JP4305342B2 - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to passenger conveyors such as escalators and autolines, and inspection steps used therefor.

  An example of a conventional passenger conveyor is described in Patent Document 1. In the escalator described in this publication, an interval adjusting device is attached to the step in order to continuously measure the interval between the escalator step and the skirt guard. The distance adjusting device includes a movable body whose front end portion is in contact with the side surface of the skirt guard and moves back and forth, a spring that presses the movable body against the skirt guard, a detection unit that detects the amount of movement of the movable body, and a detection unit And a recording unit for recording a signal from.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-144866

  In the conventional escalator described in Patent Document 1, an interval adjusting device is provided separately from the escalator that is normally used, and the escalator is stopped and the interval adjusting device is attached during use. And the escalator was operated for data collection, the output of the interval adjusting device was recorded, and after the data acquisition, the interval adjusting device was removed and the normal operation was resumed. As a result, it took a lot of time to check the escalator. In addition, when inspecting the elevator, it was necessary for an inspection worker to go to the site. Furthermore, in this conventional escalator, although the transport part of the escalator carrying the passenger can be inspected, the forwarding part located inside the escalator casing cannot be inspected unless the escalator is disassembled.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to facilitate inspection of a passenger conveyor including an escalator. Another object of the present invention is to enable inspection of passenger conveyors by remote control. Still another object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily inspect not only the conveying part of the passenger conveyor but also the forwarding part.

A feature of the present invention that achieves the above object is a passenger conveyor in which steps connected endlessly move to convey passengers, and a central portion on the back side of the mounting surface on which the passengers of the steps are mounted inside the steps An acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in the lateral width direction and the horizontal traveling direction and detects the inclination of the step, a signal processing device that performs signal processing on an output signal of the acceleration sensor, and power that supplies power to the signal processing device A supply unit and a transmission device that transmits the output of the signal processing device in a contactless manner are provided, and a reception device that receives a processing result transmitted by the transmission device is attached to the housing, and the low frequency of the acceleration sensor When the component is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the step is abnormally inclined.

Moreover, in the above, it is preferable that the acceleration is detected by traveling the traveling path a plurality of times.

Further, in the above, the signal processing device includes an A / D conversion circuit that captures signals from the microprocessor and the acceleration sensor, and a memory device that stores the captured acceleration data. It is desirable to receive the processing result.

Furthermore, in the above, it is desirable to issue an abnormality occurrence signal according to the processing result of the signal processing device .

  According to the present invention, since the passenger conveyor has an inspection step incorporating the acceleration sensor, it is possible to inspect the guide rail of the passenger conveyor only by operating the passenger conveyor. Therefore, the labor required for the inspection of the passenger conveyor is reduced, and the passenger conveyor can be inspected even from a remote place. In addition, it is possible to inspect all the running paths of the steps.

  In passenger conveyors such as escalators and autolines, steps or treads connected endlessly travel on a guide rail attached to a casing frame of the passenger conveyor to convey the passengers. In the case of an escalator, a total of four rollers are attached to the front and rear and to the left and right in the running direction for each step. These four rollers travel on a total of four guide rails, two pairs on the left and right. If the guide rail mounting dimensions are crumpled, vibration and noise may be generated, and the steps in the course of running may be staggered. For example, if the height of the four rails is the same, the steps will stagger. In addition, if a step or a gap is generated at the rail joint, vibration and noise may occur. These dimensions may cause interference between the skirt guards provided on the left and right sides of the step traveling path and the comb plate provided on the boarding / alighting section and the steps. It is necessary to periodically check whether the guide rail mounting dimensions have changed over time due to aging and unexpected external forces.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a passenger conveyor according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the passenger conveyor is an escalator. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inspection step 1a, which will be described in detail later, and FIG. 2 is an inspection step 1a interposed in a conveyance path formed by connecting a plurality of steps 1 in an endless manner. It is the figure which showed the side view of the escalator 80 typically.

  In the escalator 80, a number of steps 1, 1,... Are connected endlessly to form a loop 1b. Only one inspection step 1a is interposed in the loop 1b. A terminal gear 14 is provided at the uppermost portion of the loop 1b and at the right end in FIG. 2, and this terminal gear 14 circulates the loop 1b. The terminal gear 14 is driven by a driving device 16 having a driving gear 16a. A drive chain belt 16 b is mounted on the drive gear 16 a and the terminal gear 14. In synchronization with the loop 1b, the handrail 17 goes around. A lower terminal gear 15 is provided at the lower end of the loop 1b, and the loop 1b meshes with the lower terminal gear 15. The steps 1, 1,..., The terminal gear 14, the lower terminal gear 15, the driving device 16, and the like are stored in a housing frame 18.

