JP4575080B2 - Automatic refueling system for passenger conveyors - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic refueling device for a passenger conveyor that automatically supplies oil to a chain transmission device portion of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving walkway.

  A passenger conveyor circulates a plurality of steps in an endless manner and transports passengers from one entrance to the other entrance. A representative example is a step chain connecting the plurality of steps, and other steps. The chain transmission unit includes a drive chain that transmits the driving force from the electric motor to the chain, and a moving handrail drive chain that drives a moving handrail that circulates in synchronization with the steps. In order to periodically refuel these chains, an automatic refueling device has been conventionally provided on passenger conveyors.

  Conventionally, in an automatic refueling device for a passenger conveyor, the operation time of the passenger conveyor is integrated, and when this integrated time reaches a preset time, the fuel pump is driven to supply oil for a preset oil supply time. In addition, if the passenger conveyor stops operation during refueling, the refueling is also stopped and the refueling time from the start of refueling to the stop is stored, and when the passenger conveyor resumes operation, refueling is also performed. It is common to restart and refuel only by subtracting the refueling time that was refueled during the operation before the cancellation from the refueling time set in advance. For example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 show such an automatic oil supply device for passenger conveyors.

  In the automatic refueling device of the passenger conveyor as described above, the operation of the passenger conveyor is performed so that the step chain circulates in the passenger conveyor within the refueling time in order to supply oil over the entire circumference of the endless step chain. The refueling time is calculated from the speed and set in advance in the automatic fueling device, and refueling is performed for the predetermined refueling time every predetermined refueling interval time.

  In the case of a passenger conveyor having a constant operation speed, there is no problem by refueling by a refueling device that refuels only for a refueling time calculated and set from the operation speed of the passenger conveyor as described above. However, the multi-speed passenger conveyors that have been demanded in the market in recent years, that is, depending on the installation location and usage situation, the operation speed can be reduced like normal speed operation, low speed operation, high speed operation, standby operation, etc. In passenger conveyors that can be changed in multiple stages, problems may arise. For example, if the refueling time is set in accordance with the low speed operation, the refueling time set in advance is set even though the step chain circulates in the passenger conveyor in normal operation and high speed operation and all the step chains are refueled. Therefore, there is a risk that the oil will continue to be refueled and become supercharged, which may cause problems such as contamination of the exterior plate due to the scattering of oil, and oil adhering to the steps, thereby causing the oil to adhere to the clothes of the passengers. There is. Also, from the viewpoint of resource saving, it is necessary to stop wasting oil, which is a limited resource. In addition, if the refueling time is calculated and set according to the high speed operation, the step chain will move into the passenger conveyor when the high speed operation is switched to the low speed operation during refueling or when the normal speed is switched to the standby speed. There is a possibility that the lubrication time will elapse before one cycle, and the lubrication is terminated even though the lubrication has not been completed for all the chain, resulting in a chain that cannot be lubricated. . As a result, there is a problem in that noise is generated from the step chain, and in turn, the chain is seized due to insufficient lubrication of the step chain.

For a fueling device that solves the above problem, as shown in Patent Document 3, when a fueling control signal is output to a fueling pump according to the operating speed of the passenger conveyor, and when fueling, An apparatus that controls to always operate at a normal speed among speeds that can be changed in multiple stages is known.
JP-A 61-17199 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-315751 JP 2002-241074 A

  However, in the oil supply apparatus shown in Patent Document 3, since the oil is always supplied at a constant speed, the speed cannot be changed during the oil supply. In other words, if you are going to change the passenger conveyor from normal speed to low speed operation so that elderly people and children can board safely, if you are refueling just at that time, you can not change it and secure safety and get in In order to get it, it is necessary for the user to wait until the refueling is completed. Further, in the fueling device shown in Patent Document 3, since the fueling is performed during normal operation, standby operation and low-speed operation are performed even if the fueling interval time has passed and the fueling must be started. If so, do not start refueling until the normal speed is switched. That is, even if refueling is necessary, the operation is continued without refueling.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the automatic refueling device in the conventional passenger conveyor, and enables the speed to be changed even during refueling in a multi-speed passenger conveyor, and the refueling interval even during standby operation or low speed operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic refueling device for a passenger conveyor that can perform refueling without changing the speed after a lapse of time.

