JP2008184282A - Man conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a man conveyor for sensitively varying its speed according to a passenger load. <P>SOLUTION: The man conveyor provided with an inverter 13 for driving a motor 3 for rotation-driving a footstep chain for connecting a footstep of the man conveyor has a first detection means 25 for detecting the passenger load on the footstep, a second detection means 26 for detecting a passenger density which is the number of passing passengers per a time unit based on a platform detection signal output from a sensor 9 provided at the platform of the man conveyor which varies its level when a passenger passes and a speed instruction means 27 for providing a middle speed instruction to an inverter when the passenger load is equal to or lower than a predetermined load threshold value and the passenger density is equal to or lower than a predetermined density threshold value so that the moving speed of the footstep becomes a middle speed and for providing a high speed instruction to the inverter when the passenger load exceeds the predetermined load threshold value or the passenger density exceeds the predetermined density threshold value so that the moving speed of the footstep becomes a high speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a man conveyor such as an escalator or a walking sidewalk.

The conventional man conveyor is a passenger conveyor that can change the speed, has at least two variable speeds, the first speed is a low speed, and the second speed is higher than the first speed. These speed variable means are provided in the power converter.
The variable speed switching is performed by detecting the output current of the power converter by the inverter output current detection circuit, and comparing the detected current value with a preset output current value, thereby changing the first speed command and the first speed command. Switching is performed by selecting one of the two speed commands (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Since this man conveyor can utilize the output current detection circuit that is equipped for feedback in general inverter devices, large-scale detection devices such as photoelectric devices installed at the entrance and exit of escalators with automatic operation can be used. Without adding, by reducing the operating speed of the man conveyor according to the actual usage of the man conveyor, the power consumption can be reduced and the energy saving effect can be increased at low cost.

JP 2001-335270 A

  However, since the speed is not selected according to the passenger load, there is a problem that the speed cannot be selected finely.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a man conveyor that can finely vary the speed according to the passenger load.

  A man conveyor according to the present invention includes a first detecting means for detecting a passenger load on the step, in a man conveyor including an inverter for driving an electric motor that circulates a step chain to which the steps of the man conveyor are coupled, Second detection means for detecting a passenger density comprising the number of passing passengers per unit time based on a passenger detection signal whose level changes when a passenger output from a sensor provided at a conveyor entrance passes; and When the passenger load is equal to or lower than a predetermined load threshold and the passenger density is equal to or lower than the predetermined density threshold, a medium speed command is issued so that the moving speed of the step becomes a medium speed, the passenger load exceeds a predetermined load threshold, or the above Speed command means for commanding a high speed command to the inverter so that the moving speed of the step becomes high when the passenger density exceeds a predetermined density threshold. .

  The effect of the man conveyor according to the present invention can compensate for the respective drawbacks by controlling the speed together with both the passenger load and the passenger density, so that accuracy and response can be improved with respect to speed control. That's what it means.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an escalator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the conveyor control apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As the man conveyor according to the first embodiment of the present invention, an escalator will be described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to a walking sidewalk.
As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is supplied from a conveyor control device 2 and a conveyor control device 2 that convert AC power of a three-phase power source 1 into AC power of variable voltage and variable frequency. The motor 3 driven by the AC power of the variable voltage / variable frequency, the speed reducer 4 connected to the motor 3 and decelerating the rotation of the motor 3 to a necessary speed to rotate the sprocket 6, the speed reducer 4 and the sprocket 6 A drive chain 5 to be connected, a sprocket 6 that is rotated by the drive chain 5 following the speed reducer 4, an endless step chain 7 that is wound around the sprocket 6, and a step 8 that is connected to the step chain 7 are provided.

