JP2007153539A - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a passenger conveyor capable of surely detecting a passenger, and capable of facilitating boarding-alighting by reducing an operation speed. <P>SOLUTION: This passenger conveyor is provided with a weight measuring means 4A measuring weight of the passenger of a platform 2, an electric motor 6 circulating a footstep 3 at a predetermined speed, and a control part 5 circulating the footstep 3 at an original ordinary speed after continuously circulating the footstep 3 for a second time at a speed lower than the ordinary speed by the electric motor 6 when continuously detecting the passenger of the platform 2 for a first time by the weight measuring means 4A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor that slows down an operation speed when a passenger is detected continuously for a predetermined time.

  The passenger conveyor moves from a stationary part to a moving step or from a moving step to a stationary point, so even for the elderly and small children, even at a standard passenger conveyor speed of 30 m / min. You may feel fast and inconvenience when getting on and off. In order to solve these problems, the conventional passenger conveyor decelerates the step when a push button near the entrance / exit is pressed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) or detects a walking speed near the entrance / exit. In such a case, it is determined that the person is an elderly person, and the step is decelerated (see, for example, Patent Document 2) to make it easy to get on the step.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-122892 JP 2002-104761 A

  However, in the case of the conventional passenger conveyor as described above, since the push button is used as a trigger for deceleration in the former case, it is conceivable that the vehicle is pushed by mischief and decelerates. There was a problem that the travel time of the would be prolonged.

  In the latter case, if one person passes, the walking speed can be measured with certainty, but as a passenger conveyor, it is common for many people to get in one after another. It was difficult to measure the speed, and there was a problem that when deceleration was necessary, there could be a situation where the vehicle did not actually decelerate.

  This invention was made in order to solve the above-described problems, and its purpose is to provide a passenger conveyor that can detect passengers reliably and that can slow down the operation speed and facilitate boarding / exiting. To get.

  The passenger conveyor according to the present invention continues passengers at the entrance / exit for a first time by a passenger detection means for detecting passengers at the entrance / exit, an electric motor for circulating the steps at a predetermined speed, and the passenger detection means. And a control unit that continuously circulates the step at a low speed lower than the normal speed for a second time by the electric motor and then circulates at the original normal speed.

  The passenger conveyor according to the present invention can detect passengers reliably, and has the effect of being able to easily get on and off by slowing the driving speed.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
A passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the vicinity of a passenger entrance / exit of a passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention as viewed from above. Moreover, FIG. 2 is the side view which looked at the passenger exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention from the side surface. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol shows the same or equivalent part.

  1 and 2, the passenger conveyor is provided with a balustrade 1 supported by a main frame (not shown), an entrance 2 and a step 3 that is connected endlessly in the main frame and circulates. A weight measuring means (passenger detecting means) 4A for measuring the weight (load) of a passenger on the floor board of the entrance / exit 2 is provided, a control unit 5 including an inverter, a CPU and the like, and an electric motor 6 for driving the step 3. ing.

  Next, the operation of the passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the passenger conveyor according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 4 is a graph which shows the time change of the measurement state of the weight measurement means of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

  In steps 101 to 102, the control unit 5 always measures the weight W of the passenger on the entrance 2 by the weight measuring unit 4A, and the measured weight W is set in advance to the lower limit value w1 and the upper limit value. It is determined whether it is between w2. The lower limit value w1 and the upper limit value w2 are set to, for example, w1 = 150N and w2 = 700N in consideration of the weight of one person from a child to an adult. If w1 ≦ W ≦ w2, the process proceeds to step 103; otherwise, the process returns to step 101.

  Next, in steps 103 to 108, the measurement of the time t1 is started from 0 by the timer, and the determination whether the measured weight W is w1 ≦ W ≦ w2 is continued. Here, if the measured weight W is out of the range, the process returns to step 101. However, if the state of w1 ≦ W ≦ w2 is continued, the time measurement is performed until the set time (first time) T1 is exceeded. While continuing, the determination in steps 104 to 105 is continued. When measurement time t1 ≧ set time T1, measurement of time t1 is terminated.

  Next, in steps 109 to 112, the control unit 5 issues a deceleration command to the electric motor 6 to gradually decrease the circulation speed of the step 3. The deceleration at this time is a smooth deceleration by an inverter. Thereafter, the low-speed operation state is continued for a time (second time) T2. Here, the low-speed driving continuation time T2 is set to, for example, approximately the time required for the step 3 to reach from the entrance to the exit + α. Since the passengers who have been riding on the stage 3 have slowed down until they get off the stage 3, they can safely get off the stage 3.

  Next, in steps 113 to 114, the step 3 is gradually returned to the original normal speed by an acceleration command from the control unit 5 to the electric motor 6.

  As described above, when there is no passenger, steps 101 to 102 are repeated. In addition, if passengers get in normally, when passing one by one, the weight fluctuation as shown in section A1 in FIG. 4 will occur, and if many passengers pass through, weight fluctuation as in section A2 will occur. Therefore, steps 101 to 106 are repeated, and the step 3 continues to circulate at the normal speed.

