JP2009091055A - Footstep abnormality detection device of passenger conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a footstep abnormality detection device of a passenger conveyor allowing miniaturization, while reducing cost for the whole of the device. <P>SOLUTION: This footstep abnormality detection device 15 is disposed in a truss 2 mounted from an entrance to an exit of an escalator 1 to detect an abnormality of a footstep 10 circulating and moving between the entrance and the exit. The footstep abnormality detection device 15 is provided with a plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 arranged to face the moving footstep 10 on one side of a reversing portion of a traveling direction of the footstep 10 at prescribed intervals in a lateral width direction of the footstep 100 and to detect a distance with each facing footstep portion, and an escalator control panel 9 for deciding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the state of the footstep 10 based on each of the detection distances of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 every for lapse of prescribed time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a step abnormality detecting device for a passenger conveyor that automatically detects a step breakage of the passenger conveyor.

  A conventional escalator step breakage detection device is provided in a lower truss of a escalator, and is provided in a lower truss and a television camera for photographing a plurality of steps moving along a circular orbit disposed in the lower truss. A photo sensor that detects that a step has reached the field of view of the TV camera, an image converter that converts an image of the step taken by the TV camera into an electrical signal, and a TV camera that takes a picture based on the output of the optical sensor The control device that transmits the image processing signal to the image converter so as to convert the image of the selected step into an electrical signal, and the step image captured by the video camera received from the image converter and the shape of the normal step are compared. And a comparison / determination device that determines whether or not each step is damaged (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-169679

However, in the conventional escalator step breakage detection apparatus, it is necessary to arrange a configuration such as a television camera, an image converter, and an optical sensor as a set, and the entire apparatus becomes large, and a television camera, an image converter, etc. Is expensive, and there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus increases.
In addition, since the comparison / determination apparatus requires expensive storage means that can store a large amount of data that can be taken by a television camera, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus further increases.

  In determining whether or not a step is damaged, a program for transmitting an image processing signal to the image converter in synchronization with the output of the optical sensor, or a step image after processing and a normal step shape stored in advance. It is necessary to execute a complicated operation program for comparing images. As a result, there is a problem that the software development period related to the determination of the presence or absence of step breakage is prolonged, and the cost of the entire apparatus increases not only from the hardware side but also from the software side.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor step abnormality detection device that can be reduced in size while reducing the cost of the entire device.

  The present invention is provided in a truss erected from the entrance to the exit of a passenger conveyor and detects an abnormality in a step of the passenger conveyor that circulates between the entrance and the exit. The device is arranged on one side of the reversing part of the running direction of the step, relative to the moving step and at a predetermined interval in the lateral width direction of the step, and between each of the corresponding steps of the step And a passenger conveyor control panel that determines whether there is an abnormality in the state of the step based on the detection distances of the plurality of distance sensors each time a predetermined time elapses.

  According to the present invention, since it is possible to determine whether there is an abnormality in the state of the step without disposing a television camera or an image converter as in the past, it is possible to reduce the size while reducing the cost of the entire apparatus. .

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a schematic diagram of an escalator provided with a step abnormality detecting device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a front view as seen from the direction B in FIG. 2 is a top view of the main part of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part around the cleat riser crossing the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor of the step abnormality detecting device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. It is a figure explaining the distance detection operation | movement of the ultrasonic sensor of the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of FIG. 6, (a)-FIG.6 (c) of FIG. It shows how to drive across the road. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a method for determining whether or not there is a step state abnormality by the step abnormality detecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a step abnormality detecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
In FIG. 2, illustration of the step chain and the lower floor side sprocket is omitted for convenience of explanation, and the illustration of the lower floor side sprocket is omitted in FIG. 6, and the step chain is illustrated by a broken line.

