JP2013216471A - Escalator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an escalator capable of improving operational efficiency.SOLUTION: An escalator 1 includes: an elevation conveyance part 3 for moving a plurality of steps 2 connected while tread surfaces 2a are directed upward from a lower floor-side entrance/exit 10 to an upper floor-side entrance/exit 11; a lowering conveyance part 4 arranged in parallel with the elevation conveyance part 3 and moving the plurality of steps 2 from the upper floor-side entrance/exit 11 to the lower floor-side entrance/exit 10; an upper floor-side step transitioning part 7 for the transition of the steps 2 of the elevation conveyance part 3 to the lowering conveyance part 4, in the upper floor-side entrance/exit 11; and a lower floor-side step transitioning part 8 for the transition of the steps 2 of the lowering conveyance part 4 to the elevation conveyance part 3, in the lower floor-side entrance/exit 10.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an escalator.

  In a conventional escalator, a plurality of steps are connected endlessly and rotated, and when moving in the forward direction, a user who rides on the upper surface of the step forming the staircase shape is conveyed upward or downward. It is configured to return the steps.

JP 2011-126641 A

  However, the conventional escalator has a structure that passes through the truss when the step moves backward, so it is only half of the cycle that the user can be placed while the step is moving, and there is room for improvement in driving efficiency. was there.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an escalator capable of improving driving efficiency.

  An escalator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lift transport unit that moves a plurality of steps connected with a tread surface facing upward from a lower floor entrance / exit to an upper floor entrance / exit, and parallel to the lift transport section And a lowering conveyance unit that moves the plurality of steps from the upper floor side entrance to the lower floor side entrance and exit, and the step of the ascending conveyance unit at the upper floor side entrance is changed to the lowering conveyance unit. And a lower floor side step transition portion for transitioning the step of the descending conveyance portion to the ascending conveyance portion at the lower floor entrance / exit.

The top view which shows schematic structure of the escalator which concerns on embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the escalator of FIG. Schematic which shows operation | movement of the front wheel of a step in FIG. 1, and a rear wheel. The figure which shows the safety switch installed in the escalator of embodiment. The figure which shows the buffering device installed in the escalator of embodiment.

  Below, the escalator which concerns on embodiment is demonstrated in detail based on drawing. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the escalator 1 of the present embodiment includes an ascending conveyance unit 3 that moves a plurality of connected steps 2 from a lower floor side entrance 10 to an upper floor side entrance 11, and an upper floor side. A descending conveyance unit 4 that moves from the entrance 11 to the lower floor entrance 10 is provided in parallel. The ascending conveyance unit 3 and the descending conveyance unit 4 are configured to move the step 2 in a state where the tread surface 2a on the upper surface of the step 2 is directed vertically upward, thereby allowing a user on the tread surface 2a to move. It can be conveyed in the upward or downward direction. The ascending transport unit 3 and the descending transport unit 4 are provided with drive devices 5a and 5b each composed of a speed reducer, an inverter device, an electric motor, and the like in the truss 9, and the steps 2 can be moved by these drive devices 5a and 5b. Configured. The driving devices 5 a and 5 b are integrated and controlled by the driving device 6 that is also installed in the truss 9.

  Further, the step 2 includes a front wheel 2b and a rear wheel 2c, which are rollers that are rotatable around a rotation axis in the width direction, on both sides in the width direction orthogonal to the traveling direction. The ascending transport unit 3 and the descending transport unit 4 are provided with a front wheel guide rail (not shown) and a rear wheel guide rail 12 which are in contact with the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c, respectively. It moves along the guide rails and the rear wheel guide rails 12 (hereinafter collectively referred to simply as “guide rails”), and the adjacent steps 2 are in a horizontal state depending on their relative vertical positional relationship. Or it is comprised so that it may become step shape. In addition, although the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c are shown only in some of the steps 2 in the plurality of steps 2 shown in FIG. 1, this is omitted for the sake of convenience of the drawing, and actually the escalator A front wheel 2b and a rear wheel 2c are provided on all the steps 2 within 1.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the escalator 1 includes balustrades on both sides in the traveling direction of the step 2 of the ascending conveyance unit 3 and the descending conveyance unit 4, and an annular moving handrail along the outer periphery of the balustrade Is attached. This moving handrail is also configured to move around in the same direction as the step 2 in accordance with the movement of the step 2 by the driving device 6 and the driving devices 5a and 5b.

  The escalator 1 includes an upper floor side step transition unit 7 for shifting the step 2 of the ascending transport unit 3 to the descending transport unit 4 in the truss 9 directly below the upper floor side entrance 11. The upper floor side step transition unit 7 can transfer the step 2 from the ascending conveyance unit 3 to the descent conveyance unit 4 while maintaining the directions of the tread surface 2a and the riser surface 2d of the step 2.

  More specifically, the upper floor side step transition unit 7 includes a first guide unit 7a and a second guide unit 7b. The first guiding portion 7a extends from the upper floor side end portion of the ascending conveyance portion 3 in the traveling direction of the step 2 (upward in FIG. 1, rightward in FIG. 2). In other words, the first guide portion 7a is a linear guide rail that is continuously connected to the guide rail 12 of the ascending conveyance unit 3 and extends horizontally along the traveling direction of the steps 2 of the ascending conveyance unit 3. is there.

  The second guiding portion 7b extends vertically below the first guiding portion 7a from the upper floor side end portion of the descending conveyance portion 4. In other words, the second guiding portion 7b is continuously connected to the guide rail 12 of the descending and conveying portion 4, and is bent vertically toward the ascending and conveying portion 3 toward the vertically lower side of the first guiding portion 7a, and finally the first guiding portion. It is a guide rail formed by combining a linear shape and a curved shape so as to be arranged in parallel under the portion 7a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the end part of the 1st guide part 7a and the end part of the 2nd guide part 7b overlap in the vertical direction view, and the end part of the 2nd guide part 7b is the 1st guidance. It extends to the back in the direction of travel of the step 2 of the ascending conveyance unit 3 than the end of the portion 7a. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when the upper floor side step transition unit 7 advances the step 2 from the end portion of the first guide portion 7a, the step 2 maintains the direction of the tread surface 2a and the riser surface 2d. In this state, it is configured to drop and move toward the lower end of the second guide portion 7b, and to land on and connect to the end portion of the second guide portion 7b. With this configuration, the upper floor side step transition unit 7 can shift the step 2 from the first guide unit 7a to the second guide unit 7b, and can move the step 2 of the ascending transport unit 3 downward. Transition to part 4 is possible.

  It should be noted that the expression “the step 2 drops and moves” used in the present embodiment refers to a state in which the restraint by the first guide portion 7a is completely removed from the step 2 and the step 2 freely falls, or the first guide portion 7a A separate guide member is provided between the second guide portion 7b and the step 2 is slidable, and the step 2 is moved toward the second guide portion 7b below the guide member by its own weight. Shall be included.

  Further, the escalator 1 includes a lower floor side step transition unit 8 for transitioning the step 2 of the descending conveyance unit 4 to the ascending conveyance unit 3 in the truss 9 immediately below the lower floor side entrance 10. The lower floor side step transition unit 8 can transfer the step 2 from the descending conveyance unit 4 to the ascending conveyance unit 3 while maintaining the directions of the tread surface 2 a and the riser surface 2 d of the step 2.

  More specifically, the lower floor side step transition unit 8 includes a third guide unit 8a and a fourth guide unit 8b. The 3rd guidance part 8a is extended from the lower floor side edge part of descending conveyance part 4 to the advancing direction (downward in Drawing 1, leftward in Drawing 2). The third guide portion 8a is a linear guide rail that is continuously connected to the guide rail 12 of the descending conveyance unit 4 and extends horizontally along the traveling direction of the step 2 of the descending conveyance unit 4. It takes substantially the same shape as the one guide portion 7a.

  The fourth guide portion 8b extends from the lower floor side end portion of the ascending conveyance portion 3 to the vertically lower side of the third guide portion 8b. In other words, the fourth guide portion 8b is continuously connected to the guide rail 12 of the ascending transport unit 3, and is bent downward toward the descending transport unit 4 so as to be vertically downward of the third guide portion 8a, and finally the third guide. It is a guide rail formed by combining a linear shape and a curved shape so as to be arranged in parallel immediately below the portion 8a. The fourth guiding portion 8b has substantially the same shape as the second guiding portion 7b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the end portion of the third guide portion 8a and the end portion of the fourth guide portion 8b overlap in the vertical direction view, and the end portion of the fourth guide portion 8b is the third guide. It extends from the end of the portion 8a to the back in the direction of travel of the step 2 of the descending conveyance unit 4. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, when the lower floor side step transition unit 8 advances the step 2 from the end of the third guide portion 8a, the step 2 maintains the direction of the tread surface 2a and the riser surface 2d. In this state, it is configured to drop and move toward the lower end of the fourth guide portion 8b, and to land on and connect to the end portion of the fourth guide portion 8b. With this configuration, the lower floor side step transition unit 8 can shift the step 2 from the third guide unit 8a to the fourth guide unit 8b to make a transition. As a result, the step 2 of the descending transport unit 4 is transported up and down. Transition to part 3 is possible.

  Moreover, in the escalator 1 of this embodiment, the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c of the step 2 can be used as a swinging wheel. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c of the step 2 can change the direction of the rotating shaft of the wheel around the vertical axis. For example, when the step 2 moves on a linear guide rail, the rotation axes of the front wheels 2b and the rear wheels 2c are in a state along the width direction, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the step 2 moves on a curved guide rail, like the second guide portion 7b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 and the fourth guide portion 8b of the lower floor side step transition portion 8, As shown in FIG. 3B, the rotation axes of the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c are changed from the width direction to the vertical axis (clockwise in the example of FIG. 3).

  With this configuration, when the step 2 moves on a curved road, the radius of rotation of the step 2 can be reduced. Therefore, the second guide portion 7b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 and the fourth guide of the lower floor side step transition portion 8 are used. Even if the track of the portion 8b is a sharp curve, the step 2 can be moved stably and smoothly without dropping the front wheel 2b and the rear wheel 2c. As a result, since a sharp curve can be adopted for the second guide portion 7b and the fourth guide portion 8b, the length of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 and the lower floor side step transition portion 8 in the step 2 traveling direction can be shortened, and the escalator The total length of 1 can be shortened.

  Further, a drop-off prevention member 13 (drop-off prevention means) is installed at the end of the second guide portion 7b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 and the end of the fourth guide portion 8b of the lower floor side step transition portion 8. Has been. As shown in FIG. 1, the drop-off prevention member 13 has a U-shape extending from the side of the drop position of the step 2 to the ends of the second guide portion 7b and the fourth guide portion 8b, and extends in the vertical direction. It is a plate-shaped member. The drop-off prevention member 13 is installed around the drop position of the step 2 of the second guide portion 7b or the fourth guide portion 8b, and restricts the movement of the step 2 in the width direction at the drop position. Since the movement of the step 2 from the end portions of the 7b and the fourth guide portion 8b to the back can be restricted, the step 2 falls off or comes off from the second guide portion 7b and the fourth guide portion 8b when the step 2 moves down. Can be prevented.

  In the escalator 1 having such a configuration, the plurality of steps 2 are advanced from the truss 9 to the ascending conveyance unit 3 by horizontally connecting adjacent steps toward the traveling direction at the lower floor side entrance 10. In the lower transition curve, the step between adjacent steps is enlarged and transitioned to a staircase, and the step is raised in a stepped manner in the middle slope, and the step between adjacent steps in the upper transition curve is reduced to a horizontal shape. , And enters the truss 9 again in the horizontal state at the upper floor side entrance 11.

  The step 2 that has entered the truss 9 just below the upper floor side entrance 11 goes straight through the first guide portion 7a of the upper floor side step transition portion 7, advances from the end of the first guide portion 7a, and goes vertically downward. It falls, reaches the end of the second guiding portion 7b, and is connected to the second guiding portion 7b. The step 2 is shifted from the end of the second guide portion 7b to the descending direction, and moves to the descending conveyance portion 4 along the second guide portion 7b.

  The steps 2 that have reached the descending conveyance unit 4 are advanced from the truss 9 by connecting adjacent steps horizontally in the advancing direction at the upper floor side entrance 11 and between adjacent steps in the upper transition curve. The step is expanded in a stepped manner, lowered in a stepped manner in the intermediate inclined portion, and in the lower transition curve, the step between adjacent steps is reduced and transitioned in a horizontal shape, and the lower floor entrance 10 Then, it becomes horizontal again and enters the truss 9.

  The step 2 that has entered the truss 9 just below the lower floor side entrance 10 goes straight through the third guide portion 8a of the lower floor step transition portion 8, advances from the end of the third guide portion 8a, and goes vertically downward. It falls, reaches the end of the fourth guide portion 8b, and is connected to the fourth guide portion 8b. The step 2 is changed in the traveling direction from the end of the fourth guide portion 8b to the rising direction, moves along the fourth guide portion 8b to the ascending transport unit 3, and advances to the ascending transport unit 3 again.

  The escalator 1 according to the present embodiment includes an ascending conveyance unit 3 that moves a plurality of steps 2 connected with the tread surface 2a facing upward from the lower floor entrance 10 to the upper floor entrance 11, and ascending conveyance. The lowering conveyance part 4 which is arranged in parallel with the part 3 and moves a plurality of steps 2 from the upper floor side entrance / exit 11 to the lower floor side entrance / exit 10 and the step 2 of the ascending conveyance part 3 at the upper floor side entrance 11 An upper floor side step transition unit 7 that makes a transition to the descending conveyance unit 4 and a lower floor side step transition unit 8 that makes the step 2 of the lower conveyance unit 4 transition to the ascending conveyance unit 3 at the lower floor side entrance 10 are provided.

  This configuration eliminates the need for the step to pass through the truss when moving in the backward direction as in the case of conventional escalators, and the step 2 that has moved in the upward or downward direction can continue to change direction so that the user can ride in the opposite direction. It can be made movable. That is, the tread surface 2a of the step 2 can always be directed vertically upward, and can be used for transporting passengers in both the upward direction and the downward direction. Therefore, passengers can be transported over almost the entire movement cycle of the step 2, so that driving efficiency can be improved.

  Moreover, since the energy for the return path movement of the step 2 that has conventionally moved under the truss without passengers can be utilized for passenger conveyance in the opposite direction, energy saving can be achieved. Furthermore, although the escalator 1 of this embodiment can carry the passengers in the ascending direction and the descending direction with a single unit, the number of steps can be reduced compared to the installation of two conventional escalators, so that resource saving can be achieved. . In addition, since it is not necessary to install a vertically downward return path in which the steps 2 convey passengers unlike conventional escalators, a structure with a reduced truss depth can be achieved.

  Further, in the escalator 1 of the present embodiment, the upper floor side step transition portion 7 includes a first guide portion 7 a extending from the upper floor side end portion of the ascending transport portion 3 in the traveling direction of the step 2, and the descending transport portion 4. And a second guide portion 7b extending vertically downward from the first guide portion 7a, and the step 2 of the first guide portion 7a is second in a state where the tread surface 2a is maintained upward. The step 2 of the ascending conveyance unit 3 is configured to transition to the descending conveyance unit 4 by falling and moving to the guide unit 7b. Similarly, the lower floor side step transition portion 8 includes a third guide portion 8a extending from the lower floor side end portion of the descending conveyance unit 4 in the traveling direction of the step 2 and a lower floor side end portion of the ascending conveyance unit 3. And a fourth guide portion 8b extending vertically downward from the third guide portion 8a, and the step 2 of the third guide portion 8a drops and moves to the fourth guide portion 8b while maintaining the tread surface 2a upward. Thus, the step 2 of the descending conveyance unit 4 is configured to transition to the ascending conveyance unit 3.

  With this configuration, by dropping the step 2, the transition of the step 2 from the ascending transport unit 3 to the descending transport unit 4 and the transition of the step 2 from the descending transport unit 4 to the ascending transport unit 3 can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a new power source or drive system for the transition of the step 2, and a simple configuration can be achieved, thereby reducing the cost.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the escalator 1 of the above embodiment has a safety switch on the second guiding portion 7 b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 (or on the fourth guiding portion 8 b of the lower floor side step transition portion 8). 14 (detection means) may be installed. The safety switch 14 can detect that the step 2 dropped from the first guide portion 7a is moving on the second guide portion 7b in a state where the step 2 is dropped from the second guide portion 7b. When the safety switch 14 detects the drop of the step 2, the safety switch 14 transmits this information to the driving device 6. The driving device 6 controls the driving devices 5a and 5b in response to a signal from the safety switch, stops the movement of both the steps 2 of the ascending conveyance unit 3 and the descending conveyance unit 4, and stops the operation of the escalator 1. To do. Thereby, the safety of the escalator 1 can be improved.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the escalator 1 of the above embodiment includes the step 2 of the second guide portion 7 b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 (or the fourth guide portion 8 b of the lower floor side step transition portion 8). A shock absorber 15 (buffer means) for reducing a shock at the time of landing of the step 2 may be installed at the falling position. When the step 2 drops and moves from the first guide portion 7a (or the third guide portion 8a) to the second guide portion 7b (or the fourth guide portion 8b), the shock absorber 15 reduces the sound and impact. The sound generated by the movement of the step 2 can be reduced.

  Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the above embodiment is presented as an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the above embodiment, the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b of the upper floor side step transition portion 7 are changed from the first guide portion 7a to the second guide portion 7b while the step 2 maintains the tread surface 2a upward. Other shapes may be used as long as they can be moved. For example, the second guiding portion 7b extends linearly along the moving direction of the descending conveyance unit 4, and the first guiding unit 7a extends from the upper floor side end of the ascending conveyance unit 3 to the vertical direction of the second guiding unit 7b. As a shape extending upward, the first guiding portion 7a can guide the step 2 to a position along the traveling direction of the descending conveying portion 4 and then move to the second guiding portion 7b. Similarly, the first guide portion 7a and the second guide portion 7b have a curved shape in the direction of approaching from the traveling direction of the ascending transport unit 3 and the descending transport unit 4, and the ascending transport unit 3 and the descending transport unit 4 The step 2 may be configured to drop and move from the first guide portion 7a to the second guide portion 7b at an intermediate position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Escalator 2 Step 2a Tread surface 3 Ascending conveyance part 4 Lowering conveyance part 7 Upper floor side step transition part 7a 1st guide part 7b 2nd guide part 8 Lower floor side step transition part 8a 3rd guide part 8b 4th guide part 10 Lower floor entrance / exit 11 Upper floor entrance / exit 13 Drop-off prevention member (drop-off prevention means)
14 Safety switch (detection means)
15 Shock absorber (buffer means)

Claims (5)

An ascending transport unit that moves a plurality of steps connected with the treads facing upward from a lower floor side entrance to an upper floor side entrance;
A descending conveyance unit arranged in parallel with the ascending conveyance unit and moving the plurality of steps from the upper floor side entrance / exit to the lower floor side entrance / exit,
An upper floor side step transition section for transitioning the step of the ascending transport section to the descending transport section at the upper floor side entrance / exit,
A lower floor side step transition unit that transitions the step of the descending conveyance unit to the ascending conveyance unit at the lower floor side entrance / exit,
An escalator comprising: The upper floor side step transition part is:
A first guide portion extending in an advancing direction of the step from the upper floor side end portion of the ascending conveyance portion;
A second guiding portion extending vertically downward from the first guiding portion from the upper floor side end portion of the descending conveyance portion;
The step of the first guide unit is configured to transition from the step of the ascending transport unit to the descending transport unit by dropping and moving to the second guide unit while maintaining the tread surface upward.
The lower floor side step transition part is:
A third guide portion extending in the direction of travel of the step from the lower floor side end of the descending conveyance portion;
A fourth guiding portion extending vertically downward from the third guiding portion from the lower floor side end of the ascending conveyance portion;
The step of the third guide unit is configured to transition to the ascending transport unit from the step of the descending transport unit by dropping and moving to the fourth guide unit with the tread surface maintained upward. The escalator according to claim 1. The step includes rollers that are rotatable around a rotation axis in the width direction on both sides in the width direction perpendicular to the traveling direction, and the rollers are connected to the first guide portion, the second guide portion, the third guide portion, or the It is configured to be movable along the first guiding part, the second guiding part, the third guiding part or the fourth guiding part by contacting with the fourth guiding part,
The escalator according to claim 2, wherein the roller is capable of changing the rotation axis around a vertical axis.   The fall prevention means provided around the fall movement position of the step on the 2nd guide part or the 4th guide part, and the fall prevention means which prevents the drop of the step is provided. Escalator. Provided on the second guide part or the fourth guide part, comprising detection means for detecting the drop of the step,
The escalator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the operation is stopped when drop-off is detected by the detection means.

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