Inspection device for passenger conveyor

Abstract

To provide an inspection device for a passenger conveyor, which efficiently inspects whether the position of a skirt guard disposed in a non-contact manner on both sides of a footstep is correct.SOLUTION: A inspection device for a passenger conveyor, which can measure assembling mutual positions, comprises: a reference core set in a frame and parallel to the advancing direction of the passenger conveyor; a footstep serving as an inspection tool for simulating and inspecting an actual work state; a reference core sensor disposed in the footstep; a distance sensor disposed in the footstep to detect a skirt guard distance from the side surface thereof to a skirt guard; and a control unit that calculates the position of the skirt guard with respect to the reference core by using output signals from the reference core sensor and the distance sensor. The control unit associates the position of a reference point in measurement data stored by the footstep fitted as the inspection unit to a step chain while moving at a prescribed speed and a current position calculated on the basis of time elapsed from referent time with the calculated position of the skirt guard.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device for a passenger conveyor.

Background Art

[0002] In the operation confirmation inspection of an assembled passenger conveyor, there is an inspection in which steps are circulated to check for the presence or absence of abnormal noise (abnormal vibration). As an example of abnormal noise that occurs frequently, there is abnormal noise caused by contact between the circulating steps and skirt guards arranged on both sides thereof.

[0003] Workers assembling a passenger conveyor at a factory rely on sound to locate the source of the problem and adjust the installation of the skirt guards. However, since the inspection environment in the factory is not always a quiet state, it may be difficult to distinguish between ambient noise and abnormal noise.

[0004] On the other hand, in order to inspect whether the gaps between each of the both side surfaces of the steps and the skirt guards are within an allowable range in a short time without relying on sound, an automatic gap measuring device for a passenger conveyor including a distance sensor and a controller is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In the automatic gap measuring device, the controller acquires measurement data from the distance sensor in time series while the steps are running, and determines that a gap abnormality has occurred when the gap threshold value is exceeded.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The inspection device for a passenger conveyor described in Patent Document 1 does not consider the sway of the step that occurs during circulation due to play in the wheels of the step (clearance in the axle direction), play between the step and the step chain, and installation errors of the rails on which the wheels of the step run, etc.

[0007] Such a swaying step does not always run on the designed step travel center line. Therefore, with the inspection device for a passenger conveyor of Patent Document 1, it is possible to detect whether the skirt guard is attached with a predetermined width, but it is difficult to determine whether it is attached at a predetermined position with respect to the reference core (absolute coordinates) of the passenger conveyor frame (hereinafter simply referred to as "frame").

[0008] In this state, that is, when the position of the skirt guard is adjusted only based on the clearance information (relative coordinates) between the step and the skirt guard without considering the sway amount of the step, the positions of the skirt guards on both sides are not adjusted with respect to the reference core (absolute coordinates) of the frame. Therefore, depending on the sway state of the step, abnormal noise may occur again after adjustment, and there is a problem that readjustment takes time.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an inspection device for a passenger conveyor that efficiently inspects whether the positions of skirt guards disposed non - contact on both sides of a step are appropriate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present invention for solving the above problems is an inspection device for a passenger conveyor capable of measuring the assembled mutual position, comprising a reference core set in the frame and parallel to the traveling direction of the passenger conveyor, a step as an inspection jig that can be inspected by simulating the actual operating state, a reference core sensor disposed on the step, a distance sensor disposed on the step for detecting the skirt guard distance from the side surface of the step to the skirt guard, and a control unit that calculates the position of the skirt guard with respect to the reference core using the output signals of the reference core sensor and the distance sensor respectively.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inspection device for a passenger conveyor that efficiently inspects whether the position of skirt guards disposed non - contactingly on both sides of a step is appropriate. Other problems, configurations, and effects than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

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Figure 16

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and when the description is redundant, the description may be omitted. Although the escalator 1 which is the main application target of the present invention is illustrated using FIGS. 1 to 7, hereinafter, this will be referred to as a passenger conveyor 1 in a higher concept.

[0014] The present device 100 is an inspection jig for accurately adjusting the position of the skirt guard 4 in a short time at the stage of assembling and completing the passenger conveyor 1 before installation at the factory. A basic example of the present device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 15. A modified example of the present device will be described with reference to FIG. 16.

[0015] Note that the control unit 104 shown in each figure and the serpentine amount determination unit (not shown) are formed by a microcomputer or the like executing a program stored in a memory. Also, the various components of the present invention do not necessarily have to exist independently of each other. It is acceptable for one component to be composed of a plurality of parts, for a plurality of components to be composed of one part, for a certain component to be a part of another component, and for a part of a certain component to overlap with a part of another component, etc.

[0016] (Basic Configuration of Passenger Conveyor) FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a partial perspective of a general passenger conveyor 1 to which the present apparatus 100 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) is applied. The passenger conveyor 1 is transported to a construction site and installed in a state where it is assembled and completed into a single unit (the railing 3 and special long types are divided) as shown in FIG. 1 in a factory. This passenger conveyor 1 is more schematically composed of a landing floor 11, a frame 12, an endless step chain 13, a plurality of steps 5, a skirt guard 4, a railing 3, a handrail 2, a drive device 8.

[0017] The landing floor 11 is arranged on the upper floor and the lower floor so that their heights match, and passengers get on and off. The frame 12 is supported across the upper and lower landing floors 11. The plurality of steps 5 are connected to the endless step chain 13 and move in a circulating manner. The skirt guard 4 is erected on both sides in the moving direction of the steps 5. The railing 3 is arranged on the upper part of the skirt guard 4.

[0018] The handrail 2 is guided along the periphery of the railing 3 and can circulate. A drive-side terminal gear 6 is pivotally supported at one end in the longitudinal direction of the frame 12, and a driven-side terminal gear 7 is pivotally supported at the other end. The step chain 13 is wound around the drive-side terminal gear 6 and the driven-side terminal gear 7 in a circulatable manner.

[0019] The drive-side terminal gear 6 is driven by a drive device 8 in the vicinity via a short drive chain 9. The handrail 2 is also driven in synchronization with the steps 5 by the power of the drive device 8. (Basic structure of the step)

[0020] Next, using FIG. 2, only one step 5 out of the plurality of connected steps will be enlarged and the others will be removed from the figure for explanation. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the posture of the step 5 in the middle part of the frame 12. The step 5 mainly consists of a tread board 16 on which passengers board, a riser 17, a front wheel 18, a rear wheel 19, a bracket 20, and a step guide 21.

[0021] Note that the names of the front wheel 18 and the rear wheel 19 here are based on the premise that the passenger conveyor 1 is operating in the ascending direction. If the moving direction is reversed, the front-back relationship will also be reversed and the names will change. However, since that point is outside the essence of the present invention, it will not be considered a problem. In the passenger conveyor 1, only the case where the front wheel 18 is built into the step chain 13 will be exemplified.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the passenger conveyor 1 has a structure in which a front wheel rail 22 and a rear wheel rail 23 are arranged inside the frame 12, and the step 5 moves on them. In order to suppress the meandering of the step 5, the step guide 21 is arranged so as to protrude from the side surface of the bracket 20 to the skirt guard 4, and in order to prevent the two from approaching, it is attached so as to form a spacer intervening on the opposing surfaces (see FIGS. 3 to 7, FIGS. 9 to 11, and FIG. 14).

[0023] (Poor attachment of the skirt guard) Using FIGS. 3 to 7, the poor attachment of the skirt guard 4 will be explained by showing an extreme state. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a step generated at the joint of the skirt guard 4 as a sample of the gap abnormality to be detected by the present device 100.

[0024] In FIG. 3, at least in a plan view, the skirt guard 4c is connected to the skirt guard 4d by a good joint portion that maintains linearity. In this case, the gap between the side surface of the bracket 20 and the skirt guard 4 is maintained substantially as desired. On the other hand, the skirt guard 4a in FIG. 3 fails to maintain linearity with the skirt guard 4b. Therefore, the gap between the side surface of the bracket 20 and the skirt guard 4a does not become as desired.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a bend in the joint portion of the skirt guard as an example of a different form of gap abnormality from that in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, at least in a plan view, the skirt guard 4a fails to maintain linearity because there is a bend in the joint portion with the skirt guard 4b. Therefore, the side surface of the bracket 20 and the skirt guard 4a are not parallel, and their gap does not become as desired.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a plan view exemplifying a skirt guard 4e that is warped with respect to the step traveling direction as an example of a different form of gap abnormality from that in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 5, at least in a plan view, the warped skirt guard 4e is not parallel to the side surface of the bracket 20, and their gap does not become as desired.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a plan view exemplifying a skirt guard 4a that is not parallel to the step traveling direction even though it is not a joint portion as an example of a different form of gap abnormality from that in FIGS. 3 to 5. In FIG. 6, at least in a plan view, when the opposing skirt guards 4a and 4c are non-parallel, the skirt guard 4a that is not parallel to the step traveling direction is not parallel to the side surface of the bracket 20, and their gap does not become as desired.

[0028] (State of step meandering) FIG. 7 is a plan view exemplifying the skirt guards 4 on both sides disposed in parallel with respect to the step running center line 14 and the step 5b that slips sideways and meanders in a direction perpendicular to the progress between them as an example of a different form of gap abnormality from that in FIGS. 3 to 6.

[0029] In FIG. 7, the meandering state of the step 5 is shown. Due to the play of the wheels of the step 5 (the gap in the axle direction), the play between the step 5 and the step chain 13, the mounting error of the rail on which the wheels of the step 5 run, etc., the step 5 meanders slightly during circulation. Therefore, the step 5 does not always run stably on the designed step running center line 14.

[0030] [Basic Example] FIG. 8 is a schematic side view illustrating a part of the passenger conveyor 1 being inspected with the apparatus 100 which is an inspection jig mounted thereon. Regarding the parts described in FIG. 1, those denoted by the same reference numerals are the same, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0031] Among the plurality of steps 5 arranged on the passenger conveyor 1 in FIG. 8, only one step shown at the intermediate position in the frame 12 is replaced with the apparatus 100. The reason for showing the apparatus 100 at the intermediate position is only to make it easier to view in FIG. 8, and it is located somewhere among the connected ones according to the circulating operation of the other steps 5. Further, the passenger conveyor 1 is provided with a reference core 101 parallel to the advancing direction of the step 5. This reference core 101 is arranged inside the frame 12.

[0032] In the apparatus 100, the reference core 101 is a single linear object such as a piano wire or a fishing line, is stretched tightly inside the frame 12, and is arranged at a position where it does not interfere when the apparatus 100 circulates. Also, for the sake of easy explanation, the case where the reference core 101 is arranged on the same plane as the designed step running center line is illustrated, but the reference core 101 may be provided at any position of the frame 12.

[0033] Next, the details of the apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing only an enlarged part of the apparatus 100 in the state of FIG. 8 with partial perspective. FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing a part of the apparatus 100 in FIG. 9 with partial perspective from the step running direction. In FIG. 9, the front wheel 18, the step chain 13, and the front wheel rail 22 shown in the structure of the step 5 in FIG. 2 are not shown for the sake of simplification of the figure, but are actually attached.

[0034] In addition to the configuration of the staircase 5 described above, the present device 100 includes a reference core sensor 102, a distance sensor 103, a control unit 104, and a power supply unit 105. The reference core sensor 102 is connected to the main body of the present device 100 by a reference core sensor support column 106.

[0035] In the present device 100 as a basic example, a laser transmission type sensor is assumed as the reference core sensor 102, and the position of the reference core 101 is detected from the position of the laser light blocked by the reference core 101. Further, as an example of the distance sensor 103, a laser distance sensor is assumed, and it is attached toward the skirt guard 4 in order to measure the opposing distance between the pair of skirt guards 4.

[0036] In FIG. 9, the case where the distance sensors 103 are arranged at two locations on the upper and lower sides on one side is illustrated. This is for checking the dimensions at the upper and lower positions when adjusting the position of the skirt guard 4.

[0037] FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing a partially transparent state of the present device 100 in a state of staircase meandering as shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in the positional relationship between each sensor 103 provided in the present device 100 and the object measured by them, the distance from the reference core 101 to the skirt guard 4 is calculated as follows in equations (1) and (2) respectively for the left and right sides.

[0038] Right skirt guard position: W R = X R + W / 2 - X C ····(1) Left skirt guard position: W L = X L + W / 2 + X C ····(2) Here, W is known because it is the opposing distance between the pair of distance sensors 103.

[0039] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing a part of the passenger conveyor with the apparatus 100 in the state of FIG. 11 seen from a perspective corresponding to FIG. 1, and a graph showing the detected snake amount. This graph is for explaining the use of the data acquired by the reference core sensor 102.

[0040] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing a part of the passenger conveyor to which the apparatus 100 corresponding to FIG. 1 is applied with a part thereof transparent, and a graph showing the detected gap value. The graph shows the right skirt guard position W calculated from the reference core sensor 102 and the distance sensor 103. R is shown.

[0041] The above is the basic configuration of the apparatus 100. It is possible to record the acquired measurement data in the memory in the control unit 104 and then read out the memory to check the measurement results. At this time, the entire storage medium may be taken out, but it is preferable to be able to check the inspection results in real time on the spot. In response to this demand, the apparatus 100 (the same reference numerals) with improved usability and enhanced practicality is shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 14 corresponds to FIGS. 10 and 11 and is a detailed side view showing only the apparatus 100 with a part thereof transparent.

[0042] The apparatus 100 (denoted by the same reference numerals) shown in FIG. 14 has a configuration in which a wireless communication unit 107 and an attitude angle sensor 108 are added. The attitude angle sensor 108 can detect the attitude angle of the apparatus 100 and the running vibration of the apparatus 100. The attitude angle refers to, for example, the angle with respect to the horizontal in order to indicate whether the tread plate 16 is facing the ceiling or is inverted.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram showing the system configuration of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 14. The data acquired by the reference core sensor 102, the left and right distance sensors 103, and the attitude angle sensor 108 are aggregated in the control unit 104 and wirelessly transmitted to a PC, a tablet terminal, etc. 113 outside the passenger conveyor 1 via the wireless communication unit 107. Note that the wireless communication unit 117 may be built in the tablet terminal etc. 113.

[0044] Such a device 100 can obtain the position of the skirt guard 4 in absolute coordinates based on the reference core 101 disposed within the frame 12. Therefore, by more accurately grasping the adjustment amount of the skirt guard 4 in consideration of the meandering amount of the tread 5, it contributes to shortening the position adjustment time of the skirt guard 4.

[0045] Regarding the identification of the location where abnormal noise occurs due to the contact between the device 100 and the skirt guard 4, by circulating the device 100 at a constant speed, the current position (travel distance) of the device 100 can be obtained based on the time from the inspection start position or the reference position. Since the acceleration at startup is also known and fixed, that data can also be stored in advance in the memory of the control unit 104 and reflected in the calculation.

[0046] [Modification example]) In the description so far, in the basic example of the device 100, the reference core 101 was a linear object such as a piano wire. However, a modification example in which this is replaced with a laser is shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a passenger conveyor inspection device (the main body is the same as the basic example and is also referred to as "this device") 100 according to a modification example corresponding to FIG. 8, with a partial perspective.

[0047] A laser irradiator 109 is disposed at an arbitrary position within the frame 12 (near the drive-side terminal gear 6 or the frame near the driven-side terminal gear 7), and the laser light 110 is irradiated so that the laser irradiation point is aligned with the reference position target 111 parallel to the traveling direction of the tread 5 of the passenger conveyor 1.

[0048] In the passenger conveyor inspection device 100, instead of the reference core sensor 102, an optical position sensor 112 is attached, and by detecting the position of the laser light 110, it is possible to measure the meandering amount of the device 100 in absolute coordinates. The configuration other than the above is the same as the configuration of the device 100 described in the basic example.

[0049] [Supplementary explanation] The applicable objects of the present device 100 are passenger conveyors 1 such as escalators 1 and autowalks (commonly known as moving sidewalks). In the assembly and adjustment of these passenger conveyors 1, the present device 100 is an inspection jig that efficiently and dynamically inspects whether the skirt guards 4 arranged on both sides of the circulating steps 5 are attached at predetermined positions.

[0050] An inspection jig refers to a device that is used to inspect products during parts, during assembly, or after assembly, mainly to confirm whether they meet accuracy requirements such as dimensions and shapes. Without using such an inspection jig, when measuring with calipers, micrometers, etc., differences in accuracy and speed will occur among operators, and it is often difficult to inspect the operating state of the product.

[0051] Therefore, it is effective to appropriately simulate the actual operating state of the product using a dedicated inspection jig such as the present device 100, suppress individual differences, and efficiently determine whether the product is qualified.

[0052] The present device 100 has the following configuration, operation, and effect. [1] The present device 100 shown in FIG. 8 is an inspection device 100 for passenger conveyors that can measure the mutual assembly positions between each part. The present device 100 includes a reference core 101, steps 5, a reference core sensor 102, a distance sensor 103, and a control unit 104. The reference core 101 is a single wire set within the frame 12 and stretched parallel to the traveling direction of the passenger conveyor 1.

