening time). For example, in the item for mode A in the reference time DB 423, time KY1 is set as the door-opening time for the first floor. In the item for mode A in the reference time DB 423, time KY5 is set as the door-opening time for the fifth floor.

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

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

In S252 (when the "Save Reference Time" button is clicked), the reference times for modes A to D (running time, start time, time elapsed between floors, time outside the DZ, door open time) are updated. For example, in the UP direction running time, if the season of the operation diagnosis performed immediately before the "Save Reference Time" button was clicked was summer, the machine room temperature was K3°C or higher, and the measured time was "TUX", then "KU" in mode A, "KU1" in mode B, "KU5" in "K3°C or higher" in mode C, and "KU7" in "summer" in mode D are each changed to "TUX". This allows the measured time in the operation diagnosis to be updated as the reference time when the operation diagnosis is performed.

If 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 for mode B in the reference time DB 423 (running time, start time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door open time) (S254) and ends the reference time update process. If the reference time update process is not called in S109 (NO in S253), the control unit 152 ends the reference time update process as is.

In S254, for example, if the measured time during driving diagnosis for the UP direction driving time is "TUY", "KU1" in mode B is changed to "TUY". This changes the measured time to the reference time of mode B every time a driving diagnosis is performed. Therefore, when mode B is set, the measured time when the previous (last month) driving diagnosis was performed is used as the reference time.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the reference time acquisition process. The reference time acquisition process is 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 for mode A (S202) and proceeds to S209. For example, "KU" for mode A is acquired for the UP direction travel 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 for mode B (S204) and proceeds to S209. For example, for the UP direction running time, "KU1" for mode B is acquired.

If mode B is not set (NO in S203) but mode C is set (YES in S205), the control unit 152 acquires the reference time for mode C that matches the current machine room temperature (S206) and proceeds to S209. For example, if the current machine room temperature is K3°C or higher, "KU5" from "K3°C~" in mode C is acquired for the UP direction running time.

If mode C is not set (NO in S205) but 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 proceeds to S209. For example, if the current season is summer, "KU7" for "summer" in mode C is acquired for the UP direction running time.

If mode D is not set (NO in S207), the control unit 152 proceeds 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.

The configuration and effects of this embodiment regarding switching the reference time are summarized below.

(A) The control unit 152 can update the measurement times calculated (measured) during operation diagnosis as the reference times (running time, start time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door open time) in the reference time DB 423. For example, the control unit 152 can update the start time TA measured during operation diagnosis as the reference time KA (for the UP direction) for the start time in the reference time DB 423. In this way, the inspection items for remote inspection can be determined using values that correspond to the operating state of the elevator at the site.

(B) The reference times (running time, start-up time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door open time) recorded in the reference time DB 423 include multiple values measured for each season (spring, summer, fall, winter values). The control unit 152 selects one of the multiple values depending on the current season to determine the inspection item. For example, the reference times for start-up times recorded in the reference time DB 423 include multiple values measured for each season (KA6 to KA9 (in the case of the UP direction) in mode D). When the current season is summer, the control unit 152 selects KA7 to determine the start-up time. In this way, highly accurate determination results can be obtained not only for rope elevators but also for hydraulic elevators, whose oil properties change depending on the season.

(C) The reference times (running time, start time, elapsed time between floors, time outside the DZ, door open time) recorded in the reference time DB 423 include multiple values for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15 (values of up to K1°C, K2°C-, K3°C-, K4°C-). The control unit 152 selects one of the multiple values according to the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 to determine the inspection item. For example, the reference time for the start time (reference time KA) recorded in the reference time DB 423 includes multiple values for each temperature range measured by the temperature sensor 15 (KA2-KA5 (in the case of the UP direction) in mode C). The control unit 152 selects KA5 to determine the start time when the current temperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 is K4°C or higher. In this way, highly accurate determination results can be obtained not only for rope elevators but also for hydraulic elevators in which the properties of the oil change depending on the temperature.

