JP2011057411A - Abnormal condition detecting system of passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an abnormal condition detecting system easily and inexpensively applicable even to an existing passenger conveyor so as to detect comb-breaking in a simple and inexpensive constitution, in the abnormal condition detecting system of a passenger conveyor. <P>SOLUTION: This abnormal condition detecting system includes a plurality of comb teeth arranged in a boarding-alighting port of the passenger conveyor and meshing with a footstep or a cleat formed on an upper surface of a tread, a distance sensor 11 for measuring the distance up to the respective comb teeth, and an abnormal condition determining means 15 for determining the existence of the comb-breaking based on the distance up to the respective comb teeth measured by the distance sensor 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an anomaly detection system that detects breakage of comb teeth installed at a passenger entrance of a passenger conveyor.

  The passenger conveyor is provided with comb teeth that mesh with cleats on the upper surface of the step (tread) at the entrance. The comb teeth have an important function of preventing a user's shoes or the like from being drawn below the floor plate of the entrance / exit and a foreign object from entering the machine room of the passenger conveyor. For this reason, if a manager of a passenger conveyor finds a comb tooth break (hereinafter also referred to as “comb break”) in a patrol check, etc., contact a passenger conveyor maintenance company and request a tooth replacement, etc. Appropriate measures are taken.

On the other hand, as a conventional technique related to a passenger conveyor, a technique that can automatically detect the above described comb breakage has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Specifically, in the thing of patent document 1, while covering the light-receiving surface of the optical sensor installed in the comb plate with a comb tooth, while always shielding a photosensor with a comb tooth, when a comb tooth breaks, The optical sensor is configured to receive external light.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-292451

  The one described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that a dedicated comb plate and comb teeth are required for installing the optical sensor, and the system becomes expensive. Further, for the same reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to apply to existing passenger conveyors, and even if applicable, the economic burden on the owner side is large.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. The object of the present invention is to detect a comb breakage with a simple and inexpensive configuration, and to easily and inexpensively an existing passenger conveyor. It is to provide a passenger conveyor abnormality detection system that can be applied.

  The abnormality detection system for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention is provided at a passenger entrance of a passenger conveyor, and includes a plurality of comb teeth that mesh with cleats formed on an upper surface of a step or a tread, and a distance sensor that measures a distance to each comb tooth And an abnormality determining means for determining the presence or absence of a comb break based on the distance to each comb tooth measured by the distance sensor.

  According to the abnormality detection system for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention, it is possible to detect a comb breakage with a simple and inexpensive configuration. Further, it can be easily and inexpensively applied to existing passenger conveyors.

It is a block diagram which shows the abnormality detection system of the passenger conveyor in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the passenger conveyor provided with the abnormality detection system shown in FIG. It is a principal part side view of the passenger conveyor shown in FIG. It is a principal part top view of the passenger conveyor shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the abnormality detection system of the passenger conveyor in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 is a block diagram showing a passenger conveyor abnormality detection system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a passenger conveyor equipped with the abnormality detection system shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a passenger shown in FIG. The principal part side view of a conveyor and FIG. 4 are principal part top views of the passenger conveyor shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to a detailed view of part A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 corresponds to a plan view of part A in FIG.
In the following, as an example of a passenger conveyor, the configuration of the up escalator used when moving from the lower floor to the upper floor will be described specifically, and other examples such as the down escalator and the moving sidewalk, The description is omitted.

  1 to 4, 1 is a main frame of an escalator spanned between the upper and lower floors, 2 is a lower entrance / exit of the escalator (in this embodiment), 3 is an upper entrance / exit of the escalator (this In the embodiment, it is an exit). 4 is a step on which the user of the escalator moves when moving between the upper and lower floors (also called a step board in a moving sidewalk, etc.), 5 is a moving handrail that is driven to synchronize with the step 4, and 6 is a step 4 or moving It is a control panel that controls operation of the entire escalator, such as travel control of the handrail 5.

