JPH04201987A - Escalator device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the complete transforming action of wheelchair steps through the smoothness of engagement between a sprocket and a chain by selecting the tooth form and number-of-teeth of the sprocket in such a way as to contribute to smoothness. CONSTITUTION:A horizontally moved sprocket 172 is rotated being engaged with a chain 183, and a sprocket shaft 174 is rotated to rotate a sprocket shaft 170. Nuts 124, 124 are then moved to insert pins 125 into holes 127 to hold an inclined footstep 121 to a body 120. The sprocket 172A is formed by selecting its tooth form and the number of teeth from a specific expression, and thereby the tooth is prevented from colliding with a roller 183a forming the end part of the chain 183 so as to be engaged smoothly with the chain 183. In addition, the complete transforming action of first-second-third wheel chair steps 12, 13, 14 can be attained through this smooth engagement.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a structure of an escalator device equipped with wheelchair steps that transforms from a normal configuration during normal operation to a wheelchair configuration on which a wheelchair can be mounted when operating a wheelchair. It is about improvement.

(Prior Art) A conventional escalator device equipped with steps for wheelchairs is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-313297, etc., in which a single or plural wheelchairs are interposed between a plurality of regular steps of an escalator. A wheelchair step, which is disposed inside the wheelchair step and operates based on the rotation of a sprocket shaft when the wheelchair is operated, to transform the wheelchair step from a normal form to a wheelchair form on which a wheelchair can be mounted, or from a wheelchair form to a normal form. A driving force transmission mechanism is operated, and a chain, which is disposed inside the main frame and corresponds to the entrance/exit, and which is raised during wheelchair operation, is engaged with the sprocket of the sprocket shaft of the moving wheelchair step to rotate the sprocket shaft. It consisted of in-process equipment.

In addition to the above-mentioned publications, other prior art documents of this type include Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-53941.

, [Problem to be solved by the invention] The conventional escalator device is constructed as described above, and uses commercially available sprockets (172) and (172^) and chains (
183), as shown in Figure 9,
When meshing, the tips of the teeth of the sprockets (172) and (172A) form the roller (183a) that forms the chain (183).
There was a problem in that the mesh collided with the top of the mesh, impairing smooth engagement. Also, this sprocket (172)/(172
8) Roller (183a) of chain (183) at tooth tip
Due to the collision with the top, the amount of work of the driving force transmission mechanism is reduced, and there is a possibility that the transformation operation of the wheelchair step will be completed prematurely.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an escalator device that can ensure the transformation operation of a wheelchair step through smooth engagement between a sprocket and a chain.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes a plurality of regular steps that are arranged on the main frame of an escalator and move in circulation, a wheelchair step that is interposed between the plurality of regular steps, and a wheelchair step that is arranged between the plurality of regular steps. a driving force transmission mechanism which is disposed inside and transforms the wheelchair step from a normal form to a wheelchair form on which a wheelchair can be mounted or from the wheelchair form to a normal form based on the rotation of the sprocket shaft when the wheelchair is operated; It is equipped with a mechanism that engages the chain with the sprocket of the subrocket, soto shaft, and the sprocket of the wheelchair step that moves when the wheelchair is operated, which is located in the area corresponding to the entrance/exit of the interior, and rotates the sprocket shaft. The sprocket is characterized by a tooth profile selected to facilitate meshing between the sprocket and the chain.

[action,]

According to the present invention, since the tooth profile of the sprocket is selected and configured, it is possible to avoid collision of the tips of the sprocket teeth with the tops of the rollers of the chain, thereby achieving smooth meshing.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in Figs. As shown in Figure 1, there is a lower machine room (IA) installed horizontally on the lower floor, an upper machine room (IB) installed horizontally on the upper floor, and a lower machine room (IA) and an upper machine room (IB). ) The intermediate part (I
C).

(2) is a balustrade installed on both sides of the main frame (1), and as shown in Figure 1, this balustrade (2) has an endless railing that circulates and moves by the drive of the handrail drive device in conjunction with the drive of the drive machine. Movable handrail (
3) is slidably wound. (4) is a pair of front wheel guide rails arranged in the longitudinal direction inside the main frame (1);
5) is a pair of rear wheel guide rails arranged in the longitudinal direction inside the main frame (1), and these pair of guide rails (4) and
(5) together form an endless circulation path in the internal longitudinal direction of the main frame (1) (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

