Passenger conveyor centering jig and rail centering inspection method

Abstract

This tool (30) comprises: a parallel link (40) with which it is possible, in a state where each of a pair of first opposing links (41, 42) that oppose each other and a pair of second opposing links (45, 46) that oppose each other in a different direction are kept parallel, to change the extension direction of the first opposing links (41, 42) relative to the second opposing links (45, 46); a criterion specification unit (50) that is capable of specifying one or more points for which the shortest distances from both of the pair of second opposing links (45, 46) are substantially the same; and at least a pair of rail contact parts (65) that contact a pair of rails of a passenger conveyor, thereby making it possible to keep the extension direction of the pair of rails substantially parallel to the extension direction of the second opposing links (45, 46) and to keep the shortest distances from both of the pair of rails to the one or more points substantially the same.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a centering jig for a passenger conveyor, particularly an escalator or a moving walkway. The present disclosure also relates to a rail centering inspection method for inspecting the centering of a pair of rails of the passenger conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional method for centering an escalator is described in Patent Document 1. In this method, two supports supporting both ends of a piano wire are erected on a truss of an escalator so that the piano wire is located at the center position of a pair of rails in the truss. Then, the pair of rails are centered using a plumb line hanging down from the piano wire as a reference. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-335051 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It would be preferable if the centering of a pair of rails could be easily and accurately performed when a passenger conveyor is newly installed or renewed. Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a passenger conveyor centering tool that can easily and accurately center the pair of rails of a passenger conveyor. Another object of the present disclosure is to relate to a rail centering inspection method that can quickly inspect whether the centering of the pair of rails has been performed accurately. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the passenger conveyor centering jig of the present disclosure has four links combined to form a parallelogram, and is equipped with a parallel link that can change the extension direction of the first opposing links relative to a pair of opposing first opposing links and a pair of second opposing links that oppose each other in a different direction from the pair of first opposing links while maintaining their parallelism, a reference identification unit that can identify one or more points at which the shortest distances from both of the pair of second opposing links are approximately the same, and at least a pair of rail contact units that contact a pair of rails of the passenger conveyor, thereby making the extension direction of the pair of rails approximately parallel to the extension direction of the second opposing links and making the shortest distances from both of the pair of rails to the one or more points approximately the same.

[0006] For example, the passenger conveyor centering jig according to the present disclosure is used as follows: First, when a pair of rail contact portions are a first rail contact portion and a second rail contact portion, the distance between the first rail contact portion and the second rail contact portion is adjusted to a distance that makes the distance between the pair of rails a specified distance.

[0007] Next, using the reference identification unit, the passenger conveyor centering jig is positioned so that the one or more points approximately overlap in height with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails, the second opposing link is approximately parallel to the specified installation position, and the parallel link is approximately parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0008] Here, this positioning is performed, for example, by visually positioning the passenger conveyor centering jig at a position where the lower ends of one or more plumb lines hanging down from a piano wire extending in the air above a position that vertically overlaps the widthwise center position of the specified installation positions of a pair of rails approximately overlap in the vertical direction with the one or more points mentioned above, and where a pair of second opposing links are approximately parallel to the piano wire on approximately the same horizontal plane.

[0009] In other words, the above positioning is performed by visually positioning the passenger conveyor centering jig at a position where the lower ends of one or more plumb lines hanging down from a piano wire extending in the air above a position that vertically overlaps the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of a pair of rails approximately overlap in the height direction with the above-mentioned one or more points, and where a line connecting the centers in the extension directions of a pair of first opposing links located on approximately the same horizontal plane approximately overlaps in the height direction with the above-mentioned piano wire.

[0010] Next, with the passenger conveyor centering jig positioned at the positioning position, the first rail is brought into contact with the first rail contact portion and the second rail is brought into contact with the second rail contact portion. Finally, the first rail in contact with the first rail contact portion is fixed to the truss, and the second rail in contact with the second rail contact portion is fixed to the truss, thereby fixing the pair of rails to the truss in a centered state.

[0011] It should be noted that the above-mentioned rail centering using a piano wire is one example of rail centering using a passenger conveyor centering jig, and it is not necessary to use a piano wire when centering a rail using a passenger conveyor centering jig.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, for example, the accurate centering position of the first rail and the second rail can be specified by simply bringing the first rail into contact with the first rail contact portion and the second rail into contact with the second rail contact portion in a state where the passenger conveyor centering jig is appropriately positioned with respect to the specified installation position of the pair of rails. Therefore, the first and second rails can be easily fixed in the accurate centering positions.

[0013] In addition, the one or more points may include a first point located on one of the pair of first opposing links, and a second point located on the other of the pair of first opposing links, and the reference identification portion may include a first identification portion by which the first point can be identified, and a second identification portion by which the second point can be identified.

[0014] The centering of a pair of rails using the passenger conveyor centering jig of this configuration is performed, for example, using a piano wire as follows. First, two plumb lines are hung from the piano wire extending in the air at a position that overlaps in height with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails so as to be movable in the extension direction of the piano wire. Then, the first and second specifying parts are used so that the tip of one plumb line approximately overlaps in height with the first point and the tip of the other plumb line approximately overlaps in height with the second point, and further, the parallel links are made parallel to an approximately horizontal plane. Then, with the first rail in contact with the first rail contact part and the second rail in contact with the second rail contact part, the first rail is fixed to the truss and the second rail is fixed to the truss.

[0015] According to this configuration, the first and second rails can be easily fixed to the truss while the second opposing link of the passenger conveyor centering jig is parallel to the piano wire with high accuracy, which makes it easy to center the first and second rails with high accuracy.