In FIG. 1, an escalator 1 as a passenger conveyor includes a truss 2 constructed so as to reach from the entrance to the exit, and an upper floor side sprocket 3 disposed near the upper floor side end inside the truss 2; The lower floor side sprocket 4 disposed near the lower floor side end inside the truss 2, the drive unit 5, the drive chain 6 for transmitting the output of the drive unit 5 to the upper floor side sprocket 3, and the endless shape. A step that wraps around the upper floor side sprocket 3 and the lower floor side sprocket 4, and that circulates and moves in conjunction with the upper floor side sprocket 3 that is driven to rotate by the output of the drive unit 5 being transmitted through the drive chain 6. An escalator control panel 9 serving as a passenger conveyor control panel for controlling the overall operation of the escalator 1 such as drive control of the driving machine 5, and a step abnormality detecting device 15. And equipped with
Here, it is assumed that the step 10 is circulated in conjunction with the step chain 7 so as to carry passengers from the lower floor side to the upper floor side. That is, the lower floor side is the entrance and the upper floor side is the exit.

Next, the configuration of the step 10 and the step abnormality detection device 15 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The step 10 includes a cleat riser 11, a step plate 12, and a pair of brackets 13. The cleat riser 11 is formed in a curved substantially rectangular flat plate, and the tread plate 12 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The cleat riser 11 and the tread board 12 are connected so that their longitudinal directions coincide with each other, and the cleat riser 11 extends substantially vertically from one long side of the tread board 12.

  On the front (front) surface of the cleat riser 11, riser convex portions 11a and riser concave portions 11b are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to extend over the entire region in the lateral direction, and the surface of the tread 12 is also provided. Similarly, the tread plate convex portions 12a and the tread plate concave portions 12b are alternately arranged in the longitudinal direction so as to extend over the entire short direction.

  A pair of brackets 13 each formed in a frame shape are disposed on the back side of the tread plate 12 and the creatry riser 11 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the tread plate 12 and the crea riser 11. The cleat riser 11 and the tread 12 are fixed to the bracket 13 respectively.

The step 10 configured as described above is arranged such that the longitudinal directions of the cleat riser 11 and the tread plate 12 coincide with the frontage direction seen from the entrance. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the cleat riser 11 and the tread plate 12 will be described as the lateral width direction.
A step shaft 14 whose axial direction coincides with the lateral width direction is fixed to each of the pair of brackets 13, and both ends of the step shaft 14 extend to both sides of the step 10 in the lateral width direction. Then, both end sides of the step shaft 14 are connected to the step chain 7 so that the step 10 circulates in conjunction with the travel of the step chain 7. In the adjacent step 10, the riser convex portion 11a and the tread plate concave portion 12b, and the riser concave portion 11b and the tread plate convex portion 12a are engaged with each other.

The step abnormality detecting device 15 includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 as distance sensors and the escalator control panel 9.
The escalator control panel 9 is a CPU 9a serving as a calculation control means, used in a working area when the CPU 9a performs calculation control, and RAM 9b for temporarily storing various data, and determination of the presence / absence of abnormalities in the step 10 A ROM 9c that stores the overall control program for the operation of the escalator 1 including a program for performing the above. The CPU 9a performs various calculations and controls based on the contents of the program stored in the ROM 9c. Further, the CPU 9a can generate an internal pulse every time a predetermined time elapses and perform predetermined arithmetic control linked to the generation of the internal pulse.

  In addition, each of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 includes an ultrasonic transmission unit 16a and an ultrasonic reception unit 16b. The ultrasonic sensor 16 measures the time from when the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transmission unit 16a to when it is reflected by the object and received by the ultrasonic reception unit 16b. Detect the distance.

Each of the ultrasonic sensors 16 configured as described above moves at a position separated from a reversing portion (hereinafter simply referred to as a reversing portion) in the traveling direction on the lower floor side in the circulation path of the step 10. They are arranged at a predetermined interval in the lateral width direction so as to face the step 10. The ultrasonic sensor 16 receives the ultrasonic waves by the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmission unit 16a being reflected upon being reflected by the top of the tread plate convex portion 12a of the step 10 passing through the inversion portion on the lower floor side or the bottom surface of the riser concave portion 11b. It is arranged to be received by the unit 16b.
Each of the ultrasonic sensors 16 is connected to the escalator control panel 9 by a communication cable or the like, and information on the distance detected by the ultrasonic sensor 16 is always transmitted to the escalator control panel 9 and can be stored in the RAM 9b. ing.

