JP6536523B2 - Passenger conveyor having movable comb plate and boarding support function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a comb plate and a passenger conveyor.

  Patent Document 1 below describes an escalator that can operate to automatically shift a passenger on a floor plate of an entrance onto a step.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-264851

  In the escalator described in Patent Document 1, the above operation is always performed depending on the shape of the rail guiding the step. For this reason, the escalator can not carry out an operation to automatically shift the passenger onto the step as needed.

  The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger conveyor having a movable comb plate and a boarding support function capable of automatically performing an operation of automatically moving a passenger onto a step as needed.

  A movable comb plate according to the present invention comprises a plate-like portion forming a part of a floor plate at the entrance of a passenger conveyor, and a comb portion provided at one end in the front-rear direction of the plate-like portion and meshed with a step groove. The plate-like portion is movable so that the upper end of the comb portion is higher than the upper end of the step so that the upper end of the comb portion is lower than the upper end of the step.

  A passenger conveyor having a boarding support function according to the present invention detects the movable comb plate, a step in which a groove engaging with the comb portion is formed, a comb drive mechanism for moving the plate-like portion, and a passenger present on the comb portion When the detection of the passenger by the staying sensor and the staying sensor continues for a preset time or more, the upper end of the comb changes from being higher than the upper end of the step to a state where the upper end of the comb is lower than the upper end of the step And a comb drive control unit for operating the comb drive mechanism.

  In the present invention, the plate-like portion of the movable comb plate is movable so that the upper end of the comb portion is higher than the upper end of the step and the upper end of the comb portion is lower than the upper end of the step. For this reason, according to the present invention, it is possible to carry out the operation of automatically shifting the passenger on the step as needed.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of an escalator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view of the entrance of the escalator according to Embodiment 1; FIG. 5 is a top view of the movable comb plate in the first embodiment. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a first state of a movable comb plate of the escalator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second state of the movable comb plate of the escalator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an escalator according to a first embodiment. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the escalator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a first state of the movable comb plate in the second embodiment. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a second state of the movable comb plate in the second embodiment. It is a hardware block diagram of a control panel.

  The passenger conveyor having the movable comb plate and the boarding support 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
In the first embodiment, an escalator will be specifically described as an example of a passenger conveyor. Descriptions of other passenger conveyors such as moving walkways are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the escalator according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the escalator includes a truss 1, an upper entrance 2, a lower entrance 3, a drive unit 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 FIG. 1, the escalator includes a skirt guard 6, a handrail 7 and a step 8. The skirt guard 6 and the handrail 7 are provided on the left and right sides of the step 8 along the direction in which the plurality of steps 8 are arranged. The handrail 7 is formed endlessly. The lower part of the handrail 7 is located inside the skirt guard 6. The plurality of steps 8 are connected by a connecting member (not shown) so as to be arranged between the lower floor and the upper floor. As the connecting member, for example, a step link or a step chain is used. The handrail 7 and the step 8 circulate and move between the upper floor and the lower floor by the operation of the drive device 4.

  Hereinafter, the forward and backward directions of step 8 outside the truss 1 are designated as front, and the front, rear, left, and right of step 8 viewed from the up and down direction are designated. That is, for example, when the escalator is driving up, the upper floor side is the front, and the lower floor side is the rear.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the entrance of the escalator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, the lower entrance 3 of the escalator being driven up. The upper side in FIG. 2 is the front, and the lower side in FIG. 2 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the floor plate of the lower entrance 3 is formed of, for example, a manhole cover 9, a landing plate 10 and a movable comb plate 11. The floor board is supported by, for example, a member provided inside the truss 1. The landing plate 10 is adjacent to the front side of the manhole cover 9. The movable comb plate 11 is adjacent to the front side of the landing plate 10. The movable comb plate 11 is located between the skirt guards 6 on both sides in the left-right direction.

  The movable comb plate 11 has a plate-like portion 12 and a comb portion 13. The comb portion 13 is, for example, a member fixed to the front end portion of the plate-like portion 12. For example, the comb portion 13 may be integrally formed with the plate-like portion 12. The comb portion 13 is provided to mesh with the groove of the moving step 8. That is, at least the lower end portions of the comb teeth of the comb portion 13 enter between the grooves of step 8.

