CN115884936A - Passenger conveying equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention aims to detect the state that a sterilization part of a moving handrail does not normally operate and improve the reliability of the sterilization part. A passenger conveyor (100) is provided with: a sterilization unit that irradiates the moving handrails (102R, 102L) with ultraviolet light to perform sterilization; a control unit (113) for controlling the irradiation of ultraviolet rays by the sterilization unit; abnormality detection units (21R, 21L) for detecting abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting units (11 Aa, 11 Ba); and a notification unit (25) that notifies the abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting units (11 Aa, 11 Ba) detected by the abnormality detection units (21R, 21L).

Description

Passenger conveying equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to passenger conveying equipment such as escalators and moving walks, and more particularly to sterilization of moving handrails. Although there is a concept of "sterilization" that excludes viruses from the target, in the present description, "sterilization" does not exclude viruses from the target.

Background

As a background art in this field, a passenger conveyor described in JP 2019-52021 a (patent document 1) and a handrail sterilization device thereof are known. The handrail belt sterilization device of patent document 1 includes: a sterilization part which is arranged inside a skirt guard of the passenger conveying equipment and sterilizes the surface of a handrail belt running inside the skirt guard; a notification unit that notifies information on sterilization by the sterilization unit; a control unit for acquiring the operation speed information of the passenger conveyor, and controlling the sterilization of the sterilization unit and the notification of the notification unit for each operation speed; and a timer for acquiring a time for sterilization by the sterilization unit (see abstract of the specification). In the handrail belt sterilization device of patent document 1, the timer is set to the time when the sterilization process is started when the low-speed operation is being performed, the sterilization process is ended when the normal operation is switched, and the timer is set to the time when the sterilization process is ended (see paragraph 0038). In the passenger conveyor of patent document 1, the notification unit notifies the time at which the sterilization process is started and the time at which the sterilization process is performed, so that the user can recognize the sterilization process and can be prompted to hold the handrail (see paragraphs 0039 and 0040).

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: JP 2019-52021A

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In the passenger conveyor of patent document 1, a timer is made to acquire a time when the sterilization process is started and a time when the sterilization process is ended, and a notification unit notifies the time when the sterilization process is started and the time when the sterilization process is performed. In this case, it is assumed that the sterilization unit normally operates between the start time and the end time of the sterilization process, and the possibility that the sterilization unit does not normally operate is not sufficiently considered.

The invention aims to detect the state that a sterilization part of a moving handrail does not normally operate, thereby improving the reliability of the sterilization part.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a passenger conveyor according to the present invention includes: a pedal which is cyclically driven; a movable handrail disposed on a side of the step plate and circularly driven; a sterilization unit having an ultraviolet light emitting unit that emits ultraviolet light, the sterilization unit irradiating the moving handrail with ultraviolet light to sterilize the moving handrail; and a control unit that controls irradiation of the moving handrail with ultraviolet light by the sterilization unit, wherein the passenger conveyor includes: an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emission unit; and a notification unit that notifies the abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting unit detected by the abnormality detection unit.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, in the passenger conveyor including the bacteria removing portion that moves the handrail, the state in which the bacteria removing portion does not operate normally can be detected, and the reliability of the bacteria removing device can be improved.

Problems, structures, and effects other than those described above will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing a structure of an embodiment of a passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the vicinity of the pedal driving device and the moving handrail driving device of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a view showing a cross section (a cross section in the width direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving handrail.

Fig. 6A is a view showing the bacteria removing device, and is a view showing a cross section (a cross section in the width direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving handrail.

Fig. 6B is a view showing the bacteria removing device, and is a view showing a cross section (cross section in the moving direction) perpendicular to the width direction of the moving handrail.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of the passenger conveyor including the bacteria removing device and the abnormality detecting device.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the abnormality detection device.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of the passenger conveyor in which the abnormality detector of the degerming device is constituted by the ultraviolet intensity detector.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of an abnormality detection device including an ultraviolet intensity detector.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of control of the passenger conveyor in association with the abnormality detection of the bacteria removing device.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention is explained below.

The passenger conveyor of the present embodiment includes escalators disposed between different floors, and moving walkways disposed with a horizontal or gentle inclination angle. In escalators and moving walks, there are several differences in the nomenclature of the components that make up them. For example, the "steps" of an escalator are called "treads" in the moving walkways. In the present embodiment, the "steps" of the escalator and the "steps" of the moving walkway are included and referred to as "steps".

Hereinafter, an escalator will be described as an example of the passenger conveyor. In the case where the constituent members other than the steps differ in the designation of the constituent members between the escalator and the moving walkway, the description will be made using the designation of the escalator.

The structure of the passenger conveyor 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing a structure of an embodiment of a passenger conveyor 100 according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the vicinity of the pedal driving device and the moving handrail driving device 12 of the passenger conveyor 100 according to the present invention.