(D) The instruction unit 155 periodically transmits a hall call signal. Specifically, as shown in S101 to S103, a hall call is generated and output each time the operation diagnosis set time, which is once a month, is reached. After performing an operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 changes the reference times (running time, start time, elapsed time between floors, time to be outside the DZ, and door open time) in the reference time DB 423 to the measured times calculated during the operation diagnosis (S109). For example, after performing an operation diagnosis, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the start time in the reference time DB 423 to the measured time TA of the start time calculated during the operation diagnosis. In this way, a highly accurate judgment result can be obtained using a value that corresponds to the latest operating state of the elevator at the site. For example, it is possible to respond to cases where the state of the equipment changes due to aging of the equipment or adjustment of the valves in a hydraulic elevator.

(E) The reception unit 154 receives the operation of the maintenance worker (user) (clicking the "Manual Driving Diagnosis" button, clicking the "Save Reference Time" button, etc.). 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 changes the reference times (running time, start time, elapsed time between floors, time to be outside the DZ, door open time) in the reference time DB 423 to the measured times calculated during the driving diagnosis (S252). For example, when the "Save Reference Time" button is clicked, the control unit 152 changes the reference time KA of the start time in the reference time DB 423 to the measured time TA of the start time calculated during the driving diagnosis (in the case of the UP direction). In this way, highly accurate judgment results can be obtained by manually changing the values to match the latest elevator operating conditions at the site. For example, it can also be adapted to changes in equipment conditions due to aging of the equipment or adjustments to valves in hydraulic elevators.

[Judgment of remote inspection items]
Next, the judgment of the inspection items of the remote inspection executed in this embodiment will be described. The judgment of the inspection items of the remote inspection is performed in the judgment process (S106) of the remote inspection process shown in Fig. 11. The inspection items of the remote inspection include the start-up state, accelerating state, constant speed running state, decelerating state, landing state, destination floor button state, hall button state, door open/close state, and brake state of the car 10.

In the judgment process, a judgment is made on one or more of the above inspection items. In this embodiment, the judgment process is described assuming that the landing state is judged as an inspection item for remote inspection. The judgment of the landing state is described below with reference to Figures 15 to 18.

(Determination of implantation state)
Fig. 15 is a timing chart for explaining the determination of the floor arrival state. The situation in Fig. 15 is the same as the situation after time t4 in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. 15, at time t0, the car 10 is traveling from the 4th floor to the 5th floor in order to respond to a DN hall call at the 5th floor, and is about to stop (land) at the 5th floor.

At time t0, the position of car 10 is outside the door zone (DZ signal is OFF). The brake of the hoist 250 is released (LB signal is ON). The door 60 on the car 10 side is closed (GS signal is ON). The door 61 on the landing side is closed (DS signal is ON).

After that, at time t1, the car position of car 10 enters the door zone on the fifth floor, causing the DZ signal to change from OFF to ON. Furthermore, car 10 stops on the fifth floor, and at time t2, the brake of the hoisting machine 250 enters the braking state, causing the LB signal to change from ON to OFF.

At time t3, the car 10 starts to open the door, causing the GS signal and DS signal to change from ON to OFF. After the door opens, the car 10 closes the door a predetermined time later (several seconds). At time t5, the car 10 closes the door, causing the GS signal and DS signal to change from OFF to ON.

At a later time t6 (stopped at the fifth floor), the position of car 10 is within the door zone (DZ signal is ON). The brake of the hoist 250 is in a braking state (LB signal is OFF). The door 60 on the car 10 side is in a closed state (GS signal is ON). The door 61 on the landing side is in a closed state (DS signal is ON).

Here, the timing when the LB signal changes from ON to OFF after the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON is referred to as the first timing (time t2). The timing when the GS signal changes from ON to OFF and the DS signal changes from ON to OFF is referred to as the second timing (time t3). The second timing (time t3) is the timing after the first timing (time t2).

