JP7179917B1 - Passenger conveyor controller - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device for a passenger conveyor capable of determining whether a passenger detection sensor fails in a non-detection state in which no passenger is detected, or whether the non-detection state continues due to the absence of a passenger. do. A power source is connected to a first light emitting sensor 74a, and when a sensor signal output from a first light receiving sensor 74b changes from an ON state to an OFF state, it is determined that a passenger has been detected, and a passenger non-detection time is reached. continues for a certain period of time, the power to the first light emitting sensor 74a is shut off, and if the sensor signal of the first light receiving sensor 74b remains ON, it is determined that the first light receiving sensor 74b is abnormal. [Selection drawing] Fig. 3

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to control devices for passenger conveyors.

Conventionally, passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways are equipped with passenger detection sensors at the entrances and exits. If the passenger detection sensors do not detect passengers for a certain period of time, automatic operation is performed by slowing down or stopping the operation. There is something going on

In order to diagnose whether the passenger detection sensor being used is normal or abnormal in such a passenger conveyor that performs automatic operation, maintenance personnel check the operation during inspection, or a plurality of passenger detection sensors are provided in advance. Then, the respective detection states are compared to determine whether any of the passenger detection sensors has failed.

Japanese Patent No. 4173859 Japanese Patent No. 6453424

In the passenger detection sensor of the passenger conveyor as described above, if the non-detection state in which no passenger is detected continues for a longer time than usual, whether the non-detection state continues because there is no passenger really exists. Alternatively, there is a problem that it is unclear whether the passenger detection sensor has failed and is in a non-detection state.

Therefore, in view of the above problem, the embodiment of the present invention is to determine whether the non-detection state continues because the passenger is not present or the passenger detection sensor is out of order in the non-detection state where the passenger detection sensor does not detect the passenger. To provide a control device for a passenger conveyor capable of judging whether or not passengers are on board.

In an embodiment of the present invention, two passenger detection sensors are provided at the entrance/exit, each of the passenger detection sensors has a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor, each of the light emitting sensors is connected to a power supply, outputting a light signal from an output part composed of a switching element of the light projecting sensor, and determining that a passenger has been detected when the light signal is received and the sensor signal of the light receiving sensor changes from an ON state to an OFF state; When the passenger non-detection time during which the passenger is not detected continues for a certain period of time, the power sources of the light emitting sensors of the two passenger detection sensors are cut off at the same time , and the sensor signal of the light receiving sensor of at least one of the passenger detection sensors is detected. remains ON, the passenger detection sensor is determined to be abnormal, and when the sensor signal of at least one of the passenger detection sensors is OFF, the passenger detection sensor is determined to be normal. When it is determined that the light emitting sensor of the normal passenger detection sensor is connected again, and it is determined that both of the two passenger detection sensors are abnormal, the rated speed is maintained regardless of the presence or absence of the passenger. A control device for a passenger conveyor characterized by continuous operation at . Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, two passenger detection sensors are provided at the entrance/exit, and the light receiving section receives the optical signal from the light emitting section of each of the passenger detection sensors having a light emitting section and a light receiving section. when the passenger is not detected, and when the passenger non-detection time during which the passenger is not detected continues for a certain period of time, the light emitting units of the two passenger detection sensors transmit pulsed optical signals to the light receiving unit. at the same time, and when the light receiving portion of at least one of the passenger detection sensors does not receive the pulsed light signal, it is determined that the passenger detection sensor is abnormal, and at least one of the passenger detection sensors is determined to be abnormal. receives the pulsed optical signal, the passenger detection sensor is determined to be normal, and when both of the two passenger detection sensors are determined to be abnormal, the presence or absence of the passenger is determined. A control device for a passenger conveyor characterized by continuous operation at a rated speed regardless of

1 is an explanatory vertical cross-sectional view of an escalator showing an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the left side; FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway vertical plan view of an escalator; FIG. It is a circuit diagram of a light projection first sensor and a light projection second sensor. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical arrangement for detecting escalator passengers; FIG. It is a flow chart when diagnosing a passenger detection sensor.

A passenger conveyor according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1

A passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. In this embodiment, an escalator 10 will be described as a passenger conveyor.

(1) Escalator 10
The overall structure of the escalator 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the escalator 10 viewed from the left side. However, in order to make the internal structure of the escalator 10 easier to understand, the illustration of the members on the left side of the escalator 10 is omitted. When describing the front-rear direction of the escalator 10, the lower floor is viewed from the upper floor, the upper floor is the rear side, and the lower floor is the front side.

A truss 12, which is the framework of the escalator 10, is supported along the front-rear direction by using support angles 2 and 3 across the upper and lower floors of the building 1. As shown in FIG.

