JP2020179976A - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a passenger conveyor capable of detecting the walking of a passenger on a footstep without requiring complicated wire routing.SOLUTION: A passenger conveyor includes: transmission side control units provided according to each of a plurality of footsteps and capable of transmitting identification signals with oscillation frequencies different from one another assigned to each of the plurality of footsteps; and a reception side control unit capable of receiving the identification signals transmitted from the transmission side control units. The transmission side control unit includes: a treading detection unit for detecting a treading action of a passenger applied to the footstep; and a transmission unit for transmitting an identification signal corresponding to the footstep when the treading action is detected. The reception side control unit includes: a reception unit for receiving an identification signal; and a passenger action detection unit for detecting a moving action of the passenger on the footstep based on the received identification signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor.

Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique relating to a passenger conveyor that calls attention to the behavior of a user who moves on a step. Each step of the escalator of this technology has a load information acquisition means for outputting load information related to the tread plate. Then, when the load applied to the treads of the continuously connected treads fluctuates sequentially based on the information from the load information acquisition means of each tread, the speaker notifies the treads.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-218878

In the technique of Patent Document 1 described above, a calculation control unit is provided on a predetermined step among a plurality of steps. The load information acquisition means provided on each step is electrically connected to the arithmetic control unit. Each step circulates between one entrance and the other entrance. Therefore, the configuration in which the load information acquisition means provided on each step is electrically connected to the common arithmetic and control unit has a problem that the wiring is complicated.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor capable of detecting step walking by passengers without complicated wiring arrangement. ..

The present invention is applied to a passenger conveyor provided with a plurality of steps that are connected in an endless manner and circulate and move. The passenger conveyor is provided corresponding to each of the plurality of steps, and is a transmission side control unit capable of transmitting identification signals having different oscillation frequencies assigned to each of the plurality of steps, and an identification unit transmitted from the transmission side control unit. It includes a receiving side control unit capable of receiving a signal. The transmitting side control unit includes a stepping detection unit that detects a passenger's stepping motion on the step, and a transmitting unit that transmits an identification signal corresponding to the step when the stepping motion is detected. The receiving side control unit includes a receiving unit that receives the identification signal and a passenger motion detecting unit that detects the movement motion of the passenger's step based on the received identification signal.

According to the passenger conveyor of the present invention, the transmitting side control unit provided in each of the plurality of steps transmits an identification signal of the oscillation frequency assigned to each step when the stepping motion to each step is detected. To do. As a result, the receiving side control unit can receive the stepping operation of each step in an identifiable state. This makes it possible to provide a passenger conveyor capable of detecting the walking of a step by a passenger without complicated wiring arrangement.

It is a block diagram of the passenger conveyor in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a side view which shows the schematic structure of the step used for the escalator of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the passenger monitoring system provided in the escalator of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control routine of the transmission side control processing which is executed in each of each transmission side control part. It is a flowchart which shows the control routine of the receiving side control processing executed in the receiving side control part. It is a figure which shows an example of the identification signal received by a receiving part. It is a figure which shows the example of the hardware composition of the transmission side control part and the receiving side control part provided in the escalator of Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows another example of the hardware composition of the transmission side control part and the receiving side control part provided in the escalator of Embodiment 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The elements common to each figure are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

Embodiment 1.
1-1. Configuration of the escalator according to the first embodiment FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, an escalator 100 is illustrated as an example of a passenger conveyor. The escalator 100 is installed so as to straddle the adjacent floors, for example. The entrance / exit L is provided on the lower floor of the adjacent floors. The entrance / exit H is provided on the upper floor of the adjacent floors.

As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator 100 includes a plurality of step shafts 2, a pair of panels 4, a pair of handrails 6, a speaker 8, a plurality of steps 10, and a control device 40.

The plurality of step shafts 2 are connected endlessly. Each of the plurality of steps 10 is fixed to each of the step shafts 2. As a result, the plurality of steps 10 are arranged in an endless manner. At this time, the plurality of steps 10 on the outward route side are arranged in a staircase shape at a constant slope portion of the escalator 100.

One of the panels 4 is adjacent to one side of the plurality of steps 10. The other side of the panel 4 is adjacent to the other side of the plurality of steps 10. One of the handrails 6 is provided endlessly on one side of the panel 4. The other side of the handrail 6 is provided endlessly on the other side of the panel 4.

The speaker 8 provides information to passengers by voice. The speaker 8 can be installed, for example, on a deck board near the entrance L and the entrance H. The speaker 8 is shown as an example of a notification device that alerts or warns passengers using the escalator 100. A notification device such as a display device that displays a message may be provided as long as it is configured to be able to perform such notification to passengers.

