Passenger conveyor

Abstract

To provide a passenger conveyor capable of improving safety at the time of starting traveling of an endless conveyance body.SOLUTION: An escalator 10 comprises: an object detection unit P that detects an object present on an endless conveyance body 30 having a function for conveying passengers on a passenger passage 15 provided to reach an alighting place 12 from a landing 11; a key switch 28 for operating starting of the endless conveyance body 30; and an operation control unit 45 that has a normal operation mode for causing the endless conveyance body 30 to travel at a prescribed speed. The operation control unit 45 executes the normal operation mode on the condition that the object is not detected by the object detection unit P when an operation is performed via the key switch 28.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, passenger conveyors have the function of transporting passengers by running an endless transport body, which is formed by connecting a plurality of steps in an endless manner, along a passenger passage from a landing to a disembarking area. In such passenger conveyors, an operating unit such as a key switch for starting the endless transport body is provided on the handrail of the landing or disembarking area, and the endless transport body is started by inserting an operating key into the operating unit and rotating it to a predetermined position.

[0003] In addition, for safety reasons, it is desirable to start up the passenger conveyor when there are no passengers on the endless transport body, so the operator visually confirms in advance that there are no passengers inside the passenger conveyor before starting up the conveyor.

[0004] However, when a passenger suddenly steps onto the passenger conveyor, the starting operation may be performed even though the passenger is still on the endless transport body.

[0005] Incidentally, some passenger conveyors have a passenger detection unit that detects passengers approaching a boarding area, and have a function of performing so-called automatic start-stop operation, which temporarily stops the endless transport body if no passengers approaching the conveyor are detected via the passenger detection unit.

[0006] In a passenger conveyor having such an automatic start / stop operation function, when the endless conveyor is temporarily stopped, no passengers are detected via the passenger detection unit, and therefore there are usually no passengers present on the endless conveyor.

[0007] However, if a passenger on the endless conveyor walks toward the boarding entrance, the endless conveyor may temporarily stop even though there are passengers remaining on the endless conveyor.

[0008] In addition, when the endless conveying vehicle is temporarily stopped, a situation may occur in which a passenger is present on the endless conveying vehicle even though the vehicle is temporarily stopped, for example, if a passenger who has entered from the disembarking side walks on the endless conveying vehicle toward the boarding side (running in the opposite direction).

[0009] Furthermore, under these circumstances, if another user approaches the boarding area and is detected by the passenger detection unit, there is a problem that the endless conveyor may resume running even though there is a passenger on the stopped endless conveyor.

[0010] In this regard, Patent Document 1 discloses a passenger conveyor that stops the endless transport body when a passenger fall determination unit determines that a passenger has fallen during operation, and a passenger absence determination unit determines that no other passengers are present based on sensor light-blocking signals from light receivers installed on the inclined moving unit of the passenger conveyor and at the boarding area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-169175 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] The configuration of the passenger conveyor described in Patent Document 1 above makes it possible to stop the endless transport vehicle while it is in operation, provided that no other passengers are present using it. However, for example, if a passenger enters from the disembarking area, it is possible that the endless transport vehicle will resume (start) operation even though there is a passenger on the stopped endless transport vehicle.

[0013] Similarly, when starting a passenger conveyor, as described above, if a passenger suddenly boards the passenger conveyor, the starting operation may be performed even though there is a passenger on the endless conveyor, causing the endless conveyor to begin running.

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor capable of improving safety when an endless transport body starts to travel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The passenger conveyor of the present invention is a passenger conveyor including an endless transport body having the function of transporting passengers along a passenger passageway extending from a boarding area to a disembarking area, and is equipped with an object detection unit that detects an object present on the endless transport body, an operation unit for performing an operation to start the endless transport body, and a control unit having a normal operation mode in which the endless transport body runs at a predetermined speed, and when an operation is performed via the operation unit, the control unit executes the normal operation mode on the condition that no object is detected via the object detection unit.

[0016] The passenger conveyor of the present invention is a passenger conveyor including an endless conveyor having the function of transporting passengers along a passenger passageway provided from a boarding area to a disembarking area, and is equipped with an object detection unit that detects objects present on the endless conveyor, a passenger detection unit that detects passengers approaching the boarding area, and a control unit having a function of switching the operation mode of the endless conveyor based on the detection status of the object detection unit and the passenger detection unit, including a normal operation mode in which the endless conveyor runs at a predetermined speed and a pause operation mode in which the endless conveyor stops, and when a passenger is detected via the passenger detection unit while the pause operation mode is being executed, the control unit executes the normal operation mode on the condition that no object is detected via the object detection unit.