  The exit 3 is provided with a plurality of comb teeth 7 at one edge of the floor plate forming the floor surface. The comb teeth 7 are installed in order to prevent a user's shoes or the like from being pulled into the lower part of the floor plate of the exit 3 and foreign matters entering the machine room 8 below the floor plate. is there. In order to have such a function, each comb tooth 7 is arranged such that the tip portion protrudes to the entrance 2 side and below from the one edge portion of the floor plate, and a part thereof passes below. It is comprised so that it may mesh with the cleat 4a of the step 4 upper surface.

  In addition, the said floor plate is comprised from the landing plate 9 which forms the principal part of the floor surface of the entrance 3 and the comb plate 10 provided in the one edge part of this landing plate 9, for example. The comb plate 10 is for supporting the comb teeth 7, and the comb teeth 7 are attached in a row across the width direction on one edge portion opposite to the side fixed to the landing plate 9. Yes.

  A distance sensor 11 is provided to detect that the comb teeth 7 are broken (comb breakage). The distance sensor 11 has a function of measuring the distance from the installation position to each comb tooth 7.

  Specifically, the distance sensor 11 is provided on the back surface (lower surface) of the floor plate, and measures the distance from the back side of the floor plate. That is, after the detection light from the distance sensor 11 passes under the floor plate, the rear portion 7a facing the lower surface side of the floor plate (the end portion side of the main frame 1) among the tip portions of the comb teeth 7. Is irradiated. Then, when the light reflected by the rear portion 7a is detected by the distance sensor 11, the distance to the comb teeth 7 is calculated based on the elapsed time and the like.

  Moreover, the distance sensor 11 has a predetermined mechanism that can rotate the detection unit, for example. And the distance sensor 11 measures each distance to the comb tooth 7 which exists in a predetermined range based on the received reflected light by emitting detection light for every predetermined angle. FIG. 4 shows an example of measuring distances to all the comb teeth 7 by a plurality of (for example, two) distance sensors 11 as an example. That is, each distance sensor 11 irradiates detection light at every predetermined angle while rotating in the B direction from the position a, and detects the reflected light. Each distance sensor 11 measures each distance to the comb teeth 7 existing within a predetermined angle θ based on the detected reflected light.

  The entrance 2 side has the same configuration as the exit 3 side.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes display means (LED display or the like) for displaying characters or the like to provide information to the escalator user, and 13 is an announcement means for providing information to the user by voice. The display means 12 and the announcement means 13 are appropriately installed above the entrance 2, the exit 3, and the intermediate inclined portion, and have a function of notifying various information to the escalator user. . The display means 12 and the announcement means 13 are shown as an example of means for notifying the user of information related to the escalator. That is, if possible, the above function may be realized by either one of the display means 12 and the announcement means 13, or the above function may be realized by other means for providing information to the user.

  A control device 14 is connected to the control panel 6, the distance sensor 11, the display unit 12, and the announcement unit 13. The control device 14 has a function of determining the presence or absence of a crease based on the measurement result of the distance sensor 11 and a function of controlling the operation of each device according to the determination result. Specifically, in order to realize the above functions, the control device 14 is provided with an abnormality determination unit 15, a storage unit 16, a control unit 17, a notification unit 18, and a warning unit 19.

  The abnormality determination unit 15 has a function of determining the presence or absence of comb breakage based on the distance to each comb tooth 7 measured by the distance sensor 11. Specifically, the abnormality determination unit 15 determines the presence or absence of a comb breakage for each comb tooth 7 by comparing the distance measured by the distance sensor 11 with a normal distance. It should be noted that various parameters necessary for the abnormality determination means 15 to determine the presence or absence of comb breakage, such as the normal distance from the distance sensor 11 to each comb tooth 7, are stored in the storage means 16 in advance.