The escalator according to the first embodiment includes a passenger post 9 disposed at the entrance and an encoder 10 that is connected to the rotating shaft of the electric motor 3 and measures the rotational speed of the electric motor 3.
The passenger post 9 is provided with a projector and a light receiver (not shown), and the level of the entrance detection signal changes to HIGH when the light beam projected from the projector is blocked by the passing passenger. This entrance detection signal is sent to the conveyor control device 2.
Since the moving speed of the step 8 is detected from the rotational speed measured by the encoder 10, in the following description, the moving speed of the step 8 is referred to as a man conveyor speed.
In addition, the escalator according to the first embodiment includes a speaker and a display (not shown) that guide the passenger to the operating state of the escalator, the state of the sensor, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor control device 2 according to the first embodiment includes an AC / DC power converter 12 that converts AC power of the three-phase power source 1 into DC power, and converts DC power into AC power with variable voltage and variable frequency. Inverter 13 for conversion, first current transformer 15 for measuring three-phase alternating current, voltmeter 17 for measuring direct current voltage of direct current circuit 16, second instrument for measuring alternating current of variable voltage / variable frequency A current transformer 18 and a control device 19 for controlling the entire conveyor control device are provided.
The inverter 13 can convert the regenerative power generated when the electric motor 3 decelerates into DC power. The AC / DC power converter 12 can return the DC power regenerated by the inverter 13 to the three-phase power source 1 side.

The control device 19 according to the first embodiment includes an AC / DC power converter control unit 21 that controls the AC / DC power converter 12, an inverter control unit 22 that controls the inverter 13, and a display guide unit 23.
The inverter control means 22 has a passenger load calculation means 25 as a first detection means for calculating a passenger load from a current flowing through the electric motor 3 sent from the second instrument current transformer 18, and a passenger detection signal is predetermined. The passenger density calculating means 26 as the second detecting means for calculating the passenger density by integrating the time width of the vehicle, the passenger load, the entrance detection signal, the passenger density, and the speed of the motor 3 are obtained based on the rotational speed of the motor 3 to the inverter 13. A sending speed command means 27 is provided.
The display guide means 23 controls output to a speaker or a display device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the speed command means 27 is a low speed command of 10 m / min, a medium speed command of 20 m / min, or a high speed of 30 m / min based on the passenger non-detection time, density determination and load determination. A command speed command is obtained and commanded to the inverter 13. The value of the speed command described above is an example, and may be set as appropriate in consideration of the place where the escalator is installed. Further, the movement of the step may be stopped during standby.
The passenger non-detection time is a time measured from the time when the level of the entrance detection signal is finally changed to HIGH. And when the passenger undetected time is a predetermined time, for example, 3 minutes or more, it is determined that all the passengers who got on the escalator got off the escalator, and a low speed command is issued to set the man conveyor speed to the low speed during standby. Send to inverter 13.
On the other hand, when the level of the entrance detection signal changes to HIGH during standby, it is determined that the passenger is about to enter the escalator, and a medium speed command is sent to the inverter 13 in order to set the man conveyor speed to a medium speed during quiet periods. send.

  The speed command means 27 makes a determination of “dense” as sparse / dense determination that there are many passengers trying to enter the escalator when the passenger density is equal to or higher than a predetermined density threshold, and the escalator when the passenger density is lower than the predetermined density threshold. Because there are not many passengers trying to get into the car, a “sparse” decision is made. The passenger density is, for example, 2/7 when the predetermined time width is 7 seconds and the level of the entrance detection signal during that period is HIGH for 2 seconds or more. When the density threshold is 2/7, the passenger density is more than the density threshold. Therefore, the determination of “dense” is made. On the contrary, when the level of the entrance detection signal is 5 seconds or more and LOEW, the passenger density is less than 2/7 and the passenger density is less than the density threshold value, so the determination of “sparse” is made.

  Then, the speed command means 27 sends a high speed command to the inverter 13 in order to increase the speed of the man conveyor to a high speed during congestion when the determination of “dense” is made. On the other hand, if the determination of “sparse” is made and if the determination of “load is low” is also made in the load determination, the man conveyor speed is set at a quiet time after the time for the step chain 7 to move, for example, half a cycle. A medium speed command is sent to the inverter 13 for speed.

