JP6624977B2 - Variable speed passenger conveyor system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable-speed passenger conveyor system, and more particularly, to a variable-speed passenger conveyor system capable of changing a transport speed of a transport path.

  In a passenger conveyor such as an escalator and a moving sidewalk, the transfer speed of a transfer path for carrying and carrying passengers is substantially determined. For example, Patent Literature 1 describes a two-speed escalator that switches to a speed of 30 m / min during off-peak hours and to a speed of 40 m / min during rush hours in the morning and evening when crowded with commuters.

  In addition, as an example of changing the transport speed of the transport path according to the situation, Patent Literature 2 discloses processing an image of a photographing unit provided at an ascending port and a descending port to determine the degree of congestion, and according to the degree of congestion. A variable speed escalator for automatically adjusting the step speed is disclosed. Further, Patent Literature 3 discloses a variable speed escalator that can switch to a low speed by selecting a passenger with respect to an escalator operating at a predetermined speed.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-43480 JP 2007-55727 A JP-A-11-335054

  Passengers have their own circumstances, such as when they want to hurry or when they want to ride with caution, and often cannot meet the needs of passengers at a uniform transport speed. Therefore, there is a demand for a variable-speed passenger conveyor that can operate at a transport speed appropriately corresponding to passenger demand.

The variable-speed passenger conveyor system according to the present invention is provided at a predetermined position before the landing, and is usually set to a normal transport speed, and changes the transport speed of the transport path in a continuous change range by a passenger operation. it and operator obtains operation state of the operator, within the acquired maximum speed and minimum speed determined in advance according to the operation state, the variable speed control device for setting the conveying speed of the conveying path, the landing port A state imaging device is provided at a predetermined position in front of the vehicle , and images a state of a passenger operating the operation device. Is set to decelerate the operator's desired speed set in accordance with the operation state in a predetermined range .

  According to the variable-speed passenger conveyor system having the above-described configuration, the passenger can change the transport speed of the transport path in a continuous change range according to his / her situation by operating the operator. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately cope with the transport speed requested by the passenger.

  The desired speed of the operator when the passenger operates the operator may not be appropriate depending on the situation of the passenger. According to the variable-speed passenger conveyor system having the above-described configuration, the operating element request speed is reduced in a predetermined range based on the image captured by the state imaging device, so that the transport speed can be appropriately adjusted to the passenger's request and situation.

  In the variable-speed passenger conveyor system according to the present invention, the predetermined deceleration criterion is that the condition of the passenger acquired by the captured image is that the passenger uses a predetermined walking aid, and the size of the passenger's luggage is a predetermined size. At least one of the following conditions: the length of the hem of the passenger's clothes is equal to or greater than a predetermined length, and the passenger is accompanied by an infant holding hands. Is set to a transport speed that is reduced from the operator's desired speed by a predetermined deceleration or less to a predetermined attentive transport speed range when a predetermined deceleration criterion is satisfied.

  According to the passenger conveyor system having the above-described configuration, in the case of a predetermined typical type, the transport speed that is reduced toward the predetermined attentive transport speed range is set. At this time, if the speed is reduced far away from the operator's desired speed, the passenger may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the transport speed is set to be lower than the operator's desired speed by a predetermined deceleration or less. As a result, the transport speed can be appropriately adjusted to the needs and circumstances of the passenger.

  A variable-speed passenger conveyor system according to the present invention is provided at a predetermined position in front of a landing entrance, and an operator capable of inputting a deceleration request for reducing a transport speed of a transport path normally set to a normal transport speed; A state imaging device that is provided at a predetermined position in front of the mouth and captures a state of a passenger operating the operation element, a deceleration request input from the operation element, and a predetermined maximum speed based on an image captured by the state imaging apparatus And a variable speed control device that sets the transport speed of the transport path within the range of the minimum speed, and the variable speed control device determines whether the state of the passenger acquired by the captured image is a predetermined walking aid. That the size of the passenger's luggage is greater than or equal to the prescribed size, the length of the hem of the passenger's clothing is greater than or equal to the prescribed length, and the infant with the passenger holding hands At least one of When it corresponds to the predetermined state, the conveying speed of the conveying path is set to a predetermined care transfer speed, and when it does not correspond to any of the predetermined states, it is higher than the care transfer speed but lower than the normal transfer speed. Is set to the predetermined reduced transport speed.

