JP2016050062A - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve visibility of an operation action of a passenger conveyor while achieving energy saving, and to allow a passenger to easily determine use propriety and an operation direction, in the passenger conveyor including an automatic operation device.SOLUTION: The passenger conveyor includes: a plurality of steps 1 connected in an endless manner and for moving between two entrances 40, 50; moving handrails 2 provided on both sides of the steps 1; a control device 13 for controlling the drive of the steps 1 and the moving handrails 2; and a passenger detection device 17 provided at the entrances 40, 50. When the control device 13 determines that there are passengers using the conveyor, on the basis of detection output of the passenger detection device 17, it brings the passenger conveyor into a normal operation state in which the steps 1 and the moving handrails 2 are operated at the speed of passenger usage time, and when it determines that there are no passengers using the conveyor, it brings the passenger conveyor into a standby operation state. In the standby operation state, the control device 13 brings steps 1 into a stop state, and it brings the handrails 2 into a driven state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways, and more particularly to passenger conveyors having an automatic driving function for detecting passengers and starting driving.

  Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways are endlessly connected steps that move between the entrances and exits, railings provided on both sides of the steps, and handrails that move on the railings in synchronization with the steps. The passenger is transported by the moving part between the entrance and the exit.

  Conventionally, in a passenger conveyor equipped with an automatic driving device, depending on the detection output by the passenger detection device provided at the entrance / exit, the driving state such as start and stop, acceleration or deceleration is switched, or from the reverse direction to the driving direction An alarm is issued to the approach of the. Among passenger conveyors equipped with such an automatic driving device, in the case of passenger conveyors that perform automatic driving to stop driving when no passengers are present, the driving direction at the entrance and exit to indicate to the passenger that it is available and the driving direction Install a display. On the other hand, in the case of a passenger conveyor that performs automatic driving at a low speed when no passengers are present, the driving direction can be determined by the passengers, so there is no need to install a driving direction indicator. However, in the latter passenger conveyor, compared with the former passenger conveyor, electric power for performing low-speed operation is required even when no passenger is present, and the power saving effect is reduced.

  In addition, in a passenger conveyor equipped with an automatic driving device, for the purpose of power saving, an electric motor for driving a step and an electric motor for driving a moving handrail are provided, and the electric motor for driving the step is always operated, and the electric motor for driving the moving handrail is used. There is a passenger conveyor that operates according to a signal from a passenger detection device (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, a core body and an elastic body covered with the core body are provided so that the traveling direction of the movement path of the passenger conveyor can be confirmed even from a distance, and the surface of the elastic body has a plurality of different brightness values in the length direction. There is a handrail for moving passage (moving handrail) in which a composite band state having a band-like portion is repeatedly provided in the length direction (see Patent Document 2).

JP 7-252072 A JP 2009-161255 A

  In the passenger conveyor of patent document 1, it shows that it can utilize for a passenger by stopping a moving handrail and driving only a step when a passenger is absent. However, when the passenger approaches toward the lower entrance of the passenger conveyor (escalator), it is difficult to visually recognize the movement of the step from the left and right direction of the passenger conveyor, and it is possible to determine the availability and the driving direction. Have difficulty. Moreover, when a passenger approaches toward the upper entrance / exit, it is difficult to visually recognize the step unless the line of sight is lowered downward after passing through the upper entrance / exit. Further, even on a moving sidewalk, it is difficult to visually recognize the step movement from the left-right direction. For this reason, in the passenger conveyor of patent document 1, it has a subject in visibility, when judging availability or a driving direction.

  In Patent Document 2, consideration is given to increasing the visibility of the traveling direction of the moving passage, but there is no consideration for automatic operation of the passenger conveyor.

  An object of the present invention is to improve visibility of driving operation of a passenger conveyor while reducing power consumption in a passenger conveyor equipped with an automatic driving device, and to make it easy to determine the availability and driving direction for the passenger. is there.

  Although the present invention can be grasped from a plurality of viewpoints, typical passenger conveyors of the present invention are as follows. Further, the passenger conveyor of the present invention captured from other viewpoints will be further clarified by the description of embodiments to be described below.

  That is, the passenger conveyor of the present invention includes a plurality of endlessly connected steps that circulate between two entrances, a balustrade provided on both sides of the steps, and a handrail that moves on the balustrade. A control device for controlling the step and the driving of the moving handrail, and a passenger detection device provided at the entrance / exit, wherein the control device is based on a detection output of the passenger detection device on the entrance side When it is determined that there is passenger use, the step and the moving handrail are in a normal driving state of driving at a passenger use speed, and when it is determined that no passenger is used, the step and the moving handrail are In the passenger conveyor in the standby operation state, in the standby operation state, the control device stops the step and drives the moving handrail.

