JP2013040013A - Apparatus and method for diagnosing inclined passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically detect the presence/absence of an opening due to lack of a footstep, without using a sensor.SOLUTION: A plurality of footsteps 1 are coupled with each other endlessly by a footstep chain 2, and a diagnostic apparatus 100 of an elevator E diagnoses the presence/absence of the opening due to lack of the footsteps 1 traveling between doorways at upper and lower parts. The apparatus includes a diagnostic device for comparing operation states of the footsteps 1 on move-up and move-down operation, e.g., operation speed variation and driving torque variation, and diagnosing the presence/absence of the opening due to the footsteps 1 on the basis of the comparison result.

Description

  The present invention relates to a diagnostic apparatus for an inclined passenger conveyor, and particularly occurs by removing a step of an inclined passenger conveyor that travels between a plurality of endlessly connected steps (also referred to as treads) between upper and lower entrances and exits. The present invention relates to a diagnostic apparatus and a diagnostic method for an inclined passenger conveyor that diagnoses the presence or absence of an opening.

  As an inclined type passenger conveyor that travels between a plurality of endlessly connected steps between upper and lower entrances and exits, an escalator that travels as a step as a step, and a passenger in a state where the stepped surface as a step forms the same plane There is an inclined auto line that moves with In these inclined type passenger conveyors, a part on which passengers ride during maintenance work is partly removed to provide an opening, and various maintenance work may be performed from this opening. Even if it is not at the time of maintenance inspection, a part of the step may fall due to some trouble and an opening may be generated.

  By the way, if the inclined passenger conveyor is lifted and lowered in a state where the steps are removed or dropped and the opening is generated in this way, maintenance personnel and passengers may accidentally fall from the opening or be caught in the opening There is sex. Therefore, it is desirable to avoid the operation in the state where the opening is generated as described above.

  For this reason, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the step is provided, and when the step is not detected by this sensor, it is determined that an opening has occurred and the power of the passenger conveyor is shut off. What to do was proposed.

JP 2008-308308 A

  By the way, the conventional passenger conveyor diagnostic apparatus described above is configured to detect by providing a dedicated sensor in order to detect the presence or absence of a step. However, since a dedicated sensor is provided for each step, the apparatus cost is expensive. In addition, since the detection accuracy depends on the sensor mounting state, an operation cost for periodically checking the sensor mounting state is generated.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to enable automatic detection of the presence or absence of an opening due to a missing step without using a dedicated sensor for each step.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the first means is a diagnostic apparatus for an inclined passenger conveyor in which a plurality of steps are connected endlessly and diagnoses the presence or absence of an opening due to the lack of the steps traveling between the upper and lower entrances and exits In addition, the present invention is characterized in that it comprises a diagnostic means for comparing the operating state of the step during the ascending operation and the descending operation and diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening due to the lack of the step based on the comparison result.

  The second means is a diagnostic method for an inclined passenger conveyor in which a plurality of steps are connected endlessly and diagnoses the presence or absence of an opening due to a lack of the step traveling between upper and lower entrances and exits. A step of comparing the operating state during the ascending operation and the descent operation, and a step of diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening due to the lack of the step based on the result of comparison in the comparing step, To do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically detect the presence or absence of an opening due to a missing step without using a dedicated sensor for each step.

It is a front view which shows the drive structure of a general passenger conveyor. It is a functional block diagram of the escalator of Example 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an escalator diagnosis procedure according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation data (time-speed characteristic) used for a diagnosis in Example 1. FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the escalator of Example 2 in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the operation data (time-torque characteristic) at the time of the ascending operation used for a diagnosis in Example 2. It is a figure which shows the operation data (time-torque characteristic) at the time of the descent | fall driving | operation used for a diagnosis in Example 2. FIG.

  The present invention is characterized by diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening caused by the removal of a step based on the difference in operating state during ascending operation and descending operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a drive configuration of an escalator as a passenger conveyor according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the escalator E is basically composed of a step 1, a step chain 2, upper and lower sprockets 3, 4, a drive motor 5, and a torque control device 6. An upper entrance 1a is provided at the top of the escalator E, and a lower entrance 1b is provided at the bottom, so that passengers can get on the step 1 from either the upper entrance 1a or the lower entrance 1b and get off from the other. ing.

  The step 1 is pivotally supported by a step chain 2 connected endlessly. The step chain 2 is wound around the upper sprocket 3 and the lower sprocket 4, and the upper sprocket 3 is rotationally driven by the driving force of the drive motor 5. Thus, when the drive motor 5 is driven, the upper sprocket 3 rotates, and the step chain 2 receives this drive force and rotates. The step 1 rotates integrally with the rotation of the step chain 2 and travels. The drive torque control device 6 controls the acceleration, speed, torque and the like of the drive motor 5. Therefore, the travel control of the step 1 is executed by the drive torque control device 6.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the escalator diagnostic apparatus according to Example 1 of the embodiment of the present invention. The drive configuration of the escalator itself is the same as in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the escalator diagnosis device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a driving command detection unit 8, a driving availability diagnosis unit 9, and a notification device 10. The operation command detection unit 8 and the operation availability diagnosis unit 9 are set in a control unit including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, and the like (not shown). The CPU is a central control unit that reads the program code stored in the ROM, develops it in the RAM, executes the program while using the RAM as a work area, and controls each unit. The RAM is also used as a data buffer, and the EPROM stores data used by the CPU for control.

