JP3079340B2 - Escalator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an escalator that can be safely used by a wheelchair user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, escalators have been provided for healthy persons who can walk on their own, but services for wheelchair users have been demanded due to the recent increase in welfare improvement momentum. Escalators that can be used in wheelchairs have been devised. For example,
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-153386, the treads of two adjacent steps are configured to be vertically movable so as to be maintained at substantially the same height. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-2182585, one step is provided with a mechanism for changing the position of the tread surface up and down and a means for expanding the depth of the tread surface. In JP-A-61-130195, a wheel stop is provided on the tread of one wheelchair mounting step only when the wheelchair is mounted. However, in these inventions, the subject wheelchairs tend to be limited to the manual type having a relatively short axle distance. It has been difficult to apply it for use.

[0003]

In these conventional inventions, a device has been devised in which a plane area of approximately two adjacent steps is assigned to one wheelchair. When a long distance electric wheelchair is mounted, there is a problem that the mounting plane area is insufficient or the front wheel of the wheelchair drops due to the step difference between the upper surface of the entrance and the normal step surface when loading and unloading. Have been. It is an object of the present invention to solve this problem. It is not always necessary to maintain a plane of almost the same level during escalator traveling in a wheelchair having a long axle distance, but it is necessary to mount a flat space for almost three steps of steps. It is an object of the present invention to provide an escalator capable of preparing an area and preparing a mounting flat area for almost two steps of a wheelchair with a plane of almost the same level at all times for a wheelchair having a short axle distance.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, at least one set of adjacent steps among a plurality of steps connected endlessly on an escalator can be independently moved vertically. A tread will be provided. One of the treads is provided on a step located at a lower level during traveling of the escalator, and has means for expanding a tread depth dimension in a direction opposite to the other treads. The vertical height of the tread is controlled in accordance with the traveling position of the step. An external power supply for controlling the height of the tread is provided near the entrance of the escalator, and is activated in association with the tread use instruction signal.

[0005]

An adjacent step is provided with an independent vertically movable stepping plate, and the height of both steps is adjusted to a level difference within a range in which a wheelchair can be safely mounted, so that almost two steps of the step can be obtained. A flat area can be allocated as a wheelchair existing space. In addition, the step provided on the step located at the lower level during the traveling of the escalator, that is, the step provided on the step located at the upper level during the escalator traveling with respect to the second step, ie, in the direction opposite to the first step. By applying an expanding means capable of expanding the tread depth dimension equivalent to approximately one step, it is possible to additionally allocate a plane area of approximately one step as a wheelchair existing space. In the case of a wheelchair having a short inter-axle distance and a sufficient flat area of approximately two steps, only the second tread having an expanded tread depth may be used. It is necessary to stop the escalator to get on and off the escalator of the wheelchair. For this purpose, an external power supply is provided near the escalator entrance for controlling the vertical height of the tread using the instruction signal. The device is activated or deactivated to switch between wheelchair-mounted operation and healthy person-only operation. There are two types of external power supply systems: mechanical and electrical. In the case of the electric type, the stability of the wheelchair during traveling of the escalator can be further ensured by supplying power to driving means built in the steps such as an electric motor.

[0006]

