JP7362849B1 - Escalator flow control device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] Although guide fences are sometimes provided at escalator landings to prevent people from staying, they are often left exposed. Therefore, to provide a person flow control device that can be installed at a boarding/exit entrance with a simple configuration without impairing the design, and can display a display suitable for both normal times and when the guide fence is in operation. [Solution] A first sensor 71 that detects when a user gets on and off, a base 70A fixed at the entrance and exit, and a movable part that can be movable from the base in the same direction as the user gets on and off and can be locked to the base. 70B, an extendable guide fence installed between the base and the movable part, an actuator, a plurality of casters, and information for acquiring usage information based on the detection status of the first sensor. an acquisition unit, a determination unit that determines that the guide fence needs to be extended/retracted when the first threshold is exceeded, and a determination unit that normally displays at least one of the occupancy rate and operation status of the escalator, and displays the escalator's extension/retraction operation when the first threshold is exceeded; The inside is equipped with a display device 72 that displays a message to alert the user. [Selection diagram] Figure 2

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for suppressing the flow of people in an escalator.

Conventional escalators are sometimes provided with guide fences to prevent people from staying at escalator landings, especially when the escalator is crowded. There is a proposal for a guide fence that has the function of detecting congestion near an escalator exit and extending it in stages using a motor and gears.

There is also a proposal to provide an extendable guide fence between the handrails of adjacent escalators and adjust the space occupied by the guide fence.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-006502 JP2022-059826A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-077448

However, even when the train is not crowded, the guide fence is left exposed in a position that is visible to passengers, and there is a concern that the design of the area near the landing area may be impaired. To solve this problem, there is a proposal to store the guide fence in a storage space provided on the floor near the entrance when it is not crowded, and to make the guide fence appear by pushing it out when it is crowded. However, this proposal requires the creation of a designated space and requires measures on the part of the building.

In addition, for the safety of users, caution will be given when the guide fence is being extended or retracted based on the degree of congestion and the flow of people, etc., and escalators will be It is desirable to inform users of information regarding the operation of trains.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the guide fence has a stepwise adjustment function of the extension length, and can be installed at the entrance with a relatively simple configuration without impairing the design, and can be installed during the extension operation or contraction operation of the guide fence. We propose a people flow control device that has a display section that displays information to call attention to the inside, and also displays information regarding the operation when the guide fence is retracted or extended.

In order to solve the above problems, the escalator's people flow control device according to the embodiment includes: a first sensor that is provided at the entrance/exit and detects when a user gets on/off; a base fixed to the entrance/exit; A casing having a movable part that is movable in the same direction as the direction in which the user gets on and off and can be locked to the base, one of which is engaged with the base and the other is engaged with the movable part. an extendable guide fence that is installed astride between the base and the movable part and that transitions between a state in which the movable part is locked to the base and a state in which the movable part is spaced apart from the base; an actuator that adjusts the expansion and contraction state of the guide fence; a plurality of casters that are provided below the guide fence and smooth the horizontal movement of the guide fence; and an occupancy rate based on the detection status of the first sensor; Constant occupancy rate
an information acquisition unit that calculates a rate of change over time and acquires usage information; and a unit that determines whether or not to extend or contract the guide fence based on the usage information, and determines whether the occupancy rate exceeds a first threshold. work
a determination unit that determines that the guide fence needs to be expanded or contracted when the rate of change exceeds a second threshold, and outputs an instruction to the actuator; a display device that is provided on a surface and displays at least one of the occupancy rate and operating status of the escalator in normal times based on the usage information, and displays a display to alert users when the guide fence is being extended or contracted; , is provided.

It is an overall view of a general escalator. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an escalator according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between a people flow control device and a control device. It is a figure explaining arrangement of a sensor. It is a figure explaining the display part of a pole. It is another example (1) of a block diagram showing the relationship between the people flow control device and the control device. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the position and extended state of the human flow suppression device. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the position and storage state of the human flow control device. It is a figure explaining other shapes (1) of the guide fence stored inside a pole. It is a figure explaining other shape (2) of the guide fence stored inside a pole. It is another example (2) of the block diagram showing the relationship between the people flow control device and the control device. It is another example (3) of the block diagram showing the relationship between the people flow control device and the control device.