  The driving command detection unit 8 is connected to the driving torque control device 6 to detect the state of the driving torque control device 6 and to detect a driving command from the operator 7 input from an operation unit (not shown). The driving propriety diagnosis unit 9 diagnoses whether the driving can be started according to the command according to the command input of the driving command detection unit 8, reflects the result in the drive torque control device 6, and passes the notification device 10. The operator is notified of the diagnosis result.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an escalator diagnosis procedure, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing operation data used for diagnosis. Diagnosis is performed by the CPU. The operation data is stored in, for example, RAM or EPROM, and used at the time of diagnosis.

  In the first embodiment, first, it is determined whether or not there is a driving command (step S1), and when the driving command is detected (step S1: Yes), whether or not the elapsed time since the previous stop is T minutes or more. Is determined (step S2). If it is less than T minutes, the process proceeds to step S9 to start operation according to the operation command and end the diagnosis. This time T is the minimum time required to remove the step 1 and is approximately 1 minute. The time T is a time used as a guide, but is set in advance before the diagnosis process is performed.

  In step S2, if it is determined that the time since the previous stop is equal to or more than T minutes, it is determined that diagnosis is necessary and diagnosis operation is started (step S3). In the diagnostic operation, first, an instantaneous rise / stop operation is performed (step S4). Here, the instant is completed within a speed range of approximately 10% or less of the rated speed and within approximately one second.

Next, a stop distance X1 is calculated that travels until the speed of step 1 becomes zero due to inertia at the time of ascending stop (step S5). When the calculation of the stop distance X1 is completed (step S5: Yes), instantaneous descent / stop operation is performed (step S6), and the stop distance X2 is calculated (step S7). As shown in the operation data of FIG. 4, the stop distance X1 at the time of instantaneous rise is based on the time T1 required until the speed becomes zero from the speed + V1, X1 = (V × T1) / 2
Calculated by

Similarly, the stop distance X2 at the time of instantaneous descent is based on the time T2 required from the speed −V1 to zero speed X2 = (V × T2) / 2
Calculated by

  Next, the difference between the stop distances X1 and X2 is determined (step S8). If the stop distances X1 and X2 are equal, it is determined that the step 1 is not removed (step S8: Yes). In the passenger conveyor step 1, the weight appearing in the table and the weight hidden behind are almost equal, so that the inertia at the time of stopping of rising and falling is also equal. Considering the measurement error, it can be determined that the difference is approximately ± 5%. When it is determined that the stop distances X1 and X2 are equal, the process proceeds to step S to start operation according to the operation command and end the diagnosis.

  If it is determined in step S8 that they are not equivalent, it is determined whether the operation command is in the maintenance-only operation mode (step S10). In general, the passenger conveyor is provided with a maintenance-only operation mode in which operation is performed only when an operation key is pressed and operation is stopped when the operation key is released in order to maintain safety during inspection work. If it is an operation command in the maintenance-only operation mode, the process proceeds to step S11, and after making a caution announcement such as “Step is out”, perform diagnosis according to the operation command at a slower acceleration than usual. finish. As for the acceleration at this time, it is generally appropriate to set the time required to reach the rated speed to 5 to 10 seconds.

  If it is determined in step S10 that the operation mode is not the maintenance-only operation mode, an announcement that “continuous operation cannot be performed because the step is removed” is given from the notification device 10 in step S12, and the diagnosis is terminated. At this time, the main power of the passenger conveyor is turned off to disable the passenger conveyor operation.

  The operation data in FIG. 4 is obtained by taking the time T on the horizontal axis and the step speed V on the vertical axis, and taking the speed change during the instantaneous ascending / stopping operation and the instantaneous descending / stopping operation. In the first embodiment, the diagnosis device 100 automatically executes the processing from step S1 to step S11, and the diagnosis result is obtained when there is an opening in the inspection work when the step 1 is removed and the opening exists. Accordingly, processing such as alerting, low-speed driving, and shutdown is automatically performed, so that it is possible to prevent accidents in which an operator accidentally falls or gets caught in the opening. Thereby, the improvement of the safety | security at the time of inspection work can be aimed at.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an escalator diagnosis apparatus according to Example 2 in the embodiment of the present invention. The drive configuration of the escalator itself is the same as in FIG.

