Safety device for passenger conveyor

Abstract

To provide a safety device of a passenger conveyor capable of effectively restraining foreign matter such as clothes of a passenger and baggage from being caught in a clearance between a footstep and a skirt guard panel.SOLUTION: The safety device 50 for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention is a safety device 50 provided in a passenger conveyor 10 having a plurality of steps 15 that circulate and move, and skirt guard panels 28 disposed on both sides of the plurality of steps 15, and includes a floating image display device 51 that displays a floating image G including at least one of a character, a figure, an image, and a three dimensional object that can be at least visually recognized by a passenger riding on the steps 15 in a space above both sides of the steps 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a safety device for a passenger conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways are sometimes provided with a safety device that prevents foreign objects such as a user's clothing or luggage from becoming caught in the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel.

[0003] As an example of such a safety device, Patent Publication No. 6937718 proposes a determination device that determines whether or not a foreign object has been caught in the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel, and when the determination device detects that a foreign object has been caught, an alarm device issues a warning to the user.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Publication No. 6864065 proposes a system that makes it easier for passengers standing on the steps to see their feet by illuminating the steps with light from a lighting device installed on a skirt guard panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6937718 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6864065 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, from the viewpoint of improving safety, it is preferable to warn users not to get too close to the widthwise end of the step before a foreign object becomes caught in the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor safety device that can effectively prevent passengers from getting their clothes, luggage, or other foreign objects caught in the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel by encouraging users to move away from the widthwise end of the step, thereby contributing to preventing accidents caused by being caught in the gap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention is a safety device provided on a passenger conveyor having a plurality of circulating steps and skirt guard panels arranged on both sides of the plurality of steps, This is a safety device for a passenger conveyor that is equipped with an aerial image display device that displays an aerial image including at least one of letters, figures, images, and three-dimensional objects in the space above both sides of the steps, which is at least visible to passengers standing on the steps. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a passenger conveyor to which a safety device according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] Cross section AA of Figure 1 [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the control configuration of the passenger conveyor in Figure 1 [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a safety device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a passenger conveyor to which a safety device according to a first modified example of the present invention is applied. [Figure 6] Cross section B-B of Figure 5 [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a passenger conveyor to which a safety device according to a fourth modified example of the present invention is applied. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view showing a passenger conveyor to which a safety device according to a fifth modified example of the present invention is applied. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a control method for a safety device according to an eighth modified example of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] 1 is a side view showing an example of a passenger conveyor to which a safety device according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, an escalator in which a large number of steps 15 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "steps 15") move cyclically between an upper floor entrance 12 and a lower floor entrance 13 is described as a passenger conveyor 10, but this safety device can also be applied to a moving walkway in which steps move horizontally.

[0012] In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the truss 11 may be referred to as the front-to-rear direction, and the width direction of the truss 11 as the left-to-right direction. The front-to-rear and left-to-right directions refer to the directions when looking at an upper floor from a lower floor, with the upper floor being the front side and the lower floor being the rear side.

[0013] (1) Passenger Conveyor 10 As shown in Fig. 1, a truss 11 that extends in the front-to-rear direction (the direction in which steps 15 move) and forms the framework of passenger conveyor 10 is supported across the upper and lower floors of the building using support angles (not shown). Note that Fig. 1 is a right side view of passenger conveyor 10 with the members on the right side omitted.

[0014] The passenger conveyor 10 is composed of an upper floor horizontal section 1A located near the upper floor boarding / alighting entrance 12 and along which the steps 15 move horizontally, a lower floor horizontal section 1E located near the lower floor boarding / alighting entrance 13 and along which the steps 15 move horizontally, an intermediate inclined section 1C located between the upper floor horizontal section 1A and the lower floor horizontal section 1E and along which the steps 15 move in a straight line in a direction inclined to the horizontal direction, an upper floor curved section 1B located between the upper floor horizontal section 1A and the intermediate inclined section 1C and along which the steps 15 move in a curved manner, and a lower floor curved section 1D located between the lower floor horizontal section 1E and the intermediate inclined section 1C and along which the steps 15 move in a curved manner.

[0015] The steps 15 are connected by endless step chains 14 arranged on both sides thereof, and are arranged within a truss 11 installed under the floor of the building.