  According to the variable-speed passenger conveyor system having the above-described configuration, a passenger who desires deceleration need only operate the operator, and does not need to specify the degree of deceleration. When the state of the passenger determined from the image captured by the state imaging device falls into a predetermined typical type, the transport speed is automatically set to the attentive transport speed. If not, the transport speed is set to a predetermined reduced transport speed that is higher than the attentive transport speed but lower than the normal transport speed. As a result, it is possible to automatically set the transport speed appropriately in accordance with passenger demands and situations.

  In the variable-speed passenger conveyor system according to the present invention, when operating the operating element, the variable-speed passenger conveyor has passenger detection means for detecting other passengers already in the transport path, and the variable speed control device detects another passenger in the transport path. During this period, the transport speed is not changed.

  According to the variable-speed passenger conveyor system having the above-described configuration, when there is already a passenger on the transport path, the transport speed is not changed, so that the passengers on the transport path do not feel uncomfortable.

  The variable-speed passenger conveyor according to the present invention can be operated at a transport speed appropriately corresponding to passenger demand.

It is a lineblock diagram of a variable-speed passenger conveyor system of an embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure showing the example of the operation stand in the variable-speed passenger conveyor system of an embodiment concerning the present invention. As another example of the operator console, this is an example of an operator console used for a passenger conveyor of a type in which a passenger starts operating when a passenger approaches. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the setting of conveyance speed in the variable speed passenger conveyor system of embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure showing a predetermined deceleration standard in a variable-speed passenger conveyor system of an embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of a manipulator in another embodiment. It is a figure showing a predetermined deceleration standard in another embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following, as a passenger conveyor, an up escalator for transporting passengers from a lower floor to an upper floor will be described. . Further, in addition to the passenger conveyor that moves up and down, the passenger conveyor may be a moving sidewalk that is a substantially flat transport path.

  The shapes, dimensions, transport speeds, and the like described below are examples for explanation, and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the passenger conveyor and the like. In the following, the same reference numerals are given to the same elements in all the drawings, and redundant description will be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an escalator system 10 as a variable-speed passenger conveyor system. Hereinafter, the escalator system 10 will be referred to as the escalator 10 unless otherwise specified. The escalator 10 is provided in the vicinity of the landing port 12, and a lifting / lowering transport device 11 for transporting the passenger 8 on a plurality of steps 16 moving between the landing port 12 on the lower floor of the building and the landing port 14 on the upper floor. The control unit 40 includes an operation table 40, imaging devices 44 and 48, and a control device 70. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the passenger 8 is just at the landing port 12 and no one is on the step 16 yet. A balustrade 20 is disposed on the side where the passengers 8 ride from the landing 12, that is, on the transport path 18 where the steps 16 move between the lower floor and the upper floor, and behind the transport path 18, that is, inside the structure of the building Is provided with a truss 22.

  FIG. 1 shows the Z direction as the vertical direction. The + Z direction is the direction from the lower floor to the upper floor, and the -Z direction is the direction of gravity in the opposite direction.

  The step 16 is also referred to as a step, and is a moving step for carrying passengers, which is attached to a plurality of step chains 24 in an endless loop shape. A right step chain and a left step chain are engaged with both left and right ends of a step shaft provided on each step 16, respectively. In FIG. 1, a step chain 24 is represented as a right step chain.

  The balustrade 20 is a fixed panel that is provided on both sides of the transport path 18 of the escalator 10, that is, on both sides of the plurality of steps 16, and has a function of securing the safety of the passenger 8 and holding a movable handrail movably. The moving handrail is a handrail that can be gripped by the passenger 8 riding on the steps 16, is slidably held on the upper part of the balustrade 20, and moves in an endless loop in synchronization with the movement of the steps 16 by a handrail drive chain.