[0017] In the passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the control unit may continue the pause operation mode if the condition is not satisfied.

[0018] In the passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the control unit may execute a low-speed operation mode in which the endless transport body travels at a slower speed than in the normal operation mode when the condition is not satisfied.

[0019] In the passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the control unit may further execute the pause operation mode until a predetermined time has elapsed if the condition is not satisfied.

[0020] The passenger conveyor of the present invention may include an alarm unit that notifies the occurrence of an abnormality, and the control unit may cause the alarm unit to notify the occurrence of an abnormality when a condition is not satisfied. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the passenger conveyor of the present invention, when an operation to start the endless transport body is performed and an object is not detected via the object detection unit, the normal operation mode is executed, but when an object is detected via the object detection unit, the normal operation mode is not executed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the normal operation mode from being executed when a passenger is present on the endless transport body. This makes it possible to improve safety when the endless transport body starts to run.

[0022] According to the passenger conveyor of the present invention, when a passenger approaching a landing is detected by the passenger detection unit during the pause operation mode, the normal operation mode is executed on the condition that no object is detected by the object detection unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the normal operation mode from being executed in a situation where a passenger is on the endless transport body during the pause operation mode. This makes it possible to improve safety when the endless transport body starts traveling. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a passenger conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, together with a partially enlarged view of the area around the steps included in the diagram and a perspective view showing the configuration of the area around the platform included in the diagram. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the skirt guard and the steps when viewed from direction B shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the driven sprocket and driving sprocket included in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram formed in the passenger conveyor shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of operational control in the control device shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of operational control in a control device according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an escalator (passenger conveyor) 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view showing the configuration of the vicinity of a landing 11, and a partially enlarged view of the vicinity of an object detection unit P in an oblique section DL. Also, in Fig. 1, a step chain 31 is shown by a two-dot chain line. Note that in each drawing, "X" shown in the drawing indicates a horizontal direction X that is approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the escalator 10 in a top view, "Y" indicates a horizontal direction Y that is perpendicular to the horizontal direction X, and "Z" indicates a vertical direction Z.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, escalator 10 includes a landing 11 provided on a lower floor, a landing 12 provided on an upper floor, and a running path SW provided between landing 11 and landing 12, and has the function of transporting passengers along a transport direction A from landing 11 to landing 12. This running path SW includes an oblique section DL where a plurality of steps 32A, 32B, 32C, ... (hereinafter, steps will be appropriately referred to as "32" unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them) run in a staircase-like manner, and horizontal sections HN1, HN2 adjacent to landing 11 and landing 12, respectively, where each step 32 runs approximately horizontally.

[0026] The landing 11 and the landing 12 have almost the same configuration. As shown in Fig. 1, comb-shaped comb plates PL1, PL2 (hereinafter, referred to as "PL" unless otherwise required) are attached to the position where the steps 32 protrude from the floor surface at the landing 11 and the position where the steps 32 recede into the floor surface at the landing 12. Of these, at least the comb plate PL at the landing 12 is equipped with a safety device (not shown) and has the function of stopping the steps 32 if a foreign object gets caught between the steps 32 and the comb plate PL.

[0027] 1, balustrades 21, 22 are provided on both sides of passenger passage 15 consisting of the runway SW and the landing 12 and landing 11. Balustrades 21 and 22 are symmetrical across passenger passage 15 and are made of similar components. In the following explanation, balustrade 22 will be mainly explained, and explanation of balustrade 21 will be omitted where appropriate.

[0028] The balustrade section 22 has a balustrade panel 24P that stands along the passenger passage 15, and a support section 24 that supports the balustrade panel 24P. The balustrade panel 24P is, for example, configured by arranging a plurality of glass sheets in a row, and has translucency. The end of the balustrade panel 24P on the side of the landing 11 and the end on the side of the landing 12 are each configured in an arc shape. An endless handrail (moving handrail) 27 that travels in a circular motion in the same direction as the steps 32 at the same speed is movably attached to the outer periphery of the balustrade section 22. The side of the support section 24 that faces the passenger passage 15 is covered by a skirt guard (side plate) 24A.