In fig. 1, a passenger conveyor 100 is provided with a plurality of steps 101 that are connected in an endless manner and are driven cyclically between 2 entrance ports 140 and 150. A movable handrail 102 is provided which is arranged on the side (left and right sides) of the step 101 and is driven in a circulating manner. The moving handrail 102 is supported by balustrades 103 disposed on the sides (left and right sides) of the steps 101. That is, the moving handrail 102 has a left moving handrail 102L disposed on the left side of the step 101 and a right moving handrail 102R disposed on the right side of the step 101 when facing the traveling direction of the step 101 (see fig. 3). The balustrade 103 is erected on skirt guards 116 disposed on the left and right sides of the step 101. When utilized by a passenger, the steps 101 and moving handrail 102 move in synchronization.

The passenger conveyor 100 is provided with entrance/ exit ports 140 and 150 at both ends thereof in the moving direction (traveling direction) of the pedals 101. Devices for driving the pedals 101 and moving the handrail 102 are housed below the entrance 140 and 150, and the entrance floors 104 and 105 cover the upper sides thereof. During the lowering operation, the pedals 101 and the moving handrail 102 move from the entrance 140 to the exit 150 while being exposed in the movement path. In this case, the landing entrance 140 becomes a landing entrance, and the landing entrance 50 becomes a landing entrance. During the ascending operation, the pedals 101 and the moving handrail 102 move from the entrance 150 to the entrance 140 while being exposed in the movement path. In this case, the landing entrance 150 becomes a landing entrance, and the landing entrance 140 becomes a landing entrance.

In the present embodiment, the passenger conveyor 100 will be described by taking an escalator as an example, and therefore, the entrance 140 is configured as an upper entrance and the entrance 150 is configured as a lower entrance. In the moving handrail 102, the side moving in a state where the moving path of the passenger is exposed is referred to as a moving-away moving handrail 102A, and the side moving hidden in the apron 116 is referred to as a returning-side moving handrail 102B. In fig. 1, the return-side moving handrail 102B is shown by a broken line.

Further, a chain 106 connecting the pedals 101 in an endless manner is wound around sprockets 107 and 108. Further, a pedal driving device 111 including a pedal motor 109 and a speed reducer 110 is provided below the entrance floor 104. The pedal drive device 111 drives the sprocket 108 via the drive chain 112, and drives the chain 106 and the pedals 101.

The speed of the pedal 101 is constantly monitored by a pedal speed detection device 101a (refer to fig. 2). The pedal speed detection device 101a can be constituted by, for example, a rotary encoder attached to a shaft of the reduction gear 110. The speed information of the pedal 101 detected by the pedal speed detecting device 101a is sent to the control device (control unit) 113.

As shown in fig. 2, a moving handrail driving device 115 including a moving handrail motor 114 is provided, and the moving handrail driving device 115 drives the moving handrail motor 114 to drive the moving handrail 102. In the present embodiment, the handrail moving motor 114 is provided separately from the pedal motor 109.

The moving handrail driving device 115 includes a moving handrail motor 114, a speed reducer 115a, a moving handrail driving chain 115b, a moving handrail driving roller 115c, and a pressure roller 115d. The moving handrail driving roller 15c and the pressure roller 15d are disposed opposite to each other across the moving handrail 102. The driving force of the moving handrail motor 114 is transmitted to the moving handrail driving roller 115c via the speed reducer 115a and the moving handrail driving chain 115 b. The moving handrail 102 is driven by receiving a driving force from the moving handrail driving roller 115c.

The speed of the moving handrail 102 is constantly monitored by the moving handrail speed detection device 102 a. The moving handrail speed detecting device 102a is provided adjacent to the moving handrail driving device 115, for example, and is configured by a roller and an encoder that are in contact with the moving handrail 102. The speed of the moving handrail 102 is detected by detecting the rotational speed (rotational speed) of the rollers. The speed information of the moving handrail 102 detected by the moving handrail speed detecting device 102a is sent to the control device 113 (see fig. 1).

The apron 116 of the boarding gates 140 and 150 is provided with display devices 118A and 118B for displaying the operation status of the passenger conveyor 100. The display devices 118A and 118B constitute a part of a notification device (notification unit) 25 described later.

The control device 113 of the passenger conveyor 100 controls the driving of the steps 101 and the moving handrail 102 using the step driving device 111 and the moving handrail driving device 115 based on the step speed and the moving handrail speed detected by the step speed detection device 101a and the moving handrail speed detection device 102 a.

As shown in fig. 1, the passenger conveyor 100 of the present embodiment includes a degerming device 10 that degerming a moving handrail 102. The sterilization apparatus 10 is performed on the return side (the moving handrail 102B) in the moving path of the moving handrail 102. Therefore, the bacteria removing device 10 is disposed inside the apron 116.

As shown in fig. 2, the return-side moving handrail 102B is restricted in the arrangement of the sterilizing device 10 by the moving handrail driving device 115 and the moving handrail speed detecting device 102 a. Therefore, the degerming device 10 is disposed so as to avoid interference with the moving handrail driving device 115 and the moving handrail speed detecting device 102 a.