  Each step 1 has a fan-shaped side portion, and front guide rollers 2a and 2b (hereinafter referred to as front rollers) are attached in the vicinity of the main part of the fan. Further, rear guide rollers 3a and 3b (hereinafter referred to as rear rollers) are attached to the corners of the loop 1b opposite to the mounting surface side. The front rollers 2a, 2b and the rear rollers 3a, 3b are provided in pairs on the left and right.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 1, the front rollers 2a and 2b and the rear rollers 3a and 3b have different left and right width direction positions, the front rollers 2a and 2b are outward in the width direction, and the rear rollers 3a and 3b are It is located inside in the width direction. Inside the loop 1b, a front guide roller guide rail 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a front rail) is provided on the mounting portion side so that the front rollers 2a and 2b can travel thereon, and the rear rollers 3a and 3b are provided. A rear guide roller guide rail 11 (hereinafter also referred to as a rear rail) is disposed on the mounting portion side so as to be able to travel on the mounting portion side while changing the left and right width direction positions. Similarly, a guide rail 12 on which the front rollers 2a and 2b travel and a guide rail 13 on which the rear rollers 3a and 3b travel are arranged on the side opposite to the mounting portion.

  In the front rail 10 and the rear rail 11, the vertical intervals are narrow at the inclined portion of the loop 1 b and are set wide near the upper horizontal portion 18 a and the lower horizontal portion 18 b of the housing frame 18. And in the part which transfers to a horizontal part from an inclination part, each space | interval is changing continuously. Thereby, the upper surface on the mounting side of the step 1 is always kept horizontal.

  The front rollers 2a and 2b and the rear rollers 3a and 3b of the step 1 on which the passenger is mounted travel on the front rail 10 and the rear rail 11 and reach the terminal gear 14 part. The step 1 that has reached the terminal gear 14 reverses along the terminal gear 14. The front rollers 2a and 2b and the rear rollers 3a and 3b of the reversed step 1 travel on the guide rails 12 and 13 on the opposite mounting portion side and are driven to the lower terminal gear 15 portion. The step 1 is reversed again by the lower terminal gear 15 and is in a state where passengers can be conveyed.

  By the way, if the distance between the front rail 10 and the rear rail 11 does not have a predetermined dimension, the step 1 is inclined and the step 1 may be staggered. Further, when the step 1 is inclined, there is a possibility that it interferes with a skirt guard (not shown) provided on the left and right sides of the travel path of the step 1 or comb plates 81a and 81b of the boarding / alighting portion disposed adjacent to the loop 1b. Further, if there are steps or gaps at the joints of the rails 10 to 13, when the rollers pass through the steps or gaps, the step 1 generates vibration and noise. Therefore, in the present invention, the inspection step 1a is interposed in the loop 1b so that an abnormality can be detected.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing details of the inspection step 1a. Similar to the normal step 1, the inspection step 1a includes an upper surface member 1c that forms a mounting surface, a rear surface member 1d that is formed in a curved surface, a pair of side surface members 1e and 1f that form both left and right side surfaces, It has the shaft 1g attached to the front lower part of the side members 1e and 1f. The upper surface member 1c, the rear surface member 1d, and the side surface members 1e and 1f may be partly or entirely formed integrally, or may be separate members. The front rollers 2a and 2b described above are rotatably attached to both ends of the shaft 1g. Shafts 1h and 1i are attached to lower rear portions of the side members 1e and 1f, and rear rollers 3a and 3b are rotatably attached to shaft ends of the shafts 1h and 1i.

  Acceleration sensors 4 and 5 are attached to the inner lower portions of the side members 1e and 1f and in the vicinity of the shafts 1h and 1i. The acceleration sensors 4 and 5 detect acceleration in the vertical direction (Z direction) acting on the rear rollers 3a and 3b. Acceleration sensors 6 and 7 facing the left-right width direction (x direction) and the horizontal traveling direction (y direction) are attached to the central portion on the back surface side of the upper surface member 1c. The acceleration sensors 6 and 7 detect accelerations in the X direction and the Y direction that act on the entire step 1a. The acceleration sensors 6 and 7 can also detect acceleration generated by gravity when the step 1a is tilted, and function as tilt sensors.

  A signal processing device 8 that captures and processes the acceleration signals of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7 is attached to the center of the rear surface side of the rear member 1d. A transmission device 9 connected to the signal processing device 8 and transmitting the result processed by the signal processing device to a remote inspection booth is also attached to the rear surface side of the rear member 1d.