  The diagnosis device 200 according to the second embodiment is provided with a drive torque detection unit 11 subsequent to the driving availability diagnosis unit 9 of the diagnosis device 100 according to the first embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment. The drive torque detector 11 in the second embodiment continuously measures the drive torque of the drive motor 5 after it is determined that the operation is possible and starts the operation, and reflects the measurement result in the control.

  FIG. 6 shows the driving torque of the driving motor when the driving operation is performed at the rated speed with the time T as a parameter, and FIG. 7 shows the driving motor when the driving operation is performed at the rated speed with the time T as a parameter. The drive torque is taken. In both cases, time T is on the horizontal axis and drive torque is on the vertical axis.

  The diagnostic method in Example 2 is performed as follows.

  When the ascending operation is continued in a state where a part of the step 1 is removed and the opening is generated, as shown in FIG. 6, the driving torque when the opening is traveling behind the invisible to the operator is It becomes larger than when driving on the front side visible to the person. Further, during the descending operation, as shown in FIG. The driving torque displacement points A and B are monitored, and an announcement such as “the opening is approaching” is given to the operator 7 immediately before the opening appears from the back side to the front side, to call attention.

  In Example 2 configured in this manner, the state of the opening is automatically detected in the inspection operation when continuously operating in the maintenance-only operation mode when the step 1 is removed and the opening exists, and the diagnosis result Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident that an operator accidentally falls or gets caught in the opening. Thereby, the improvement of the safety | security at the time of inspection work can be aimed at.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the driving state between the ascending operation and the descending operation, for example, a difference in stop distance and a difference in driving torque are detected, and an opening due to a missing step is detected based on the detection result. Since the presence or absence of the step is automatically detected, the presence or absence of the opening portion due to the removal of the step can be detected accurately and easily without the need for a dedicated sensor for detecting a missing step. As a result, it is possible to improve safety during inspection work at low cost.

  In the present embodiment, the upper and lower entrances and exits in the claims are the upper entrance 1a and the lower entrance 1b, the steps are the reference numeral 1, the inclined passenger conveyor is the escalator E, and the diagnostic apparatus is the reference numerals 100 and 200. The drive source corresponds to the drive motor 6, and the notification means corresponds to the notification device 10.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and all the technical matters included in the technical idea described in the claims are all included. The subject of the present invention. The above-described embodiments show preferred examples, but those skilled in the art can realize various alternatives, modifications, variations, and improvements from the contents disclosed in the present specification. These are included in the technical scope described in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Step 1a Upper entrance / exit 1b Lower entrance / exit 2 Step chain 5 Drive motor 8 Operation command detection part 9 Operation availability diagnosis part 10 Notification apparatus 11 Drive torque detection part 100,200 Diagnosis apparatus E Escalator

Claims (7)

A diagnostic device for an inclined passenger conveyor, in which a plurality of steps are connected endlessly, and diagnoses the presence or absence of an opening due to a lack of the step traveling between upper and lower entrances and exits,
An inclined passenger conveyor comprising a diagnostic means for comparing operating states during ascending operation and descending operation of the step and diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening due to lack of the step based on a comparison result Diagnostic device. The inclined passenger conveyor according to claim 1,
The driving state during the ascending operation and the descending operation is the respective stop distance,
The comparison result is the difference between the stopping distances during ascending operation and descending operation,
A diagnostic apparatus for an inclined passenger conveyor, wherein when the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is diagnosed that there is an opening due to a missing step. The inclined passenger conveyor according to claim 1,
The driving state during the ascending operation and the descending operation is a driving torque of a driving source for running the step,
The comparison result is the difference between the driving torques during the ascending operation and the descending operation,
A diagnostic apparatus for an inclined passenger conveyor, wherein when the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is diagnosed that there is an opening due to a missing step. The inclined type passenger conveyor diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A diagnostic apparatus for an inclined passenger conveyor, wherein the ascending operation and the descending operation are performed by inching operation. The inclined type passenger conveyor diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An inclining passenger conveyor diagnosis device comprising: an informing means for informing a diagnosis result when the diagnosis means diagnoses that there is an opening due to a missing step. The inclined type passenger conveyor diagnostic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When it is diagnosed by the diagnostic means that there is an opening due to the lack of the step, a notification means for notifying the diagnosis result,
When the diagnosis means diagnoses that there is an opening due to the lack of the step, the notification means informs that the step is missing and cannot be operated in the normal operation mode, and the operation is suspended. An inclining passenger conveyor diagnostic device characterized in that, in the operation mode, the informing means informs that the step is missing and performs maintenance operation. A plurality of steps are connected endlessly, and is a diagnostic method for an inclined passenger conveyor for diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening due to a lack of the step traveling between upper and lower entrances and exits,
A step of comparing the driving state at the time of ascending operation and descending operation of the step;
Diagnosing the presence or absence of an opening due to the lack of the step based on the result of the comparison in the comparing step;
A method for diagnosing an inclined passenger conveyor, comprising: