JP2020059564A - Escalator system for performing operation suited for user - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an escalator system capable of placing a car body on a footstep more surely and smoothly.SOLUTION: This escalator system comprises: a plurality of footsteps 6 that circulate between a lower entrance 1 and an upper entrance 2 of an escalator; an entrance side pressure detection device that is provided to one of the lower and upper entrances 1, 2 which becomes an entrance side and that identifies a load position and detects pressure; and a control device 14 that determines a footstep on which the front end wheels of a car body are imagined to be placed and a footstep on which rear end wheels are imagined to be placed in accordance with the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the entrance side pressure detection device, and aligns and maintains horizontal the heights of the footstep surfaces of the footstep on which the front end wheels of the car body are imagined to be placed, the footstep on which rear end wheels are imagined to be placed, and a footstep therebetween.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an escalator system that carries out driving suitable for a user.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an escalator system. In the escalator system, the height of the step surfaces of a plurality of steps is adjusted to be horizontal and the vehicle body such as a wheelchair can be placed on the steps.

JP, 2004-149304, A

  However, the escalator system described in Patent Document 1 stops the circulation movement of the steps when the heights of the step surfaces of the plurality of steps are adjusted and kept horizontal. Therefore, it takes time to put a vehicle body such as a wheelchair on a step.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an escalator system that allows the vehicle body to be placed on the steps more reliably and smoothly.

  The escalator system according to the present invention is provided on a plurality of steps that circulate between a lower entrance and an upper entrance of the escalator and a side of the lower entrance and the upper entrance that is an entrance. When the wheel on the front end side of the vehicle body rides in accordance with the entrance / exit side pressure detection device that identifies the position where the load is applied and detects the pressure, and the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the entrance / exit side pressure detection device The step where the front wheel is supposed to get on and the step where the rear wheel is supposed to get on and the step between which it is supposed to get on and the step between them And a control device that keeps the height of the stepping surface and the step surface horizontal.

  According to the present invention, the control device automatically determines the height of the step surface of the step on which the wheels on the front end side of the vehicle body and the steps on which the wheels of the rear end side are assumed to ride and the steps between them. And keep it horizontal. Therefore, the vehicle body can be placed on the steps more reliably and smoothly.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state when the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an outline of the operation of the escalator system in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control device of the escalator system according to the first embodiment.

  Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Overlapping description of the part is appropriately simplified or omitted.

Embodiment 1.
1 to 6 are diagrams showing a state in which the escalator system according to the first embodiment is used by a wheelchair user.

  In the escalator system of FIG. 1, the lower entrance / exit 1 is provided in the lower part of the escalator. For example, the lower entrance / exit 1 is provided on the lower floor of the adjacent floor. The upper entrance / exit 2 is provided above the escalator. For example, the upper entrance / exit 2 is provided on the upper floor of the adjacent floor.

  The lower machine room 3 is provided immediately below the lower entrance / exit 1. The upper machine room 4 is provided immediately below the upper entrance / exit 2. The plurality of steps 5 are provided endlessly between the lower entrance 1 and the upper entrance 2. The plurality of steps 5 are provided so as to be capable of circulating movement.

  One of the pair of skirt guards 6 is adjacent to one side of the steps 5. The other of the pair of skirt guards 6 is adjacent to the other side of the steps 5. One of the pair of balustrade panels 7 is provided above one of the pair of skirt guards 6. The other of the pair of balustrade panels 7 is provided above the other of the pair of skirt guards 6.

  One of the pair of moving handrails 8 is provided endlessly corresponding to one of the pair of balustrade panels 7. The other of the pair of moving handrails 8 is provided endlessly corresponding to the other of the pair of balustrade panels 7. The pair of moving handrails 8 are provided so as to be able to cyclically move in synchronization with the plurality of steps 5.

  The lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9 is provided on the floor surface of the lower entrance / exit 1. The lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9 is provided so as to be able to detect the pressure by specifying the position where the load is applied. For example, the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9 has a function similar to that of the car operation panel described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-118844 so that a position where a load is applied can be specified and pressure can be detected. It is provided.

  The upper entrance / exit gate pressure detection device 10 is provided on the floor surface of the upper entrance / exit entrance 2. The upper entrance / exit gate side pressure detection device 10 is provided so as to be able to detect the pressure by specifying the position where the load is applied. For example, the upper entrance / exit side pressure detection device 10 has a function similar to that of the car operation panel described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-118844 so that the position where the load is applied can be detected and the pressure can be detected. It is provided.

  Each of the plurality of step-side pressure detection devices 11 is provided on each step surface of the plurality of steps 5. Each of the plurality of step-side pressure detection devices 11 is provided so as to be able to detect the pressure by specifying the position where the load is applied. For example, each of the plurality of step-side pressure detection devices 11 has a function similar to that of the car operation panel described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-118844, whereby the position where the load is applied can be specified to detect the pressure. Is provided as follows.