(6) is a plurality of regular steps arranged inside the main frame (1), and at the front upper part of the regular steps (6), as shown in Figures 2 and 6, a shaft (7) is placed horizontally. This shaft (7)
On both sides, there are handrails (3) that move based on the drive of the drive machine.
An endless chain (8) that circulates in synchronization with the
(see figure), and both ends of the shaft (7) have
A front wheel (9) that is engaged with and guided by a pair of front wheel guide rails (4) is rotatably pivoted. In addition, normal steps (
A rear wheel (1o), which is engaged with and guided by a pair of rear wheel guide rails (5), is rotatably attached to the lower portions of both sides at the rear of the rear wheel (1o). However, the normal step (6) is guided by the pair of front wheel guide rails (4) and the pair of rear wheel guide rails (5) by the circular movement of the chain (8) based on the drive of the drive machine. It circulates in synchronization with 3) and transports the loaded people and cargo upstairs or downstairs.

(11) is a group of wheelchair steps interposed between a plurality of regular steps (6), and this wheelchair step group (11), as shown in FIG. 2, includes a first wheelchair step (12), This first
A second step located adjacent to the rear of the wheelchair step (12)
This wheelchair step (13) and this second wheelchair step (
13) located adjacent to the rear of the third wheelchair step (
14), and when the escalator is in normal operation, it circulates in the same normal form as the normal steps (6), and when operating in a wheelchair, the wheelchair user (15) is assisted by an assistant (15), as shown in Figure 2. It has a function of transforming the wheelchair (16a) (16) into a wheelchair that can be loaded onto the wheelchair. In addition, in this example, the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12),
(13) and (14) are shown that use wheelchair steps, but the invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first wheelchair step (12) has a pair of bodies (120) facing each other, and is supported between the bodies (120) and (120) when operating the wheelchair. An inclined step (121) that swings and tilts to avoid interference with the scaffolding of the wheelchair (16a), and the main body (120).
120) an erection member (122) installed horizontally between;
A plurality of support parts (123) arranged on both sides of the lower part of this construction member (122), and a nut (124) movable in the left-right direction arranged inside the plurality of support parts (123).
A pin (125) is inserted horizontally into the upper part of this nut (124) and passes through the upper part of both side walls of the support part (123).
), a stopper (126) horizontally attached to the lower part of both inner walls of the support part (123) to restrict the movement of the nut (124) in the left-right direction, and a stopper (126) perforated on both sides of the inclined step (121). A hole (127) is provided and penetrated by a pin (125) to restrain the swinging of the inclined step (121) during normal operation. In addition, a second wheelchair step (13
) is equipped with a retractable rack-equipped fork (130) that penetrates a through hole in a cleat riser, which is the curved back surface of the wheelchair, and projects rearwardly when the wheelchair is operated. As shown in FIG. 2, the third wheelchair step (14) is a movable step (141) that is held movably up and down by the main body (140) and is engaged with the racked fork (130) when operating the wheelchair. The movable steps (141) are arranged at an angle inside the movable steps (141), and the movable steps (141) are arranged at an angle when operating the wheelchair.
1) is provided with a wheel stopper (142) with a rack that penetrates the road surface and restrains the wheels of the wheelchair (16a). In addition, the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (
The other parts of step 14) are constructed in substantially the same way as the normal step (6).

(17) are the first, second and third wheelchair steps (12).
(13) and (14) respectively, and this driving force transmission mechanism (17) operates when operating the wheelchair to connect the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12). )
- It has a function of transforming (13) and (14) from a normal form to a wheelchair form, or from a wheelchair form to a normal form, respectively.

Below, the structure of this driving force transmission mechanism (17) will be explained in detail using the first wheelchair step (12) as an example. This sprocket shaft (170) is a movable sprocket shaft.
As shown in FIG. 3, power transmission screws are engraved on both ends screwed into the nuts (124) and (124). (171) is a small adjustable torque limiter 1 fitted on the negative side of this sprocket shaft (170).
(172) is the sprocket fitted to this torque limiter (171), (173) is the sprocket shaft (17)
The gear (174) is fitted into the middle part of 0), the nut (
A rotatable sprocket shaft horizontally mounted between 124) and 124 and located adjacent to the front of the sprocket shaft (170).
24) and (124) are screwed into both ends for power transmission. (171A) is a small adjustable torque limiter 1 (172A) fitted on the other side of this sprocket shaft (174), and (172A) is a sprocket fitted on this torque limiter (172A).
173A) is a gear that is fitted approximately in the center of the sprocket shaft (174) and meshes with the gear (173).

The driving force transmission mechanisms (17) disposed inside the second and third wheelchair steps (13) and (14) are basically configured in substantially the same manner.