  The speed command means 27 determines that the load is high when the passenger load is greater than or equal to a predetermined load threshold and determines that there are many passengers on the escalator, and determines that the load is less than the predetermined load threshold. It is judged that the load is small because there are few passengers on board. For example, if the load threshold is a value that is applicable when 10 passengers are on board, a determination of “high load” is made when 10 or more passengers are on the escalator. When the passenger is on the escalator, make a judgment of “low load”.

  Then, the speed command means 27 sends a high speed command to the inverter 13 in order to increase the speed of the man conveyor to a high speed during congestion when the determination of “large load” is made. On the other hand, when the determination of “low load” is made, if the determination of “sparse” is also made in the sparse / dense determination, the man conveyor speed is changed during the quiet time after the time for the step chain 7 to move, for example, half a lap. A medium speed command is sent to the inverter 13 for speed.

Next, refer to FIG. 4 for the speed control when the load determination changes from “low load” to “high load” and further to “low load” when the determination of “sparse” is made in the density determination Will be explained.
Initially, the man conveyor speed is controlled at a low speed during standby. Then, the level of Nokuchi detection signal at time t ₁₁ is so changed from LOW HIGH, the change of the passenger conveyor speed to medium speed during off-peak. Since passengers between time t ₁₂ from the time point t ₁₁ have become boarded the escalator, the passenger load increases, the passenger load at t ₁₂ is reached over load threshold, a determination is made of the "load large". The determination of the "load size" is the time t ₁₃ was continued for a predetermined time T _11, to change the passenger conveyor speed fast busy hour. The time T ₁₁ is a time for confirming that the passenger has surely got on, and confirms that the determination of “large load” continues over the time T ₁₁ . For example, the time _{T 11} is 2 seconds position.

Then, the passenger load at time t ₁₅ is reached below the load threshold, a determination is made of the "load small". The determination of the "load small" is when t ₁₆ was continued for a predetermined time T _12, to change the passenger conveyor speed to medium speed during off-peak. The time T _12, the number of passengers riding is time to get off reliably from an escalator, for example, are adapted to the time step chain 7 is half.
Furthermore, over the time t ₁₄ to the predetermined time T ₁₃ the level of Nokuchi detection signal when t ₁₇ which is fixed to LOW, the change of the passenger conveyor speed to a low speed during standby. The time T ₁₃ is the time that can be down last boarded from passenger reliably escalator to an escalator, for example, time T ₁₃ is a 3-minute position.

Next, referring to FIG. 5 for speed control when the load determination determines “low load” and the sparse / dense determination changes from “sparse” to ““ dense ”and further to“ sparse ”. explain.
Initially, the man conveyor speed is controlled at a low speed during standby. Then, the level of Nokuchi detection signal at time t ₂₁ is so changed from LOW HIGH, the change of the passenger conveyor speed to medium speed during off-peak. Although the between time t ₂₁ the time t ₂₂ has been boarded passengers sparsely, passenger density is below the density threshold, which has made the determination of the "sparse".

However, since the densely passengers between time t ₂₃ from the time point t ₂₂ have boarded passengers density at time t ₂₃ is reached over the density threshold, a determination is made of the "dense". And the man conveyor speed is changed to the high speed at the time of congestion.
Then, then boarded the passenger becomes sparse, at the time t _24, a determination is made of the "sparse". The determination of the "sparse" is the time t ₂₆ was continued for a predetermined time T _21, to change the passenger conveyor speed to medium speed during off-peak. The time T _21, the number of passengers who have boarded are time to get off reliably from an escalator, for example, are adapted to the time step chain 7 is half.
Further, at the time point t ₂₇ where the level of Nokuchi detection signal is fixed to LOW over from time t ₂₅ to time T _13, to change the passenger conveyor speed to a low speed during standby.

Since the passenger load corresponds to the total weight of the passengers on the escalator step 8, the number of passengers can be estimated relatively accurately, but the speed is switched after the passengers get in, so the response is slow.
On the other hand, the passenger density counts the number of passengers before getting on the escalator, so the response is fast, but if a large number of passenger groups try to get in, the passengers overlap and pass through the passenger post 9 and accurately detect the number of passengers Can not do it.
Therefore, by controlling the speed by using both the passenger load and the passenger density, the respective drawbacks can be compensated, so that the accuracy and the response can be improved with respect to the speed control.

