JP6885419B2 - Passenger conveyors that automatically start and stop with area-type sensors and their control methods - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor in which an area type sensor is arranged at the entrance and automatically starts and stops based on the detection result of the area type sensor, and a control method thereof.

Passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways are equipped with a sensor that detects the user at the entrance, and an automatic operation function that automatically starts, stops, or slows down the steps and handrails based on the detection result of the sensor. (See, for example, Patent Document 1). By providing an automatic operation function, it is possible to save energy on the passenger conveyor.

As a user detection sensor, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of a photoelectric beam are arranged to face each other in the vicinity of the entrance, and the passage of a user is detected by blocking the photoelectric beam. There is.

In recent years, area-type sensors (range-finding sensors) such as ToF (Time of Flight) sensors have been put into practical use, and area-type sensors are being adopted as user detection sensors.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-104680

The photoelectric beam can detect only an object that passes between the light emitting part and the light receiving part that are arranged opposite to each other, whereas the area type sensor has a wide detection area, so if an object exists in the area, it will be detected. .. Therefore, the escalator is automatically started as a detection of a person who talks near the entrance or when a cone bar or the like is temporarily installed near the entrance. In addition, the escalator continues to operate because the detection state continues until the person who talks moves and moves the cone bar. Therefore, the desired energy saving effect may not be achieved.

The present invention is a passenger that performs automatic start / stop operation that can determine whether a user is a user or a stationary object when it detects that an object has existed for a predetermined time or longer in a predetermined area including a entrance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyor and a method for controlling the conveyor.

The passenger conveyor of the present invention
A motor that circulates the steps and handrails,
An area-type sensor installed at the entrance to detect an object,
A passenger conveyor including a control unit that controls the driving state of the motor based on the detection result of the area type sensor.
When the area type sensor detects an object, the control unit drives the motor to start operation, but when it detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer, the control unit determines that the object is a stationary object. To do.

After determining that the object detected by the area type sensor is a stationary object, the control unit causes the motor to operate or stop at a low speed if the area type sensor does not detect a new object within a certain period of time. Is desirable.

Equipped with audio output means near the entrance,
When the control unit detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer by the area type sensor, it announces that the object is urged to move through the voice output means before determining the object as a stationary object. It is desirable to do.

Further, the control method of the passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor of the present invention is
A motor that circulates the steps and handrails,
An area-type sensor installed at the entrance to detect an object,
It is a control method of a passenger conveyor that controls a driving state of the motor based on the detection result of the area type sensor.
When the area type sensor detects an object, it drives the motor to start operation, but when it detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer, it determines that the object is a stationary object.

If the area-type sensor does not detect a new object within a certain period of time after determining the object detected by the area-type sensor as a stationary object, it is desirable to operate or stop the motor at a low speed.

Equipped with audio output means near the entrance,
When the area type sensor detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer, it is desirable to make an announcement to encourage the object to move through the voice output means before determining the object as a stationary object. ..

According to the passenger conveyor of the present invention and its control method, when an object detected by an area type sensor is detected to exist in the same area for a predetermined time or longer, it is regarded as a stationary object, and the object is excluded from the detection target and automatically. It is possible to start and stop operation. Therefore, even if there is a stationary object, it is possible to perform low-speed operation or stop by automatic start / stop operation, and it is possible to enhance the energy saving effect.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance of the escalator. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation position of the area type sensor. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a detection area of the area type sensor. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an escalator control device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of control of the automatic start / stop operation of the escalator.

With reference to the drawings, a passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following, the escalator 10 will be illustrated as the passenger conveyor, but the passenger conveyor may be a so-called moving walkway.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance 11 of the escalator 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. An area type sensor 30 is installed at the entrance 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the escalator 10 is configured by circulating a step 13 (only a part of which is shown) and a handrail 14 by a truss (not shown) arranged between the upper floor and the lower floor. Rus. The truss is provided with balustrades 20 and 20 having a pair of glass panels, for example, and the handrail 14 travels on the balustrade 20 on the outbound route. The step 13 and the handrail 14 are driven and stopped by the motor 16 shown in FIG.

The balustrade 20 is provided with deck boards 22 and 23 protruding to the left and right along the lower edge. A skirt guard 24 is provided below the inner deck board 22 on the step 13 side, and includes rounded or bent-shaped new el covers 25 and 26 that cover the corners of the skirt guard 24 on the entrance side.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the edge of the inner deck board 22 is formed longer than usual, and the area type sensor 30 is arranged on the lower surface of the protruding inner deck board 22. The installation position of the area type sensor 30 is not limited to this, and can be installed on the skirt guard 24 or the new el cover 25, 26, and a pole is separately installed at the entrance 11 to install the area type sensor 30. It can also be attached.

As the area type sensor 30, a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor can be exemplified. The ToF sensor rotates the light emitting part and the light receiving part of the laser light, and the object 50 is based on the time until the laser light emitted from the light emitting part is reflected on the object 50 and returned to the light receiving part and the rotation angle thereof. It is a sensor that measures the distance and position to. The area type sensor 30 is not limited to the ToF sensor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the area type sensor 30 scans the area including the entrance 11 as the detection area 32. FIG. 3A is an explanatory view showing the laser beam 31 that scans the detection area 32 with arrows. In FIG. 3A, the object 50 exists in the detection area 32.

