Passenger conveyor

Abstract

To provide a passenger conveyor capable of suppressing walking of a passenger on an endless conveyance body.SOLUTION: An escalator 10 comprises: an endless conveyance body 20 formed by endlessly connecting footsteps 22 configured to enable boarding of two passengers arranged side by side in the lateral direction; a landing 12 for boarding the endless conveyance body 20; a disembarking place 14 for disembarking from the endless conveyance body 20; and a projection unit 44 (see FIG. 2) that projects guide displays 46R and 46L, each including a passage display R-1 or L-1 for guiding the passengers to pass through the center of the landing 12, onto the floor surface of the landing 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Among endless conveyors, which are made up of multiple steps connected in an endless fashion to transport passengers from a boarding area to a disembarking area, some have a width that is long enough to allow multiple passengers to board each step side by side.

[0003] Among passengers using such passenger conveyors, there are some who try to walk on the steps to reach the disembarking area while the passengers who have boarded the steps from the landing area are still on their way to the disembarking area.

[0004] However, if a passenger attempts to walk to the drop-off point while being carried to the drop-off point on the steps, there is a risk that the passenger may accidentally fall while walking on each step.

[0005] For this reason, there are passenger conveyors that are configured to prevent passengers from walking on the steps to the drop-off area.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a passenger conveyor that has a first gate section and a second gate section at one and the other ends of the width of a landing, which are configured to be switchable between an open state allowing passengers to pass and a closed state preventing passengers from passing, and alternately opens both gate sections to guide passengers alternately from one end of the landing to one end of the steps and from the other end of the landing to the other end of the steps, thereby preventing passengers from walking on the steps. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-222381 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The passenger conveyor described in Patent Document 1 above has the problem that, although it is possible to guide passengers alternately to one end and the other end of the steps, it is not possible to prevent passengers from walking on each of the steps that make up the endless transport body.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor that can prevent passengers from walking on the endless transport body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The passenger conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention is a passenger conveyor comprising an endless conveying body formed by endlessly connecting steps configured to allow multiple passengers to board while lined up in the left-right direction, a boarding area for boarding the endless conveying body, and an alighting area for disembarking from the endless conveying body, and is equipped with a passenger guidance section having a function of providing a guidance display of the passing position, encouraging passengers to board the steps through the center of the boarding area by showing the area at the boarding area that passengers must pass through in a different manner from other areas.

[0011] A passenger conveyor according to a second aspect of the present invention is a passenger conveyor comprising an endless conveying body formed by endlessly connecting steps configured to allow multiple passengers to board while lined up in the left-right direction, a boarding platform for boarding the endless conveying body, and an alighting platform for disembarking from the endless conveying body, and comprising a regulating unit that regulates the passage of passengers at both end portions of the boarding platform, and a control unit that controls the operation of the regulating unit, and the control unit guides passengers to pass through the center of the boarding platform to board the steps by regulating passage at both end portions of the boarding platform via the regulating unit.

[0012] In the passenger conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention, a control unit is provided that controls the display in the passenger guidance section, and the guidance display may also include a guide display of the boarding position encouraging passengers to board on the right or left part of the steps.

[0013] In the passenger conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention, a first detection unit is provided which detects an object moving from the landing towards the steps, and the control unit may determine the number of passengers who have stepped onto the steps based on a detection result from the first detection unit, and cause the passenger guidance unit to execute a guidance display if the determined number of passengers is less than a predetermined number.

[0014] In the passenger conveyor according to the first aspect of the present invention, a second detection unit is provided which detects an object on the endless transport body, and the control unit may cause the passenger guidance unit to execute a guidance display when the usage status of passengers on the endless transport body satisfies a preset condition based on the detection result of the second detection unit.

[0015] In the passenger conveyor according to the second aspect of the present invention, a passenger guidance unit is provided that performs a boarding position guidance display that displays the position of the step where passengers should board, and the control unit may cause the passenger guidance unit to execute the boarding position guidance display so that passengers guided by the regulating unit board the right or left part of the step.

[0016] In the passenger conveyor according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the passenger guiding section may be configured with a projection section that projects an area through which passengers should pass as an image onto a floor surface of the landing.

[0017] In the passenger conveyor according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the passenger guiding portion may be constituted by a display portion installed on the floor of the landing. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the passenger conveyor of the first aspect of the present invention, passengers boarding from the platform can be encouraged to line up at the center of the platform by guiding passengers to board through the center of the platform. As a result, passengers boarding from the platform will line up in a line at the center of the platform before boarding the steps. This means that passengers will board the steps while there are other passengers in front of them, which can prevent passengers from walking on the endless conveyor to get off at the platform.

