Passenger conveyor system

Abstract

To provide a passenger conveyor and a passenger conveyor system capable of preventing mischief by third parties using a radio communication.SOLUTION: A passenger conveyor system has a driving device 18 to make a footstep 30 run, a control device 50 to control the driving device 18, and a communication unit 64 for the control device 50 to communicate with the outside. The control device 50 turns off the communication function of the communication unit 64 between a predetermined first point in time and second point in time, and turns on the communication function of the communication unit 64 during the other points in time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Embodiments of the present invention relate to passenger conveyors and passenger conveyor systems. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, inspection work on passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways has been carried out by maintenance personnel on-site. However, to reduce the burden on maintenance personnel and improve inspection efficiency, there is a demand for maintenance personnel to remotely operate / stop passenger conveyors via wireless communication and perform inspection work automatically using sensors attached to the passenger conveyors or autonomously moving robots. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-128351 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-5112 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the passenger conveyor is automatically inspected through communication as described above, it is necessary to prevent a third party from using this communication to perform tampering such as stopping the passenger conveyor.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor and a passenger conveyor system that can prevent mischief by a third party using communication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An embodiment of the present invention is a passenger conveyor comprising: a drive device for driving steps; a control device for controlling the drive device; and a communication unit for transmitting and receiving signals for controlling the control device, wherein the control device turns off a communication function of the communication unit between a first time and a second time that are predetermined, and turns on the communication function of the communication unit during the other times. It is. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of an escalator showing one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a moving body and an escalator. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing the on / off state of a short-range wireless function of a communication unit of an escalator. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An escalator 10, which is one of the passenger conveyors according to one embodiment of the present invention, and a movable body 100 for inspection will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In this embodiment, the escalator 10 and the movable body 100 for inspection configure a passenger conveyor system. (1) Escalator 10 The overall structure of escalator 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of escalator 10 as viewed from the left side. However, in order to make the internal structure of escalator 10 easier to understand, illustration of members on the right side of escalator 10 is omitted. Note that when describing the front-to-rear direction of escalator 10, it is assumed that the viewer is looking up from a lower floor to an upper floor, with the upper floor being the front side and the lower floor being the rear side.

[0009] A truss 12, which is the framework of the escalator 10, spans the upper and lower floors of the building 1 and is supported in the front-to-rear direction by support angles 2 and 3.

[0010] Inside the upper floor machine room 14 at the top end of the truss 12, there are provided a drive unit 18 for driving the steps 30, a pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24, and a pair of left and right belt sprockets (not shown). The drive unit 18 has a motor 20, a reducer 21, a small drive sprocket 19 attached to the output shaft of the reducer 21, and a disk-type electromagnetic brake 23 for stopping the rotation of the motor 20 and maintaining the stopped state. A large drive sprocket 17 is attached to the same shaft of the pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24, and an endless drive chain 22 is stretched between the large drive sprocket 17 and the small drive sprocket 19. Inside the upper floor machine room 14, there is provided a control device 50 for controlling the motor 20, the electromagnetic brake 23, etc.

[0011] A pair of left and right driven sprockets 26, 26 are provided inside the lower floor machine room 16 at the lower end of the truss 12. A pair of left and right endless step chains 28, 28 are stretched between the pair of left and right step sprockets 24, 24 on the upper floor side and the pair of left and right driven sprockets 26, 26 on the lower floor side. A pair of left and right first wheels 301, 301 of a plurality of steps 30 are connected at regular intervals between the pair of left and right step chains 28, 28. When the motor 20 rotates, the first wheel 301 of the step 30 runs on a guide rail dedicated to the first wheel (not shown) fixed to the truss 12, and the second wheel 302 of the step 30 runs on a guide rail dedicated to the second wheel 25 fixed to the truss 12.

[0012] A pair of left and right balustrades 36, 36 are erected on both the left and right sides of the upper part of the truss 12. A handrail rail 39 is provided on the upper part of the handrail 36, and an endless handrail belt 38 moves along the handrail rail 39. A lighting device 68 composed of an LED is provided on the lower part of the handrail rail 39. The handrail belt 38 moves in synchronization with the steps 30 as a belt sprocket (not shown) rotates together with the step sprocket 24.

