JPH04153195A - Man conveyor platform safety device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To immediately stop a man conveyor, when the light of a light emitting element is shielded by the deformation of a flexible tube, and enhance the safety to passengers by inserting a flexible tube to a through hole provided over the lateral direction of a coaming and providing a light emitting element on one end side thereof and a light receiving element on the other end. CONSTITUTION:A through hole 21 is bored linearly over the lateral directions in each coaming piece 20a of a coaming 20 disposed on the platform of an escalator, and a flexible tube 22 is inserted to the through hole 21. Onto the marginal space parts of left and right skirt guards 8 of the flexible tube 22, the light emitting element 25 of an optical sensor 24 such as photoelectric switch and a light receiving element 26 are mounted and fixed in opposition to each other, and the light emitting element 25 and the light receiving element 26 are connected to the tube 22. When a shoe is likely to be nipped between the coaming 20 and a footboard 5 to bring up the coaming piece 20a, which is then deformed or broken, the flexible tube 22 is curved, and the light projected from the light emitting element 25 does not reach the light receiving element 26, so that the operation of the man conveyor is immediately stopped.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Purpose of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention is directed to a passenger conveyor or a moving walkway for the purpose of safety when getting on and off the passenger conveyor at the boarding/exit of the passenger conveyor. This invention relates to a passenger conveyor entrance safety device, and more particularly to a passenger conveyor entrance safety device for the purpose of preventing danger when passengers get their footwear such as shoes caught between the steps and the com when getting off the passenger conveyor.

(Prior Art) In general, an escalator, which is a type of passenger conveyor, has a main body frame 1, usually called a truss, fixed to the upper and lower floors of a building as a support structure, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. As a body, there is a drive device 2 assembled to the drive device 2, a step chain 4 wrapped around the drive sprocket 3 of the drive device 2, and one step chain 4 connected to the step chain 4 for boarding and alighting on the upper and lower floors along guide rails, etc. A large number of steps 5 that rotate between the openings like an endless conveyor, balustrades 6 erected on both left and right sides, and a movable handrail that rotates and moves along the outer periphery of the balustrades 6 in synchronization with the steps 5. It is composed of 7 etc. Incidentally, skirt guards 8 are provided at the lower portions of the left and right handrails 6, with a small distance between the steps 5.

In addition, at the upper and lower floor entrances (lower floor side not shown), boarding boards 9 are installed flush with the floor of the building, and the most steps 5
A comb 10 is provided at the tip of the side board 9. This comb 10 is supported and attached from below by a comb attachment beam 11. This comb 10 engages with the step cleat 5a, which is the crosspiece on the top surface of the step 5, with a slight gap, so as to scoop up the feet of the passenger. The comb-like shape ensures the safety of passengers' feet at the entrance and exit.

By the way, normally many passengers step over the com 10 with their feet up when getting on and off, but there are some careless passengers who try to get off without raising their feet. There is a risk of getting caught in the small gap between the machine and the machine and causing injury.

In order to prevent such injuries, the comb 10 is divided into a plurality of comb pieces 10a in the left and right direction as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and each of the comb pieces 10a... The proximal end portions 10, b, . . . are formed to be thin and constricted, and are relatively easily deformed and damaged. In other words, when a passenger's footwear is about to get caught between the upper surface of the step 5 and the com 10, the com small piece 10a of the com 10 is pushed by the footwear and
... is bent upward from the thin proximal end portion 10b, deforming or breaking, and the passenger is not injured. Further, each comb piece 10a is individually fastened onto the comb mounting beam 11 by two left and right countersunk screws 12.

However, when the com 10 is deformed or damaged, the passenger can immediately move his/her feet to the board 9, but if the moving action is delayed, the passenger will be unable to move while their feet remain on the top of the steps 5. This was extremely dangerous as there was a risk that it would be exposed and get caught between it and the comb attachment beam 11.

As a measure to prevent this, an escalator entrance safety device has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-150987.