[0016] Furthermore, a first rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions may have a first upper roller portion capable of moving on an upper surface of a first rail included in the pair of rails in the extension direction of the first rail, and a first side surface contact portion capable of contacting a first side surface of the first rail located on the side of a second rail included in the pair of rails and moving on the first side surface, and a second rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions may have a second upper roller portion capable of moving on an upper surface of the second rail in the extension direction of the second rail, and a second side surface contact portion capable of contacting a second side surface of the second rail located on the side of the first rail and moving on the second side surface.

[0017] It is preferable to be able to quickly check whether all the rails are in the centering allowable positions in a short time while all the rails are temporarily fixed to the truss. The centering jig of the passenger conveyor having the above configuration is suitable for carrying out such an inspection. For example, such an inspection can be carried out as follows.

[0018] In detail, first, the first upper roller part is brought into contact with the upper surface of a first location of a first rail of the pair of temporarily fixed rails, and the first side contact part is brought into contact with the first side surface of the first location. Similarly, the second upper roller part is brought into contact with the upper surface of a second location of the second rail that faces the first location of the first rail in the width direction, and the second side contact part is brought into contact with the second side surface of the second location. After that, the passenger conveyor centering jig is moved in the extension direction of the pair of temporarily fixed rails, and the behavior of the passenger conveyor centering jig is visually confirmed. Then, the centering of the part where the passenger conveyor centering jig moves smoothly in the extension direction without wobbling left and right is determined as appropriate centering, and the centering of the part where the passenger conveyor centering jig wobbles left and right is determined as inappropriate centering.

[0019] According to this configuration, after the passenger conveyor centering jig is attached to any location in the extension direction of the temporarily fixed pair of rails, the passenger conveyor centering jig is moved in the extension direction of the pair of rails, and the behavior of the passenger conveyor centering jig is simply checked visually to identify the location of improper centering. Therefore, it is possible to quickly inspect in a short time for each local area whether the centering of the pair of rails temporarily installed on the truss is performed accurately.

[0020] Further, a first rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions has a flat first side plate portion including a first abutment portion that abuts against a first side surface of a first rail included in the pair of rails that is located on a side of a second rail included in the pair of rails, a flat first orthogonal plate portion including a first overlapping portion that overlaps the first rail in a thickness direction of the first rail and substantially extends from the first side plate portion in a first orthogonal direction that includes a normal direction of the first abutment portion and an extension direction of the first rail, a flat first opposing plate portion including an overlapping portion that overlaps the first rail in the thickness direction and substantially extends from the first side plate portion in the first orthogonal direction at a distance from the first orthogonal plate portion, and a male thread that screws into a female thread of a through hole provided in the first overlapping portion. a second rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions may have a flat second lateral flat portion including a second abutment portion abutting a second side surface of the second rail located on the first rail side, a flat second orthogonal flat portion including a second overlapping portion overlapping the second rail in a thickness direction of the second rail and generally extending from the second lateral flat portion in a second orthogonal direction including a normal direction of the second abutment portion and an extension direction of the second rail, a flat second opposing flat portion including an overlapping portion overlapping the second rail in the thickness direction and generally extending from the second lateral flat portion in the second orthogonal direction at a distance from the second orthogonal flat portion, and a second bolt having a male thread that screws into a female thread of a through hole provided in the second overlapping portion.

[0021] According to the above configuration, for example, after positioning the passenger conveyor centering jig with respect to the specified installation position of the pair of rails, the first rail can be fixed to the passenger conveyor centering jig with the first side surface abutting the first abutment portion using the first side plate portion, the first orthogonal plate portion, the first opposing plate portion, and the first bolt. Similarly, after positioning the passenger conveyor centering jig with respect to the specified installation position of the pair of rails, the second rail can be fixed to the passenger conveyor centering jig with the second side surface abutting the second abutment portion using the second side plate portion, the second orthogonal plate portion, the second opposing plate portion, and the second bolt. Then, with the first rail and the second rail fixed to the passenger conveyor centering jig, the first rail and the second rail can be fixed to the truss. Therefore, the first rail and the second rail can be easily fixed to the truss with their postures stabilized, and the first rail and the second rail can be easily centered to a higher degree.

[0022] The vehicle may further include an angle specifying unit that specifies two or more different inclination angles of the second opposing link relative to the first opposing link, each of the two or more inclination angles being 90° or less.

[0023] The distance between the pair of rails that guide the driving rollers of the step is different from the distance between the pair of rails that guide the driven rollers of the step. The distance between the pair of rails may vary depending on the installation location on the truss. The distance between the pair of rails of the passenger conveyor may vary depending on the specifications of the passenger conveyor.

[0024] In this background, according to the above configuration, the distance between the pair of second opposing links can be accurately matched to any one of two or more predetermined distances by using the angle specifying unit, thereby increasing the versatility of the passenger conveyor centering jig.

[0025] The present invention may also include a relative position maintaining unit that is capable of maintaining the relative position of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link when the inclination angle of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link is equal to or greater than the two inclination angles.

[0026] According to the above configuration, by using the relative position maintaining unit, the distance between the pair of second opposed links can be maintained so as not to fluctuate when the distance between the pair of second opposed links is a predetermined distance. This significantly improves the ease of handling of the passenger conveyor centering jig when fixing the rail, and allows the rail to be fixed to the truss more accurately and easily.

[0027] The relative position maintaining unit may be capable of maintaining the relative position in a state where an inclination angle of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link is within a predetermined range of 90° or less.

[0028] According to the above configuration, the relative position maintaining unit is used to set the predetermined distance between the pair of second opposing links to a desired distance, and the set predetermined distance can be maintained. Therefore, a versatile passenger conveyor centering jig can be constructed.

