Entrance/exit device for elevator

• US 8,002,087 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Benson; Walter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan; Kawing
• Application Number:
  US11/579,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187/316, 187/317, 187/380
• US Class Current: 187/317
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/2408 where the allocation of a call to an elevator car is of importance, i.e. by means of a supervisory or group controller
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/467 characterised by their mounting position
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/468 Call registering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 13/143 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 2201/4669 using passenger condition detectors

Abstract

An elevator entrance apparatus includes a reading device for reading transmission information from a transmission device, and a control device for controlling operation of an elevator based on information as to whether transmission information has been read by the reading device or not. The reading device reads transmission information only when the transmission device is within a predetermined detection range on an inner side of an elevator entrance.

Claims

1. An elevator entrance apparatus, comprising:

a reading device for reading transmission information from a transmission device only when the transmission device is within a predetermined detection range which is within an elevator entrance, wherein boundaries of the predetermined detection range are defined by sides of the elevator entrance which face each other; and

a control device for controlling an operation of an elevator based on information as to whether the transmission information has been read by the reading device or not,

wherein;

the elevator entrance has a guard member provided on a side portion thereof; and

the reading device is provided within the guard member.

2. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading device includes:

a radio feeder portion for supplying the transmission device with power for transmitting the transmission information; and

a reception portion for receiving the transmission information from the transmission device.

3. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the radio feeder portion includes;

a feeder antenna for transmitting radio waves for supplying power to the transmission device; and

a feeder side casing accommodating the feeder antenna and restricting a range of the radio waves transmitted from the feeder antenna;

the reception portion includes a reception antenna receiving the transmission information from the transmission device, and a reception side casing accommodating reception antenna and restricting a range of the transmission information from the transmission device received by the reception antenna; and

the transmission information is read by the reading device only in a range which is restricted to the predetermined detection range by the feeder side casing and the reception side casing.

4. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the elevator entrance is in a door-open state and the transmission information is being read by the reading device, the control device controls the operation of the elevator so as to maintain the door-open state of the elevator entrance.

5. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the transmission information is read by the reading device during a door closing operation of the elevator entrance, the control device controls the operation of the elevator such that the door closing operation of the elevator entrance is switched to a door opening operation.

6. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the elevator entrance apparatus further comprises an announcing device provided in at least one of a landing and a car;

the car is provided with a weighing device for detecting a presence of a passenger in the car; and

when the transmission information is read by the reading device at a destination floor subject to car call registration, and the presence of a passenger is detected based on information from the weighing device, the control device announces warning information for calling for attention of the passenger through the announcing device.

7. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmission information is ID information for identifying the transmission device; and

the operation of the elevator by the control device can be switched between a specific operation mode set based on the ID information and a normal operation mode set for a normal operation in advance, the operation being the specific operation mode when the ID information is being read by the reading device and the normal operation mode when reading of the ID information by the reading device is avoided.

8. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the reading device reads the transmission information from the transmission device only when the transmission device is located at a height which is at a lower portion of the elevator entrance.

9. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the reading device reads the transmission information only when the transmission device is within the elevator entrance between the sides of the elevator entrance which face each other.

10. An elevator entrance apparatus, comprising:

a reading device for reading transmission information from a transmission device only when the transmission device is within a predetermined detection range which is within an elevator entrance, wherein boundaries of the predetermined detection range are defined by sides of the elevator entrance which face each other; and

a control device for controlling an operation of an elevator based on information as to whether the transmission information has been read by the reading device or not,

wherein the reading device is provided in an entrance frame surrounding the elevator entrance.

11. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the elevator entrance includes the entrance frame which includes a cutout portion; and

the reading device is provided in the cutout portion.

12. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reading device includes:

a radio feeder portion for supplying the transmission device with power for transmitting the transmission information; and

a reception portion for receiving the transmission information from the transmission device.

13. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:

the radio feeder portion includes;

a feeder antenna for transmitting radio waves for supplying power to the transmission device; and

a feeder side casing accommodating the feeder antenna and restricting a range of the radio waves transmitted from the feeder antenna;

the reception portion includes a reception antenna receiving the transmission information from the transmission device, and a reception side casing accommodating reception antenna and restricting a range of the transmission information from the transmission device received by the reception antenna; and

the transmission information is read by the reading device only in a range which is restricted to the predetermined detection range by the feeder side casing and the reception side casing.

14. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the elevator entrance is in a door-open state and the transmission information is being read by the reading device, the control device controls the operation of the elevator so as to maintain the door-open state of the elevator entrance.

15. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when the transmission information is read by the reading device during a door closing operation of the elevator entrance, the control device controls the operation of the elevator such that the door closing operation of the elevator entrance is switched to a door opening operation.

16. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the elevator entrance apparatus further comprises an announcing device provided in at least one of a landing and a car;

the car is provided with a weighing device for detecting a presence of a passenger in the car; and

when the transmission information is read by the reading device at a destination floor subject to car call registration, and the presence of a passenger is detected based on information from the weighing device, the control device announces warning information for calling for attention of the passenger through the announcing device.

17. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the transmission information is ID information for identifying the transmission device; and

the operation of the elevator by the control device can be switched between a specific operation mode set based on the ID information and a normal operation mode set for a normal operation in advance, the operation being the specific operation mode when the ID information is being read by the reading device and the normal operation mode when reading of the ID information by the reading device is avoided.

18. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the reading device reads the transmission information from the transmission device only when the transmission device is located at a height which is at a lower portion of the elevator entrance.

19. The elevator entrance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

the reading device reads the transmission information only when the transmission device is within the elevator entrance between the sides of the elevator entrance which face each other.