Lifting and lowering device for stage effects

Abstract

This device offers a high degree of flexibility in where it can be used and provides a lifting and lowering device for stage effects that is easy for workers to operate intuitively. [Solution] A lifting and lowering device (1) for performances, comprising: an output device (11) having a winding unit (13) for winding a wire (14) with one end connected to a suspended object (16) and a drive source (17) for driving the winding unit (13); an input device (21) having an endless belt member (26) stretched over a pair of upper and lower pulleys (23, 24); and a control unit (C) that calculates the amount of movement of the wire (14) based on the amount of operation of the belt member (26) and outputs a control signal to the output device (11) to control the drive source (17).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting device for stage props such as people and objects during stage performances or video shootings, which can lift and lower the props.

Background Art

[0002] In indoor stage performances such as theaters, props such as people and objects are lifted and lowered. Regarding the device for lifting and lowering props, the technologies described in the following Patent Documents 1-3 are conventionally known.

[0003] In the technology described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-225478), a rope (3) for lifting and lowering a baton (1) that holds props such as a background panel or a curtain is hung from a roll (4) to a first pulley (5) and is stopped by a stopper (7). Also, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, a rope (11) is wound around between the first pulley (5) and the second pulley (10). Therefore, when an operator rotates the rope (11) in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, the baton (1) rises or falls, and the prop is lifted and lowered. In Patent Document 1, a second encoder (28) is installed on the second pulley (10) to detect the rotation direction of the second pulley (10). Then, when an operation in the rotation direction for lifting the prop is detected from the detection result of the second encoder (28), the motor (21) is driven to perform an auxiliary operation (torque assist) to reduce the load during the rotation operation of the operator. On the other hand, when an operation in the rotation direction for lowering the prop is detected from the detection result of the second encoder (28), the motor (21) is stopped, and the motor (21) is made to function as a torque brake to suppress the fall of the suspended object.

[0004] In the technology described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-38184), a wire (15) that suspends a baton (1) is routed around a pulley (4) and a traction drum (5), with a counterweight (12) connected to the other end. A dummy weight (11) is positioned opposite the counterweight (12), and the dummy weight (11) is attached to a hand rope (10) that is routed around a pair of upper and lower pulleys (4). When an operator pulls the hand rope (10), a rotary encoder (3) on the pulley (4) detects the rotation, and a servo motor (6) drives the traction drum (5) in accordance with the rotation to raise and lower the baton (1).

[0005] In the technology described in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-57064), a wire rope (9) that suspends a baton (8) is wound onto a drum (11) and connected so that it can be fed out. The drum (11) is driven by a servo motor (12). A hand rope (1), which is installed independently of the drum (11), is arranged around a pair of upper and lower pulleys (4,4). A trolley (3) that travels up and down along a guide rail (2) is connected to the hand rope (1). When an operator operates the hand rope (1), a first position detector detects the position of the trolley (3), and the servo motor (12) is driven according to the detection result to raise and lower the baton (8). An embodiment in which the capacity of the servo motor (12) is reduced by connecting the wire rope (9) to a counterweight (23) loaded on the trolley (3) is also described. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-225478 ("0014" to "0030", Figures 1 and 2) [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-38184 (Page 2, upper left column, line 15 to lower right column, line 7, Figure 1) [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-57064 ("0008" to "0016", "0019" to "0020", Figure 1, Figure 3) [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] (Problems with conventional technology) The technologies described in Patent Documents 1-3 concern curtains and stage curtains that are raised and lowered at the beginning and end of a performance, as well as background panels that are hoisted up before the start of a ceremony and lowered after the ceremony has ended. They relate to lifting devices that are fixedly installed in fixed facilities such as theaters. In performances such as so-called wire action, where people or objects are thrown into the air or lowered on stage, a high level of safety is required to prevent accidents and injuries, including ensuring safety, timing of lifting and lowering, height, and speed. In particular, in stage productions, it's natural for the timing, position, and height of the performers' actions to be slightly off, and their acting and posture may change each time depending on the surrounding circumstances, often requiring fine-tuning as needed. Therefore, it is difficult to handle this with a mechanical program, and if quick and flexible height adjustments cannot be made, the quality of the stage production may decline, and there is a risk of accidents.

