JP2011236009A - Safety device of escalator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect presence of a carrying case or the like by low-priced and simple constitution before an user takes an escalator.SOLUTION: This safety device includes a vibration sensor 11 which detects vibration of a floor plate 7 provided at an entrance of the escalator and a determination section 15 which determines presence or absence of a wheel passing on the floor plate 7 based on the vibration of the floor plate 7 detected by the vibration sensor 11. When the determination section 15 detects presence of the wheel, predetermined operations such as information to users and deceleration of a step 4 are started.

Description

  The present invention relates to a safety device used in an escalator.

In recent years, an increasing number of escalator users have carrying cases. The wheel of the carrying case has a small diameter and is easily caught or pinched by the escalator step. For this reason, when the user uses the escalator with a carrying case, the wheel may be caught in the step, and the step may be lifted to operate the safety device.
Such a problem can also occur in a cart (shopping cart) with a relatively small wheel, a stroller, and the like.

  In a conventional escalator, a notification is given to refrain from using in a carrying case or the like by sticking a sticker near the entrance / exit or continuing to send a caution announcement. However, the effect of such notification is diminished by being performed constantly. That is, in the escalator, it is desirable to detect the presence of a carrying case or the like before the user gets on, and perform a predetermined notification or an operation for restricting / prohibiting use only at the time of detection.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 below propose escalators that detect a user who uses a wheelchair and cause the escalator to perform a special operation.
Specifically, in the device described in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not the user of the escalator is using a wheelchair by analyzing an image of a camera that captures the vicinity of the entrance / exit. Moreover, in the thing of patent document 2, in order to detect a wheelchair user, the IC tag is installed in the wheelchair and the IC tag reader is installed in the escalator side.

JP-A-5-51192 JP 2004-262598 A

It is possible to detect the presence of a carrying case, a cart, a stroller, etc. using the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2.
However, when detecting a carrying case or the like by image analysis, an expensive device such as a camera or an image analysis device is required. In addition, there are many restrictions for installing the camera. For example, when there is no place for mounting the camera near the entrance, it is necessary to newly install a pole or the like for supporting the camera. Furthermore, when a pole or the like is installed, the appearance as an escalator is also impaired.

  On the other hand, in order to perform detection using an IC tag, it is necessary to attach the IC tag to all objects to be detected, that is, to all carrying cases, carts, and strollers. Since the escalator is basically used by an unspecified number of users, it is practically impossible to attach an IC tag to all objects to be detected.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect the presence of a carrying case or the like before the user gets on the escalator with an inexpensive and simple configuration. It is to provide safety equipment for escalators.

  The safety device for an escalator according to the present invention includes a vibration sensor that detects vibration of a floor board provided at a escalator entrance, and whether or not there is a wheel passing on the floor board based on the vibration of the floor board detected by the vibration sensor. A determination unit for determining.

  With the safety device for an escalator according to the present invention, the presence of a carrying case or the like can be detected before the user gets on the escalator with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

It is a block diagram which shows the safety device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the escalator provided with the safety device of FIG. It is a principal part detail drawing of the escalator shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a state when a carrying case etc. pass on a floor board. It is a figure for demonstrating a state when a user walks on a floor board. It is a figure for demonstrating the upper surface shape of a floor board. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the safety device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a principal part side view which shows the escalator provided with the safety device in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the safety device of the escalator in Embodiment 2 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 configuration diagram showing a safety device for an escalator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the escalator equipped with the safety device of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the essential parts of the escalator shown in FIG. It is.

  1 to 3, 1 is a main frame of an escalator spanned between the upper and lower floors, 2 is an upper entrance / exit of the escalator, and 3 is a lower entrance / exit of the escalator. For example, in the case of a descending escalator, 2 is the entrance and 3 is the exit. FIG. 3 shows details of the configuration of the upper entrance / exit 2. 4 is a step that the user of the escalator rides when moving between the upper and lower floors, 5 is a moving handrail driven to synchronize with the step 4, and 6 is a travel control of the step 4 and the moving handrail 5, etc. It is a control panel that controls operation.