An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a state in which a wheelchair with a long inter-axle distance is mounted when the escalator in which the wheelchair mounting means according to the present invention is activated (FIG. 1) and runs (ascends or descends) (FIG. 2). FIG. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the escalator is stopped by an external signal of a treadle use instruction for wheelchair use, and a wheelchair with a long axle distance is completed with the tread depth dimension expanded, or immediately before the wheelchair is ready for wholesale. The state is shown. Three of the endlessly connected steps 2 near the upper floor entrance 1 of the escalator are usually 40 to 50 from the upper surface of the upper floor entrance 1.
It exists as a step in the horizontal movement range where the upper surface of the step comes to a level below mm. A tread depth dimension non-expandable step board having a special structure in the step 2 closest to the upper floor entrance 1, that is, a step 4 with the first step board 3 and a tread depth expandable second step board. The step 6 having the step 5 is stopped, and a horizontal movement range is formed by three steps including the wheelchair space step 7 over which the expanded second step plate 5 covers. At the time of getting on and off the wheelchair, that is, when stopping the escalator for loading / unloading the wheelchair, in a state where both the first stepboard 3 and the second stepboard 5 are moved upward from the step surface,
In addition, the second tread 5 is in a state where the tread depth dimension is expanded, and the upper surfaces thereof are configured to maintain substantially the same level as the upper surface of the upper floor entrance 1. The electric wheelchair 8 having a long axle distance is mounted on an escalator with the front wheel 9 on the first tread plate 3 and the rear wheel 10 on the second tread plate 5. The step board 5 forms a wheelchair mounting surface that occupies a plane area substantially equivalent to three steps. Note that the horizontal movement range and the depth dimension of the wheelchair mounting surface do not always need to match. Steps 4 and 6 used by a healthy person in a state where the first tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 are stored are illustrated in the portion illustrated in the tilt movement range. In the vicinity of the lower floor entrance 11, the steps 7 for wheelchair space, the steps 6 with the second tread, and the steps 4 with the first tread are stopped in the horizontal movement range and stopped, and the first tread 3 and the expanded state in the expanded state are stopped. 2 shows a state in which the upper surface of the second tread plate 5 is maintained at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the lower floor entrance 11 and the electric wheelchair 8 is mounted thereon. As shown in the figure, the escalator is not necessarily configured to be able to load and unload wheelchairs on the upper floor and the lower floor at the same time.
It does not necessarily consist of steps.

FIG. 2 shows a state of an escalator running with the electric wheelchair 8 mounted thereon. Near the upper floor entrance 1
2 shows a state in which the wheel mounting surfaces of the front and rear wheels 9 and 10 are at the same level in a state where the tread plate 3 is stored and a state where the second tread plate 5 is moved up to the highest level. The same conditions apply to the vicinity of the lower floor entrance 11, that is, the first tread 3
Are stored and the state where the upper surfaces of the first and second treads 3 and 5 are at the same level in a state where the second tread 5 is moved up to the highest level. When the electric wheelchair 8 in the tilting movement range is mounted, the first tread plate 3 is always placed in the housed state, and the second tread plate 5 is always placed in the state of being moved to the highest level in the upward direction. In this case, the ascending movement distance of the second tread plate 5 up to the highest level is the necessary ascending movement distance in the horizontal movement range, that is, 40 to 50 mm.
It is desirable that the stability of the electric wheelchair during the inclined traveling is secured. However, if it is difficult to secure the stability of the electric wheelchair, it is difficult to secure the stability of the electric wheelchair to the highest level of the second tread plate 5. Can be selected to be a value larger than the required moving distance of the second tread 5 in the horizontal moving range.
In order to explain the method of vertical movement control of the tread,
Consider a state in which the vehicle approaches the upper floor entrance 1 gradually from the illustrated state near the upper floor entrance 1. In this case, the first and second
The first tread 3 is moved upward from the first step 4 with tread so that the treads 3 and 5 are at the same level. If the level of the second tread plate 5 still needs to rise after the first tread plate 3 reaches the highest level, that is, the value of the required ascending movement distance of 40 to 50 mm in the horizontal movement range, Step 6 after step 3 of 1 reaches the highest level
Is controlled so that the ascending movement distance of the second tread plate 5 is reduced, and the upper surfaces of the first tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 are kept at the same level. In the case where the escalator is traveling upward, the first step with footplate 4 is controlled to move from the inclined movement range to the horizontal movement range and approach the upper floor entrance 1, and in the case where the escalator is traveling down, the first step with footplate 4 is controlled. Is controlled to gradually move away from the upper floor entrance 1 and move into the inclined movement range. In the case of ascending traveling and in the case of descending traveling, control is performed such that the values of the ascending movement distances of the first tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 at the same distance from the upper floor entrance 1 are the same. Done.

