JP7477476B2 - Passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to passenger conveyors, and in particular to passenger conveyors suitable for use with light sources (e.g., LEDs) that illuminate the area near the steps of the passenger conveyor.

Generally, escalators, which are a type of passenger conveyor, have skirt moldings installed on the wall of the skirt guard slightly above the steps as a contact prevention cover to prevent contact with passengers.

This skirt molding is installed to prevent passengers' clothes or shoes from getting caught in the gap between the step and the skirt guard when they run along the step, and for passenger safety, a light source is used to illuminate the gap between the step and the skirt guard.

Conventionally, footlights have been used as the light source, but because these footlights are installed inside the escalator body, it is difficult to reliably illuminate the gap between the step and the skirt guard with the light source, and the installation work of the footlights takes time, so improvements in these areas were desired.

The passenger conveyor described in Patent Document 1 was proposed to remedy this problem.

This patent document 1 describes how, in order to illuminate the passenger conveyor over a wide area, including the entire area on the steps and in the area where passengers pass, a light source that emits illumination light is installed on the step side from the end face of the skirt guard to illuminate the area around the steps and the passenger conveyor, and the area around the light source is covered with a contact prevention cover that prevents contact between the light source and passengers. A window member that passes the illumination light is installed in the contact prevention cover, and the window member is provided with an upper passing section that passes the illuminated light above the horizontal axis that passes through the installation position of the light source, and a lower passing section that passes the illuminated light below the horizontal axis.

JP 2014-125304 A

However, in the passenger conveyor described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the light source is installed inside the skirt molding with a D-shaped cross section, and the light emitted from the light source passes through an upper passing section above the horizontal axis that passes through the installation position of the light source, or passes through a lower passing section below the horizontal axis, which makes it difficult to reliably irradiate sufficient light into the gap between the steps of the passenger conveyor and the skirt guard.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a passenger conveyor that improves the installation work of the light source and can reliably irradiate sufficient light into the gap between the steps and the skirt guard of the passenger conveyor.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the passenger conveyor of the present invention is a passenger conveyor comprising a plurality of steps connected in an endless manner that moves in a circular manner, a skirt guard, and a light source that illuminates the vicinity of the steps, and a skirt molding is installed on the wall surface of the skirt guard above the steps to prevent contact between the light source and passengers, a light source that illuminates downward so as to illuminate at least the gap between the step and the skirt guard is installed on the lower part of the skirt molding, a light source storage section with a portion opened for storing the light source is formed on the lower part of the skirt molding, a cover that covers the opening of the light source storage section is fitted to the light source storage section when the light source is stored in the light source storage section, and the fitting structure of the light source storage section and the cover is a structure in which a convex portion formed on the tip portion of the cover fits into a concave portion formed on the inner surface of the skirt molding near the opening of the light source storage section, and the claw portions on the light source storage section side of the concave portion have different lengths from each other .

This invention improves the installation work of the light source and ensures that sufficient light is irradiated into the gap between the passenger conveyor step and the skirt guard.

1 is a side view showing an overall configuration of an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which an LED is illuminating a gap between a step and a skirt guard in an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing a procedure for storing an LED in a storage section of a skirt molding in an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a divided skirt molding in an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between a divided skirt molding, a skirt guard, and a connector storage box in an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention, before the connector storage box is fixed. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between a divided skirt molding, a skirt guard, and a connector storage box in an escalator, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention, after the connector storage box has been fixed.

The passenger conveyor of the present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiment. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components in each figure.

Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of an escalator 1, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows an escalator 1, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention, with an LED 7, which is a light source, illuminating the gap G between the step 5 and the skirt guard 3.

As shown in the figure, the escalator 1 of this embodiment is roughly composed of a number of steps 5 connected in an endless manner that moves in a circular manner, a skirt guard 3 divided into several parts in the longitudinal direction whose divided parts are connected by joints 3a, a skirt molding 4 installed on the wall surface of the skirt guard 3 above the steps 5, divided into several parts in the longitudinal direction whose divided parts are connected by joints 4a, and preventing contact between the LEDs 7 and passengers, and an LED 7 installed on each of the divided skirt moldings 4 to illuminate the gap G between the steps 5 and the skirt guard 3 near the steps 5. The reference number 2 indicates the inner deck.

When the escalator 1 ascends, the lower part becomes the entrance 1A and the upper part becomes the exit 1B, and when the escalator 1 descends, the upper part becomes the entrance 1A and the lower part becomes the exit 1B.

In the escalator 1 of this embodiment configured in this manner, the LED 7 is installed at the bottom of the skirt molding 4, and this LED 7 is designed to illuminate downward (directly below) so as to illuminate the gap G between the step 5 and the skirt guard 3 (the illumination range is indicated by R in Figure 2).

In this way, the LED 7 mainly illuminates the downward (directly below) area so that the gap G between the step 5 and the skirt guard 3 is brightly illuminated, preventing passengers from approaching the gap G.