  The truss 22 is a part of a building structure in which a moving mechanism of the steps 16, a moving mechanism of a moving handrail, and the like are arranged. The truss 22 includes an upper floor side horizontal portion, a lower floor side horizontal portion, and an inclined portion connecting between the horizontal portion and the lower floor side horizontal portion. The space under the floor of the horizontal part of the upper floor of the truss 22 is a machine room, in which a drive motor 26, a drive sprocket 28 and the like are arranged, and the driven sprocket 30 is arranged in the space of the lower horizontal part. The drive sprocket 28 and the driven sprocket 30 are rotatably supported on left and right wall surfaces of the truss 22, and the step chain 24 is suspended between the drive sprocket 28 and the driven sprocket 30. The handrail drive chain is driven by a drive sprocket 28 together with the step chain 24. The moving speed of the step chain 24 is the transport speed V of the transport path 18.

  An operator console 40 and two imaging devices 44 and 48 are provided in front of the landing 12. The front side is determined in consideration of the travel time until the passenger 8 actually rides on the transport path 18 when the operation of the operator 42 is performed on the operator console 40. The control device 70 changes the rotation speed of the drive motor 26 in accordance with the operation of the operation element 42, and the processing time until the transfer speed V of the transfer path 18 is actually changed is sufficient for the traveling time of the passenger 8. The operator table 40 is disposed at a position on the near side with respect to the entrance of the transport path 18 so as to be able to secure it.

  The operator console 40 is an operator console having an operator 42 that can be operated by the passenger 8. Among the two imaging devices 44 and 48, the first imaging device 44 is a state imaging device that captures the state of the passenger 8 who operates the operation element 42 by setting the vicinity of the operation table 40 as an imaging range 45. The captured image 46 captured by the first imaging device 44 is transmitted to the control device 70 via an appropriate signal line. The second imaging device 48 is a transport path imaging device used as a passenger detection unit that determines whether or not the passenger 8 is already in the transport path 18 by setting the entire view of the transport path 18 as an imaging range 49. The captured image 50 captured by the second imaging device 48 is transmitted to the control device 70 via an appropriate signal line. Since the control device 70 performs a process of masking a portion other than the transport path 18 on the captured image 50, the range masked by the control device 70 is indicated by a shaded region in the captured image 50 illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the operation console 40. The operation console 40 is disposed on the left side or the right side on the front side of the landing 12 or on both sides. FIG. 2 shows an example in which it is arranged on the left side of the landing 12. The operation console 40 is a column-shaped operation console, and an operation console 42 is arranged within a reach of the passenger 8. The operation element 42 is a handle-shaped member and is movable within a range of the operation groove 52. The operation element 42 can move within the range of the operation groove 52, but stays at the moved position, does not drop due to its own weight, for example, until the next time the passenger moves or is reset by the control device 70. Maintain the operated position. The operation position is maintained by an appropriate frictional force between the operation groove 52 and the operation element 42. The operator 42 is a passenger operator for continuously changing the transport speed V of the transport path 18 by the operation of the passenger 8. The operation groove 52 extends along the longitudinal direction of the column of the operation table 40, and the upper limit defines the maximum speed V _MAX at which the transport speed V can be changed, and the lower limit is the minimum speed at which the transport speed V can be changed. Determine V _MIN . Mark 54 is a reference line indicating the normal conveying speed V ₀ is the conveyance speed in the normal operation state.

  An operation section 41 is provided inside the operation section 40. The operation unit 41 includes a position detection sensor that detects the position of the operation unit 42 along the Z direction, and a return actuator that returns the position of the operation unit 42 to the position of the mark 54. The operation unit 41 is connected to the control device 70 by an appropriate signal line, transmits detection data of the position detection sensor to the control device 70, and drives a return actuator when receiving a reset signal from the control device 70. To return the operation element 42 to the position of the mark 54. A linear encoder is used as the position detection sensor, and a small motor is used as the return actuator.

  In the operator table 40 shown in FIG. 2, the operator 42 moves in the Z direction. Alternatively, the operator 42 may move in the horizontal direction. Further, instead of the operation element 42 that moves linearly, an operation element that moves circumferentially, such as a rotary arm, may be used. In this case, a disk-shaped encoder can be used as a position detection sensor.

The passenger 8 can grasp the operation element 42 and bring it to an arbitrary position between the upper limit and the lower limit of the operation groove 52 with the mark 54 indicating the normal transport speed V ₀ as a guide. Accordingly, the transport speed V of the transport path 18 can be changed not stepwise but continuously according to the circumstances of the passenger 8.