  In this embodiment, the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 for detecting the vertical acceleration are provided in the vicinity of the rear rollers 3a and 3b. However, the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 are provided in the vicinity of the shaft 1g of the front rollers 2a and 2b. May be. Further, an acceleration sensor for detecting the acceleration in the vertical direction may be provided in the vicinity of both the front roller and the rear roller.

  The signal processing device 8 includes, for example, an A / D conversion circuit that captures signals from a microprocessor and an acceleration sensor, and a memory device that stores the captured acceleration data. A receiving device 19 is attached to the casing 18 of the escalator 80. The reception device 19 receives the processing result transmitted by the transmission device 9 and transmits the reception result to the remote monitoring center 20 as necessary. For data transfer between the transmission device 9 and the reception device 19, for example, specific low power wireless communication is used.

  The operation of the inspection step 1a according to this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows the flow of operation of the inspection step 1a. While running the inspection step 1a, the time calendar waveforms of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7 are recorded (step 30). At that time, the check step 1a is repeatedly traveled to travel the travel path a plurality of times. That is, starting from the vicinity of the lower horizontal portion 18 b of the housing frame 18 and running on the rails 10 and 11, the upper terminal gear 14 is used to reverse the frame. Thereafter, the vehicle travels on the rails 12 and 13 and is reversed by the lower terminal gear 15. This series of round trips is performed a plurality of times.

  An example of the acceleration waveform obtained as a result of the circular running is shown in FIG. The waveform 40 of the acceleration sensor 4 or 5 that detects vertical acceleration in the upper stage, the waveform 41 of the acceleration sensor 6 that detects horizontal (y-direction) acceleration in the middle stage, and the horizontal (x-direction) acceleration in the lower stage. The waveform 42 of the acceleration sensor 7 for detecting the

  When the step 1 a travels on the rails 10 and 11, downward acceleration acts on the acceleration sensors 4 and 5. As a result, the acceleration value detected by the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 becomes negative. On the other hand, when the step 1a is reversed on the terminal gear 14 and travels on the rails 12 and 13, the directions of the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 are also reversed. As a result, the acceleration value detected by the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 is positive.

  A section 43 in which the output value of the acceleration sensor 4 or 5 is negative corresponds to a section in which the step 1a travels on the rails 10 and 11, and a section 44 in which the output value of the acceleration sensor 4 or 5 is positive indicates the step 1a. Corresponds to the section traveling on the rails 12 and 13. Therefore, it can be seen from which of the output values of the acceleration sensor 4 or 5 which section the step 1a is traveling.

  Actually, the positive / negative of the acceleration signal may change in a very short time due to the influence of the vibration generated at the meshing reversal part between the terminal gear 14 and the lower terminal gear 15 or the noise included in the acceleration signal. Therefore, the acceleration signal detected by the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 is subjected to filtering processing to determine the travel section of the step 1a.

  A filtering process is performed on the waveforms of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7 to extract low frequency components (step 31). An example of the result of this filtering process is shown in FIG. 4 are waveforms 45 to 47 obtained by inputting the acceleration waveforms 40 to 42 shown in FIG. 4 to a low-pass filter (not shown) and extracting only the low frequency components. For the acceleration sensor 4 or 5, a time 48 at which the sign of the low frequency component waveform 45 is inverted is obtained. Based on the time required for the step 1a to pass through the terminal gear 14 and the lower terminal gear 18, a predetermined time zone is set before and after the reversal time 48 to be the reversal section 49 of the step 1a (step 32).

  Based on the inversion section 49, the traveling section 50 on the rails 10 and 11 and the traveling section 51 on the rails 12 and 13 of the step 1a are specified. In these traveling sections 50 and 51, when the corrected low frequency component waveforms 46 and 47 of the acceleration sensors 6 and 7 include an output exceeding a predetermined value, it is determined that the step 1a is abnormally inclined. (Step 33).

  For example, in FIG. 5, a disturbance like a waveform 52 is generated in the corrected output 46 of the acceleration sensor 6 that detects acceleration in the horizontal direction (y direction). It can be seen that 1a is abnormally inclined in the front-rear direction (y direction). Similarly, in the corrected output 47 of the acceleration sensor 7 in the horizontal direction (x direction), the disturbance indicated by the waveforms 53 and 54 occurs, so that the step 1a is moved in the left and right direction (X direction) near the lower terminal gear 15. ) Is found to be abnormally inclined.