The timing when the specified time TS1 has elapsed from the second timing (time t3) is referred to as the third timing (time t4). Here, the specified time TS1 is one second. The timing after the third timing when the GS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state and the DS signal changes from the OFF state to the ON state is referred to as the fourth timing (time t5). The period from the third timing (time t4) to the fourth timing (time t5) is referred to as the period TS2.

The control unit 152 uses the period TS2 to determine the floor landing state. FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the determination process. In this embodiment, the floor landing state is determined in the determination process. When the determination process starts, the control unit 152 determines in S301 whether the position of the car 10 is not at the door-open waiting floor at the first timing (time t2).

As described above, when the door-open standby setting is set, the control panel 210 controls the car 10 to run to the door-open standby floor and then wait at the door-open standby floor with the door open when the car 10 is available.

If the control unit 152 determines in S301 that the position of the car 10 is not a door-open waiting floor at the first timing (YES in S301), the process proceeds to S302. If the control unit 152 determines that the position of the car 10 is a door-open waiting floor at the first timing (NO in S301), the control unit 152 ends the determination process. In other words, if the car 10 stops at a door-open waiting floor, the control unit 152 does not determine the floor arrival state.

In S302, the control unit 152 determines whether the DZ signal continues to be in the ON state during the period TS2. The period TS2 is the period from the third timing (time t4) to the fourth timing (time t5) when the specified time TS1 has elapsed since the second timing (time t3).

If the DZ signal continues to be ON during period TS2 (YES in S302), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal (S303) and ends the determination process. On the other hand, if the DZ signal does not continue to be ON during period TS2 (i.e., if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF during period TS2) (NO in S302), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is modulated (S304) and ends the determination process.

In this embodiment, the DZ signal is used to determine whether the car 10 has landed normally. The door of the car 10 opens as soon as it lands, and closes after a certain period of time (several seconds) has passed. When the car 10 has landed (stopped at a certain floor) and the door is open, the position of the car 10 should be within the door zone of the stopping floor. For this reason, in this embodiment, the landing state is determined to be in a modulated state if the car position is outside the door zone in the door open state.

However, if the doors are opened at a door-open waiting floor, they will remain open for a specified period of time (for example, several minutes). As mentioned above, if the elevator is a hydraulic elevator, the car 10 will sink little by little over time and may leave the door zone. For this reason, in this embodiment, if the elevator is stopped at a door-open waiting floor, it is excluded from the determination of the floor arrival state. However, this is not limited to this, and the floor arrival state may be determined even if the floor is a door-open waiting floor without determining whether or not it is a door-open waiting floor (S301). For example, if a hydraulic elevator is not the target, there is no need to perform the determination of S301.

The reason why the DZ signal is not checked during the specified time TS1 (1 second) is to take into consideration the effects of chattering. Chattering can cause the switch to repeatedly turn on and off, which can lead to an erroneous judgment by the control unit 152. For this reason, no judgment is made during the specified time TS1 (1 second). Note that the specified time TS1 may be 0.1 seconds or 0.5 seconds, and may be any time that can exclude periods during which the value of the DS signal is not detected correctly.

(Modification of Implantation State Determination)
In the example described with reference to Figures 15 and 16, when the stop floor is a door-open waiting floor, the determination of the landing state is not performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the landing state determination process described with reference to Figures 17 and 18 below may be performed.

FIG. 17 is a timing chart for explaining the determination of the floor landing state in the modified example. The timing chart in FIG. 15 explains the case where the stopping floor is not a door-open waiting floor. On the other hand, the timing chart in FIG. 17 explains the case where the stopping floor is a door-open waiting floor.

In the timing chart of FIG. 15, for example, TS1+TS2 is 7 seconds. On the other hand, if the door open time due to door open waiting is 3 minutes, TS1+TS2 will be 3 minutes in the timing chart of FIG. 17.