  The upper boarding gate 2 and the lower boarding gate 3 are provided with a floor plate 7 and comb teeth 8 that mesh with the cleats of step 4. The floor board 7 forms the floor surface of the entrance / exit, and is composed of, for example, a landing plate 9 and a comb plate 10. In addition, the user of the escalator passes on the floor board 7 provided in the entrance to get into Step 4 (before).

  Reference numeral 11 denotes a vibration sensor that detects vibration generated in the floor board 7. For example, the vibration sensor 11 is provided on the back surface (lower surface) of the floor plate 7 and does not enter the user's field of view. The vibration sensor 11 may have any configuration as long as it can detect the vibration of the floor board 7 installed at the entrance. In the escalator, since the traveling direction of step 4 can be easily switched, the vibration sensor 11 is attached to each floor board 7 of the upper entrance 2 and the lower entrance 3 in the present embodiment.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a display for displaying information by displaying characters or the like to the escalator user, and 13 is an announcement device for providing information to the user by voice. The display 12 and the announcement device 13 are shown as an example of a device (notification device) for notifying a user at the entrance of predetermined information. That is, if possible, the above function may be realized by any one of the display device 12 and the announcement device 13, or the above function may be realized by another device that notifies the user of information.

  A control device 14 is connected to the control panel 6, the vibration sensor 11, the display 12, and the announcement device 13. The control device 14 has a function of detecting the presence of a carrying case or the like before the user gets on the escalator and causing each device to perform a predetermined operation. In order to realize such a function, the control device 14 includes a determination unit 15 and an operation control unit 16.

The determination unit 15 has a function of determining the presence or absence of a wheel passing on the floor board 7 based on the vibration of the floor board 7 detected by the vibration sensor 11.
Hereinafter, the function of the determination unit 15 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state when the carrying case or the like passes on the floor board, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state when the user walks and passes on the floor board. Each of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5B shows an example of a vibration waveform detected by the vibration sensor 11.

  Carrying cases, carts, and strollers are provided with relatively small wheels 17 at the bottom. For this reason, when the user moves on the floor board 7 while pulling (pushing) the carrying case or the like, the wheels 17 collide with the irregularities on the upper surface of the floor board 7, and vibration with a small amplitude is continuously generated on the floor board 7 (FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the user walks and passes over the floor board 7, vibration with a large amplitude according to the user's stride, weight, etc. is intermittently generated on the floor board 7 (see FIG. 5). The determination unit 15 considers such a difference in the vibration generated in the floor plate 7 and compares the detection result of the vibration sensor 11 with a predetermined determination criterion, for example, so that the wheel 17 (that is, carrying) on the floor plate 7. A case or the like) is present.

  In addition, in order to make an accurate determination in the determination unit 15, when the carrying case or the like passes over the floor board 7, a vibration having a waveform different from that when the user walks over the floor board 7 is generated on the floor board 7. It is necessary to let For this reason, in this Embodiment, the upper surface of the floor board 7 is processed into a suitable shape, and it is comprised so that a specific vibration may generate | occur | produce in the floor board 7 when the wheel 17 rolls. In addition, FIG. 6 is a figure for demonstrating the upper surface shape of a floor board. 6A is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6B is a front view thereof.

  Specifically, on the upper surface of the floor plate 7, a width of a predetermined size (L2) in the entrance direction of the entrance, the depth direction of the entrance orthogonal to the entrance direction (at the entrance of the user who rides the escalator) Many recesses 7a having a depth D having a predetermined size (L1) width are formed in the traveling direction). The widths L1 and L2 and the depth D are set in advance to appropriate dimensions so that the wheel 17 contacts (rolls) the bottom surface of the recess 7a when passing through the recess 7a. Therefore, when the wheel 17 passes through one recess 7a, the bottom surface of the recess 7a (point A shown in FIG. 6 (a)) and the front edge (point B shown in FIG. 6 (a)). Colliding with both sides, the floor plate 7 is displaced very slightly at each collision.