[0008] Furthermore, fixed equipment in a facility can only be used in specific indoor locations, making it unsuitable for buildings with multiple shooting rooms (studios) or for outdoor video shooting. In other words, there is a problem with the limited flexibility in where the hoisting equipment can be used. In video productions involving wire action, it has long been practiced to attach a person or other object to one end of a wire, and then have a worker grab the other end of the wire (which passes through a pulley installed at a high place) and jump down from a platform to raise the object. However, this method places a heavy burden on the worker, causing significant fatigue and sometimes resulting in injury. To reduce the burden on workers, some systems use motor-driven hoisting devices to operate the wires. These devices are designed for portability (for outdoor use) and therefore use simple joysticks or push buttons for input. However, when using joysticks, the feel of the joystick operation doesn't always match the feeling of raising or lowering the suspended object. This poses a problem, as it requires skilled operators to operate the joysticks.

[0009] The technical objective of this invention is to provide a lifting and lowering device for performances that offers a high degree of flexibility in terms of usage location and is easy for workers to operate intuitively. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the staging device for lifting and lowering objects according to claim 1 is: An output device having a wire with one end connected to a suspended object, a roller for tensioning the wire, a winding unit for winding the wire, and a drive source for driving the winding unit, An input device comprising: a pair of upper and lower pulleys; an endless belt member stretched over the pulleys; a detector for detecting the rotation direction and rotation speed of the pulleys; and a control unit that calculates the amount of movement of the wire based on the amount of operation of the belt member based on the detection result of the detector, and outputs a control signal to the output device to control the drive source. It is characterized by having the following features.

[0011] The invention described in claim 2 is a lifting and lowering device for stage effects described in claim 1, An inertia wheel supported on at least one of the rotation axes of the upper and lower pair of pulleys, It is characterized by having the following features.

[0012] The invention described in claim 3 is a lifting and lowering device for stage effects described in claim 1, An input panel provided in the input device for inputting the ratio of the amount of movement of the wire to the amount of operation of the belt member, Characterized by comprising

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the invention described in claim 1, by having an input device with a belt member exceeding the pulley and an output device capable of moving a wire with a drive source, it is possible to provide a lifting device for a stage prop with a high degree of freedom in the place of use and easy for an operator to intuitively operate. According to the invention described in claim 2, compared with the case of not having a flywheel, it is easier to intuitively perform the lifting and lowering operation of the stage prop. According to the invention described in claim 3, the moving amounts of the belt member and the wire can be adjusted with an input panel.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lifting device for a stage prop according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the input device of Embodiment 1, FIG. 2A is a front view, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the main part seen from the side of FIG. 2A. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the lifting device for a stage prop of Embodiment 1.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Next, an example, which is a specific example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described while referring to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. In the following description using the drawings, for ease of understanding, illustrations other than the members necessary for the description are appropriately omitted.

Example

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lifting device for a stage prop according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a lifting device 1 for a stage prop according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes an output device 11 and an input device 21. The output device 11 has a first housing 12. The first housing 12 supports a wire drum 13, which is an example of a winding unit. A wire 14 is wound on the wire drum 13. The wire 14 is suspended over pulleys 15, 15, which are an example of rollers installed at a high place. The pulleys 15 can be installed on the ceiling or beams indoors, or suspended from the roof or eaves of a building or a crane outdoors. A harness (body fitting, safety belt) of a performer 16, which is an example of a suspended object, is connected to one end (tip) of the wire 14.

[0017] The first housing 12 supports a servo motor 17, which is an example of a drive source. The servo motor 17 rotates the wire drum 13 in the forward or reverse direction to wind up or unwind the wire 14. A servo amplifier 18, as an example of an output control device, is supported at the bottom of the first housing 12. The servo amplifier 18 is electrically connected to the servo motor 17 and controls the servo motor 17 to rotate forward, rotate backward, or stop. In Embodiment 1, the servo motor 17 is used as the drive source, and when the servo motor 17 is stopped, both the wire drum 13 and the wire 14 stop moving. In other words, the servo motor 17 also functions as a brake (braking device) for the wire 14. Note that it is possible to change the servo motor to another motor with equivalent functionality (such as a stepping motor). In the output device 11 of Embodiment 1, a caster 12a, which is an example of a wheel, is positioned at the bottom of the first housing 12. Therefore, the output device 11 is movable. However, when lifting or lowering suspended objects, for safety reasons, it is necessary to lock the rotation of the caster 12a and fix the output device 11 to the floor or the like.