The method of controlling the vertical movement of the tread plate near the lower floor entrance 11 is the same as the control method near the upper floor entrance 1. Considering the state gradually approaching the lower floor entrance 11 from the state shown in the figure, the first and second treads 3 and 5 are in the state of being moved upward so that the first and second treads 3 and 5 are at the same level. Even after the state where the first tread 3 reaches the highest level, when the level of the first step 4 with treads still needs to be increased, the second tread 5 is set to a state where the ascending movement distance is reduced, and Control is performed so that the upper surfaces of the first tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 are maintained at the same level. When the escalator is traveling downward, the second step with footboard 6 is controlled to move from the inclined movement range to the horizontal movement range and approach the lower floor entrance 11. In the case of ascending travel, the second step with footboard 6 is controlled. Is controlled to gradually move away from the lower floor entrance 11 and move into the inclined movement range. In the case of descending travel and the case of ascent travel, the distance from the lower floor entrance 11 is the first
Is controlled so that the state of the upward movement distance of the tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 becomes the same.

Next, an embodiment of the second step 6 with a tread plate which can expand the depth of the tread will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the second tread plate 5 is accommodated in the folded lower plate 13 and the folded upper plate 14 by the connecting pins 12 in a state of being folded into two. The links 15 and 16 support the second tread plate 5 so as to be movable in the up-down direction.
7 are combined. Links 15 and 16 are second
The folding lower side plate 13 is supported by the connecting pin 19 and the guide surface 20 of the supporting member 18 attached to the lower surface of the folding lower side plate 13 of the stepping plate 5, and the lower step 6 with the second stepping plate is provided at the lower end.
It is held by the guide surface 21 of the main body and the coupling pin 22. The bell crank 23 has its center of rotation placed on a connecting pin 24 provided on the support member 18, and a link 27 connecting the connecting pin 24 to the connecting pin 26 of the step 6 main body via the connecting pin 25, and a connecting pin 28. Through the upper plate 14
And a link 30 which is connected to a connecting pin 29 attached to the second link.

From the folded state shown in FIG. 3, the folding upper plate 14 is rotated in the direction of arrow A around the connecting pin 12 by suitable means, for example, by hand, and the tread plate 5 is moved to the tread depth shown in FIG. Change to dimensional expansion state. The bell crank 23 is rotated via the link 30 by the rotation of the folding upper plate 14, a force in the direction of arrow B is generated on the support member 18 by the action of the link 27, and the folding lower plate 13 is pushed up. The lifting height is adjusted by attaching a stopper for restricting the movement of the bell crank 23 to the folding lower side plate 13. In a state where the folding upper plate 14 is simply expanded, the stepping plate 31 for stopping the vehicle is still in a horizontal position indicated by a chain line in FIG. After loading the wheelchair, the wheel stop tread 31 is rotated in the direction of arrow C, moved to the position shown by the solid line and locked, and the stability of the wheelchair during escalator traveling is maintained. In addition, when the escalator travels, the vehicle travels in the inclined movement range with the second tread plate 5 pushed up, so that the first tread plate-equipped step 4 relatively travels on a business trip and approaches the second tread plate 5.
To prevent this inconvenience and to function as a stopper for the front wheel 9 or the rear wheel 10, and after loading the wheelchair, rotate it in the direction of arrow A to change from the position of the dashed line to the solid line. Move to the position to lock. The structure of this embodiment is suitable for the case where the maximum moving distance of the second tread plate 5 is equal to the maximum moving distance of the first tread plate 3, that is, the required moving distance of 40 to 50 mm in the horizontal moving range. If a larger maximum ascending movement distance is required, it is desirable to use an electric lifting device. The turning operation of the folding upper plate 14 and the turning operation of the tread plate 31 for stopping the vehicle can also be electrically driven.