[0016] Inside the machine room 16 on the upper floor at the top end of the truss 11, there are a drive unit 17 for moving the steps 15, a pair of drive sprockets 19 on the left and right, a pair of handrail belt sprockets on the left and right (not shown), and a control unit 40.

[0017] The drive device 17 has a motor consisting of an induction motor, a reducer, an output sprocket attached to the output shaft of the reducer, a step chain 14 driven by the output sprocket, and a disc brake that stops the rotation of the motor and maintains the stopped state. The drive sprocket 19 is rotated by a drive chain 18. The pair of left and right drive sprockets 19 and the pair of left and right handrail belt sprockets are connected by a connecting belt (not shown) and rotate synchronously.

[0018] A driven sprocket 21 is provided inside a machine room 20 on the lower floor side at the bottom end of the truss 11. A pair of left and right endless step chains 14 is stretched between the drive sprocket 19 on the upper floor side and the driven sprocket 21 on the lower floor side. A plurality of steps 15 are attached to the pair of left and right step chains 14 at equal intervals.

[0019] When the driving sprocket 19 rotates upon receiving a rotational force from the driving device 17, the step chain 14 moves circulatingly between the driving sprocket 19 and the driven sprocket 21, and the steps 15 move circulatingly between the upper floor side and the lower floor side of the truss 11.

[0020] 2, a balustrade 22 is erected on both the left and right sides of the truss 11. A handrail 23 is provided on the top of the balustrade 22, and a handrail belt 24 moves along the handrail rail 23 in synchronization with the steps 15.

[0021] As shown in Figure 1, front skirt guards 29 are provided on the lower front of the parapet 22 on the upper and lower floors. An inlet portion 30, which is an entrance and exit for the handrail belt 24, protrudes from each of the front skirt guards 29 on the upper and lower floors. An operation panel 31 and a speaker 32 are provided on the inner surface of the front skirt guards 29 on the upper and lower floors. The operation panel 31 is provided with a start switch (not shown) for starting the passenger conveyor 10. Operation of this start switch outputs an operation command signal to the control device 40.

[0022] A pair of left and right balustrades 22 extending from the boarding / alighting entrance 12 to the boarding / alighting entrance 13 are provided with skirt portions 25 along the front-to-rear direction at the lower part of each side. As shown in FIG. 2 , the skirt portions 25 include a plate-shaped inner ledge 26 that covers the step 15 side (inner side in the width direction) of the lower part of the balustrade 22, an outer ledge 27 that covers the outside of the lower part of the balustrade 22, and a plate-shaped skirt guard panel 28 that extends downward from the end of the inner ledge 26 and is arranged in the vertical direction facing the side of the step 15. The step 15 runs between the pair of left and right skirt guard panels 28. The inner ledge 26, together with the skirt guard panel 28, protects the feet of passengers, and is attached at an angle between the upper end of the skirt guard panel 28 and the step 15 side of the lower part of the balustrade 22 via a connecting member.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the upper end of the skirt portion 25 (i.e., the inner ledge 26 and the outer ledge 27) extends horizontally at the upper floor horizontal portion 1A and the lower floor horizontal portion 1E, inclines along the movement direction of the step 15 at the intermediate inclined portion 1C, and curves along the movement direction of the step 15 at the upper floor curved portion 1B and the lower floor curved portion 1D.

[0024] Safety devices 50 are provided on both the left and right sides of the skirt portion 25. In this embodiment, the safety devices 50 are provided over the entire skirt portion 25 in the front-to-rear direction, from the upper floor horizontal portion 1A to the lower floor horizontal portion 1E.

[0025] (2)Safety device 50 As shown in FIG. 2, the safety device 50 includes an aerial image display device 51 and a passenger detection unit 52 housed inside the skirt portion 25 .

[0026] Aerial image display device 51 can be any of a variety of known image devices that form a two-dimensional or three-dimensional aerial image G in the space above the widthwise ends of steps 15. For example, as shown in Figure 2, aerial image display device 51 has an image display unit 53 located inside skirt portion 25, a beam splitter 54 provided to cover an opening provided in skirt guard panel 28, and a retroreflective sheet 55 located inside skirt portion 25, and displays aerial image G in the space above the widthwise ends of steps 15.