[0013] An upper floor front skirt guard 40 is provided on the lower front part of the upper floor side of the pair of left and right balustrades 36, and a lower floor front skirt guard 42 is provided on the lower front part of the lower floor side. Inlets 46, 48 which are entrances and exits for the handrail belt 38 protrude from the front skirt guards 40, 42, respectively. Skirt guards 44 are provided on the lower sides of the pair of left and right balustrades 36, respectively, and the steps 30 run between the pair of left and right skirt guards 44, 44. An operation panel 70 is provided on the skirt guards 44 near the upper floor entrance and the lower floor entrance, respectively.

[0014] An upper floor boarding and alighting plate 32 is provided horizontally on the ceiling surface of the machine room 14, which is the upper floor boarding and alighting entrance. A lower floor boarding and alighting plate 34 is provided horizontally on the ceiling surface of the machine room 16, which is the lower floor boarding and alighting entrance. A comb-tooth shaped comb 60 is provided at the tip of the upper floor boarding and alighting plate 32, and the steps 30 are advanced into and withdrawn from this comb 60. In addition, a comb-tooth shaped comb 62 is also provided at the tip of the lower floor boarding and alighting plate 34. (2) Mobile 100 Next, the inspection vehicle 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. This vehicle rides on the steps 30 of the escalator 10, and automatically inspects the escalator 10 while moving from a lower floor to an upper floor. This vehicle 100 is a robot capable of autonomous travel, and its purpose is to inspect the escalator 10 unmanned.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the moving body 100 is substantially cubic, and its size is designed so that it can stand on one step 30. Inside the moving body 100, as shown in FIG. 2, a moving body control unit 104 consisting of a computer or the like is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, four wheels 106 are provided on the lower part of the moving body 100, and as shown in FIG. 2, the four wheels 106 are rotated by a moving motor 108 inside the moving body 100. The moving body control unit 104 can control the operation, stopping, and rotation direction of the moving motor 108 to move the moving body 100 forward, backward, or rotate right or left. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the moving body 100 is provided with an inspection unit 110 consisting of a sensor, a camera, a vibration detection device, and the like for inspecting the handrail belt 38, the balustrade 36, the steps 30, and the lighting device 68 of the escalator 10. This inspection unit 110 is controlled by the moving body control unit 104. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile object control unit 104 communicates with the communication unit 64 of the control device 50 via the mobile object communication unit 112 . (3) Electrical configuration of the escalator 10 and the moving body 100 Next, the electrical configuration of the escalator 10 and the moving body 100 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.

[0016] A communication unit 64, a drive circuit 66 for controlling the motor 20 and the electromagnetic brake 23, a lighting device 68, an operation panel 70, and a safety device 72 are connected to the control device 50 inside the machine room 14 on the upper floor. Also connected to the control device 50 are a clock 74 for keeping time, and a timer 76 for counting time.

[0017] The safety devices 72 include a skirt guard pinch detection device provided on the skirt guard 44, an inlet pinch detection device provided on the inlets 46 and 48, a step lift detection device provided on the guide rail 25, a step chain breakage detection device, an emergency stop button, etc. The skirt guard pinch detection device is a device that detects when a foreign object (e.g., clothes or luggage) is pinched between the skirt guard 44 and the step 30, and the inlet pinch detection device is a device that detects when a foreign object (e.g., a passenger's hand or luggage) is pulled into the inlet 46 or inlet 48 into which the handrail belt 38 is pulled, at the same time as the handrail belt 38.

[0018] The communication unit 64 can communicate with the mobile communication unit 112 of the mobile unit 100, the inspection portable terminal 202 owned by the maintenance personnel, and the monitoring device 200 in the external maintenance center. The communication unit 64 also has a short-distance wireless function for communicating by Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wifi, NFC (Near Field Communication), or the like, and a normal communication function for communicating by using a wireless or wired public commercial line. The normal communication function is always on, and for example, when the safety device 72 is activated and an abnormality occurs in the escalator 10, the communication unit 64 transmits an abnormality signal to the monitoring device 200 by this normal communication function. The control device 50 can also turn on / off the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64. The communication unit 64 communicates with the mobile communication unit 112 by the short-distance wireless function.

[0019] The clock 74 keeps track of the current time, and transmits a time signal indicating the current time to the control device 50.

