METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MONITORING THE OPERATING CONDITION OF A TRANSPORT SYSTEM

• US 20140299422A1
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kone Corporation
• Inventors: KANGAS, Petteri, HAAKSLUOTO, Ville
• Granted Patent: US 9,701,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/394
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 3/02 Position or depth indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0018 Devices monitoring the operating condition of the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0095 Testing the sensing arrangement, e.g. testing if a magnetic card reader, bar code reader, RFID interrogator or smart card reader functions properly testing of electrical circuits G01R31/28

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for monitoring the operating condition of a transport system. In the method a reader device is fitted to the transport system, which reader device is configured to read an identifier that is separate from the reader device and is provided with a readable marking when the identifier is situated within range of the reading signal of the reader device, measuring means are fitted in connection with the reader device for measuring the operation of the reader device, the operation of the reader device is measured in connection with a reading procedure being performed, and also a functional nonconformance of the reader device is determined on the basis of the measurement of the operation of the reader device.

Claims

1. Method for monitoring the operating condition of a transport system, in which method:

a reader device is fitted to the transport system, which reader device is configured to read an identifier that is separate from the reader device and is provided with a readable marking, when the identifier is situated within range of the reading signal of the reader device,

wherein;

measuring means are fitted in connection with the reader device for measuring the operation of the reader device

the operation of the reader device is measured in connection with a reading procedure being performed,

a functional nonconformance of the reader device is determined on the basis of the measurement of the operation of the reader device.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

when a functional nonconformance is detected, a monitoring signal is formed for notifying the functional nonconformance of the reader device.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein:

a reading signal is formed with the reader device, with which reading signal the aforementioned identifier separate from the reader device is read,

the reading signal is measured,

if the measuring data of the reading signal deviates from the acceptable, a monitoring signal is formed for notifying a functional nonconformance of the reader device.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein:

a test identifier provided with a readable marking is fitted in connection with the reader device,

the marking of the test identifier is read with the reader device.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein:

the marking of the test identifier is uncovered

the uncovered marking of the test identifier is read

the marking of the test identifier is covered after the reading procedure has ended.

6. Method according to claim 4, wherein:

if the result of the reading procedure for the marking of the test identifier deviates from the acceptable, a monitoring signal is formed for notifying a functional nonconformance of the reader device.

7. Monitoring arrangement for monitoring the operating condition of a reader device,

which reader device is configured to read an identifier that is separate from the reader device and is provided with a readable marking, when the identifier is situated within range of the reading signal of the reader device,

wherein the monitoring arrangement comprises measuring means fitted in connection with the reader device for measuring the operation of the reader device,

and in that the monitoring arrangement comprises a monitoring element, which is configured to determine the operating condition of the reader device on the basis of the measuring data for the operation of the reader device, said data being produced by the aforementioned measuring means.

8. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 7, wherein when it determines a functional nonconformance of the reader device, the monitoring element is configured to form a monitoring signal for notifying a functional nonconformance of the reader device.

9. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the reader device comprises a transmitter for forming a reading signal,

and in that the measuring means for measuring the operation of the reader device comprise a measuring device, with which the reading signal of the reader device is measured,

and in that the monitoring element comprises an input for the measuring data of the aforementioned measuring device,

and in that the monitoring element is configured to determine the operating condition of the reader device on the basis of the measuring data being received from a measuring device.

10. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the measuring means for measuring the operation of the reader device comprise a test identifier provided with a readable marking fitted in connection with the reader device,

and in that the monitoring element is configured to determine the operating condition of the reader device on the basis of the result of a reading procedure for the marking of the test identifier.

11. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the aforementioned marking to be read of the test identifier is configured to be covered and/or uncovered by the control of the reader device.

12. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the monitoring element is configured to compare the result of the reading procedure for the marking of the test identifier to one or more monitoring criteria,

and in that the monitoring element is configured to form a monitoring signal for notifying a functional nonconformance of the reader device, if the result of the reading procedure for the marking of the test identifier does not fulfill the aforementioned one or more monitoring criteria.

13. Monitoring arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the monitoring element is configured to form a monitoring signal for notifying a functional nonconformance of the reader device, if as a result of the reading procedure at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

reading of the marking of the test identifier failed

data to be read about the marking of the test identifier is missing

the value read from the marking of the test identifier deviates from the reference value.

14. Transport system, which comprises a reader device, which is configured to read an identifier that is separate from the reader device and is provided with a readable marking, when the identifier is situated within range of the reading signal of the reader device, wherein a monitoring arrangement according to claim 7 for monitoring the operating condition of a reader device is fitted into the transport system.

15. Transport system according to claim 14, wherein the transport system is an elevator system, which comprises an elevator car, which is fitted in an elevator hoistway in a manner allowing it to be moved along a path of travel determined by guide rails,

and in that the reader device is fitted in connection with the elevator car, for moving along with the elevator car.

16. Transport system according to claim 15, wherein an identifier provided with a readable marking is fitted beside the path of movement of the elevator car,

and in that a reader device moving along with the elevator car is arranged to read the aforementioned identifier after the elevator car has arrived at the identifier in an individualized reading point in the elevator hoistway.