  In addition, the arrangement | positioning space | interval of the ultrasonic sensor 16 is suitably determined so that the missing | missing by the breakage of the cree riser 11 or the tread 12 can be detected. For example, when the tread board 12 crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmission part 16a, the ultrasonic sensor 16 is disposed at intervals of the ultrasonic wave on the top part of the tread board convex part 12a every three rows with respect to the arrangement direction of the tread board convex parts 12a. It has been adjusted to hit. Since the riser convex portion 11a and the tread plate concave portion 12b of the adjacent step 10 and the riser concave portion 11b and the tread plate convex portion 12a are engaged with each other, the creat riser 11 crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transmission portion 16a. In this case, with respect to the arrangement direction of the riser recesses 11b, the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave transmission unit 16a hit the bottom surface of the riser recesses 11b every third row.

Hereinafter, the distance detection operation of the ultrasonic sensor 16 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 (a) to 6 (c), for the convenience of explanation, the movement of one step 10 that travels on the inversion portion on the lower floor is specifically illustrated.
Here, as shown in FIG. 1, out of the respective routes of the steps 10 that are reversed by the reversing part of the upper and lower floors and move in opposite directions, a route having a part for transporting passengers outside the truss 2, A route traveling inside the truss 2 is defined as a return route.
First, a case where the normal step 10 moves through the reversing unit on the lower floor side across the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16a will be described.

  When the escalator 1 is performing an ascending operation for transporting passengers from the lower floor to the upper floor, the tread 12 is extended forward in the direction of travel of the step 10 from the connecting portion with the cleat riser 11. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the tread 12 of the step 10 that has moved along the return path reaches a position crossing the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16a, the tread 12 reflects the ultrasonic wave. Then, the ultrasonic wave reflected by the tread board 12 is received by the ultrasonic wave receiving unit 16b. As described above, the ultrasonic sensor 16 is arranged such that when the tread 12 crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic transmitter 16a, the ultrasonic wave is reflected from the top of the tread convex 12a. Accordingly, the distances simultaneously detected by the ultrasonic sensors 16 when the tread 12 crosses the ultrasonic waves are substantially the same.

  Further, when the step 10 moves toward the forward path side, as shown in FIG. 6B, the step changes to the tread plate 12, and the creep riser 11 crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16a, and the ultrasonic wave To reflect. As described above, each ultrasonic sensor 16 is disposed so that the ultrasonic wave is reflected from the bottom surface of the riser recess 11b when the creater 11 crosses the ultrasonic wave. Accordingly, even when the cleat riser 11 crosses the ultrasonic wave, the distances simultaneously detected by the ultrasonic sensors 16 are substantially the same.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the step 10 is further moved, the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16a passes through the adjacent rear step 10, but in this case, the ultrasonic sensor In 16, the ultrasonic wave reflected by the object away from the step 10 returns, or the ultrasonic wave does not return. Therefore, the distance detected by each ultrasonic sensor 16 becomes extremely larger than the distance between the ultrasonic sensor 16 and the cleat riser 11, or becomes infinite. Each ultrasonic sensor 16 regards the detection distance as infinite when the transmitted ultrasonic wave does not return even after a specified time has elapsed, and outputs a very large finite value a as an alternative value instead of infinity. It is supposed to be.

Next, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a case where the step 10 from which a part of the cleat riser 11 is missing moves the reversing unit on the lower floor across the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16 a will be described.
When the missing part of the creep riser 11 crosses the ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic wave passes through the missing part of the creep riser 11, and the ultrasonic sensor 16 that has transmitted the ultrasonic wave to the missing part is an object away from the step 10. The reflected ultrasonic wave returns or does not return.
Therefore, the distance detected by the ultrasonic sensor 16 that has transmitted the ultrasonic wave toward the missing portion is extremely larger than the distance between the ultrasonic sensor 16 and the creater 11 or is infinite. Become. As described above, each ultrasonic sensor 16 regards the detection distance as infinite when the transmitted ultrasonic wave does not return even after the lapse of a specified time, and substitutes a very large finite value a instead of infinity. It is output as a value.
The detection distances of the other ultrasonic sensors 16 that receive the ultrasonic waves reflected by the riser recess 11b that is not missing are substantially the same.