Although there is a concept that "sterilization" is performed on a virus, in the present description, "sterilization" does not exclude the virus from the target. The sterilization apparatus 10 includes deep ultraviolet LEDs 11Aa and 11Ba (see fig. 4A) for irradiating deep ultraviolet (UV-C) rays onto the moving handrail 102. The present embodiment is effective in a sterilization apparatus that irradiates the moving handrail 102 with light for sterilization, without limiting the light source to a light source that emits deep ultraviolet light. In the bacteria removing device 10 of the present embodiment, it is preferable that the wavelength, intensity, and irradiation time of the deep ultraviolet ray are appropriately set for the virus, so that the virus can be inactivated.

Next, the system structure of the passenger conveyor 100 will be explained with reference to fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the passenger conveyor 100 according to the present invention.

The passenger conveyor 100 in the present embodiment constitutes a system by the passenger detecting devices 117A, 117B, the control device 113, the pedal driving device 111, the moving handrail driving device 115, the pedal speed detecting device 101a, the moving handrail speed detecting device 102a, the pedal 101, and the moving handrail 102 (the left moving handrail 102L, the right moving handrail 102R). Among the passenger detection devices 117A and 117B, 117A is a passenger detection device provided in the upper landing entrance 40, and 117B is a passenger detection device provided in the lower landing entrance 50. The control device 113 includes a passenger presence/absence determination unit 119, an operation control unit 120, a pedal inverter 121, and a moving handrail inverter 122, and controls driving of the pedal 101 and the moving handrail 102.

The passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 receives a detection signal from a passenger detection device 117A provided in the upper boarding gate 40 and a detection signal from a passenger detection device 117B provided in the lower boarding gate 50, and the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines the presence or absence of a passenger based on the detection signals from the passenger detection devices 117A and 117B. The determination result is input to the operation control unit 120.

The detection signal from the pedal speed detection device 101a and the detection signal from the moving handrail speed detection device 102a are input to the operation control unit 120, and the operation control unit 120 outputs an operation/stop command and an acceleration/deceleration command to the pedal inverter 121 and the moving handrail inverter 122. The determination result of the passenger presence/absence determining unit 119 is input to the operation control unit 120, and based on the determination result, the operation control unit 120 switches the normal operation state (normal operation mode) and the standby operation state (standby operation mode) as described below, and outputs a command corresponding to each operation state to the pedal inverter 121 and the handrail-moving inverter 122.

The pedal inverter 121 supplies drive power (operation output) to the pedal motor 109 based on a command from the operation control unit 120. The moving handrail inverter 122 supplies drive power (operation output) to the moving handrail motor 114 based on a command from the operation control unit 120.

The pedal motor 109 drives the pedal driving device 111 to drive the pedal 101. The moving handrail motor 114 drives the moving handrail driving device 115 to drive the moving handrails 102L and 102R. The pedal motor 109 and the handrail moving motor 114 control the operating speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the pedal 101 and the handrails 102L and 102R using inverter control based on the pedal inverter 121 and the handrail moving inverter 122. In a normal operation state in which the passenger is using the handrail, the moving handrails 102L and 102R are driven by the control device 113 to move at the same speed as the speed of the steps 101. That is, the moving handrails 102L, 102R are driven in synchronization with the steps 101. Hereinafter, the speed at which the steps 101 and the moving handrails 102L and 102R are used by the passengers is referred to as a normal operating speed.

The operation control unit 120 and the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 in the configuration of the control device 113 may be constituted by a microcomputer in which a CPU, a memory, an input/output circuit, a timer circuit, and the like are integrated into an integrated circuit.

In fig. 3, the inverter 122 for moving the handrail and the motor 114 for moving the handrail are configured to drive the left moving handrail 102L and the right moving handrail 102R. The inverter 122 for moving handrail and the motor 114 for moving handrail may be provided independently for the left moving handrail 102L, and the inverter 122 for moving handrail and the motor 114 for moving handrail may be provided independently for the right moving handrail 102R.

In the present embodiment, when the passenger conveyor 100 is in the normal operation state and no passenger is detected for a given time by the passenger detecting devices 117A and 117B, the control device 113 switches the operation state from the normal operation state to the standby operation state. When the passenger conveyor 100 is in the standby operation state and a passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 117A on the entrance side, the control device 113 switches the operation state from the standby operation state to the normal operation state. When a passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 117B on the entrance side, that is, when an entrance of a passenger from the direction opposite to the operation direction is detected, the control device 113 issues a command to generate an alarm.

The operation of the passenger conveyor according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the passenger conveyor 100 according to the present invention.

In processing step S1, the processing is started. In the processing step S2, the passenger conveyor 100 is in a standby operation state (standby operation mode). In this standby operation state, a detection signal of the passenger detection device 117A on the entrance side is input to the control device 113, and the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines the presence or absence of a passenger (step S3). When the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines that there is no passenger (in the case of no), the standby operation state in step S2 is continued. In the standby operation state, the operation control unit 120 outputs a stop command to the pedal inverter 121 to stop the pedal 101. The operation control unit 120 outputs a deceleration command to the handrail moving inverter 122 to set the moving handrails 102L and 102R in the low-speed standby operation state. In the low-speed standby operation state, the moving handrails 102L and 102R are driven at a speed (reduced speed) that is slower than the moving speed (normal operation speed) in the normal operation state (normal operation mode). This decelerated speed is referred to as a low-speed standby speed.