  The lower notification device 12 is provided near the lower entrance / exit 1. For example, the lower notification device 12 is provided so that information can be notified by voice.

  The upper notification device 13 is provided near the upper entrance / exit 2. For example, the upper notification device 13 is provided so that information can be notified by voice.

  For example, the control device 14 is provided in the upper machine room 4. The control device 14 is provided so as to control the escalator system as a whole.

  For example, when the escalator system is performing the ascending operation, the lower entrance / exit 1 becomes the entrance. When the user of the wheelchair 15 arrives at the lower entrance / exit 1, the lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device 9 detects the pressure from the wheelchair 15. The control device 14 determines that the object applying pressure to the lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device 9 is the wheelchair 15 based on the information learned in advance. The control device 14 determines the distance between the wheels in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 according to the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9.

  When the value of the distance between the wheels in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is larger than the maximum value set by the lengths in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of step surfaces that can be maintained horizontally, the control device 14 issues an alarm to the lower notification device 12. Let me know. For example, the control device 14 causes the lower notification device 12 to notify by sound of an alarm prompting the use of another escalator system or elevator system.

  When the value of the wheel interval in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is not larger than the preset maximum value, the control device 14 determines that the user of the wheelchair 15 uses the escalator system.

  At this time, the control device 14 changes the speed of circulation movement of the steps 5 in accordance with the speed of change in the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9. The control device 14 determines that the wheel 5 on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 and the wheels on the rear end side of the wheelchair 15 are supposed to be on the wheel according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device 9. It is determined to be the assumed step 5.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 2, the wheelchair 15 starts to get on the step 5 from the lower entrance / exit 1. After that, as shown in FIG. 3, the wheelchair 15 completely rides on the step 5 from the upper entrance 2.

  At this time, the control device 14 controls the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 on which the front wheel of the wheelchair 15 is supposed to ride and the step-side pressure detection device of the step 5 on which the rear wheel of the wheelchair 15 is supposed to ride. The state of the wheelchair 15 is determined based on the pressure detection result by the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the steps 5 and 11 between them.

  For example, when the wheelchair 15 is on the expected step 5, the control device 14 determines that the wheelchair 15 has stepped on the step 5 as expected. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the control device 14 is assumed to have the step 5 and the wheel on the rear end of the wheelchair 15 on which the wheel on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 is supposed to ride, even on the inclined portion of the escalator. The heights of the step surfaces of the steps 5 and the steps 5 between them are matched and maintained horizontally.

  After that, as shown in FIG. 5, the wheelchair 15 starts to get down to the upper entrance / exit 2. After that, as shown in FIG. 6, the wheelchair 15 completely descends to the upper entrance / exit 2. At this time, the control device 14 recognizes that the wheelchair 15 has completely descended from the upper entrance / exit opening 2 according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the upper entrance / exit entrance pressure detecting device 10.

Next, the outline of the operation of the control device 14 when the escalator system is performing the ascending operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the outline of the operation of the escalator system according to the first embodiment.

  In step S1, the control device 14 determines whether or not the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9 is detecting pressure. In step S1, when the lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device 9 does not detect the pressure, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S1. When the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9 detects the pressure, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S2.

  In step S2, the control device 14 determines whether or not the user of the wheelchair 15 is going to use the escalator system, based on the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9. When the user of the wheelchair 15 is not trying to use the escalator system in step S2, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S1. When the user of the wheelchair 15 is going to use the escalator system in step S2, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S3.

  In step S3, the control device 14 determines whether or not the value of the wheel spacing in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is larger than a preset maximum value.

  When the value of the wheel interval in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is larger than the preset maximum value in step S3, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S4. In step S4, the control device 14 causes the lower notification device 12 to notify an alarm. After that, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S1.

  When the value of the wheel interval in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is not larger than the preset maximum value in step S3, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S5. In step S5, the control device 14 determines that the user of the wheelchair 15 uses the escalator system.

  After that, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S6. In step S6, the control device 14 changes the speed of circulating movement of the steps 5 in accordance with the speed of change in the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9. After that, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S7. In step S7, the control device 14 determines whether the wheel on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 is supposed to ride on the step 5 and the rear end side according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device 9. It is determined that the step 5 is assumed to be on which the wheel is riding.

  After that, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S8. In step S8, the control device 14 detects the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 on which the front wheel of the wheelchair 15 is supposed to ride and the step-side pressure detection of the step 5 on which the wheel of the rear end is supposed to ride. It is determined whether or not the wheelchair 15 is on the expected step 5 based on the pressure detection result by the device 11 and the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 therebetween.