  Similarly, when a part of the tread 12 is missing, the detection distance of the ultrasonic sensor 16 that has transmitted the ultrasonic wave toward the missing part is extremely larger than the actual distance from the tread 12. It becomes something or infinite.

  Next, determination of whether or not the state of the step 10 is abnormal by the escalator control panel 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. For convenience of explanation, Step 101 to Step 105 are described as S101 to S105 in FIG.

As described above, the CPU 9a can perform various arithmetic controls linked to internal pulses generated every time a predetermined time elapses.
In step 101, the CPU 9a of the escalator control panel 9 determines whether or not an internal pulse has occurred.
If the CPU 9a of the escalator control panel 9 determines in step 101 that an internal pulse has been generated, the process proceeds to step 102. If it is determined that no internal pulse has been generated, step 101 is repeated until an internal pulse is generated.
In step 102, the CPU 9a simultaneously captures the respective detection distances of the respective ultrasonic sensors 16 (hereinafter simply referred to as the detection distance Lx) and overwrites and stores them in a predetermined area of the RAM 9b.

In step 103, the CPU 9a refers to the detection distance Lx and determines whether the detection distance Lx has a value larger than the determination value α.
Specifically, first, a value slightly larger than the maximum distance from the normal step 10 detected by the ultrasonic sensor 16 is set as a determination value α for determining a partial omission of the step 10. Then, the CPU 9a compares the detection distance Lx with the determination value α.
Further, the determination value α is determined by the detection distance by the ultrasonic sensor 16 that transmits the ultrasonic wave to the missing portion when the partially missing cleat riser 11 or the tread board 12 crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor 16. As long as it can be determined that the ultrasonic wave is not reflected by the cleat riser 11 or the tread board 12, it can be determined appropriately according to the shape of the step 10.

If the CPU 9a determines in step 103 that the detected distance Lx has a value greater than the determination value α, the process proceeds to step 104, and if the detected distance Lx does not have a value greater than the determination value α. Returns to step 101 assuming that the state of the step 10 is normal.
That is, as described above, if the step 10 is in a normal state, all the ultrasonic waves are reflected when the creep riser 11 and the tread 12 cross the ultrasonic waves from the respective ultrasonic sensors 16, and each ultrasonic sensor. The detection distance Lx of 16 is substantially the same value smaller than the determination value α. As a result, when there is no value greater than the determination value α in the detection distance Lx, the CPU 9a can determine that the step 10 is in a normal state.

In step 104, the CPU 9a determines whether or not all the detection distances Lx are larger than the determination value α.
Here, in Step 103, the CPU 9a determines that the detection distance Lx is larger than the determination value α when the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting unit 16a passes between adjacent steps 10 and There are two patterns when a part of the step 10 is broken and missing, and the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting part 16a passes through the missing part. In the former pattern, the detection distance Lx is larger than the determination value α, and in the latter pattern, only the detection distance of the ultrasonic sensor 16 corresponding to the missing part is larger than the determination value α.

  Based on the above, in step 104, when the CPU 9a determines that all the detection distances Lx are larger than the determination value α, it is assumed that the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmission unit 16a pass between the adjacent steps 10. Accordingly, it is determined that the state of the step 10 is normal, the process returns to step 101, and the above steps 102 to 104 are repeated every time an internal pulse is generated.

  It should be noted that the internal pulse generation interval is longer than the computation control time required for steps 102 to 104, and the amount of movement of the step 10 during the internal pulse generation interval indicates the missing portion of the step 10 to be detected. What is necessary is just to determine suitably according to the moving speed of the step 10, etc. so that a magnitude | size may not be exceeded. Note that the size of the missing part of the step 10 to be detected is not uniquely determined, and is appropriately set according to the specifications of the escalator 1.