  In addition, when the abnormality determination unit 15 detects the occurrence of comb breakage based on a predetermined condition, the abnormality determination unit 15 outputs an operation command to the control unit 17, the notification unit 18, and the warning unit 19, and the predetermined determination corresponding to the occurrence of the comb breakage is performed. To perform various operations.

  Specifically, the control means 17 has a function of controlling the control panel 6, the notification means 18 has a function of reporting to the outside, and the warning means 19 has a function of giving attention and warning to the escalator user. ing. For example, when an operation command is input from the abnormality determination unit 15, the control unit 17 performs an operation such as slowly stopping the escalator. Further, the notification means 18 notifies the manager of the escalator, the maintenance company, etc. that the comb breakage has occurred when the operation command is input from the abnormality determination means 15, and the warning means 19 displays the display means 12. The announcement means 13 is controlled to notify the user of a caution or warning when a comb breaks.

  Next, a specific operation of the abnormality detection system having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the passenger conveyor abnormality detection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  When an operation (for example, key switch operation) for starting the escalator is performed by an administrator or the like, the control device 14 first acquires predetermined start operation information from the control panel 6 (S101), and the start operation information Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the escalator is currently detecting comb breakage (S102). For example, when a comb break occurs during the previous day's escalator operation and the escalator operation is terminated without replacing the comb teeth 7, it is determined at the next startup that a comb break is being detected in S102. Is done.

  If it is determined in S102 that comb breakage is being detected, the control device 14 outputs a warning announcement from the announcement means 13 by the warning means 19 and prevents the escalator from being activated by the control means 17 (S103). , S104). In such a case, the content of the announcement is switched depending on where the comb breaks, and for example, an announcement such as “Upper (lower) comb breakage is detected and cannot be activated. Replace the comb teeth” is performed.

  On the other hand, if no comb breakage is detected in S102, the control device 14 cancels the activation prevention by the control means 17 and activates the escalator (S105, 106). And the control apparatus 14 starts the predetermined | prescribed process for determining the presence or absence of generation | occurrence | production of a comb break for every predetermined period during a driving | running of an escalator.

  Specifically, in the control device 14, the distance data (measurement data) from the distance sensor 11 to each comb tooth 7 obtained by measurement, and the distance data (normal data) corresponding to the measurement data from the storage unit 16. Is acquired (S107, S108). And the abnormality determination means 15 compares the acquired measurement data with normal data, and determines the presence or absence of the occurrence of comb breakage depending on whether or not the difference is within an allowable range (S109, S110). Note that a reference value (the above-described allowable range) for determining the presence of comb breakage is stored in the storage unit 16 in advance.

Here, when the difference between the measured distance and the normal distance with respect to the predetermined comb teeth 7 exceeds a predetermined reference value, the abnormality determination unit 15 then determines that the difference is about the predetermined comb teeth 7. The continuation time (continuation period C) in a state exceeding the reference value is measured (the counting of the continuation period C is started, or the counting is continued if the counting of the continuation period C has been started so far) (S111). Then, abnormality determination unit 15 obtains the reference value _{C 0} for the running period C from the storage unit 16, a comparison between the running period C and the reference value _{C 0} (S112, S113).

Here, when the continuation period C exceeds the reference value C ₀ , the abnormality determination unit 15 determines that no erroneous detection or the like has occurred in the distance sensor 11 and detects the occurrence of comb breakage (S114). In such a case, the abnormality determination unit 15 outputs an operation command to the notification unit 18 to notify an administrator, a maintenance company, or the like that the comb has broken (S115). Further, the abnormality determination means 15 outputs an operation command to the warning means 19 and the control means 17 as necessary, for example, “Upper comb breakage is detected. The escalator is stopped.” A warning announcement is output from the announcement means 13, and the escalator is slowly stopped (S116, S117).