(18) and (18A) are the lower machine room (l^) of the main frame (1).
) and the upper machine room (IB), these devices (18) and (18A) operate when the wheelchair is operated to rotate the driving force transmission mechanism (17), and transmit the driving force. The mechanism (17) has first, second and third wheelchair steps (
It has the function of making 12), (13), and (!4) behave in a perverted manner.

The structure of this device (18) will be explained below with reference to FIG. 6. (180) is a bearing fixedly installed inside the lower machine room (1^), and (181) is this bearing ( 18
0) Rack shaft supported for vertical movement, (182)
is a housing horizontally attached to the top of this rack shaft (181), and (183) is installed on the top surface of this housing (182) so that the sprocket (17) can be used when driving a wheelchair.
2) This chain meshes with (183
) is composed of a large number of rollers ([3a), and both ends of the rollers ([3a] are installed so that they can be inserted into the housing (182) in order to prevent the teeth of the sprocket (172) from being damaged. The length of the chain (183) is set to be sufficient for the operation (work) of the driving force transmission mechanism (17), plus an extra length. In other words, the chain (18
3) is the length of the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), and ( 14)
Even after the completion of the complete transformation operation of the sprocket (172), the setting is made with enough margin so that the state of engagement with the sprocket (172) continues. If the sprocket (172) and the chain (183) continue to engage after the complete transformation of the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), and (14) has been completed, The torque limiter (171) operates to cause the sprocket (172) meshed with the chain (1831) to spin idly, thereby limiting torque transmission (184).
is a motor, and (+85> is a pinion that is fitted onto the rotating shaft of this motor (184) and meshed with the rack of the rack shaft (181). Furthermore, the loading device ( 18A) has almost the same structure as the device (18), except that it is fixed on the other side of the upper machine room (IB), and the chain (183) is connected to the sprocket (18A).
1728) in that they mesh with each other.

(19) is a switch disposed at the end of the inner board of the handrail (2). When operated manually, this switch (19) switches the escalator from normal operation to wheelchair operation, and also switches the escalator from normal operation to wheelchair operation. It has the function of operating the actuator (not shown) of the normal step (6Al (see Figure 2)) located adjacent to the front of the step (12).This actuator is used to operate the pair of rear wheels when operating the wheelchair. The first, second, third, and fourth guide rails (5) are arranged near the lower end on the return side, the lower end on the outgoing side, the upper end on the outgoing side, and the upper end on the return side. switch (not shown)
are brought into contact with and operated, and these first to fourth switches,
Deceleration operation of the escalator, operation of the in-process device (18), speed-up operation of the escalator, return operation of the in-process device (18),
Escalator deceleration operation, in-process device (188) operation,
It has a function of sequentially increasing the speed of the escalator and returning the device (18^).

By the way, the sprocket (172) in the present invention (
The tooth profile and number of teeth of the sprocket (1728) are determined by the length between the tooth tip of the sprocket (172)/(172A) and the top of the roller (1838) constituting the chain (183), as shown in Figures 7 and 8. (B) is selected and constructed so as to satisfy the following formula.

Here, PCΦ is the diameter of the pitch circle, R is the roller (183
The diameter in a), ODφ, is the diameter of the tip circle. Moreover, the above-mentioned θ is obtained from the following formula.

θ= −X 1 , 5
...(2) Here, 2 is the number of teeth.

That is, as shown in Fig. 8, sprockets (172) and (1
The difference between the length of the tooth bottom from the center of the sprocket (728) and the length of the tooth tip from the center multiplied by the transverse movement (θ) of one and a half pitches of the sprocket (172) (172A>) is the above ( 1) The tooth profile and number of teeth of the sprockets (172) and (1728) are selected and configured so as to have a value of 1 to 1 or more as expressed by the formula.In the conventional example, as shown in FIG. , the length (8) of the tooth tip and the top of the roller (1838) is the same as that of the roller (183
However, according to the present invention, CB) is located above the mouth (183a), so that the tip of the tooth does not collide with the roller (183a). This can be expected to result in smoother engagement.

Therefore, the end of the chain (183) constitutes the roller (
183a) sprocket (172) - (172A)
Make sure that the teeth that are supposed to engage first are engaged, and the first and
Second and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (14)
) can perfect the perverted behavior.

Next, the operation will be explained, and for convenience of explanation, the case of upward operation will be explained.

First, in the case of normal operation, the wheelchair step group (11) moves in a normal manner similar to the normal steps (6) and (6A), moving general users from the lower floor entrance to the upper floor. Transport to the exit of the floor.

Next, we will discuss the case of wheelchair driving.

