JP6508150B2 - Escalator with driving load reduction function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an escalator.

  Patent Document 1 below describes a passenger conveyor that performs control that can reduce the load on the drive device when the load on the drive device exceeds a certain value.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2004-123348

  In the passenger conveyor described in Patent Document 1, the operating speed is reduced to reduce the load on the drive device. For this reason, when the load on the driving device is reduced, the transportation efficiency is reduced.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an escalator having a driving load reducing function capable of reducing the load of the driving device without reducing the transportation efficiency.

  The escalator having a driving load reducing function according to the present invention is provided below the forward side step and above the return side step at the upper portion of the truss and a load detection unit for detecting the load of the escalator drive device. And an upper hook device having a weight discharge mechanism for discharging the weight inside the return side step, the weight discharge mechanism of the upper hook device being in a state where the forward step is moving upward, The operation is performed when the load detection unit detects a load equal to or higher than a preset upper limit threshold.

  In the present invention, the upper catch device has a weight discharging mechanism for discharging the weight inside the return side step. The weight discharging mechanism of the upper relay device operates when the load detecting unit detects a load equal to or greater than a preset upper limit threshold while the forward step moves upward. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load of the drive device without reducing the transport efficiency.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of an escalator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing an example of the structure of the escalator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a structure of a holding device in the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an escalator according to a first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of a waiting device when the drive device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 is a heavy load state. It is a schematic diagram which shows the moving path | route of weight when the drive device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 is a heavy load state. It is a schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of a waiting device when the drive device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 is a light load state. It is a schematic diagram which shows the moving path | route of weight when the drive device of the escalator in Embodiment 1 is a light load state. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the escalator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an escalator according to a second embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of a control panel.

  An escalator having a driving load reducing function will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In each of the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the escalator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing an example of the structure of the escalator according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the escalator includes a truss 1, an upper entrance 2, a lower entrance 3, a drive device 4 and a control panel 5. The truss 1 is bridged between the upper floor and the lower floor. The upper entrance 2 is provided on the upper floor. The lower entrance 3 is provided on the lower floor. The driving device 4 is provided, for example, below the upper entrance 2 and above the lower entrance 3 inside the truss 1. That is, the drive device 4 is provided, for example, on the inclined portion of the truss 1. The control panel 5 is provided on the upper floor side inside the truss 1. In addition, the drive device 4 may be provided in the upper floor side of the truss 1, for example.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the escalator includes a step 6, a handrail 7 and a step link 8. The handrail 7 and the step link 8 are formed endlessly. The handrail 7 and the step link 8 are provided on the left and right sides of the step 6 along the direction in which the plurality of steps 6 are arranged. The plurality of steps 6 are connected by step links 8 so as to be lined between the lower and upper floors. In addition, as a connection member which connects several step 6, you may use not a step link 8 but a step chain.

  The step 6 and the handrail 7 circulate and move between the upper floor and the lower floor by the operation of the drive device 4. Step 6 in a state of being located outside the truss 1 is also referred to as "outbound step". Moreover, step 6 in the state located inside truss 1 is also called "return side step." When the escalator is moving up, the forward step moves upward and the return step moves downward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the escalator includes an upper catch 9 and a lower catch 10. The upper hooking device 9 is provided on the top of the truss 1. The upper engaging device 9 is provided, for example, in a portion adjacent to the upper floor in the inclined portion of the truss 1. The lower locking device 10 is provided at the lower part of the truss 1. The lower engaging device 10 is provided, for example, in a portion adjacent to the lower floor in the inclined portion of the truss 1. The upper engaging device 9 and the lower engaging device 10 are provided below the forward step and above the return step.

  The structure of the lower lock device 10 is, for example, the same as the structure of the upper lock device 9. Hereinafter, when the upper in-process device 9 and the lower in-process device 10 are not distinguished, they are also simply referred to as “in-process devices”.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing the structure of the latching device in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the escalator is in the up operation.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the in-process device has a space in which a plurality of weights 11 can be stored. The weight 11 is, for example, an object having a certain shape and weight. For example, a mechanism or a structure capable of holding the weight 11 one by one is provided in the inside of the wrapping device. FIG. 3 exemplifies a state in which the weight 11 is present only inside the upper catch 9. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upper holding device 9 is formed with a discharge port 9 a and a recovery port 9 b. A discharge port 10 a and a recovery port 10 b are formed in the lower engaging device 10. The outlet 9a and the outlet 10a are, for example, at positions facing the return step. The recovery port 9 b and the recovery port 10 b are, for example, at positions facing the forward step. The discharge port 9a, the recovery port 9b, the discharge port 10a, and the recovery port 10b are formed, for example, in a size that allows at least the weight 11 to pass through. The weight 11 is, for example, sized to fit in the inner cavity of the step 6.

  When the weight 11 passes the discharge port 9 a or the discharge port 10 a downward, the weight 11 enters inside one step 6 which is the return side step. The weight 11 is held, for example, by a fastener or the like provided inside the step 6. The weight 11 does not naturally separate from the step 6 even when the step 6 moves and becomes the forward step.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the escalator according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drive device 4, the upper engagement device 9 and the lower engagement device 10 are electrically connected to the control panel 5. The upper holding device 9 and the lower holding device 10 each include a weight detection unit 12, a weight discharging mechanism 13, and a weight collecting mechanism 14. The control panel 5 includes an operation control unit 15, a load detection unit 16, a determination unit 17, and a waiting device control unit 18.

  The weight detection unit 12 detects the weight 11 present inside the in-process device. For example, an optical sensor or a weight sensor may be used as the weight detection unit 12.

  The weight discharge mechanism 13 discharges the weight 11 present inside the in-process device from the discharge port 9a or the discharge port 10a. That is, for example, the weight discharging mechanism 13 drops the weight 11 toward the inside of the return step from the wrapping device. The weight discharging mechanism 13 releases, for example, the holding of the weight 11 in the inside of the wrapping device.

  The weight recovery mechanism 14 recovers the weight 11 held in step 6 from the recovery port 9 b or the recovery port 10 b. That is, for example, the weight recovery mechanism 14 drops the weight 11 toward the in-process device from the inside of the forward step. The weight recovery mechanism 14 releases the holding of the weight 11 inside the step 6, for example.

  The weight discharging mechanism 13 and the weight collecting mechanism 14 may be driven by, for example, a rotary motor, a linear motor, a solenoid, or a magnet. The timing at which the weight 11 is dropped by the weight discharging mechanism 13 and the weight collecting mechanism 14 may be preset, for example, in accordance with the moving speed in step 6. The timing may be determined based on, for example, a detection signal of a sensor (not shown) that detects the position of the step.

  The operation control unit 15 controls the driving device 4 to control the operation of the escalator. That is, the operation control unit 15 controls the movement in step 6.

  The load detection unit 16 detects the load of the drive device 4 of the escalator. The load detection unit 16 detects a load based on, for example, the drive current of the drive device 4.

  The determination unit 17 compares the load detected by the load detection unit 16 with a preset threshold. The threshold includes, for example, an upper threshold and a lower threshold. The upper limit threshold is, for example, a criterion of whether or not the escalator drive device is under heavy load. The lower limit threshold is, for example, a criterion of whether or not the escalator drive device is in a light load state. The light load state also includes a no load state in which no one passenger is on at step 6.

  The in-process device control unit 18 controls the operation of the in-process device. The in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight discharge mechanism 13 and the weight collection mechanism 14 based on the determination result by the determination unit 17, for example.

  For example, when it is determined from the detection result of the weight detection unit 12 of the waiting device that the weight 11 does not exist inside the waiting device, the waiting device control unit 18 operates the weight discharging mechanism 13 of the waiting device. It is not necessary. For example, when it is determined from the detection result by the weight detection unit 12 of the in-process device that there is no empty space for storing the weight 11, the in-process device control unit 18 determines the weight recovery mechanism of the in-process device. 14 may not be operated.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the operation of the in-process device when the drive device of the escalator according to Embodiment 1 is in a heavy load state. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a moving path of the weight when the drive device of the escalator according to the first embodiment is in a heavy load state. 5 and 6 show a state in which the escalator is in the up operation.

  When the load detection unit 16 detects a load equal to or higher than the upper limit threshold while the escalator is in the upward operation, the in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight discharge mechanism 13 of the upper in-process device 9. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operating in the upward state is in a heavy load state, the weight 11 present inside the upper holding device 9 is discharged from the discharge port 9 a. As a result, in the step 6 on the downstream side of the upper work in process 9 in the return step, the weight 11 is held and moved.

  The in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight recovery mechanism 14 of the lower in-process device 10 when the load detection unit 16 detects a load equal to or higher than the upper threshold while the escalator is operating in the upward direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operating in the upward state is in a heavy load state, the weight 11 held in step 6 is collected into the lower engaging device 10 from the collection port 10 b. As a result, in the forward side step, the step 6 located downstream of the lower control device 10 moves without holding the weight 11.

  As described above, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operating in the upward direction is in a heavy load state, the weight 11 is discharged from the upper waiting device 9 and collected in the lower waiting device 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the weight 11 moves in a range from the lower side of the upper hooking device 9 on the truss upper side to the upper side of the lower hooking device 10 on the lower side of the truss in the moving path of step 6.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the operation of the in-process device when the drive device of the escalator according to the first embodiment is in a light load state. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a moving path of the weight when the drive device of the escalator according to the first embodiment is in a light load state. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a state in which the escalator is in the up operation.

  When the load detection unit 16 detects a load equal to or lower than the lower limit threshold while the escalator is operating in the upward direction, the in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight discharge mechanism 13 of the lower in-process device 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operated up is in a light load state, the weight 11 present inside the lower wrapping device 10 is discharged from the discharge port 10 a. As a result, in the return path step, the step 6 located downstream of the lower in-process device 10 holds the weight 11 and moves.

  The in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight recovery mechanism 14 of the upper in-process device 9 when a load equal to or less than the lower limit threshold is detected by the load detection unit 16 in a state where the escalator is operating upward. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operating in the up state is in a light load state, the weight 11 held in step 6 is collected from the collection port 9 b into the upper engaging device 9. As a result, in the forward step, the step 6 located downstream of the upper catch 9 moves without holding the weight 11.

  As described above, when the driving device 4 of the escalator operating up is in a light load state, the weight 11 is discharged from the lower engaging device 10 and recovered to the upper engaging device 9. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the weight 11 moves in a range from the lower side of the lower hooking device 10 on the lower side of the truss to the upper side of the upper hooking device 9 on the upper side of the truss in the movement path of step 6.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the escalator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the case where the escalator is in the up operation.

  In the state where the escalator is in the upward operation (step S101), it is determined whether the drive device 4 is in the heavy load state (step S102). When it is determined in step S102 that the drive device 4 is in a heavy load state, it is determined whether or not there is a weight 11 inside the upper holding device 9 (step S103). If it is determined in step S103 that the weight 11 is inside the upper holding device 9, the weight 11 is discharged from the upper holding device 9 (step S104). If it is determined in step S103 that there is no weight 11 inside the upper waiting device 9, the process of step S104 is not performed.

  Following step S103 or step S104, it is determined whether there is a vacant space in the lower work in process device 10 (step S105). If it is determined in step S105 that there is an empty space in the lower in-process device 10, the weight 11 is collected in the lower in-process device 10 (step S106). If it is determined in step S105 that there is no free space in the lower work in process 10, the process of step S106 is not performed. After step S105 or step S106, the process of step S102 is performed.

  If it is determined in step S102 that the drive device 4 is not in the heavy load state, it is determined whether the drive device 4 is in the light load state (step S107). If it is determined in step S107 that the drive device 4 is in the light load state, it is determined whether or not there is a weight 11 inside the lower wrapping device 10 (step S108). If it is determined in step S108 that the weight 11 is inside the lower wrapping device 10, the weight 11 is discharged from the lower wrapping device 10 (step S109). If it is determined in step S108 that there is no weight 11 inside the lower in-process device 10, the process of step S109 is not performed.

  Subsequent to step S108 or step S109, it is determined whether there is an empty space in the upper work in process device 9 (step S110). When it is determined in step S110 that there is an empty space in the upper waiting device 9, the weight 11 is collected in the upper waiting device 9 (step S111). If it is determined in step S110 that there is no free space in the upper work in process device 9, the process of step S111 is not performed. After step S110 or step S111, the process of step S102 is performed. The process of step S102 is also performed when it is determined in step S107 that the drive device 4 is not in the light load state.