  An indicator light 56 provided at the upper part of the operation console 40 is a display provided to indicate that the operation of the operation device 42 on the operation console 40 is invalid when another passenger 8 is already present in the transport path 18. Device. For example, when there is already another passenger in the transport path 18, a red light is lit to indicate that the operation of the operating element 42 is invalid, and when there is no other passenger in the transport path 18, the operation is performed. The light is turned off to indicate that the child 42 can be operated. This is an example, and other lighting methods may be used.Instead of displaying by lighting, instead of using a character display, "Please wait for a while for the speed change operation because another customer is currently using it." Please change the position of the handle to the speed you want. " Instead of character display, voice display may be performed. Further, lighting, character display, and voice display may be displayed in an appropriate combination.

  The process of invalidating the operation of the operation element 42 on the operation table 40 when another passenger 8 is already present in the transport path 18 is executed by the control device 70 based on the captured image 50 of the second imaging device 48. I do. By performing this processing, if the passenger 8 is already on the transport path 18, the transport speed V is not changed, so that the passenger 8 on the transport path 18 does not feel uncomfortable.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an operation console 60 used for a passenger conveyor of a type in which the operation starts when the passenger 8 approaches. The operation console 60 is composed of a pair of an operation console 62L disposed on the left side of the landing 12 and an operation console 62R disposed on the right side. In order to detect that the passenger 8 passes between the operation consoles 62L and 62R, a left sensor 64L is disposed on the operation console 62L, and a right sensor 64R is disposed on the operation console 62R. The left sensor 64L and the right sensor 64R are light detection sensors. Although FIG. 3 shows an example in which the left sensor 64L is a light emitting element and the right sensor 64R is a light receiving element, the arrangement relationship between the light receiving element and the light emitting element may be reversed. Instead of a light detection sensor, a magnetic sensor, a temperature sensor, or the like may be used.

  In the operation table 60 of FIG. 3, the operation elements 42, the operation grooves 52, and the marks 54 are the same as those described in the operation table 40 of FIG. When it is detected that the passenger 8 passes between the operation consoles 62L and 62R, the control device 70 changes the setting of the rotation speed of the drive motor 26 in accordance with the operation of the operation console 42, and The motor 26 is driven. When the transport path 18 starts to move accordingly, the indicator light 66 is turned on. The lighting of the indicator light 66 informs the passenger 8 of the start of movement of the transport path 18 and informs the next passenger that the transport path 18 is moving. Therefore, while the indicator light 66 is on, the transport path 18 is moving, and the next passenger can be notified that the transport speed V is not changed even if the operator 42 is operated. Thus, the indicator lamp 56 described with reference to FIG. 2 can be omitted from the operation console 60 shown in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 1 again, the control device 70 controls the operation of each component of the escalator 10 as a whole. Here, in particular, the transport speed V of the transport path 18 in the lifting / lowering transport device 11 is variably controlled based on the operation state of the operator 42 of the operator console 40 and the captured images 46 and 50 captured by the image capturing devices 44 and 48. I do. As described above, the control device 70 can be referred to as a variable speed control device 70, but here, the variable speed control device 70 is simply referred to as the control device 70.

  The control device 70 includes an arithmetic processing unit 72, a storage unit 74, and a drive control circuit 76. As the arithmetic processing unit 72, a computer suitable for controlling the escalator 10 is used. The arithmetic processing unit 72 includes a manipulator operation state acquisition unit 80, a passenger state determination unit 84 that determines the state of the passenger 8 using the first imaging device 44, and the transport path 18 using the second imaging device 48. A passenger presence / absence determination unit 86 for determining the presence / absence of the passenger 8 in the vehicle and a transport speed setting unit 88.

  These functions are realized by the arithmetic processing unit 72 executing software. Specifically, this is realized by the arithmetic processing unit 72 executing an escalator transfer speed setting program. Instead of software, some of the functions may be realized by hardware.

  The storage unit 74 communicating with the arithmetic processing unit 72 stores a predetermined deceleration reference file 90 used for setting the transport speed V, in addition to storing software. As the storage unit 74, an appropriate memory can be used. The storage unit 74 may be included in the arithmetic processing unit 72.