Further, since the speed of the man conveyor is changed to a medium speed when the level of the entrance detection signal changes from LOW to HIGH, the speed is increased at the same time when the passenger tries to get in, and the response is improved.
Further, since the level of the entrance detection signal is changed from low to high after about three minutes from the last change from HIGH to LOW, all passengers can be carried at medium speed or higher.
Further, even if the passenger load reaches less than the load threshold, the step chain is moved at a high speed for half a turn, so that the passenger when the passenger load is large can be carried at a high speed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The escalator according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the escalator according to the first embodiment except for the speed command means, and the other parts are the same.
The speed command means 27 according to the first embodiment changes the man conveyor speed from the low speed to the medium speed when the level of the entrance detection signal changes from LOW to HIGH during standby, but the speed command means according to the second embodiment When the level of the entrance detection signal changes from LOW to HIGH during standby, a medium speed command or a high speed command is sent to the inverter 13 in order to increase the speed of the man conveyor to a medium speed during a quiet period or a high speed during congestion. At this time, the speed of the man conveyor is switched between medium and high depending on the time of day. For example, in a time zone where congestion is expected, such as at work, during lunch break, or when leaving the office, when the level of the entrance detection signal changes from LOW to HIGH, a high speed command is sent to the inverter 13. In other cases, a medium speed command is sent to the inverter 13.

  As described above, when it is detected that a passenger gets into the escalator, it is possible to help smooth movement of the person by switching the speed of the escalator depending on the time zone.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The escalator according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the escalator according to the first embodiment except for the speed command means, and the other parts are the same.
The speed command means according to the third embodiment determines whether the sensor is abnormal when the level of the entrance detection signal is fixed to HIGH for a predetermined time with the speed command means 27 according to the first embodiment. Are the same except for the temporary suspension, and the same reference numerals are given to the same parts and the description thereof is omitted.
The speed command means according to the third embodiment stops the density determination when the level of the entrance detection signal is fixed to HIGH for a predetermined time, and obtains the speed command only by the load determination.
Then, when the level of the entrance detection signal returns from HIGH to LOW, the speed command means according to the third embodiment restarts the density determination that has been stopped.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, speed control when the level of the entrance detection signal is fixed to HIGH at one end and then returned to LOW when “load is low” is determined in the load determination. To do. The level of the entrance detection signal is fixed to HIGH when the passenger stops between the projector and the light receiver or when the light entrance of the light projector or the light receiver is blocked by gum or the like. .

Initially, the man conveyor speed is controlled at a low speed during standby. Then, the level of Nokuchi detection signal at time t ₃₁ is changed to medium speed passenger conveyor speed so changes from LOW to HIGH.
Next, the level of Nokuchi detection signal changes from LOW to HIGH at time t _32, since the passenger density at time t ₃₃ reaches the above density threshold, has made the determination of "dense", busy hour the passenger conveyor speed Change to high speed.
Then, since over from time _{t 32} to the predetermined time _{T 31} the level of Nokuchi detection signal is fixed HIGH, the at _{t 34} that time _{T 31} elapses from the time point _{t 32,} and the sensor is closed In order to prevent the man conveyor speed from constantly becoming high, the man conveyor speed is changed to a medium speed during quiet periods. Since load density at time t ₃₄ is less than the load threshold, which has made the determination of "load small". When it is determined that the sensor is blocked, an alarm is issued to the management room or the like, and the manager inspects and repairs the alarm. By doing so, the entrance detection signal can be returned to normal.

Next, since at time t ₃₅ the level of Nokuchi detection signal returning from HIGH to LOW, the sensors obstructed judges that have been resolved, resumes density determination. Density determination at this time, the level at the time t ₃₅ earlier Nokuchi detection signal is carried out as a LOW. In time t _35, since the passenger load is less than the load threshold, has made the determination of "load small" passenger density because it is less than the density threshold, a determination is made of the "sparse".