  The determinations in step S103 and step S108 may be omitted. Even if the weight discharging mechanism 13 operates in the state where the weight 11 is not present inside the work-in-process device, the result regarding the movement of the weight 11 is the same. Further, the determinations in step S105 and step S110 may be omitted as long as the upper waiting device 9 can store all the weights 11 and the lower waiting device 10 can store all the weights 11.

  In the first embodiment, the upper engaging device 9 is provided at the upper part of the truss 1 below the forward step and above the return step, and can store the weight 11 inside. The upper engaging device 9 has a weight discharging mechanism 13 for discharging the weight 11 inside the return side step. The weight discharging mechanism 13 of the upper wrapping device 9 operates when the load detecting unit 16 detects a load equal to or higher than a preset upper limit threshold in a state in which the forward step moves upward. When the weight discharging mechanism 13 of the upper engaging device 9 operates, the difference between the weight applied to the forward step and the weight applied to the return step decreases. For this reason, according to the first embodiment, when the number of escalator passengers increases, the load on the drive device 4 can be reduced without reducing the moving speed in step 6. That is, the escalator according to the first embodiment has the operation load reducing function of reducing the load of the drive device without reducing the transportation efficiency. As a result, energy saving of the escalator can be realized.

  In the first embodiment, the lower hooking device 10 is provided at the lower part of the truss 1 below the forward step and above the return step and is capable of storing the weight 11 therein, and the weight 11 from the inside of the forward step. Have a weight recovery mechanism 14 for recovering the The weight recovery mechanism 14 of the lower locking device 10 operates when the load detection unit 16 detects a load equal to or higher than the upper limit threshold while the forward step moves upward. When the weight recovery mechanism 14 of the lower locking device 10 operates, the weight of the weight 11 does not rest on most of the forward side steps. For this reason, according to the first embodiment, when the number of escalator passengers increases, the load on the drive device 4 can be reduced without reducing the moving speed in step 6.

  In the first embodiment, the weight discharging mechanism 13 of the lower wrapping device 10 detects a load equal to or less than a preset lower limit threshold by the load detection unit 16 in a state where the forward step moves upward. Operate. The weight recovery mechanism 14 of the upper wrapping device 9 operates when, for example, a load equal to or less than a preset lower limit threshold is detected by the load detection unit 16 in a state where the outward step moves upward. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, when the number of escalator passengers decreases, the used weight 11 can be returned to the upper catch 9.

  In the first embodiment, the weight recovery mechanism 14 of the upper locking device 9 may always operate regardless of the detection result by the load detection unit 16. Even in this case, the result regarding the movement of the weight 11 is the same.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, the configuration of the escalator having the driving load reducing function will be described focusing on the difference from the first embodiment. The parts that are the same as or correspond to those in Embodiment 1 are given the same reference numerals, and part of the description will be omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the escalator according to the second embodiment.

  The control panel 5 in the second embodiment has a heavy load prediction unit 19. The heavy load prediction unit 19 predicts that a heavy load is applied to the drive device 4. The prediction by the heavy load prediction unit 19 may be performed, for example, based on a preset schedule. The prediction by the heavy load prediction unit 19 may be performed based on, for example, the number of passengers who try to board the escalator detected by a camera, a sensor, or the like (not shown). The in-process device control unit 18 operates the weight discharge mechanism 13 and the weight recovery mechanism 14 based on the determination result by the determination unit 17 and the prediction result by the heavy load prediction unit 19.

  When it is predicted by the heavy load prediction unit 19 that the heavy load is applied to the drive device 4 even if the load detection unit 16 does not detect the load while the escalator is operating in the upward direction. The weight discharge mechanism 13 of the upper catch 9 is operated. In the state in which the escalator is in an upward operation, the heavy load control unit 18 predicts that the heavy load is applied to the drive device 4 even if no load is detected by the load detection unit 16, for example. In this case, the weight recovery mechanism 14 of the lower catch device 10 may be operated.

  In the second embodiment, when the heavy load prediction unit 19 predicts that the heavy load is applied to the drive device 4 in the state in which the forward side step is moving upward, the weight discharging mechanism 13 of the upper catch 9 The operation is performed before the load detection unit 16 detects a load equal to or higher than the upper limit threshold. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the driving load reducing function can be executed in advance before the passengers get on the escalator. As a result, higher energy saving effects can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the determination unit 17 and the waiting device control unit 18 may be provided in each of the upper waiting device 9 and the lower waiting device 10. In the second embodiment, the heavy load prediction unit 19 may be provided for each of the upper and lower holding devices 9 and 10. Even in this case, the load on the drive device 4 can be reduced.