[0027] Video display unit 53 includes a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a display with an array of LED elements, or the like. Video display unit 53 is attached to skirt guard panel 28 via mounting base 56, for example, and is disposed diagonally above beam splitter 54. Light emitted from video display unit 53 enters beam splitter 54, which is made up of a half mirror, a reflective polarizing plate, or the like, and a portion of the light is reflected and enters retroreflective sheet 55.

[0028] The retroreflective sheet 55 is made of a glass bead type sheet with an arrangement of spherical transparent glass beads or a microprism type sheet with an arrangement of transparent triangular pyramids, and has the property of reflecting incident light in the direction of incidence.

[0029] Passenger detection unit 52 is equipped with distance sensors such as a ToF sensor (Time of Flight Sensor) and a stereo camera, and detects the position of an object within the spatial region including aerial image G formed by aerial image display device 51. When passenger detection unit 52 detects the presence of an object such as a passenger's legs or clothing within the detectable spatial region, it outputs a detection signal indicating the position of the object to control device 40.

[0030] (3) Control device 40 As shown in Figure 3, the control device 40 has a main control unit 40a and a memory unit 40b, and is connected to the drive unit 17, the operation panel 31, the speaker 32, the video display unit 53 of the aerial video display device 51, and the passenger detection unit 52 via a communication interface.

[0031] The main control unit 40a is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding programs, etc. The main control unit 40a executes the programs stored in the storage unit 40b, thereby controlling the motor of the drive device 17 based on an operation command signal from the operation panel 31, and switching between operating and stopping the passenger conveyor 10, and switching between an upward operation in which the steps 15 move from the boarding / alighting entrance 13 on the lower floor to the boarding / alighting entrance 12 on the upper floor, and a downward operation in which the steps 15 move from the boarding / alighting entrance 12 on the upper floor to the boarding / alighting entrance 13 on the lower floor.

[0032] Furthermore, main control unit 40a controls aerial image display unit 51 and passenger detection unit 52 that constitute safety device 50 by executing a program stored in storage unit 40b.

[0033] (4) Operation of the safety device 50 The operation of the safety device 50 will now be described with reference mainly to FIGS.

[0034] When passenger conveyor 10 starts ascending or descending, safety device 50 displays a first aerial image as aerial image G (step S1 in FIG. 4). That is, main control unit 40a causes image display unit 53 of safety device 50 to display an image. As a result, light emitted from image display unit 53 is incident on beam splitter 54, and a portion of the light is reflected and incident on retroreflective sheeting 55. The light incident on retroreflective sheeting 55 is reflected in the incident direction, and a portion of the light passes through beam splitter 54.

[0035] The image displayed on image display unit 53 in this way passes through beam splitter 54 and is focused outside skirt portion 25, displaying aerial image G in the space above the widthwise end of steps 15. Aerial image G is displayed so that it can be seen by passengers standing on steps 15 corresponding to passenger detection units 52. This is because aerial image G formed by retroreflective sheeting 55 has a viewing angle, and retroreflective sheeting 55 is attached so that it falls within the viewing angle of at least passengers standing on steps 15.

[0036] The position at which aerial image G is displayed can be any position above the widthwise end of tread surface 15a, which is the upper surface of step 15. It is preferable that at least a portion of aerial image G is located inside demarcation cleats 15b, which protrude from the widthwise end of tread surface 15a to increase the height of tread surface 15a, in the widthwise direction of step 15. Furthermore, it is preferable that the vertical position of aerial image G is at a position 10 cm to 30 cm above tread surface 15a of step 15.

[0037] The aerial image G displayed in the space above the widthwise ends of the steps 15 can be various two-dimensional or three-dimensional images including at least one of text, figures, photographs (images), and three-dimensional objects. The aerial image G may be an image that gives passengers the illusion that there is some object near the inside of the skirt guard panel 28 (i.e., near the widthwise ends of the steps 15). For example, the aerial image G may be a text, figure, image, or three-dimensional object that alerts passengers to the proximity of the gap S between the skirt guard panel 28 and the steps 15, i.e., warns them against approaching the gap S, or may be a text, figure, photograph, or the like that advertises certain information to passengers. Preferably, the aerial image G is an image that psychologically discourages passengers from approaching the position between the skirt guard panel 28 and the steps 15.