The configuration and operation of the escalator of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, substantially or substantially the same functions and components are given the same reference numerals, and will be explained as necessary.

The structure of the escalator will be explained with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical escalator, and numeral 10 in the figure indicates the entire escalator. The escalator 10 is installed at an angle between, for example, an upper floor and a lower floor of a building. A truss 12, which is the framework of the escalator 10, is supported across the upper and lower floors of the building 1 using support angles 2 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, inside the machine room 14 on the upper floor side at the upper end of the truss 12, there is a drive device 18 for running the steps 30, a pair of left and right drive sprockets (drive wheels) 24, and a pair of left and right drive sprockets (drive wheels). Belt sprockets 27, 27 are provided. The drive device 18 stops the rotation of the motor 20, the reducer, the output sprocket attached to the output shaft of the reducer, the drive chain 22 driven by the output sprocket, and the motor 20, and keeps the motor 20 in a stopped state. It has a disc brake that holds it. This drive chain 22 rotates a drive sprocket 24 . The pair of left and right drive sprockets 24, 24 and the pair of left and right belt sprockets 27, 27 are connected by a connecting belt (not shown) and rotate synchronously. Further, inside the machine room 14 on the upper floor side, a control device 50 that controls the motor 20, disc brakes, etc. is provided.

A driven sprocket (driven wheel) 26 is provided inside the machine room 16 on the lower floor side at the lower end of the truss 12. A pair of left and right endless step chains 28, 28 are stretched between the driving sprocket 24 on the upper floor side and the driven sprocket 26 on the lower floor side. As shown in FIG. 1, front wheels 301 of a plurality of steps 30 are attached to the pair of left and right step chains 28, 28 at equal intervals. The front wheel 301 of the step 30 runs along a front guide rail (not shown) fixed to the truss 12 and engages with a recess on the outer periphery of the drive sprocket 24 and a recess on the outer periphery of the driven sprocket 26. Flip vertically. The rear wheels 302 run on a rear guide rail 25 fixed to the truss 12 as shown in FIG.

On both left and right sides of the truss 12, a pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44 and a pair of left and right handrails 36, 36 are erected. A handrail rail 39 is provided above the balustrade 36, and a handrail belt 38 moves along this handrail rail 39. An upper front skirt guard 40 is provided at the lower front of the upper floor of the parapet 36, and a lower front skirt guard 42 is provided at the lower front of the lower floor. Inlet portions 46 and 48, which are entrances and exits for the handrail belt 38, respectively protrude. The skirt guard 44 is provided at the lower side of the parapet 36, and the step 30 runs between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44. Operation panels 52 and 56 and speakers 54 and 58 are provided on the inner surfaces of the skirt guards 44 on the upper and lower floors, respectively.

The handrail belt 38 enters the front skirt guard 40 from the inlet section 46 on the upper floor side, passes around the belt sprocket 27 via the guide roller group 64, and then passes through the guide roller group 66 to the skirt guard 44. It moves inside and appears outside the front skirt guard 42 from the inlet section 48 on the lower floor side. The handrail belt 38 moves in synchronization with the steps 30 as the belt sprocket 27 rotates together with the drive sprocket 24. The handrail belt 38 circulates between the entrances and exits in synchronization with each step 30, is let out from the inlet on the entrance side, and enters from the inlet on the exit side. Further, a pressing member 68 for pressing the handrail belt 38 running on the rotating belt sprocket 27 is provided.

The boarding board 32 on the upper floor side is provided horizontally at the boarding entrance on the ceiling of the machine room 14 on the upper floor, and the boarding board 32 on the lower floor side is provided horizontally at the boarding board 32 on the ceiling of the machine room 16 on the lower floor. A board 34 is provided horizontally. A comb-shaped comb 60 having the same width as the step 30 is provided at the tip of the board 32, and the step 30 advances or enters from this comb 60. Further, the board 34 is also provided with a comb-shaped comb 62. In this way, the escalator enables a movable stair-type ascending and descending operation.