[0029] In addition, the rail alignment inspection method disclosed herein is a rail alignment inspection method for inspecting the alignment of a pair of rails using a passenger conveyor alignment jig including the above-mentioned first upper roller portion, and includes a step of moving the passenger conveyor alignment jig in the extension direction of the pair of rails by moving the first upper roller portion along the upper surface of the first rail while simultaneously moving the second upper roller portion along the upper surface of the second rail.

[0030] According to the present disclosure, after attaching the passenger conveyor centering jig to any location in the extension direction of the temporarily fixed pair of rails, the passenger conveyor centering jig is moved in the extension direction of the pair of rails, and the behavior of the passenger conveyor centering jig is simply checked visually to identify the location of improper centering. Therefore, it is possible to quickly inspect in a short time for each local area whether the centering of the pair of rails temporarily installed on the truss is performed accurately. Effect of the Invention

[0031] According to the passenger conveyor centering jig of the present disclosure, the centering of a pair of rails of a passenger conveyor can be easily and accurately performed. Also, according to the rail centering inspection method of the present disclosure, it is possible to quickly inspect whether the centering of the pair of rails is performed accurately. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of the escalator truss during renovation, and is a perspective view explaining the structure of a pair of rails of the escalator. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one step, a step shaft supported on the step, a drive roller, and a driven roller. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a passenger conveyor centering jig according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from above in the thickness direction. [Figure 4] 4 is a plan view of a passenger conveyor centering jig in which the length between second opposing links is shorter than that shown in FIG. 3, as viewed from above in the thickness direction. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view in the thickness direction of a first rail contact portion included in a pair of rail contact portions of the passenger conveyor centering jig. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is an enlarged plan view of a portion forming an angle specifying portion and a relative position maintaining portion in the passenger conveyor centering jig. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a piano wire and two plumb bobs movably attached to and depending from the piano wire. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a passenger conveyor centering jig of a first modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a passenger conveyor centering jig of a second modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Hereinafter, the embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, when multiple embodiments or modified examples are included below, it is assumed from the beginning that new embodiments will be constructed by appropriately combining the characteristic parts of those. In addition, in the following examples, the same components are given the same symbols in the drawings, and duplicated explanations are omitted. In addition, multiple drawings include schematic diagrams, and the dimensional ratios of length, width, height, etc. of each member between different drawings do not necessarily match. In addition, among the components described below, components that are not described in the independent claims showing the highest concept are optional components and are not essential components.

[0034] In the following description, a passenger conveyor in which a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are centered using the passenger conveyor centering jig 30, 130, 230 of the present disclosure will be described as an escalator 1. However, in this specification, the passenger conveyor is defined as an escalator or a moving walkway, and the passenger conveyor in which a pair of rails are centered using the passenger conveyor centering jig of the present disclosure may be a moving walkway, and more specifically, may be a horizontal moving walkway or an inclined moving walkway.

[0035] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the inside of the truss 2 of the escalator 1 under renovation, and is a perspective view explaining the structure of pairs of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b of the escalator 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing one step 10, a step shaft 16 supporting the step 10, a driving roller 12, and a driven roller 19. As shown in Fig. 1, the escalator 1 has a plurality of rail sets 4, 5, 6 extending along the extension direction of the truss 2, and each of the rail sets 4, 5, 6 includes a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b that are spaced apart in the width direction of the truss 2 and face each other in the horizontal direction.

[0036] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, the escalator 1 has two pairs of drive rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b that face each other vertically in the height direction, for a total of four drive rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b. The escalator 1 also has a pair of driven rails 6a, 6b located on the inner side in the width direction than the two pairs of drive rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, for a total of two driven rails 6a, 6b.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the step 10 includes a step body 18, a step board 20 that is connected to the step body 18 and on which a person stands, and a riser 22 that is connected to one side of the step board 20. The step body 18 supports a step shaft 16 that includes a portion that extends outward in the width direction. The drive roller 12 is rotatably supported at both left and right ends of the step shaft 16. The inner sides of both ends of the step shaft 16 are connected to the step chain 11. In addition, the left and right ends of the step body 18 rotatably support two driven rollers 19. The two drive rollers 12 are guided by two pairs of drive rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b that face each other vertically in the height direction. In addition, the two driven rollers 19 are guided by a pair of driven rails 6a, 6b. The driven rails 6a, 6b may be formed of L-shaped angles. A plurality of steps 10 are connected to the step chain 11 at regular intervals.

[0038] Escalator 1 transmits power from a drive unit located at the top to an upper sprocket via a drive chain, and circulates steps 10 between the upper and lower sprockets. Power from the upper sprocket is also transmitted to a handrail drive device, and the moving handrail sandwiched between the drive roller and pressure roller of the handrail drive device is moved in the same direction and at the same speed as the steps 10.

[0039] When constructing or renovating an escalator 1, it is necessary to determine with high precision the widthwise positions of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b on the truss 2. For example, when constructing a new escalator 1, as explained in the prior art, a piano wire serving as a reference for centering the rails is placed on the truss to center the installation positions of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b. Note that when carrying out renovation work on an escalator 1, the installation positions of the new pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b may be centered using the existing rails as a reference.

[0040] 3 to 6, the structure of a passenger conveyor centering jig 30 (hereinafter, simply referred to as jig 30) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure used for centering the installation positions of a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b will be described, and a method of installing a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b using the jig 30 will be described. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the jig 30 as viewed from above in the thickness direction, and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the jig 30 as viewed from above in the thickness direction, in which the length between the second opposed links 45, 46 is shorter than that shown in Fig. 3.