As mentioned above, if the elevator is a hydraulic elevator, the car 10 will sink little by little over time and may leave the door zone while the door is open. This is a characteristic of hydraulic elevators. In this modified example, after the first timing when the LB signal changes from the ON state to the OFF state, the processing described below is performed taking into account the characteristics of hydraulic elevators.

In this modified example, the operation confirmation time is the time during which it is assumed that the car 10 of the hydraulic elevator will not leave the door zone even if it gradually sinks after the first timing.

In this example, the operation confirmation time TS3 is the time found from the "time to be outside the DZ" in the reference time DB423 described in FIG. 12. The "time to be outside the DZ" is the time actually measured in advance from the first timing (the timing when the LB signal changes from ON to OFF) to leaving the door zone (the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF) when the elevator is a hydraulic elevator and the car 10 is stopped at a floor and the LB signal remains in the OFF state. For example, when the set mode is mode A, the time to be outside the DZ is time KX (for example, 120 seconds).

In this case, the operation check time TS3 is calculated based on the time KX. In this example, 1/2 of the time KX is defined as the operation check time TS3. In other words, the operation check time TS3 = time KX x 1/2 = 60 seconds. Note that the operation check time TS3 may be determined as a fixed value (for example, 60 seconds).

If the operation confirmation time TS3 is exceeded, it can be assumed that the car 10 of the hydraulic elevator has sunk and fallen out of the door zone, or that the car has fallen out of the door zone due to a different reason, such as the car not being in a normal landing state.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the determination process according to the modified example. In this determination process, no determination is made as to whether or not the floor is a door-open waiting floor. In S401, the control unit 152 determines whether or not the DZ signal continues to be in the ON state during the period TS2.

If the DZ signal continues to be ON during period TS2 (YES in S401), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal (S402) and ends the determination process. On the other hand, if the DZ signal does not continue to be ON during period TS2 (NO in S401), the control unit 152 proceeds to S403.

Here, the period TS2 refers, in principle, to the period from the third timing (time t4) to the fourth timing (the door closing timing at time t6). However, if the door is not closed even after the judgment time (for example, 5 minutes) is reached, the period TS2 is set to be equal to the judgment time (5 minutes). For example, if the door is closed at 10 seconds and the DZ signal remains ON during that time, YES is determined in S401. On the other hand, if the door is closed at 10 seconds and the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF during that time, NO is determined in S401. In addition, if the door remains open for 5 minutes and the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF during that time, NO is also determined in S401.

In S403, the control unit 152 calculates the operation check time TS3 and proceeds to S404. For example, if the mode is set to mode A, the operation check time TS3 is calculated as the time outside the DZ KX (120 seconds) x 1/2 = 60 seconds.

If the control unit 152 determines in S404 that the fifth timing is within the period TS2 (TS3 (60 seconds) has passed) (YES in S404), the process proceeds to S405. On the other hand, if the control unit 152 determines that the fifth timing is not within the period TS2 (TS3 (60 seconds) has not passed) (NO in S404), the process proceeds to S406.

If the control unit 152 determines in S405 that there is a fourth timing (the door is closed) (YES in S405), the process proceeds to S402. On the other hand, if the control unit 152 determines that there is no fourth timing (the door remains open) (NO in S405), the process proceeds to S406. The control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal in S402, and determines that the landing state is modulated in S406, and ends the determination process.

In the above process, even if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF after the third timing (time t4), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal when the fourth timing (time t6) occurs (the door closes) (YES in S405) after the fifth timing (time t5) that is the operation confirmation time TS3 (60 seconds) from the first timing (time t2).

If the elevator is a hydraulic elevator, even if the car 10 gradually sinks while waiting for the doors to open and goes out of the door zone, it is determined to be in a normal state if the doors close within a specified time (for example, the doors close after three minutes have passed while waiting for the doors to open). Even if the car 10 sinks, the car 10 will automatically return to its normal landing position when a re-leveling operation is performed.