Next, the mechanism of the human flow control device of this embodiment will be explained.

In the escalators of the following embodiments, the longitudinal direction of the steps 30 is the x-axis direction, the direction of entry and exit of the steps 30 into the coms 60 and 62 is the y-axis direction, and the direction of the upper and lower floors of the building 1 is the z-axis direction. The x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are orthogonal to each other. Based on the coordinate system provided in the lower right corner of the drawing, the direction will be further explained using + (plus) and - (minus).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially showing the configuration of an escalator equipped with a people flow control device according to an embodiment. In FIG. 2, the people flow control device will be described with reference to a state in which the guide fence is retracted.

A plurality of steps 30 are attached to the endless step chain at equal intervals, and a part of the stepped steps 30 can be seen, and the skirt guard 44, handrail 36, and handrail rail 38 are attached to the truss 12. It is erected. The boarding board 34 is laid covering each of the boarding entrances on the upper and lower floors, and is provided substantially horizontally on the floor of the building. Near the entrance, for example, on the skirt guard 44, a pair of left and right user detection sensors 71 are provided to detect when a user gets on the vehicle. Furthermore, at least one pole-type people flow control device 70 is provided in front of the handrail rail 38 and inlet 48 near the entrance/exit. For example, in an escalator where a plurality of cars are arranged consecutively, the escalator is installed at the switching part, that is, between the cars. The arrangement of the people flow control device 70 will be described later.

The people flow control device 70 is installed at a boarding/exit where a plurality of escalators are arranged and where transfer is required, for example, an escalator such as a single-row transfer type arrangement or a double-row transfer type arrangement. The human flow control device 70 also includes a display section 72 that visually displays the operating status and congestion level of the escalator 10, and is provided with an actuator and a retractable guide fence (extensible mechanism). In FIG. 2, the actuator and guide fence are not visible because they are stored, but their structures will be described later.

The human flow suppressing device 70 is composed of a pole-shaped casing with a removable lid that extends substantially parallel to the floor surface (on the −y side), and includes a space (cavity/gap) inside. An actuator is installed inside the housing, allowing the guide fence to be stored in a contracted state.

The extension length of the guide fence can be adjusted in stages, and in the extended state, the state where it is extended more than when it is stored so as to function as a guide fence is the extended state, and the length of the guide fence in the extended state is folded. Reducing the length to a length that can be stored in the housing is called a reduced state. Note that the stored state refers to a state in which the guide fence in the reduced state is stored in the casing. One side of the guide fence in the y-axis direction, which is the direction of expansion and contraction, is fixed near the entrance, and can be extended to the -y side and contracted to the +y side.

The casing is formed of a plurality of parts so that the main body side (base 70A) having a space in which an actuator etc. can be stored and the lid side (movable part 70B) can be locked and separated. The main body side is fixed to the floor surface, and the lid side is removable from the main body side. The lid side is movable in the direction in which the user gets on and off the vehicle, that is, in the y-axis direction. In addition, the guide fence 74 is interposed so as to straddle the main body side and the lid side, and when the lid side is engaged or detached, it will be in a state where it is suspended on both the main body side and the lid side.

In addition to the pole shape (cylindrical shape), the casing may have a box shape similar to a rectangular parallelepiped, such as in a post-type photoelectric sensor. It has a cavity inside so that parts related to the folded guide fence and the people flow control device can be stored inside.

The details of the configuration of the people flow control device 30 will be explained using FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the people flow control device 70, and shows its relationship with the control device 50.

In addition to the display unit 72 described above, the human flow control device 70 includes an actuator 73 that is a power source and adjusts the expansion/contraction state of the guide fence, and a guide fence (extendable mechanism) 74 that has the role of blocking passage and indicating the walking direction to the user. , a plurality of casters (moving mechanism) 75 that are provided below the guide fence 74 and enable the guide fence 74 to move in a predetermined direction, and detect and prevent people or objects between the base 70A of the casing and the movable part 70B. It has an object detection sensor 76 that prevents this. Note that details will be described later.