The automatic refueling device for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention includes a refueling means for refueling a step chain that links a plurality of steps that circulate and move endlessly, and a step chain length corresponding to one step according to the operating speed of the passenger conveyor. The refueling time required for refueling is determined in advance, and the refueling time is counted simultaneously with the start of refueling by the refueling means, and the refueling means is refueled until the count value of the refueling time reaches the total number of steps. And an oil supply control means for performing control.

  The automatic refueling device for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention counts the time required for refueling the step chain length corresponding to one step of the steps at each operation speed of the passenger conveyor, so that the refueling is completed. It is possible to count the number of steps that have been performed, and by refueling the refueling means until the counted value reaches the total number of steps, even if there is a change in operating speed during refueling, all the steps that the passenger conveyor has It is possible to refuel the step chain. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the portion that is not refueled with the supercharging or the step chain, and it is possible to provide an optimum automatic refueling device even in a multi-speed passenger conveyor.

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

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a passenger conveyor control device including an automatic fueling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric motor for driving a step engaged with an endlessly connected step chain and a handrail belt that circulates and moves in the same direction in synchronization with the step. The passenger conveyor performs an ascending operation or a descending operation. The electric motor 1, the step chain, and the handrail belt are mechanisms in which power is transmitted from the output shaft of the electric motor 1 through chain drive by the drive chain via the drive shaft.

  As a main circuit for rotating the electric motor 1, for example, an inverter device 2 is provided as a power converter for changing the operation speed of the passenger conveyor, and energy generated when the passenger conveyor descends. A power regeneration unit 3 is provided for regenerating power to the power source. Moreover, the noise filter 4 and the reactor 5 are provided in the power supply side as a countermeasure against a harmonic.

  Moreover, the control apparatus 6 of a passenger conveyor is provided with the driving | operation control part 7 which controls the driving | operation of a passenger conveyor, and the oil supply control part 8 which controls the oil supply means to supply oil to chains, such as step chains currently used for a passenger conveyor. ing.

  The operation control unit 7 outputs a passenger conveyor operation speed signal 9 according to the operation state of the passenger conveyor to the inverter device 2, and the inverter device 2 supplies the motor 1 with a frequency voltage corresponding to the passenger conveyor operation speed signal 9. Thus, the operation speed of the passenger conveyor is controlled. Further, the operation control unit 7 controls the power regeneration unit 3 by outputting a regeneration unit control signal 10 according to the operation direction of the passenger conveyor to the power regeneration unit 3. Further, the operation control unit 7 is connected to an oil supply pump 11 as oil supply means for supplying oil to a chain used for a passenger conveyor, and is connected to the oil supply control unit 8, and the oil supply pump The oil supply signal 12 for operating 11 is output from the oil supply control unit 8 to the oil supply pump 11 via the operation control unit 7.

  The oil supply control unit 8 is configured by a programmable controller in the present embodiment, and an operation speed selection signal selected by the operation speed switching device 13 is input to the oil supply control unit 8, and the operation control unit 7 Passenger conveyor operation speed signal 9 is output to inverter device 2. In addition, although the passenger conveyor of the present embodiment can be changed to four speeds such as standby operation, low speed operation, normal speed operation, and high speed operation with respect to the operation speed, the operation speed is not limited to these. Absent.

  Further, the oil supply control unit 8 performs control to supply oil to the oil supply pump 11. In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that the said oil supply control part 8 is not restricted to what was comprised by the programmable controller, and can be comprised by a microcomputer and another control apparatus.

  The automatic oil supply control flow in the oil supply control unit 8 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an automatic oil supply control flow in the automatic oil supply apparatus of the present embodiment. The control flow described below is a process inside the oil supply control unit 8 using the above-described programmable controller, and if the same function such as a microcomputer and a programmable controller can be finally realized, the configuration and Any programming language is acceptable.

  Passenger conveyors have different heads depending on the fittings to be installed, so the total number of steps of the passenger conveyors varies depending on the property. Therefore, when the passenger conveyor is turned on and the operation is started (step S10), it is determined whether or not the power is turned on for the first time (step S20). If the power is turned on for the first time, refueling is required. The total number of steps Sf corresponding to the total length of the long step chain is set (step S30). In addition, a refueling interval Titv from the start of refueling to the start of the next refueling is set (step S40). Further, step chain oiling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per step at the respective operation speeds of standby operation, low speed operation, normal speed operation, and high speed operation are set for the operation speed of the passenger conveyor (step S50). The total number of steps Sf, the refueling interval Titv, and the step chain refueling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per step at each operation speed are stored and held in the storage means inside the refueling control unit 8. If the power is not turned on for the first time in step S20, the total number of steps Sf, the refueling interval Titv, and the step chain refueling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per step at each operating speed have already been set. 8, the steps from step S30 to step S50 can be omitted, and the process proceeds to step S60.