[0018] Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram of the input device of Embodiment 1, where Figure 2A is a front view and Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the main part of Figure 2A viewed from the side. The input device 21 has a second housing 22. The second housing 22 has a lower box section 22a and a column section 22b extending upward from the box section 22a. A caster 22c, which is an example of a wheel, is placed at the bottom of the box section 22a. Therefore, the input device 21 is movable. Thus, in Embodiment 1, the input device 21 and the output device 11 can be installed in separate locations. Therefore, it is possible to improve the flexibility of the installation space.

[0019] An upper pulley 23 is rotatably supported at the upper end of the column portion 22b. A lower pulley 24 is rotatably supported inside the box portion 22a, corresponding to the upper pulley 23. An endless belt 26 is stretched between the pair of upper and lower pulleys 23 and 24. In Embodiment 1, to prevent the belt 26 from falling off the pulleys 23 and 24, the pulleys 23 and 24 themselves are made up of V-shaped grooves, so-called V-pulleys, and large-diameter disc-shaped flanges 23a and 24a are supported on both sides of the pulleys 23 and 24 in the axial direction.

[0020] A flywheel 27, an example of an inertia wheel, is supported on the shaft 24b of the lower pulley 24. The flywheel 27 can maintain the motion of the belt 26 by inertia, resulting in smooth movement. Therefore, by providing the flywheel 27, even if the operator temporarily releases their hands to change grips while operating the belt 26, the inertia will generate a natural movement, suppressing sudden changes such as rapid acceleration and sudden stops, and enabling smooth movement. In particular, when an operator pulls the belt 26 to start it rotating, the rotational resistance of the flywheel 27 is transmitted to the operator, making it easier to intuitively feel the operation of the suspended object (performer 16). A rotary encoder 28, as an example of a detector, is positioned at the rear end of the shaft 24b of the lower pulley 24. The rotary encoder 28 can detect the rotation (movement) direction (clockwise / counterclockwise) and amount of rotation (movement) of the belt 26 by detecting the rotation of the shaft 24b.

[0021] In Embodiment 1, the rotary encoder 28 and flywheel 27 are mounted on the lower pulley 24, but this is not the only option. They can also be mounted on the rotation axis of the upper pulley 23, or on both pulleys 23 and 24. Mounting them on the lower pulley 24 is preferable because, in the event of trouble, the lid (not shown) of the box section 22a can be opened to easily access the rotary encoder 28 and flywheel 27, making maintenance easier.

[0022] An input panel 29 is supported at the vertical center of the column 22b. The input panel 29 includes a display panel 29a as an example of a display unit, input buttons 29b, and a control board (not shown). A connecting cable extends from the control board, and the connecting cable 30 (see Figure 1) is connected to the servo amplifier 18 of the output device 11. From the viewpoint of the stability of emergency stop signal communication, it is preferable to connect the input device 21 and the output device 11 with a wired connecting cable 30, but if safety is ensured by installing a safety device on the output device 11 side, it is also possible to connect them by wireless communication.

[0023] The input panel 29 allows for various settings related to the suspended object lifting device 1. In Embodiment 1, it is possible to input the ratio of the movement amount of the wire 14 to the amount of manipulation of the belt 26. For example, if the ratio is set to 1:1, lowering the left side of the belt 26 by 10 cm will lower the wire 14 by 10 cm; if the ratio is set to 1:1.5, lowering the left side of the belt 26 by 10 cm will lower the wire 14 by 15 cm; and if the ratio is set to 1:0.5, lowering the left side of the belt 26 by 20 cm will lower the wire 14 by 10 cm. Therefore, the settings can be changed by the worker according to their judgment, taking into account safety, workability, responsiveness, and the results of rehearsals (practice runs).

[0024] When the ratio is 1:1, the operating speed of the belt 26 and the moving speed of the wire 14 are the same. However, when the ratio is not 1:1, the operating speed of the belt 26 and the moving speed of the wire 14 are different. For example, if the ratio is 1:1.5, the moving speed of the wire 14 will be 1.5 times that of the belt 26, and if the ratio is 2:1, the moving speed of the wire 14 will be half that of the belt 26.

