JP2007137556A - Man-conveyor monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a man-conveyor monitoring system capable of reducing labor and cost required for the wiring around a man-conveyor control device, and suitable for either of a new or existing man-conveyor. <P>SOLUTION: In the man-conveyor monitoring system, when escalators 1A-1N are started by each escalator control device 2 and the operation is started, the control signal of each escalator control device 2 is transmitted to a center side monitoring device 9 via each PHS terminal device 6 and a PHS network 7 as the signal indicating the operational situation. Further, the image data from each monitoring camera 4 is transmitted to the center side monitoring device 9 via a similar path. In a maintenance monitoring center 8, an operator performs the monitoring work while checking the input data by a display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a man conveyor monitoring system for monitoring man conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways.

  An escalator (man conveyor) has the same characteristics as an elevator in that it is a means of moving traffic in a building for moving passengers. However, in the case of an elevator, the passenger must be moved in a confined space, and the moving distance may be longer, which may cause great anxiety to the passenger when an abnormal accident occurs. Therefore, the maintenance monitoring center generally monitors the operating state at all times. On the other hand, in the case of an escalator, it is used for movement of a relatively short distance in an open space, and even if the operation is stopped due to an accident or the like, there is less possibility of giving anxiety to passengers as in the case of an elevator For this reason, an example in which the maintenance monitoring center monitors the operating state of the escalator is rare.

  However, escalators, like elevators, are often installed in highly public facilities, and are a means of transportation that is often used by physically handicapped persons such as disabled persons and elderly persons. In recent years, the number of escalators that have long travel distances has increased, so escalators have become an important and indispensable means of transportation for these physically vulnerable people. Therefore, if the escalator is stopped due to an accident or the like and the stoppage time is long, the inconvenience given to the physically weak is never small.

For this reason, many facilities have escalator managers in place and the escalator operation stops, but many managers have little technical knowledge and can confirm safety without contacting the maintenance monitoring center. As a result, it often took a long time to resume operation. In some cases, there are no escalator managers depending on the facility. In such a case, a longer time is required. This situation must be avoided as much as possible from the viewpoint of ensuring a barrier-free environment. Therefore, recently, a system in which a maintenance monitoring center monitors the operating state of an escalator has been proposed as in an elevator (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 3436044

  However, in the conventional system disclosed in Patent Document 1, data transmission is performed between the maintenance monitoring center and the escalator control device (man conveyor control device) via the computer line network. If it passes, wiring must be laid from the escalator control device to the computer network, which requires labor and cost. Further, the interior of the escalator does not have enough space to lay the wiring, and from the viewpoint of design, the work for laying the wiring so that it is not touched as much as possible is accompanied by difficulty. In particular, this problem becomes prominent when trying to introduce a monitoring system by a maintenance monitoring center to an existing escalator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a man conveyor monitoring system capable of reducing labor and cost required for wiring around the man conveyor control device.

  As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a man conveyor control device for controlling operation of a man conveyor and a signal from the man conveyor control device connected to the man conveyor control device. Based on monitoring of input signals from the PHS line network connected to the PHS line network and a PHS terminal apparatus that transmits signals to the line network and receives signals from the PHS line network to the man conveyor control apparatus. And a center side monitoring device for outputting a command to the man conveyor control device.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control unit is connected to the man conveyor control device, transmits a signal from the man conveyor control device to a computer network, and controls the man conveyor from the computer network. A transmission / reception device for receiving a signal to the device, wherein the center side monitoring device is connected to the computer network, and based on monitoring of an input signal from the man conveyor control device, A command is output.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the signal transmitted through the PHS network is an encrypted signal, and the PHS terminal device, the transmitting / receiving device, and the center side monitoring device are It has an encryption / decryption means.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the PHS terminal device is connected to a plurality of the man conveyor control devices, and is capable of transmitting and receiving operations for each man conveyor control device. It is characterized by that.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, a monitoring camera and an audio output unit are installed at a predetermined place of the man conveyor, and the center-side monitoring device controls the monitoring camera, and The voice output by the voice output unit can be performed through the man conveyor control device.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a monitoring camera having a monitoring range around the emergency stop button of the man conveyor is installed, and image data for recording image data from the monitoring camera is provided. Recording means, and when the man conveyor control device stops operation of the man conveyor based on the operation of the emergency stop button, the image data over a predetermined period before and after the emergency stop button operation is displayed as the image data. It is taken out from the recording means and transmitted to the center side monitoring device via the PHS terminal device or the transmitting / receiving device.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein in the center where the center side monitoring device is installed, there are a maintenance monitoring center for performing work related to maintenance of a man conveyor, and a security center for performing security work. Is included.