In step S3, when the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines that there is a passenger from the entrance side, in step S4, the operation control unit 120 outputs an operation command of a normal operation speed to the pedal inverter 121, and starts the operation of the pedal 101. Next, the process proceeds to step S4, where the pedal 101 is set to the operating state at the normal operating speed. Further, the operation control unit 120 outputs an acceleration command to the handrail moving inverter 122 at a normal operation speed to accelerate the moving handrails 102L and 102R. Thereby, the moving handrails 102L and 102R are set to the operating state at the normal operating speed. Thereby, the pedal 101 and the moving armrests 102L and 102R are set to a synchronized operation state.

In the processing step S3, after the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines that there is a passenger from the doorway side, the step 101 and the moving handrails 102L and 102R are set to the operating state synchronized at the normal operating speed, and when the passenger usage time has elapsed since the last passenger detection without the passenger being detected by the passenger detection device 117A on the doorway side, the passenger presence/absence determination unit 119 determines that there is no passenger in the processing step S6, and the process proceeds to the processing step S7. Here, the "passenger utilization time" is a time set to a time required from a time point when a passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 117A on the entrance side to a time point when the passenger gets on the passenger conveyor and gets off the passenger conveyor.

In step S7, the operation control unit 120 outputs a stop command to the pedal inverter 121 to stop the pedal 101. The operation control unit 120 outputs a deceleration command to the handrail moving inverter 122 to set the moving handrails 102L and 102R in the low-speed standby operation state.

In the present embodiment, in the standby operation state, the pedal 101 is in a stopped state, and the moving handrails 102L and 102R are in a low-speed standby operation state. This eliminates the need for electric power corresponding to the driving of the pedals 101, and reduces the driving electric power for moving the handrails 102L and 102R.

In the low-speed standby operation state, the moving handrails 102L and 102R are driven in the low-speed standby operation state, and therefore, the passenger using the passenger conveyor 100 can know whether the passenger conveyor can be used or not, and can know the operation direction of the passenger conveyor.

Before the explanation of the bacteria elimination apparatus 10, the moving handrail 102 will be explained with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a view showing a cross section (a cross section in the width direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving handrail 102.

In fig. 5, the left-right direction is defined as the "width direction", and the up-down direction is defined as the "up-down direction" as it is. In the vertical direction, the front side (the front moving handrail 102A) and the back side (the moving handrail 102B) are turned upside down.

The moving handrail 102 defines an upper surface 102T, lower surfaces 102Ua, 102Ub, and side surfaces 102Sa, 102Sb with reference to the state shown in fig. 5. The upper surface 102T and the lower surfaces 102Ua and 102Ub are surfaces that are linear along the width direction in the cross section in the width direction. The side surfaces 102Sa and 102Sb are surfaces connecting the upper surface 102T and the lower surfaces 102Ua and 102Ub, and are surfaces forming a curve such as a circular arc in a cross section in the width direction. Here, the upper surface 102T, the lower surfaces 102Ua, 102Ub, and the side surfaces 102Sa, 102Sb are surfaces on the front side (outer side or outer peripheral side) of the moving handrail 102.

Fig. 3 shows a state of going-out (going-out moving handrail 102A), and the upper surface 102T is positioned below the lower surfaces 102Ua and 102Ub in a state of returning (moving handrail 102B).

Next, the bacteria removing device 10 of the present embodiment is explained with reference to fig. 6A. Fig. 6A is a diagram showing the bacteria removing device 10, and is a diagram showing a cross section (a cross section in the width direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving handrail 102. Fig. 6B is a diagram showing the bacteria removing device 10, and is a diagram showing a cross section (cross section in the moving direction) perpendicular to the width direction of the moving handrail 102. Fig. 6A shows a VIA-VIA section of fig. 6B, and fig. 6B shows a VIB-VIB section of fig. 6A.

Since the bacteria removing device 10 is disposed to the return-side moving handrail 102B, the vertical direction in the drawings of fig. 6A and 6B is opposite to the vertical direction in the mounted state of the bacteria removing device 10.

When riding the passenger conveyor 100, the passenger carries his or her hand on the upper surface 102T of the moving handrail 102. Then, the passenger, while gripping the moving handrail 102, contacts the side surfaces 102Sa and 102Sb in addition to the upper surface 102T. Therefore, when performing the sterilization of the moving handrail 102, it is preferable to perform the sterilization not only on the upper surface 102T but also on the side surfaces 102S1 and 102S 2.

Therefore, the bacteria removing device 10 of the present embodiment includes the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba that emit ultraviolet light, and the reflecting surface 13A that reflects ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are disposed at positions facing the upper surface 102T of the moving handrail 102. The reflecting surface 13A is disposed on the side of the moving handrail 102, and faces the side surfaces 102Sa and 102Sb of the moving handrail 102. The following description is made in detail.