[0020] The timer 76 starts counting the time in response to a start signal from the control device 50, and sends an end signal to the control device 50 when the counting is completed. (4) Operation state of escalator 10 The escalator 10 of this embodiment can prevent tampering by controlling the operation / stop of the escalator 10 from a third party's mobile terminal (hereinafter referred to as "misused mobile terminal") 204 via short-range wireless during business hours of the building in which the escalator 10 is located. A control method for this purpose will be described below. The business hours of the building are from a first time (10:00 a.m. as an example) to a second time (8:00 p.m. as an example).

[0021] The first control method will be described. At the first time when business starts, the building manager operates the operation panel 70, and the control device 50 executes the normal operation mode of the escalator 10. At this time, the control device 50 rotates the motor 20 through the drive circuit 66 by operating the operation panel 70, and also controls the rotation direction to raise or lower the steps 30 at a normal speed. At the second time when business ends, the building manager operates the operation panel 70, and the control device 50 ends the normal operation mode. At this time, the control device 50 stops the motor 20 by operating the operation panel 70, and also stops it completely with the electromagnetic brake 23.

[0022] The second control method will now be described. During business hours, in order to prevent a third party from using an illicit mobile terminal to arbitrarily control the escalator 10 via the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64, the control device 50 turns off the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64. That is, the control device 50 keeps time with the clock 74, and turns off the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. On the other hand, outside business hours, that is, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the following day, the control device 50 turns on the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64.

[0023] The third control method will be described. Even during business hours, the safety device 72 operates and needs to send an abnormality signal to the monitoring device 200, so the control device 50 keeps the normal communication function on and is able to send an abnormality signal. This normal communication function becomes the safety device communication function.

[0024] The fourth control method will be described.

[0025] First, when it becomes necessary to inspect the mobile object 100 during business hours, since the normal communication function of the communication unit 64 is on, a maintenance person transmits an inspection signal from the inspection portable terminal 202 via a commercial line, and the communication unit 64 receives the inspection signal. Then, the control device 50 switches from the normal operation mode to the inspection mode, and also switches the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64 to an on state. Note that, instead of transmitting the inspection signal from the inspection portable terminal 202 via a commercial line, the maintenance person may switch to the inspection mode by operating the operation panel 70. In this case as well, the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64 is switched to an on state.

[0026] Next, when the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned on, the control device 50 causes the timer 76 to start counting the time (for example, one hour) until the inspection of the moving object 100 is completed.

[0027] Next, in the inspection mode, the mobile body 100 controls the control device 50 using the short-range wireless function that has been turned on, performs an inspection by operating / stopping the escalator 10, and transmits the inspection results to the control device 50, and ends the inspection mode. Note that the objects that the mobile body 100 inspects include, for example, the presence or absence of damage to the steps 30, a slowness in the moving speed of the steps 30, a slowness in the speed of the handrail belt 38, detection of vibrations or abnormal sounds of the steps 30, and the on / off state of the lighting device 68 on the balustrade 36.

[0028] Next, when the timer 76 finishes counting, the control device 50 turns off the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64 since the inspection of the moving body 100 in the inspection mode has ended. (5) Control method of the control device 50 during inspection A control method of the control device 50 in inspection using the mobile object 100 will be described with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 3. Note that "communication" in Fig. 3 means communication by a short-distance wireless function.

[0029] In step S1, the control device 50 determines whether the current time is within business hours or not, and if it is within business hours, proceeds to step S3 (if y), and if it is outside predetermined business hours, proceeds to step S2 (if n).

[0030] In step S2, since it is outside business hours, the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned on, and the process returns to step S1. Note that the normal communication function of the communication unit 64 is also always on. This allows the maintenance worker to execute the inspection mode by the mobile object 100 via the short-distance wireless function if it is outside business hours.

[0031] In step S3, since it is within business hours, the normal operation mode is implemented to operate the escalator 10, and the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned off, and the process proceeds to step S4. Note that the normal communication function of the communication unit 64 is always on. Since the short-range wireless function is turned off, it is possible to prevent mischief, such as stopping the escalator 10 by a malicious mobile terminal 204 of a third party.

[0032] In step S4, if the maintenance worker initiates inspection mode on the mobile body 100 even during business hours, an inspection signal is received via the normal communication function of the communication unit 64, and the control device 50 switches from normal operation mode to inspection mode and proceeds to step S5 (if y); if the inspection mode is not to be initiated, the process returns to step S1 (if n).

[0033] In step S5, since the inspection mode is selected, the control device 50 turns on the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64, and the process proceeds to step S6.