A user detection sensor 71 provided near the entrance/exit detects when a person or object passes in front of the escalator, determines which users are about to board the escalator steps, and measures the number of people passing by. For example, when using a phototube sensor that has a light emitter and a light receiver, and when an event such as light emitted from the light emitter is blocked, the amount of light changes before it reaches the light receiver. Detects when a person or object passes by. The mounting position of the user detection sensor 71 is not limited to the escalator body as long as it is near the entrance and exit and can detect the boarding and alighting of users, and may be mounted on the side of the housing of the people flow control device 70. Detection methods include measuring the number of people passing by, as well as measuring sensor reaction time.

An information acquisition means 501 provided in the control device 50 acquires the detection status of the user detection sensor 71 and acquires usage information. The usage information is, for example, the escalator occupancy rate. The occupancy rate will be explained as the number of people passing by per unit time relative to a reference value. By periodically calculating the average occupancy rate over a certain period of time, the situation regarding escalator usage and information on the flow of people can be estimated.

Here, the calculated occupancy rate will be explained. Normally, as the maximum number of people who can be transported theoretically, there is a value that is uniquely determined by taking the width and depth (slope) of the steps and the speed of the escalator as variables, and the theoretical transport capacity (persons/hour). If it exceeds a certain value, it is considered to be crowded.

Note that the reference value in this embodiment is not the theoretical maximum transportation capacity, but the occupancy rate is calculated using an arbitrarily set value as 100%. For example, if the occupancy rate is 100% when 50 people pass in one minute, the occupancy rate is determined by the number of people measured per unit time so that the occupancy rate is 60% when 30 people pass.

Alternatively, assuming that a user steps on every other step, the maximum number of people per unit time may be calculated by dividing the number of steps by the time it takes for the steps to move once. In this case, for example, when an escalator with 20 steps makes one revolution in 30 seconds, the occupancy rate is determined to be 100% when 40 people pass in one minute.

In this way, the reference value for the number of people passing through the escalator is arbitrarily set, and the occupancy rate is calculated from there. Hereinafter, the occupancy rate will be defined as the boarding rate calculated based on the value specific to this embodiment as 100%, rather than the theoretical maximum transport capacity. The information on the passing of users accompanying the calculation of the occupancy rate is calculated based on the information obtained using the user detection sensor 71 as well as other means such as a load detection device or an imaging device installed near the entrance/exit. It's okay.

Regarding the range for calculating the occupancy rate, the fixed time is arbitrarily set from several tens of seconds to several minutes. Furthermore, the frequency of calculation of the occupancy rate may be increased when the vehicle is crowded, such as on days of the week or during times of the day.

The information acquisition means 501 transmits the estimated usage information to the determination means 502 and the display section 72.

Based on the occupancy rate calculated by the information acquisition means 501, the determination means 502 determines whether the guide fence needs to be extended or retracted, and if it is extended, the length of the extension. Regarding the necessity of the stretching operation, for example, if it is equal to or higher than an arbitrarily set first threshold value (for example, 50%), it is determined that stretching is necessary. For example, when the occupancy rate exceeds a first threshold (e.g., 50%), the extension length of the guide fence is set to 1/3 of the maximum length, and the extension length exceeds a second threshold (e.g., 70%). In such cases, the extension length ratio is adjusted according to the occupancy rate, such as 2/3. A separate equation may be arbitrarily set for the extension length of the escalator with respect to the occupancy rate.

In addition, when determining the usage status by measuring the reaction time of the sensor as a detection method for the user detection sensor 71, if the sensor's passage sensitivity is poor for a certain period of time, the time when the sensor is blocked is long and the user is It is possible that the movement is slow. In this case, since it can be assumed that the boarding rate is higher than when measuring the number of people passing by, the extension length may be set arbitrarily, such as by setting the ratio of the extension length to the maximum length.