[0029] 1, the skirt guard 24A is provided with object detection units P1, P2, P3, ... (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as object detection units "P" as appropriate) having the same configuration along the runway SW. The object detection units P are disposed so that the distance between each of the object detection units P is approximately the same as the length of the steps 32 in a direction substantially parallel to the runway SW. The object detection units P may be disposed so that the distance between each of the object detection units P is narrower or wider.

[0030] Here, the partially enlarged view shown in Fig. 2(a) shows a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the step 32 and the skirt guards 23A, 24A when viewed from the direction B shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2(a), the light-projecting portion PX and the light-receiving portion PY of the object detection portion P are attached to the skirt guards 24A, 23A so as to face each other with both skirt guards 24A, 23A in between. In addition, the attachment portions of the light-projecting portion PX and the light-receiving portion PY of the object detection portion P on both skirt guards 24A, 23A are each provided with a through hole so that the light emitted by the light-projecting portion PX can be received by the light-receiving portion PY.

[0031] Next, the configuration around the landing 11 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the escalator 10 is provided with passenger detection units 19-1, 19-2 (hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as detection units "19" as appropriate) at the lower floor ends of the support units 24, 23, and have the function of detecting passengers entering the landing 11. The passenger detection units 19-1, 19-2 are, for example, composed of photoelectric sensors having the same configuration, and have the role of detecting passengers approaching the landing 11 in a non-contact manner before the passengers step onto the steps 32.

[0032] More specifically, the passenger detection unit 19 irradiates light such as visible light or infrared light toward an area R set near the center diagonally forward of the platform 11, as shown by a dashed line in Figure 1, and when the irradiated light hits a passenger and is reflected in area R and the surrounding area of ​​area R, it detects the passenger by receiving the reflected light and transmits a detection signal to the control device 40 described later.

[0033] 1, a key switch (operation unit) 28 is provided on the lower floor end of the support portion 23. This key switch 28 has a function of performing a start (activation) operation of the endless conveying body 30. Here, the start operation means an operation of rotating an operation key (not shown) from an initial position to a start position with the operation key inserted in the key switch 28. Then, by performing this start operation, it becomes possible to run the endless conveying body 30 along the conveying direction A.

[0034] In the partially enlarged view of the periphery of the object detection unit P in the diagonal section DL shown in FIG. 1, the hatched area CV indicates the area where the steps 32 overlap the skirt guard 24A when viewed from the side, in other words, the area where the skirt guard 24A faces the steps 32. The object detection units P may be installed directly above the areas CV. The light projecting unit PX (see FIG. 2(a)) and the light receiving unit PY (see FIG. 2(a)) constituting the object detection unit P are preferably installed at a position where the distance between the area CV and the object detection unit P is within 20 cm, more preferably within 10 cm. In this way, the detection accuracy can be improved by providing the object detection unit P at a position directly above and close to the area CV, which is the passing area of ​​the steps 32. In addition, it is preferable to provide the object detection units P in the horizontal sections HN1 and HN2 in the same manner as the object detection unit P in the diagonal section DL.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 1, the endless conveying body 30 is configured by endlessly connecting the above-mentioned multiple steps 32 via a step chain 31. A rotatably supported step sprocket 14P is provided in a lower floor machine room 14M provided immediately below the landing 11, and a rotatably supported step sprocket 12P is provided in an upper floor machine room 12M provided immediately below the landing 12. The step chain 31 constituting a part of the above-mentioned endless conveying body 30 is wound around each of the step sprockets 12P, 14P, and the step chain 31 is rotated via a driven sprocket 12Q described later, so that the steps 32 move cyclically along the travel path SW from the landing 11 to the landing 12.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 1, speakers SP2, SP1 (hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as "SP" as appropriate) are built into the support parts 24 of the balustrades 22 of the boarding area 11 and the disembarking area 12. Each speaker (announcement unit) SP has the role of broadcasting voice guidance and the like.

[0037] In this embodiment, the speaker SP is built into the balustrade 22, but the speaker may be provided in another part of the escalator 10, or may be installed on the wall or ceiling of the building around the escalator 10.

[0038] An electric motor 34 is installed in the upper floor machine room 12M, and the driving force of the electric motor 34 is transmitted to an output shaft (not shown) via a reduction gear (not shown), and a driving sprocket 34P is rotated and driven via the output shaft. The rotational power of this driving sprocket 34P is transmitted to a driven sprocket 12Q via a roller chain 34C. The driven sprocket 12Q is attached to the shaft 12X together with the step sprocket 12P, and by rotating the driven sprocket 12Q, the step sprocket 12P is also rotated in conjunction with it.

