JPH0317758B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a passenger detection device for automatically operating a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or an electric passageway, and particularly relates to a passenger detection device using an ultrasonic method or a passive type. This invention relates to an improvement of an infrared detection method passenger detection device.

[Conventional technology]

An automatic operation system for a passenger conveyor using a conventional ultrasonic or infrared passenger detection device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 is an escalator, 2 is an elevator step, 3 is a guide handrail,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a passenger detection device installed on the ceiling 4 of the entrance/exit so as to receive energy waves S such as ultrasonic waves or infrared rays toward the floor surface 7. In addition, the detection range of the passenger detection device 5 is set to be inside the guide handrail 3 as shown in A ₁ , and it is possible to detect 100% of passengers getting on and off inside the guide handrail 3.
In other words, people passing through the stairs 6 must not be detected. Therefore, when a passenger intending to use the escalator 1 reaches the detection range A1 of the passenger detection device ₅ at the lower entrance, the output relay of the passenger detection device 3 is activated, and a driving command is given to the control device of the escalator 1. Perform ascending operation.

Next, the passenger detection device 5 using ultrasonic waves or infrared rays will be explained.

In FIG. 3, the passenger detection device using ultrasonic waves includes an oscillating unit 10 that emits ultrasonic waves _ST from a transmitter T;
a mixing/receiving amplification unit (receiving unit) 11 that mixes and amplifies the reflected wave S _R from the detected object received by the receiver R and the signal from the oscillation unit 10; the mixed/amplified signal (voltage); A comparison section 12 that compares and outputs a constant comparison voltage, and a comparison voltage setting section 1 that sets the comparison voltage.
3, and a switch section 14 that generates a relay contact signal based on the output signal of the comparison section 12.

In addition, in FIG. 4, the passenger detection device using infrared rays includes an infrared detector SD, a mirror 15 that collects infrared rays from an object to be detected, and a reception amplification unit (receiving unit) that amplifies the collected infrared rays. 10, a comparator 12 that compares the amplified signal with a constant comparison voltage and outputs the result;
It consists of a comparison voltage setting section 13 that sets a comparison voltage, and a switch section 14 that generates a relay contact signal based on the output signal of the comparison section 12.

In any of these detection methods, the change when the object to be detected moves is detected, and when the input signal after amplification exceeds the comparison voltage, the comparison section 12 issues an output signal to drive the switch section 14. It is.

Next, an automatic operation circuit for an escalator 1 equipped with a passenger detection device 5 using these detection methods will be explained with reference to FIG.

In Fig. 5, P and N are control power supplies, 43A
70 is a passenger detection device (indicated by reference numeral 5 in Figure 1), which detects when a user of the escalator 1 reaches the detection range of the passenger detection device, and attaches an output relay. to strengthen Reference numeral 48 denotes a timer for controlling the automatic operation time, which starts counting when a user passes through the detection range of the passenger detection device 70, and gives a stop command to the escalator after counting for a certain period of time after the user disappears. Therefore, for example, in the case of ascending operation, when a user passes within the detection range of the passenger detection device 70, the passenger detection device 70 is activated, and the relay 60A is energized by its normally open contact ₇₀₁ , and its normally open contact is activated. _60A1 energizes the relay 11A for ascending operation command, deenergizes the automatic operation timer 48, and closes its normally closed contact 48.
The upward operation command relay 11A is self-held until the relay _11A is opened. And its normally open contact 11A ₃
As a result, the upward operation contactor 11B is energized, and the escalator 1 starts upward operation. Further, when the passenger detection device 70 operates, the timer control relay 60B is also energized, and its normally open contact 60B ₂
The relay of the automatic operation timer 48 is closed and the timer is reset. When the user finishes passing through the detection range of the passenger detection device 70, the passenger detection device 70 becomes inactive and its contact ₇₀₁ is opened, and the timer control relay 60B is deenergized, so its normally closed contact _60B1 is closed. The circuit is closed and the automatic operation timer 48 starts counting. That is, automatic operation timer 48
is configured to start counting each time a user passes through the detection range of the passenger detection device 70, so the escalator 1 will not stop before the user reaches the other end. Furthermore, when a certain period of time has elapsed after the user passed the passenger detection device 70, the automatic operation timer 48 times up, and its normally closed contact ₄₈₁ opens and the upward operation command relay 11A
is deenergized and its normally open contact _11A3 is opened, so that the upward operation contactor 11B is deenergized and the escalator 1 automatically stops. Up to now, we have described automatic operation only for ascending, but automatic operation for descending can also be configured to operate in the same way.

Next, the difference in the detection range of the passenger detection device 70 when the escalator is stopped and when the escalator is in operation will be explained.
The passenger detection device 70 is attached to the ceiling 4 adjacent to the escalator 1 facing the floor 7 as shown in FIG. 1, so when the escalator 1 is stopped,
For example, even if the ultrasonic wave S reflects between the floor surface 7 and the ceiling 4 and reaches the escalator step 2, since it is in a stationary state, no change is generated as an input signal, and therefore the passenger detection device 70 does not operate. However, when the user reaches the detection range of the passenger detection device 70, the sixth
As shown at times t ₀ to _{t 1} in the figure, the voltage v _i3 corresponding to the received wave of the mixed reception amplification unit (reception amplification unit 10) 11
exceeds the comparison voltage V _H1 , the passenger detection device 70 operates, and its output relay causes the escalator 1 to start automatic operation and the escalator steps 2 to start moving.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As shown in FIG. 6, when a user passes, the voltage V _i3 reflected from the escalator step 2 and the input voltage V _i1 (time t ₁
~t ₂ ) is input to the passenger detection device 70, and these are superimposed to form a voltage V _i2 (shown after time t ₂ ), so the voltage difference with the comparison voltage V _H1 is ΔV
It increases from ΔV′ to ΔV′. As a result, the input to the receiver increases, and as shown in Figure 2, the detection range A ₁ set when the escalator 1 is stopped expands to the detection range A ₂ when the escalator is in operation, and the stairs 6 outside the guide handrail 3 are used. Since the passenger detection device 70 is activated when the escalator 1 is detected, the escalator 1 runs for an unnecessary time and does not stop if there are people using the stairs 6 even if there is no one using the escalator 1. There was a problem.