To further explain the escalator 1 of this embodiment in detail, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, a light source storage section 9 having a partially opened opening 9a for storing an LED 7 is formed at the bottom of the skirt molding 4, and an LED cover 8 that covers the opening 9a of the light source storage section 9 is fitted to the light source storage section 9 with the LED 7 stored in the light source storage section 9.

The fitting structure of the light source storage section 9 and the LED cover 8 described above is such that the protrusion 8a formed at the tip of the LED cover 8 fits into the recess 4b formed on the inner surface of the skirt molding 4 near the opening 9a of the light source storage section 9.

In addition, in the escalator 1 of this embodiment, the claws on the light source storage section 9 side of the recess 4b formed on the inner surface of the skirt molding 4 near the opening 9a of the light source storage section 9 have opposing left and right claws 4b1 and 4b2 that are different in length. In other words, the opposing left and right claws are formed so that the right claw 4b2 is longer than the left claw 4b1 in the figure.

In addition, the LED 7 in this embodiment is formed in a generally trapezoid shape having an upper base 7a and a lower base 7b, and the generally trapezoid LED 7 is inserted into the light source storage section 9 with the lower base 7 facing up through the opening 9a on the side of the claw 4b2 that is longer than the left and right opposing claws 4b1 and 4b2, and the LED 7 is stored in the light source storage section 9.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3(a), one end of the LED 7 is inserted into the light source storage section 9 with the bottom base 7b of the LED 7 facing up through the opening 9a on the side of the claw 4b2 that is longer than the left and right claws 4b1 and 4b2, and the inserted end of the LED 7 is further pushed into the far right side of the light source storage section 9, and at the same time, the one end of the LED 7 is pushed into the light source storage section 9 through the claw 4b2 that is longer (see FIG. 3(b)). After that, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the LED 7 is stored in the light source storage section 9 with the bottom base 7b facing up and the top base facing down, and finally, as shown in FIG. 3(d), the LED cover 8 is fitted into the light source storage section 9.

If the opposing left and right claws 4b1 and 4b2 were the same length, there would be a risk that the LED 7 would be excessively deformed and damaged (break or tear) when it was stored in the light source storage section 9 of the skirt molding 4. However, by using the above-described embodiment, it is possible to insert one side of the LED 7 first through the opening 9a on the longer claw 4b2 side and then store it in the light source storage section 9, thereby preventing the above-mentioned damage.

In addition, in the escalator 1 of this embodiment, the LED cover 8 located on the side of the claw 4b1 with the shorter length between the left and right opposing claws 4b1 and 4b2 protrudes beyond the tip of the claw 4b1 with the shorter length on the side opposite the protruding portion of the tip.

As a result, when the LED 7 is stored in the light source storage section 9 and the LED cover 8 is fitted to the light source storage section 9, the protruding portion of the LED cover 8 serves as the shorter claw portion 4b1, preventing the LED 7 from falling off.

Next, the division (joint) of the skirt guard 3 and skirt molding 4, which are divided into multiple parts in the longitudinal direction, in an escalator 1, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention, will be described with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 6.

Figure 4 shows the rear view of the divided skirt molding 4 in an escalator 1, which is an example of a passenger conveyor of the present invention. Figure 5 shows the relative positions of the skirt molding 4, skirt guard 3, and connector storage box 12 before the connector storage box 12 is fixed. Figure 6 shows the relative positions of the divided skirt molding 4, skirt guard 3, and connector storage box 12 after the connector storage box 12 is fixed.

As mentioned above, in the escalator 1 of this embodiment, the skirt molding 4 is divided into several parts in the longitudinal direction, and one LED 7 is installed for each divided skirt molding 4. However, this is because the floor height H (see FIG. 1) of the escalator 1 varies depending on the customer's request or the building in which it is installed, and because it is difficult to operate the distance from the entrance 1A to the exit 1B of the escalator 1 with one LED 7 due to the specifications of the LED 7, so from the viewpoint of on-site workability, it is better to install one LED 7 for each divided skirt molding 4 as in this embodiment.

As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, this embodiment includes connectors 10 (10a, 10b) and cables 11 (11a, 11b) that connect adjacent LEDs 7A and 7B of the LEDs 7 installed in each divided skirt molding 4, and the divided skirt molding 4 is provided with a storage space 4c for storing the connectors 10 (10a, 10b) and cables 11 (11a, 11b).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the skirt guard 3 is also divided into multiple pieces in the longitudinal direction, and the joint 3a of the divided skirt guard 3 and the joint 4a of the skirt guard 4 are provided with notches 3c and 3d (not shown) for passing the connector 10 (10a, 10b) and the cable 11 (11a, 11b), and a connector storage box 12 is installed on the back of the skirt guard 3.

As a result, even if the size of the connecting connector 10 (10a, 10b) is changed due to a change in specifications, it is possible to store the connecting connector 10 (10a, 10b) in either the storage space 4c of the skirt molding 4 or the connector storage box 12 on the back of the skirt guard 3.

