JP5074470B2 - Passenger conveyor device and method for restarting the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor, and more particularly to a passenger conveyor device that restarts autonomously by self-diagnosis in the event of an emergency stop and a restart method thereof.

  When a safety measure is activated due to a transient abnormality and the passenger conveyor stops in an emergency, there are those that are restarted without requiring confirmation by personnel. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to the operation of the safety means, the current state of the passenger conveyor is determined from the driving state immediately before the emergency stop and the safety means and the passenger detection means such as a camera. Based on the above, it is determined whether the activation is possible. And when it is judged that there is no abnormality and at least there is no person or object on the step, the passenger conveyor is restarted.

JP 2008-74527 A (paragraphs 0021 to 0030, FIG. 1)

  In the above-described conventional technology, the operation state immediately before the emergency stop is compared with the current state of the passenger conveyor to determine whether or not there is a transient abnormality. The operation state immediately before the emergency stop of the passenger conveyor is composed of the operation direction, speed, operation method, and emergency stop factor of the passenger conveyor, that is, the detection signal of the safety means. Passenger detection means such as a camera is used to determine that there is no person or object on the step upon restart.

  In such a conventional technique, when an emergency stop is caused by the operation of the safety means, there is a possibility that the emergency stop is restarted due to the restart of the safety means even though it is judged to be a transient abnormality and restarted. there were. In other words, there is room for further improvement in accurately determining the transient abnormality.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-described actual situation in the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a passenger conveyor device that can more accurately determine whether or not it is a transient abnormality.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the cause of the emergency stop is transient when the safety means detects a passenger conveyor abnormality and outputs an abnormality signal, and the safety means is activated to cause an emergency stop. In a passenger conveyor apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not a sex abnormality; and a restart control unit that restarts the passenger conveyor when the determination unit determines that the abnormality is a transient abnormality, Among the safety means, a monitoring camera capable of imaging the appearance of external safety means that may be activated by the user's action is provided. In the case of an emergency stop, an image of the surveillance camera that captures the appearance of the external safety means at the time of operation of the external safety means and the current appearance of the external safety means Based on said monitoring camera of the image to be an image, characterized by being configured to determine whether a transient anomaly.

  In other words, when the safety measure was activated, the relationship between the safety measure and the user was confirmed, and the risk of recurrence disappeared due to changes in the situation near the appearance of the safety measure. Judging.

  In another aspect of the present invention, when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to the operation of the external safety means, the determination means images the appearance of the external safety means when the external safety means is activated. Based on the image of the monitoring camera and the image of the monitoring camera that captures the appearance of the external safety means after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is configured to determine whether or not it is a transient abnormality. It is characterized by that.

  Here, the external safety means means a skirt guard switch that detects that a foreign object is caught between the skirt guard and the step and an inlet that detects that a foreign object has been drawn into a handrail entrance. It is desirable to include a switch.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control means determines whether the activated safety means is an external safety means that may be actuated by the user when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to the activation of the safety means. to decide. At this time, if it is determined that the operation of the external safety means that may be activated by the user is performed, the appearance of the external surface of the external safety means is determined based on the image of the monitoring camera. That is, when the external safety means is in operation, if there is a person in the vicinity of the external safety means, but now it is determined that there is no person in the vicinity of the external safety means, it is determined as a transient abnormality. And restart the passenger conveyor.

  Thus, focusing on the surface of the external safety means, based on the image of the surveillance camera that captured the appearance of the appearance, the relationship between the external safety means and the user when the external safety means is activated, and By judging whether there is a transient abnormality based on the current appearance of the external safety measure, it is possible to reliably determine that there is currently no person in the vicinity of the external safety measure, so that safer re-use is possible. Activation can be realized. In particular, not only there are no people on the escalator, but also the appearance of external safety means such as skirt guard switches and inlet switches is monitored with a surveillance camera, and there is no risk of reactivation from the time of operation and the current state. By confirming this and restarting, the transportation efficiency of the escalator can be improved and the safety can be further improved.

  Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control means includes an appearance of the external safety means when the external safety means is activated, and an appearance of the external safety means after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operation of the safety means. By judging whether the abnormality is a transient abnormality based on the situation, it is judged that there is no person in the vicinity of the external safety means after a predetermined time, and not just after the abnormality has occurred. It is possible to make a judgment for restarting after a while, and to ensure safety.

  In the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to achieve both efficiency and safety by setting the external safety means that is likely to cause a transient abnormality as a target of restart determination.

  According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the abnormality is a transient abnormality based on the appearance (usage state) of the external safety means. And safety can be improved.