  Here, when the passenger is about to get in and stops at the entrance 2, the weight W does not vary greatly between the lower limit value w1 and the upper limit value w2 as in the section A3 in FIG. It will lead to subsequent processing.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when there is a passenger who is jealous at the entrance, the moving speed of the step 3 is reduced, so that it is easy to get in. In addition, since the low-speed driving is continued until the passenger who gets in reaches the exit, it becomes easy to get off. Furthermore, since it is possible to reliably detect the stopping of the passenger at the entrance without providing a button at the entrance, it is possible to prevent malfunction due to mischief and obtain the above effect only when necessary. it can.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
A passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the vicinity of a passenger entrance / exit of a passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention as seen from above. Moreover, FIG. 6 is the side view which looked at the passenger exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention from the side surface.

  5 and 6, the passenger conveyor is provided with a balustrade 1 supported by a main frame (not shown), an entrance / exit 2 and a step 3 connected in an endless manner in the main frame and circulated. , A passenger detection sensor (passenger detection means) 4B such as an area sensor for detecting passengers in a predetermined area on the floor board of the entrance and exit 2 provided on both sides of the balustrade 1; a control unit 5 including an inverter, a CPU, and the like; An electric motor 6 that drives the step 3 is provided. In addition, the passenger detection sensor 4B detects what is in the fixed area on the entrance / exit 2 by the image as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the passenger conveyor according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 8 is a graph which shows the time change of the detection state of the passenger detection sensor of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  In step 201, the control unit 5 always detects the presence / absence of a passenger on the entrance 2 using the passenger detection sensor 4B. If a passenger is detected, the process proceeds to step 202. Otherwise, the detection is continued.

  Next, in steps 202 to 206, the measurement of the time t1 is started and the determination of the presence or absence of a passenger is continued. If the detection of the passenger detection sensor 4B is interrupted, the measurement of the time t1 is stopped and the process returns to step 201. However, if the passenger detection state is continued, the time t1 is exceeded until the set time T1 is exceeded. The determination in step 203 is continued while continuing the measurement. When measurement time t1 ≧ setting time T1, measurement of time t1 is terminated.

  Next, in steps 207 to 210, the circulation speed of the step 3 is gradually decreased by issuing a deceleration command from the control unit 5 to the electric motor 6. The deceleration at this time is a smooth deceleration by an inverter. Thereafter, the low speed operation state is continued for a time T2. Here, the low-speed driving continuation time T2 is set to, for example, approximately the time required for the step 3 to reach from the entrance to the exit + α.

  Next, in steps 211 to 212, the step 3 is gradually returned to the original normal speed by an acceleration command from the control unit 5 to the electric motor 6.

  As described above, when there is no passenger, step 201 is repeated. In addition, when passengers get in normally, when passing one by one, the detection state is as shown in section B1 in FIG. 8, and when many passengers pass, the detection state is as in section B2. Therefore, steps 201 to 204 are repeated, and the step 3 continues to circulate at the normal speed.

  Here, when the passenger stops entering and stops at the entrance 2, the detection state of the passenger detection sensor 4 </ b> B is continued as in the section B <b> 3 of FIG. 8, which leads to processing from step 205 onward.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, when there is a passenger who is jealous at the entrance, the moving speed of the step 3 is reduced, so that boarding is easy. In addition, since the low-speed driving is continued until the passenger who gets in reaches the exit, it becomes easy to get off. Furthermore, since it is possible to reliably detect the stopping of the passenger at the entrance without providing a button at the entrance, it is possible to prevent malfunction due to mischief and obtain the above effect only when necessary. it can.

  Here, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9: is the side view which looked at the boarding / exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 2 of this invention from the side surface. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image of the vicinity of the entrance / exit of the passenger conveyor according to the modification of the second embodiment of the present invention as seen from above.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the presence or absence of a passenger is recognized as shown in FIG. 10 by a camera (passenger detection means) 4C provided on the ceiling and monitoring the entrance 2 from above instead of the passenger detection sensor 4B. The same effect can be obtained even if the above-described control is performed by determining the presence or absence of the fluctuation of the image 10.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
A passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the passenger conveyor according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 11 shows a part corresponding to part C of FIG. 3 showing the operation of the first embodiment. Other operations are the same as those in FIG.

  In steps 301 to 304, after the deceleration command, it is continuously monitored whether or not the weight W of the passenger on the entrance is between the lower limit value w1 and the upper limit value w2. Here, when the weight W is out of the range, it is determined that the passenger has entered the step 3, and the measurement of the time t2 is started, and thereafter, the same as in FIG.

  Therefore, according to the third embodiment, it is determined that the passenger who has stopped on the boarding gate has entered the step 3, and the low-speed driving time is measured. Even when the vehicle is in the low-speed driving state, it can be reliably continued until the exit is reached. The same effect can be obtained by applying the third embodiment to the flowchart of FIG. 7 showing the operation of the second embodiment.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
A passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit of the passenger conveyor according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 12 shows a part corresponding to part C of FIG. 3 showing the operation of the first embodiment. Other operations are the same as those in FIG.