[0041] 3, the jig 30 includes a parallel link 40, a reference specifying unit 50, an angle specifying unit 55, a relative position maintaining unit 60, and two pairs of rail contact units 65, 65. The parallel link 40 has four links 41, 42, 45, 46 combined to form a parallelogram. The four links 41, 42, 45, 46 are composed of a pair of opposing first opposing links 41, 42, and a pair of second opposing links 45, 46 opposing in a direction different from that of the pair of first opposing links 41, 42.

[0042] 3 and 4, while the pair of first opposed links 41, 42 and the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 are maintained parallel to each other, the extending direction (relative extending direction) of the first opposed links 41, 42 with respect to the second opposed links 45, 46 can be changed. This makes it possible to change the shortest distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 without changing the extending direction of the second opposed links 45, 46.

[0043] The joint structure of the parallel link 40 can be constructed using, for example, push rivets 47. The push rivets 47 include a screw and a base. First, in each of the four joints, the cylindrical holes of the first opposing links 41, 42 and the second opposing links 45, 46 are overlapped in the thickness direction. Next, the temporarily integrated push rivet 47, i.e., a screw whose leg side is simply inserted into the hole of the base, is inserted into the two overlapped cylindrical holes.

[0044] Then, the head of the screw is pushed toward the base to open the legs of the base. In this way, the overlapping first opposing links 41, 42 and second opposing links 45, 46 are sandwiched between the opened legs and the head of the base, thereby connecting the first opposing links 41, 42 and the second opposing links 45, 46. By adopting this method, the first opposing links 41, 42 can be freely rotated relative to the second opposing links 45, 46. The joint structure of the parallel link 40 may be a joint structure that does not use push rivets, or any known joint structure adopted in existing parallel links.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the jig 30 further includes a reinforcing link 43. The reinforcing link 43 is the same as the first opposing link 41. The position of the reinforcing link 43 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the second opposing links 45 and 46 is substantially the same as the position of the first opposing link 41 in the orthogonal direction. One end of the reinforcing link 43 is fixed to one second opposing link 45 by using a joint, for example, near the midpoint between the fixed part of one first opposing link 41 and the fixed part of the other first opposing link 42 in one second opposing link 45. Similarly, the other end of the reinforcing link 43 is fixed to the other second opposing link 46 by using a joint, for example, near the midpoint between the fixed part of one first opposing link 41 and the fixed part of the other first opposing link 42 in the other second opposing link 46. Any known structure may be used as the joint structure, and for example, the structure using the push rivet described above may be used. The reinforcing link 43 is provided to increase the rigidity of the jig 30 .

[0046] The reference identification unit 50 includes a first identification unit 50a and a second identification unit 50b. In this embodiment, the first identification unit 50a is a mark that allows a person to identify the center of one of the first opposing links 41 in the extension direction, and the mark may be a mark made by applying paint or writing with a marker, or may be a scratch made in the center with a knife or cutter. Note that the mark is a mark that allows a person to identify the midpoint of a pair of second opposing links 45, 46 in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second opposing links 45, 46, and the mark needs to be present on one of the first opposing links 41, and the mark does not need to be a mark that allows a person to identify the center of one of the first opposing links 41 in the extension direction.

[0047] Similarly, in this embodiment, the second identifying portion 50b is a mark that allows a person to identify the center of the extension direction of the other first opposed link 42, and the mark may be a mark made by applying paint or writing with a marker, or may be a scratch made in the center with a knife, cutter, etc. The mark is a mark that allows a person to identify the midpoint of the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second opposed links 45, 46, and the mark needs to be present on the other first opposed link 42, and the mark does not need to be a mark that allows a person to identify the center of the extension direction of the other first opposed link 41.

[0048] 5 is a cross-sectional view in the thickness direction of a first rail contact portion 65a included in the pair of rail contact portions 65, which is a cross-sectional view in the thickness direction of the first rail contact portion 65a that contacts with the first driven rail 6a included in the pair of driven rails 6a, 6b to fix the first driven rail 6a. The pair of driven rails 6a, 6b are an example of a pair of rails, and the first driven rail 6a is an example of a first rail. The other second driven rail 6b included in the pair of driven rails 6a, 6b is an example of a second rail.

[0049] The first rail contact portion 65a is integral with one of the second opposed links 45, and the other second rail contact portion 65b (see FIG. 3) included in the pair of rail contact portions 65 is integral with one of the second opposed links 46. The second rail contact portion 65b included in the pair of rail contact portions 65 has the same structure as the first rail contact portion 65a, and fixes the second driven rail 6b. A description of the second rail contact portion 65b will be omitted.

[0050] The first rail contact portion 65a has a flat first side plate portion 67 including a first abutment portion 67a that abuts against the first side surface 7 of the first driven rail 6a located on the second driven rail 6b side. The first rail contact portion 65a also has a first overlapping portion 68a that overlaps the first driven rail 6a in the thickness direction of the first driven rail 6a, and a flat first orthogonal plate portion 68 that substantially extends from the first side plate portion 67 in a first orthogonal direction that includes the normal direction of the first abutment portion 67a and the extension direction of the first driven rail 6a. The first rail contact portion 65a also has an overlapping portion 69a that overlaps the first driven rail 6a in the thickness direction, and a flat first opposing plate portion 69 that substantially extends in the first orthogonal direction from the first side plate portion 67 to the first orthogonal plate portion 68 at a distance in the thickness direction. The first rail contact portion 65a also has a first bolt 71 having a male thread that screws into a female thread of a through hole provided in the first overlapping portion 68a.

