JP2008297072A - Escalator monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an escalator monitoring system capable of maintaining handrails of the escalator clean by efficiently and quickly eliminating dirt in response to condition of dirt in the handrails of the escalator. <P>SOLUTION: This escalator monitoring system comprises a plurality of communication modules (6 ... n) provided with a detecting section for detecting dirt in handrails of an escalator and converting it to a voltage level for output and a monitoring/communication control section for converting the voltage level to a signal and transmitting as the monitoring data, a network system 3 for transmitting the monitoring data transmitted from the plurality of modules to a predetermined destination, an information collection center 4 as a predetermined destination for receiving the monitoring data transmitted through the network and analyzing the collected/accumulated monitoring data and converting it to the handrail maintenance instruction information for transmittance, and a predetermined terminal for receiving the maintenance instruction information transmitted through the network system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to transmission of monitoring information using a network, and more particularly to an escalator monitoring system suitable for monitoring dirt on an escalator handrail.

  The handrail belts (moving handrails) of escalators (including moving walkways) gradually move with the passage of time due to the adhering of floating substances (dust, dust) around the user's hand, dirt on the user's hand, and belt-driven lubricating oil. In addition to severe contamination, it can become severe in a short time due to other external factors. Also, the degree of contamination varies depending on the installation environment and the operation frequency.

  Usually, the cleaning is performed periodically by the maintenance staff or by the operation of the handrail cleaning device.

  Temporary cleaning may be performed by a maintenance person by a report from the user against severe temporary contamination.

  Thus, it can be said that the conventional cleaning method is not necessarily performed efficiently at an appropriate frequency with respect to the handrails of the escalators where the degree of contamination varies depending on the installation environment, the operation frequency, and the like. Absent. For this reason, the user may feel uncomfortable in terms of cleanliness, and sometimes a danger may lurk, and if the handrail is not grasped, an accident may occur.

  Safe operation based on the characteristics of the drive mechanism, such as the moving speed of the escalator body and handrail, operates according to the standard and is maintained in conformity with the standard.

  On the other hand, regarding the dirt on the handrail, the cleaning is performed in an individual manner as described above.

  Conventionally, an apparatus for automatically cleaning an escalator handrail has been proposed. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

  Furthermore, there is also a proposal of an apparatus that automatically performs periodic cleaning by selecting a preset operation mode in accordance with the operation status of the handrail. (For example, see Patent Document 2)

  In the proposed apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, the handrail cleaning device 2 is disposed in the lower inlet (or the upper inlet) of the escalator body for cleaning the handrail 1.

In these methods, escalators that are installed in many places, each with different installation environments and operating frequencies, and those situations are changing, can be cleaned to adapt to such changes. It was not possible, and it was not cost effective maintenance.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-324968 (FIGS. 1 and 7) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-63953 (FIG. 2)

  Since the handrail cleaning device of the prior art is cleaning during a predetermined periodic maintenance period, it may continue to operate even if excessive dirt is generated within the period, but cleaning is not required at the end of the periodic maintenance period. Even in a clean state, it may be cleaned. This cannot be said to be maintenance that adapts to changes in the status of individual escalator handrails, such as installation environment and operation frequency.

  Therefore, there was no information collection system that could manage the status of handrails on each escalator in a unified manner and perform efficient cleaning.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art described above, immediately notify the contract user such as the escalator maintenance department and the building manager in real time about the dirt condition of the handrail of the escalator, and adapt to the dirt condition, An object of the present invention is to provide an escalator monitoring system that is capable of efficiently and promptly removing dirt and maintaining cleanliness.

  In order to achieve this object, the escalator monitoring system of the present invention is installed inside a handrail cleaning device provided for each escalator, detects dirt on the handrail of the escalator, converts the dirt into a voltage level and outputs it. And a plurality of communication modules provided with a monitoring / communication control unit for transmitting and detecting the detected voltage and the voltage level as signal to be monitored, and the monitoring data transmitted from the plurality of communication modules as a predetermined destination. A network system for transmission to the network, the monitoring data transmitted via the network system is received, the collected monitoring data is analyzed, and the predetermined data is transmitted in place of the maintenance instruction information for the handrail Information collection center as a destination and the maintenance transmitted via the network system And a predetermined mobile terminal for receiving shows information was configured to include a.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform unified management so that maintenance adapted to changes in the installation environment and operation frequency can be performed with respect to dirt on the handrails of each escalator. In addition, since it is immediately notified to contract users such as building managers, it is possible to adapt to the degree of dirt and efficiently and quickly deal with dirt.

The result is cost effective maintenance.
As a result, the state of clean handrails can be maintained, and accidental accidents due to dirt on the handrails can be avoided, leading to improved safety.

  In recent years, mobile networks in mobile communications have been increasingly used in forms other than personal use of mobile phones, that is, in mobile solution businesses.