Conversely, if escalator 1 is in operation, stairs 6
If the comparison voltage V _H1 is set so as not to detect a person using the escalator 1, the detection range _A1 becomes small when the escalator 1 stops, and the passenger detection device 70 detects a user who rides along the inside of the guide handrail 3. There was something I couldn't do.

As a result, if the escalator 1 is not detected, the escalator 1 will run as a substitute for the stairs, but if there is another person using the escalator next and the passenger detection device 70 is activated by detecting this person, the escalator 1 will start. A person using the escalator 1 instead of a staircase would be at risk of serious accidents such as falling due to the sudden movement, and the non-detection of the passenger detection device 70 was also unacceptable.

As described above, the passenger detection device 70 has a drawback in that when there is a moving object in the surrounding area, the operating characteristics fluctuate due to the influence of the object.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a passenger detection device for a passenger conveyor that improves the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Means to solve the problem]

The feature of the present invention is that by switching the comparison voltage setting of the passenger detection device between when the escalator is stopped and when the escalator is running, the detection range is kept constant and stable detection performance is achieved regardless of whether the escalator is stopped or running. At the point.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. In FIG. 7, 13A is a comparison voltage setting section when the escalator is stopped, and 13B is a comparison voltage setting section when the escalator is in operation. Contact 1 closes when the escalator starts operating
_A1 connects the comparison electrical setting section 13B to the comparison section 12 during escalator operation. As a result,
The comparison voltage changes between when the escalator is stopped and when it is running, making it possible to keep the detection range of the passenger detection device constant.

To explain with reference to FIG. 10, the comparison voltage when the escalator 1 is stopped is V _H1 , and the voltage difference between it and the voltage v _i3 reflected from the user and input to the passenger detection device 70 is ΔV. Next, when the escalator starts operating, contact 1A ₁ is closed and the comparison voltage is V _H2
Therefore, the voltage reflected from the user and inputted is v _i3 , and the voltage reflected from and inputted from escalator step 3.
Even if v _i1 becomes the superimposed voltage v _i2 , the difference voltage ΔV
Since the value is almost the same as when the vehicle is stopped, the detection range of the passenger detection device 5 can be maintained at _A1 regardless of whether the vehicle is stopped or in operation.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the passenger detection device using infrared rays can also keep the detection range constant as described above.

Next, the operating circuit will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7, 1A is a relay that switches the comparison voltage of the passenger detection device 70 during escalator operation, and when a user passes within the detection range of the passenger detection device 70 and the output relay is energized, an upward operation command is issued. relay 11A is energized and its normally open contact 11
Since A ₄ is closed, the comparison voltage switching relay 1A
is energized, and the comparison voltage of the passenger detection device 70 is set to V _H1
to V _H2 . As a result, as mentioned above,
The detection range of the passenger detection device 5 can be kept constant regardless of whether the escalator is stopped or in operation.

Further, when the escalator 1 is switched from operating to stopped, the relay 11A is similarly deenergized, and then the comparison voltage switching relay 1A is deenergized, so that the comparison voltage is switched from V _H2 to V _H1 , The detection range of the passenger detection device 5 can be kept constant.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, since the detection range of the passenger detection device can be kept constant regardless of whether the escalator is stopped or in operation, it is possible to provide a highly reliable, safe and secure passenger detection device for a passenger conveyor.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a front view of the self-driving escalator, Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a block diagram of a passenger detection device using ultrasonic waves, and Figure 4 is a diagram of a passenger detection device using infrared rays. 5 is an operating circuit diagram of an automatically operated escalator, FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram of a passenger detection device, and FIGS. 7 to 10 are block diagrams of a passenger detection device according to the present invention, and an operation circuit diagram of an automatically operated escalator. It is a characteristic diagram of a circuit and a passenger detection device. 1... Escalator, 2... Escalator steps, 3... User guide handrail, 5... Passenger detection device, 1A... Comparison voltage switching relay, A ₁ ... Detection range of passenger detection device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A passenger of a passenger conveyor that detects a passenger passing through the entrance/exit when a voltage corresponding to an energy wave input at a receiving unit attached to the ceiling of the entrance/exit of the passenger conveyor exceeds a comparison voltage. The detection device detects the difference between the voltage corresponding to the energy wave input when a passenger passes through the entrance/exit while the passenger conveyor is stopped and the comparison voltage, and the difference between the voltage when a passenger passes through the entrance/exit while the passenger conveyor is operating. A passenger detection device for a passenger conveyor, comprising a comparison voltage switching circuit that switches the comparison voltage according to the operating state of the passenger conveyor so that the difference between the voltage corresponding to the wave input and the comparison voltage is approximately equal. .