[0034] In step S6, the control device 50 starts counting a predetermined time required for the inspection of the moving body 100 by the timer 76, and then proceeds to step S7.

[0035] In step S7, an inspection is performed on the moving body 100 in the inspection mode. That is, in the inspection mode, the moving body 100 moves from the standby position to the boarding board 34 on the lower floor, then gets on the rising steps 30, and inspects the steps 30, the handrail rails 39, the balustrades 36, the lighting devices 68, etc., before proceeding to step S8.

[0036] In step S8, when the moving body 100 moves from the raised steps 30 to the boarding board 32 on the upper floor, the moving body 100 moves to a standby position, ends the inspection mode, and proceeds to step S9.

[0037] In step S9, if the timer 76 has finished counting, the process proceeds to step S10 (if y), and if the timer 76 has not finished counting, the process continues to step S9 until the timer 76 has finished counting (if n).

[0038] In step S10, since the timer 76 has finished counting, the control device 50 turns off the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64, and proceeds to step S11.

[0039] In step S11, the control device 50 resets the timer 76, and the process returns to step S1. (6) Effects According to this embodiment, outside business hours, the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned on, so that a maintenance worker can use the mobile body 100 to inspect the escalator 10 at any time.

[0040] During business hours, the short-range wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned off, so that the escalator 10 cannot be stopped by a malicious mobile terminal 204 of a third party.

[0041] Furthermore, even during business hours, if a maintenance person wishes to inspect escalator 10, the inspection can be carried out using mobile body 100. In this case, timer 76 starts counting from the start of the inspection, the short-range wireless function of communication unit 64 is turned on, and inspection can be carried out using mobile body 100. When it is time for mobile body 100 to finish the inspection, the timer ends counting and the short-range wireless function of communication unit 64 is automatically turned off. Therefore, when the inspection is finished, the short-range wireless function of communication unit 64 is automatically turned off without the maintenance person having to perform any special operation, so that escalator 10 cannot be stopped by a malicious mobile terminal 204 of a third party, even after the inspection is finished. Modified Example

[0042] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the inspection is performed by the mobile object 100 during business hours, but the inspection may be performed by the maintenance personnel themselves. In this case, the time counted by the timer 76 is set to match the time when the maintenance personnel will finish the inspection work.

[0044] In the above embodiment, the short-distance wireless function of the communication unit 64 is turned off during business hours, but to more reliably prevent misuse by third parties, all communication functions including the normal communication function may be turned off. At this time, when the safety device 72 operates and it is necessary to transmit an abnormality signal, the control device 50 turns on the normal communication function and transmits the signal.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the first time and the second time are set to business hours, but they may be set to other times, such as the first and last train times, or sunrise and sunset times when the escalator 10 is installed outdoors. The manager of the escalator 10 or the like can set the first time and the second time to any time.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the escalator 10 is used as the passenger conveyor, but the present invention may be applied to a moving walkway instead.

[0047] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 escalator, 18 drive device, 50 control device, 64 communication unit, 72 safety device, 74 clock, 76 timer, 100 mobile object, 104 mobile object control unit, 112 mobile object communication unit, 200 monitoring device, 202 portable terminal for inspection, 204 portable terminal for misuse

Claims

1. A drive device for running the steps; A control device that controls the drive device; A communication unit that transmits and receives signals for controlling the control device; having the control device turns off a communication function of the communication unit during a period between a first time and a second time that are determined in advance, and turns on the communication function of the communication unit during other times; A passenger conveyor characterized by:

2. The control device includes: When an inspection of the passenger conveyor is to be performed between the first time and the second time, the communication function of the communication unit is turned on for a predetermined time to enable communication with the outside, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the communication function of the communication unit is turned off.

2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1.

3. A safety device is provided for detecting an abnormality in the passenger conveyor. the communication unit has a safety device communication function of transmitting an abnormality signal when the safety device is activated, The control device always keeps the safety device communication function of the communication unit in an on state.

2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1.

4. The communication function is a short-range wireless communication function.

2. A passenger conveyor as claimed in claim 1.

5. A passenger conveyor system including a moving body having the passenger conveyor according to claim 2 and an inspection unit for inspecting the passenger conveyor, The inspection is performed by the moving body standing on the step, The predetermined time is set to a time required for the inspection of the moving body. A passenger conveyor system comprising:

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