When the divided skirt molding 4 is provided with a storage space 4c for storing the connectors 10 (10a, 10b) and cables 11 (11a, 11b), the connectors 10a, 10b of adjacent skirt molding 4 assemblies (a set of LED 7 and LED cover 8 is considered as one set) are connected, and then the connectors 10 (10a, 10b) and cables 11 (11a, 11b) are stored in the storage space 4c, and the skirt molding 4 is fastened together with the inner deck 2 and skirt guard 3 by bolts 13.

In addition, the joints 3a of the skirt guard 3 and the joints 4a of the skirt molding 4, which are divided into multiple parts, are provided with notches 3c of the skirt guard 3 and notches (not shown) of the skirt molding 4 for passing the connectors 10 (10a, 10b) and cables 11 (11a, 11b). When a connector storage box 12 is installed on the back of the skirt guard 3, the connectors 10a, 10b of adjacent skirt molding 4 assemblies (a set of LED 7 and LED cover 8 is considered as one set) are connected, and then the connectors 10a, 10b and cables 11a, 11b are stored in the connector storage box 12. The cables 11a, 11b are allowed to escape between the notches 3c of the skirt guard 3 and the notches of the skirt molding 4 so as not to be pinched, and the skirt molding 4 is fixed to the skirt guard 3 with bolts 13.

This embodiment improves the installation work of the LEDs 7 and ensures that sufficient light is irradiated into the gap G between the step 5 of the escalator 1 and the skirt guard 3, preventing passengers from approaching the gap G.

In addition, when storing the LED 7 in the light source storage section 9 of the skirt molding 4, excessive deformation of the LED 7 does not occur, and damage (breakage or tearing) can be prevented.

Furthermore, after storing the LED 7 in the light source storage section 9, the LED cover 8 is fitted to the light source storage section 9, so that the protruding portion of the LED cover 8 serves as the shorter claw portion 4b1, thereby preventing the LED 7 from falling off.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes various modified examples. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail to make the present invention easier to understand, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those having all of the configurations described. It is also possible to replace part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. It is also possible to add, delete, or replace part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

1...escalator, 1A...entrance of escalator, 1B...exit of escalator, 2...inner deck, 3...skirt guard, 3a...joint of skirt guard, 3c...cutout of skirt guard, 4...skirt molding, 4a...joint of skirt molding, 4b...recess of skirt molding, 4b1, 4b2...claw of recess of skirt molding, 4c...storage space, 5...step, 6...handrail, 7, 7A, 7B...LED, 7a...trapezoidal upper base of LED, 7b...trapezoidal lower base of LED, 8...LED cover, 8a...projection of LED cover, 9...light source storage section, 9a...opening of light source storage section, 10, 10A, 10B...connector, 11, 11A, 11B...cable, 12...connector storage box, 13...bolt.

Claims (8)

A passenger conveyor comprising a plurality of steps connected in an endless manner and circulating, a skirt guard, and a light source for illuminating the vicinity of the steps, and a skirt molding for preventing contact between the light source and passengers is installed on a wall surface of the skirt guard above the steps,
A light source is installed under the skirt molding to illuminate downward at least the gap between the step and the skirt guard ,
A light source storage section having an opening for storing the light source is formed at a lower portion of the skirt molding, and a cover for covering the opening of the light source storage section is fitted to the light source storage section when the light source is stored in the light source storage section,
The fitting structure of the light source storage section and the cover is a structure in which a protrusion formed at a tip portion of the cover fits into a recess formed on an inner surface of the skirt molding near an opening of the light source storage section,
A passenger conveyor , wherein the claw portions of the recess on the side of the light source storage portion have different lengths from each other. 2. A passenger conveyor according to claim 1 ,
The light source is formed in an approximately trapezoidal shape, and the light source is inserted through an opening on the side of the opposing claw portion that has a longer length, with the approximately trapezoidal bottom side facing up, and stored in the light source storage section. A passenger conveyor according to claim 2 ,
This passenger conveyor is characterized in that the cover located on the side of the opposing claw portion with the shorter length protrudes beyond the tip of the claw portion with the shorter length on the side opposite to the convex portion formed at the tip. A passenger conveyor according to claim 3 ,
A passenger conveyor, characterized in that the skirt molding is divided into a plurality of parts in the longitudinal direction, and one of the light sources is provided for each of the divided skirt moldings. A passenger conveyor according to claim 4 ,
A passenger conveyor comprising: a connector and a cable for connecting adjacent light sources installed in each divided skirt molding; and a storage space for storing the connector and the cable is provided in the divided skirt molding. A passenger conveyor according to claim 5 ,
This passenger conveyor is characterized in that the skirt guard is divided into several parts in the longitudinal direction, and cutouts are provided at the joints of the skirt guard and at the joints of the skirt guard for passing the connection connector and the cable through, and a connection connector storage box is installed on the back of the skirt guard. 7. A passenger conveyor according to claim 6 ,
The connector storage box is fixed to the skirt guard with bolts while storing the connector and the cable. A passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
A passenger conveyor, wherein the light source is an LED.

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