  It should be noted that the width L2 in the opening direction of the recess 7a may be an extremely large value with respect to the width of the wheel 17. That is, the floor plate 7 may have a configuration in which a large number of grooves having a length in the entrance direction of the entrance (a large number of grooves having a width of L1 in the depth direction) are formed on the upper surface.

  The operation control unit 16 has a function of causing the escalator to start a specific operation when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of the wheel 17 passing on the floor board 7. That is, in the present embodiment, the specific operation is performed only when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of the wheel 17.

  Next, the operation of the safety device having the above configuration will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the escalator safety device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In the control device 14, first, the vibration waveform is taken in from the vibration sensor 11 installed at the entrance of the escalator (S101). And if control device 14 takes in a vibration waveform, judgment part 15 will judge the existence of the wheel which passes on floor board 7, ie, the existence of a carrying case, etc. (S102). If the determination unit 15 does not detect the presence of a carrying case or the like, the process returns to S101 and the above process is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of the carrying case or the like (Yes in S102), the determination unit 15 outputs detection information indicating that the presence of the carrying case or the like is detected to the operation control unit 16. (S103). When the detection information is input from the determination unit 15, the operation control unit 16 outputs an operation command to the announcement device 13, the display device 12, and the control panel 6 as necessary to start a predetermined operation.

  Specifically, when the detection information is input from the determination unit 15, the operation control unit 16 notifies the announcement device 13 or the display device 12 of predetermined information for refraining from using the escalator (S104, S105). ). At this time, along with alerting the user, voice guidance such as “please use the XX elevator” and text display may be performed to guide the user to a nearby elevator.

  In addition, when the detection information is input from the determination unit 15, the operation control unit 16 outputs an operation command to the control panel 6 and starts the deceleration in Step 4. In addition, this deceleration may be for switching the escalator to a low speed operation, or may be for stopping Step 4.

  The operation control unit 16 continues the operations of S104 to S106 until detection information is not input from the determination unit 15 or until a predetermined time elapses after detection information is input (not input). Let

  According to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, it is possible to detect the presence of a carrying case or the like before the user gets on the escalator with an inexpensive and simple configuration.

  In the case where a large number of recesses 7a as shown in FIG. 6 are formed on the upper surface of the floor board 7, for example, if the wheel diameter is large, the wheel contacts the bottom surface of the recess 7a when passing over the floor board 7. There are things that do not. That is, the vibration generated in the floor plate 7 also varies depending on the relationship between the top surface shape of the floor plate 7 and the type of wheel (for example, the difference in diameter). For this reason, in this safety device, you may perform appropriate operation | movement which considered the difference of the vibration which generate | occur | produces in such a floor board 7. FIG.

  In such a case, when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of a wheel passing over the floor board 7, the determination unit 15 also specifies the type of the wheel based on the vibration (vibration waveform) of the floor board 7 detected by the vibration sensor 11. Then, the operation control unit 16 starts different predetermined operations for each type of wheel specified by the determination unit 15. For example, a wheel having a smaller diameter than that of a cart or a stroller is often used as a wheel of the carrying case. Based on such facts, the determination unit 15 determines whether the thing passing through the floor board 7 is a carrying case or a cart (stroller) from the input vibration waveform. Then, the operation control unit 16 switches the operation command in accordance with the determination result of the determination unit 15 (the type of wheel specified by the determination unit 15), so that the notification of the optimum content is performed from the announcement device 13 or the display device 12. To.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a side view of an essential part showing an escalator provided with a safety device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows an entrance of an escalator (escalator with automatic operation) that waits in a stopped state in step 4 when there is no user.