  When the passenger conveyor starts operation (step S60), operation time integration is started (step S70). The integrated value, that is, the integrated operation time Tdrv, is maintained even if the passenger conveyor is turned off unless the integrated value is reset in step S150 described later. Next, the accumulated operation time Tdrv is compared with the refueling interval Titv (step S80). If the accumulated operation time Tdrv is larger, refueling is started (step S90). If the accumulated operation time Tdrv is not longer, it is determined whether or not the passenger conveyor is stopped (step S100). If the operation is not stopped, the process returns to step S80, while if the operation is stopped. The process returns to step S60.

  At the same time as the start of refueling in step S90, counting is started by a counter that counts at any time interval corresponding to the current driving speed among the step chain refueling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per step (step S90). Step S110). A pulse signal for counting by this counter can be generated by a timer in the oil supply control unit 8 corresponding to the step chain oil supply times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per one step. It is possible to generate a pulse signal without separately providing detection means for detecting.

  It is determined whether or not the passenger conveyor has stopped operating while counting by the counter (step S120). If the operation has stopped, refueling is stopped (step S130) and the process returns to step S60. . If the operation is not stopped, the count value K by the counter is compared with the number of steps that require refueling, that is, the total number of steps Sf of the passenger conveyor (step S140). If the count value K of the counter is larger, refueling is performed. The process ends (step S150). After the end of refueling, the counter value K and the accumulated operation time Tdrv are reset (steps S160 and S170).

  By performing the control according to the control flow as described above, the automatic fueling device of the present embodiment corresponds to the current operating speed among the step chain fueling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH per step in step S110. Since counting is performed by a counter that counts at any time interval, the number of steps that have been refueled is counted. Then, by refueling the refueling means until this count value reaches the total number of steps, regardless of whether or not to change the operation speed during refueling, to the step chain for all steps of the passenger conveyor, It is possible to supply the required amount of oil.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, the pulse signal for counting by the counter in step S110 of FIG. 2 is generated by the timer in the fuel supply control unit 8, but the automatic fueling device of the present invention is The pulse signal may be generated by a step detector provided in the circulation movement path of the step.

  That is, as the step detector, for example, a limit switch is provided on the passenger conveyor at such a position that the limit switch operates every time a specific portion of each step that circulates in a ring shape passes. As shown in FIG. 1, the detection signal 22 from the limit switch as the step detector 21 can be output to the fuel supply control unit 8 and the detection signal 22 can be counted. Thus, the same effect as described above can be obtained by counting the detection signal 22 from the step detector 21 and supplying the oil supply means until the count value reaches the total number of steps. Further, in step S50 in FIG. 2, the step chain refueling times TSW, TSL, TSM, TSH are set for each step in the standby operation, low speed operation, normal speed operation, and high speed operation speed for the passenger conveyor operation speed. The trouble of doing it becomes unnecessary.

  Note that the step detector 21 is not limited to the above-described limit switch. For example, a proximity sensor can be used, and the same effect can be obtained by using other sensors such as a photoelectric sensor.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric motor 2 Inverter apparatus 3 Power regeneration unit 4 Noise filter 5 Reactor 6 Control apparatus 7 Operation control part 8 Oil supply control part (oil supply control means)
11 Oil supply pump (oil supply means)

Claims (2)

Refueling means for refueling a step chain that links a plurality of steps that circulate and move endlessly;
The refueling time required to refuel the step chain length corresponding to one step of the step according to the operating speed of the passenger conveyor is determined in advance, and starts counting the refueling time simultaneously with the start of refueling by the refueling means. Oil supply control means for performing control to supply oil to the oil supply means until the count value of the oil supply time reaches the total number of steps;
An automatic refueling device for passenger conveyors.   2. The automatic oil supply device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a pulse signal for performing the counting is generated by a timer in the oil supply control means.

Images