Inside the upper machine room 14 at the upper end of the truss 12, there are provided a driving device 18 for running the steps 30, a pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24, and a pair of left and right belt sprockets 27,27. The driving device 18 includes a motor 20, a speed reducer 21, a drive small sprocket 19 attached to the output shaft of the speed reducer 21, and a disk-type device that stops the rotation of the motor 20 and holds the stopped state. and an electromagnetic brake 23 . A large drive sprocket 17 is coaxially attached to a pair of left and right step sprockets 24 , 24 , and an endless drive chain 22 is stretched between the large drive sprocket 17 and the small drive sprocket 19 . The pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24 and the pair of left and right belt sprockets 27, 27 are connected by a connecting belt (not shown) and rotate synchronously. A control device 50 for controlling the motor 20, the electromagnetic brake 23, and the like is provided inside the machine room 14 on the upper floor side.

A pair of left and right driven sprockets 26 , 26 are provided inside the machine room 16 on the lower floor side at the lower end of the truss 12 . A pair of left and right endless step chain 28, 28 is bridged between a pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24 on the upper floor side and a pair of left and right driven sprockets 26, 26 on the lower floor side. A pair of left and right first wheels 301 , 301 of a plurality of steps 30 are connected at regular intervals between the pair of left and right step chains 28 , 28 . When the motor 20 rotates, the first wheel 301 of the step 30 runs on a guide rail (not shown) dedicated to the first wheel fixed to the truss 12 , and the second wheel 302 of the step 30 moves to the second wheel fixed to the truss 12 . It runs on a guide rail 25 dedicated to two wheels.

A pair of left and right handrails 36 , 36 are erected on both left and right sides of the upper portion of the truss 12 . A handrail rail 39 is provided above the balustrade 36 , and an endless handrail belt 38 moves along the handrail rail 39 .

An upper floor side front skirt guard 40 is provided at the front lower part of the upper floor side of the pair of left and right handrails 36, and a lower floor side front skirt guard 42 is provided at the front lower part of the lower floor side. Inlet portions 46 and 48, which are entrances and exits of the handrail belt 38, protrude from the front skirt guards 40 and 42, respectively. Skirt guards 44 are provided at the lower side portions of the pair of left and right balustrades 36, respectively, and the steps 30 run between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44. - 特許庁

The handrail belt 38 moves synchronously with the steps 30 by rotating the belt sprocket 27 together with the step sprocket 24 . For example, as shown in FIG. 1, when the steps 30 are lowered, the handrail belt 38 runs along the handrail rail 39 at the upper end of the balustrade 36 toward the lower floor. It enters the front skirt guard 42 from the inlet portion 48 on the side, moves upward in the skirt guard 44 at the lower side of the balustrade 36, passes through a plurality of guide rollers 66, and is passed over the belt sprocket 27 to generate the driving force. and then emerges out of the front skirt guard 40 from the upper inlet section 46 via a plurality of guide rollers 64 . A pressing member 68 for pressing the running handrail belt 38 is provided below the rotating belt sprocket 27 .

An upper floor board 32 is horizontally provided on the ceiling surface of the machine room 14, which is an entrance between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44 on the upper floor. A lower floor board 34 is horizontally provided on the ceiling surface of the machine room 16, which is an entrance between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44 on the lower floor. A comb tooth-shaped comb 60 is provided at the tip of the boarding plate 32 on the upper floor side, and the step 30 enters or is pulled out of the comb 60.例文帳に追加A comb-like comb 62 is also provided at the tip of the boarding plate 34 on the lower floor side.

(2) Structure for Detecting Passengers Next, a structure for detecting boarding passengers in the escalator 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. First, the mounting positions of passenger detection sensors for detecting passengers will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of upper left poles 72 and upper right poles 70 are erected at the entrance of the escalator 10 on the upper floor side. The upper left pole 72 and the upper right pole 70 are metal cylinders. A light projection side passenger detection first sensor (hereinafter referred to as a "light projection first sensor") 74a is provided above the upper right pole 70, and the light projection first sensor 74a is provided above the upper left pole 72. A light-receiving-side passenger detection first sensor (hereinafter referred to as "light-receiving first sensor") 74b is provided for receiving an optical signal projected from the vehicle. When collectively calling the first light emitting sensor 74a and the first light receiving sensor 74b, they are referred to as the "upper first sensor 74". A light emitting side passenger detection second sensor (hereinafter referred to as a "light emitting second sensor") 76a is provided at the lower portion of the upper right pole 70, and a light receiving side passenger detection sensor 76a is provided at the lower portion of the upper left pole 72. 2 sensors (hereinafter referred to as "second light receiving sensor") 76b are provided. When collectively calling the light emitting second sensor 76a and the light receiving second sensor 76b, they are referred to as the "upper second sensor 76".