The escalator having the above configuration is provided with a photoelectric device 18 for detecting a user and a guide fence 19 for guiding the user to step 4 at the entrance. When the photoelectric device 18 does not detect the user (in), the control panel 6 makes the escalator stand by with step 4 stopped. In addition, when the user is detected by the photoelectric device 18 while waiting for stoppage, the control panel 6 activates the escalator under the predetermined condition to start the travel in step 4.
Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Next, the operation of the safety device will be specifically described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the escalator safety device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  The control panel 6 of the escalator constantly determines whether or not a user (boarding) has been detected by the photoelectric device 18 during the standby (S201). When the photoelectric device 18 detects the user (Yes in S202), the control panel 6 detects the detection information from the operation control unit 16 until a predetermined first time (for example, T1 seconds) elapses. Is determined (S203, S204). If detection information is not input before the first time elapses (Yes in S204), the control panel 6 activates the escalator and starts running in Step 4 (S205).

On the other hand, when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of a carrying case or the like after the first time has elapsed after the user is detected by the photoelectric device 18 (Yes in S203), the operation control unit 16 announces the announcement device 13 or An operation command is output to the display device 12 to alert the user (S206). Thereafter, the control panel 6 and the control device 14 wait for a predetermined second time (for example, T2 seconds) (S207), and then return to the process of S202. That is, if the determination of Yes is made in S203, the escalator is not activated.
The operation after the escalator is activated in S205 is the same as the operation shown in FIG.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention, when the determination unit 15 detects the presence of a wheel while the step 4 is stopped, the escalator is not activated even if the photoelectric device 18 detects the user, and the step 4 is stopped. Continue as it is. For this reason, in a stand-by standby type escalator with automatic operation, the use in a carrying case or the like can be greatly reduced.
The other effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main frame 2 Upper entrance / exit 3 Lower entrance 4 Step 5 Moving handrail 6 Control board 7 Floor board 7a Concave 8 Comb tooth 9 Landing plate 10 Com plate 11 Vibration sensor 12 Display 13 Announcement device 14 Control device 15 Judgment part 16 Operation control Part 17 Wheel 18 Photoelectric device 19 Guide fence

Claims (9)

A vibration sensor for detecting the vibration of the floor board provided at the entrance of the escalator;
Based on the vibration of the floor plate detected by the vibration sensor, a determination unit that determines the presence or absence of wheels passing on the floor plate;
An escalator safety device characterized by comprising:   The escalator safety device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor is provided on a back surface of the floor board.   3. The escalator safety device according to claim 1, wherein the floor plate has a plurality of recesses having a predetermined width in a traveling direction of the escalator user on the upper surface thereof. 4. An operation control unit for starting a predetermined operation when the determination unit detects the presence of a wheel passing over the floor board;
The escalator safety device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A notification device for reporting predetermined information to a user at the entrance;
Further comprising
5. The operation control unit, when the determination unit detects the presence of a wheel that passes on the floor board, causes the notification device to notify information for refraining from using an escalator. The escalator safety device described in 1.   5. The escalator safety device according to claim 4, wherein the operation control unit starts deceleration of the escalator step when the determination unit detects the presence of a wheel passing over the floor board. 6. The determination unit identifies the type of wheel passing on the floor plate based on the vibration of the floor plate detected by the vibration sensor,
The escalator safety device according to claim 4, wherein the operation control unit starts a different predetermined operation for each type of wheel specified by the determination unit. A photoelectric device provided at the entrance for detecting a user;
When the user is not detected by the photoelectric device, a control panel that stops and waits for the escalator step;
Further comprising
When the determination unit detects the presence of a wheel that passes on the floor board during the stop of the step, the operation control unit may detect the user even if the user is detected by the photoelectric device. The escalator safety device according to claim 4, wherein the stop is continued.   9. The control panel according to claim 8, wherein when a user is detected by the photoelectric device while the step is stopped, the control panel starts driving the step after a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection. The escalator safety device described.

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