  According to the present invention, the PHS terminal device is connected to the man conveyor control device, and the data transmission between the maintenance monitoring center and the man conveyor control device is performed via the PHS network. The labor and cost required for surrounding wiring can be reduced.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a man conveyor monitoring system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a plurality of escalators 1A... 1N as man conveyors are installed at predetermined locations in a facility, and an escalator control device 2 as a man conveyor control device is connected to them. Further, an emergency stop button 3, a monitoring camera 4, and an audio output unit 5 are attached to predetermined portions of the escalators 1 </ b> A... 1 </ b> N, and these are connected to the escalator control device 2.

  The escalator control device 2 is connected to a PHS terminal device 6 as a data transmission means, and this PHS terminal device 6 is connected to a PHS network 7 by radio (the PHS network 7 includes a base station). Shall be). On the other hand, the center side monitoring device 9 of the maintenance monitoring center 8 is also connected to the PHS network 7. Therefore, the center side monitoring device 9 is configured to perform data transmission with the escalator control device 2 via the PHS network 7 and the PHS terminal device 6.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing configurations of the escalator control device 2 and the PHS terminal device 6 in FIG. The escalator control device 2 includes an operation control unit 10, and the operation control unit 10 further includes an abnormality detection unit 11. The PHS terminal device 6 includes a transmission / reception unit 12, and the transmission / reception unit 12 further includes an encryption / decryption unit 13.

  The center side monitoring device 9 of the maintenance monitoring center 8 inputs various control signals (including detection signals) from the escalator control device 2 via the PHS terminal device 6 and the PHS line network 7, and the escalator 1A ... 1N operation status is monitored. The center-side monitoring device 9 outputs various command signals to the escalator control device 2 via the PHS network 7 and the PHS terminal device 6 based on the monitoring of the input signal. That is, the center-side monitoring device 9 has an abnormality diagnosis unit (not shown), and when an abnormality is diagnosed, an appropriate command signal (for example, an operation stop instruction) is output according to the abnormality content. It has become.

  The transmission / reception unit 12 of the PHS terminal device 6 encrypts the control signal from the escalator control device 2 by the encryption / decryption means 13 and then sends it to the center side monitoring device 9 via the PHS network 7. On the other hand, when an encrypted command signal from the center side monitoring device 9 is input via the PHS network 7, it is decrypted and sent to the escalator control device 2. Therefore, the contents of these control signals and command signals can be prevented from being used by a third party via the PHS network 7. Of course, the PHS terminal device 6 has a telephone function and can talk with an operator who operates the center-side monitoring device 9.

  The emergency stop button 3 is installed at two places on the entrance side and the exit side of the escalator so that a nearby person can immediately stop the escalator when the passenger falls. When the emergency stop button 3 is pressed and an emergency stop signal is sent to the escalator control device 2, the operation control unit 10 stops the operation of the escalator. The operation of the escalator is also stopped when an abnormality is detected (when an electrical protection circuit is activated, a foreign object is caught in a step, etc.).

  Image data from the monitoring camera 4 is temporarily recorded in the image data recording unit 14, and the recorded data is sent to the escalator control device 2. Further, the escalator control device 2 has a monitoring camera control unit (not shown), and controls the operations such as swinging, tilting and zooming with respect to the monitoring camera 4 by the function of the monitoring camera control unit. Can be done. The monitoring range of the monitoring camera 4 is always fixed near the entrance / exit, but the monitoring range can be changed if necessary by the function of the monitoring camera control unit.

  Audio information from the escalator control device 2 is output to the audio output unit 5. As this voice information, in addition to predetermined guidance voice data (for example, “Please pay attention to your feet”) stored in advance in a voice data storage unit (not shown) in the escalator control device 2, PHS The voice of the operator of the maintenance monitoring center 8 sent from the center side monitoring device 9 via the line network 7 and the PHS terminal device 6 is also included.