  In the traveling section 51 on the rails 12 and 13, the corrected output 46 of the acceleration sensor 6 in the horizontal direction (y direction) becomes a positive output. In this traveling section 51, the step 1a is in the front-rear direction. This is because the vehicle travels in an inclined state. When an acceleration deviated by a predetermined value or more from an acceleration assumed to occur due to the inclination of the section 51 is output, it is determined that the running is abnormal.

  FIG. 6 shows the high-frequency components 55 to 57 that are filtered out by the low-pass filter from the outputs of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7. That is, the difference between the outputs 40 to 42 of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7 shown in FIG. 4 and the corrected outputs 45 to 47 of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7. These acceleration differences 55 to 57 include the acceleration caused by the joint steps of the rails 10 to 13, the vibration caused by the gap, and the interference of the steps 1 and 1 a. Further, for example, noise 58 to 60 generated by electrical noise is also included. The noise waveforms 58 to 60 generally include higher frequency components than the vibration caused by the joint steps and gaps of the rails 10 to 13 and the vibration caused by the interference of the step 1a. Therefore, when the noise waveforms 58 to 60 are removed from the differential acceleration waveforms 55 to 57, a waveform of an intermediate frequency component is obtained (step 34).

  An example of the intermediate frequency components 61 to 63 obtained in this way is shown in FIG. In the waveforms of these intermediate frequency components 61 to 63, the intermediate frequency component 61 corresponding to the acceleration sensor 4 or 5 is an output 64 that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the traveling section 50. This is determined to be vibration caused by a step or gap greater than the allowable value of the joints of the rails 10 to 13 (step 35). Similarly, the intermediate frequency components 62 and 63 corresponding to the acceleration sensors 6 and 7 are outputs 65 and 66 that are equal to or greater than a predetermined value in the traveling section 50. This is determined as vibration caused by the interference of the step 1a (step 36).

  In addition, it is thought that the vibration which generate | occur | produces due to the level | step difference and clearance gap of the rails 10-13 and the vibration which generate | occur | produces by interference of a step differ in a frequency component. Therefore, if a filter having an optimum frequency response is prepared corresponding to each abnormal phenomenon, the cause of the abnormality can be detected with higher accuracy. The type of abnormality to be detected is not limited to the above, and abnormal vibration of the steps 1 and 1a and pulsation of the traveling speed of the steps 1 and 1a in the inversion section may be detected.

  When the abnormality detection process as described above is performed for each round trip of the step 1a and the results are overlapped, the abnormality can be detected with higher accuracy. That is, when a step difference in the joints of the rails 10 to 13 or a step interference occurs, an abnormal output periodically appears in the outputs of the acceleration sensors 4 to 7, but this timing is synchronized with the round trip of the step 1a. To do. Therefore, it is determined that an abnormality in acceleration detected at the same timing every time in a plurality of round trips is actually occurring. If the detected acceleration abnormality occurs at random, it is determined that there is no abnormality due to an accidental external force or the like.

  Note that an abnormality signal is transmitted from the transmission device 9 to the management booth in order to notify the administrator of the escalator 80 of the abnormality when the abnormality occurs. At this time, since the signal transmitted from the transmission device 9 includes the processing result of the signal processing device 8, an abnormality issuing means is provided so that an abnormality occurrence signal can be issued according to the content of this signal. Provided near the management booth or escalator 80. When the abnormality reporting means is in the vicinity of the escalator 80, the signal issued by the abnormality reporting means is transferred to a remote place by the remote communication means.

  In the above embodiment, a method of supplying power to the signal processing device 8 and the transmission device 9 attached to the inspection step 1a will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the inspection step 1a travels around the casing 18 of the escalator 80, it is difficult to supply power from a fixed object such as a wire. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 8, electric power is supplied to the inspection step 1a that can be moved from the stationary side by electromagnetic induction.

  That is, the casing 18 is disposed at the position where the escalator 80 is laid, and the dielectric coil 21 is provided so as not to interfere with the traveling position of the loop formed by the steps 1 and 1a in the middle portion of the casing 18. Place. The dielectric coil 21 is formed extending in the traveling direction of the inspection step 1a. On the other hand, the power receiving core 22 is provided on the rear member 1d or the upper member 1c of the inspection step 1a so as to engage with the dielectric coil 21 attached to the housing 18.