An embodiment of the step 4 having the first step board 3 which moves in the vertical direction will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Indicates an external power supply device provided near the lower floor entrance of the escalator. The first tread 3 is in the first tread storage space 33 during driving for a healthy person. The escalator stops at the wheelchair loading position in response to the treadle use instruction signal for wheelchair use, and after the above-described tread depth extension operation is completed, the entire external power supply device 34 is pushed up by the electromagnetic piston 35, and the escalator travel path Is arranged under the steps 2 so as to follow the steps. As a result, the chain 37 wound around the sprockets 36 arranged at both ends of the external power supply device 34 and the power transmission sprocket 38 to the vertical movement mechanism of the first tread plate 3 are engaged. Thereafter, the sprocket 36 of the external power supply device 34 is driven by the motor 39, and the chain 40 and the link mechanism 41 of the vertical movement mechanism of the first tread plate 3 as shown in FIG. The first tread plate 3 is pushed up using. When the first tread 3 rises to a predetermined position, the brake is applied to restrict the rotation of the motor 39. When the traveling of the escalator is started after the wheelchair is mounted, that is, the ascending operation is started in the case of FIG. 5, the chain 37 supported on the chain guide 42 that forms a curve along the traveling locus of the sprocket 38 becomes
The rack functions as a rack for the sprocket 38, and the sprocket 38 is given a rotational force as the first step 4 with a tread plate runs upward. As a result, the first tread plate 3 that has been pushed up gradually descends, and reaches the tilt movement range to reach the first tread plate 3.
In the footboard storage space 33. First step with step board 4
In the case of the downward traveling, the first tread plate 3 operates in the opposite direction to the above. The motor 39 drives the sprocket 36 in response to the tread board use end signal, stores the pushed up first tread board 3 in the first tread board storage space 33, returns to the normal use state, and contracts the electromagnetic piston 35. Alternatively, the first tread plate 3 may be lowered by contracting the electromagnetic piston 35.

[0013] In the vicinity of the upper floor entrance, the turning direction of the external power supply device 34 must be upside down.
The operation after the loading of the wheelchair is lowered, and the operation is similar to that in the vicinity of the lower floor entrance except that the first tread plate 3 which has been pushed up by the rotational force applied to the sprocket 38 is lowered. In the case of ascending travel, the first tread 3 is pushed up as it travels from the stowed state, and in the state of maximum ascending movement, the first tread 4 with a tread stops near the upper floor entrance / exit side, and the first use of the tread using a tread board use end signal The first tread plate 3 descends to the storage space 33. Although the embodiment of the mechanical external power supply device 34 has been described above, the chain 37 is replaced with a trolley contact guide for supplying power, the sprocket 38 is replaced with a power lead-in contact terminal, and the first step 4 with a treadle is used. The first tread plate 3 may be moved up and down by an electric driving means such as a built-in electric motor.