  A lot of distributed devices are equipped with ultra-small packet communication units and sensors on each controlled device side, and monitoring data obtained from them is transmitted to a center equipped with a server etc. via a mobile network. There is a system in which the information processed in step 1 is reported to the person in charge of the business who has the mobile phone, and the device is maintained.

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The escalator monitoring system according to the present invention is transmitted from, for example, the communication modules (6... N) corresponding to the ultra-small packet communication unit and the sensor and the respective communication modules (6... N). As a communication network for transmitting monitoring data to a predetermined destination, for example, the network system 3 corresponding to the mobile network, and each monitoring data is received via the network system 3, the collected monitoring data is analyzed, maintenance is performed From the information collection center 4 that transmits in place of the instruction information, and a predetermined mobile terminal (mobile phone) 5a possessed by the contract user 5 who is the maintenance contractor of the escalator that receives the maintenance instruction information via the network system 3 Composed.

  Each of the communication modules (6... N) is mounted inside the handrail cleaning device 2 provided for each escalator and has the same configuration. For example, the configuration of the communication module 1 (6) will be described as a representative.

  A detection unit 6a serving as a dirt sensor that converts a dirt level of the belt of the handrail 1 detected through the handrail cleaning device 2 into an electric signal of a voltage level and outputs it, and an electric signal of a voltage level representing the dirt level as inputs. The monitoring control unit 6b which converts the signal into transmittable monitoring data and outputs it, or reads and inputs the past monitoring data stored in the data memory 6c as necessary, and inputs and outputs the monitoring data. A data memory 6c that temporarily stores the data in the memory, and a communication control unit 6d that receives the monitoring data, converts the data into a wireless transmission signal that can be transmitted to the information collection center 4 on the network system 3, and transmits the signal. It consists of and.

  As an example, the monitoring control unit 6b, the data memory 6c, and the communication control unit 6d are provided with the functions of the packet communication unit. A detection unit 6a is connected to the packet communication unit to form the communication module 1 (6).

  Further, although not described, each function of the communication module 2 (7)... Communication module N (n) has the same function as the communication module 1 (6).

The information collection center 4 has the following configuration.
Each monitoring data transmitted from each communication module (6... N) is received as a predetermined destination via the network system 3, and is output as an output. Further, it is obtained from the analysis result of the collected and accumulated monitoring data. The maintenance control information of the handrail is input, and the communication control unit 4a that transmits (sends) the information to the network system 3 and the past / current monitoring data are input and analyzed to display the maintenance display / instruction Monitoring control unit 4b that obtains and outputs information, and necessary past / current collected / accumulated monitoring data, analysis data thereof, maintenance display / instruction information, etc. are stored in a memory, and a database for input / output 4c,

  And an operation display unit 4d for displaying monitoring data, maintenance instruction information, and the like and inputting command information.

  In addition, an operator is stationed in the information collection center 4, and the operator acquires necessary information through the operation display unit 4d or inputs a desired command, an escalator maintenance company, an escalator installation building administrator, etc. The contract user 5 is sent information to the portable terminal 5a or the like owned by the person in charge of the contract user 5 to take action to promptly cope with the removal of dirt.

  In addition, the monitoring control unit 4b analyzes the past handrail contamination monitoring data stored in the database 4c by a statistical method, selects an escalator that requires removal of contamination at the next time, and performs maintenance such as prediction of the time. Can be edited into data. The editing result is clearly indicated to the operator from the operation display unit 4d, and the operator can send a maintenance instruction for the next time to the contract user 5. Such a regular command procedure may be executed without the intervention of an operator by executing a computerized control procedure stored in advance in the monitoring controller 4b. Needless to say, the monitoring control unit 4b, the database 4c, and the operation program are replaced with server devices.

  FIG. 2 is a partial conceptual diagram of the first embodiment of the handrail cleaning device applied to the escalator monitoring system of the present invention, and is provided with a detection unit 6a facing the handrail cleaning device.

  The cleaning tool 2a rotates while contacting the direction opposite to the moving direction of the handrail 1, and the belt surface of the handrail is cleaned by this operation. The detection unit 6a detects dirt such as dust (detection substance) attached to the surface of the tool that has been cleaned by the cleaning tool 2a.

  The detection unit 6a is a photoelectric sensor using infrared rays or the like. Light (for example, infrared rays) emitted from a light emitting element hits a detection substance, and the reflected light is detected by the light receiving element. It is a reflection type sensor built in one case.

  Next, an electrical signal indicating a dirt level is output from the detection unit 6a, and the monitoring control unit 6b using this as an input performs, for example, signal processing by a correlation detection method between the case where there is no dirt and the case where there is no dirt. The electrical signal is converted into monitoring data representing the degree of contamination.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the detection surface of the detection unit 6a may be attached so as to face the belt surface of the handrail, and the dirt on the handrail may be directly detected.