[0039] As a result, the step chain 31 described above runs in a circle along a guide rail (not shown), and the steps 32 each connected to the chain 31 in an endless manner run in a circular manner accordingly.

[0040] A rotation detection unit 36 ​​(see FIG. 3) that detects the amount of rotation of the driven sprocket 12Q is attached to the shaft 12X. The rotation detection unit 36 ​​includes a rotary encoder (not shown) and has a function of outputting a pulse signal to a measurement unit 44 (see FIG. 3) described later according to the amount of rotation (angle) of the shaft 12X. In this embodiment, the rotation detection unit 36 ​​is attached to the shaft 12X of the driven sprocket 12Q, but it may be attached to the output shaft (not shown) of the electric motor 34 or another shaft that rotates in conjunction with the drive of the endless conveyor 30.

[0041] Here, Fig. 2(b) is a partially enlarged view showing a schematic configuration of the driven sprocket 12Q and the driving sprocket 34P and their surroundings shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2(b), the rotation detection unit 36 ​​may use a proximity sensor 36A having a function of detecting each of the tips of teeth (tooth tips) formed at equal angular intervals on the outer periphery of the driven sprocket 12Q, instead of the rotary encoder.

[0042] In this case, as driven sprocket 12Q rotates, the tips of the teeth of proximity sensor 36A successively arrive at the detection position of proximity sensor 36A and are detected by proximity sensor 36A. The detection signal of proximity sensor 36A is then output to measuring unit 44, which will be described later, making it possible to calculate the conveying speed of endless conveyor 30 in the same way as in the case where the rotary encoder is used.

[0043] Next, the configuration of the control device 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a block diagram mainly focusing on the control device 40. As shown in Fig. 3, the escalator 10 is provided with the control device 40, which performs overall control of the operation of the escalator 10, in the upper floor machine room 12M (see Fig. 2). The control device 40 is provided with a storage device (not shown) including a ROM, a RAM, and a HDD in which various control programs are stored, and an arithmetic processing device (not shown) such as a CPU.

[0044] The control device 40 functions as an operation control unit (control unit) 45 that controls the driving of the electric motor 34 by the calculation processing unit reading the control program from the storage device and performing calculation processing, and a measurement unit 44 that measures the conveying speed of the endless conveying body 30. The operation control unit 45 has a function of selecting one of the operation modes, the normal operation mode or the pause mode, based on the measurement results of the measurement unit 44, the detection results of the passenger detection unit 19, and the detection results of the object detection unit P, and transmitting control signals such as a speed command signal corresponding to the selected operation mode to the electric motor 34.

[0045] More specifically, the operation control unit 45 has a function of switching the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the pause mode when a state in which a passenger approaching the platform 11 is not detected via the passenger detection unit 19 continues for a preset time period. In addition, the operation control unit 45 has a function of switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode when a passenger approaching the platform 11 is detected via the passenger detection unit 19 while the pause mode is being executed.

[0046] In this embodiment, as an example, the normal operation mode is an operation mode in which the steps 32 travel at a set speed of 30 meters per minute, and the pause mode is an operation mode in which the steps 32 are temporarily stopped.

[0047] The operation control unit 45 also has a function of executing the normal operation mode when a start operation is performed via the key switch 28 to start the motor 34, provided that no object such as a passenger is detected within the travel path SW via the object detection unit P. This makes it possible to prevent the endless conveyor 30 from starting operation when a passenger is present within the travel path SW.

[0048] Here, Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of determining whether or not the normal operation mode can be executed when the start operation is performed. The flow of the process of determining whether or not the normal operation mode can be executed by the operation control unit 45 included in the control device 40 when the start operation is performed will be described with reference to Fig. 4.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 4, when a start operation is performed via the key switch 28, the control device 40 and the object detection unit P are activated (steps S1 and S2). Then, the driving control unit 45 judges whether or not the object detection unit P has detected an object (step S3). Specifically, when an object is detected by the object detection unit P, the driving control unit 45 broadcasts a warning message such as "An abnormality has been detected on the step. Please check the step" via the speaker SP (step S3: YES, step S4). In this embodiment, the driving control unit 45 broadcasts the warning message via the speaker SP, but a warning sound may be broadcast instead of the warning message.

[0050] As a result, if there is a possibility that a passenger is present on the runway SW, the steps 32 can be kept stopped while a warning message that an abnormality has been detected is broadcast to prompt the worker to check.