As described above, the second tread 5 is folded to maintain the state shown in FIG. 3 during the normal operation of the escalator exclusively for the healthy person, and the first tread 3 is stored in the storage space 33, and The upper part is generally used as a step having the same function as a general step board. When performing wheelchair-mounted driving, one set of wheelchair-mounted steps (for three adjacent steps) is stopped at an optimum position for loading a wheelchair in response to a signal from a wheelchair occupant or a caregiver to use a treadle.
In response to the completion of the expansion, the external power supply device for the first tread plate 3 is activated so that the first tread plate 3 and the second tread plate 5 are substantially flush with the upper surface of the entrance / exit. Align on the same level. After loading the wheelchair, the stepping plate 31 and the flap 32 for stopping the vehicle are fixed to the positions for stopping the vehicle, the wheelchair is clamped, and then the activation instruction signal is sent. After the start, the first step 4 with the step board and the step 6 with the second step board 6 correspond to the first step.
The first and the second so that the step between the and the second tread surface is minimized.
Control the vertical movement distance of the treads of the wheelchairs, and finally put one set of wheelchair mounting steps at the optimal position for wheelchair loading / unloading.
And the second tread surface are aligned and stopped so that the surface of the second tread plate is substantially at the same level as the upper surface of the entrance. The wheelchair occupant or his caregiver releases the clamp of the wheelchair, lowers the wheel stop tread 31 and the flap 32, wholesales the wheelchair, sends a tread end use instruction signal, and removes the first tread 3 (if necessary, the second tread 3). 5) Return to the storage space and deactivate the external power supply. Then, the second tread 5 in the expanded state is contracted by appropriate means, returned to the original storage position, and a normal operation instruction is issued, and the operation is returned to the escalator operation exclusively for the healthy person. In this wheelchair-mounted operation, the step between the first step 4 with step and the second step 6 with step becomes maximum during the range of the inclination movement, and in this section, the first step 3 is stored. In the space position, the second tread 5 is placed at the position of the maximum ascending movement distance. As a result, the level difference between the front and rear wheels of the electric wheelchair with a long axle distance is maintained at the minimum level difference in the device,
The maximum step between the front and rear wheels is always 0
It is not necessary to approach the distance, and a large value may be used as long as the safety of the wheelchair during escalator traveling is maintained.
As far as possible, the maximum ascending movement distance of the second step board 5 is set to be substantially the same as the upper surface of the entrance when loading / unloading the wheelchair.
To keep the treads ascending (ie, 40 to 50 mm)
Desirably equal to By performing such a driving, the wheelchair can be easily unloaded and loaded on the escalator at the entrance / exit, and the level difference between the front and rear wheels of the wheelchair can be reduced from one step of the conventional escalator to the second level in the present invention during the escalator traveling. The operation can be eased by the maximum ascending movement distance of the tread plate 5, and the operation can be continued with a step in a safe range. When the use of the tread for use of the wheelchair is not instructed, the external power supply device is deactivated and the sprocket 38 is turned off.
Or, if it is lowered and retracted to a position where it does not come into contact with the trolley contact, a normal escalator operation exclusively for a healthy person can be performed without any trouble.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a second tread plate capable of extending the tread depth in a direction opposite to the first tread plate by a length substantially corresponding to one step, and a length substantially corresponding to one step. First
By providing an adjacent step with an adjacent step, and controlling the vertical movement distance of each step according to the running position including the stop position, at least when loading / unloading the wheelchair, the entrance top surface, the first step surface, Approximately three steps, with the upper surface of the second stepboard maintained at approximately the same level to facilitate loading and unloading of wheelchairs, and to keep the level difference between the front and rear wheels at the wheelchair mounting position within a safe range during running. It is possible to provide an escalator that can prepare a wheelchair-mounted flat area for a minute. During running on the escalator, the level of the tread surface was not necessarily made substantially the same, but by allowing a step within a range where safety could be ensured, the size of the device could be reduced and the economic efficiency could be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an escalator is stopped in order to load and unload an electric wheelchair with a long axle distance on an escalator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a running state of the escalator according to the present invention mounted on a wheelchair.

FIG. 3 is a structural view of a step with a second tread plate showing a contracted state of a second tread plate capable of expanding a tread depth dimension.

FIG. 4 is a structural view of a step with a second tread, showing an expanded state of a second tread capable of extending a tread depth dimension.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram showing a combination of a first step with a tread plate and an external power supply device on the lower floor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the first step with a tread plate and a part of the external power supply device as viewed from the II section shown in FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper floor entrance 2 Steps 3 1st stepping board 4 First stepping step 5 Second stepping step 6 Second stepping step 7 Wheelchair space step 8 Electric wheelchair 9 Front wheel 10 Rear wheel 11 Lower floor entry and exit 13 Folded lower plate 14 Folded upper plate 15 Link 16 link 18 Support member 23 Bell crank 27 Link 30 Link 31 Brake stepboard 32 Flap 33 First treadboard storage space 34 External power supply 35 Electromagnetic piston 36 Sprocket 37 Chain 38 Sprocket 39 motor 40 chain 41 link mechanism 42 chain guide

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-153386 (JP, A) JP-A-59-230985 (JP, A) JP-A-60-218285 (JP, A) 130195 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B66B 21/00-31/02

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] At least one set of adjacent steps among a plurality of endlessly connected steps is provided with a stepping plate which can be independently moved in a vertical direction, and one of the stepping plates is a lower level during traveling of an escalator. Means for extending the tread depth dimension in a direction opposite to the other treads provided on the step located in the direction of the other step, and when receiving a use instruction signal of the step, the up and down of the step according to the traveling position of the adjacent step An escalator characterized by controlling the height in each direction. 2. The escalator according to claim 1, wherein an external power supply device for controlling the vertical height of the tread is provided near the entrance of the escalator. 3. The escalator according to claim 2, wherein the external power supply device is activated in association with the tread board use instruction signal.