  In Steps 401 to 406, after the deceleration command, the control unit 5 continues to monitor whether or not the weight W of the passenger on the entrance is between the lower limit value w1 and the upper limit value w2. Here, when the weight W is out of the range, it is determined that the passenger has entered the step 3, and measurement of the time t3 is started. When the measurement time t3 exceeds the set time (third time) T3, the measurement of the time t3 is ended. Here, the time T3 may be set to a time enough for the step 3 to move by five steps, for example.

  Next, in steps 407 to 410, the control unit 5 issues an acceleration command for the step 3. After the acceleration command of the step 3, the measurement of the time t4 is started. When the measurement time t4 ≧ the set time (fourth time) T4, the measurement of the time t4 is ended. Here, the set time T4 may be set as, for example, the time required to reach the position corresponding to about five steps of the step 3 before the exit after the acceleration command in Step 407.

  Next, in steps 411 to 414, the control unit 5 issues a deceleration command. After decelerating the step 3, the measurement of the time t5 is started. When the measurement time t5 ≧ the set time (fifth time) T5, the measurement of the time t5 is ended.

  Next, in steps 415 to 416, the control unit 5 issues an acceleration command and returns to the original normal speed.

  Therefore, according to the fourth embodiment, it is determined that the passenger who has stopped on the entrance has entered the step 3, and the low-speed driving time is measured. Even if it is possible. In addition, since passengers got on board, they accelerated to normal speed and decelerated again just before reaching the exit, so it was possible to minimize the decrease in transport capacity while keeping the speed at the time of getting on and off. . The same effect can be obtained by applying the fourth embodiment to the flowchart of FIG. 7 showing the operation of the second embodiment.

Embodiment 5. FIG.
In the configuration of the above-described first to third embodiments, when a passenger's stop is detected and another passenger is stopped at the entrance during the deceleration operation, the passenger stops later. The speed is controlled in response to the passengers.

  Therefore, the vehicle is always kept in a decelerating state in response to passengers getting on and off at a later time, so that it is possible to cope with a case where the passengers getting on board are short intervals.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
In the configurations of the above-described first to fifth embodiments, a guidance broadcasting device capable of broadcasting guidance is provided near the entrance 2, for example. Then, before the deceleration command and the acceleration command for the step 3, the guidance broadcasting device performs a guidance broadcast to accelerate / decelerate the passenger.

Therefore, although the acceleration / deceleration is gently performed by the inverter, the safety at the time of acceleration / deceleration can be improved by notifying the passenger of the speed change in advance by such a guidance broadcast. The acceleration / deceleration is assumed to be about ± 0.1 m / s ² or less.

It is the top view which looked at the passenger exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention from the top. It is the side view which looked at the entrance / exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention from the side surface. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the measurement state of the weight measurement means of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the top view which looked at the passenger exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention from the top. It is the side view which looked at the entrance / exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention from the side surface. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time change of the detection state of the passenger detection sensor of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the entrance / exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 2 of this invention from the side surface. It is a figure which shows the image which looked at the passenger exit vicinity of the passenger conveyor which concerns on the modification of Embodiment 2 of this invention from the top. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the control part of the passenger conveyor which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  1 railing, 2 entrance / exit, 3 steps, 4A weight measurement means, 4B passenger detection sensor, 4C camera, 5 control unit, 6 electric motor.

Claims (8)

Passenger detection means for detecting passengers at the entrance;
An electric motor that circulates the steps at a predetermined speed;
When the passenger detecting means continuously detects passengers at the entrance / exit for a first time, the electric motor continuously circulates the steps for a second time at a lower speed than the normal speed. A passenger conveyor comprising a control unit that circulates at an original normal speed thereafter. The passenger detection means is a weight measurement means for measuring the weight of a passenger on the floor board of the entrance / exit,
The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the control unit circulates the steps at a low speed by the electric motor when the weight of the passenger measured by the weight measuring unit is within a set range. The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the passenger detection means is an area sensor that detects a passenger in a predetermined area on a floor board of the entrance / exit. The passenger detection means is a camera that images passengers on the floor board of the entrance / exit,
2. The passenger according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the electric motor to circulate the step at a low speed when an image of the passenger captured by the camera does not change during the first time. Conveyor. 5. The second time for circulating the step at a low speed slower than the normal speed is a time + α for the step to reach the exit from the entrance to the exit. 5. The passenger conveyor described. The controller causes the electric motor to circulate the step at a low speed slower than a normal speed for a third time shorter than the second time, and then at a normal speed for a fourth time. And circulating the step at a low speed slower than the normal speed for a fifth time substantially the same as the third time before the entrance opposite to the entrance and exit, and then the original normal speed It is made to circulate by. Passenger conveyor in any one of Claim 1 to Claim 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. When the control unit continuously detects another passenger at the entrance / exit for a first time while circulating the step at a lower speed than the normal speed, the control unit responds to the other passenger. The passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the speed is controlled. The passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a guidance broadcast device that guides a passenger in advance that the circulation speed of the step changes.

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