[0019] According to the passenger conveyor of the second aspect of the present invention, by restricting passage on both ends of the platform, passengers can be guided to board through the center, and passengers boarding from the platform can be encouraged to line up in the center of the platform. This allows passengers boarding from the platform to line up in a single line in the center of the platform to board the steps. This means that passengers will board the steps while there are other passengers in front of them, and therefore it is possible to prevent passengers from walking on the endless conveyor to get off at the platform. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an escalator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the escalator shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the landing side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing a right-side guidance display projected by the projection unit, and FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing a left-side guidance display projected by the projection unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram mainly showing a control device included in the escalator shown in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of control processing for the operation mode and guidance display in the control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of an escalator according to a second embodiment as viewed from the hall side, similar to FIG. [Figure 7] Figure 7(a) is a timing chart showing the state when the upstream left-side passing detection unit detects a passenger moving on the runway while stationary on a step during normal operation mode, and Figure 7(b) is a timing chart showing the state when the passenger detected by the left-side passing detection unit shown in Figure 7(a) is detected by the downstream left-side passing detection unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a table showing the correspondence relationship of the display control of guidance signs executed by the control device based on the degree of congestion on the road and the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps. [Figure 9] FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing a state when the movable plate is located at the retracted position, and FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing a state when the movable plate has rotated to the guide position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an escalator (passenger conveyor) 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the escalator 10 includes an endless conveyor 20 that conveys passengers from a landing 12 provided on a lower floor side to a landing 14 provided on an upper floor side, a control device 40 that controls the operation of the endless conveyor 20, a passage detection unit (first detection unit) 42 that detects passengers (objects) moving from the landing toward the endless conveyor 20, and a projection unit (passenger guidance unit) 44 that projects an image on the floor surface of the landing 12, and has a function of conveying passengers along a travel path SW from the landing 12 to the landing 14.

[0022] This endless conveyor 20 is configured by endlessly connecting a plurality of steps 22A, 22B, 22C, ... (hereinafter, referred to as "steps 22" as appropriate when there is no need to distinguish between them) via a step chain 21. The length of the steps 22 in the left-right direction, in other words, the width direction, is set to a length that allows two passengers to stand side by side, and is set to a length of 1000 mm as an example.

[0023] A rotatably supported step sprocket 14P is provided in an upper floor machine room 14M provided immediately below the landing 14. Meanwhile, a rotatably supported step sprocket 12P is provided in a lower floor machine room 12M provided immediately below the landing 12. A step chain 21 constituting a part of the endless conveyor 20 described above is wound around each of the step sprockets 12P, 14P, and the step chain 21 is rotated via a driven sprocket 14Q described later, so that the steps 22 circulate along the travel path SW from the landing 12 to the landing 14.

[0024] An electric motor 24 is installed in the upper floor machine room 14M, and the driving force of the electric motor 24 is transmitted to an output shaft (not shown) via a reducer (not shown), which rotates and drives a drive sprocket 24P. The rotational power of the drive sprocket 24P is transmitted to a driven sprocket 14Q via a roller chain 24C. The driven sprocket 14Q is attached to the shaft 14X together with the step sprocket 14P, and by rotating the driven sprocket 14Q, the step sprocket 14P is also rotated in conjunction.

[0025] As a result, the step chain 21 described above travels in a circular motion along a guide rail (not shown), and the steps 22 each connected endlessly to the step chain 21 travel in a circular motion accordingly.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of escalator 10 as viewed from landing 12. In FIG. 2, some cross-sectional hatching has been omitted to avoid cumbersome illustration. As shown in FIG. 2, balustrade portions 31 and 32 are provided along running path SW. Balustrade portions 31 and 32 are symmetrical with respect to running path SW, and are made of similar components. In the following explanation, balustrade portion 31 will be mainly explained, and explanation of balustrade portion 32 will be omitted as appropriate.

[0027] 1 and 2, the balustrade section 31 has a balustrade panel 33 standing along the travel path SW, and a support section 34 that supports the balustrade panel 33. The balustrade panel 33 is, for example, configured by arranging a plurality of glass sheets in a row, and has translucency. In addition, semicircular newel sections 33A, 33B are provided at the end of the balustrade panel 33 on the landing 12 side and the end on the landing 14 side, respectively.

[0028] 2, a handrail deck 33D is attached to the outer periphery of the balustrade panel 33. This handrail deck 33D extends in a substantially straight line in the section where the balustrade panel 33 is inclined, and is configured to curve in accordance with the curve in the section where the panel 33 is curved. The handrail deck 33D is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of the balustrade panel 33 leading to the inlet portion 34A which is the entrance and exit of the moving handrail 30 provided on each of the support portions 34 of the landing 12 and the landing 14.

[0029] Further, a guide rail 35 that movably supports the moving handrail 30 is installed on the handrail deck 33D. The moving handrail 30, which is configured to be endless and circulates at the same speed in the same direction as the steps 22, is movably attached to this guide rail 35. A lighting unit (not shown) is built into the lower outer portion of the handrail deck 33D.

[0030] 2, a skirt guard 34B is attached to the support part 34 so as to cover the side surface on the SW side of the travel path. Similarly, a skirt guard 36B is attached to the support part 36 of the balustrade part 32 so as to cover the side surface on the SW side of the travel path.