The determining means 502 that has determined whether or not the guide fence 74 needs to be expanded or contracted in this way outputs an instruction to the actuator 73 to operate up to the determined extension length when the expansion or contraction is necessary, and also outputs an instruction to the display unit 72. Output. Upon receiving the instruction, the motor of the actuator 73 starts operating, and a force is applied to push out the guide fence housed in the housing. It is possible to not only extend but also contract depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, and furthermore, it is possible to stop at multiple points to adjust the extension length as appropriate. In response to the instruction from the determining means 502, the display section 72 switches to a display indicating that the expansion and contraction operation is in progress.

The guide fence 74 to which a force is applied to push it out of the retracted state via the actuator 73 is provided as a moving mechanism at the bottom of the guide fence 74, and is moved in the direction in which the force is applied by casters 75 in contact with the floor surface. The casters 75 make it possible to smoothly support movement in a predetermined direction to guide the user.

The object detection sensor 76 is connected to the y-axis, which is the expansion/contraction direction of the guide fence 74, as shown in FIG. They are provided in pairs in the direction. When the guide fence 74 is in the extended state, it is possible to determine whether an object is detected in the vicinity of the guide fence 74 between the main body side (base 70A) and the lid side (movable part 70B) of the casing. Helps prevent. It is desirable that one of the paired object detection sensors 76 be provided on the main body side of the casing, and the other on the lid side of the casing. For example, the object detection sensor 76 includes a light projecting section provided on the main body side and a light receiving section provided on the lid side. If an object is detected by the object detection sensor 76, there is a risk that the object may approach the guide fence or obstruct the expansion and contraction operation, so the expansion or contraction operation is temporarily stopped and a safety check is performed after a certain period of time has elapsed. By making a judgment based on the situation as to whether or not to continue the operation, it is possible to ensure safety in the event that a person or object enters while the guide fence 74 is being extended. The determining means 502 determines the operation of the guide fence 74, and if there is a change in operation such as temporary suspension, an instruction to that effect is output to the actuator 73. Furthermore, when an object is detected, it is desirable to make an announcement or display to notify of danger. When the operation is temporarily interrupted, if a certain period of time elapses without detecting any pinching or the like, the operation of extending or contracting the guide fence 74 is resumed if further expansion and contraction operations are necessary.

After the guide fence 74 is extended, the extended state is maintained regardless of the occupancy rate until a set time elapses, and after that, if it remains below the third threshold (for example, 10%) for a certain period of time, Assuming that the congestion has been resolved, the extension length of the guide fence 74 is adjusted and returned to the retracted state.

A display section 72 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the housing of the people flow control device 70 so as to be visible to users basically displays the operation status and congestion level of the escalator 10 to users during normal times, and During the operation of 74, a display is displayed to alert the user. A specific example of the display contents is shown in FIG. The display section 72 is provided on the outside of the casing so that the display surface is visible, and even if the entire lid side is used as the display section, the display section 72 is provided with a movable member with holes or notches. For use in the section 70B, a slightly larger display section may be fitted into a rectangular square hole or notch from the inside. It is desirable to provide the guide fence particularly on the tip side in the extending direction of the guide fence. The display unit 72 can constantly acquire information from the information acquisition means 501 and can display a warning before and after the expansion/contraction operation. Note that the display unit 72 is not limited to acquiring the information periodically transmitted from the information acquisition unit 501 as described above, and the display unit 72 may periodically read the status of the information acquisition unit 501. do not have. For example, while the guide fence 74 is being extended or contracted, a display is displayed to alert users, and at other times, at least one of the escalator's occupancy rate and operating status is displayed.