The sterilization apparatus 10 includes a plurality of light emitting sections (light emitting elements) 11Aa and 11Ba serving as light sources. In the present embodiment, the light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba are formed of ultraviolet light emitting portions that emit ultraviolet light. In this case, the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba may be constituted by deep ultraviolet LEDs that emit deep ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are stored in the light source storage sections 11A and 11B, respectively. The light source storage portions 11A and 11B constitute light source modules (deep ultraviolet LED modules).

In this embodiment, an example having 2 ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba is shown, and the 2 ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are respectively stored in the 2 light source storage parts 11A and 11B. The number of the ultraviolet light emitting parts may be 1 or 3 or more.

The sterilization apparatus 10 includes a support body 13 that supports the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba. The ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are stored in the light source storage sections 11A and 11B, and are supported by the support body 13. Therefore, a support surface 13-1 for supporting the light source storage units 11A and 11B is provided on one side surface (first side surface portion 1) of the support body 13. The support surface 13-1 of the support body 13 also supports drivers (not shown) of the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba.

The support body 13 also supports a driver (LED driver) 17 for driving the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba. In the present embodiment, the 2 ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are arranged along the width direction of the moving handrail 102, and the LED driver 17 is arranged on the front side in the moving direction or the rear side in the moving direction with respect to the 2 ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba. The LED driver 17 may be provided for each of the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba and stored in the light source storage portions 11A and 11B.

The support body 13 includes a 2 nd side surface part 13-2a and a 3 rd side surface part 13-2b extending from the support surface 13-1 to the side of the moving handrail 102. The 2 nd side surface 13-2a and the 3 rd side surface 13-2b constitute a reflecting member that reflects ultraviolet rays (deep ultraviolet rays) irradiated from the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa, 11Ba.

The ultraviolet rays UV irradiated from the ultraviolet ray emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba to the moving handrail 102 include: ultraviolet rays directly irradiated to the upper surface 102T and a part of the side surfaces 102Sa, 102Sb of the moving handrail 102; and ultraviolet rays reflected by the 2 nd side surface part 13-2a and the 3 rd side surface part 13-2b and irradiated to the side surfaces 102Sa and 102Sb of the moving handrail 102.

Ultraviolet intensity detectors (ultraviolet intensity detecting sections) 15a and 15b are disposed on the 2 nd side surface section 13-2a and the 3 rd side surface section 13-2b, respectively. The ultraviolet rays UV irradiated from the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are incident on the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15 and 15b, and the intensity of ultraviolet rays (deep ultraviolet rays) is measured by the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b. The information on the intensity of the ultraviolet light detected by the ultraviolet light intensity detectors 15a and 15b is sent to the control device 113, and the control device 113 controls the LED driver 17 to adjust or control the intensity (illuminance) of the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba.

In the present embodiment, the control device 113 constitutes the LED driver 17, i.e., the control unit of the sterilization apparatus 10, but the control unit of the sterilization apparatus 10 and the control device 113 may be provided separately.

Next, the abnormality detection device (abnormality detection unit) 21 of the bacteria removing device 10 will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the structure of the passenger conveyor 100 including the bacteria removing device 10 and the abnormality detecting device 21. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the abnormality detection device 21.

The sterilizing apparatus 10 is connected to the control apparatus 113 through a signal line and a power line (power supply line) 113A. The signal line and the power supply line are separately wired, but both are collectively shown as 113A in fig. 7.

The power supply line 113A provided on the power supply side of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba is an abnormality detection device that detects an abnormality of the bacteria removing device 10 by detecting a power supply voltage of the power supply line 113A or a current flowing through the power supply line 113A. In this case, the abnormality detection device 21 can be provided in the LED driver 17. That is, the passenger conveyor 100 (the bacteria removing device 10) includes the LED driver 17 that drives the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba, and the abnormality detecting portion 21 may be provided in the LED driver 17. The detection of the abnormality of the power supply voltage or current can use known techniques and devices.

In the present embodiment, the sterilization apparatus 10 irradiates the moving handrail 102 with ultraviolet rays to perform sterilization of the moving handrail 102. Therefore, the abnormality detection device 21 detects a state in which the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa, 11Ba of the degerming device 10 cannot irradiate the moving handrail 102 with ultraviolet light. That is, the abnormality detection unit 21 detects a state where the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba are not lit (unlit) as an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba.

Fig. 7 and 8 show an example in which the abnormality detection device 21 detects a state in which the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are not lit due to an abnormality in the power supply voltage or current. In this example, the abnormality detection unit 21 is provided in the power supply line 113A on the power supply side (control unit 113 side) of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba, and detects an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba by detecting a power supply voltage of the power supply line 113A or a current flowing through the power supply line 113A.

In addition, when the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba cannot sufficiently irradiate the moving handrail 102 with ultraviolet light, a predetermined sterilization effect of the sterilization apparatus 10 is no longer obtained, and it cannot be said that the sterilization apparatus 10 is operating normally. For example, the following is the case: in a state where the power supply voltage or current is reduced from the normal value or the rated value, although the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba emit light (are turned on), the light emission intensity (illuminance) is reduced. In the present embodiment, the state in which the emission intensity is reduced and the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are not lit is referred to as an insufficient light emission state.