First, when the caregiver (15) or wheelchair user (16) who has come to the entrance on the lower floor operates the wheelchair operation selector switch (19), the actuator of the normal step (68) that is being moved is switched to the first step. - Operates so that it can come into contact with the second, third, and fourth switches. And this moving regular step (
6A) actuator is connected to a pair of rear wheel guide rails (
The first switch located near the lower end on the return side of 5) is contacted and operated to decelerate the escalator at a specific position, and the motor (184) of the in-process device (18) is activated.
drive. That is, the motor (184) rotates in the normal direction to rotate the pinion (185), and the rack shaft (181) moves upward to move the chain (183) as shown in FIG.
Raise it to the specified position.

Next, a group of wheelchair steps (1
1) moves horizontally at low speed, the driving force transmission mechanism (1)
7) sprocket (172) is chain (183)
The driving force transmission mechanism (17) is operated by sequentially engaging with each other while moving, and the inclined step (1) of the first wheelchair step (12) is operated.
21) becomes tiltable, and the racked fork (130) of the second wheelchair step (13) penetrates the through hole of the cleat riser from the inside to allow the third wheelchair step (13) to tilt.
14), the rack-equipped wheel stop (142) of the third wheelchair step (14) penetrates the road surface of the movable step (141) and projects upwardly to the outside, and the third wheelchair step (14) is engaged with the movable step (141). A portion is formed. To explain the above transformation operation in detail using the first wheelchair step (12) as an example, the horizontally moving sprocket (172) meshes with the chain (183) and rotates, and the sprocket shaft (170) rotates. Rotate (174), nut (124),
(124) moves and inserts the bottle (125) into the hole (127).
The slope step (+21) becomes tiltable.

At this time, since the sprocket (172) is configured with a tooth profile and number of teeth selected from the above formula (1), as shown in FIG. 183a), and therefore meshes smoothly with the chain (183). In addition, the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (14)
Sprocket (172
) and the chain (183) are still engaged, the sprocket (183) engaged with the chain (183)
The force that tries to rotate the sprocket (172)
This overcomes the restraining force of the torque limiter (171) that restrains the sprocket (172), causing the sprocket (172) to spin idly, thereby limiting torque transmission.

However, as shown in Fig. 1, the caregiver (15) and the wheelchair user (16) who were waiting at the entrance were moving the wheelchair (16a) from the entrance floor before the rack-equipped car stopper (142) came out. 2nd and 3rd wheelchair steps (13) and (14)
on the road surface, then place the car chock with a protruding rack (
142) regulates the movement of the wheels of the wheelchair (16a).

Next, when the wheelchair step group (11) moving at low speed begins to move upward from horizontal movement, the first
The inclined step (121) of the wheelchair step (12) gradually inclines, and as the second wheelchair step (13) rises, the third
The movable step (+41) of the wheelchair step (14) or the main body (
140) gradually rises to the second wheelchair step (13).
) is located on the same horizontal plane as the road surface, and the remainder of the wheelchair form is formed. After that, the actuator of the normal step (6A) contacts and operates the second switch, and the second switch operates to increase the speed of the escalator and return the trigger device (18).

Next, the ascending wheelchair step group (11) reaches the intermediate part (I
When approaching the top of step C), the actuator of the normal step (6A) contacts and operates the third switch, and the third switch decelerates the escalator and activates the device (188) in the same manner as above. Drive in forward rotation. Then, when the moving wheelchair step group (11) starts to move horizontally from upward movement, the inclined step (121) of the first wheelchair step (12) swings back to its normal state, and the third wheelchair step The movable step (141) of the step (14) moves downward relatively to be located on the same horizontal plane as the tread surface of the main body (140), and a part of the wheelchair configuration is released.

Next, a group of wheelchair steps (1
1) moves horizontally at low speed, the driving force transmission mechanism (1)
7) sprocket (172^) is the mechanism device (188)
The first wheelchair step (183) moves and engages with the chain (183) to operate the driving force transmission mechanism (17).
The inclined step (121) of 12) is fixed in the normal state, and the protruding fork with rack (130) of the second wheelchair step (13) is retracted into the third wheelchair step. (14) car chocks with protruding racks (1
42) was moved inside, and a group of wheelchair steps (11)
The character transforms from wheelchair form to normal form. To explain the above transformation operation in detail using the first wheelchair step (12) as an example, the horizontally moving sprocket (172^) is connected to the chain (18).
3), the sprocket shaft (174) rotates and the sprocket shaft (170) rotates, and the nuts (124) and (124) move to insert the pin (125) into the hole (127). However, the inclined step (121) is connected to the main body (12
0).