Here, the display contents will be explained using FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the display section of the pole, and in the embodiment, it is provided on the lid side of the casing. (a) displays the percentage of the degree of congestion, and here the degree of congestion will be explained as the occupancy rate of the escalator. Further, (b) is an example of displaying the driving direction, and (c) is an example of displaying that the guide fence 74 is performing an extending operation.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the display unit 72 normally displays the escalator operating status, operating direction, congestion level, etc. While the guide fence 74 is in operation, a display explaining the situation such as "Guide fence is being extended" is displayed as shown in FIG. 5(c). In addition, when the occupancy rate is high or increases rapidly, a display explaining the situation such as "Crowding level UP" may be displayed in addition to "Crowding degree 0%" shown in FIG. 5(a). The display form is performed using characters, pictograms, illustrations, etc. During and before and after the operation of the guide fence 74, a display to urge caution such as "Be careful of extension" may be displayed based on the instruction output from the determining means 502. Note that the display is not limited to what is shown in the figure as long as information related to the operating status of the escalator can be displayed. Each display is based on information output from the information acquisition means 501 and the determination means 502.

Furthermore, since the display section 72 is provided as a means of notifying the user, it is even better to provide an audio output device in addition to the display section 72. When an audio output device is provided, an announcement is output together with a visible display, especially during and before and after the operation of the guide fence 74. Announcements will include information on the operating status of the guide fence, a preview of its operation, and alerts regarding escalator operation based on congestion levels. In addition to the display unit 72, the notification may be performed by flashing a light, outputting a warning sound, or the like. In this way, it is possible to ensure safety during and before and after the operation of the guide fence, and to constantly check changes in the operation status of the escalator.

Up to this point, the processing by the determination means 502 and the display section 72 has been based on the occupancy rate for a certain period of time calculated by the information acquisition means 501, but if the occupancy rate, which had been almost flat until then, suddenly changes, it will quickly become crowded. Because of this possibility, it is also desirable to consider the rate of change in addition to the occupancy rate. For example, if the rate of change exceeds a certain threshold, the guide fence can be quickly extended even if the threshold of congestion level is not exceeded. The determined rate of change is transmitted to the determination means 502 and the display unit 72 together with information on the degree of congestion.

Further, regarding the information acquisition means 501 that organizes information necessary for the processing of the determination means 502 and the display unit 72, the occupancy rate is calculated by determining the boarding user from the user detection sensor 71, but the invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 6, the degree of congestion in the building 1 having the escalator 10 may be detected via the congestion degree detection means 80 on the building side. In a building 1 having an escalator 10, when information is obtained that the degree of congestion within the facility has increased, it is possible that the degree of congestion of the escalator 10 will also increase, so it is possible to extend the escalator 10 in advance. Thereby, it is possible to effectively suppress the waiting time for boarding due to the accumulation of users near the entrance/exit, which can occur when the degree of congestion is high.

Next, the position and extended state of the people flow suppressing device 70 will be explained using FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the escalator 10 of another machine continuous to the opposite side of the escalator 10 shown in FIG. 2, in which the guide fence is shown in an extended state. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the configuration shown in FIG. 7 viewed from above, showing a state in which the guide fence is housed in the housing.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the embodiment includes escalators 10A and 10B, and the human flow suppressing device 70 is provided at the exit of the escalator 10A and the entrance of the escalator 10B during upward operation. Here, it is assumed that the arrangement is a single-row transfer type, and the guide fence (extensible mechanism) 74 is designed to extend the flow of people so that it can extend in the horizontal direction (+y side) equivalent to the operation of the escalator 10, that is, in the direction in which users can walk. Install the casing of the suppressor 70. Here, one is installed at the turning point of the escalator, but more than one may be installed in the same space, such as for each car.

The guide fence 74 may be made of metal such as aluminum or iron such as a horizontal shutter, or may be of a shape that can hold air while drawing in air such as a cylindrical buoy, or as shown in FIG. It may also be a bellows-shaped item that can be stored by folding the surface. In addition, instead of a bellows, as shown in Figure 10, we have made it possible to push out the lid using the shape of a robot arm, and by attaching a movable part to one end, we have created a single piece that connects the base and the movable part. It doesn't matter if it's something like a pipe fence.

The caster 75 is preferably a rotating body with limited orientation, such as a wheel that can move in a predetermined direction, but it may also be a spherical ball roller or a rotating ring as long as it is a mechanism that can assist the movement of the guide fence. There are no restrictions on the shape of the body.