[0031] Further, approach detection units 39-1, 39-2 (hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as detection units "39" as appropriate) having a function of detecting passengers entering the landing 12 are provided at the ends of the support units 34, 36 on the landing 12 side. The approach detection units 39-1, 39-2 are constituted, for example, by photoelectric sensors, and have the role of detecting passengers approaching the landing 12 in a non-contact manner before the passengers step onto the steps 22.

[0032] More specifically, the approach detection unit 39 irradiates light such as visible light or infrared light toward a detection area 39R set near the center of the front of the landing 12, as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 1, and when the light irradiated in the detection area 39R hits a passenger and is reflected, the approach detection unit 39 detects the passenger by receiving the reflected light and transmits a detection signal to the control device 40 described later.

[0033] In this embodiment, an approach detection unit 39 constituted by a photoelectric sensor or the like is used to detect passengers approaching the landing 12. However, for example, a surveillance camera may be installed on the ceiling located directly above the landing 12 or around the landing, and the approach of passengers may be detected via the surveillance camera.

[0034] 2, the passage detection unit 42 is disposed at the end of the support parts 34, 36 on the landing 12 side. More specifically, the passage detection unit 42 is a non-contact sensor composed of a light-projecting unit 42A and a light-receiving unit 42B, which are disposed facing each other slightly above the landing 12 side from the comb plate PL from which the steps 22 protrude. The passage detection unit 42 has a function of detecting an object when light irradiated via the light-projecting unit 42A is blocked by the object, and is composed of, for example, a transmission type photoelectric sensor.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 2, the projection unit 44 is attached to the handrail deck 33D of the newel section 33A on the landing 12 side, and has the function of projecting an image indicating the area where passengers should pass within a projection area 44P, which is an area where the projection unit 44 can project an image. In Fig. 2, the projection area 44P is indicated by dots.

[0036] Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are figures showing guidance displays projected onto the projection area 44P via the projection unit 44, with Figure 3(a) being a guidance display when guiding a person to pass through the center of the platform 12 and board onto the right side of the steps 22 (hereinafter referred to as "right-side guidance display 46R"), and Figure 3(b) being a guidance display when guiding a person to pass through the center of the platform 12 and board onto the left side of the steps 22 (hereinafter referred to as "left-side guidance display 46L").

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the right-side guidance display 46R is composed of a route display R-1 projected on the floor surface of the landing 12 and a boarding position guide display R-2. This route display R-1 is a projection display of a straight passage extending from the entrance side end of the landing 12 to the vicinity of the center of the landing 12, and has a passage width (for example, 500 mm) that one passenger can pass through. In this way, by projecting and displaying the right-side guidance display 46R in the projection area 44P, the area where the passenger should pass is displayed in a different manner from other areas. This makes it possible for the passenger to visually identify the position where he or she should pass. Therefore, it is possible to guide the passenger approaching the landing 12 to pass through the center of the landing 12.

[0038] Similarly, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the left guidance display 46L is also composed of a route display L-1 projected onto the floor surface of the hall 12 and a boarding position guide display L-2.

[0039] In this way, passengers pass through the center of the platform 12, so that they line up in a single file, and before they can board the steps 22, there are other passengers lined up in front of the second and subsequent passengers, except for the first passenger in the line, so that passengers can stop before boarding the steps 22.

[0040] As a result, when passengers board the right side of the steps 22, they must first stand still and then take a step, so the speed at which passengers board can be reduced compared to when they board the steps 22 without stopping at the landing 12. As a result, it becomes more difficult for passengers to walk on the steps 22 toward the landing 14, and it becomes possible to prevent passengers from walking on the steps 22 toward the landing 14.

[0041] The boarding position guide displays R-2, L-2 are projection displays of the passageway connecting the above-mentioned route displays R-1, L-1 to the boarding position guide displays R-2, L-2 on the right side of the steps 22. This makes it possible to encourage passengers to pass through the center of the hall 12 and board on the right or left side of the steps 22.

[0042] In this embodiment, an example is given in which the projection unit 44 projects both the route indications R-1, L-1 and the boarding position guidance indications R-2, L-2 as guidance indications, but the projection unit 44 may project only the route indications R-1, L-1.

[0043] 1, speakers SP1, SP2 (hereinafter, when there is no particular need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to as "SP" as appropriate) are built into the support parts 34 of the landing 12 and the landing 14. Each speaker SP has the role of broadcasting voice guidance and the like.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 40 is disposed in the upper floor machine room 14M and has a function of controlling the overall operation of the escalator 10. More specifically, the control device 40 includes a storage device (not shown) including a ROM, a RAM, and an HDD in which various control programs are stored, and an arithmetic processing device (not shown) such as a CPU. The control device 40 functions as an operation control unit 48 that controls the driving of the motor 24 by the arithmetic processing device reading the control programs from the storage device and performing arithmetic processing, and a display control unit 49 that controls the guidance display in the projection unit 44, and also controls various voice guidance broadcast through the speaker SP. The operation control unit 48 has a normal operation mode in which the endless conveyor 20 is circulated at a predetermined speed (for example, 30 m per minute) and a pause mode in which the endless conveyor 20 is stopped.