  According to the present invention, when the passenger is absent, the step is stopped, and the moving handrail is set in the driving (operating) state, thereby improving the visibility of the operating portion and obtaining the power saving effect. It becomes easy to determine the driving direction.

It is a side view which shows the outline of the structure of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows the vicinity of the step drive device and moving handrail drive device of a passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart of operation | movement of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a part of moving handrail of the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention. It is a speed transition diagram which shows an example of the acceleration method of the step in the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention, and a moving handrail. It is a speed transition diagram which shows the other example of the acceleration method of the step in the passenger conveyor which concerns on this invention, and a moving handrail.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Further, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and includes various modifications and application examples within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

  First, the structure of a passenger conveyor is demonstrated with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the configuration of a passenger conveyor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view showing the vicinity of the step driving device 11 and the moving handrail driving device 15 of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention. The passenger conveyor includes an escalator provided between the upper floor and the lower floor, and a moving sidewalk provided in a relatively flat place. The present invention is applicable to both escalators and moving walkways. In the following embodiment, an escalator will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 1, a passenger conveyor is provided with a plurality of steps (steps) 1 connected endlessly moving between two entrances 40 and 50. A balustrade 3 that supports the moving handrail 2 is provided on both the left and right sides of the step 1. The balustrade 3 is erected on the skirt portions 16 disposed on the left and right sides of the step 1. When the passenger uses it, the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 move in synchronization.

  In the moving direction (traveling direction) of Step 1, entrances 40 and 50 are provided at both ends of the passenger conveyor. Devices for driving the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 are accommodated below the entrances 40 and 50, and the entrance floors 4 and 5 cover the upper part. During the descending operation, the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 move from the entrance 40 to the entrance 50 with being exposed to the moving passage, and convey passengers from the entrance 40 to the entrance 50. In this case, the entrance / exit 40 is a entrance and the entrance / exit 50 is an exit. During the ascending operation, the step 1 and the handrail 2 move from the entrance / exit 50 to the entrance / exit 40 while being exposed to the moving path, and convey passengers from the entrance / exit 50 to the entrance / exit 40. In this case, the entrance / exit 50 is a entrance and the entrance / exit 40 is an exit.

  In the present embodiment, the escalator is described as an example, so that the entrance 40 is configured as an upper entrance, and the entrance 50 is configured as a lower entrance.

  The chain 6 that connects the step 1 endlessly is wound around the sprockets 7 and 8. Furthermore, a step driving device 11 having a stepping motor 9 and a speed reducer 10 is provided at the lower part of the entrance / exit floor plate 4. The step drive device 11 drives the sprocket 8 through the drive chain 12 to drive the chain 6 and step 1.

  The speed of step 1 is constantly monitored by the step speed detector 1a. As shown in FIG. 2, the step speed detection device 1 a can be configured by, for example, a rotary encoder attached to the shaft of the speed reducer 10. The speed information of step 1 detected by the step speed detection device 1a is sent to the control device 13 (see FIG. 3).

  A moving handrail driving device 15 including a moving handrail motor 14 is provided, and the moving handrail driving device 15 drives the moving handrail 2 by driving the moving handrail motor 14. The moving handrail motor 14 is provided separately from the stepping motor 9.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the moving handrail driving device 15 includes a moving handrail motor 14, a speed reducer 15a, a moving handrail driving chain 15b, a moving handrail driving roller 15c, and a pressure roller 15d. . The moving handrail driving roller 15c and the pressure roller 15d are arranged to face each other with the moving handrail 2 in between. The driving force by the moving handrail motor 14 is transmitted to the moving handrail driving roller 15c via the speed reducer 15a and the moving handrail driving chain 15b. The moving handrail 2 is driven by receiving a driving force from the moving handrail driving roller 15c.

  The speed of the moving handrail 2 is constantly monitored by the moving handrail speed detecting device 2a. The moving handrail speed detection device 2a is, for example, installed at a position adjacent to the moving handrail drive device 15 and includes a roller and an encoder that are in contact with the moving handrail 2. The speed of the moving handrail 2 is detected by detecting the rotation speed (number of rotations) of the roller. The speed information of the moving handrail 2 detected by the moving handrail speed detecting device 2a is sent to the control device 13 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, the system configuration of the passenger conveyor will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

  The passenger conveyor in this embodiment includes a passenger detection device 17 (a passenger detection device 17A provided at the upper entrance 40 and a passenger detection device 17B provided at the lower entrance 50), the control device 13, and the step drive device 11. And a moving handrail driving device 15, a step speed detecting device 1a, a moving handrail speed detecting device 2a, a step 1, and a moving handrail 2 (left handrail 2A, right handrail 2B) constitute a system. Yes. The control device 13 includes a passenger presence / absence determination unit 19, an operation control unit 20, a step inverter 21, and a moving handrail inverter 22, and controls driving of the step 1 and the moving handrail 2.

  The passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 receives a detection signal from the passenger detection device 17A provided at the upper entrance 40 and a detection signal from the passenger detection device 17B provided at the lower entrance 50. The presence / absence determination unit 19 determines the presence / absence of a passenger based on detection signals from the passenger detection devices 17A and 17B on the entrance side. This determination result is input to the operation control unit 20.

  A detection signal from the step speed detection device 1a and a detection signal from the moving handrail speed detection device 2a are input to the operation control unit 20, and the operation control unit 20 outputs a step inverter 21 and a moving handrail inverter 22 to the operation control unit 20. To output run / stop command and acceleration / deceleration command. In addition, the determination result of the passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 is input to the operation control unit 20, and based on this determination result, the operation control unit 20 is in a normal operation state (normal operation mode) and standby as described later. The operation state (standby operation mode) is switched, and a command corresponding to each operation state is output to the step inverter 21 and the moving handrail inverter 22.

  The step inverter 21 supplies drive power (operation output) to the step motor 9 based on a command from the operation control unit 20. The mobile handrail inverter 22 supplies drive power (operation output) to the mobile handrail motor 14 based on a command from the operation control unit 20.

  The stepping motor 9 drives the step driving device 11 to drive step 1. The moving handrail motor 14 drives the moving handrail driving device 15 to drive the moving handrail 2. The stepping motor 9 and the moving handrail motor 14 control the operating speed, acceleration, and deceleration of the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 using inverter control by the stepping inverter 21 and the moving handrail inverter 22. In the normal driving state in use by the passenger, the handrail 2 is driven by the control device 13 so as to move at the same speed as the speed in Step 1. That is, the handrail 2 is driven in synchronism with step 1. Such speeds of Step 1 and the handrail 2 used by the passenger are referred to as normal driving speeds.

  Among the configurations of the control device 13, the operation control unit 20 and the passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 can be configured by a microcomputer in which a CPU, a memory, an input / output circuit, a timer circuit, and the like are housed in an integrated circuit.

  In FIG. 3, the moving handrail inverter 22 and the moving handrail motor 14 are configured to drive the left handrail 2A and the right handrail 2B. An independent moving handrail inverter 22 and a moving handrail motor 14 may be provided for the left moving handrail 2A, and an independent moving handrail inverter 22 and a moving handrail motor 14 may be provided for the right moving handrail 2B.

  In this embodiment, when the passenger conveyor is in a normal operation state and no passenger is detected for a predetermined time by the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance, the control device 13 switches the operation state from the normal operation state to the standby operation state. When the passenger conveyor is in the standby operation state and the passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance, the control device 13 switches the operation state from the standby operation state to the normal operation state. When a passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 17 on the exit side, that is, when an approach of a passenger from a direction opposite to the driving direction is detected, the control device 13 issues a command for generating an alarm. The passenger detection device 17 may be a passenger detection device that detects not only passengers but also other objects.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, operation | movement of the passenger conveyor which concerns on a present Example is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

  In process step 4-2, the passenger conveyor is in a standby operation state (standby operation mode). In this standby operation state, the detection signal of the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side is input to the control device 13, and the presence / absence determination unit 19 determines the presence or absence of a passenger (processing step 4-3). When the passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 determines that there is no passenger (in the case of NO), the standby operation state of processing step 4-2 is continued. In the standby operation state, the operation control unit 20 outputs a stop command to the step inverter 21 to set step 1 to the stop state. In addition, the operation control unit 20 outputs a deceleration command to the moving handrail inverter 22 to place the moving handrail 2 in the low-speed standby operation state. In the low-speed standby operation state, the moving handrail 2 is driven at a speed (decelerated speed) slower than the moving speed of the moving handrail 2 in the normal operation state (normal operation mode). This reduced speed is referred to as a low standby speed.