[0038] Then, passenger detection unit 52 detects objects such as passenger clothing or luggage at the position where aerial image G is displayed (step S2 in FIG. 4). If passenger detection unit 52 does not detect objects such as passenger clothing or luggage (No in step S2 in FIG. 4), it continues to display the first aerial image (step S3 in FIG. 4) and proceeds to step S5.

[0039] On the other hand, if passenger detection unit 52 detects an object such as a passenger's clothing or luggage at the position where aerial image G is displayed (Yes in step S2 of Figure 4), main control unit 40a controls image display unit 53 to change the aerial image G displayed by aerial image display device 51 from the first aerial image to the second aerial image (step S4 of Figure 4), and then proceeds to step S5.

[0040] For example, when a passenger stands on the center of step 15 and passenger detection unit 52 does not detect an object such as the passenger's clothing or luggage at the display position of aerial image G, main control unit 40a displays a first aerial image showing text advertising predetermined information to the passenger as aerial image G. On the other hand, when a passenger stands on the edge of step 15 in the width direction and passenger detection unit 52 detects an object at the display position of aerial image G, main control unit 40a may display a second aerial image obtained by changing the color or brightness of the first aerial image as aerial image G, or may display a second aerial image modified to include a message such as "Danger" that warns passengers that they are approaching gap S as aerial image G.

[0041] Furthermore, when the passenger detection unit 52 detects an object at the display position of the aerial image G, the main control unit 40a controls the image display unit 53 to change the aerial image G displayed by the aerial image display device 51 from a first aerial image such as an advertisement to a second aerial image that warns of danger, or, instead of changing the aerial image, may output a warning sound from the speaker 32, or slow down the movement speed of the steps 15, or stop the movement of the steps 15.

[0042] In step S5, the main control unit 40a determines whether the passenger conveyor 10 is operating or not, and if the passenger conveyor 10 is operating (Yes in step S5 of Figure 4), it returns to step S2 and continues detecting objects at the position where the aerial image is displayed, and if the passenger conveyor 10 stops (No in step S5 of Figure 4), it terminates this control.

[0043] In other words, while passenger conveyor 10 is operating, main control unit 40a causes aerial image display device 51 to continue displaying the first aerial image while it detects that no object such as passenger clothing or luggage is present at the position where aerial image G is displayed, and causes aerial image display device 51 to continue displaying the second aerial image different from the first aerial image while it detects that an object is present at the position where aerial image G is displayed.

[0044] The detection signal from the passenger detection unit 52 may be subjected to filtering processing such as a first-order lag filter or a weighted average filter to prevent erroneous detection by the passenger detection unit 52.

[0045] (5) Effects According to this embodiment, the aerial image display device 51 projects an aerial image G in the space on the step 15 side of the skirt guard panel 28, visually making it appear to passengers that there is an object near the skirt guard panel 28, thereby encouraging passengers to move away from the skirt guard panel 28.

[0046] In addition, when the passenger detection unit 52 detects an object such as a passenger's clothing or luggage at the position where the aerial image G is displayed, the aerial image G displayed by the aerial image display device 51 is changed, thereby alerting the passenger that they are approaching the gap S between the skirt guard panel 28 and the step 15.

[0047] (6) Example of change Next, modified examples will be described. Various modifications can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. Several modified examples will be described below, and any one of the modified examples described below may be applied to the above embodiment, or any two or more of the modified examples described below may be applied in combination. Furthermore, in addition to the modified examples below, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0048] (6-1) Change example 1 Next, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.

[0049] The passenger conveyor 100 of this modified example differs from the first embodiment in that a protruding portion 60 that protrudes from the skirt guard panel 28 toward the step 15 side is provided on the lower floor horizontal portion 1E.

[0050] As shown in Fig. 6, protrusions 60 are provided on both skirt guard panels 28 on both sides of the step 15. The protrusions 60 include a base 62 fixed to the skirt guard panel 28 and a deflector 64 fixed to the base 62.

[0051] The deflector 64 is provided at an angle from the base 62 downward toward the step 15, away from the skirt guard panel 28. The deflector 64 also extends beyond the demarcation cleat 15b provided at the end of the step 15 in the width direction.

[0052] The protrusion 60 has both the base 62 and the deflector 64 provided along the moving direction of the steps 15 from the lower floor horizontal portion 1E to the middle of the lower floor curved portion 1D (see FIG. 5).