On the other hand, if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF and TS3 (60 seconds) has not yet elapsed (NO in S404), it is assumed that the door zone has been left regardless of the characteristics of the hydraulic elevator, and so it is determined to be in a modulated state. Also, if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF and the doors remain open even after TS3 (60 seconds) (for example, the doors remain open with the hydraulic elevator car 10 submerged) (NO in S405), it is determined to be in a modulated state because passengers would be exposed to a dangerous situation.

Furthermore, as explained above with reference to Figures 12 to 14, the reference time for "time outside the DZ" can be switched depending on the mode and season, etc., and the operation confirmation time TS3 can be calculated based on the switched "time outside the DZ." For example, when mode C or mode D is set, a value for "time outside the DZ" can be used that corresponds to the temperature or season at which the characteristics of the oil in the hydraulic elevator change. This makes it possible to configure the configurations shown in configurations (A) to (E) above, and achieves the effects shown in configurations (A) to (E).

The configuration and effects of this embodiment regarding determining implantation status are summarized below.

(1) If the DZ signal continues to be ON during the period TS2 from the third timing (time t4) to the fourth timing (time t5) when a specified time TS1 has elapsed since the second timing (time t3) after the first timing (time t2) until the first timing (time t4), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal. If the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF during the period TS2, the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is modulated. The first timing (time t2) is the timing when the LB signal changes from ON to OFF after the DZ signal changes from OFF to ON. The second timing (time t3) is the timing when the GS signal changes from ON to OFF and the DS signal changes from ON to OFF. The fourth timing (time t5) is the timing when the GS signal changes from OFF to ON and the DS signal changes from OFF to ON.

In this embodiment, the signals (DZ signal, LB signal, DS signal, GS signal) used to determine the conditions for activating the elevator safety circuit are used as the determination signals for remote inspection. Also, from the viewpoint of ease of installation (construction), hall calls are used instead of car calls as output signals for operation diagnosis (diagnostic operation) of remote inspection. By determining the floor arrival state based on the DZ signal, LB signal, GS signal, and DS signal suitable for remote inspection, remote inspection can be performed as simply as possible for various elevators with different communication specifications and signal specifications. In other words, multi-brand maintenance can be realized in remote inspection. This allows maintenance companies to 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 remote inspection.

(2) The specified time TS1 is 1 second. This is because there is a possibility that the switch will repeatedly turn on and off due to chattering. Even if the value of the GS signal or DS signal is not detected correctly during the specified time TS1, a correct judgment result can be obtained by not making a judgment during that time.

(3) At the first timing (time t2), if the position of the car 10 is on the waiting floor (first floor), the control unit 152 does not determine the floor arrival state. In this way, in the case of a hydraulic elevator, it is possible to prevent the car 10 from sinking little by little while waiting for the door to open and going out of the door zone, which would otherwise cause the modulation state to be erroneously detected.

(4) Even if the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF after the third timing (time t4), when the fourth timing (time t6) (doors closed) occurs after the fifth timing (time t5) that is the operation confirmation time TS3 (60 seconds) from the first timing (time t2), the control unit 152 determines that the landing state is normal. The operation confirmation time is a value obtained from a value that is actually measured in advance from the first timing to when the DZ signal changes from ON to OFF while the LB signal continues to be OFF, in the case where the elevator is a hydraulic elevator. In this way, if the elevator is a hydraulic elevator, if the car 10 gradually sinks while waiting for the doors to open and goes out of the door zone, if the doors close, it is determined that the state is normal, but if the doors do not close, it is determined that the state is modulated because passengers are exposed to a dangerous condition.