[0045] In this embodiment, the operation control unit 48 changes the operation mode from the pause mode to the normal operation mode when it detects the approach of a passenger via the approach detection unit 39. In addition, the control device 40 changes the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the pause operation mode when a passenger non-detection time TP, which is the duration of a state in which the approach of a passenger is not detected via the approach detection unit 39, continues for a preset time.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the normal operation mode is started, the control device 40 executes a guidance display mode in which the control device 40 alternately projects the above-mentioned right guidance display 46R (see FIG. 3(a)) and left guidance display 46L (see FIG. 3(b)) onto the projection area 44P of the hall 12 via the projection unit 44 for a first predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) until the number of passengers detected via the passing detection unit 42 reaches a preset number (for example, 10 people) or until the passenger non-detection time TP, which is the duration of a state in which the approach detection unit 39 does not detect any passengers, becomes equal to or longer than a preset time.

[0047] Here, when a passenger passes through the detection area of ​​the passage detection unit 42, the passenger is walking, and so in many cases, both the left and right legs are detected once each. For this reason, the control device 40 determines that one passenger has passed when the passage detection unit 42 detects light blocking twice. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the passage detection unit 42 may determine that a passenger has passed each time it detects light blocking once.

[0048] As described above, by alternately displaying right guidance display 46R and left guidance display 46L to passengers entering steps 22 from hall 12, passengers can be guided to pass through the center of hall 12 and alternately enter the right or left part of steps 22.

[0049] Next, the flow of control of the driving mode and the guidance display mode in the control device 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of control of the driving mode and the guidance display mode in the control device 40.

[0050] 5, when the control device 40 detects the approach of a passenger via the approach detection unit 39 (step S1: YES), it executes the normal operation mode (step S2). In addition, the control device 40 resets the passenger non-detection time TP, which is the time that has elapsed since the approach detection unit 39 last detected a passenger (step S3). On the other hand, if the control device 40 has not detected the approach of a passenger via the approach detection unit 39 (step S1: NO), it measures the passenger non-detection time TP and transitions to the processing of step S4 (step S9).

[0051] The control device 40 judges whether the number of people passing through the second predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) immediately before detected via the passage detection unit 42 is less than the preset number of people (step S4). If the number of people detected via the passage detection unit 42 is less than the preset number of people (step S4: YES) and the passenger non-detection time TP is less than the preset time (for example, 5 minutes) (step S5: YES), the control device 40 starts or continues the execution of the guidance display mode via the projection unit 44 (step S6). As a result, guidance is displayed to the front of the large group of passengers getting on from the landing 12, so that passengers can be effectively prevented from walking on the steps 22 toward the landing 14.

[0052] In the above-mentioned step S5, if the passenger non-detection time TP is equal to or longer than a preset time (step S5: NO), the control device 40 ends the guidance display mode (step S10). This makes it possible to end the guidance display mode when a state in which no passenger is detected continues for a certain period of time.

[0053] On the other hand, when the number of passing passengers during the immediately preceding second predetermined time period detected via the passage detection unit 42 is equal to or greater than the preset number (step S4: NO), the control device 40 ends the guidance display mode (step S11). This makes it possible not to display guidance to passengers who are not at the front of the large group of passengers boarding at the landing 12, because the passengers at the front are already lined up in a line at the landing 12.

[0054] Furthermore, when the passenger non-detection time TP is equal to or longer than the time limit Tmax (for example, 2 minutes) (step S7: YES), the control device 40 changes the operation mode to the operation suspension mode (step S8) and transitions to the processing of step S1 described above. This allows the operation of the endless conveyor 20 to be stopped when a state in which no passengers board from the hall 12 continues for a certain period of time.

[0055] On the other hand, if the passenger non-detection time TP is less than the limit time Tmax (step S7: NO), the control device 40 returns to the processing of step S1 without changing the operation mode to the operation suspension mode, i.e., while maintaining the normal operation mode (step S7: NO).

[0056] According to the escalator 10 of the first embodiment, passengers getting on from the landing 12 can be encouraged to line up in the center by guiding the passengers to get on through the center of the landing 12. As a result, passengers getting on from the landing 12 line up in a line in the center of the landing 12 before getting on to the steps 22. Therefore, passengers get on to the steps 22 with other passengers in front of them, and therefore it is possible to prevent passengers from walking on the endless conveyor 20 to get to the landing 14.

[0057] In the first embodiment, when the guidance display mode in step S6 is executed, the control device 40 may make an announcement through the speaker SP to urge the passengers to proceed according to the guidance display.

[0058] In the above-described first embodiment, an example has been described in which the control device 40 determines the number of passengers boarding the endless transport vehicle 20 based on the light blocking detection by the passage detection unit 42, and executes the guidance display mode via the projection unit 44 under one of the conditions that the determined number of passengers is less than a preset number. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control device 40 may be configured to continuously execute the guidance display mode via the projection unit 44 regardless of the number of passengers boarding the endless transport vehicle 20.

[0059] Also, the right guidance display 46R and the left guidance display 46L may be alternately or either one may be continuously displayed via the projection unit 44. In this case, there is no need for the control device 40 to control the display in the projection unit 44, and there is also no need to use the passage detection unit 42, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0060] In the above first embodiment, an example has been described in which the control device 40 determines the number of passengers passing through the landing by detecting shading via the passage detection unit 42 installed at the end of the support parts 34, 36 on the landing 12 side, and displays guidance, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, guidance may be displayed based on the degree of congestion or the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps 22 by detecting passengers on the travel path SW. A second embodiment in this case will be described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

[0061] In the following description of the second embodiment, parts common to the first embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals as appropriate, and only parts different in configuration will be described.

[0062] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of an escalator 100 according to the second embodiment. In Fig. 6, a projection area 44P is indicated by dots. As shown in Fig. 6, the escalator 100 has substantially the same configuration as the escalator 10 according to the first embodiment, except that the escalator 100 includes left-side passing detectors (second detectors) 62A, 62B (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "left-side passing detector 62" when no particular distinction is required) and right-side passing detectors (second detectors) 64A, 64B (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "right-side passing detector 64" when no particular distinction is required) instead of the passing detector 42 according to the first embodiment.

[0063] The left-side passage detection unit 62 and the right-side passage detection unit 64 are disposed on the upper floor and the lower floor, respectively, so as to face each other with the travel path SW in between. Since the passage detection units 62A, 62B, 64A, and 64B have the same configuration, the left-side passage detection unit 62A will be mainly described as an example, and descriptions of the left-side passage detection unit 62B and the right-side passage detection units 64A and 64B will be omitted as appropriate.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 6, the left-side passage detection unit 62A is attached to the lower floor side portion of the skirt guard 34B, and is configured, for example, by a reflective photoelectric sensor, etc. The left-side passage detection unit 62A has a function of detecting the passage of an object by receiving reflected light generated when light irradiated onto a detection area AP shown by a dashed line in Fig. 6, i.e., a spatial area corresponding to the left half of the travel path SW, is blocked by an object.

[0065] The control device 40 judges the degree of passenger congestion in the left portion of the travel path SW based on the object detection status at the left-side passage detection units 62A, 62B. More specifically, the control device 40 judges the degree of passenger congestion in the left half area of ​​the travel path SW based on the number of light interruption detections per unit time at the left-side passage detection units 62A, 62B. Similarly, the control device 40 judges the degree of passenger congestion in the right half area of ​​the travel path SW based on the object detection status at the right-side passage detection units 64A, 64B.

[0066] Fig. 7(a) is a timing chart showing a state when the left-side passage detection unit 62A detects a passenger moving on the runway SW while stationary on the steps 22 during execution of the normal operation mode. Fig. 7(b) is a timing chart showing a state when the passenger detected by the passage detection unit 62A in Fig. 7(a) moves on the runway SW while stationary on the steps 22 and is detected by the downstream left-side passage detection unit 62B. In Fig. 7(a), timing TA indicates the timing when the left-side passage detection unit 62A first detects the passenger, and in Fig. 7(b), timing TB indicates the timing when the left-side passage detection unit 62B first detects the passenger.

[0067] As shown in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), the detected moving speed V of the passenger can be determined based on the distance D (see Fig. 6) between the two passage detectors 62A, 62B and the elapsed time TX from the timing TA to the timing TB. For this reason, in this embodiment, if the moving speed V is approximately the same as the moving speed of the steps 22, it is determined that the passenger is standing still on the steps 22 and is not walking on the steps 22. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), the control device 40 determines that the passenger is not walking on the steps 22 toward the landing 14 or toward the landing 12 when the elapsed time TX satisfies the following formula (1) when the lower limit time is T1 and the upper limit time is T2.

[0068] T1≦TX≦T2 (1) This makes it possible to detect passengers walking on the steps 22.

[0069] It is preferable that the time lengths of the lower limit time T1 and the upper limit time T2 are set to lengths that include an allowable time that does not impede the detection of passengers walking on the steps 22.

[0070] In addition, when multiple passengers are using the escalator 10 at the same time, a passenger different from the passenger detected by the left-side passage detection unit 62A may be detected by the left-side passage detection unit 62B, which may cause the control device 40 to make an erroneous determination. However, such an erroneous determination can be suppressed by, for example, setting the difference between the lower limit time T1 and the upper limit time T2 to be relatively small. For this reason, it is preferable to set the difference between the lower limit time T1 and the upper limit time T2 not to be too large.

[0071] Furthermore, the control device 40 may assign a number indicating the order of detection, such as 1, 2, 3, ..., each time a passenger is detected in the left-side passage detection unit 62A, and similarly, assign a number indicating the order of detection, such as 1, 2, 3, ..., each time a passenger is detected in the left-side passage detection unit 62B. In this case, erroneous determination can be suppressed by calculating the elapsed time TX based on the timings TA and TB of the left-side passage detection unit 62A and the left-side passage detection unit 62B, which are assigned the same numbers.

[0072] Furthermore, in the case where the left passage detection units 62A and 62B assign numbers each time they detect a passenger as described above, the control device 40 may reset the assigned numbers each time the guidance display mode ends. In this case, since the control device 40 reassigns numbers each time it starts executing the guidance display mode, even if the numbers assigned to the detection of the passage of the same passenger by both the passage detection units 62A and 62B differ during the execution of the guidance display mode, the assigned numbers are reset once when the guidance display mode ends, and the next time the guidance display mode is executed, the same number can be assigned to the same passenger detected by both the passage detection units 62A and 62B.

[0073] As described above, the control device 40 determines whether or not to execute the guidance display mode based on the degree of congestion on the travel path SW and the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps 22 toward the alighting station 14. Then, instead of alternately displaying the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L in the guidance display mode as in the first embodiment, the control device 40 executes either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L in the guidance display mode based on the degree of congestion of passengers on the travel path SW and the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps 22 toward the alighting station 14.

[0074] Here, Fig. 8 is a table showing the relationship between the congestion on the runway SW and the guidance display mode performed via the projection unit 44 in the control device 40 based on the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps 22. In Fig. 8, "○" indicates that there are many passengers using either the left or right part of the runway SW, and "△" indicates that there are few passengers using either the left or right part of the runway SW. "Y" indicates that there are passengers walking on the steps 22 of the runway SW, and "N" indicates that there are no passengers walking on the steps 22 of the runway SW.

[0075] 8, "R" indicates the right guidance display 46R, "L" indicates the left guidance display 46L, "-" indicates that no guidance display is performed, and "M" indicates that either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L is randomly performed. Furthermore, cells T11 to T44 indicate whether or not to perform a guidance display mode set in response to each combination of the degree of congestion on the right side of the travel path SW and the left side of the travel path SW, and the presence or absence of passengers walking on the steps 22, and whether the display to be projected when the guidance display mode is performed is the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L.

[0076] As shown in Fig. 8, cell T12 shows a case where both the right and left parts of the travel path SW are crowded, and passengers are present only on the left part of the travel path SW, walking on the steps 22. In this case, the left guidance display 46L is projected via the projection unit 44 as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to guide passengers to stop temporarily at the landing 12 and get on the left part of the travel path SW, thereby preventing passengers from walking on the steps 22 while heading to the landing 14.

[0077] Similarly, cell T21 is a case where both the right and left parts of the travel path SW are crowded, and passengers are present only on the right part of the travel path SW walking on the steps 22, and the right guidance display 46R is projected as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to encourage passengers to stop temporarily at the landing 12 and get on the right part of the travel path SW, thereby preventing passengers from walking on the steps 22 toward the alighting station 14.

[0078] In cell T13, there are few passengers on the right side of the travel path SW and the left side is crowded, and there are passengers walking on the steps 22 on both the right and left sides of the travel path SW. In this case, either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L is randomly executed as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to prevent passengers from walking on the steps 22 on the right or left side of the travel path SW.

[0079] On the other hand, cell T31 is a case where there are few passengers on the left side of the travel path SW and the right side is crowded, and there are passengers walking on the steps 22 on both the left and right sides of the travel path SW. In this case, either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L is randomly executed as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to suppress passengers walking on the steps 22 on the right or left side of the travel path SW.

[0080] Next, cell T23 is a case where there are few passengers on the right side of the travel path SW and the left side is crowded, and passengers are present only on the right side of the travel path SW walking on the steps 22. In this case, the right guidance display 46R is projected as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to prompt passengers to stop temporarily at the landing 12 and get on the right side of the travel path SW, thereby preventing passengers from walking on the steps 22 on the right side of the travel path SW toward the disembarking area.

[0081] On the other hand, cell T32 is a case where there are few passengers on the left side of the travel path SW and the right side is crowded, and passengers are present only on the left side of the travel path SW walking on the steps 22. In this case, the left guidance display 46L is projected as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to prompt passengers to stop temporarily at the landing 12 and get on the left side of the travel path SW, thereby preventing passengers from walking on the steps 22 on the left side of the travel path SW toward the disembarkation station 14.

[0082] Next, cell T14 is a case where only the left side of the travel path SW is crowded, and passengers are walking on the steps 22 only on the left side of the travel path SW. In this case, the left guidance display 46L is projected as the guidance display mode. This causes passengers to stand in a line at the landing 12 and board the left side of the travel path SW, preventing passengers from walking on the steps 22 toward the landing 14.

[0083] On the other hand, cell T41 is a case where only the right side of the travel path SW is crowded, and passengers are walking on the steps 22 only on the right side of the travel path SW. In this case, the right guidance display 46R is projected as the guidance display mode. This causes passengers to stand in a line at the landing 12 and board the right side of the travel path SW, so that passengers can be prevented from walking on the steps 22 toward the landing 14.

[0084] Furthermore, cell T24 is a case where only the left side of the travel path SW is crowded, and there are no passengers walking on the steps 22 on either the right or left side of the travel path SW, in which case the right guidance display 46R is executed as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to guide passengers to the right side of the travel path SW where there are relatively few passengers, and to prevent them from walking on the steps 22 toward the drop-off point 14.