[0051] According to this configuration, for example, after positioning the jig 30 with respect to the specified installation position of the pair of driven rails 6a, 6b, the first driven rail 6a can be fixed to the jig 30 with the first side surface 7 abutting the first abutting portion 67a using the first side flat plate portion 67, the first orthogonal flat plate portion 68, the first opposing flat plate portion 69, and the first bolt 71. Similarly, after positioning the jig 30 with respect to the specified installation position of the pair of driven rails 6a, 6b, the second driven rail 6b can be fixed to the jig 30 with the second side surface abutting the second abutting portion using the second side flat plate portion, the second orthogonal flat plate portion, the second opposing flat plate portion, and the second bolt on the opposite side in the width direction (not described). Then, with the first driven rail 6a and the second driven rail 6b fixed to the jig 30, the first driven rail 6a and the second driven rail 6b can be fixed to the truss 2. Therefore, the first and second driven rails 6a, 6b can be easily fixed to the truss 2 with their postures stabilized, and the first and second driven rails 6a, 6b can be easily centered to a high degree.

[0052] FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the jig 30 that forms the angle specifying portion 55 and the relative position maintaining portion 60. As shown in FIG. 6, the angle specifying portion 55 has a plurality of straight lines 56 radially drawn on the upper surface of one of the second opposing links 45, and angle notations 57 drawn to correspond to the respective straight lines 56. In the plan view seen from the upper side in the thickness direction, a straight line 56a corresponding to the notation of 90° among the plurality of straight lines 56 passes through the center 47b of the push rivet 47a that fixes the first opposing link 41 to the second opposing link 45 in a state in which the first opposing link 41 is perpendicular to the second opposing link 45, and extends parallel to the extension direction of the first opposing link 41. The notation of 90° indicates that the first opposing link 41 and the second opposing link 45 intersect at 90°.

[0053] In this way, each straight line 56 is a straight line that is parallel to the extension direction of the first opposing link 41 when the first opposing link 41 is inclined relative to the second opposing link 45 at the angle indicated by the corresponding angle notation 57, and that passes through the center 47b of the push rivet 47a that fixes the first opposing link 41 to the second opposing link 45.

[0054] The notation does not have to be an angle notation, and may be a length notation. That is, if the angle formed by the first opposed link 41 and the second opposed link 45 can be specified, the shortest distance between the corresponding pair of second opposed links 45, 46 is uniquely determined. In other words, the angle formed by the first opposed link 41 and the second opposed link 45 and the shortest distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 correspond one-to-one. Therefore, even if the notation is a length notation representing the shortest distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46, the inclination angle of the second opposed link 45 with respect to the first opposed link 41 can be specified. In other words, the length notation representing the shortest distance also constitutes an angle specifying unit and is an example of an angle specifying unit.

[0055] The shortest distance in the width direction of the pair of rails at the specified installation position is predetermined. Therefore, it is preferable to use a length notation representing the shortest distance as the angle specifying portion, because the shortest distance of the pair of rails properly fixed to the jig 30 can be made to match the shortest distance in the width direction of the specified installation position simply by matching the notated shortest distance to the shortest distance in the width direction of the specified installation position.

[0056] Next, the structure of the relative position maintaining unit 60 will be described. The relative position maintaining unit 60 has a cylindrical through hole (not shown) provided in the first opposing link 41, an arc-shaped through hole 62 provided in the second opposing link 45, a bolt 63, and a nut (not shown). The cylindrical through hole is provided, for example, in the center of the width direction of the first opposing link 41. The arc-shaped through hole 62 is an elongated hole and is provided on an arc centered on the center of the push rivet 47a. When the inclination angle of the first opposing link 41 with respect to the second opposing link 45 falls within a predetermined range (predetermined angle range), the center of the width direction of the arc-shaped through hole 62, which is an elongated hole, and the central axis of the cylindrical through hole overlap in the thickness direction.

[0057] Therefore, at any inclination angle included in the above-mentioned predetermined range, the shaft portion of the bolt 63 can be passed through the cylindrical through hole and the arc-shaped through hole 62 in that order from one thickness direction side of the jig 30, and the female thread of the nut can be completely fastened to the male thread of the shaft portion of the bolt 63 from the other thickness direction side. Therefore, in a state where the inclination angle of the first opposing link 41 with respect to the second opposing link 45 is any inclination angle included in the above-mentioned predetermined range, the relative position of the first opposing link 41 with respect to the second opposing link 45 can be prevented from fluctuating, and the relative position of the first opposing link 41 with respect to the second opposing link 45 can be maintained. The above-mentioned predetermined range can be set to, for example, 15° or more and 90° or less.

[0058] In the above configuration, for example, when installing a new escalator 1, the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b can be centered using the jig 30 as follows: First, in a state where the distance between the first rail contact portion 65a and the second rail contact portion 65b constituting the pair of rail contact portions 65 matches the specified distance between the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b through adjustment using the angle specifying portion 55 (portion specifying the length between the pair of first opposed links 41, 42) described in Fig. 6, the parallel link 40 is fixed unmovably using the relative position maintaining portion 60.

[0059] Next, using the reference identification unit 50, the jig 30 is positioned so that one or more points that can be identified by the reference identification unit 50 approximately overlap in the height direction with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails, the second opposing links 45, 46 are approximately parallel to the above-mentioned specified installation positions, and the parallel link 40 is approximately parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0060] Here, this positioning is performed, for example, using a piano wire as follows. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 7, two supports 82, 83 supporting both ends of piano wire 81 are erected on truss 2 of escalator 1 so that piano wire 81 overlaps vertically at the center in the width direction of a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b (see Fig. 1). Then, two plumb bobs 85, 86 movable in the extension direction of piano wire 81 are suspended from piano wire 81.