  When it is determined in step S8 that the wheelchair 15 is on the expected step 5, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S9. In step S9, the control device 14 controls the height of the step surface of the step 5 on which the wheels on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 and the step 5 on which the wheels on the rear end side of the wheelchair 15 ride, and the steps 5 between them, in the inclined portion of the escalator. And keep it level.

  After that, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S10. In step S10, the control device 14 recognizes that the wheelchair 15 has completely descended from the upper entrance / exit opening 2 according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the upper entrance / exit entrance pressure detecting device 10. Then, the control device 14 ends the operation.

  When it is determined in step S8 that the wheelchair 15 is not on the expected step 5, the control device 14 performs the operation of step S11. In step S11, the control device 14 controls the escalator system according to the state of the wheelchair 15. Then, the control device 14 ends the operation.

  According to the first embodiment described above, it is assumed that the control device 14 rides on the wheel on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9. The step 5 and the step 5 on which the wheels on the rear end side are supposed to ride are determined. The control device 14 automatically determines the heights of the steps 5 on which the wheels on the front end side of the wheelchair 15 are supposed to ride, the steps 5 on which the wheels on the rear end side are supposed to ride, and the steps 5 between them. Combine and keep horizontal. Therefore, the wheelchair 15 can be placed on the step 5 more reliably and smoothly without stopping the escalator system. As a result, the user of the wheelchair 15 can also use the escalator system without disturbing other users.

  Further, the control device 14 controls the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 on which the front-end side wheel is supposed to ride, and the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 on which the rear-end side wheel is supposed to ride. The state of the wheelchair 15 is determined based on the pressure detection result of the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5. Therefore, the wheelchair 15 can be more reliably placed on the step 5 according to the state of the wheelchair 15.

  For example, the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 that is supposed to be loaded by the front-end wheels does not detect pressure, and the step that is closer to the lower entrance 1 than the step 5 that is supposed to be loaded by the front-end wheels. When the step-side pressure detection device 11 of 5 detects the pressure corresponding to the wheel on the front end side, it may be determined that the wheelchair 15 has missed the step 5. In this case, the height of the step surface of the step 5 on the side of the lower entrance / exit 1 relative to the step 5 on which the wheels on the rear end side are supposed to ride is also kept horizontal, so that the wheelchair 15 can be smoothly moved to the step 5. It can be carried.

  For example, the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 that is supposed to be on the front-end side wheel and the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 that is supposed to be on the rear-end wheel and the step-side of the step 5 therebetween. When the pressure detection device 11 does not detect the pressure, it may be determined that the wheelchair 15 could not get on the step 5. In this case, the wheelchair 15 can be smoothly placed on the steps 5 by stopping the circular movement of the steps 5.

  Further, the control device 14 changes the speed of circulation movement of the steps 5 in accordance with the speed of change in the position of the pressure detected by the lower entrance / exit-side pressure detection device 9. Therefore, the wheelchair 15 can be placed on the steps 5 more smoothly.

  Further, the control device 14 causes the lower notification device 12 to issue an alarm when the value of the wheel spacing in the front-rear direction of the wheelchair 15 is larger than a preset maximum value. Therefore, it is possible to inform the user of the wheelchair 15 that the escalator system cannot be used.

  For example, the control device 14 causes the lower notification device 12 to notify an alarm prompting the use of another escalator system or elevator system. Therefore, it is possible to inform the user of the wheelchair 15 of the transportation means to be used.

  When the escalator system is performing the descending operation, if the height of the step surface of the step 5 is adjusted and maintained horizontally based on the detection result of the upper entrance / exit side pressure detection device 10, Good. Also in this case, the wheelchair 15 can be placed on the step 5 more reliably and smoothly.

  In addition, a guide plate for guiding the maximum size of the wheelchair 15 that can use the escalator system and the like may be provided about 2 m before the lower entrance / exit 1 and the upper entrance / exit 2. Also in this case, it is possible to inform the user of the corresponding wheelchair 15 that the escalator system cannot be used.

  Alternatively, the longitudinal dimension of the wheelchair 15 may be measured by a gate about 2 m before the lower entrance 1 and the upper entrance 2. At this time, if the longitudinal dimension of the wheelchair 15 is larger than the maximum dimension of the wheelchair 15 that can use the escalator system, an alarm may be issued. Also in this case, it is possible to inform the user of the corresponding wheelchair 15 that the escalator system cannot be used.

  Further, even when the step-side pressure detection device 11 of the step 5 that is supposed to be loaded by the front-end side wheel detects the pressure, the step-side pressure detection device 11 located on the lower entrance 1 side of the step 5 on which the rear-end side wheel rides The height of the step surface of the step 5 may be adjusted to be horizontal. In this case, the safety of the user of the wheelchair 15 can be ensured more reliably.