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, the PHS line network 7 is used as the public line network. Therefore, by connecting the PHS terminal apparatus 6 to the escalator control apparatus 2, the center side monitoring apparatus Data transmission between 9 and the escalator control device 2 can be performed. The PHS terminal device 6 is inexpensive and easy to install, and can be connected to the PHS line network 7 wirelessly, so that there is no need to lay wiring with the PHS line network 7. Therefore, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 can reduce the labor and cost required for wiring around the escalator control device 2, and can be said to be a preferable configuration for either a new escalator or an existing escalator.

  In general, a PHS terminal device is said to be unsuitable for use in a high-speed moving body such as a train or an automobile because the communication area of the base station is narrower than the base station of the mobile phone network. However, since the escalator does not move at high speed, there is no problem in the present invention. Also, mobile phones with a high penetration rate often become difficult to connect because users try to use them at the same time in the event of a disaster such as an earthquake, but PHS terminal devices are fortunate to have a low penetration rate, Lines are easy to connect even in the event of a disaster. For this reason, the configuration of FIG. 1 using the PHS terminal device 6 and the PHS network 7 can be said to be a monitoring system that is highly resistant to disasters and can obtain high reliability.

  Next, a specific operation example of FIG. 1 will be described. When the escalators 1A... 1N are activated by the escalator control devices 2 and are started to operate, the control signals of the escalator control devices 2 are sent to the center via the PHS terminal devices 6 and the PHS network 7 as signals indicating the operation status. To the side monitoring device 9. The image data from each monitoring camera 4 is also sent from the escalator control device 2 to the center side monitoring device 9 via each PHS terminal device 6 and the PHS network 7. In the maintenance monitoring center 8, the operator performs monitoring work while checking these input data on the display of the center side monitoring device 9.

  Now, suppose that the abnormality detection means 11 in FIG. 2 detects some abnormality (for example, step abnormality) and the operation control unit 10 stops the operation of the escalator 1A. Then, the manager of the escalator rushes to the site, but if the reason for the stop is unknown, this manager can make an inquiry to the operator in the maintenance monitoring center 8 using the telephone function of the PHS terminal device 6.

  The operator determines that the reason for the stop is a step abnormality, and that there is a possibility that some foreign matter is caught in the middle of the step, and gives an instruction to the manager to check the step of the escalator 1A. The administrator leaves the place of the PHS terminal device 6 and performs the step inspection work of the escalator 1 </ b> A. At this time, the operator can change the shooting range of the monitoring camera 4 or perform the zoom operation. Specific and accurate instructions can be given to the administrator.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the escalator is stopped due to the operation of the emergency stop button 3, the escalator control device 2 displays an image over a predetermined period (for example, about several tens of seconds) before and after the emergency stop button 3 is operated. Data is extracted from the image data recording unit 14 and transmitted to the center side monitoring device 9 via the PHS terminal device 6 and the PHS network 7 (if there is a management room in the facility or building, It is also transmitted to the monitoring device in the management room.) In this image data, if the image of a person who escaped immediately after mischief was shown, the operator can determine that the cause of the escalator stop is due to mischief, so the escalator operation must be resumed immediately. Is possible.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a man conveyor monitoring system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration of FIG. 1, each of the plurality of PHS terminal devices 6 is connected to only one corresponding escalator control device, but in the configuration of FIG. 3, a plurality of escalators are connected to one PHS terminal device 6. A control device is connected.

  The PHS terminal device 6 sequentially transmits control signals from a plurality of escalator control devices to the center side monitoring device 9 side by polling transmission or the like, and receives a command signal from the center side monitoring device 9. The received signal is sequentially sent to each escalator control device 2. According to the second embodiment, the system configuration can be further simplified, and the cost can be further reduced.

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a man conveyor monitoring system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of FIG. 4 is obtained by adding a transmission / reception device 15 and a computer network 16 to the configuration of FIG. That is, between the plurality of escalator control devices 2 and the center side monitoring device 9, the first transmission path by the PHS terminal device 6 and the PHS network 7 and the second transmission by the transmission / reception device 15 and the computer network 16. Are connected by two transmission paths.