  The comb portion 13 of the movable comb plate 11 is formed longer in the front-rear direction than the comb portion of a normal comb plate. The length of the comb portion 13 may occupy, for example, a third or more of the entire length of the movable comb plate 11 in the front-rear direction. The length of the comb portion 13 may occupy, for example, half or more of the entire length of the movable comb plate 11 in the front-rear direction.

  FIG. 3 is a top view of the movable comb plate in the first embodiment. The right side in FIG. 3 is the front, and the left side in FIG. 3 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the skirt guard 6 is provided with a retention sensor 14. The staying sensor 14 is, for example, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit of a photoelectric sensor. The staying sensor 14 is provided, for example, at a position corresponding to the range in which the comb portion 13 is present in the front-rear direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a part of the landing plate 10 and an end of the movable comb plate 11 in the left-right direction are located below the skirt guard 6. A spring 15 is provided below the left end and the right end of the movable comb plate 11. For example, at least one spring 15 is provided corresponding to each of the left end and the right end of the movable comb plate 11. The lower end of the spring 15 is attached to, for example, a member that supports the floor plate inside the truss 1. The upper end of the spring 15 is attached to the lower surface of the movable comb plate 11, for example.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a first state of the movable comb plate of the escalator according to the first embodiment. The right side in FIG. 4 is the front, and the left side in FIG. 4 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the escalator includes a rotating shaft 16. The rotating shaft 16 is provided along the left-right direction. The rotating shaft 16 is supported by, for example, a member provided inside the skirt guard 6 or the truss 1. The rotating shaft 16 may be, for example, a hinge or the like. The rear end portion of the plate-like portion 12 is supported via a rotating shaft 16. That is, the movable comb plate 11 is not fixed to the landing plate 10, for example. The plate-like portion 12 is rotatable around a rotation axis 16 in a certain angle range. The upper end of the rear end portion of the plate-like portion 12 is located, for example, at the same height as the upper end of the landing plate 10. As shown in FIG. 4, in the first state of the movable comb plate 11, the upper end of the comb portion 13 is higher than the upper end of the step 8.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the escalator includes a cut sensor 17. The cut sensor 17 is, for example, a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit of a photoelectric sensor. The cut sensor 17 is provided, for example, inside the truss 1. For example, the cut sensor 17 is provided at a position overlapping the movement path of step 8 when viewed from the left and right direction. The light emitted by the cut sensor 17 is not blocked by the movable comb plate 11 which is at least the first state.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second state of the movable comb plate of the escalator according to the first embodiment. The right side in FIG. 5 is the front, and the left side in FIG. 5 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the second state of the movable comb plate 11, the upper end of the comb portion 13 is lower than the upper end of the step 8. That is, in the second state, for example, the plate-like portion 12 is rotated such that the front end moves downward, so that the comb teeth of the comb portion 13 enter the groove of step 8 deeper than usual. . Although not shown in FIG. 5, when the movable comb plate 11 is in the second state, the spring 15 is compressed more than when the movable comb plate 11 is in the first state.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the escalator according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the escalator includes the drive device 4, the control panel 5, the staying sensor 14, the cut sensor 17, the notification unit 18, and the comb drive mechanism 19. The control panel 5 includes an operation control unit 20, a determination unit 21, a comb drive control unit 22, and a notification control unit 23. The control panel 5 is electrically connected to the drive device 4, the staying sensor 14, the cut sensor 17, the notification unit 18, and the comb drive mechanism 19.

  The staying sensor 14 detects an object on the comb unit 13. That is, the staying sensor 14 detects, for example, a passenger or the like present on the comb unit 13. The cut sensor 17 detects, for example, step 8 passing below the entrance. That is, the cut sensor 17 does not detect the step 8 at the moment when it overlaps with the cut of the step 8 when viewed from the left and right direction, for example.