[0053] In this modified example, a safety device 150 having the same configuration as the safety device 50 of the first embodiment is provided so as to avoid the position where the protrusion 60 is provided in the movement direction of the step 15. For example, the safety device 150 is provided partway along the upper floor horizontal portion 1A, the upper floor curved portion 1B, the intermediate inclined portion 1C, and the lower floor curved portion 1D, and is provided away from the protrusion 60 in the movement direction of the step 15 so as not to overlap with the protrusion 60 in the movement direction of the step 15.

[0054] In this modified example, it is preferable that the safety device 150 displays the aerial image G so that at least a portion of the aerial image G is located widthwise inward of the step 15 relative to the tip of the deflector 64, or so that the widthwise inner end of the aerial image G on the step 15 coincides with the tip of the deflector 64.

[0055] In this modified example, a protrusion 60 is provided on the horizontal portion 1E where objects such as passenger clothing and luggage are likely to get caught in the gap S between the skirt guard panel 28 and the step 15, and the protrusion 60 can block objects from approaching the gap S, effectively preventing objects from getting caught.

[0056] Furthermore, in this modified example, when the passenger conveyor 10 is operating upward, the aerial image G displayed from the safety device 150 provided at the intermediate inclined section 1C or the curved section 1D is at eye level of the passengers boarding the passenger conveyor 10 from the boarding / alighting entrance 13 on the lower floor side, so that when passengers board the passenger conveyor 10, they are more likely to be guided inward in the width direction of the step 15 to avoid the aerial image G, thereby preventing them from being pinched in the gap S.

[0057] When the passenger conveyor 10 is descending, the gaze of passengers on the steps 15 is often directed toward the lower floor entrance 13, which is the exit, so the aerial image G displayed on the intermediate inclined portion 1C is likely to catch the passengers' attention. Therefore, passengers can be guided to the inside of the width direction of the steps 15 before they reach the lower floor curved portion 1D or the lower floor horizontal portion 1E, thereby preventing them from being pinched in the gap S.

[0058] (6-2) Change example 2 In the above-described first modification, the protrusion 60 is provided from the lower floor horizontal portion 1E to the middle of the lower floor curved portion 1D, but the protrusion 60 may be provided on the upper floor horizontal portion 1A or the upper floor curved portion 1B.

[0059] (6-3) Change example 3 In the above-mentioned modified example 1, the safety device 150 is installed in the upper floor horizontal section 1A, the upper floor curved section 1B, the intermediate inclined section 1C and partway up the lower floor curved section 1D, but the safety device 150 may be installed only in the intermediate inclined section 1C, or the safety device 150 may be installed in the upper floor curved section 1B, the intermediate inclined section 1C and the lower floor curved section 1D.

[0060] (6-4) Change example 4 In the above-mentioned modified example 1, the safety device 150 is provided so as to avoid the position where the protrusion 60 is provided in the movement direction of the step 15, but as shown in Figure 7, the safety device 250 may be provided so as to overlap at least a part of the protrusion 160 or the entire protrusion 160 in the movement direction of the step 15.

[0061] As shown in Figure 7, the passenger conveyor 200 of this modified example comprises a base 162 and a deflector 164 fixed to the base 162, and a protrusion 160 having a configuration similar to the protrusion 60 described above is provided across the entire fore-and-aft direction of the passenger conveyor 10 from the upper floor horizontal portion 1A to the lower floor horizontal portion 1E.

[0062] The safety device 250 has the same configuration as the safety device 50 of the first embodiment, and is provided over the entire front-rear direction of the passenger conveyor 10 from the upper floor horizontal portion 1A to the lower floor horizontal portion 1E.

[0063] In this modified example, it is preferable that the safety device 250 displays the aerial image G so that at least a portion of the aerial image G is located widthwise inward of the step 15 relative to the tip of the deflector 164, or so that the widthwise inner end of the aerial image G on the step 15 coincides with the tip of the deflector 164.

[0064] It is preferable that safety device 250 displays aerial image G above protrusion 160. By displaying aerial image G above protrusion 160, protrusion 160 becomes less noticeable, and the appearance of the passenger conveyor can be improved.

[0065] (6-5) Change example 5 Next, a fifth modification of the above embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIG.