If the CPU 9a determines in step 104 that all of the detection distances Lx are not larger than the determination value α, it determines that the state of the step 10 is abnormal and proceeds to step 105. In other words, when the CPU 9a compares the detection distance Lx of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 with the determination value α, the detection distance Lx is divided into a detection distance greater than the determination value α and a detection distance less than or equal to the determination value α. It is determined that the state of the step 10 is abnormal.
In step 105, the CPU 9 a outputs a stop signal to the driving machine 5 to stop the travel of the step 10.

  According to the first embodiment, the position of the step 10 is opposed to the step 10 at a position separated by a predetermined distance from the step 10 that reverses the inversion portion on the lower floor side, and is disposed at a predetermined interval in the lateral width direction. And an escalator control panel 9 that determines whether there is an abnormality in the step 10 based on the detection distances of the plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 each time a predetermined time elapses. Yes. In the method for determining whether the step 10 is abnormal, the escalator control panel 9 stores the detection distance Lx of each ultrasonic sensor 16 in the RAM 9b and compares the detection distance Lx with the determination value α every time a predetermined time elapses. When the detection distance Lx is divided into a detection distance greater than the determination value α and a detection distance less than or equal to the determination value, it is determined that the state of the step 10 is abnormal.

  Accordingly, the step abnormality detecting device 15 does not need to be provided with a television camera or an image converter as in the prior art, and can detect an abnormality of the step 10 while reducing the size and cost. Furthermore, since it is no longer necessary to handle a large amount of data captured by a television camera, a low-capacity RAM 9b may be provided, and the cost of the apparatus can be further reduced.

  Further, the program executed by the CPU 9a only compares the determination value α with the detection distance Lx of each ultrasonic sensor 16 and determines whether or not all the detection distances Lx are larger than the determination value α. Therefore, it is simple, the time required to complete the program is reduced, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced not only from the hardware side but also from the software side.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a top view of the step abnormality detecting device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the step abnormality detecting device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In FIG. 9, the configuration of the step abnormality detecting device 15 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 9, the number of ultrasonic sensors arranged is M (even number), and each ultrasonic sensor is moved from the ultrasonic sensor arranged on the most end side in the lateral width direction of the step 10 to the other end side. The ultrasonic sensors 16- (1), 16- (2), 16- (3)..., 16- (M-1), 16- (M) are directed toward the disposed ultrasonic sensors. Attached.
The CPU 9a simultaneously recognizes the detection distances of the ultrasonic sensors 16- (1) to 16- (M) stored in the RAM 9b as L (1) to L (M), respectively.

Next, determination of the presence / absence of abnormality of the state of the step 10 by the escalator control panel 9 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. For convenience of explanation, Step 201 to Step 207 are described as S201 to S207 in FIG.
In FIG. 10, step 201 is the same as step 101 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.
In step 202, the CPU 9a stores the detection distances L (1) to L (M) of the ultrasonic sensors 16- (1) to 16- (M) in the RAM 9b at the same time.

In step 203, the CPU 9a determines whether only one of the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N) is larger than the determination value α.
That is, whether or not the detection distance of the ultrasonic sensor pair arranged apart by half the length in the width direction of the step 10 is divided into a detection distance greater than the determination value α and a detection distance less than or equal to the determination value α. Determine whether. The initial value of N is set to 1.

  Here, as described above, the detection distances L (1) to L (M) are larger than the determination value α when the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic transmission unit 16a pass between adjacent steps 10. , And a part of the step 10 is broken and missing, and there are two patterns when the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic wave transmitting part 16a passes through the missing part. In the former pattern, the detection distances L (1) to L (M) are all greater than the determination value α in step 204, and in the latter pattern, the ultrasonic sensor that transmits ultrasonic waves to the missing part in step 204. Only 16 detection distances are larger than the determination value α.