[0051] On the other hand, when no object is detected via the object detection unit P (step S3: NO), the operation control unit 45 executes the normal operation mode (step S5).

[0052] In this embodiment, the processing in steps S1 and S2 is described with reference to an example in which the control device 40 and the object detection unit P are started by a start operation performed via the key switch 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control device 40 may be provided with a timer function, and the timer function may be set to start the control device 40 and the object detection unit P slightly earlier (for example, 30 minutes earlier) than the scheduled start (business start) time of the escalator 10 that is set in advance. In this case, the start operation is performed using the key switch 28 at the scheduled start time, and the control device 40 executes the normal operation mode on the condition that no object is detected via the object detection unit P.

[0053] According to the escalator 10 of the first embodiment, when a start operation of the endless conveying body 30 is performed and an object is not detected via the object detection unit P, the normal operation mode is executed, but if an object is detected via the object detection unit P, the normal operation mode is not executed.

[0054] This makes it possible to prevent the normal operation mode from being executed when passengers are present on the endless transport body 30. This makes it possible to improve safety when the steps 32 constituting the endless transport body 30 start traveling.

[0055] In the first embodiment, an example is described in which, when a start operation is performed via the above-mentioned key switch 28, if an object such as a passenger is detected in the travel path SW via the object detection unit P, the operation control unit 45 does not run the endless transport body 30, in other words, maintains the stopped state and broadcasts a warning message, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if an object is detected in the travel path SW via the object detection unit P when the above-mentioned start operation is performed, the operation control unit 45 may be made to execute a low-speed mode in which the steps 32 are traveled at a slower speed than in the normal operation mode, while broadcasting a warning message.

[0056] In the first embodiment, the operation control unit 45 acquires the conveying speed of the endless conveying body 30 from the measurement unit 44, but the conveying speed of the endless conveying body 30 may also be calculated based on a speed command signal sent to the electric motor 34, etc.

[0057] In the above first embodiment, the case of determining whether or not to execute the normal operation mode at the time of the start-up operation is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a case where the normal operation mode is returned from the pause operation mode. The configuration of the escalator 10 in the second embodiment in this case will be described below. In the following description of the escalator 10 according to the second embodiment, only the different parts of the configuration will be described while omitting the description of the parts common to the configuration of the escalator 10 in the above first embodiment as appropriate.

[0058] In this case, the driving control unit 45 has the function of switching the driving mode from the pause mode to the normal driving mode when a passenger is detected via the passenger detection unit 19 while the pause mode is being executed, on the condition that no object is detected within the running path SW via the object detection unit P.

[0059] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the control process for determining whether or not to switch the driving mode in the driving control unit 45 included in the control device 40. As shown in Fig. 5, when a passenger is detected via the passenger detection unit 19, the driving control unit 45 continues the normal driving mode and resets a waiting time, which will be described later, and ends the series of control processes for determining whether to switch the driving mode (steps S10, S11: YES, and S18).

[0060] On the other hand, even if no passenger is detected via passenger detection unit 19, operation control unit 45 continues to execute the normal operation mode until a predetermined waiting time (for example, 5 minutes) has elapsed (step S10, step S11: NO, step S12: NO). As a result, the normal operation mode continues for a while even when there are relatively few passengers using escalator 10. This makes it possible to prevent the operation mode from frequently switching to the pause mode.

[0061] Furthermore, the operation control unit 45 switches the operation mode to the pause mode when a state where no passenger is detected via the passenger detection unit 19 continues for a predetermined waiting time or more (step S12: YES, step S13). This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption required to drive the endless conveyor 30.

[0062] When the operation control unit 45 detects a passenger via the passenger detection unit 19 while the pause mode is being executed (step S13, step S14: YES), it changes the operation mode to the normal operation mode on the condition that no object is detected via the object detection unit P (step S15: NO, step S10).

[0063] On the other hand, when an object is detected through the object detection unit P in the process of step S15 (step S15: YES), the operation control unit 45 continues the pause mode and broadcasts a warning message such as "Operation is suspended due to detection of an abnormality on the step" through the speaker SP (step S16). This makes it possible to inform passengers who are boarding the steps 32 from the platform 11 that operation is suspended due to detection of an abnormality. In addition, there is an advantage that the normal operation mode can be prevented from being resumed even if a passenger enters the running path SW from the alighting platform 12 side during the pause mode.

[0064] In this embodiment, the driving control unit 45 broadcasts the warning message through the speaker SP, but it may also be configured to broadcast a warning sound instead of the warning message.