[0061] Next, by visual inspection, the lower end of one plumb bob 85 hanging down from the piano wire 81 extending in the air at a position overlapping in the height direction with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b is vertically overlapped with the first specified portion 50a of the jig 30, and the lower end of the other plumb bob 86 is vertically overlapped with the second specified portion 50b. Also, by visual inspection, the pair of second opposing links 45, 46 are approximately parallel to the piano wire 81 on approximately the same horizontal plane. The positioning of the jig 30 is performed in this manner.

[0062] In other words, the above positioning is performed by visually positioning the jig 30 at a position where, for example, the lower ends of two plumb lines 85, 86 hanging down from a piano wire 81 extending in the air above a position that vertically overlaps the widthwise center position of the specified installation positions of a pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b approximately overlap in the height direction with the two specific portions 50a, 50b, and where a line connecting the centers in the extension directions of a pair of first opposing links 41, 42 located on approximately the same horizontal plane approximately overlaps in the height direction with the piano wire 81.

[0063] Next, with the jig 30 positioned at the above-mentioned positioning position, the first rails 4a, 5a, 6a are brought into contact with the first rail contact portion 65a, and the second rails 4b, 5b, 6b are brought into contact with the second rail contact portion 65b. Finally, the first rails 4a, 5a, 6a in contact with the first rail contact portion 65a are fixed to the truss 2, and the second rails 4b, 5b, 6b in contact with the second rail contact portion 65b are fixed to the truss 2, so that the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are fixed to the truss 2 in a centered state. It goes without saying that the fixing of the three pairs of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b is performed independently of each other. The above-mentioned centering of rails using a piano wire is an example of centering of rails using the jig of the present disclosure, and a piano wire may not be used for centering of rails using the jig of the present disclosure.

[0064] As described above, the jig 30 includes the parallel link 40 having four links 41, 42, 45, 46 combined to form a parallelogram. The parallel link 40 can vary the extending direction of the first opposed links 41, 42 relative to the second opposed links 45, 46 while maintaining the parallelism of the pair of opposed first opposed links 41, 42 and the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 opposed in a different direction to the pair of first opposed links 41, 42. The jig 30 also includes a reference specifying unit 50 that can specify one or more points at which the shortest distances from both of the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 are substantially the same. The jig 30 also includes at least a pair of rail contact parts 65 that contact the pair of rails of the escalator 1. By contacting the pair of rails, the at least a pair of rail contact parts 65 make the extending direction of the pair of rails substantially parallel to the extending direction of the second opposed links 45, 46, and make the shortest distances from both of the pair of rails to the one or more points substantially the same.

[0065] According to the present disclosure, for example, in a state where the jig 30 is appropriately positioned with respect to the specified installation positions of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, the accurate centering positions of the first rail 4a, 5a, 6a and the second rail 4b, 5b, 6b can be specified simply by bringing the first rail 4a, 5a, 6a into contact with the first rail contact portion 65a and the second rail 4b, 5b, 6b into contact with the second rail contact portion 65b. Therefore, the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b can be easily fixed in the accurate centering positions.

[0066] In addition, the one or more points whose shortest distances from both of the pair of second opposing links 45, 46 are approximately the same may include a first point located on one of the pair of first opposing links 41, 42, and a second point located on the other of the pair of first opposing links 41, 42, and the reference identification unit 50 may include a first identification unit 50a that makes the first point identifiable, and a second identification unit 50b that makes the second point identifiable.

[0067] According to this configuration, it is easy to fix the first rails 4a, 5a, 6a and the second rails 4b, 5b, 6b to the truss 2 in a state in which the second opposing links 45, 46 of the jig 30 are parallel to the piano wire 81 with high precision. Therefore, it is easy to center the first rails 4a, 5a, 6a and the second rails 4b, 5b, 6b with high precision.

[0068] Also, an angle specifying unit 55 may be provided that can specify two or more different inclination angles of the second opposed links 45, 46 relative to the first opposed links 41, 42, each of which is 90° or less.

[0069] The distance between the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b that guide the driving roller 12 of the step 10 is different from the distance between the pair of rails 6a, 6b that guide the driven roller 19 of the step 10. In addition, the shortest distance in the width direction of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b may vary depending on the installation location on the truss 2. In addition, the distance between the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b of the escalator 1 may vary depending on the specifications of the escalator.

[0070] In this background, according to the above configuration, the distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 can be accurately matched to any one of two or more predetermined distances by using the angle specifying unit 55. Therefore, the versatility of the jig 30 can be increased.

[0071] In addition, a relative position maintaining unit 60 may be provided that makes it possible to maintain the relative position of the second opposing links 45, 46 with respect to the first opposing links 41, 42 when the inclination angle of the second opposing links 45, 46 with respect to the first opposing links 41, 42 is two or more inclination angles.

[0072] According to the above configuration, by using the relative position maintaining unit 60, the distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 can be maintained so as not to fluctuate when the distance between the pair of second opposed links 45, 46 is a predetermined distance. Therefore, the handleability of the jig 30 when fixing the rails can be significantly improved, and the rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b can be fixed to the truss 2 more accurately and easily.

[0073] In addition, the relative position maintaining unit 60 may be able to maintain the relative position of the second opposing links 45, 46 with respect to the first opposing links 41, 42 when the inclination angle of the second opposing links 45, 46 with respect to the first opposing links 41, 42 is within a predetermined range of 90° or less.

[0074] According to the above configuration, the predetermined distance between the pair of second opposing links 45, 56 can be set to a desired distance and the set predetermined distance can be maintained by using the relative position maintaining unit 60. Therefore, a versatile jig 30 can be constructed.

[0075] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment and its modified examples, and various improvements and modifications are possible within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalents.