  FIG. 3 is a partial conceptual diagram of a second embodiment of the handrail cleaning device applied to the escalator monitoring system of the present invention, and includes detection units 6aa and 6ab.

  Similarly to the description of FIG. 2, the belt surface of the handrail is cleaned by the operation of the cleaning tool 2a that contacts and rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the handrail 1.

  Dirt substances such as dust (detection substance) adhering to the surface of the cleaned cleaning tool 2a are scraped off by the action of the dirt scraping portion 2c brought into contact with the cleaning tool 2a and fall into the dirty substance reservoir 2b. Thus, the dirt substance lump 2d is obtained.

  The detection units 6aa and 6ab are photoelectric sensors using infrared rays or the like, and light emitted from the light emitting element 6aa (for example, infrared rays) hits a detection substance, and the transmitted light is detected by the light receiving element 6ab. Is a separated transmission type sensor.

  Next, similarly to the description of FIG. 2, the detection unit 6ab outputs an electrical signal indicating a contamination level, and the monitoring control unit 6b having the input as an input may, for example, have no contamination or not. The electrical signal is converted into monitoring data by performing signal processing using a correlation detection method.

  Needless to say, the dirt reservoir 2b is made of a material that does not attenuate the light of the photoelectric sensor.

  FIG. 4 is a partial conceptual diagram of a third embodiment of the handrail cleaning device applied to the escalator monitoring system of the present invention, and is provided with detection units 6aa and 6ab.

  Similarly to the description of FIG. 2, the belt surface of the handrail is cleaned by the operation of the cleaning tool 2a that contacts and rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the handrail 1.

  The dirt substance reservoir tank 2b contains a cleaning liquid 2e, and a part of the cleaning tool 2a is immersed in the cleaning liquid 2e during rotation. For this reason, when the lower part of the cleaning tool 2a is immersed in the cleaning liquid 2e in the middle of rotation, dirt substances such as dust (detection substance) adhering to the surface of the cleaning tool 2a that has been cleaned become liquid by the action of impregnating the cleaning liquid 2e. The cleaning liquid 2e in the dirt substance reservoir 2b gradually decreases in permeability (or transmittance).

The degree of contamination of the cleaning liquid whose permeability has dropped is detected by the detection units 6aa and 6ab.
Similarly to the description of FIG. 3, the detection units 6aa and 6ab are photoelectric sensors using infrared rays or the like, and light (for example, infrared rays) emitted from the light emitting element 6aa hits a detection substance, and the transmitted light is received by the light receiving element 6ab. This is a transmission type sensor in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are separated.

  Further, as in the description of FIG. 2, the detection unit 6ab outputs an electrical signal indicating a contamination level. The monitoring control unit 6b having the input as an input indicates, for example, a case where there is no contamination and a case where there is no contamination. Signal processing using a correlation detection method or the like is performed to convert the electrical signal into monitoring data.

    Since the communication module (6... N) is being miniaturized, it can be easily attached to an existing handrail cleaning device. The network system 3 can use a mobile network, which is a wireless communication network that does not require the installation of a communication cable in which a radio wave insensitive area such as an underground shopping center is also expanded to a cover area. For these reasons, the construction cost of the escalator monitoring system of the present invention is extremely low.

  The present invention can be used for transportation business applied to escalators (including mobile walkways).

It is a block diagram of the escalator monitoring system of this invention. It is a partial conceptual diagram of 1st Example of the handrail cleaning apparatus provided with the detection part applied to the escalator monitoring system of this invention. It is a partial conceptual diagram of 2nd Example of the handrail cleaning apparatus provided with the detection part applied to the escalator monitoring system of this invention. It is a partial conceptual diagram of 3rd Example of the handrail cleaning apparatus provided with the detection part applied to the escalator monitoring system of this invention. It is a schematic side view of an escalator.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Handrail 2 Handrail cleaning device 2a Cleaning tool 2b Dirt substance storage tank 2c Dirt scraping part 2d Dirt substance lump 2e Cleaning liquid 3 Network system 4 Information collection center 4a, 6d Communication control part 4b, 6b Monitoring control part 4c Database 4d Operation display part 5 contract user 5a portable terminal 6... N communication module 6a detector 6c data memory

Claims (1)

It is attached to the inside of the handrail cleaning device installed for each escalator, detects dirt on the handrail of the escalator, converts the dirt into a voltage level and outputs it, and converts the voltage level into a signal for monitoring data. A plurality of communication modules provided with a monitoring / communication control unit for transmitting;
A network system for transmitting the monitoring data transmitted from the plurality of communication modules to a predetermined destination;
An information collection center that is the predetermined destination that receives the monitoring data transmitted through the network system, analyzes the collected and accumulated monitoring data, and transmits the monitoring data instead of the handrail maintenance instruction information; ,
A predetermined portable terminal that receives the maintenance instruction information transmitted via the network system;
An escalator monitoring system with a configuration.

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