(5) The management server 300 can send a command to execute remote inspection to the remote inspection device 100 and can receive a determination result from the remote inspection device 100. The elevator system 200 (elevator equipment group 220 and control panel 210) and the remote inspection device 100 are installed in a first country (e.g., the United States), and the management server 300 is installed in a second country (e.g., Japan) different from the first country. In this manner, the management server 300 in the second country can manage the remote inspection device 100 that performs remote inspection of the elevator system 200 operating in the first country. As a result, the management server 300 can manage the remote inspection device 100 across countries, regardless of in which country the elevator system 200 and the remote inspection device 100 are installed.

(6) As explained above with reference to Figures 12 to 14, the control unit 152 can switch the reference time. This allows the control unit 152 to switch the reference time for the "time outside the DZ" depending on the mode, season, etc., as shown in configurations (A) to (E) above, and calculate the operation confirmation time TS3 based on the switched "time outside the DZ." This provides the effects shown in configurations (A) to (E).

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

(Appendix 1)
An elevator remote inspection system for remotely inspecting an elevator,
an acquisition unit that acquires, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
A control unit that determines an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal;
An output unit that outputs a determination result of the inspection item,
The determination signal is
a first signal indicating either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a positional range of the elevator car in which a door of the elevator car can be opened and closed, or a non-first state which is not the first state;
a second signal indicating that the elevator is in either a second state in which the brake is released or a non-second state other than the second state;
a third signal indicating that the car door is in either a third state in which the car door is closed or a non-third state other than the third state;
a fourth signal indicating either a fourth state in which a hall door that opens and closes in conjunction with the car door is closed or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state,
The inspection items include the landing condition of the cage,
The control unit is
If the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing when a specified time has elapsed since the second timing after the first timing, the landing state is determined to be a normal state;
When the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period, the landing state is determined to be a modulation state;
the first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state,
the second timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state,
The fourth timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

(Appendix 2)
2. The elevator remote inspection system of claim 1, wherein the specified time is 1 second.

(Appendix 3)
The car can stop at a plurality of floors;
When a waiting setting with a door open at a waiting floor is set, the control panel controls the car to wait at the waiting floor with the door open after traveling to the waiting floor when the car is available,
3. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not determine the landing state if the position of the car is the waiting floor at the first timing.

(Appendix 4)
The control unit determines that the landing state is normal when the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state after the third timing, when the fourth timing occurs after a fifth timing that is an operation confirmation time after the first timing, and
The elevator remote inspection system described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the operation confirmation time is a value calculated from a previously measured value of the time from the first timing to the first signal changing from the first state to the non-first state, when the elevator is a hydraulic elevator and the second signal continues to be in the non-second state.

(Appendix 5)
A remote inspection device including the acquisition unit, the control unit, and the output unit;
Further comprising a management server that can be connected to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device,
the management server is capable of transmitting an instruction to execute the remote inspection to the remote inspection device and 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;
5. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the management server is installed in a second country different from the first country.

(Appendix 6)
An elevator remote inspection method for performing remote inspection of an elevator,
acquiring, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
determining an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal;
and outputting a determination result of the inspection item.
The determination signal is
a first signal indicating either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a positional range of the elevator car in which a door of the elevator car can be opened and closed, or a non-first state which is not the first state;
a second signal indicating that the elevator is in either a second state in which the brake is released or a non-second state other than the second state;
a third signal indicating that the car door is in either a third state in which the car door is closed or a non-third state other than the third state;
a fourth signal indicating either a fourth state in which a hall door that opens and closes in conjunction with the car door is closed or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state,
The inspection items include the landing condition of the cage,
The determining step includes:
determining that the landing state is normal when the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing when a specified time has elapsed since a second timing after the first timing;
and determining that the landing state is a modulation state when the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period;
the first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state,
the second timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state,
The fourth timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and are not limited to the above. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the claims.