[0076] For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are fixed to the jig 30 has been described. However, the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b may not be fixed to the jig. In detail, as shown in FIG. 8, that is, a cross-sectional view of the jig 130 of the second modification corresponding to FIG. 5, the first rail contact portion 165a included in the pair of rail contact portions 165 may include a first upper roller portion 171 that is movable on the upper surface of the first driven rail 6a included in the pair of driven rails 6a, 6b in the extension direction of the first driven rail 6a. In addition, the first rail contact portion 165a may include a first side surface contact roller portion 172 that is movable on the first side surface 7 of the first driven rail 6a located on the side of the second rail (not shown) included in the pair of rails 6a by contacting the first side surface 7. Additionally, the first rail contact portion 165a may include a first lower roller portion 173 that is movable on the lower surface of the first driven rail 6a in the extension direction of the first driven rail 6a.

[0077] Furthermore, first rail contact portion 165a may include a cylindrical first shaft portion 191 that rotatably supports first upper roller portion 171 via rolling bearing 181 or the like, and a cylindrical second shaft portion 192 that rotatably supports first lower roller portion 173 via rolling bearing 182 or the like. Furthermore, first rail contact portion 165a may include a cylindrical third shaft portion 193 that rotatably supports first side surface contact roller portion 172 via rolling bearing 183 or the like.

[0078] Similarly, although not shown, the second rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions 165 may have a second upper roller portion movable on the upper surface of the second driven rail 6b in the extension direction of the second driven rail 6b, and a second side surface contact roller portion movable on the second side surface by contacting the second side surface of the second driven rail 6b located on the first driven rail 6a side. The second rail contact portion may also include a second lower roller portion movable on the lower surface of the second driven rail 6b in the extension direction of the second driven rail 6b.

[0079] The second rail contact portion may also include a cylindrical fourth shaft portion that rotatably supports the second upper roller portion via a rolling bearing or the like, and a cylindrical fifth shaft portion that rotatably supports the second lower roller portion via a rolling bearing or the like. The second rail contact portion may also include a cylindrical sixth shaft portion that rotatably supports the second side contact roller portion via a rolling bearing or the like.

[0080] The first side surface contact roller portion 172 is an example of a first side surface contact portion, and the second side surface contact roller portion is an example of a second side surface contact portion. The first shaft portion 191 and the second shaft portion 192 extend in a direction perpendicular to the height direction (thickness direction) of the jig 130 and perpendicular to a pair of second opposing links (a pair of links approximately parallel to a pair of rails). The third shaft portion 193 extends in the height direction of the jig 130. The fourth shaft portion and the fifth shaft portion extend in a direction perpendicular to the height direction of the jig 130 and perpendicular to the pair of second opposing links, and the sixth shaft portion extends in the height direction of the jig.

[0081] It is preferable to be able to quickly inspect whether the rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b are in the centering allowable positions in a short time while the rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b are temporarily fixed to the truss 2. The modified jig 130 is used to perform such inspection. Such inspection can be performed, for example, as follows.

[0082] In detail, first, the first upper roller portion 171 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the first rail 4a, 5a, 6a of the pair of temporarily fixed rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b at a first location, and the first side surface contact roller portion 172 is brought into contact with the first side surface 7 at the first location. Similarly, the second upper roller portion is brought into contact with the upper surface of the second rail 4b, 5b, 6b at a second location facing the first location of the first rail 4a, 5a, 6a in the width direction, and the second side surface contact roller portion is brought into contact with the second side surface at the second location. After that, the jig 130 is moved in the extension direction of the pair of temporarily fixed rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, and the behavior of the jig 130 is visually confirmed. Then, centering at a portion where the jig 130 moves smoothly in the extension direction without wobbling left and right is determined to be proper centering, and centering at a portion where the jig 130 wobbles left and right is determined to be inappropriate centering.

[0083] According to this configuration, after the jig 130 is attached to any location in the extension direction of the temporarily fixed pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, the location of improper centering can be specified simply by moving the jig 130 in the extension direction of the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b and visually checking the behavior of the jig 130. Therefore, it is possible to quickly inspect in a short time for each local area whether the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b temporarily installed on the truss 2 are accurately centered.

[0084] The above description concerns the case where jig 130 has first lower roller portion 173. However, as shown in Fig. 9, that is, a cross-sectional view of jig 230 of the second modified example corresponding to Fig. 5, first rail contact portion 265a does not have to have a first lower roller portion that contacts the lower surfaces of first rails 4a, 5a, 6a, and the second rail contact portion does not have to have a second lower roller portion that contacts the lower surfaces of second rails 4b, 5b, 6b.

[0085] Also, a case has been described in which the jig 30 has a first identifying portion 50a that can identify a first point located on one of the first opposed links 41, and a second identifying portion 50b that can identify a second point located on the other of the first opposed links 42. However, the jig of the present disclosure may have a reference identifying portion that can identify only one point that has approximately the same shortest distance from both of a pair of second opposed links, and that only one point may be on a reinforcing link.

[0086] In addition, although the jig 30 is described as including the reinforcing link 43, the jig of the present disclosure may not have a reinforcing link. In addition, although the jig 30 is described as including the angle specifying unit 55, the jig of the present disclosure may not have an angle specifying unit. In addition, although the jig 30 is described as including the relative position maintaining unit 60, the jig of the present disclosure may not have a relative position maintaining unit.