The control device 40 includes an operation control unit 42 and a receiving side control unit 44. The operation control unit 42 circulates the plurality of step shafts 2 based on various input information. Each of the plurality of steps 10 circulates in synchronization with each of the plurality of steps shafts 2. The operation control unit 42 circulates the pair of handrails 6 so as to synchronize with the plurality of steps 10. Passengers move to the other of the escalator 100's entrance / exit H and the entrance / exit L by grasping the handrail 6 at one of the entrance / exit H and the entrance / exit L of the escalator 100 and getting on the step 10.

The receiving side control unit 44 executes notification control for controlling a notification device such as a speaker 8 in response to a signal transmitted from the transmitting side control unit 30 described later. The details of the control block configuration of the receiving side control unit 44 will be described later.

1-2. Configuration of Steps of Escalator of Embodiment 1 Next, a schematic configuration of steps 10 used for the escalator 100 of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a step used in the escalator of the first embodiment. Although FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of a single step 10, all of the plurality of steps 10 have the same configuration as that shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the step 10 includes a step surface 12, a passenger detection device 14, a riser 16, a pair of brackets 18, a pair of following rollers 20, a transmission side control unit 30, and a battery 22. I have. The step surface 12 has a flat surface on which the user of the escalator 100 gets on. The riser 16 hangs down from one edge of the step surface 12 in the front-rear direction. One of the pair of brackets 18 connects one side of the step surface 12 and one side of the riser 16. The other side of the pair of brackets 18 connects the other side of the step surface 12 and the other side of the riser 16. One of the pair of following rollers 20 is rotatably connected to the lower portion of one of the pair of brackets 18. The other of the pair of follower rollers 20 is rotatably connected to the lower portion of the other of the pair of brackets 18.

The passenger detection device 14 is a device for detecting a passenger who has stepped on the step 10. The passenger detection device 14 is arranged so that its upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the step surface 12 of the step 10. The passenger detection device 14 includes, for example, a piezoelectric element. When a piezoelectric element receives pressure, it has a function of converting the received pressure into an electric signal and outputting it. The piezoelectric element converts the pressure when the step surface 12 is stepped on by a passenger using the escalator 100 into an electric signal. The converted electric signal is output to the transmitting side control unit 30.

The piezoelectric element may be made of, for example, a piezoelectric ceramic material having a power generation function. In this case, the piezoelectric element does not require the supply of electric power from the outside. That is, the piezoelectric element outputs an electric signal corresponding to the pressure by receiving the pressure even if the power is not supplied from the transmission side control unit 30.

Further, the passenger detection device 14 may further include an output signal amplification unit that amplifies the electric signal output from the piezoelectric element. By the function of the output signal amplification unit, even when the force of stepping on the piezoelectric element of the passenger is weak, such as when the passenger is a lightweight child, the electric signal is amplified and then output to the transmission side control unit 30. Can be done.

The transmitting side control unit 30 detects that the passenger has stepped on the step 10 based on the electric signal received from the passenger detection device 14, and transmits a pulse signal including the detection result to the receiving side control unit 44. Different oscillation frequencies are assigned to the plurality of steps 10 in advance. When the passenger detecting device 14 detects a passenger who has stepped on the step 10, the transmitting side control unit 30 transmits a pulse signal using the assigned oscillation frequency to the receiving side control unit 44. Since this signal is a signal capable of identifying the step 10 corresponding to the detection result, it is hereinafter referred to as an "identification signal". The details of the control block configuration of the transmission side control unit 30 will be described later. The battery 22 is for supplying electric power to the transmitting side control unit 30.

1-3. Control block configuration of the escalator of the first embodiment The escalator 100 of the first embodiment has a function as a passenger monitoring system 110 that notifies a warning or a warning when a passenger walking on the escalator 100 is detected. .. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a passenger monitoring system included in the escalator of the first embodiment. As shown in this figure, the passenger monitoring system 110 includes a plurality of passenger detection devices 14, a plurality of transmission side control units 30, and a single reception side control unit 44. As described above, the passenger detection device 14 and the transmission side control unit 30 are individually provided for each of the plurality of steps 10. In the following description, when n steps 10-k (k = 1, 2, ..., N) are arranged in order, the passenger detection device 14 provided on each step 10-k and the transmitting side The control unit 30 is referred to as a passenger detection device 14-k and a transmission side control unit 30-k (k = 1, 2, ..., N).