  For example, if a part of the step 10 is broken and a part corresponding to the ultrasonic sensor 16- (M / 2 + N) is missing, only the corresponding detection distance L (M / 2 + N) is a value larger than the determination value α. Is stored in the RAM 9b. Accordingly, both the detection distance L (N) and the detection distance L (M / 2 + N) corresponding to the ultrasonic sensor 16- (N) and the ultrasonic sensor 16- (M / 2 + N) are larger than the determination value α. There is nothing.

In the present application, the partial loss is detected immediately before the step 10 is lost over a half length in the width direction, and the detection distance L (N) and the detection distance are detected. Both L (M / 2 + N) do not become larger than the determination value α due to partial omission of the step 10.
When both of the two detection distances to be compared are equal to or less than the determination value α, it means that the ultrasonic sensor 16 has received the ultrasonic wave reflected by the step 10, and the step 10 is normal. It can be said that it is in a state.

  Based on the above, in step 203, when the CPU 9a determines that only one of the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N) is larger than the determination value α, the CPU 10a determines that the state of the step 10 is abnormal. Proceed to step 207. In other words, as a result of comparing the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N) with the determination value α, the CPU 9a detects that the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N) are larger than the determination value α. When the distance and the detection distance equal to or less than the determination value α are separated, it is determined that the state of the step 10 is abnormal.

In step 203, the CPU 9a determines that only one of the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N) is not larger than the determination value α, in other words, the detection distances L (M / 2 + N) and L (N). If both are determined to be larger than the determination value α or less than the determination value α, it is determined that the step 10 is normal and the process proceeds to step 204.
In step 204, the CPU 9a determines whether N is (M / 2) or not.
If the CPU 9a determines in step 204 that N is not (M / 2), N + 1 is substituted for N (step 205), and the process returns to step 203.

If the CPU 9a determines in step 204 that N has reached (M / 2), it resets the value of N (substitutes 1 for N) (step 206), and returns to step 201.
In step 207, the CPU 9a issues a stop signal to the drive unit 5 to stop the travel of the step 10.

According to the second embodiment, the step abnormality detecting device 15 is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and in the method for determining whether or not the step 10 is abnormal, the escalator control panel 9 is provided each time a predetermined time elapses. The detection distances L (1) to L (M) of the ultrasonic sensor 16 are captured and stored in the RAM 9b, and the length of the step 10 in the width direction of all the ultrasonic sensors 16-1 to 16- (M) is stored. For each pair of ultrasonic sensors separated by a half length, the detection distance of the corresponding ultrasonic sensor pair is compared with the determination value α, and the detection distance of the ultrasonic sensor pair is greater than the determination value α. And the detection distance equal to or smaller than the determination value α, it is determined that the state of the step 10 is abnormal.
Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, the presence / absence of abnormality of the step 10 is determined based on whether the ultrasonic sensor (N), the ultrasonic sensor (M / 2 + N), or the ultrasonic sensor (N + 1) with respect to the detection distance stored in the RAM 9b. The ultrasonic sensor (M / 2 + N + 1)... And the ultrasonic sensor (M / 2) and the ultrasonic sensor (M) are spaced apart by about half the length of the step 10 in the width direction. In the above description, the determination is made based on the detection distance of the pair of ultrasonic sensors. However, whether or not there is an abnormality in the step 10 is not determined by comparing the detection distances of a pair of ultrasonic sensors arranged apart by half the length of the step 10 in the lateral width direction, but at the same time the RAM 9b. What is necessary is just to judge based on the detection distance of the pair of the ultrasonic sensor arrange | positioned more than predetermined distance with respect to the detection distance stored in this.

  In each of the above embodiments, the ultrasonic sensor 16 (or the ultrasonic sensors 16- (1) to 16- (M)) is used for the escalator 1 that is performing the ascending operation for transporting passengers from the lower floor to the upper floor. Each of these is an inversion part on the lower floor side, is arranged at a predetermined interval relative to the moving step 10 and in the lateral width direction of the step 10, and detects the distance between the respective parts of the corresponding step 10 Explained as what to do. However, the ultrasonic sensor 16 may be disposed in the reversing part on the upper floor side. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 16 is disposed on one side of the reversing portion of the traveling direction of the step 10 so as to be opposed to the moving step 10 and at a predetermined interval in the lateral width direction of the step 10 of the step. What is necessary is just to be arrange | positioned so that the distance between the site | parts of the step 10 to be detected may be detected.