[0087] Also, the case where the pair of rails 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b are centered using the jig 30 and the piano wire 81 has been described. However, the centering of the pair of rails may be performed without using the piano wire, and instead of the piano wire, a tape (e.g., a color tape) that extends in the extension direction of the truss 2 and is temporarily attached to the floor of the truss 2 so as to extend in the extension direction of the truss 2 at a position that vertically overlaps with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails may be used. Alternatively, instead of the piano wire, the centering of the pair of rails may be performed using a laser beam that is emitted to a position that vertically overlaps with the widthwise center position of the specified installation position of the pair of rails. Also, when an existing pair of rails is replaced with a new pair of rails in a renewal, the existing pair of rails may be used as a reference for centering the new pair of rails. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 1 escalator, 2 truss, 4,5,6 rail set, 4a,5a,6a first rail, 4a,4b,5a,5b driving rail, 4b,5b,6b second rail, 6a first driven rail, 6b second driven rail, 7 first side, 10 step, 11 step chain, 12 driving roller, 16 step shaft, 18 step body, 19 driven roller, 20 step, 22 riser, 30,130,230 jig, 40 parallel link, 41,42 first opposing link, 43 reinforcing link, 45,46 second opposing link, 47,47a push rivet, 47b center of push rivet 47a, 50 reference specification part, 50a first specification part, 50b second specification part, 55 Angle determination portion, 56, 56a straight line, 57 angle notation, 60 relative position maintaining portion, 62 through hole, 63 bolt, 65, 165 rail contact portion, 65a, 165a, 265a first rail contact portion, 65b second rail contact portion, 67 first side plate portion, 67a first abutment portion, 68 first orthogonal plate portion, 68a first overlap portion, 69 first opposing plate portion, 69a overlap portion, 71 first bolt, 81 piano wire, 82, 83 support, 85, 86 plumb bob, 171 first upper roller portion, 172 first side contact roller portion, 173 first lower roller portion, 181, 182, 183 rolling bearing, 191 first shaft portion, 192 Second shaft, 193 third shaft.

Claims

1. a parallel link having four links combined to form a parallelogram, in which a pair of opposing first opposed links and a pair of second opposed links opposing in a direction different from that of the pair of first opposed links are maintained parallel to each other, and the extending direction of the first opposed links can be changed relative to the second opposed links; a reference specifying unit that can specify one or more points at which the shortest distances from both of the pair of second opposing links are substantially the same; At least a pair of rail contact portions that contact a pair of rails of a passenger conveyor to make the extending direction of the pair of rails substantially parallel to the extending direction of the second opposing link and to make the shortest distances from both of the pair of rails to the one or more points substantially the same; A passenger conveyor centering fixture comprising:

2. the one or more points include a first point located on one of the pair of first opposing links and a second point located on the other of the pair of first opposing links, The passenger conveyor centering jig according to claim 1 , wherein the reference identifying portion includes a first identifying portion that enables the first point to be identified, and a second identifying portion that enables the second point to be identified.

3. a first rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions has a first upper roller portion that is movable on an upper surface of a first rail included in the pair of rails in an extension direction of the first rail, and a first side surface contact portion that is in contact with a first side surface of the first rail located on a side of a second rail included in the pair of rails and is movable on the first side surface, 3. A passenger conveyor centering jig as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein a second rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions has a second upper roller portion that is movable on the upper surface of the second rail in the extension direction of the second rail, and a second side contact portion that is in contact with a second side surface of the second rail located on the first rail side and is movable on the second side surface.

4. a first rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions includes: a flat first lateral flat portion including a first abutment portion that abuts against a first side surface of a first rail included in the pair of rails that is located on a side of a second rail included in the pair of rails; a flat first orthogonal flat portion including a first overlapping portion that overlaps the first rail in a thickness direction of the first rail and substantially extends from the first lateral flat portion in a first orthogonal direction that includes a normal direction of the first abutment portion and an extension direction of the first rail; a flat first opposing flat portion including an overlapping portion that overlaps the first rail in the thickness direction and substantially extends from the first lateral flat portion in the first orthogonal direction at a distance from the first orthogonal flat portion; and a first bolt having a male thread that screws into a female thread of a through hole provided in the first overlapping portion, a second rail contact portion included in the pair of rail contact portions having a flat second lateral flat portion including a second abutment portion that abuts against a second side surface of the second rail located on the first rail side; a flat second orthogonal flat portion including a second overlapping portion that overlaps the second rail in a thickness direction of the second rail and that extends substantially from the second lateral flat portion in a second orthogonal direction that includes a normal direction of the second abutment portion and an extension direction of the second rail; a flat second opposing flat portion including an overlapping portion that overlaps the second rail in the thickness direction and that extends substantially in the second orthogonal direction from the second lateral flat portion at a distance from the second orthogonal flat portion; and a second bolt having a male thread that screws into a female thread of a through hole provided in the second overlapping portion.

3. A passenger conveyor centering jig according to claim 1 or 2.

5. 3. The passenger conveyor centering jig according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an angle identifying unit capable of identifying two or more different inclination angles of the second opposing link relative to the first opposing link, each of the two or more inclination angles being 90° or less.

6. 6. The passenger conveyor centering jig according to claim 5, further comprising a relative position maintaining unit that enables maintaining the relative position of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link when the inclination angle of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link is the two or more inclination angles.

7. 7. The passenger conveyor centering jig according to claim 6, wherein the relative position maintaining unit can maintain the relative position in a state where the inclination angle of the second opposing link with respect to the first opposing link is within a predetermined range of 90° or less.

8. A rail centering inspection method for inspecting the centering of a pair of rails using the passenger conveyor centering jig described in claim 3, comprising a step of moving the passenger conveyor centering jig in the extension direction of the pair of rails by moving the first upper roller portion along the upper surface of the first rail and simultaneously moving the second upper roller portion along the upper surface of the second rail.

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