  The drive control circuit 76 is a circuit that drives the drive motor 26 at a rotation speed corresponding to the transport speed V set by the transport speed setting unit 88 of the arithmetic processing device 72. Drive control circuit 76 includes an inverter 92 that generates a drive signal for drive motor 26.

The operation and effect of the above configuration will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting the transport speed V in the control device 70. Each procedure corresponds to the processing procedure of the escalator transport speed setting program. When escalator system 10 is activated, the initialization of the components is carried out to initialize the control device 70, the driving motor 26 is started to move the conveying path 18 at a normal conveying speed V _0. Then, at an appropriate control cycle, the states of the operation unit 41 and the two imaging devices 44 and 48 are acquired. Here, first, it is determined whether or not the passenger 8 is on the transport path 18 (S10). This processing is executed by the function of the passenger presence / absence determination unit 86 of the control device 70. Specifically, the captured image 50 of the second image capturing device 48 is compared with a reference image in a state where the passenger 8 is not present, and when an object image having a predetermined size or more is recognized outside the transport path 18, the transported image is transported. It is determined that there is a passenger 8 on the road 18, and otherwise, it is determined that there is no passenger 8 on the transport path 18. The predetermined size of the object image serving as a reference for the determination can be, for example, about several steps of the steps 16.

  If the determination in S10 is affirmative, the process proceeds to S18, in which the transport speed V is not changed. If the determination in S10 is negative, the process proceeds to S12, and the operation unit 41 is set to the standard state. The standard state of the operation unit 41 is to set the position of the operation unit 42 to the position of the mark 54. Specifically, a reset signal is transmitted from the control device 70 to the operation unit 41, and when the position of the operation unit 42 is other than the position of the mark 54, the return actuator is driven to move the operation unit 42 to the position of the mark 54. Let it return.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there is an operation of the operation element 42 (S14). This process is executed by the function of the operation element operation state acquisition unit 80 of the control device 70. Specifically, the control device 70 acquires data of the position detection sensor of the operation unit 41. If the acquired data is data indicating a position other than the mark 54, it is determined that the operation of the operation element 42 has been performed. If the obtained data remains at the position of the mark 54, it is determined that the operation of the operation element 42 has not been performed. In order to suppress the determination error, it is preferable to provide a detection dead zone before and after the position of the mark 54, and determine that the operation of the operator 42 is performed when the operator 42 is located at a position beyond the detection dead zone. If the determination in S14 is negative, the process proceeds to S18, and the transport speed V is not changed.

  If the determination in S14 is affirmative, the process proceeds to S16, in which it is determined whether or not the state of the passenger 8 meets a predetermined deceleration criterion (S16). This processing is executed by the function of the passenger state determination unit 84 of the control device 70. At this time, the predetermined deceleration reference file 90 stored in the storage unit 74 is referred to. If the determination in S16 is negative, the process proceeds to S20, in which the speed is changed to the transport speed V indicated by the operation state of the operation element 42. On the other hand, if the result in S16 is affirmative, the process proceeds to S22, in which the speed is reduced toward the predetermined attentive conveyance speed range. In other words, the predetermined deceleration criterion means that the operation of the operator 42 of the passenger 8 is performed when it is considered that the transport speed in a state where the passenger 8 operates the operator 42 is too high in view of the state of the passenger 8. This is a criterion for setting a more appropriate deceleration state than the state.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the predetermined deceleration reference and the attentive transport speed range. FIG. 5 shows the contents of the predetermined deceleration reference file 90 stored in the storage unit 74. The vertical axis in FIG. 5 is the transport speed V, and the horizontal axis is a diagram schematically illustrating the state of the passenger 8 based on the captured image 46 captured by the first imaging device 44. At the transport speed V on the vertical axis, the maximum speed V _MAX is 40 m / min, the minimum speed V _MIN is 10 m / min, and the normal transport speed V ₀ is 30 m / min. Here, the predetermined attentive transport speed range 94 is a range indicated by oblique lines and is in a range of 20 m / min to 10 m / min. These are examples for explanation, and can be appropriately changed according to the specifications of the escalator 10.