When the object detection sensor 76 detects an object in a direction that obstructs the direction of extension of the guide fence 74 while it is being extended, the object detection sensor 76 temporarily stops both the extension and contraction operations on the spot to prevent pinching. can be secured. After that, if a certain period of time elapses without detecting any pinching or the like, the operation of extending or contracting the guide fence 74 is resumed if further extension or contraction is required.

Although the above-described embodiment has been described as a single-row transfer type arrangement, the actual arrangement of the people flow control device 70 is not limited to this, and may be any other arrangement for the purpose of suppressing accumulation near the entrance/exit. I don't mind.

Furthermore, information on the degree of congestion and the flow of people may be obtained by utilizing information from the building system of the building in which the escalator is installed. As described above, the human flow control device 70 not only automatically controls the extension of the guide fence, but also allows the manager of the commercial facility to artificially control the extension of the guide fence by pressing a button or the like when the manager of the commercial facility understands the congestion situation. For example, when the level of congestion in a commercial facility that owns an escalator equipped with the people flow control device 70 increases, the manager may output an instruction to extend the escalator in advance, taking into account the increase in the number of users of the escalator. put. In this case, by making it possible to output instructions remotely, it is possible to respond in advance when changes in escalator congestion can be predicted based on the congestion situation in the facility, smoothly suppressing the accumulation of escalator users and ensuring safety. This makes it possible to promote the use of

Furthermore, another example of using a device in place of the user detection sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the people flow control device 70 and the control device 50 when using the imaging device 90, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the people flow control device 70 and the control device 50 based on information on the operation status FIG.

When using the imaging device 90, the user detection sensor 71 is not provided for the people flow control device 70, and the information acquired from the load detection device provided on the escalator 10 body and the imaging device 90 is transmitted to the information acquisition means 501. When using an imaging device, it is not necessary to install a user detection sensor and an object detection sensor. Using the information acquired through the imaging device 90 instead of the user detection sensor and object detection sensor, in addition to the occupancy rate and whether or not the guide fence 74 needs to be expanded or contracted, it is also used as a safety function to determine the approach to the guide fence that is being expanded or contracted, etc. Detect. By utilizing the videos and images acquired from the imaging device 90 in this manner, it is possible to design with greater safety in mind.

When determining whether expansion or contraction is possible based on the operation status, the operation status determination unit 503 provided in the control device 50 determines the operation status such as normal operation, low-speed standby operation, or stopped operation, and based on that information, the operation status is determined for a certain period of time. If this condition continues, it is determined whether or not the expansion/contraction is possible. For example, if the guide fence 74 maintains the extended state for a certain period of time and then enters low-speed standby operation, it is considered that there is no need to maintain the extended state unless the operating situation changes, so it can be reduced. shall be. In addition, when congestion prediction is made based on the day of the week or time of day, an instruction is output to the actuator 73 to indicate that it can be expanded or contracted during low-speed standby or stopped operation when it is determined that there are no users, and guidance is provided in advance. It is also possible to extend and contract the fence 74.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the sensor 71 that detects when a user gets on and off, the extendable guide fence 74, the actuator 73 that is the power to move the guide fence, and the guide fence that smoothly moves information acquisition means 501 for acquiring information on the flow of people, determination means 502 for determining the necessity of an expansion/contraction operation and its extension length, and a display section 72 for notifying the user of the situation. By performing control and warning displays based on the congestion situation, the design is not compromised when the guide fence 74 is unnecessary, and the decline in safety due to passengers staying near the entrance and exit during crowded times is effectively suppressed. can do.

In addition, by making it possible to constantly notify users of the operating status using the display unit 72, it is possible to make users aware that the system is operating without problems and the degree of congestion of the escalator. Become. While maintaining safety based on the detection status of sensors, it is possible to adjust the flow line distance from the exit to the boarding entrance according to the situation such as increase/decrease in the number of users, congestion level, etc., and further guide the user to the housing. By retracting the fence and making it an integrated structure, it is possible to secure the function of the guide fence during times of congestion, while also being able to be retracted when it is not needed, allowing for different uses at different times. In particular, if a plurality of escalators are installed in a commercial facility or the like, and the overall degree of congestion is known, it can be used as a crowd flow control device that more effectively ensures safety.