  Further, the escalator system according to the first embodiment may be applied to a vehicle body other than the wheelchair 15, such as a dolly and a stroller. Also in this case, the vehicle body can be placed on the step 5 more reliably and smoothly without stopping the escalator system.

Next, an example of the control device 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control device of the escalator system according to the first embodiment.

  Each function of the control device 14 can be realized by a processing circuit. For example, the processing circuit comprises at least one processor 16a and at least one memory 16b. For example, the processing circuit comprises at least one dedicated hardware 17.

  When the processing circuit includes at least one processor 16a and at least one memory 16b, each function of the control device 14 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. At least one of software and firmware is described as a program. At least one of software and firmware is stored in at least one memory 16b. At least one processor 16a realizes each function of the control device 14 by reading and executing a program stored in at least one memory 16b. The at least one processor 16a is also called a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP. For example, the at least one memory 16b is a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a DVD, or the like.

  If the processing circuit comprises at least one dedicated hardware 17, the processing circuit is implemented, for example, in a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof. It For example, each function of the control device 14 is realized by a processing circuit. For example, each function of the control device 14 is collectively realized by a processing circuit.

  Part of each function of the control device 14 may be realized by dedicated hardware 17, and the other part may be realized by software or firmware. For example, the function of cyclically moving the steps 5 is realized by a processing circuit as the dedicated hardware 17, and at least one processor 16a is stored in at least one memory 16b for functions other than the function of cyclically moving the steps 5. It may be realized by reading and executing the program.

  Thus, the processing circuit implements each function of the control device 14 by the hardware 17, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

  1 Lower entrance / exit, 2 Upper entrance / exit, 3 Lower machine room, 4 Upper machine room, 5 Steps, 6 Skirt guard, 7 Parapet panel, 8 Moving handrail, 9 Lower entrance / exit side pressure detection device, 10 Upper entrance / exit side pressure Detection device, 11 step side pressure detection device, 12 lower part notification device, 13 upper part notification device, 14 control device, 15 wheelchair, 16a processor, 16b memory, 17 hardware

Claims (7)

A plurality of steps that circulate between the lower entrance and the upper entrance of the escalator,
An entrance / exit-side pressure detection device that is provided on the side of the lower entrance / exit and the upper entrance / exit that is the entrance, and that detects the pressure by specifying the position where a load is applied,
Judgment of the step assumed that the wheel on the front end side of the vehicle body and the step assumed to be the wheel on the rear end side of the vehicle body according to the locus of the position of the pressure detected by the entrance / exit side pressure detection device, A control device that maintains the level of the step surface of the step assumed to be on the front end side wheel and the step on which the rear end side wheel is supposed to ride and the step surface of the step between them and keep it horizontal,
Escalator system equipped with. A step-side pressure detection device that is provided on each step surface of the plurality of steps and that detects a pressure by specifying a position where a load is applied,
Equipped with
The control device, after maintaining the step height of the front end side wheel and the rear end side wheel and the step height of the step and the step between the steps assumed to be on the same level, and then maintaining the level horizontally, The pressure detected by the step-side pressure detection device of the step where the front-end side wheel is supposed to ride, the step-side pressure detection device of the step where the rear-end wheel is supposed to get on, and the step-side pressure detection device of the step between them The escalator system according to claim 1, wherein the state of the vehicle body is determined based on a detection result.   The control device, when the step side pressure detection device of the step on the side of the entrance / exit side pressure detection device rather than the step where the front end side wheel is supposed to ride detects the pressure from the front end side wheel, the rear A step-side pressure detection device is provided which detects the pressure from the front-end wheel at the height of the step surface of the step closer to the entrance / exit side pressure detection device than the step where the end-side wheel is supposed to ride. The escalator system according to claim 2, wherein the escalator system is maintained horizontally according to the height of the step surface of the step.   The control device includes a step-side pressure detection device for a step where the front end side wheel is supposed to ride, a step-side pressure detection device for a step where the rear end side wheel is supposed to get on, and a step-side pressure detection for the step between them. The escalator system according to claim 2, wherein the circulation movement of the plurality of steps is stopped when the device and the device do not detect the pressure.   The said control apparatus changes the speed of the circulation movement of the said step according to the speed of the change of the position of the pressure detected by the said entrance / exit side pressure detection apparatus. Escalator system.   The control device issues a warning to the notification device when the value of the distance between the wheels in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is larger than the maximum value set by the lengths in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of step surfaces that can be maintained horizontally. The escalator system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   The escalator system according to claim 6, wherein the control device causes the notification device to notify an alarm prompting the use of another escalator system or an elevator system.

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