At this time, the sprocket (172A) has a tooth profile and number of teeth selected from the above formula (1), so as shown in FIG. 183a), and therefore meshes smoothly with the chain (183). Also, the first
Second and third wheelchair steps (]2), (13), (14)
) after the transformation into the wheelchair form, the sprocket (17
2^) and the chain (183) are still engaged, the sprocket (183) engaged with the chain (183)
The force that tries to rotate the sprocket 1- (172A)
Torque limiter (171^) that restrains the
) and causes the sprocket (172A) to spin idly, limiting torque transmission.

However, the caregiver (15) and the wheelchair user (16) are moving the wheelchair (16a) when they run down the second and third wheelchair steps (
13) Move from (14) to the boarding/exit floor of the exit.

During this movement, the wheelchair step group (11) and the following normal steps (6) do not stop at -, but because they move while maintaining the road surface in a horizontal state, no separate safety problem arises. Then, when the actuator, which is normally thin film (6A) and is reversed and moves toward the boarding/exit floor, contacts the fourth switch and operates it, the motor (184) of the device (18A) is driven in reverse. Then, the in-process device (taA) is returned to its normal state, and the escalator is operated to increase its speed. However, the wheelchair step group (11) is the normal step group (6).
) and (6A), the patient moves cyclically in the same normal manner as in (6A), and repeats the above actions while driving the wheelchair.

Next, in the case of wheelchair operation during descending operation, the actuator of the normal step (6A) sequentially contacts and operates the fourth, third, second, and first switches.
Based on the operation of the second and first switches, the same operation as in the above-described upward operation is performed. In addition, in the case of descending operation, the conveyance direction is reversed, so the setting device (18A) transforms the wheelchair step group (11) from the normal form to the wheelchair form, and the setting device (18) changes the wheelchair step group (11) from the normal form to the wheelchair form. (11) Transforms from the wheelchair form to the normal form.

As described above, according to the present invention, the sprocket (172)
Since the tooth profile and number of teeth of sprocket (172A) are selected based on the above formulas (1) and (2),
) and (172A) from colliding with the roller (183a) at the end of the chain (183).
) can significantly smoothen the meshing of the two. moreover,
Through this smooth engagement, it becomes possible to complete the transformation operations of the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), and (14).

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, the tooth profile and number of teeth of the sprocket are selected and configured to contribute to smooth meshing, so that the tips of the teeth of the sprocket are close to the end of the chain. It has the effect of reliably preventing collisions with the rollers and significantly smoothing the engagement between the sprocket and the chain.Furthermore, by smoothing this engagement, the transformation operation of the wheelchair step can be completed. This has the effect of making it possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

, FIG. 1 is an overall view showing one embodiment of the escalator device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a group of wheelchair steps that move in a wheelchair form, and FIG. 3 is an illustration of the first wheelchair step and the drive An explanatory diagram showing the force transmission mechanism, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the first, second, and third wheelchair steps and the mechanism device in the lower machine room start to engage, and FIG. An explanatory diagram showing a state in which the third wheelchair step and the device in the upper machine room start to engage;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the sprocket of the rotating shaft and the gear device, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the engagement state of the sprocket and chain according to the present invention, and Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the sprocket of the escalator device according to the present invention. The explanatory diagram shown in FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7 showing a conventional sprocket and chain meshing state. In the figure, (1) is the main frame, (6) and (6^) are normal steps, (
11) is a group of wheelchair steps, (12) is a first wheelchair step, (13) is a second wheelchair step, (14) is a third wheelchair step, (16a) is a wheelchair, (17) is a driving force transmission mechanism, (18) and (18A) are in-process devices, (170
)・(174) is the sprocket shaft (rotating shaft), (1
72)・(172^) is a sprocket, (173)・(
173A) is a gear, and (183) is a chain. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts. i□゛・j:ii. Agent Sou Yamazaki Autumn 1st, 1st, Knee-1 Note Figure 5 173.173A Gear Figure 4 Figure 6 12.1314 183 Chain

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of normal steps arranged on the main frame of the escalator and moving in circulation, a wheelchair step interposed between the plurality of normal steps, and a sprocket shaft arranged inside the wheelchair step that rotates when the wheelchair is operated. A driving force transmission mechanism that transforms the wheelchair steps from a normal form to a wheelchair form on which a wheelchair can be mounted, or from a wheelchair form to a normal form based on In an escalator device equipped with a mechanism that engages a chain with a sprocket of a sprocket shaft of a wheelchair step and rotates the sprocket shaft, the tooth profile of the sprocket is changed to a tooth profile that facilitates engagement between the sprocket and the chain. An escalator device characterized by a selected structure.