  Thus, when the level of the entrance detection signal is fixed to HIGH for a predetermined time, the passenger stops between the projector and the receiver, or the light entrance of the projector or the receiver is blocked with gum or the like. It is possible to prevent the man conveyor speed from being constantly increased by stopping the density determination as being performed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the escalator concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conveyor control apparatus concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. This is the type of speed selection in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a timing chart which shows the speed control pattern performed according to load determination in case "sparse" determination is made by the density determination. It is a timing chart which shows the speed control pattern performed according to the density determination when the determination of “low load” is made in the load determination. It is a timing chart which shows a speed control pattern when the entrance detection signal is once fixed to the HIGH level when the determination of “low load” is made in the load determination.

Explanation of symbols

  1 three-phase power supply, 2 conveyor control device, 3 electric motor, 4 speed reducer, 5 drive chain, 6 sprocket, 7 step chain, 8 step, 9 passenger post, 10 encoder, 12 AC / DC power converter, 13 inverter, 15, 18 Instrument current transformer, 16 DC circuit, 17 Voltmeter, 19 Control device, 21 AC / DC power converter control means, 22 Inverter control means, 23 Display guide means, 25 Passenger load calculation means, 26 Passenger density calculation means, 27 Speed Command means.

Claims (8)

In a man conveyor comprising an inverter that drives an electric motor that orbits a step chain to which the steps of the man conveyor are connected,
First detecting means for detecting a passenger load on the step;
Second detection means for detecting a passenger density consisting of the number of passing passengers per unit time based on a passenger detection signal whose level changes when a passenger outputted from a sensor provided at the entrance of the man conveyor passes;
When the passenger load is a predetermined load threshold value or less and the passenger density is a predetermined density threshold value or less, a medium speed command is issued so that the moving speed of the step becomes a medium speed, or the passenger load exceeds a predetermined load threshold value, or When the passenger density exceeds a predetermined density threshold, a speed command means for commanding a high speed command to the inverter so that the moving speed of the step becomes high;
A man conveyor characterized by comprising:   When the step is stopped or moving at a low speed, the speed command means is arranged so that the moving speed of the step becomes a medium speed when the entrance detection signal changes to a level when a passenger passes. The man conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a speed command is commanded to the inverter.   The speed command means is a low-speed command or a command so that the moving speed of the step becomes low or zero at a time when a predetermined time elapses from the time when the entrance detection signal finally changes to the level when the passenger passes. The man conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a zero command is commanded to the inverter.   The speed command means is a point in time when at least half of the operation time of the step chain elapses from a later point of time when the passenger load becomes a predetermined load threshold value or a time point when the passenger density becomes a density threshold value or less. 4. The man conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a medium speed command is commanded to the inverter so that a moving speed of the step becomes a medium speed. 5. In a man conveyor comprising an inverter that drives an electric motor that orbits a step chain to which the steps of the man conveyor are connected,
First detecting means for detecting a passenger load on the step;
Second detection means for detecting a passenger density consisting of the number of passing passengers per unit time based on a passenger detection signal whose level changes when a passenger outputted from a sensor provided at the entrance of the man conveyor passes;
When the step is stopped or moving at a low speed, when the entrance detection signal changes to the level at which a passenger passes, a medium speed command or Speed command means for instructing the inverter with a high speed command;
A man conveyor characterized by comprising:   The said 1st detection means detects the said passenger load based on the electric current value which flows into the said motor measured, The man conveyor as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 5 characterized by the above-mentioned.   7. The sensor provided at the entrance of the man conveyor is a light-shielding sensor provided on both sides in the vicinity of the entrance floor board to block light projected by a passing passenger. The man conveyor according to any one of the above.   The speed command means, when the entrance detection signal is fixed at a level when a passenger passes for a predetermined time, sends a speed command obtained only according to the passenger load regardless of the passenger density to the inverter. The man conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the man conveyor is commanded.

Images