It is a schematic structure figure showing a passenger conveyor device by one embodiment of the present invention. It is a process flowchart of the passenger conveyor apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, a passenger conveyor device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The passenger conveyor device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, an escalator device 1, a step 2 that is connected and rotated endlessly, an endless handrail 3 that rotates in synchronization with the step 2, and Control means (passenger conveyor control device) 4 for controlling the escalator and a drive unit 5 are provided. The drive unit 5 includes a motor and generates power for rotating the step 2 and the handrail 3. A drive sprocket 7 that is driven by a drive unit 5 via a drive chain 6 is disposed under one of the entrances and exits of the escalator device 1. On the other hand, a driven sprocket 8 is disposed at the lower part of the other entrance of the escalator device 1. A step chain 9 is wound around the drive sprocket 7 and the driven sprocket 8 and connected to the step 2.

  As the safety means, there are skirt guard switches 10a and 10b that detect that a foreign object is caught between a skirt guard (not shown) and the step 2 as external safety means. In addition, an inlet switch 11 is provided that detects that a foreign object has been drawn into the inlet (inlet) of the handrail 3.

  On the other hand, as an internal safety means, a drive chain abnormality detection unit 12 for detecting an abnormality such as a disconnection of the drive chain 6 and a step chain abnormality detection unit 13 for detecting an abnormality such as elongation of the step chain 9 are provided. Yes. These internal safety means are activated by an abnormality in the mechanism inside the machine room, and cannot be directly activated by an action of a general user.

  Among these safety measures, external safety measures that may be activated by the user, such as the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b and the inlet switch 11, are monitored cameras so that their locations can be imaged. 14a and 14b are provided. Therefore, the appearance of the external safety means is monitored, and it is possible to determine with high accuracy whether or not there is a possibility of being activated by the user.

  In addition, speakers 15 a and 15 b that provide voice guidance to the user of the escalator device 1 are provided.

  The control unit 4 is connected to the drive unit 5, the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b, the inlet switch 11, the drive chain abnormality detection unit 12, the step chain abnormality detection unit 13, the cameras 14a and 14b, and the speakers 15a and 15b. Has been. The control unit 4 includes a storage unit (not shown) that stores the images of the cameras 14a and 14b, and an image analysis unit that inputs the images of the cameras 14a and 14b, performs image analysis processing, and detects people and objects. .

  In the escalator device 1 configured as described above, when the passenger kicks the skirt guard and gives an impact, the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b are actuated or the entrance (inlet) of the handrail 3 during traveling ) May cause the inlet switch 11 to be actuated by mistake, and the escalator device 1 is stopped in an emergency each time.

  However, these factors that activate the external safety means are transient, the switch automatically returns to normal, and the activation factor is removed (disappears), so the startup process is executed safely. It is possible to return to the original operation state.

  Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the restarting process when the escalator device according to the present embodiment is brought to an emergency stop will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  During emergency operation of the escalator device 1, if an emergency stop occurs due to the activation of any safety means in step 201, the control means 4 that controls the operation of the escalator device 1 causes an emergency stop in step 202. It is determined whether the safety means are external safety means, that is, the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b and the inlet switch 11.

  First, it is assumed that the safety means that has caused the emergency stop is determined to be an internal safety means, that is, one of the drive chain abnormality detection unit 12 and the step chain abnormality detection unit 13. In this case, as shown in step 203, it is determined that automatic restart is not possible, and the occurrence of abnormality is reported to the outside such as a maintenance company or a manager's room of the escalator device 1 set in advance.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 202 that the safety means that caused the emergency stop is an external safety means, which external safety means of the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b or the inlet switch 11 has been operated in step 204. Is identified.

  Here, as an example, it is assumed that the skirt guard switch 10a is an external safety means that has caused an emergency stop.

  Next, as shown in step 205, the control means 4 is based on, for example, the image of the camera 14a stored in the storage unit. When the skirt guard switch 10a is activated, is there a person at the place where the skirt guard switch 10a is disposed? Judge whether. At this time, if it is determined that there is no person at the location of the skirt guard switch 10a, in order to clarify the cause of the operation of the skirt guard switch 10a, it is determined that automatic restart is impossible as shown in step 203, and Report the occurrence of an abnormality to the outside such as the maintenance company or manager room of the set escalator device 1.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in the step 205 that there is a person at the installation position of the skirt guard switch 10a at the time of emergency stop, in the step 206, a certain time (about 30 seconds to 2 minutes) is waited. Thereafter, as shown in the step 207, the control means 4 is based on the image of the camera 14a, and whether or not there is a person at the location where the skirt guard switch 10a is currently present (it seems that the skirt guard switch 10a is actuated by kicking). ) And whether or not there is a person on the step 2. If it is determined that no one is present, it is determined that the operation of the skirt guard switch 10a is based on a transient abnormality and can be restarted safely. Therefore, as shown in step 208, a start warning broadcast to restart is performed from the speakers 15a and 15b, and then, as step 209, the escalator device 1 is restarted at a low acceleration to perform low speed operation. At the same time, as shown in the procedure 210, after confirming that the escalator device 1 is operated for one revolution at low speed and there is no abnormality, the normal speed operation is performed by returning to the rated speed.