[0085] On the other hand, cell T42 is a case where only the right side of the travel path SW is crowded, and there are no passengers walking on the steps 22 on either the right or left side of the travel path SW. In this case, the left guidance display 46L is executed as the guidance display mode. This makes it possible to guide passengers to the left side of the travel path SW, where there are relatively few passengers, while preventing them from walking on the steps 22 toward the alighting area 14 when boarding the train.

[0086] Cell T34 is a case where there are few passengers on both the right and left parts of the travel path SW, and passengers are present only on the left part of the travel path SW walking on the steps 22. In this case, the left guidance display 46L is projected as the guidance display mode. As a result, when there are few passengers on both the left and right parts of the travel path SW, passengers are guided to the left part of the travel path SW where passengers are present walking on the steps 22, so that passengers on the left part can be guided not to walk on the steps 22 to the alighting area 14.

[0087] On the other hand, cell T43 is a case where there are few passengers on both the right and left parts of the travel path SW, and passengers are present only on the right part of the travel path SW, walking on the steps 22. In this case, the right guidance display 46R is projected as the guidance display mode. As a result, when there are few passengers on both the left and right parts of the travel path SW, passengers are guided to the right part of the travel path SW where passengers are present walking on the steps 22, and it is possible to prevent passengers from walking on the steps 22 toward the alighting area 14 when boarding.

[0088] In cell T11, both the right and left sides of the path SW are crowded, and there are passengers walking on the steps 22 on both the right and left sides of the path SW. In this case, either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L is randomly executed as the guidance display mode.

[0089] Next, cell T22 is a case where both the right and left parts of the path SW are crowded, and there are no passengers walking on the steps 22 on either the right or left part of the path SW. In this case, the guidance display mode is not executed.

[0090] Moreover, cell T33 is a case where there are few passengers on both the right and left parts of the running path SW, and there are passengers walking on the steps 22 on both the right and left parts of the running path SW. In this case, either the right guidance display 46R or the left guidance display 46L is randomly executed as the guidance display mode.

[0091] Next, cell T44 is the case where there are few passengers on either the right or left part of the running path SW, and there are no passengers walking on the steps 22 on either the right or left part of the running path SW, and in this case the guidance display mode is not executed.

[0092] As described above, the control device 40 determines which of cells T11 to T44 the usage status of the right and left portions of the road SW corresponds to based on the light blocking detection by both the left-side passage detection unit 62 and the right-side passage detection unit 64, and then performs guidance display.

[0093] The escalator 100 according to the second embodiment can also provide the same effects as the escalator 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0094] In the above-mentioned first embodiment, an example is described in which a guidance display consisting of route indications R-1, L-1 and boarding position guide indications R-2, L-2 is projected on the floor surface of the hall 12 via the projection unit 44 during execution of the guidance display mode, thereby guiding passengers to pass through the center of the hall 12 and board the right or left part of the steps 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the guidance display in the above-mentioned first embodiment, passengers may be guided by combining the boarding position guide indications R-2, L-2 with the movable plates 72, 74 that guide passengers to pass through the center of the hall 12 by restricting passage on both ends of the hall 12 so that passengers cannot pass through both ends of the hall 12 to board the steps 22.

[0095] The configuration of the escalator 120 according to the third embodiment in this case will be described with reference to Figs. 9(a) and 9(b). Fig. 9(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the movable plates 72, 74 are located at the retracted position P1. Fig. 9(b) is a diagram showing a state in which the movable plates 72, 74 are rotated to a guide position P2 that restricts the passenger's passing position so that the passenger does not pass on both ends of the hall 12. In Fig. 9(b), the boarding position guide display R-2, which is an image projected by the projection unit 44 on the floor surface of the hall 12, is shown with hatching. In the following description, the parts in common with the first embodiment are appropriately denoted with the same reference numerals without explanation, and only the parts in different configurations will be described.

[0096] As shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(b), the escalator 120 has the same configuration as the escalator 10 of the first embodiment, except that the movable plates 72, 74 are rotatably attached to the balustrades 31, 32 located at the end on the landing 12 side. The movable plates 72, 74 are rotatably supported by the supports 34, 36 via shafts 72A, 74A provided on one end side. The movable plates 72, 74 are configured to rotate between the retracted position P1 shown in Figure 9(a) and the guided position P2 shown in Figure 9(b) by being driven by the drive motors 72M, 74M.

[0097] 9(b), the projection unit 44 projects a boarding position guide display R-2 onto the floor surface of the hall 12 to guide passengers guided to the center of the hall 12 by the movable plates 72, 74 located at the guide position P2 to the right side of the running path SW. This allows passengers guided to the center of the hall 12 to board the right side of the steps.

[0098] Similarly, the projection unit 44 projects the boarding position guide display L-2 onto the floor surface of the landing 12 instead of projecting the boarding position guide display R-2 onto the floor surface of the landing 12. This makes it possible to guide the passenger who has been guided to the center of the landing 12 by the movable plates 72, 74 positioned at the guidance position P2 to board the left side of the steps 22.