  In the standby operation state, step 1 is stopped, and the handrail 2 is in the low-speed standby operation state. Therefore, since it can drive | operate only with the electric power for the low-speed drive of the mobile handrail 2, the electric power for the drive of step 1 becomes unnecessary, and the drive power of the mobile handrail 2 can be reduced. In the standby operation state, step 1 may be stopped and the handrail 2 may be in a normal operation state. In this case, the driving power of the moving handrail 2 cannot be reduced, but the control in the control device 13 can be simplified.

  Further, in the low-speed standby operation state, the moving handrail 2 is driven in the low-speed standby operation state, so that passengers who will use the passenger conveyor move due to dirt, unevenness, scratches, etc. on the surface of the moving handrail 2. Since it is possible to visually recognize whether the handrail 2 is in operation or the moving direction of the moving handrail 2, whether the passenger conveyor can be used for passengers who will use the passenger conveyor and the passenger conveyor The driving direction can be indicated. Thereby, installation of a driving direction indicator becomes unnecessary in the upper entrance 40 and the lower entrance 50, and it leads to the cost reduction of a passenger conveyor.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the handrail 2 of a present Example is demonstrated. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the moving handrail 2 of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention.

  In order to show passengers that the passenger conveyor can be used and the direction of passenger conveyor operation more clearly to the passengers, a pattern with changes in the length direction as shown in Fig. 5 is added to the surface of the handrail 2 Good. Further, this pattern may be a pattern having a periodic change with respect to the length direction as shown in FIG. 5 or may be a pattern having a non-periodic change with respect to the length direction although not shown. Thereby, the visibility of the moving state of the moving handrail 2 can be improved. Furthermore, you may improve the visibility of the movement state of a handrail by changing the color scheme of a pattern suitably.

  In processing step 4-3, when the passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 determines that there is a passenger from the entrance, in the processing step 4-4, the operation control unit 20 sends a passenger use speed (usually normal) to the step inverter 21. The operation command (operation speed in the operation state) is output, and the operation in step 1 is started. Thereby, step 1 is made into the driving | running state of a passenger utilization speed | rate. Further, the operation control unit 20 outputs an acceleration command to the passenger use speed to the moving handrail inverter 22 to accelerate the moving handrail 2. Thereby, the moving handrail 2 is made into the driving | running state of a passenger utilization speed. Thus, the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 are brought into the synchronized driving state.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the acceleration method of step 1 and the moving handrail 2 in process step 4-4 is demonstrated. FIG. 6A is a velocity transition diagram showing an example of the acceleration method of step 1 and moving handrail 2. FIG. 6B is a velocity transition diagram showing another example of the acceleration method of step 1 and moving handrail 2.

  In the example of FIG. 6A, when returning from the standby operation state to the normal operation state, within the time it takes for the passenger to move the distance from the passenger detection position by the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side to the passenger conveyor. Suppose that the step 1 and the handrail 2 are accelerated so as to reach the driving speed (passenger use speed) in the normal driving state. Step 1 is accelerated from the stopped state to the operation speed in the normal operation state (normal operation speed or passenger use speed). In addition, the handrail 2 is accelerated from a low standby speed to a driving speed in a normal driving state (normal driving speed or passenger use speed). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, acceleration is started from the time when the passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side, and the acceleration is completed before the passenger gets in. Further, the acceleration completion timing of step 1 and the handrail 2 may not be the same as long as it is before the passenger gets in.

  There may be a case where the passenger detection position of the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side is close to the passenger conveyor, and the step 1 and the handrail 2 cannot be accelerated to the passenger use speed from the passenger detection until the passenger gets into the step 1. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6B, the moving handrail 2 continues the low-speed standby speed operation from the start of operation (passenger detection time) until the low-speed standby speed of the moving handrail 2 is reached. After Step 1 reaches the low standby speed, Step 1 and the handrail 2 are accelerated in synchronism with the same acceleration up to the passenger use speed. For this purpose, the operation control unit 20 monitors the detection signal from the step speed detection device 1a and determines whether or not the step speed detection device 1a has reached the low speed standby speed of the moving handrail 2. After reaching the passenger use speed, the driving state is set to the synchronized speed (passenger use speed) of Step 1 and the moving handrail 2.