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of lower left poles 82 and lower right poles 80 are erected at the doorway of the escalator 10 on the lower floor side. The lower left pole 82 and the lower right pole 80 are metal cylinders. A light emitting side passenger detection first sensor (hereinafter referred to as "light emitting first sensor") 84a is provided on the upper part of the lower right pole 80, and a light receiving side passenger detection first sensor is provided on the upper part of the lower left pole 82. 84b (hereinafter referred to as "first light receiving sensor") is provided. When collectively calling the first light emitting sensor 84a and the first light receiving sensor 84b, they are referred to as the "lower first sensor 84". A light emitting side passenger detection second sensor (hereinafter referred to as a "light emitting second sensor") 86a is provided at the lower part of the lower right pole 80, and a light receiving side passenger detection sensor 86a is provided at the lower part of the lower left pole 82. 2 sensors (hereinafter referred to as "second light receiving sensor") 86b are provided. When collectively calling the light emitting second sensor 86a and the light receiving second sensor 86b, they are referred to as the "lower second sensor 86".

The upper first sensor 74, the upper second sensor 76, the lower first sensor 84, and the lower second sensor 86 described above are passenger detection sensors for detecting passengers.

The upper second sensor 76 and the lower second sensor 86 are provided to detect passengers such as children who are short in stature and cannot be detected by the upper first sensor 74 and the lower first sensor 84 .

Next, the structure of the upper first sensor 74 comprising the light emitting first sensor 74a and the light receiving first sensor 74b will be described with reference to the circuit diagram of FIG.

The upper first sensor 74 is a photoelectric sensor. The light projection first sensor 74 a is the light projection side of the photoelectric sensor and has a photodiode 90 , which is connected in series with a DC power supply 92 and a switch 94 inside the control device 50 . When the escalator 10 starts to operate and detects a passenger, the control device 50 turns on the switch 94 so that the DC power supply 92 supplies a DC current to the photodiode 90, and the photodiode 90 outputs an optical signal. do.

The first light-receiving sensor 74b is on the light-receiving side of the photoelectric sensor and has an npn-type phototransistor 96. When a light signal is input from the first light-projecting sensor 74a, it turns ON and outputs a sensor signal to the control device 50. . The controller 50 determines that the passenger is not detected when the sensor signal is input. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when a passenger passes between the upper left pole 72 and the upper right pole 70, the optical signal from the photodiode 90 is cut off, and the phototransistor 96 cannot receive the optical signal and is in the OFF state. As a result, the sensor signal is not input to the control device 50, and the control device 50 can determine that the passenger has passed.

On the other hand, when the switch 94 of the first light emitting sensor 74a is in the OFF state and no light signal is output from the photodiode 90, the phototransistor 96 of the first light receiving sensor 74b is in the OFF state and the sensor signal is sent to the controller 50. Do not enter In spite of this, when the sensor signal continues to be input to the control device 50 with the phototransistor 96 in the ON state, the terminals of the phototransistor 96 become conductive due to dielectric breakdown or the like, resulting in a short-circuit failure (ON failure). The controller 50 can determine that there is.

The upper second sensor 76, the lower first sensor 84, and the lower second sensor 86 have the same structure as the upper first sensor 74 described above.

(3) Electrical Configuration of Escalator 10 A block diagram of an electrical configuration for detecting passengers in the escalator 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

The controller 50 of the escalator 10 includes an upper first sensor 74 consisting of a first light emitting sensor 74a and a first light receiving sensor 74b on the upper floor side, and an upper second sensor 74 consisting of a second light emitting sensor 76a and a second light receiving sensor 76b. A lower first sensor 84 consisting of a first light emitting sensor 84a and a first light receiving sensor 84b on the lower floor side, and a second lower sensor 86 consisting of a second light emitting sensor 86a and a second light receiving sensor 86b are connected to the sensor 76. It is connected. A drive circuit 98 for inverter-controlling the motor 20 is also connected to the controller 50 .

When any one of the upper first sensor 74, the upper second sensor 76, the lower first sensor 84, and the lower second sensor 86 detects a passenger, the control device 50 uses the drive circuit 98 to inverter-drive the motor 20. and run the step 30 at the rated speed (20 to 30 m/min). Then, when a predetermined first time (for example, 15 minutes) elapses after all of the passenger detection sensors have stopped detecting passengers, the motor 20 is stopped to enter a stop standby state. This control method is called "automatic operation mode".