  In the maintenance monitoring center 8, one of the transmission lines is used as a regular line, and when a transmission abnormality occurs in the regular transmission line, the other transmission line can be immediately switched to the regular transmission line. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to construct a system that is more reliable and resistant to disasters such as earthquakes.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a man conveyor monitoring system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration of FIG. 4, in addition to the center side monitoring device 9 of the maintenance monitoring center 8, the center side monitoring device 18 of the security center 17 is also connected to the PHS network 7.

  Because escalators are highly public transportation means, surveillance for crime prevention purposes is becoming increasingly important. According to the present embodiment, the security center 17 can perform quick and accurate security work, and can be expected to have a large crime prevention effect.

  For example, when a suspicious person gets on an escalator and tries to go up from the first floor to the second floor and the third floor in sequence, the operator of the security center 17 uses the center-side monitoring device 18 to set the monitoring camera 4 of the escalator on each floor. It is possible to operate and track and monitor the behavior of this suspicious person.

  In addition, the escalator has a characteristic that the user has to move from the entrance / exit to the step one by one (or up to about two). Therefore, it is possible to obtain additional information on the suspicious person by installing various sensors near the entrance. For example, by installing a metal detector at the entrance / exit (however, even if a metal reaction is judged, an alarm is not sounded and only the judgment result is sent to the center side monitoring device 18), this suspicious person The possibility of possessing a weapon can be guessed to some extent.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the man conveyor is an escalator has been described. However, the technology of the present invention is naturally applicable to a “moving sidewalk” and the like.

The lineblock diagram of the man conveyor monitoring system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the escalator control apparatus and PHS terminal device in FIG. The block diagram of the man conveyor monitoring system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the man conveyor monitoring system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The block diagram of the man conveyor monitoring system which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1A ... 1N: Escalator (man conveyor)
2: Escalator control device (Man conveyor control device)
3: Emergency stop button 4: Monitoring camera 5: Audio output unit 6: PHS terminal device 7: PHS line network 8: Maintenance monitoring center 9: Center side monitoring device 10: Operation control unit 11: Abnormality detection means 12: Transmission / reception unit 13 : Encryption / decryption means 14: Image data recording unit 15: Transmission / reception device 16: Computer network 17: Security center 18: Center side monitoring device

Claims (7)

A man conveyor control device for controlling the man conveyor operation;
A PHS terminal connected to the man conveyor control device, for transmitting a signal from the man conveyor control device to the PHS network, and for receiving a signal from the PHS network to the man conveyor controller;
A center-side monitoring device that is connected to the PHS network and outputs a command to the man conveyor control device based on monitoring of an input signal from the man conveyor control device;
A man conveyor monitoring system characterized by comprising. A transmission / reception device connected to the man conveyor control device, transmitting a signal from the man conveyor control device to a computer line network, and receiving a signal from the computer line network to the man conveyor control device;
The center side monitoring device is connected to the computer network, and outputs a command to the man conveyor control device based on monitoring of an input signal from the man conveyor control device.
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1. The signal transmitted through the PHS network is an encrypted signal, and the PHS terminal device, the transmission / reception device, and the center-side monitoring device have encryption / decryption means.
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1. The PHS terminal device is connected to a plurality of man conveyor control devices, and is capable of transmitting and receiving operations for each man conveyor control device.
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1. A monitoring camera and an audio output unit are installed at predetermined locations on the man conveyor, and the center side monitoring device controls the monitoring camera and outputs an audio by the audio output unit via the man conveyor control device. Is something that can be done,
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1. A monitoring camera having a monitoring range around the emergency stop button of the man conveyor is installed, and includes image data recording means for recording image data from the monitoring camera,
When the operation of the man conveyor is stopped based on the operation of the emergency stop button, the man conveyor control device takes out image data over a predetermined period before and after the operation of the emergency stop button from the image data recording means, Transmit to the center side monitoring device via the PHS terminal device or the transmission / reception device,
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1. The center where the center-side monitoring device is installed includes a maintenance monitoring center that performs operations related to maintenance of man conveyors, and a security center that performs security operations.
The man conveyor monitoring system according to claim 1.

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