As shown in Fig. 12, this escalator entrance safety device has a thin detection nozzle that extends in the width direction of the escalator in the gap between the comb attachment beam 11 that supports the comb 10 from below and the steps 5 that move below it. (-13 is provided. Both ends of the detection bar 13 are supported by springs and installed in a fixed position where it does not come into contact with the step 5.Then, the detection bar 13 is installed in the gap between the comb attachment beam 11 and the step 5. Detectors (not shown) are provided near both ends of the detection bar 13 to stop the operation of the passenger conveyor in response to movement of the passenger conveyor from its normal position when it is pushed by footwear of a passenger caught in the conveyor. are doing.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) By the way, in the conventional escalator entrance safety device described above, as shown in FIG. , it was very difficult to install the detection bar 13 and the detector there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to install a detection bar or detector in a narrow place on the lower surface of a com mounting beam in a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving walkway. Even if you do not have one, it is very easy to assemble, and if the comb is deformed, damaged, or displaced due to being pushed by a passenger's foot, the passenger conveyor will immediately stop, ensuring the safety of the passengers. Our goal is to provide mouth safety devices.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the passenger conveyor entrance/exit safety device of the present invention includes a through-hole extending in the left and right direction of the comb disposed at the entrance/exit of the passenger conveyor. A light sensor is provided by inserting a flexible tube into the through hole, and includes a light emitting element that inputs light from one end into the flexible tube and a light receiving element that receives the light at the other end. The light receiving element operates to stop the operation of the passenger conveyor when the light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor is blocked by the deformation of the flexible tube.

(Function) According to the passenger conveyor entrance/exit safety device configured as described above, normally, light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor passes through the flexible tube inserted in a straight line through the through hole of the comb, and then passes through the other side. The light is received by the light receiving element, and normal operation of the passenger conveyor continues. If a careless passenger does not raise his or her feet when getting off the passenger conveyor, and his/her footwear becomes caught between the step and the com, and the comb becomes deformed, damaged, or displaced, The flexible tube inserted into the through-hole of the comb is deformed, such as by curving, and as a result, light from the light emitting element of the optical sensor is blocked inside the flexible tube.
Since the light receiving element cannot receive light, the operation of the passenger conveyor is immediately stopped, thereby avoiding the danger to the passengers.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 6.

Components in the drawings that are the same as those in FIGS. 10 to 13 are given the same reference numerals to simplify the explanation.

First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a comb 20 is disposed at the entrance of an escalator, as in the conventional case. This comb 20 consists of a plurality of comb pieces 20a, and the base ends of these comb pieces 20a are connected to the comb mounting beam 11 by means of countersunk screws 12.
The fasteners are fixed at the top and are connected in a row in the left and right direction.

Each of the comb pieces 20a of the comb 20 has a through hole 21 formed in a straight line in the left-right direction in a thicker part slightly closer to the distal end than the thinly constricted proximal end part 20b. A flexible tube 22 made of soft synthetic resin, rubber, or the like is inserted straight through the through hole 21 . This flexible tube 22 has a high light-shielding property, and the inside is used as a light passage.
When curved, the structure is such that light passing through the inside of the flexible tube 22 is reliably blocked. In addition, openings 23 are formed in the left and right skirt guards 8 facing both ends of the through hole 21, and the flexible tube 2
2 pass through these openings 23 and protrude to the outside of the left and right skirt guards 8, respectively.

In addition, in the wide free space of the left and right skirt guards 8 at both ends of the flexible tube 22, a light emitting element 25 and a light receiving element 26 of an optical sensor 24 such as a photoelectric switch are placed opposite each other to a bracket 27. The light-emitting element 25 and the light-receiving element 26 are connected to the tube 22 through a cylindrical sealing material 28 which is dust-proof and has a high light-shielding property, thereby preventing dust and other substances that tend to accumulate near the entrance/exit. It is designed to prevent malfunctions due to

The light emitting element 25 of the optical sensor 24 is a flexible tube 2.
Light is input from one end of the flexible tube 22, and the light receiving element 26 receives the light at the other end of the flexible tube 22. When normal light is received, it outputs a normal detection signal, and when no light is received, it outputs an abnormality detection signal. issue. As shown in FIG. 3, these light emitting element 25 and light receiving element 26 are connected to an output circuit 30 via an amplifier 29, and this output circuit 30 is connected to a safety control circuit 31.
This safety control circuit 31 is configured to stop the operation of the passenger conveyor when it receives an abnormality detection signal from the optical sensor 24.

The light passes through the flexible tube 22 inserted in a straight line through the through hole 21 of the comb 20 and is received by the other light receiving element 26, and the normal operation of the passenger conveyor continues.

In the unlikely event that a careless passenger tries to get off the passenger conveyor without raising his/her feet, his footwear A is almost caught between the comb 20 and the steps 5, and the com If the small piece 20a is lifted upward and deformed or damaged, the flexible tube 22 stretched in a straight line within the through hole 2.1 of the comb small piece 20a will be damaged as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
It is curved as shown in the figure, and a light emitting element 2 is placed inside this tube 22.
The light input from the tube 22 is blocked by the curved portion of the tube 22 and does not reach the light receiving element 26. Now, the light receiving element 2
6 cannot receive light and outputs an abnormality detection signal, which is sent to amplifier 2.
9 to the output circuit 3o, the signal is converted into a switching output, and is input to the safety control circuit 31, which immediately stops the operation of the passenger conveyor.