The detection result of the area type sensor 30 is transmitted to the control unit 41 of the escalator 10. FIG. 4 shows the control device 40 of the escalator 10. In the figure, only the part related to the practice of the present invention is shown. The control device 40 is configured around the control unit 41, and the control unit 41 controls the motor 16 for driving the step 13 and the handrail 14 based on the detection result from the area type sensor 30, and is also necessary. As shown in FIG. 1, audio is output from the audio output means 42 such as a speaker arranged on the ceiling of the entrance 11.

The control unit 41 is composed of a CPU, a memory, a buffer, and the like, and is operated by various programs and the like recorded in these. The control unit 41 executes a program for automatic start / stop operation shown below and FIG. 5 in the flowchart.

The control unit 41 of the escalator 10 having the above configuration is a general automatic start / stop operation, while the area type sensor 30 is scanning the vicinity of the entrance 11 as the detection area 32 from the state where the motor 16 is stopped. When the object 50 is detected (see FIG. 3A), the motor 16 is activated to circulate and drive the step 13 and the handrail 14. Then, after the object 50 is no longer detected for a certain period of time (time S2), for example, after the step 13 circulates for one and a half rounds, the motor 16 is stopped and the step 13 and the handrail 14 are stopped to save energy. I am trying to do it. It is also possible to control the motor 16 to operate at a low speed instead of stopping.

On the other hand, when the area type sensor 30 is adopted as the passenger detection sensor, the detection area 32 is wide, so that the area type sensor 30 is used by a person who does not intend to use the escalator 10, for example, in the detection area 32 of the entrance 11. A person who talks and a stationary object such as a cone bar temporarily installed in the detection area 32 are also detected as the object 50. Then, it is conceivable that the object 50 is determined to be the user, the motor 16 continues to operate, the step 13 and the like continue to be circulated and driven, and the desired energy saving cannot be achieved.

Therefore, in the present invention, among the objects 50 detected by the area type sensor 30, an object that does not move for a predetermined time or more is determined to be a stationary object and is excluded from the object 50 that is the target of the automatic start / stop operation.

Specifically, when the control unit 41 detects the object 50 by the area type sensor 30 as shown in FIG. 3A, the control unit 41 once activates the motor 16 to circulate and drive the step 13 and the like for a certain period of time. However, if the position of the object 50 detected by the area type sensor 30 does not move for a predetermined time or more, the control unit 41 determines that the object 50 is a stationary object, and as shown by a thick line in FIG. 3 (b), The area where the object 50 exists is excluded from the detection area 32, that is, the detection area 32 is changed to the area excluding the object 50. As a result, the automatic start / stop based on the object 50 is not performed, so that energy saving can be achieved.

When the object 50 is a person or the like who speaks in the detection area 32, the entrance is used once or a plurality of times through the voice output means 42 in order to prevent the object 50 from staying at the entrance 11. It is desirable to play a warning announcement that encourages you to move from 11.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3A, the immovable object 50 existing in the detection area 32 for a predetermined time or longer is determined to be a stationary object, excluded from the detection area 32 of the area type sensor 30, and the detection area. By resetting 32 as shown in FIG. 3B, automatic start / stop operation can be efficiently performed.

Hereinafter, a specific operation flow of the escalator 10 that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor 30 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the detection area 32 of the area type sensor 30 is initially set via the control unit 41 (step S01). For example, the area including the entrance 11 indicated by reference numeral 32 in FIGS. 1 and 3A is the detection area. Subsequently, the area type sensor 30 is operated (step S02). In this state, the motor 16 is in the stopped state, and the step 13 and the handrail 14 are not circulated.

As shown in FIG. 3A, when the area type sensor 30 detects the object 50 (YES in step S03), the control unit 41 drives the motor 16 to put the user on the escalator 10, and causes the escalator 10 to move. At the same time as starting (step S04), the timer (TM) until automatic stop is started (step S05). The timer time S is set to S1 (for example, 15 seconds) shorter than the timer time S2 described later (step S06).

Next, it is determined whether or not the object 50 detected in the detection area 32 has moved in the detection area 32 by the area type sensor 30 (step S07). If the object 50 is moving, the process proceeds to the following step S08 (YES in step S07), and if the object 50 is not moving, the process proceeds to step S17 described later (NO in step S07).

When the object 50 moves within the detection area 32, the control unit 41 determines whether or not the movement of the object 50 is a movement for getting on the escalator 10 based on the detection result of the area type sensor 30 (step S08). to decide. That is, whether the user is moving in the detection area 32 to get on the escalator 10 (YES in step S08: arrow A in FIG. 3A), does not get on the escalator 10 and simply crosses the detection area 32. Etc. (NO in step S08: arrow B in FIG. 3A) is determined. Whether the user is moving on the escalator 10 or crossing the detection area 32 can be determined by, for example, the moving direction of the object 50 detected by the area type sensor 30. That is, if it is confirmed that the object 50 is moving in the direction A of the step 13, and it is detected that the position where the object 50 disappears from the detection area 32 is on the step 13 side, the user is on the escalator 10. It can be judged that you got on the train. On the other hand, if the object 50 moves in a direction different from that of the escalator 10 (for example, arrow B) and the position where the object 50 disappears from the detection area 32 is not on the step 13 side, the user simply crosses the detection area 32. It can be judged that it is just an arrow.