  The horizontal axis in FIG. 5 shows six examples of the state of the passenger 8 from state (A) to state (F). Of these, the states (A) and (B) are examples in which it is not necessary to pay special attention to the transport speed V, and the states (C) to (F) preferably give special attention to the transport speed V. It is an example considered to be. The state (A) is a case where the vehicle can be recognized as a normal pedestrian, and the state (B) is a case where the vehicle rushes and comes to the landing 12.

  The state (C) is a case where the passenger 8 uses a predetermined walking aid. The predetermined walking aid is a walking stick, a guide stick, a crutch, or the like, and is an assisting tool that the passenger 8 holds on his arm and comes into contact with the floor surface. State (D) is a case where the size of the baggage of the passenger 8 is equal to or larger than a predetermined size. The luggage in this case is a suitcase, a carry bag, or the like, in which the passenger 8 holds the luggage handle on his arm, and the car on the floor of the luggage contacts the floor of the landing 12, and the passenger 8 It does not include what you simply have on your arm. The states (C) and (D) may be considered as a difference in size on an image. The state (E) is a case where the length of the skirt of the clothes of the passenger 8 is equal to or more than a predetermined length, and a long dress in which the feet of the passenger 8 are hidden by the clothes and hardly recognized. The state (F) is a case where the passenger 8 is accompanied by an infant holding hands. The passenger 8 is an adult, and the infant may be less than about half the height of the passenger.

  The distinction between the states (A) to (F) is performed as follows based on the data of the captured image 46 of the first imaging device 44. The first imaging device 44 is arranged near the operation console 40 at an appropriate position where an entire view of the passenger 8 approaching the operation device 42 can be imaged. The captured image 46 is compared with a reference image in a state where there is no passenger, and when an object image of a predetermined size or more is recognized at a place other than the landing 12 and the operation console 40, the object image is used as an image of the passenger 8. Identify. With respect to the specified image of the passenger 8, first, a face portion is specified. The face part is identified by comparing the area of the skin color part, the characteristic items such as eyes, mouth, nose, and ears with several types of comparative images registered in advance. Part. When the face portion is specified, a portion between the face portion and the floor is specified as a torso portion, and portions branched from the torso portion are specified as arms and legs. There may be some hidden parts. In this way, when the arms and legs of the passenger 8 are specified in the captured image 46, next, any of the states (A) to (F) is applied.

  When two face portions are specified in the captured image 46, and one face is the face of the passenger 8 and the position of the other face is less than half the height of the passenger 8 Can be applied to the case of the passenger 8 with the infant in the state (F). Next, in a passenger in which only one face is specified, when both legs are not specified, it is assumed that the passenger 8 in the state (E) is wearing long-hemed clothes such as a long dress. Can be. When it is determined that there is an object between the portion of the passenger 8 specified as the arm and the floor of the landing 12, it is considered that the state (C) or (D). If the size of the object is equal to or larger than the predetermined size, the case (D) can be applied to the object, and if it is smaller than the predetermined size, the case (C) can be applied. When the face, the torso, the arms, and the legs of the passenger 8 are specified in the captured image 46 and do not correspond to the states (C) to (F), the state is applied to the state (A) or the state (B). The above determination method is an exemplification for explanation, and the determination may be performed using other image recognition techniques. In addition, the states (C) to (F) are examples for explaining a case where it is considered that it is better to pay special attention to the transport speed V, and the states of the passenger 8 using the escalator 10 Accordingly, another state may be set.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when any of the states (C) to (F) applies, a predetermined deceleration criterion is applied. If the conditions (A) and (B) apply, the predetermined deceleration criterion is not applied. The predetermined deceleration criterion will be described using the relationship between the operator's desired speed indicated by the operation state of the operator 42 of the passenger 8 and the actually set transport speed V.

  As an example, assuming that six different passengers 8 respectively operate the operators 42 corresponding to the states (A) to (F), the required speeds of the operators are indicated by white circles in FIG. The passenger 8 in the state (A) operates the operating element 42 at about 25 m / min, and the passenger 8 in the state (B) operates the operator 42 at about 40 m / min. The passenger 8 in the state (C) is about 18 m / min, the passenger 8 in the state (D) is about 25 m / min, the passenger 8 in the state (E) is about 27 m / min, and the passenger 8 in the state (F) is about 18 m / min. The operator 42 is operated at 22 m / min.