  In the first and second embodiments, the weight 11 may not have a certain shape. The weight 11 may be, for example, a liquid such as water or a granular object. Even in this case, if the weight discharge mechanism 13 of the in-process device is formed so as to be able to adjust the discharge amount of the weight 11, the load of the drive device 4 can be reduced.

  The in-process devices in the first and second embodiments can also be operated in a state in which the escalator is operated downward. For example, when the weight 11 is discharged from the lower in-process device 10 in a state in which the escalator is in a downward operation, the regenerative power generated by the drive device 4 is reduced. In this case, the heat generation of the regenerative resistance can be suppressed.

  FIG. 11 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control panel.

  The functions of the operation control unit 15, the load detection unit 16, the determination unit 17, the in-process device control unit 18, and the heavy load prediction unit 19 of the control panel 5 are realized by a processing circuit. The processing circuit may be dedicated hardware 50. The processing circuit may comprise a processor 51 and a memory 52. The processing circuit is partially formed as dedicated hardware 50 and may further include a processor 51 and a memory 52. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the processing circuit is partially formed as the dedicated hardware 50 and includes the processor 51 and the memory 52.

  When at least a part of the processing circuit is at least one dedicated hardware 50, the processing circuit may for example be a single circuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA or The combination is applicable.

  When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 51 and at least one memory 52, the functions of the operation control unit 15, the load detection unit 16, the determination unit 17, the in-process device control unit 18, and the heavy load prediction unit 19 are software, It is realized by firmware or a combination of software and firmware. The software and the firmware are described as a program and stored in the memory 52. The processor 51 reads out and executes the program stored in the memory 52 to implement the functions of the respective units. The processor 51 is also referred to as a central processing unit (CPU), a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. The memory 52 corresponds to, for example, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD or the like.

  Thus, the processing circuit can implement each function of the control board 5 by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The respective functions of the upper and lower holding devices 9 and 10 are also realized by the same processing circuit as the processing circuit shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Truss 2 Upper entrance / exit 3 Lower entrance 4 Drive device 5 Control panel 6 Step 7 Handrail 8 Step link 9 Upper hook device 9a Discharge port 9b Recovery port 10 Lower hook device 10a Discharge port 10b Recovery port 11 Weight 12 Weight discharge mechanism 14 Weight recovery mechanism 15 Operation control unit 16 Load detection unit 17 Determination unit 18 In-process device control unit 19 Heavy load prediction unit 50 Dedicated hardware 51 Processor 52 Memory

Claims (4)

A load detection unit that detects the load of the escalator drive device;
An upper hooking device provided at the upper part of the truss below the forward side step and above the return side step and capable of storing a weight therein and discharging a weight inside the return side step;
Equipped with
The weight discharging mechanism of the upper wrapping device operates when the load detecting unit detects a load equal to or greater than a preset upper threshold while the forward step is moving upward. With escalator. A lower hooking device which is provided below the forward side step and above the return side step at the lower part of the truss, is capable of storing weights internally, and has a weight recovery mechanism for recovering the weight from the inside of the forward side step;
The operation according to claim 1, wherein the weight recovery mechanism of the lower engaging device operates when a load equal to or greater than the upper threshold is detected by the load detection unit in a state where the forward step is moving upward. An escalator with a load reduction function. The lower engaging device has the weight discharging mechanism,
The upper engaging device has the weight recovery mechanism,
The said weight discharge mechanism of the said lower wrapping device operates when a load equal to or less than a preset lower limit threshold is detected by the load detection unit in a state where the forward step is moving upward. An escalator having the described operation load reducing function. A heavy load prediction unit that predicts that the drive device is heavily loaded;
The upper limit threshold of the weight discharging mechanism of the upper binding device is predicted by the heavy load predicting unit that the heavy load is applied to the drive device in a state where the forward step is moving upward. The escalator which has a driving load reduction function of any one of Claim 1 to 3 which operate | moves before the above load is detected by the said load detection part.

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