  The notification unit 18 is provided, for example, on a skirt guard 6 or the like near the entrance. The notification unit 18 is, for example, a speaker that broadcasts audio information. The notification unit 18 may have, for example, a function of displaying visual information.

  The comb drive mechanism 19 is a mechanism for changing the state of the movable comb plate 11 between the first state and the second state. The comb drive mechanism 19 has, for example, a first lock function that maintains the movable comb plate 11 in the first state and a second lock function that maintains the movable comb plate 11 in the second state. For example, when the first lock function is released when a load larger than a predetermined value is applied to the movable comb plate 11, the state of the movable comb plate 11 changes to the second state. The constant value is, for example, a load that balances the force with which the spring 15 pushes up the movable comb plate 11. Thereafter, for example, when the load applied to the movable comb plate 11 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value and the second locking function is released, the state of the movable comb plate 11 returns to the first state by the force of the spring 15.

  The operation control unit 20 controls the driving device 4 to control the operation of the escalator. That is, the operation control unit 20 controls the movement of step 8.

  The determination unit 21 determines, for example, whether or not the detection of the passenger by the staying sensor 14 has continued for a predetermined time or more. The time is set to, for example, 5 seconds or more. Thereby, based on the detection result of the staying sensor 14, for example, the determining unit 21 determines whether the passenger stays on the comb unit 13 while observing that the passenger gets in at step 8 at the entrance.

  The comb drive control unit 22 controls the comb drive mechanism 19. The comb drive control unit 22 changes the state of the movable comb plate 11 from the first state to the second state, for example, when the determination unit 21 determines that the passenger remains on the comb unit 13 at the entrance / exit. The comb drive mechanism 19 is operated as follows.

  When the state of the movable comb plate 11 changes from the first state to the second state, at least a part of the soles of the feet of the passengers standing on the comb 13 is supported by the upper end of the step 8. That is, when the movable comb plate 11 is in the second state, the passenger automatically transfers to the moving step 8. Hereinafter, the change of the state of the movable comb plate 11 from the first state to the second state is also referred to as a “boarding support operation”.

  The comb drive control unit 22 operates the comb drive mechanism 19 at a timing based on the detection result of the cut sensor 17 when performing the boarding support operation. The comb drive control unit 22 operates the comb drive mechanism 19 so that the movable comb plate 11 is in the second state, for example, when the cut of step 8 is not positioned below the comb unit 13. That is, the comb drive control unit 22 adjusts the timing of the riding support operation so that the passenger stopped on the comb unit 13 does not shift to the break of step 8 based on the detection result by the break sensor 17, for example. Do. The comb drive control unit 22 may also adjust the timing at which the movable comb plate 11 is returned to the first state based on the detection result of the cut sensor 17.

  The notification control unit 23 causes the notification unit 18 to notify information. For example, when the determination unit 21 determines that the passenger remains on the comb unit 13 at the entrance / exit, the notification control unit 23 notifies that the passenger support operation is performed before the support operation is performed. Report from 18

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the escalator according to the first embodiment.

  The control panel 5 determines whether the passenger remains on the comb portion 13 based on the detection result of the staying sensor 14 (step S101). If it is determined in step S101 that the passenger is not staying on the comb portion 13, the process of step S101 is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S101 that the passenger remains on the comb unit 13, the control panel 5 causes the notification unit 18 to notify of the boarding support operation (step S102). Subsequent to step S102, the control panel 5 adjusts the timing of the boarding support operation based on the detection result of the break sensor 17 (step S103). Following step S103, the control panel 5 carries out a boarding support operation (step S104). Following step S104, the comb unit 13 returns to its original position (step S105). After step S105, the process of step S101 is performed.

  In the first embodiment, the movable comb plate 11 includes the plate-like portion 12 and the comb portion 13. The plate-like portion 12 forms a part of the floor plate at the entrance of the passenger conveyor. The comb portion 13 is provided at one end in the front-rear direction of the plate-like portion 12 and engages with the groove of the step 8. The plate-like portion 12 is movable so that the upper end of the comb portion 13 is higher than the upper end of the step 8 so that the upper end of the comb portion 13 is lower than the upper end of the step 8. The passenger standing on the comb 13 automatically transfers to the moving step 8 when the upper end of the comb 13 is lower than the upper end of the step 8. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to carry out the operation of automatically shifting the passenger on the step as needed. As a result, for example, passengers such as elderly people or injured persons can be automatically loaded on the passenger conveyor.