Furthermore, if the movement prediction is displayed, it can be predicted that the escalator will become crowded in the future, and when the escalator is crowded, it is possible to increase the number of options to reach the destination floor by using other tools such as stairs or elevators.

Additionally, by providing it in conjunction with escalator equipment, there is no need to manage it on the building side, improving convenience.

As another example of change, it is possible to improve usability by utilizing information from the building system in the building where the escalator is installed to obtain information on the degree of congestion and the flow of people.

Although embodiments and some modifications of the invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

1... Building, 2... Support angle, 3... Support angle, 10 (10A/10B)... Escalator, 12... Truss, 14... Machine room on the upper floor side, 16... Machine room on the lower floor side, 18... Drive device, 20... Motor, 22... Drive chain, 24... Drive sprocket (drive wheel), 25... Guide rail, 26... Driven sprocket (driven wheel), 27... Belt sprocket, 28... Step chain, 30... Step, 32... Getting on/off board , 34... boarding board, 36... handrail, 38... handrail belt, 39... handrail rail, 40... front skirt guard, 42... front skirt guard, 44... skirt guard, 46... inlet section, 48... inlet section, 50 ...control device, 501...information acquisition means (information acquisition section), 502...judgment means (judgment section), 503...driving status judgment section, 52...operation panel, 54...speaker, 56...operation panel, 58...speaker, 60... Comb, 62... Comb, 64... Guide roller group, 66... Guide roller group, 68... Pressing member, 71... User detection sensor (first sensor),
70... People flow control device, 70A... Base, 70B... Movable part, 72... Display unit (display device), 73... Actuator, 74... Guidance fence (extensible mechanism), 75... Caster (moving mechanism), 76... Object detection sensor (second sensor), 80... congestion level detection means, 90... imaging device

Claims (5)

A first sensor installed at the entrance and exit to detect when a user gets on and off;
A casing having a base fixed to the entrance and exit, and a movable part movable from the base in the same direction as the user's boarding and exiting direction and lockable to the base;
One is engaged with the base and the other is engaged with the movable part, thereby straddling the base and the movable part, and the movable part is locked to the base, and the movable an extendable guide fence that transitions between a state in which the part is separated from the base;
an actuator that adjusts the expansion and contraction state of the guide fence;
a plurality of casters provided below the guide fence to facilitate horizontal movement of the guide fence;
Based on the detection status of the first sensor, calculate the occupancy rate and the rate of change of the occupancy rate over a certain period of time.
an information acquisition unit that calculates and acquires usage information;
Based on the usage information, it is determined whether the guide fence should be extended or contracted, and if the occupancy rate is the first.
When either the threshold is exceeded or the rate of change exceeds the second threshold
a determination unit that determines that the guide fence needs to be expanded and contracted, and outputs an instruction to the actuator;
A display provided on the outer peripheral surface of the casing, based on the usage information, displays at least one of escalator occupancy rate and operating status during normal times, and urges users to be careful during expansion and contraction of the guide fence. a display device that performs
An escalator flow control device equipped with comprising a congestion level detection means for acquiring the congestion status of a building including the escalator,
The information acquisition unit predicts a change in the degree of congestion based on the information of the degree of congestion detection means,
The escalator crowd flow control device according to claim 1 , wherein the display device displays a display suitable for information from the information acquisition unit. further comprising a second sensor for detecting a person or object between the base and the movable part;
The determination unit may output an instruction to the actuator to temporarily interrupt the movement if the movement is in progress when approaching the guide fence or blocking the movement when the second sensor detects the movement. The escalator crowd flow control device according to claim 1 , characterized in that: Furthermore, it is equipped with an audio output device,
2. The escalator crowd flow control device according to claim 1 , wherein while the guide fence is in operation, an announcement is output from the audio output device along with the display on the display device. 2. The escalator crowd flow control device according to claim 1 , wherein the guide fence has a bellows shape and can be folded and stored in the housing.

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