[0065] Furthermore, the operation control unit 45 continues the pause mode until a predetermined time has elapsed (step S17: NO), and proceeds to the processing of the above-mentioned step S14 after the predetermined time has elapsed (step S17: YES). As a result, if a passenger is detected within the travel path SW when a passenger approaching the platform 11 is detected via the passenger detection unit 19 in the processing of step S14, the pause mode is extended.

[0066] As a result, in a case where a passenger has entered the travel path SW while the pause mode is being executed, the normal operation mode is executed and it is possible to prevent the steps 32 from starting to travel.

[0067] In the above second embodiment, an example has been described in which, in the process of step S15, the driving control unit 45 continues the pause mode while broadcasting a warning message when an object is detected via the object detection unit P, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the process of step S15, when an object is detected via the object detection unit P, the driving control unit 45 may broadcast a warning message via the speaker SP while executing a low-speed driving mode in which the steps 32 are traveled at a slower speed than in the normal driving mode instead of the pause mode.

[0068] According to the passenger conveyor of the second embodiment, when a passenger approaching the landing 11 is detected via the passenger detection unit 19 during the pause operation mode, the normal operation mode is executed on the condition that no object is detected within the travel path SW via the object detection unit P. This makes it possible to prevent the normal operation mode from being executed and the steps 32 constituting the endless transport body 30 from starting to travel when a passenger is on the endless transport body 30 during the pause operation mode. This makes it possible to improve safety when the steps 32 constituting the endless transport body 30 start to travel.

[0069] In addition, in the above first and second embodiments, an example has been described in which the conveying direction A of the escalator 10 is a direction from the lower floor to the upper floor, but the conveying direction A may also be a direction from the upper floor to the lower floor.

[0070] In the above first and second embodiments, an example is given in which the passenger detection unit 19 is provided on the support parts 23, 24 of the balustrade parts 21, 22 on the landing 11 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a pole (support) may be installed around the landing 11, and the passenger detection unit 19 that detects the approach of a passenger may be provided on the pole.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the escalator 10 has been taken as an example of a passenger conveyor, but the present invention may also be applied to a moving walkway.

[0072] The present invention can be implemented in various forms that include improvements, modifications, or variations based on the knowledge of a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be implemented in a form in which any of the invention-specific features are replaced with other technologies within the scope of the same action or effect. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10 Escalator 11 Bus stop 12. Drop-off point 15 Passenger passage 19, 19-1, 19-2 Passenger detection unit 30 Endless conveyor 32,32A,32B,32C Steps 34 Electric motor 40 Control device 44 Measuring part 45 Operation control unit (control unit) P, P1, P2, P3 Object detection section PL1,PL2,PL Complate S1~S18 steps SW Running Track SP, SP1, SP2 Speaker (alarm section)

Claims

1. A passenger conveyor including an endless carrier having a function of transporting passengers along a passenger passage provided from a boarding area to a disembarking area, an object detection unit that detects an object present on the endless transport body; an operating unit for operating the endless conveyor; a control unit having a normal operation mode for causing the endless transport body to travel at a predetermined speed; Equipped with The control unit executes the normal operation mode on condition that an object is not detected via the object detection unit when an operation is performed via the operation unit. Passenger conveyor.

2. A passenger conveyor including an endless carrier having a function of transporting passengers along a passenger passage provided from a boarding area to a disembarking area, an object detection unit that detects an object present on the endless transport body; A passenger detection unit that detects a passenger approaching the boarding area; a control unit having a function of switching the operation mode of the endless conveying body based on the detection status of the object detection unit and the passenger detection unit, the control unit including a normal operation mode in which the endless conveying body travels at a predetermined speed and a pause operation mode in which the endless conveying body is stopped; Equipped with the control unit, when a passenger is detected via the passenger detection unit during execution of the pause operation mode, executes the normal operation mode on the condition that an object is not detected via the object detection unit. Passenger conveyor.

3. The control unit continues the pause operation mode if the condition is not satisfied. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 2.

4. the control unit executes a low-speed operation mode in which the endless conveyor travels at a speed slower than that in the normal operation mode when the condition is not satisfied. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

5. The control unit further executes the pause operation mode until a predetermined time has elapsed if the condition is not satisfied. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 2.

6. A notification unit that notifies the occurrence of an abnormality, When the condition is not satisfied, the control unit notifies the occurrence of an abnormality via the notification unit. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 2.

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