1 Remote inspection system, 2 Building, 5 Machine room, 6 Pit, 8 Hoistway, 10 Cage, 11 Rope, 12 Counterweight, 13 Deflector, 14 Buffer, 15 Temperature sensor, 16 Intercom, 21-23 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 platform operation panel, 71 indicator, 81 UP platform call button, 82 DN platform call button, 92 DN platform 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 unit, 212 Individual car control unit, 220, 220a, 210b Elevator equipment group, 230 Landing device, 240 Cage device, 250 Hoisting machine, 261, 262 Connector, 300 Management server, 400 Terminal, 410 Display unit, 420 Input unit, 421 Display screen, 422 Setting data, 423 Reference time DB, 424 Operation history, 425 Judgment result, 500 X company remote inspection device, 500a Y company remote inspection device.

Claims

An elevator remote inspection system for remotely inspecting an elevator,
an acquisition unit that acquires, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
A control unit that determines an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal;
An output unit that outputs a determination result of the inspection item,
The determination signal is
a first signal indicating either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a positional range of the elevator car in which a door of the elevator car can be opened and closed, or a non-first state which is not the first state;
a second signal indicating that the elevator is in either a second state in which the brake is released or a non-second state other than the second state;
a third signal indicating that the car door is in either a third state in which the car door is closed or a non-third state other than the third state;
a fourth signal indicating either a fourth state in which a hall door that opens and closes in conjunction with the car door is closed or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state,
The inspection items include the landing condition of the cage,
The control unit is
If the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing when a specified time has elapsed since the second timing after the first timing, the landing state is determined to be a normal state;
When the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period, the landing state is determined to be a modulation state;
the first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state,
the second timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state,
The fourth timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.
The elevator remote inspection system of claim 1, wherein the specified time is 1 second.
The car can stop at a plurality of floors;
When a waiting setting with a door open at a waiting floor is set, the control panel controls the car to wait at the waiting floor with the door open after traveling to the waiting floor when the car is available,
3. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not determine the landing state when the position of the car is the waiting floor at the first timing.
The control unit determines that the landing state is normal when the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state after the third timing, when the fourth timing occurs after a fifth timing that is an operation confirmation time after the first timing, and
3. The elevator remote inspection system according to claim 1, wherein the operation confirmation time is a value calculated from a previously measured value of a time from the first timing to a time when the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state while the second signal continues to be in the non-second state when the elevator is a hydraulic elevator.
A remote inspection device including the acquisition unit, the control unit, and the output unit;
Further comprising a management server that can be connected to the remote inspection device via a network and manages the remote inspection device,
the management server is capable of transmitting an instruction to execute the remote inspection to the remote inspection device and 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 performing remote inspection of an elevator,
acquiring, as a determination signal, a signal input/output by parallel transmission between the elevator equipment group and a control panel that controls the elevator equipment group;
determining an inspection item of the remote inspection based on the acquired determination signal;
and outputting a determination result of the inspection item.
The determination signal is
a first signal indicating either a first state in which the elevator car is located within a door zone indicating a positional range of the elevator car in which a door of the elevator car can be opened and closed, or a non-first state which is not the first state;
a second signal indicating that the elevator is in either a second state in which the brake is released or a non-second state other than the second state;
a third signal indicating that the car door is in either a third state in which the car door is closed or a non-third state other than the third state;
a fourth signal indicating either a fourth state in which a hall door that opens and closes in conjunction with the car door is closed or a non-fourth state that is not the fourth state,
The inspection items include the landing condition of the cage,
The determining step includes:
determining that the landing state is normal if the first signal continues to be in the first state during a first period from a third timing to a fourth timing when a specified time has elapsed since a second timing following the first timing;
and determining that the landing state is a modulation state when the first signal changes from the first state to the non-first state during the first period;
the first timing is a timing at which the second signal changes from the second state to the non-second state after the first signal changes from the non-first state to the first state,
the second timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the third state to the non-third state and the fourth signal changes from the fourth state to the non-fourth state,
The fourth timing is a timing when the third signal changes from the non-third state to the third state and the fourth signal changes from the non-fourth state to the fourth state.