As shown in this figure, the passenger monitoring system 110 includes a passenger detection device 14-k (k = 1, 2, ..., N) and a transmission side control unit 30-k (k = 1, 2, ... ., N) and a receiving side control unit 44 are provided. The passenger detection device 14-k outputs an electric signal obtained from the piezoelectric element to the transmission side control unit 30-k.

The transmitting side control unit 30-k includes a stepping detection unit 32-k and a transmitting unit 34-k. The electric signal received from the passenger detection device 14-k is input to the step-on detection unit 32-k. The stepping detection unit 32-k is a functional block for detecting a stepping motion in which a passenger steps on the step 10-k based on an input electric signal. The calculated detection result is output to the transmission unit 34-k.

When the detection result input from the stepping detection unit 32-k is a result indicating that the passenger has stepped on the step 10-k, the transmission unit 34-k outputs an identification signal having a unique oscillation frequency. It is a functional block. Each of the n steps 10-k (k = 1, 2, ..., N) is assigned a unique oscillation frequency that is different from each other. The oscillation frequency here is, for example, 192 MHz for the step 10-1, 194 MHz for the step 10-2, and 196 MHz for the step 10-3. .. .. As in the above, different oscillation frequencies can be assigned by 2 MHz. The oscillation frequency assigned to each step 10-k is not limited as long as it is a unique oscillation frequency different from each other.

The receiving side control unit 44 includes a receiving unit 46, a passenger motion detecting unit 48, and a notification control unit 50. The receiving unit 46 is a functional block for collectively receiving the identification signals transmitted from each transmitting side control unit 30-k. The passenger motion detection unit 48 is a functional block for detecting the movement motion of passengers on the steps by using the identification signal received by the reception unit 46.

The notification control unit 50 is a functional block for performing notification control to passengers according to the detection result input from the passenger motion detection unit 48. Examples of the notification control here include issuing a warning sound from the speaker 8 and announcing an alert.

The control executed in the passenger monitoring system 110 of the first embodiment includes a transmission side control process executed by each of the transmission side control units 30-k and a reception side control process executed by the reception side control unit 44. Includes. Hereinafter, each of these processes will be specifically described.

1-4. Specific processing of notification control of the escalator according to the first embodiment FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control routine of the transmission side control processing executed in each of the transmission side control units. In the routine shown in FIG. 4, first, the electric signal output from the passenger detection device 14-k is input (step S100). Next, it is determined whether or not the passenger has stepped on the step 10-k based on the input electric signal (step S102). Here, the stepping detection unit 32-k determines whether or not the pressure change obtained from the input electric signal is the pressure change expected when the passenger steps on the step 10-k. As a result, if the determination is not established, this routine is terminated, and if the determination is established, the process proceeds to the next step.

In the next step, the detection result in the process of step S102 is transmitted (step S104). Here, the transmission unit 34-k wirelessly transmits the identification signal of the oscillation frequency assigned to each step 10-k. When the process of step S104 is completed, this routine is terminated.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control routine of the receiving side control processing executed in the receiving side control unit. In the routine shown in FIG. 5, first, the identification signal of each oscillation frequency transmitted from each of the transmitting side control units 30-k is received by the receiving unit 46 (step S110).

Next, the passenger motion detection unit 48 determines whether or not the passenger movement motion has been performed using the identification signal received by the reception unit 46 (step S112). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an identification signal received by the receiving unit. In this figure, the reception timing of the identification signal with respect to time is shown for each oscillation frequency. In the example shown in this figure, for example, signals of oscillation frequencies corresponding to steps 10-1, 10-2, and 10-3 continuous in the moving direction are continuously received. The passenger motion detection unit 48, for example, when such a transition of the oscillation frequency signal is continuously detected within the expected travel time of the passenger, the passengers continuously step 10-1, 10-2, 10-3. , That is, it is determined that the passenger is walking on the escalator 100. The number of continuous changes of the oscillation frequency here is not limited, but for example, it is preferable that three or more steps are continuous in order to ensure the determination accuracy. As a result, if the determination is not established, this routine is terminated, and if the determination is established, the process proceeds to the next step.

In the next step, notification control is performed to alert passengers walking on the steps (step S114). Here, the notification control unit 50 notifies the passengers by, for example, issuing a warning sound from the speaker 8 or announcing a warning. When the process of step S114 is completed, this routine is terminated.

According to such control by the passenger monitoring system 110, it is possible to accurately identify the step 10-k stepped on by the passenger based on the electric signal from the piezoelectric element. Thereby, for example, even a passenger who overtakes a passenger staying on the step can accurately determine the movement operation of the passenger.