In this way, if the footwear A is about to get caught between the com 2o and the steps 5, and the comb 2o is deformed or damaged,
Since the safety control circuit 31 is activated and the passenger conveyor is stopped, the footwear A moves further toward the boarding board 9 and is attached to the com mounting beam 1.
The danger of being caught between the steps 1 and 5 and causing serious injury can be prevented.

In addition, with the above configuration, there is no need to take the trouble of providing complicated detection switches in the narrow space between the lower surface of the comb attachment beam 11 and the upper surface of the steps 5, as in the prior art.

A through hole 21 is provided in the comb 20 itself, and a flexible tube 22 is provided.
The light-emitting element 25 and the light-receiving element 26 can be installed at both ends of the flexible tube 22 and in a spacious space outside the left and right skirt guards 8, so the assembly is very simple. becomes easier.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. First, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG.
1 is formed, and a flexible tube 22 is inserted therethrough in a straight line, and a light emitting element 25 and a light receiving element 2 of an optical sensor 24 are formed at both ends thereof (not shown) in the same manner as shown in FIG.
6 is provided. Here, each of the comb pieces 32a has a pair of left and right recessed steps 33 formed near its base end, and a long hole 34 elongated in the front-rear direction is formed in the inner bottom surface of both of the recessed steps 33. There is. By inserting the bolts 35 into the left and right elongated holes 34 and screwing them into the comb attachment beam 11, each comb piece 32a is attached with an appropriate fastening force, and when pushed with a certain amount of force from the tip blade, the fastening force is applied. It can be slid backward through the elongated hole 34 against the resistance.

Note that a thin extending portion 32b whose upper half is cut into an L-shape is formed at the base end of each of the comb pieces 32a. Further, a thin extending portion 36b whose lower half is cut in an inverted shape is formed at the tip of the board 36. The two thin-walled extensions 32b and 36b are disposed vertically and partially overlapping each other, leaving a space on the tip side of each, thereby allowing the comb piece 32a to move backward.

In the passenger conveyor entrance/exit safety device configured in this manner, if a passenger tries to get off the passenger conveyor without raising his/her feet at the entrance/exit of the passenger conveyor, the footwear A may be damaged by the com 32 as shown in FIG.
When the tip of the small comb piece 32a is pushed while the user is about to be caught between the step 5 and the step 5, only the pushed small piece 32a of the comb slides backward through the long hole 34 against the fastening force of the bolt 35. and is displaced. Then, the flexible tube 22 changes from being stretched in a straight line to being curved, and as in the above-described embodiment, the light input from the light-receiving element 25 is blocked midway inside the tube 22, and the light-receiving element An abnormality detection signal is sent from 26 to an output circuit 30 via an amplifier 29,
The signal is converted into a switching output and input to the safety control circuit 31, and the operation of the passenger conveyor is immediately stopped by the operation of the safety control circuit 31.

Moreover, when restarting operation after detecting an abnormality and stopping the passenger conveyor as described above, the com small piece 32g is inserted into the long hole 34.
Since the com piece 32a is not damaged because it was moved backwards through the There is no need to replace small pieces, and the escalator can be restarted in a short time.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the passenger conveyor entrance/exit safety device of the present invention is configured as described above, in passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways, it is difficult to install the detection bar or detector in a narrow place on the lower surface of the comb attachment beam. It is very easy to assemble without the need for a com, and if the comb is deformed, damaged, or displaced due to being pushed by a passenger's foot, etc., the passenger conveyor can be stopped immediately to ensure the safety of the passengers. You can get the same effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figures 1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the passenger conveyor entrance, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 1. , FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation when footwear is caught, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are V- in FIG. 4 when footwear is caught. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line, and FIG.
The figure is a plan view of a part of the comb in Figure 7, Figure 9 is a partially cross-sectional view of the comb in the state where the comb piece of the same comb is displaced, and Figures 10 to 13 show conventional examples. , 10th
The figure is a perspective view of the upper floor entrance of a general passenger conveyor.
1 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the entrance and exit, and FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a part of the comb.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A through-hole is provided in the com located at the entrance of the passenger conveyor in the left and right direction, and a flexible tube is inserted into this through-hole.
A light sensor consisting of a light emitting element that inputs light from one end and a light receiving element that receives the light at the other end is provided in this flexible tube, and the light from the light emitting element of this light sensor is transmitted to the flexible tube. A passenger conveyor boarding/exit safety device characterized in that a light receiving element is activated to stop the operation of the passenger conveyor when the light is interrupted by deformation of the passenger conveyor.