As described above, the abnormality (light-emission failure state) of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba is detected by the abnormality detection unit 21, but when the determination or judgment for the abnormality correction is required, the control unit 113 makes the determination or judgment. In this case, the control unit 113 includes a part of the function of the abnormality detection unit 21.

As shown in fig. 8, the control device 113 outputs an alternating voltage of 100V (AC 100V). The 100V ac voltage is regulated to 24V dc voltage by the automatic voltage regulator AVR 22. The 24V DC voltage is supplied to the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba for the right moving handrail 102R and the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba for the left moving handrail 102L via the power supply line 113Aa (DC 24V, 0V).

An Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) 22 may be provided to the LED driver 17. In this case, although fig. 6B shows an example in which the LED drivers 17 are provided individually for each of the sterilizing devices 10, in fig. 8, a plurality of LED drivers 17 may be combined into 1, and the automatic voltage regulators 22 for 2 sterilizing devices 10 may be combined into 1.

The abnormality detection device 21R is provided in the power supply line 113Aa (DC 24V) connected to the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba for the right side moving handrail 102R. The abnormality detection device 21L is provided in the power supply line 113Aa (DC 24V) connected to the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba for the left moving handrail 102L. The abnormality detection device 21R and the abnormality detection device 21L are connected to the control device 113 via signal lines 113Ab, respectively.

When the abnormality detection device 21R and/or the abnormality detection device 21L detect the insufficient light emission state of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba, a signal for notifying the insufficient light emission state is transmitted to the control device 113. Upon receiving the signal for notifying the light-failure state, the control device 113 instructs the notification device (notification unit) 25 to notify the light-failure state.

The LED driver 17 and the abnormality detectors 21R and 21L are formed of circuit components. Therefore, the abnormality detectors 21R and 21L are preferably provided in the LED driver 17. Accordingly, the electrical components of the LED driver 17 and the abnormality detectors 21R and 21L can be disposed in 1 case, and measures such as waterproofing and dust proofing can be easily performed. Further, the abnormality detectors 21R and 21L are provided in the LED driver 17, thereby simplifying the structure of the sterilization apparatus 10.

Next, a modification of the abnormality detection device 21 of the bacteria removing device 10 will be described with reference to fig. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the structure of the passenger conveyor 100 in which the abnormality detecting device of the bacteria removing device 10 is constituted by the ultraviolet intensity detector 15. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of an abnormality detection device including the ultraviolet intensity detector 15.

The insufficient light emission state of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba can be detected by the light emission intensity of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba. Therefore, the abnormality detection unit 21 includes the ultraviolet intensity detection units 15a and 15b that detect the emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emission units 11Aa and 11Ba, and the abnormality detection unit 21 can detect the light emission failure state or non-lighting of the ultraviolet light emission units 11Aa and 11Ba based on the emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emission units 11Aa and 11Ba detected by the ultraviolet intensity detection units 15a and 15b.

In the present embodiment, the sterilizing apparatus 10 is provided with the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b, and the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b can be used as the abnormality detection apparatus 21. That is, the abnormality detection device can be configured by the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b. In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b preferably detect the emission intensity of light required for sterilization. Therefore, the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15a and 15b preferably determine the range of the wavelength of the detected light and detect the light. In the present embodiment, a specific wavelength of the deep ultraviolet ray is detected.

In the circuit configuration shown in fig. 10, the abnormality detection device 21 shown in fig. 9 is not provided, and instead of the abnormality detection device 21, the ultraviolet light emission portions 11Aa and 11Ba of the sterilizing device 10 for moving the right hand side hand rail 102R and the ultraviolet light emission portions 11Aa and 11Ba of the sterilizing device 10 for moving the left hand side hand rail 102L are provided with the ultraviolet intensity detectors 15, respectively.

The emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba detected by the ultraviolet intensity detector 15 are transmitted to the control device 113. The control device 113 determines whether or not the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are in an insufficient light emitting state based on the light emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba. That is, when the emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are equal to or greater than a predetermined value (emission intensity), it is determined that the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are normal, and when the emission intensities are smaller than the predetermined value (emission intensity), it is determined that the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba are in a light-failure state.

When the incomplete state of the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba is detected, the activation/deactivation of the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba can be detected. In this case, the ultraviolet intensity detector 15 can detect whether or not the emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba are zero (not lit).

When the control device 113 determines that the light emission is in the insufficient light emission state, it causes the notification device 25 to notify the insufficient light emission state. The notification device 25 has a function of notifying the passenger by voice (a broadcasting function), and a function of displaying on the display devices 118A and 118B.

In the case of the configuration shown in fig. 9 and 10, the control device 113 determines that the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba do not emit light in a sufficient state based on the emission intensities of the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba detected by the ultraviolet light intensity detector 15, and therefore the ultraviolet light intensity detector 15 and the control device 113 constitute an abnormality detection device of the bacteria removing device 10.

As described above, the passenger conveyor 100 of the present embodiment has the following configuration.