  In these cases, the transport speed setting unit 88 of the control device 70 determines whether or not the state of the passenger 8 meets the predetermined deceleration criterion in S16 according to the flowchart of FIG. In the example of FIG. 5, if the state of the passenger 8 is the state (A) or (B), the determination in S16 is denied, the process proceeds to S20, and the speed is changed to the transport speed V indicated by the operation state of the operation element 42. . In FIG. 5, the transfer speed set by the control device 70 is indicated by a black circle. As shown in FIG. 5, in both cases (A) and (B), the black circle has the same transport speed V as the white circle.

  In the example of FIG. 5, when the state of the passenger 8 is any one of the states (C) to (F), S16 is affirmed, the process proceeds to S22, and the speed is reduced toward the predetermined care transfer speed range 94. Is performed. In FIG. 5, in the state (C), since the white circle is already within the attentive transport speed range 94, in this case, no deceleration toward the attentive transport speed range 94 is performed, and the black circle has the same transport speed as the white circle. In the states (D) to (F), the white circles are on the higher speed side than the attentive transport speed range 94, so that the speed is reduced toward the attentive transport speed range 94. Since the passenger 8 has already indicated the desired speed of the operator by operating the operator 42, if the speed is greatly reduced therefrom, the passenger 8 will feel uncomfortable. Therefore, the deceleration is performed toward the attentive conveyance speed range 94 at a predetermined deceleration or less.

  In the example of FIG. 5, the speed is reduced by 5 m / min from the desired speed of the white circle to the attentive conveyance speed range 94. In the case of the state (D), since the required speed of the white circle is 25 m / min, the speed is reduced by 5 m / min, and the transport speed V is set to 20 m / min. In the state (E), the required speed of the white circle is 27 m / min, so the speed is reduced by 5 m / min, and the transport speed V is set to 22 m / min. In the state (F), since the required speed of the white circle is 22 m / min, the speed is reduced by 5 m / min, and the transport speed V is set to 17 m / min. As described above, the deceleration toward the attentive transport speed range 94 is a gentle deceleration so as not to give the passenger 8 an uncomfortable feeling. Therefore, the transport speed V finally set by the deceleration is not necessarily the attentive transport speed. It does not necessarily fall within the range 94.

  As described above, by using the operator 42 that can continuously set the operator's desired speed and the two image pickup devices 44 and 48, each situation such as a case where the user wants to hurry or wants to ride with care should be taken. The escalator 10 can operate at an appropriate transport speed V in response to a request of the passenger 8 having the escalator.

  In the above description, the passenger 8 operates the operator 42 himself to determine the operator's desired speed. Alternatively, the passenger 8 can simply press the switch button. FIG. 6 shows an operation console 96 provided with an attentive switch 98 as a push button. The operation console 96 is installed at the same location as the operation console 40 in FIG. The two imaging devices 44 and 48 are used as they are.

  When the passenger 8 does not press the attentive switch 98 of the operation console 96, it is the same as when the operator 42 is not operated in FIG. 1, and similarly to S18 in FIG. 4, the transfer speed V is not changed. When the passenger 8 presses the attention switch 98 of the operation console 96, it is determined whether or not the state of the passenger 8 conforms to the predetermined deceleration criterion, similarly to S16 of FIG. The state of the passenger 8 that meets the predetermined deceleration criterion is any one of the states (C) to (F) described with reference to FIG.

  When it is determined that the state of the passenger 8 conforms to the predetermined deceleration standard, the transport speed V of the transport path 18 is set to a predetermined attentive transport speed. The attentive conveying speed is different from the attentive conveying speed range 94 in FIG. 5 and is a predetermined speed. For example, the median transfer speed of 15 m / min in the care transfer speed range 94 in FIG. FIG. 7 shows the care transfer speed 100 in the states (C) to (F).

When it is determined that the state of the passenger 8 does not meet the predetermined deceleration criterion, the state of the passenger 8 is the state (A) or (B). Here, since the passenger 8 in the state (B) is in a hurry and runs and comes to the landing 12, the attention switch 98 is not pressed. Accordingly, the conveying speed V is not changed and remains normal conveying speed V _0. When the state of the passenger 8 is the state (A), the transport speed V of the transport path 18 is set to a predetermined predetermined reduced transport speed. The predetermined reduced transport speed is a transport speed higher than the attentive transport speed 100 but lower than the normal transport speed V ₀ . In the example of FIG. 7, since the careful transport speed 100 is 15 m / min and the normal transport speed V ₀ is 30 m / min, the predetermined reduced transport speed is set to 25 m / min. FIG. 7 shows the predetermined reduced transport speed 102 for the state (A).