[0025] Additionally, it is possible to set the relationship between the rotation direction of the belt 26 (clockwise / counterclockwise) and the raising and lowering of the belt 26. For example, if "counterclockwise direction is set to lower," then lowering the left side of the belt 26 and rotating the belt 26 counterclockwise will lower the wire 14. Conversely, if "clockwise direction is set to lower," then lowering the left side of the belt 26 and rotating the belt 26 counterclockwise will raise the wire 14. This can be switched based on the operator's judgment and operation of the input panel 29, depending on the operating location and the operator's characteristics.

[0026] The input panel 29 also includes a power button and an emergency stop button. While it is possible to use a touch panel for the display panel 29a and omit the input buttons 29b, buttons are preferable for safety-related operations such as emergency stops, as they allow for more intuitive operation. The display panel 29a can display the current position of the tip of the wire 14 (the height of the performer 16), settings such as ratio and rotation direction, alarms, and the set target position. Furthermore, by positioning the display panel 29a on the inner column 22b of the belt 26, the worker can minimize the movement of their eyes from the performer 16 when checking the performer 16, checking their hands operating the belt 26, or checking the display panel 29a.

[0027] (Description of the control unit in Example 1) Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of the suspended object lifting device of Example 1. The control board (control unit C) of the input panel 29 has an input / output interface (I / O) for inputting and outputting signals to and from the outside. The control unit C also has a ROM (read-only memory) where programs and information for necessary processing are stored. Furthermore, the control unit C has a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing necessary data. Finally, the control unit C has a CPU (central processing unit) that performs processing according to the programs stored in the ROM, etc. Therefore, the control unit C is composed of a small information processing device, a so-called microcomputer, capable of realizing various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM, etc.

[0028] The control unit C receives signals from signal input elements such as the input button 29b, the rotary encoder 28, and other sensors (not shown). Furthermore, the control unit C outputs a control signal to the controlled elements such as the servo amplifier 18.

[0029] (Functions of Control Unit C) The control unit C has the following functional means C1 to C4. The input setting means C1 configures various settings for the suspended object lifting device 1 in response to input via the input panel 29. In other words, it stores the settings entered via the input panel 29. The maneuver amount detection means C2 detects the amount of manipulation of the belt 26 based on the detection result of the rotary encoder 28. That is, it detects the rotation direction of the belt 26 (maneuver direction, clockwise / counterclockwise) and the amount of rotation of the belt 26 (amount of movement of the belt 26) based on the detection result of the rotary encoder 28.

[0030] The control amount calculation means C3 calculates the control amount of the servo motor 17 based on the ratio of the amount of movement of the wire 14 and the corresponding relationship between lifting and lowering, which are set by the input setting means C1, and the amount of operation of the belt 26 detected by the operation amount detection means C2. Specifically, it calculates and determines whether to raise or lower the wire 14 from the correspondence between the rotation direction of the belt 26 and lifting and lowering, and calculates the amount of movement of the wire 14 from the rotation amount of the belt 26 and its ratio. The wire control means C4 transmits a control signal to the servo amplifier 18 based on the control amount calculated by the control amount calculation means C3, thereby controlling the drive of the servo motor 17 and controlling the movement of the wire 14. Therefore, if the control amount calculated by the control amount calculation means C3 is to lower the wire 14 by 10 cm, the servo motor 17 is rotated forward to feed out the wire 14, and the servo motor 17 is driven until 10 cm of the wire 14 is unfurled from the wire drum 13. On the other hand, if the control amount calculated by the control amount calculation means C3 is to raise the wire 14 by 20 cm, the servo motor 17 is rotated backward to wind up the wire 14, and the servo motor 17 is driven until 20 cm of the wire 14 is wound onto the wire drum 13.

[0031] (Effect of Example 1) In the suspended object lifting device 1 of Embodiment 1, which has the above configuration, when a worker operates the belt 26 of the input device 21 up and down, the amount of operation is detected by the rotary encoder 28, and the servo motor 17 operates according to the amount of operation, causing the performer 16, which is the suspended object, to move up and down. Therefore, in the suspended object lifting device 1 of Embodiment 1, the weight of the suspended object does not directly act on the belt 26, and the burden on the worker is only the load of operating the belt 26. Thus, the burden and fatigue of the worker are greatly reduced. In particular, the input device 21 allows the suspended object to be raised and lowered by pulling the belt 26, which is a common, easy-to-understand, and intuitive operation in this field that has been used for a long time. Therefore, compared to when lifting and lowering is performed with a joystick or buttons, intuitive lifting and lowering is easier, operating errors are suppressed, and accidents are also suppressed.