The passenger conveyor 100 includes: a cyclically driven pedal 101; a movable handrail 102 disposed on a side of the step 101 and circularly driven; a sterilizing unit 10 having ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba for emitting ultraviolet light and irradiating the moving handrail 102 with ultraviolet light to sterilize the moving handrail 102; and a control unit 113 that controls irradiation of the moving handrail 102 with ultraviolet light by the sterilization unit 10, and the passenger conveyor 100 includes: an abnormality detection unit 21 for detecting an abnormality in the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa, 11 Ba; and notification units 25, 118A, 118B for notifying the abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa, 11Ba detected by the abnormality detection unit 21.

In this case, when the abnormality detection unit 21 detects an abnormality in the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba, the control unit 113 may instruct the notification units 25, 118A, and 118B to notify the abnormality in the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba.

The operation of the passenger conveyor 100 associated with the abnormality detection of the bacteria removing device 10 will be described with reference to fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of control of the passenger conveyor 100 associated with the abnormality detection of the bacteria removing device 10. The abnormality detection of the sterilizing device 10 is to detect the non-emission state of the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba by the abnormality detection device.

In step S1, a check is made as to whether the passenger conveyor 100 is in operation. When the passenger conveyor 100 is in operation, the passenger conveyor 100 is set to be in a normal operation state or a low-speed standby operation state in which the handrail 102 is moved in a standby operation state. That is, the control device 113 determines that the passenger conveyor 100 is operating while the moving handrail 102 is operating at the normal speed or the low-speed standby speed.

If the determination result in step S1 is yes (Y), the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, it is determined whether the passenger load rate is larger than a given value (10% in the present embodiment), and if the determination result is yes (Y), the process proceeds to step S3, and if the determination result is no (N), the process proceeds to step S9. The passenger load rate may be a count of passengers (passengers) detected by the passenger detection devices 117A and 117B, or may be a count of a load applied to the pedal drive device 111 (for example, a drive current of the pedal motor 109). Further, the determination section that determines whether the passenger load factor is larger than the given value can be constituted by the control section 113.

If the determination result in step S2 is "yes (Y)", it is determined whether or not the bacteria removing device 10 is mounted on the passenger conveyor 100 in step S3, and if the determination result is "yes (Y)", the process proceeds to step S4, and if the determination result is "no (N)", the process proceeds to step S8.

If the determination result in step S3 is "no (N)", the passenger load factor is greater than 10%, and the condition (condition B) is set such that the moving handrail 102 of the degerming apparatus 10 cannot be degerming. Therefore, in step S8, dense avoidance broadcasting for prompting avoidance of the passengers is performed.

If the determination result in step S3 is "yes (Y)", then in step S4, it is determined whether the bacteria removing device 10 is normal, if the determination result is "yes (Y)", the process proceeds to steps S5 and S6, and if the determination result is "no (N)", the process proceeds to step S8 via step S7.

If the determination result in step S4 is "yes (Y)", the sterilizing apparatus 10 is operated in step S5 because the sterilizing apparatus 10 is normal. In this case, the passenger load becomes greater than 10%, and the bacteria can be removed from the moving handrail 102 of the bacteria removing device 10 (condition a). Therefore, in step S6, a notification (for example, a sterilization effect broadcast) for sterilizing the moving handrail 102 is performed, and the notification device 25 performs a dense avoidance broadcast for prompting the passengers to avoid the dense area. That is, when the passenger load factor exceeds a predetermined value and the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba are normal, the control portion 113 instructs the notification portion 25 to notify that the moving handrail 102 is not performing sterilization and to prompt the passenger to avoid the dense notification.

If the determination result in step S4 is "no (N)", since the condition B described above is satisfied, first, a failure of the bacteria removing device 10 is reported in step S7, and the intensive avoidance broadcast is executed in step S8. That is, when the passenger load factor exceeds a predetermined value and an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba is detected, the control unit 113 instructs the notification unit 25 to notify that the passenger is avoiding the dense state. The report includes a case where a code corresponding to the failure of the bacteria removing apparatus 10 is displayed on the display devices 118A and 118B, a case where the failure of the bacteria removing apparatus 10 is notified to the maintenance worker, and the like.

If the determination result in step S2 is "no (N)", it is determined in step S9 whether or not the bacteria removing device 10 is mounted on the passenger conveyor 100, and if the determination result is "yes (Y)", the process proceeds to step S10, and if the determination result is "no (N)", the process ends. If the determination result in step S9 is "no (N)", it is known in step S2 that the passenger load factor is 10% or less, and since it is a state in which the density of passengers is not generated, the operation of the passenger conveyor 100 is continued as described above.

If the determination result in step S9 is "yes (Y)", it is determined whether the bacteria removing device 10 is normal in step S10, if the determination result is "yes (Y)", the process proceeds to steps S11 and S12, and if the determination result is "no (N)", the process ends via step S13. If the determination result in step S10 is "no (N)", the sterilizing apparatus 10 is abnormal and cannot be used, but it is found in step S2 that the passenger load rate is 10% or less. Therefore, a failure of the bacteria removing device 10 is reported at step S13, and thus the operation of the passenger conveyor 100 is continued. The report includes a case where a code corresponding to the failure of the sterilization apparatus 10 is displayed on the display devices 118A and 118B, a case where the failure of the sterilization apparatus 10 is notified to the maintenance/repair staff, and the like.