  By providing the attention switch 98 and the two imaging devices 44 and 48 on the escalator 10 as described above, the passenger 8 can be more careful by pressing the attention switch 98 when he / she wants to be careful. Operation at an appropriate transport speed.

  8 Passenger, 10 Escalator (system) (Variable speed passenger conveyor system), 11 Elevator / Carrying device, 12 Landing entrance, 14 Exit, 16 steps, 18 Conveyance path, 20 Railing, 22 Truss, 24 Step chain, 26 Drive motor , 28 drive sprocket, 30 driven sprocket, 40, 60, 62L, 62R, 96 operator table, 41 operator section, 42 operator, 44, 48 imaging device, 45, 49 imaging range, 46, 50 imaging image, 52 Operation groove, 54 mark, 56, 66 indicator light, 64L left sensor, 64R right sensor, 70 (variable speed) control device, 72 arithmetic processing device, 74 storage unit, 76 drive control circuit, 80 operation element operation state acquisition unit, 84 Passenger status determination unit, 86 Passenger presence / absence determination unit, 88 Transport speed setting unit, 90 Predetermined deceleration reference file 92 inverter, 94 attentive conveying speed range, 98 attentive switch, 100 attentive conveying speed, 102 predetermined deceleration conveying speed.

Claims (4)

An operator provided at a predetermined position in front of the landing entrance, which is usually set to a normal transport speed, and which can change the transport speed of the transport path in a continuous change range by a passenger's operation,
Acquiring the operation state of the operating element, within a range of a maximum speed and a minimum speed predetermined according to the acquired operation state, a speed variable control device that sets the transport speed of the transport path,
A state imaging device is provided at a predetermined position in front of the landing, and captures a state of the passenger operating the operation element ,
The variable speed control device,
A variable-speed passenger conveyor system for performing a setting to decelerate an operator request speed set according to the operation state of the operator within a predetermined range based on an image captured by the state imaging device and according to a predetermined predetermined deceleration criterion. . The variable speed passenger conveyor system according to claim 1 ,
The predetermined deceleration criterion is:
The state of the passenger acquired by the captured image,
The passenger is using a predetermined walking aid,
The size of the passenger's luggage is equal to or greater than a predetermined size;
The length of the hem of the passenger's clothes is not less than a predetermined length,
Said passenger is accompanied by an infant holding hands,
The setting of decelerating in the predetermined range is, when the predetermined deceleration criterion is satisfied, toward the predetermined attentive transport speed range, the transport speed reduced from the operator's desired speed to a predetermined deceleration or less. Set variable speed passenger conveyor system. An operator provided at a predetermined position in front of the landing entrance and capable of inputting a deceleration request to reduce the transport speed of the transport path which is normally set to the normal transport speed,
A state imaging device that is provided at a predetermined position in front of the landing and captures a state of a passenger operating the operation element,
A speed variable control device that sets the transport speed of the transport path, within the range of a predetermined maximum speed and a minimum speed, based on the input of the deceleration request in the operator and a captured image of the state imaging device; ,
With
The variable speed control device,
The state of the passenger acquired by the captured image,
The passenger is using a predetermined walking aid,
The size of the passenger's luggage is equal to or greater than a predetermined size;
The length of the hem of the passenger's clothes is not less than a predetermined length,
When the passenger is accompanied by an infant holding a hand, the transport speed of the transport path is set to a predetermined attentive transport speed when at least one predetermined state is satisfied. If not, the variable-speed passenger conveyor system sets a predetermined reduced transport speed higher than the attentive transport speed but lower than the normal transport speed. The variable-speed passenger conveyor system according to claim 1 or 3 ,
At the time of the operation of the operating element, has a passenger detection means for detecting other passengers already in the transport path,
The variable speed control device,
A variable-speed passenger conveyor system, wherein the transport speed is not changed while the other passenger is being detected on the transport path.

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