  By using the acceleration method described above, when the passenger gets on the passenger conveyor (step 1) and is gripped by the moving handrail 2, the step 1 and the moving handrail 2 are in an operation state synchronized with the passenger use speed, or the step It can be set as the state which 1 and the moving handrail 2 are synchronizing and accelerating with the same acceleration. Thereby, the state where the speed of step 1 on which the passenger is riding and the speed of the moving handrail 2 on which the passenger is holding can be avoided.

  Further, in the example of FIG. 6B, since it is possible to shorten the time until the synchronous operation of Step 1 and the handrail 2 is reached, boarding from the passenger detection position of the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side to Step 1 The distance to the position can be shortened.

  When the return from the standby operation state to the normal operation state is completed, the passenger use speed operation of Step 1 and the passenger use speed operation of the moving handrail 2 are executed in Process Step 4-5.

  In processing step 4-3, the passenger presence / absence determination unit 19 determines that there is a passenger from the entrance side, and then sets Step 1 and the handrail 2 to the driving state synchronized with the passenger use speed. Passenger use time from the last passenger detection (the time required for the passenger to enter the passenger conveyor and get off the passenger conveyor from the time when the passenger is detected by the passenger detection device 17 on the entrance side without detecting the passenger by the detection device 17 When the set required time has elapsed, the presence / absence determination unit 19 determines that there is no passenger in processing step 4-6, and the processing proceeds to processing step 4-7. In process step 4-7, the operation control unit 20 outputs a stop command to the step inverter 21 to set step 1 to the stop state. In addition, the operation control unit 20 outputs a deceleration command to the moving handrail inverter 22 to place the moving handrail 2 in the low-speed standby operation state.

  In this embodiment, in the standby operation state, step 1 is stopped and the moving handrail 2 is driven, thereby saving power and easily confirming whether the passenger conveyor can be used and the operation direction. It becomes possible to do. That is, the visibility of information related to the operating state of the passenger conveyor is improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of the above embodiment.

  In addition, each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Each of the above-described configurations, functions, and the like may be realized by software by interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function by the processor. Information such as programs, tables, and files that realize each function can be stored in a recording device such as a memory, a hard disk, or an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.

  In addition, the control lines and information lines and their connections are those that are considered necessary for the explanation, and not all control lines and information lines and their connections on the product are necessarily shown. In practice, it may be considered that almost all or many configurations are related and connected to each other.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Step (step and pallet), 1a ... Step speed detection device, 2, 2A, 2B ... Moving handrail, 2a ... Moving handrail speed detection device, 3 ... Railing, 4 ... Ride floor board, 5 ... Exit floor board, 6 ... Chain, 7, 8 ... Sprocket, 9 ... Stepping motor, 10 ... Reduction gear, 11 ... Step driving device, 12 ... Driving chain, 13 ... Control device, 14 ... Motor for moving handrail, 15 ... Moving handrail driving device, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15a ... Reduction gear, 15b ... Moving handrail drive chain, 15c ... Moving handrail drive roller, 15d ... Crimp roller, 16 ... Skirt part, 17, 17A, 17B ... Passenger detection device, 18 ... Passenger detection device detection range, 19 A passenger presence / absence determination unit, 20 an operation control unit, 21 an inverter for moving handrails, 22 an inverter for steps, 40 an upper entrance, and 50 a lower entrance.

Claims (5)

A plurality of steps connected endlessly moving between two entrances, a balustrade provided on both sides of the step, a moving handrail moving on the balustrade, the step and the moving handrail A control device for controlling driving; and a passenger detection device provided at the entrance / exit, wherein the control device determines that passengers are used based on the detection output of the passenger detection device on the entrance side In the case of a passenger conveyor in which the step and the moving handrail are in a normal operation state in which the vehicle is operated at a speed when the passenger is used, and the step and the moving handrail are in a standby operation state when it is determined that the passenger is not used. ,
In the standby operation state, the control device sets the step to a stopped state and drives the moving handrail to be a passenger conveyor. In claim 1,
The moving handrail is provided with a pattern having a change in the length direction on a surface thereof. In claim 1 or 2,
In the standby operation state, the control device drives the moving handrail at a standby operation speed that is lower than the speed in the normal operation state. In claim 3,
The control device, when returning from the standby operation state to the normal operation state, accelerates the moving handrail and the step, and sets the speed of the normal operation state before the passenger enters the passenger conveyor. . In claim 3,
The control device accelerates the step while continuing to drive the handrail at the standby operation speed when returning from the standby operation state to the normal operation state, and the speed of the step is the standby operation speed. The passenger conveyor, wherein the step and the moving handrail are accelerated in synchronism with the same acceleration.

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