  However, when arranged on the lower floor side, the escalator control panel 9 can determine whether there is an abnormality in the step 10 immediately before the step 10 is moved to a position outside the truss 2 that can carry passengers. That is, even when an abnormality in the step 10 occurs on the return path immediately before determining whether or not the step 10 is abnormal, the abnormality in the step 10 is detected before the step 10 moves to the outward path outside the truss 2, and the step 10 travels. Can be stopped.

In this way, if the ultrasonic sensor 16 is disposed in correspondence with the step 10 that reverses the traveling direction immediately before being exposed to the outside of the truss 2, the step 10 abnormality detection accuracy of the step 10 by the step abnormality detection device 15 is increased, and the abnormality is detected. It is possible to maximally prevent the step 10 that has generated the traveling on the forward path side.
In addition, when the escalator 1 operates a descending operation in which the step 10 is moved in the opposite direction to the ascending operation and the ascending operation, for example, by switching according to the season or time, a plurality of ultrasonic sensors 16 are connected to the lower floor inside the truss 2. It may be arranged on the side and the upper floor side so that the distance to the step 10 can be detected on both the upper floor side and the lower floor side.

  In each of the above embodiments, the distance sensor has been described as an ultrasonic sensor. However, the distance sensor is not limited to the ultrasonic sensor, and may be an optical sensor or the like.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated as what applies the step abnormality detection apparatus 15 to the escalator 1 as a passenger conveyor, even if it applies the step abnormality detection apparatus 15 to the moving sidewalk as a passenger conveyor, it is to the escalator 1. The same effect as when applied is obtained. In this case, a step board on a moving sidewalk is defined as a step.

It is a schematic diagram of an escalator provided with the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the A section enlarged view of FIG. It is the front view seen from the B direction of FIG. It is a principal part top view of FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view around the cleat riser which crosses the ultrasonic wave from the ultrasonic sensor of the step abnormality detection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the distance detection operation | movement of the ultrasonic sensor of the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the determination method of the presence or absence of abnormality of the state of the step by the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view of the step abnormality detection device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is an operation | movement flowchart of the step abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 escalator (passenger conveyor), 2 trusses, 9 escalator control panel (passenger conveyor control panel), 10 steps, 15 step abnormality detecting device, 16 ultrasonic sensor (distance sensor).

Claims (3)

A step abnormality detecting device for a passenger conveyor that is disposed in a truss erected from the entrance to the exit of a passenger conveyor and detects an abnormality in a step that circulates between the entrance and the exit. There,
The distance between the steps of the step that are disposed at a predetermined interval in the lateral width direction of the step on one side of the reversal portion of the step in the traveling direction and at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the step. A plurality of distance sensors for detecting
A passenger conveyor control panel that determines whether there is an abnormality in the state of the step based on the detection distances of the plurality of distance sensors each time a predetermined time elapses;
A step abnormality detecting device for a passenger conveyor, comprising:   The passenger conveyor control panel compares a determination value for determining a partial omission of the step with detection distances of the plurality of distance sensors when determining whether or not the step state is abnormal. The step of the passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein when the detection distance is divided into a detection distance larger than the determination value and a detection distance equal to or less than the determination value, the step state is determined to be abnormal. Anomaly detection device.   The passenger conveyor control panel determines a partial omission of the step for every pair of the distance sensors separated by a predetermined distance with respect to all the distance sensors when determining whether there is an abnormality in the state of the steps. And the detection distance of the pair of distance sensors, and if the detection distance of the pair of distance sensors is divided into a detection distance larger than the determination value and a detection distance less than the determination value, the state of the step is 2. The passenger conveyor step abnormality detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the step is determined to be abnormal.

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