  A rechargeable battery (not shown) is connected to the power receiving coil 22 arranged in this way. This battery is mounted on the inspection step 1a, and during normal inspection operation, the sensors 4 to 7, the signal processing device 8, and the transmission device 9 operate with the battery power. When the escalator 80 stops, the inspection step 1a is stopped at the position where the power receiving coil 22 is engaged with the dielectric coil 21. In this state, when an alternating current is passed through the dielectric coil 21, the power receiving core 22 is excited, and the battery of the inspection step 1a is charged.

  As a method of stopping the inspection step 1a at the position of the dielectric coil 21, there is a method of using acceleration sensors 4 and 5. In this method, the signs of the acceleration sensors 4 and 5 are obtained by the above-described method, and the inversion timing of the inspection step 1a is determined from the inversion timing of the signs of the acceleration sensors 4 and 5. Using the moving speed of the inspection step 1a, the moving time of the inspection step 1a from the inversion time to the position of the dielectric coil 21 is obtained. The steps 1, 1a are stopped based on the obtained travel time. It should be noted that a large amount of device is required to accurately control the stop position of the inspection step 1a. Therefore, practically, the dielectric coil 21 is formed long in the traveling direction of the inspection step 1a as shown in FIG. To do.

  Another example of supplying electric power to each of the sensors 4 to 7 is shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a detailed partial perspective view of the side portion of the inspection step 1a. A generator 24 is attached to the rear member 1d or the side member 1e through the opening 1j of the side member 1e of the inspection step 1a. A roller 23 is attached to the shaft end of the generator 24, and this roller 23 is in contact with the rear roller 3a of the inspection step 1a.

  When the inspection step 1 travels, the roller 23 in contact with the rear roller 3a rolls and the generator 24 generates power. The electric power generated by the generator 24 is supplied directly or indirectly to the sensors 4 to 7 through a battery. The electric power generated by the generator 24 is stored in a battery and used when the traveling of the inspection step 1a is stopped. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably supply power to the sensor or the like with a simple device. The generator 24 may be disposed on the axis of the rear roller 3a, and the rear roller 3a may be directly attached to the shaft of the generator 24.

It is a perspective view of one Example of the inspection step which concerns on this invention. It is a side view of the escalator which has the step shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the step for an inspection which concerns on this invention. It is an example of the time chart of the acceleration sensor used for the step shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the acceleration sensor used for the step shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the acceleration sensor used for the step shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the acceleration sensor used for the step shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the step shown in FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the detail of an electric power supply means. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the step shown in FIG. 1, and is a figure which shows the detail of the other example of an electric power supply means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Step, 1a ... Inspection step, 2a, 2b ... Front roller, 3a, 3b ... Rear roller, 4-7 ... Acceleration sensor, 8 ... Signal processing device, 9 ... Transmission device.

Claims (7)

In the passenger conveyor where the steps connected endlessly move and convey passengers,
Inside the step,
An acceleration sensor that detects acceleration in the lateral width direction and the horizontal traveling direction at the center of the back side of the mounting surface on which the passengers of the step are mounted, and detects the inclination of the step;
A signal processing device for processing an output signal of the acceleration sensor;
Power supply means for supplying power to the signal processing device;
A transmission device for non-contact transmission of the output of the signal processing device;
Provided,
A receiving device for receiving a processing result transmitted by the transmitting device is attached to the housing,
When the low frequency component of the acceleration sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the step is abnormally inclined . The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration is detected by traveling the traveling path a plurality of times . 2. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing device includes an A / D conversion circuit that captures signals of a microprocessor and an acceleration sensor, and a memory device that stores the captured acceleration data, and the reception device includes the signal processing. Passenger conveyor characterized by receiving processing result of apparatus . The passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein an abnormality occurrence signal is issued according to a processing result of the signal processing device . The filter according to claim 1, further comprising a filter having a frequency response corresponding to vibration generated due to a step or gap of a rail joint and vibration generated due to step interference, and filters the output of the acceleration sensor. Passenger conveyor characterized by that .   The signal processing device is connected to the traveling section on the basis of the output of the acceleration sensor, the traveling section in which the passenger can be mounted, the reversing section that is located immediately after the passenger is lowered or just before the passenger is placed, and the reversing section. A step position specifying unit that divides each section of the forwarding section, and an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality in acceleration acting on the passenger conveyor based on the output of the step position specifying unit and the output of the acceleration sensor. The passenger conveyor according to claim 1.   The abnormality detection unit includes a plurality of frequency filters that can detect different abnormality modes and have different frequency bands, and an abnormality determination unit that determines whether there is an abnormality in traveling of the passenger conveyor based on outputs of the plurality of frequency filters. The passenger conveyor according to claim 6.

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