(4) Diagnosis Method for Passenger Detection Sensor Next, the passenger detection sensors (upper first sensor 74, upper second sensor 76, lower first sensor 84, lower second sensor 86) are normal or abnormal. This diagnostic method will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

First, when the escalator 10 is operated downward, the upper first sensor 74 and upper second sensor 76 on the upper floor side are operated to detect passengers, and the lower first sensor 84 and second lower sensor 84 on the lower floor side are operated. 86 is stopped. In the following description, a case where the escalator 10 is operating downward will be described.

In step S1, the control device 50 of the escalator 10 starts the automatic operation mode, and proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the control device 50 inverter-controls the motor 20 to perform a descending operation at the rated speed, and proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, if both or one of the upper first sensor 74 and upper second sensor 76 detects a passenger, step S3 is continued (in the case of Y). If no passenger is detected, the process proceeds to step S4 (in the case of N).

In step S4, if the first time (for example, 15 minutes) has passed since both the upper first sensor 74 and the upper second sensor 76 stopped detecting passengers, the process proceeds to step S5 (in the case of Y). If not, the process returns to step S3 (in the case of N).

In step S5, since the first time has passed since no passenger was detected, the control device 50 stops the operation to save power and puts it in a stop standby state, and counts the passenger non-detection time. and proceed to step S6.

In step S6, if both or one of the upper first sensor 74 and upper second sensor 76 detects a passenger during the stop standby state, the process proceeds to step S7 (in the case of Y). goes to step S9 (if N).

In step S7 when a passenger is detected, the control device 50 starts rated speed operation, and proceeds to step S8.

In the subsequent step S8, since both or one of the upper first sensor 74 and the upper second sensor 76 has detected a passenger in the above step S6, the control device 50 determines that these passenger detection sensors are normal. Return to S3.

On the other hand, in step S9 when a passenger is not detected, if the passenger non-detection time that started counting after the start of the stop standby state has reached the second time (for example, 30 minutes), the process proceeds to step S10. (In the case of Y), if the second time has not been reached, the process returns to step S6 (in the case of N).

In step S10, since the passenger non-detection time has already exceeded the second time, the control device 50 determines that the passenger has exceeded the normal time during which the passenger should be detected. The switches 94, 94 of the two sensors 76a are turned off to cut off the DC power supplies 92, 92, respectively, and the process proceeds to step S11. It also resets the passenger non-detection time.

In step S11, if the sensor signals of either or both of the first light receiving sensor 74b and the second light receiving sensor 76b remain ON, the process proceeds to step S13 (in the case of Y), and both are turned OFF. If not, the process proceeds to step S12 (in the case of N).

As described above, when the DC power supply 92 for the first light emitting sensor 74a and the second light emitting sensor 76a is cut off in step S10, if the sensor signals of the first light receiving sensor 74b and the second light receiving sensor 76a are turned off, , the controller 50 can determine that these passenger detection sensors are normal. Therefore, in step S12, the control device 50 turns on the switches 94, 94 of the first light projection sensor 74a and the second light projection sensor 76a to continuously detect passengers, and the DC power sources 92, 92 are turned on. reconnect. Then, the process returns to step S5.

On the other hand, if one or both of the first light receiving sensor 74b and the second light receiving sensor 76b remain in the ON state, an ON failure occurs in one or both of the first light receiving sensor 74b and the second light receiving sensor 76b. Therefore, in step S13, the control device 50 cancels the automatic operation mode and causes continuous operation at the rated speed regardless of the presence or absence of passengers. Then, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the control device 50 determines that there is an ON failure in either or both of the first light receiving sensor 74b and the second light receiving sensor 76b, and stores the fact in the memory inside the control device 50. Along with recording, an alarm to the effect that there is an abnormality is issued to an external monitoring device. The diagnostic method is then terminated.

In addition to the diagnostic methods described above, the control device 50 can also simultaneously perform the following two diagnostic methods.

A first diagnostic method is to diagnose that only the second upper sensor 76 is abnormal when the second upper sensor 76 cannot detect a passenger even though the first upper sensor 74 detects a passenger. can. This is because when a tall passenger passes by, both the upper first sensor 74 and the upper second sensor 76 must detect the passenger.

In the second diagnostic method, if the upper first sensor 74 cannot detect a passenger even though the upper second sensor 76 has continuously detected the passenger a plurality of times (for example, 10 times), the upper Only the first sensor 74 can be diagnosed as abnormal.

The case where the escalator 10 is operated downward has been described above. The upper first sensor 74 and the upper second sensor 76 on the side are stopped. Then, it can be diagnosed whether the lower first sensor 84 and the lower second sensor 86 on the lower floor side are normal or abnormal by the same diagnostic control method as described above.