  In the first embodiment, the other end of the plate-like portion 12 in the front-rear direction is supported via the rotation shaft 16 along the left-right direction. The upper end of the comb portion 13 is lower than the upper end of the step 8 when the plate-like portion 12 is rotated such that the other end of the plate-like portion 12 moves downward. That is, even if the upper end of the comb 13 is lower than the upper end of the step 8, the position of the other end of the plate 12 with respect to the landing plate 10 does not change. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, no step is generated between the landing plate 10 and the movable comb plate 11. As a result, the safety of the passenger can be prevented from being reduced.

  In the first embodiment, for example, when the detection of the passenger by the staying sensor 14 continues for a preset time or more, the comb drive control unit 22 starts from the state where the upper end of the comb portion 13 is higher than the upper end of step 8 The comb drive mechanism 19 is operated so that the upper end of the comb portion 13 changes to a state lower than the upper end of the step 8. That is, the passenger conveyor in Embodiment 1 has a boarding support function. The boarding support function operates only when, for example, a passenger such as an elderly person or an injured person hesitates to board a passenger conveyor. As a result, it is possible to prevent the implementation of the boarding support operation for the passengers not requiring the boarding support function.

  In the first embodiment, the comb drive control unit 22 operates the comb drive mechanism 19 at timing based on, for example, the detection result by the cut sensor 17. For this reason, according to the first embodiment, for example, it is possible to prevent a passenger from transferring to the break of step 8. As a result, the safety of the passenger can be prevented from being reduced.

  In the first embodiment, when the detection of the passenger by the staying sensor 14 continues for the preset time or more, for example, the notification control unit 23 operates the comb drive mechanism 19 to perform the boarding support operation. The notification unit 18 makes a notification before. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to warn that the passenger does not lose balance in the boarding support operation. As a result, the safety of the passenger can be prevented from being reduced.

Second Embodiment
The configurations of the movable comb plate and the passenger conveyor having the boarding support function will be described below, focusing on the differences 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. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a first state of the movable comb plate of the escalator according to the second embodiment. The right side in FIG. 8 is the front, and the left side in FIG. 8 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the comb portion 13 in the second embodiment has a front end comb portion 13a, a horizontal comb portion 13b, and a bending comb portion 13c. The front end comb portion 13a has, for example, the same shape as the front end portion of the comb portion 13 in the first embodiment. The horizontal comb portion 13b is continuous with the rear end of the front end comb portion 13a. The upper end of the horizontal comb portion 13 b is formed horizontally at a position lower than the plate portion 12, for example. The bending comb portion 13c is continuous with the rear end of the horizontal comb portion 13b. The bending comb portion 13 c connects the front end portion of the plate portion 12 and the horizontal comb portion 13 b. Thus, in the movable comb plate 11 according to the second embodiment, a step is formed between the plate-like portion 12 and the horizontal comb portion 13 b.

  In the second embodiment, the escalator does not include the rotating shaft 16. The movable comb plate 11 is supported by the skirt guard 6 or a member provided inside the truss 1. The movable comb plate 11 is supported so as to be movable in a certain range along the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 8, in the first state of the movable comb plate 11, the upper end of the horizontal comb portion 13 b is higher than the upper end of the step 8.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a second state of the movable comb plate of the escalator according to the second embodiment. The right side in FIG. 9 is the front, and the left side in FIG. 9 is the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the second state of the movable comb plate 11, the upper end of the horizontal comb portion 13 b is lower than the upper end of the step 8. That is, in the second state, for example, the entire movable comb plate 11 is sunk so that the front end comb portion 13a and the horizontal comb portion 13b enter the groove of step 8 deeper than usual. Although not shown in FIG. 9, when the movable comb plate 11 is in the second state, the spring 15 is compressed more than when the movable comb plate 11 is in the first state.