[0066] In this modification, a lighting device 310 is provided on the passenger conveyor 300.

[0067] The lighting device 310 illuminates at least one of the gaps S (see Figure 2) between the step 15 and the skirt guard panel 28 and the gap Q between adjacent steps 15 in the upper floor horizontal section 1A, the upper floor curved section 1B, the lower floor curved section 1D, and the lower floor horizontal section 1E, but does not illuminate the gaps S and Q in the intermediate inclined section 1C.

[0068] In other words, in this modified example, the upper floor horizontal portion 1A, the upper floor curved portion 1B, the lower floor curved portion 1D, and the lower floor horizontal portion 1E are illuminated areas illuminated by the lighting device 310, and the intermediate inclined portion 1C is a non-illuminated area that is not illuminated by the lighting device 310.

[0069] In this modified example, a safety device 350 is provided in at least part or all of the intermediate inclined portion 1C, which is a non-illuminated area, and an aerial image G is displayed in the space above the widthwise end of the step 15 in the intermediate inclined portion 1C, and no safety device is provided in the illuminated areas, which are the upper floor horizontal portion 1A, the upper floor curved portion 1B, the lower floor curved portion 1D, and the lower floor horizontal portion 1E.

[0070] In this embodiment, the safety device 350 displays the aerial image G in the space above the widthwise end of the step 15 in the non-illuminated area, making the aerial image G more visible to passengers.

[0071] (6-6) Change example 6 In the embodiment described above, when passenger detection unit 52 detects an object at the position where aerial image G is formed, aerial image G displayed by aerial image display device 51 is changed, but the change of aerial image G is not limited to when passenger detection unit 52 detects an object at the position where aerial image G is formed. For example, when passenger detection unit 52 detects an object in the space below the position where aerial image G is formed, that is, in space P (see FIG. 2 ) sandwiched between aerial image G and tread surface 15a of step 15, aerial image G may be changed from the first aerial image to the second aerial image.

[0072] (6-7) Change example 7 In the above embodiment, while the passenger conveyor 10 is performing an ascending or descending operation, the aerial image display device 51 constantly displays the aerial image G in the space above the widthwise end of the step 15. However, if the passenger detection unit 52 detects an object in an area within a predetermined distance from the skirt guard panel 28, the aerial image display device 51 displays the aerial image G in the space above the widthwise end of the step 15, and if the passenger detection unit 52 does not detect an object in that area, it is not necessary to display the aerial image G.

[0073] Furthermore, aerial image display device 51 may display aerial image G in the space above the widthwise end of step 15 when passenger conveyor 10 is not in ascending or descending operation.

[0074] For example, the aerial image display device 51 may display the aerial image G during maintenance and inspection of the passenger conveyor 10, such as during an emergency stop of the passenger conveyor 10 or while workers are working inside the truss 11. By displaying the aerial image G during an emergency stop of the passenger conveyor 10, all workers can be made aware immediately that the steps 15, handrail belts 24, etc. cannot be moved and the passenger conveyor 10 has come to an emergency stop, thereby reducing loss of maintenance and inspection work. In addition, by displaying the aerial image G while workers are working inside the truss, it is possible to encourage workers not to operate the passenger conveyor unexpectedly.

[0075] (6-8) Change example 8 In the above-described embodiment, passenger detection unit 52 detects the presence or absence of an object at the position where aerial image G is displayed, but in this modified example, passenger detection unit 52 detects the distance between skirt guard panel 28 and the object. Depending on the detected distance, main control unit 40a may change the image displayed on image display unit 53, change the warning sound output from speaker 32, or change the moving speed of steps 15.

[0076] For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when passenger conveyor 10 starts operating, safety device 50 displays a first aerial image as aerial image G (step S11).

[0077] Then, the passenger detection unit 52 detects the distance from an object such as passenger clothing or luggage to the skirt guard panel 28 in the vicinity of the skirt guard panel 28 (step S12).

[0078] If the distance detected by passenger detection unit 52 is 0 mm and the object is in contact with skirt guard panel 28 (Yes in step S13), main control unit 40a stops the movement of steps 15 and outputs a predetermined first sound such as "Emergency stop. Please be careful" from speaker 32 (step S14), and proceeds to step S19. Note that in step S14, instead of or in addition to outputting the first sound, aerial image G displayed by aerial image display device 51 may be changed from the first aerial image to a second aerial image such as "Emergency stop, caution."