[0032] Furthermore, in the suspending object lifting device 1 of Embodiment 1, the output device 11 and the input device 21 are configured separately, and the output device 11 and the input device 21 can be installed in separate locations simply by routing the connecting cable 30. Therefore, compared to a device in which both are integrated, the number of possible installation locations increases, and the flexibility of usage location is improved. In particular, in Embodiment 1, both the output device 11 and the input device 21 are configured to be movable with casters 12a and 22c, making them highly portable. Therefore, they can be used both indoors and outdoors.

[0033] Furthermore, the input device 21 in Example 1 is equipped with a flywheel 27, which allows the operator to feel the operation when operating the belt 26. Therefore, it is easier to intuitively and tactilely operate the lifting and lowering of suspended objects.

[0034] Conventional technology used weights to balance the load. For example, to lift a 60kg person, it was difficult for a worker to lift more than 60kg by hand, so a 30kg weight was used, and the worker lifted the rest. With such conventional technology, the operating rope could only be operated within the range of the weight's movement = the range from the upper limit to the lower limit of the weight = less than half a turn of the operating rope. In other words, the operating range was limited. In particular, with conventional technology where the ratio of movement was 1:1, an operating distance of (or more than) the lifting distance was required, making it impossible to realize an operating device with an equal ratio of less than the lifting distance. In contrast, in the input device 21 of Example 1, the belt 26 can be rotated any number of times. Therefore, even if the ratio of the amount of movement of the belt 26 to the amount of movement of the wire 14 is arbitrarily changed, the amount of movement of the belt 26 is independent of the amount of movement of the wire 14 for one vertical movement, so it is possible to allocate any number of rotations. Thus, the problem of the amount of wire movement due to constraints on the operating range can be resolved. In addition, in the conventional technology, unnecessary operations such as raising and lowering a 30 kg weight were required even when there was no person to be lifted, but this can also be resolved in Example 1.

[0035] Furthermore, in the input device 21 of Example 1, various settings can be made using the input panel 29. Therefore, the settings can be appropriately changed according to the worker's judgment, such as the site conditions or the worker's preferences.

[0036] (Example of change) Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims. Examples of modifications to the present invention (H01) to (H05) are shown below. (H01) In the above embodiment, a configuration that allows movement with casters 12a and 22c was illustrated, but the invention is not limited thereto. It is also possible to move the vehicle using a trolley or the like without providing casters 12a and 22c. (H02) In the above embodiment, since there is no space to place the output device 11 in the wings of the stage, it is also possible to install it on an upper floor, extend the cable, and install the input device 21 in the wings of the stage. (H03) In the above embodiment, if the angle of the output device 11 to be placed is different from the angle of the input device 21, it is possible to set the angles of both. (H04) In the above embodiment, if the desired location for the output device 11 and the relative positions of the input device 21 are different, it is possible to swap their positions. (H05) In the above embodiment, the output device 11 and the input device 21 are equipped with casters 12a and 22c, so they can be moved and set up as needed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1... Lifting and lowering device for stage effects, 11…Output device, 12...The first cabinet, 12a, 22c... Casters, 13...winding section, 14... Wire, 15...Laura, 16...Hanging things, 17…Power source, 21... Input device, 22...Second cabinet, 23, 24... Pulley, 26... Belt components, 27...Inertia wheel, 28... Detector, 29... Input panel, C...Control unit.

Claims

1. An output device having a wire with one end connected to a suspended object, a roller for tensioning the wire, a winding unit for winding the wire, and a drive source for driving the winding unit, An input device comprising: a pair of upper and lower pulleys; an endless belt member stretched over the pulleys; a detector for detecting the rotation direction and rotation speed of the pulleys; and a control unit that calculates the amount of movement of the wire based on the amount of operation of the belt member based on the detection result of the detector, and outputs a control signal to the output device to control the drive source. A lifting and lowering device for stage effects, characterized by being equipped with the following features.

2. An inertia wheel supported on at least one of the rotation axes of the upper and lower pair of pulleys, The lifting and lowering device for stage effects according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the above.

3. An input panel provided in the input device for inputting the ratio of the amount of movement of the wire to the amount of operation of the belt member, The lifting and lowering device for stage effects according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the above.

Images