  In the second embodiment, the plate-like portion 12 is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The comb portion 13 has a horizontal comb portion 13 b located lower than the plate portion 12 and a bending comb portion connecting one end of the plate portion 12 and the horizontal comb portion 13 b. When the plate-like portion 12 moves downward, the horizontal comb portion 13 b is in a state in which the upper end is lower than the upper end of the step 8. That is, when the height of the upper end of the horizontal comb portion 13 b becomes lower than the upper end of the step 8, the horizontal comb portion 13 b does not tilt. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the entire soles of the feet of the passengers on the horizontal comb portion 13b can be brought into contact with the step 8 simultaneously. As a result, it is possible to prevent a passenger who gets on the step automatically from losing balance.

  In the first and second embodiments, the staying sensor 14 may be any sensor that can detect that the passenger is staying at the entrance. The retention sensor 14 may be, for example, a weight sensor that detects a load applied to the movable comb plate 11. The staying sensor 14 may be, for example, a camera that captures an entrance.

  In the first and second embodiments, movable comb plate 11 is applicable at least to the entrance and exit used as the entrance of the passenger conveyor. That is, the movable comb plate 11 may be provided, for example, in the upper entrance 2 of the escalator being driven downward.

  FIG. 10 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control panel.

  The functions of the operation control unit 20, the determination unit 21, the comb drive control unit 22, and the notification control unit 23 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. 10 shows an example in which the processing circuit is partially formed as dedicated hardware 50 and includes a processor 51 and a 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, each function of the operation control unit 20, the determination unit 21, the comb drive control unit 22, and the notification control unit 23 may be software, firmware, or software and firmware It is realized by the combination of 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.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Truss 2 Upper entrance / exit 3 Lower entrance 4 Drive 5 Control board 6 Skirt guard 7 Handrail 8 Step 9 Manhole cover 10 Landing plate 11 Movable comb plate 12 Plate-like part 13 Comb part 13a Front comb part 13b Horizontal comb part 13c Retained comb part 14 Sensor 15 Spring 16 Rotating shaft 17 Break sensor 18 Notification unit 19 Comb drive mechanism 20 Operation control unit 21 Determination unit 22 Comb drive control unit 23 Notification control unit 50 Dedicated hardware 51 Processor 52 Memory

Claims (5)

A step in which a groove is formed,
A plate-shaped portion which forms a part of the floor plate in the entrance of the passenger conveyor, provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the plate portion, and a comb part meshing with the groove of the step, the plate-like portion, a movable comb plate which is movable so that an upper end of the comb from the high state to change to a lower state than an upper end of the step than the upper end of the upper end of the comb section is the step,
A comb drive mechanism for moving the plate-like portion;
A retention sensor for detecting a passenger present on the comb;
When the detection of the passenger by the staying sensor continues for a preset time or more, the upper end of the comb changes from being higher than the upper end of the step to a state where the upper end of the comb is lower than the upper end of the step A comb drive control unit for operating the comb drive mechanism to
Passenger conveyor with boarding support function. The other end of the plate-like portion in the front-rear direction is supported via a rotation axis along the left-right direction,
2. The boarding support according to claim 1, wherein when the plate-like portion is rotated such that the other end of the plate-like portion moves downward, the comb portion has a top end lower than an upper end of the step. Passenger conveyor with features . The plate-like portion is movably supported along the vertical direction,
The comb portion is
A horizontal comb portion lower than the plate portion;
A bending comb portion connecting the one end of the plate portion and the horizontal comb portion;
Have
The passenger conveyor having a boarding support function according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal comb portion has an upper end lower than an upper end of the step when the plate-like portion moves downward. And a break sensor for detecting a step passing under the entrance.
The passenger conveyor having a boarding support function according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the comb drive control unit operates the comb drive mechanism at a timing based on a detection result by the cut sensor. A notification unit provided near the entrance for notifying information;
A notification control unit configured to cause the notification unit to notify that the passenger assistance operation is to be performed when detection of the passenger by the staying sensor continues for a predetermined time or more;
A passenger conveyor having the boarding support function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

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