[0079] If the distance detected by passenger detection unit 52 is greater than 0 mm and equal to or less than 5 mm (Yes in step S15), main control unit 40a reduces the moving speed of steps 15 and outputs a predetermined second audio message such as "Slow down. Please be careful" from speaker 32 (step S16), and proceeds to step S19. Note that in step S16, instead of or in addition to outputting the second audio message, aerial image G displayed by aerial image display device 51 may be changed from the first aerial image to a second aerial image such as "Slow down, caution."

[0080] If the distance detected by passenger detection unit 52 is greater than 5 mm but equal to or less than 10 mm (Yes in step S17), main control unit 40a does not change the moving speed of steps 15, outputs a predetermined third sound from speaker 32 such as "Be careful not to get your clothes caught" (step S18), and proceeds to step S19. Note that in step S16, instead of or together with outputting the third sound, aerial image G displayed by aerial image display device 51 may be changed from the first aerial image to a second aerial image such as "Danger!"

[0081] If the distance detected by the passenger detection unit 52 is greater than 10 mm (No in step S17), the main control unit 40a continues normal operation without changing the moving speed of the steps 15, and proceeds to step S19.

[0082] Then, in step S19, the main control unit 40a determines whether the passenger conveyor 10 is operating or not, and if the passenger conveyor 10 is operating (Yes in step S19), returns to step S12 to detect the distance from objects such as passenger clothing or luggage to the skirt guard panel 28, and if the passenger conveyor 10 has stopped (No in step S19), ends this control.

[0083] In this modified example, the control of the steps 15, the display content of the aerial image G by the aerial image display device 51, the content of the audio, etc. can be gradually changed depending on the distance between the passenger's clothing, luggage, etc. and the skirt guard panel 28. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10... passenger conveyor, 11... truss, 12... boarding / alighting door, 13... boarding / alighting door, 14... step chain, 15... step, 16... machine room, 17... drive device, 18... drive chain, 19... drive sprocket, 20... lower floor machine room, 21... driven sprocket, 22... balustrade, 23... handrail rail, 24... handrail belt, 25... skirt portion, 25a... upper floor horizontal portion, 25b... upper floor curved portion, 25c... intermediate inclined portion, 25d... lower floor curved portion , 25e...lower floor horizontal section, 26...inner ledge, 27...outer ledge, 28...skirt guard panel, 29...front skirt guard, 30...inlet section, 31...operation panel, 32...speaker, 40...control device, 40a...main control section, 40b...memory section, 30c...communication section, 50...safety device, 51...aerial image display device, 52...passenger detection section, 53...image display section, 54...beam splitter, 55...retroreflective sheet, 56...mounting base

Claims

1. A safety device provided on a passenger conveyor having a plurality of circulating steps and skirt guard panels arranged on both sides of the plurality of steps, A safety device for a passenger conveyor is provided with an aerial image display device that displays an aerial image including at least one of letters, figures, images, and three-dimensional objects in a space above both sides of the steps, the aerial image being at least visible to passengers standing on the steps.

2. 2. The safety device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects passengers at a position where the aerial image display device displays the aerial image.

3. 3. The passenger conveyor safety device according to claim 2, wherein, when the detection unit detects a passenger, the aerial image displayed by the aerial image display device in the space is changed to an aerial image that warns of approach to a gap between the skirt guard panel and the step.

4. The horizontal section along which the step moves horizontally is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes toward the step above the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel, 2. The safety device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the aerial image display device displays the aerial image at an intermediate portion of the step where the step moves linearly at a predetermined inclination angle.

5. a protruding portion protruding toward the step above the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel; The passenger conveyor safety device according to claim 1 , wherein the aerial image display device displays the aerial image above the protrusion.

6. The passenger conveyor is provided with a lighting device that illuminates at least one of the gap between the step and the skirt guard panel and the gap between adjacent steps, and the lighting device has an illumination area where the lighting device illuminates the gap and a non-illumination area where the lighting device does not illuminate the gap, 2. The passenger conveyor safety device according to claim 1, wherein the aerial image display device displays the aerial image in a space above both sides of the step in at least a portion of the non-illuminated area.

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