  In the above description, the case of the skirt guard switch 10a has been described. However, the case of the skirt guard switch 10b and the inlet switch 11 can be similarly determined.

  According to the present embodiment, the external safety means when the external safety means is activated based on the images of the cameras 14a and 14b focused on the locations where the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b or the inlet switch 11 as the external safety means are present. Understand the relationship between safety measures and users. Next, the current state of the installation location of the external safety means is grasped, and it is determined whether or not it is a transient abnormality based on a comparison between the operation time and the current state. Thereby, a more accurate determination can be realized and the safety of the escalator device 1 can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the external safety means are the skirt guard switches 10a and 10b and the inlet switch 11, and the other internal safety means are the drive chain abnormality detection unit 12 and the step chain abnormality detection unit 13, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, it is appropriately set according to the specifications of the passenger conveyor device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Escalator apparatus, 2 ... Step, 3 ... Handrail, 4 ... Control means, 5 ... Drive part, 6 ... Drive chain, 7 ... Drive sprocket, 8 ... Drive sprocket, 9 ... Step chain, 10a, 10b ... Skirt guard Switch (external safety means), 11 ... Inlet switch (external safety means), 12 ... Drive chain abnormality detection unit, 13 ... Step chain abnormality detection unit, 14a, 14b ... Camera, 15a, 15b ... Speaker.

Claims (5)

A plurality of safety means for detecting an abnormality of the passenger conveyor and outputting an abnormality signal; and whether or not the cause of the emergency stop is a transient abnormality when the safety means is activated to cause an emergency stop of the passenger conveyor. In a passenger conveyor apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines; and a restart control unit that restarts the passenger conveyor when the determination unit determines that the abnormality is a transient abnormality,
Of the safety means, comprising a surveillance camera capable of imaging the appearance of the external safety means having a switch that may be activated by the action of the user,
When the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to the operation of the switch of the external safety means, the determination means is configured to detect the appearance of the external safety means when the external safety means is activated. Whether it is a transient abnormality based on information on whether there is a person in the image and information on whether there is a person in the image of the surveillance camera that captures the current appearance of the external safety means A passenger conveyor device characterized by being configured to determine whether or not. 2. The external appearance of the external safety means is imaged when the external safety means is activated when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop when the switch of the external safety means is activated. wherein the information indicating whether the monitoring camera images are people, based on the information whether or not there is a person on the surveillance camera image of the captured state of the appearance of the external safety means after a predetermined time, one A passenger conveyor apparatus configured to determine whether or not the abnormality is a transient abnormality.   3. The inlet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external safety means detects that a foreign object has been drawn into a skirt guard switch for detecting that a foreign object is caught between the skirt guard and the step and a handrail entrance. A passenger conveyor device comprising a switch. A step of detecting an abnormality of the passenger conveyor by a plurality of safety means and outputting an abnormality signal; and, when the safety means is activated and the passenger conveyor is emergency stopped, whether the cause of the emergency stop is a transient abnormality In the method for restarting a passenger conveyor, including a step for determining whether or not, and a restart control step for restarting the passenger conveyor when it is determined that it is a transient abnormality,
Of the safety means, taking a picture of the appearance of the external safety means having a switch that may be activated by a user's action with a surveillance camera;
If there is a person in the image of the surveillance camera that captures the appearance of the external safety means when the external safety means is activated when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to the switch of the external safety means being activated Based on the information on whether or not and the information on whether or not there is a person in the image of the monitoring camera that captures the current appearance of the external safety means, it is determined whether or not it is a transient abnormality. A method for restarting a passenger conveyor, comprising a step. 5. The surveillance camera according to claim 4, wherein when the passenger conveyor is in an emergency stop due to an operation of the switch of the external safety means, an external appearance of the external safety means is imaged when the external safety means is activated. and whether the information are people in an image, based on the information whether or not there is a person on the surveillance camera image of the captured state of the appearance of the external safety means after a predetermined time, transient abnormalities A method for restarting a passenger conveyor, comprising the step of determining whether or not

Images