On the other hand, in S110, for each comb tooth 7, if the difference between the measured distance and the normal distance does not exceed a predetermined reference value, the abnormality determination means 15 determines that no comb breakage has occurred, The continuation period C is cleared and the abnormality detection is canceled (S118, S119).
Further, when the running period C is determined to be equal to or less than the reference value C ₀ in S113, the abnormality determination unit 15 returns to S107 of the procedure without clearing the count of the continuous cycle C, repeatedly carrying out the above process.

  According to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, it is possible to detect a comb break at the entrance / exit of the escalator with a simple configuration, and it is possible to configure the system at a low cost. That is, by measuring the distance to the comb teeth 7, it is possible to determine whether or not the combs are broken, so that the dedicated landing plate 9, comb plate 10, and comb teeth 7 are not necessary. For this reason, it can be easily and inexpensively applied to existing escalators.

  Further, by measuring the distance to the comb teeth 7 from the back side of the floor plate, the distance sensor 11 can be arranged in the machine room 8 or the like, and the installation and wiring work can be facilitated. Furthermore, the distance sensor 11 itself and necessary cables can be prevented from entering the user's field of view, and the design of the escalator is not impaired. In addition, with such a measurement method, there is no possibility that foreign matter (for example, user's luggage) or the like enters between the distance sensor 11 and the comb teeth 7 even when the escalator is in operation. It is possible to acquire accurate distance data.

  When an excessive load is applied to the comb teeth 7 by a user's shoes or the like, generally, the comb teeth 7 are chipped or broken from the tip portion 7b (see FIG. 3) side. That is, it is unlikely that the rear portion 7a of the tip portion of the comb teeth 7 is damaged during normal operation. For this reason, if the rear portion 7 a is set to the detection position of the distance sensor 11, it can be reliably detected that a predetermined space is formed between the step 4 and the comb teeth 7. That is, when a slight chipping occurs only at the distal end portion 7b of the comb teeth 7, it is not detected as an abnormality, but only the generation of a space where a shoe or the like can be drawn (squeezed) is detected appropriately. It becomes possible to do.

1 main frame, 2 lower entrance (entrance), 3 upper entrance (exit), 4 steps,
4a cleat, 5 moving handrail, 6 control panel, 7 comb teeth, 7a rear part,
7b tip, 8 machine room, 9 landing plate,
10 Complate, 11 Distance sensor, 12 Display means,
13 announcement means, 14 control device, 15 abnormality determination means,
16 storage means, 17 control means, 18 reporting means, 19 warning means

Claims (6)

A plurality of comb teeth that are provided at the entrance of the passenger conveyor and mesh with the cleats formed on the upper surface of the step or the tread;
A distance sensor for measuring the distance to each comb tooth;
An abnormality determining means for determining the presence or absence of comb breakage based on the distance to each comb tooth measured by the distance sensor;
An abnormality detection system for a passenger conveyor, comprising: The comb teeth are provided at one edge of a floor plate that forms the floor surface of the entrance and exit, and the tip thereof is disposed so as to protrude below the one edge of the floor plate,
The said distance sensor measures the distance to the said front-end | tip part of the said comb tooth from the back side of the said floor plate, The abnormality detection system of the passenger conveyor of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   3. The passenger conveyor abnormality detection system according to claim 2, wherein the distance sensor is provided on a back surface of the floor plate.   The distance sensor emits detection light at every predetermined angle, and measures each distance to the comb teeth existing within a predetermined angle range based on the reflected light. The abnormality detection system for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Storage means for storing a normal distance from the distance sensor to each comb tooth;
With
The abnormality determining unit determines whether or not a comb is broken on each comb tooth based on a normal distance stored in the storage unit and a distance measured by the distance sensor. The abnormality detection system for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 4.   The abnormality determining means has a difference between a distance to the predetermined comb tooth stored in the storage means and a distance to the predetermined comb tooth measured by the distance sensor exceeds a predetermined reference value, and 6. The passenger conveyor abnormality detection system according to claim 5, wherein when the state continues for a predetermined period or more, the predetermined comb teeth are determined to have a comb break.

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