If the determination result in step S10 is "yes (Y)", the sterilizing apparatus 10 is operated in step S11 because the sterilizing apparatus 10 is normal. In this case, the passenger load rate is 10% or less and the bacteria can be removed from the moving handrail 102 of the bacteria removing device 10 (condition C). Therefore, in step S12, a notification (for example, a sterilization effect broadcast) is made while the moving handrail 102 is being sterilized. In this case, unlike in condition a, since the dense use of passengers does not occur, the dense avoidance broadcast is not performed.

In the flow shown in fig. 11, the passenger is prompted to use the passenger conveyor 100 by making the passenger aware of the sterilization effect of the moving handrail 102, and even in the sterilization of the moving handrail 102, the passenger can be prompted to avoid the dense use even when the passengers are densely occupied. The passenger conveyor 100 can be provided which can be safely utilized by the passenger.

The ultraviolet light emitting sections 11Aa and 11Ba of the bacteria removing device 10 are preferably arranged so as not to be directly visible. Therefore, the bacteria removing device 10 is preferably disposed inside the apron 116. In this case, every time the sterilization apparatus 10 is inspected, the access to the sterilization apparatus 10 becomes a problem.

In the present embodiment, the failure detection device can always monitor the non-emission state of the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba of the sterilizing device 10. When the abnormality detection device detects that the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba are not fully emitting light, it is possible to notify the maintenance personnel and the passengers of the fact that the ultraviolet light emitting units 11Aa and 11Ba are not fully emitting light, and the fact that the sterilization effect of the sterilization device 10 is reduced, by display/broadcast.

The maintenance worker does not need to visually recognize the ultraviolet light emitting parts 11Aa and 11Ba, and the safety of the maintenance worker can be ensured. Further, the sterilization device 10 can detect the insufficient light emission state of the ultraviolet light emitting portions 11Aa and 11Ba and automatically feed back to the passenger conveyor 100, and the failure state of the sterilization device 10 can be reported or displayed from the passenger conveyor 100, whereby the time during which the sterilization device 10 fails, that is, the time during which the movable handrail 102 is not sterilized or the sterilization effect is not reduced can be minimized.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, the reliability of the sterilizing device 10 can be improved, and the passenger conveyor 100 that is easy to use for the passengers can be provided.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments having all the configurations. In addition, some of the structures of the embodiments may be added or replaced with other structures.

Description of reference numerals

A sterilization portion, 11Aa, 11Ba.. An ultraviolet light emitting portion, 15a, 15B.. An ultraviolet light intensity detecting portion, 17.. An LED driver, 21.. An abnormality detecting portion, 25, 118A, 118B.. An informing portion, 100.. A passenger conveying device, 101.. A pedal, 102.. A moving handrail, 113.. A control portion, 113A.. A power supply line.

Claims (7)

1. A passenger conveying apparatus is provided with:

a pedal which is driven cyclically;

a movable handrail which is arranged on the side of the pedal and circularly driven;

a sterilization unit having an ultraviolet light emitting unit that emits ultraviolet light, the sterilization unit irradiating the moving handrail with ultraviolet light to sterilize the moving handrail; and

a control unit that controls irradiation of the moving handrail with ultraviolet light by the sterilization unit,

the passenger conveyor is characterized by comprising:

an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emission unit; and

and a notification unit configured to notify the abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting unit detected by the abnormality detection unit.

2. The passenger conveyor of claim 1,

the abnormality detection unit detects non-lighting of the ultraviolet light emitting unit as an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting unit.

3. The passenger conveyor of claim 2,

the abnormality detection unit is provided on a power supply line on a power supply side of the ultraviolet light emitting unit, and detects an abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting unit by detecting a power supply voltage of the power supply line or a current flowing through the power supply line.

4. The passenger conveyor of claim 3,

the passenger conveyor is provided with: an LED driver that drives the ultraviolet light emitting section,

the abnormality detection unit is provided in the LED driver.

5. The passenger conveyor of claim 2,

the abnormality detection unit includes: an ultraviolet intensity detection unit for detecting the emission intensity of the ultraviolet light emission unit,

the abnormality detection unit detects non-lighting of the ultraviolet light emitting unit based on the emission intensity of the ultraviolet light emitting unit detected by the ultraviolet intensity detection unit.

6. The passenger conveyor of claim 1,

the control unit instructs the notification unit to prompt the passenger to avoid the crowding when the passenger load factor exceeds a predetermined value and the abnormality of the ultraviolet light emitting unit is detected.

7. The passenger conveyor of claim 6,

the control unit instructs the notification unit to notify that the moving handrail is in the process of sterilization and to prompt notification to avoid the crowding by the passenger, when the passenger load factor exceeds a predetermined value and the ultraviolet light emitting unit is normal.

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