Further, the escalator 100 includes a passenger detection device 14-k and a transmission side control unit 30-k on each of the plurality of steps 10-k. Then, the identification signal obtained from each passenger detection device 14-k is wirelessly transmitted using different oscillation frequencies assigned to each step 10-k. This eliminates the need for electrical wiring that connects each of the moving steps 10-k to each other, so that wiring can be simplified. Further, since the identification signal of each step 10-k is distinguished by the oscillation frequency, for example, even when a plurality of passengers are walking continuously, the movement operation of these passengers can be performed accurately. It can be determined.

As described above, according to the passenger monitoring system 110 of the first embodiment, it is possible to appropriately call attention to the passengers walking on the escalator 100 without requiring a complicated wiring configuration.

1-5. Modification example of the escalator of the first embodiment The escalator 100 of the first embodiment may be modified as follows.

The transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 included in the escalator 100 of the first embodiment may be configured as follows. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the transmission side control unit 30 and the reception side control unit 44 included in the escalator 100 of the embodiment. Each function of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 is realized by a processing circuit. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the processing circuits of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 include at least one processor 301, 441 and at least one memory 302, 442, respectively.

When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 301,441 and at least one memory 302,442, each function of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 is software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Is realized by. At least one of the software and firmware is written as a program. At least one of the software and firmware is stored in at least one memory 302,442. At least one processor 301, 441 realizes each function of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 by reading and executing the program stored in at least one memory 302, 442. At least one processor 301, 441 is also referred to as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, and a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). For example, at least one memory 302,442 is a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Online Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Memory). Non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory, magnetic disk, flexible disk, optical disk, compact disk, mini disk, DVD (Digital Versaille Disc) and the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the hardware configuration of the transmission side control unit 30 and the reception side control unit 44 included in the escalator 100 of the embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the processing circuits of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 include at least one dedicated hardware 303 and 443, respectively.

When the processing circuit comprises at least one dedicated hardware 303,443, the processing circuit may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA. (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof. The functions of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 may be realized by the processing circuit, respectively. Further, the functions of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 may be collectively realized by the processing circuit.

Further, for each function of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44, a part may be realized by the dedicated hardware 303 and 443, and the other part may be realized by software or firmware. As described above, the processing circuit realizes the functions of the transmitting side control unit 30 and the receiving side control unit 44 by means of hardware 303, 443, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

For example, when the passenger motion detection unit 48 continuously receives signals of the oscillation frequencies corresponding to the steps 10-3, 10-2, 10-1 which are continuous in the direction opposite to the moving direction, the passenger moves in the moving direction. It may be determined that the continuous steps 10-1, 10-2, 10-3 have been moved in the opposite direction, that is, the passenger is running backward on the escalator 100. In this case, the notification control unit 50 may be configured to announce, for example, a warning specializing in the reverse driving of passengers.

The stepping detection unit 32 may detect the stepping motion of the step 10 by the passenger depending on whether or not the pressure change obtained from the input electric signal is the pressure change expected when the passenger leaves the step 10.

2 Step shaft, 4 panel, 6 Handrail, 8 Speaker, 10 Step, 12 Step surface, 14 Passenger detection device, 16 Riser, 18 Bracket, 20 Follower roller, 22 Battery, 30 Transmitter control unit, 32 Step detection unit, 34 Transmitter, 40 control unit, 42 operation control unit, 44 receiver control unit, 46 receiver, 48 passenger motion detection unit, 50 notification control unit, 100 escalator, 110 passenger monitoring system, 301, 441 processor, 302,442 memory , 303,443 Hardware

Claims (4)

In a passenger conveyor equipped with a plurality of steps that are connected in an endless manner and circulate and move.
A transmitting side control unit provided corresponding to each of the plurality of steps and capable of transmitting identification signals having different oscillation frequencies assigned to each of the plurality of steps.
A receiving side control unit capable of receiving the identification signal transmitted from the transmitting side control unit is provided.
The transmitting side control unit
A stepping detection unit that detects the stepping motion of a passenger on the step,
When the stepping motion is detected, the transmission unit for transmitting the identification signal corresponding to the step is included.
The receiving side control unit
A receiving unit that receives the identification signal and
A passenger motion detection unit that detects the movement motion of the passenger's step based on the received identification signal,
A passenger conveyor characterized by being configured to include. The passenger motion detection unit
The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the moving operation is detected depending on whether or not the identification signals corresponding to the plurality of continuous steps are sequentially received by the receiving unit. The passenger conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving side control unit further includes a notification control unit that notifies passengers when the movement operation is detected. Each of the plurality of steps is provided with a piezoelectric element that detects an electric signal according to the pressure received by the step surface of the step.
The passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stepping detection unit is configured to detect the stepping operation based on the electric signal.

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