[0099] When the control device 40 executes the guidance display mode, it drives the drive motors 72M, 74M to move the movable plates 72, 74 from the retracted position P1 to the guidance position P2, and projects either the boarding position guide display R-2, L-2 via the projection unit 44. In this way, the movable plates 72, 74 can guide passengers to the center of the landing 12, so that the passengers are prompted to line up in a line at the center of the landing 12, and then guided to board either the right side or the left side of the steps 22.

[0100] According to the escalator 120 of the third embodiment, by restricting passage on both ends of the landing 12 and guiding passengers to board through the center, passengers boarding from the landing 12 can be guided to line up in the center of the landing 12. As a result, passengers boarding from the landing 12 will first line up in a line in the center of the landing 12 before boarding the steps 22. For this reason, passengers will board the steps 22 with other passengers ahead of them, except for the leading passenger, and therefore it is possible to prevent passengers from walking on the endless conveyor 20 to head for the landing 14.

[0101] In the above third embodiment, an example has been described in which the movable plates 72, 74 are moved to the guide position P2 and either the boarding position guide display R-2 or L-2 is projected as the guidance display mode, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the movable plates 72, 74 may be moved to the guide position P2 and the boarding position guide display R-2 or L-2 may not be displayed. Even in this case, passengers can be prevented from walking on the endless conveyor 20 to the disembarking area 14 by passing through the center of the landing 12.

[0102] In the above first to third embodiments, an example has been described in which the projection unit 44 is used to project a guidance display onto the hall 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel may be installed on the floor surface of the hall 12 to display guidance.

[0103] In the above first to third embodiments, the projection unit 44 projects the right guidance sign 46R or the left guidance sign 46L as the guidance display mode, but each guidance sign may be displayed in a manner that changes over time. In this case, it is easier for passengers to recognize the place they should pass through.

[0104] In the above first to third embodiments, an example has been described in which the projection area 44P is set to be the floor surface of the landing 12, but the projection area 44P may be set to overlap not only the floor surface of the landing 12 but also the comb plate PL and the steps 22 protruding from the comb plate PL.

[0105] 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]

[0106] 10 Escalator 12 Platform 14 Drop-off point 20 Endless conveyor 22,22A,22B,22C Steps 24 Electric motor 30 Moving handrail 31,32 Parapet section 33A, 33B Newell Department 39, 39-1, 39-2 Approach detection unit 40 Control device 42 Passage detection unit (first detection unit) 42A Light emitter 42B Light receiving part 44 Projection section (passenger guidance section) 46R Right guidance display 46L left guidance display 48 Operation control unit 49 Display control section 62A, 62B Left side passage detector (second detector) 64A, 64B Right side passage detector (second detector) 72,74 Movable plate 72M, 74M Drive motor R-1,L-1 Traffic route display R-2, L-2 boarding position guide display PL Complate S1~S10 steps T11~T44 Cells SP, SP1, SP2 speakers

Claims

1. A passenger conveyor including an endless conveyor including endlessly connected steps configured to allow a plurality of passengers to board while lined up in the left-right direction, a platform for boarding the endless conveyor, and a platform for disembarking from the endless conveyor, a passenger guidance unit having a function of displaying a passage position guidance to encourage passengers to pass through the center of the hall and enter the step by displaying an area in the hall where passengers should pass through in a manner different from other areas; Passenger conveyor.

2. A passenger conveyor including an endless conveyor including endlessly connected steps configured to allow a plurality of passengers to board while lined up in the left-right direction, a platform for boarding the endless conveyor, and a platform for disembarking from the endless conveyor, A restricting portion restricting passage of passengers at both end portions of the landing; A control unit that controls an operation of the restriction unit; Equipped with The control unit regulates passage on both ends of the hall via the regulation unit, thereby guiding passengers to pass through a center part of the hall and enter the steps. Passenger conveyor.

3. A control unit that controls the display in the passenger guidance unit, The guidance display also includes a guide display of a boarding position that encourages the user to board the right or left part of the step.

2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1.

4. A first detection unit that detects an object moving from the landing to the step, the control unit determines the number of passengers who have stepped on the step based on a detection result of the first detection unit, and causes the passenger guiding unit to execute the guidance display when the determined number of passengers is less than a predetermined number. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 3.

5. a second detection unit that detects an object on the endless transport body; the control unit causes the passenger guidance unit to execute the guidance display when a usage situation of the passengers on the endless conveying body satisfies a preset condition based on a detection result of the second detection unit. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 3.

6. a passenger guidance unit that displays the position of the step where passengers should board, the control unit causes the passenger guiding unit to execute the boarding position guidance display so that the passenger guided by the regulating unit boards onto the right side or the left side of the step. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 2.

7. The passenger guidance unit is configured with a projection unit that projects an area where passengers should pass as an image onto the floor of the hall. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 6.

8. The passenger guidance unit is composed of a display unit installed on the floor of the landing, A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1 or 6.

Images