(5) Effect According to the present embodiment, in the stop standby state in the automatic operation mode, when the passenger is not detected for the second time, the passenger detection sensors (the upper first sensor 74, the upper second sensor 76, the lower first sensor With respect to the sensor 84, the lower second sensor 86), it can be determined whether there is an ON failure or there is indeed no passenger present.

Embodiment 2

Next, the control device 50 of the escalator 10 of Embodiment 2 will be described.

In the above embodiment, in order to determine whether the first light receiving sensor 74b or the second light receiving sensor 76b is out of order, the DC power supply 92 for the first light emitting sensor 74a and the second light emitting sensor 76a is cut off. In the present embodiment, instead of this, the control device 50 causes the first light-projecting sensor 74a and the second light-projecting sensor 76a to output pulsed optical signals, and the first light-receiving sensor 74b and the second light-receiving sensor 76b. When the sensor signal of the sensor turns ON/OFF in accordance with the pulsed optical signal, the control device 50 judges that these sensors are normal. We judge that it is.

Change example

In the above-described embodiment, the photoelectric sensor on the light emitting side and the photoelectric sensor on the light receiving side are separate bodies, but instead of this, a photoelectric sensor in which the light emitting side and the light receiving side are integrated may be used, for example, a TOF sensor. may

In the above embodiment, the first light emitting sensor 74a and the first light receiving sensor 74b are provided on the upper right pole 70 and the upper left pole 72. You may provide in guard 40 and 40, respectively. Moreover, it may be provided on the skirt guards 44 on both the left and right sides of the boarding plate 32 .

Further, in the above embodiment, the passenger non-detection time in step S9 of FIG. , the passenger non-detection time may be counted after the passenger is no longer detected.

In the above embodiment, the pair of left and right upper left poles 72 and upper right pole 70 are respectively provided with passenger detection sensors at the upper and lower portions. You may provide only one in the center part of.

Further, in the above embodiment, an npn-type phototransistor is used as the switching element of the passenger detection sensor, but other switching elements (for example, FET) may be used.

Also, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the escalator 10, but instead of this, it may be applied to a moving walkway.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described above, this embodiment is provided by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

Reference Signs List 10 Escalator 20 Motor 50 Control device 70 Upper right pole 72 Upper left pole 74a First light emitting sensor 74b Light receiving First sensor 90 Photodiode 92 DC power supply 94 Switch 96 Phototransistor 98 Drive circuit

Claims (3)

Two passenger detection sensors are provided at the entrance,
Each passenger detection sensor has a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor,
A power source is connected to each of the light projecting sensors, a light signal is output from an output section composed of a switching element of the light projecting sensor, and the sensor signal of the light receiving sensor changes from an ON state to an OFF state upon receiving the light signal. It is determined that a passenger has been detected when the
When the passenger non-detection time during which the passenger is not detected continues for a certain period of time, the power sources of the light emitting sensors of the two passenger detection sensors are cut off at the same time , and the sensor signal of the light receiving sensor of at least one of the passenger detection sensors is detected. remains ON, the passenger detection sensor is determined to be abnormal, and when the sensor signal of at least one of the passenger detection sensors is OFF, the passenger detection sensor is determined to be normal. determining, reconnecting the power supply of the light emitting sensor of the normal passenger detection sensor;
When it is determined that both of the two passenger detection sensors are abnormal, continuously operate at the rated speed regardless of the presence or absence of the passenger.
A control device for a passenger conveyor, characterized by: Two passenger detection sensors are provided at the entrance,
Determining that a passenger is detected when the light receiving unit does not receive an optical signal from the light projecting unit of each passenger detection sensor having a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit,
When the passenger non-detection time during which the passenger is not detected continues for a certain period of time, the light emitting units of the two passenger detection sensors simultaneously project pulsed optical signals to the light receiving units to detect at least one of the passengers. When the light receiving portion of the sensor does not receive the pulsed optical signal, it is determined that the passenger detection sensor is abnormal, and the light receiving portion of at least one of the passenger detection sensors receives the pulsed optical signal. If light is received, it is determined that the passenger detection sensor is normal,
When it is determined that both of the two passenger detection sensors are abnormal, continuously operate at the rated speed regardless of the presence or absence of the passenger.
do,
A control device for a passenger conveyor, characterized by: when the passenger detection sensor does not detect the passenger, start counting the passenger non-detection time;
When the passenger detection sensor detects the passenger, the passenger conveyor is operated at the rated speed and the passenger non-detection time is reset.
3. A control device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1 or 2 .

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