Then, when the user (object 50) gets on the escalator 10 (YES in step S08), the timer (TM) is reset and then restarted (step S09), and the timer (TM) until automatic stop is performed. The set time S2 is set to a time longer than the above-mentioned time S1, for example, the time required for one and a half round circulation of the step 13 (for example, 90 seconds) (step S10), and the process proceeds to step S11.

On the other hand, if the object 50 does not get on the escalator 10 (NO in step S08), the process directly proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the area type sensor 30 newly detects the object 50 in the detection area 32. Then, when the object 50 is not newly detected (NO in step S11), the escalator 10 (motor 16) is stopped (step S13) after waiting for the timer (TM) to elapse (step S12).

On the other hand, when a new object 50 is detected, it is necessary to determine whether or not the new object 50 is moving (step S07), but when there is a user who got on the escalator 10 first, the time S2 It is necessary to prevent the escalator 10 from stopping on the way without being able to secure the above. Therefore, when the difference between the set time S and the timer (TM) is smaller than the time S1 (YES in step S14), the timer (TM) is reset and restarted (step S15), and the time With S as the time S1 (step S16), the process proceeds to step S07. If the difference between the set time S and the timer (TM) is time S1 or more (NO in step S14), the process directly proceeds to step S07.

Next, in step S07, the case where the object 50 detected by the area type sensor 30 does not move within the detection area 32 (NO in step S07) will be described.

When the object 50 detected in the detection area 32 does not move in the detection area 32 and is detected at the same position, the control unit 41 announces a warning to move from the entrance 11 through the voice output means 42. (Step S17). After the announcement, the predetermined time S (time S is the timer (TM) started in step S05 or restarted in step S15, and then the timer (TM) in step S06, the time S1 set in step S16, or step S09. (NO in step S18) returns to step S07 during the time S2) set in step S10 after the restart. Here, when the object 50 is a person who speaks, he / she hears the announcement and moves from the entrance 11 (YES in step S07). On the other hand, if the object 50 does not move even if the announcement is repeated (NO in step S07, NO in step S17, NO in step S18) and the predetermined time S has elapsed (YES in step S18), the control unit 41 is concerned. The detected object 50 is determined to be a temporarily installed stationary object such as a cone bar, the detection area 32 is reduced as shown in FIG. 3B (step S19), and the escalator 10 is stopped (step S13). .. As a result, the automatic start / stop operation of the escalator 10 is not hindered by the object 50 such as a stationary object, and the energy saving effect can be exhibited.

The above description is for explaining the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting or limiting the scope of the invention described in the claims. In addition, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims.

10 Escalator 11 Entrance 30 Area type sensor 32 Detection area 50 Object

Claims (8)

A motor that circulates the steps and handrails,
An area-type sensor that is installed at the entrance and detects an object using the area including the entrance as the detection area.
A passenger conveyor including a control unit that controls the driving state of the motor based on the detection result of the area type sensor.
When the area type sensor detects an object in the detection area , the control unit drives the motor to start operation, but the control unit determines that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer in the detection area. Upon detection, the object determines that a stationary object, excluding the region in which the presence of the object from the detection area,
A passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops using an area-type sensor. The area type sensor is a ToF (Time of Flight) sensor.
A passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor according to claim 1. The ToF sensor has an end edge of the inner deck board formed long in the direction opposite to the step, and is installed on the lower surface of the protruding inner deck board.
A passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor according to claim 2. After determining that the object detected by the area type sensor is a stationary object, the control unit causes the motor to operate or stop at a low speed if the area type sensor does not detect a new object within a predetermined time. ,
A passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Equipped with audio output means near the entrance,
When the control unit detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer by the area type sensor, it announces that the object is urged to move through the voice output means before determining the object as a stationary object. To do,
A passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area type sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A motor that circulates the steps and handrails,
An area-type sensor that is installed at the entrance and detects an object using the area including the entrance as the detection area.
It is a control method of a passenger conveyor that controls a driving state of the motor based on the detection result of the area type sensor.
When the area type sensor detects an object in the detection area, it drives the motor to start operation, but when it detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer in the detection area, the object It was determined to be a static object, to exclude the presence region of the object from the detection area,
A control method for passenger conveyors that automatically starts and stops using area-type sensors. After determining that the object detected by the area type sensor is a stationary object, if the area type sensor does not detect a new object within a predetermined time, the motor is operated at low speed or stopped.
A method for controlling a passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by using the area-type sensor according to claim 6. Equipped with audio output means near the entrance,
When the area type sensor detects that the object exists in the same area for a predetermined time or longer, an announcement is made to urge the object to move through the voice output means before determining the object as a stationary object.
A method for controlling a passenger conveyor that automatically starts and stops by the area-type sensor according to claim 6 or 7.

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