[0053] The present device 100 is an inspection jig (dynamic inspection jig) that can simulate and inspect (dynamic inspection) the actual operating state of the passenger conveyor 1. The passenger conveyor 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 8, 12, and 13 has the steps 5 engaged with it also operating in a circulating motion along with the circulating drive of the step chain 13. For the assembled finished product of such a passenger conveyor 1, one of the steps 5 connected to the step chain 13 is replaced with the present device 100, which is an inspection jig. By doing so, the actual operating state of the passenger conveyor 1 is simulated.

[0054] Such a device 100 has the first function and appearance of the step 5, and a inspection jig, which is the second function, is built into the outer shell of the step 5. That is, in order to exert the second function as an inspection jig, the device 100 satisfies the appearance as the step 5 and the first function while simulating the actual operating state of the passenger conveyor 1.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 15, the device 100 includes, as an inspection jig, a reference core sensor 102, a distance sensor 103, a control unit 104 that appropriately calculates and processes these detection signals, and a power supply unit 105 that drives them. As shown in FIG. 8, the reference core sensor 102 is disposed at the tip of a reference core sensor support column 106 erected downward on the step 5, and has a positional relationship of surrounding the reference core 101 in a non-contact manner.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the distance sensor 103 is disposed on the step 5 and detects the skirt guard distance X from the side surface of the step 5 to the skirt guard 4. The control unit 104 comprehensively controls the entire device 100 and calculates the position of the skirt guard 4 with respect to the absolute coordinates of the reference core 101 using the output signals of the reference core sensor 102 and the distance sensor 103, respectively.

[0057] According to such a device 100, it is possible to efficiently inspect whether the positions of the skirt guards 4 disposed on both sides of the circulating step 5 are appropriate. At this time, since the control unit 104 executes arithmetic processing for correcting the skirt guard distance X detected as the relative position due to the meandering of the device 100 to absolute coordinates, highly accurate measurement results can be obtained.

[0058] [2] In the above [1], it is preferable that the control unit 104 stores information linking the current position of the device 100 and the calculated position of the skirt guard 4 in the dynamic inspection of the passenger conveyor 1 and can output it as appropriate.

[0059] The current position is calculated based on the position of the step 5 attached to the step chain 13 while moving at a predetermined speed as an inspection jig and the elapsed time from the reference time in the measured data stored. The position of the skirt guard 4 is also detected by a distance sensor 103 disposed on the step 5, and the skirt guard distance X from the side surface of the step 5 to the skirt guard 4 is detected. According to such a present apparatus 100, as shown in the graph in FIG. 13, it is possible to efficiently inspect whether the positions of the skirt guards 4 disposed on both sides of the circulating step 5 are appropriate.

[0060] [3] In the above [1], the reference core 101 is preferably formed of a single linear object stretched with a tensile force that does not interfere with the circulating operation of the step 5 and keeps the slack within a predetermined range. The linear object is preferably, for example, a piano wire or a fishing line. The reference core sensor 102 has a storage space with a U-shaped cross section orthogonal to the traveling direction of the passenger conveyor 1.

[0061] The reference core 101 needs to be non-contactingly accommodated and engaged in the space. If the space of the reference core sensor 102 is too large, the accuracy will decrease, so it is limited to a predetermined size. Therefore, the reference core 101 has little slack and does not interfere with the operating part, but in order not to interfere with the operating part, it is preferable to have a tensile force adjusting mechanism via a spring or the like to maintain an appropriate tensile force. According to this, the reference core 101 can be configured simply and reliably.

[0062] [4] In the above [1], the control unit 104 preferably includes a meandering amount determination unit (not shown). The meandering amount determination unit determines the meandering amount as shown in Formula (1), Formula (2), FIGS. 11 and 12. First, using the time-series data of the reference core sensor 102, the skirt guard distance W from the reference core 101 to the cart guard 4 is calculated. The change width of this skirt guard distance W is defined as the meandering amount X0 of the step 5. Then, it is determined whether or not this meandering amount X0 is within the allowable range by a threshold value.

[0063] According to this, a dynamic inspection jig for the position of the cart guard 4 considering the amount of meandering X0 of the step 5 in the passenger conveyor 1, which has never existed before, can be realized. That is, in relative coordinates that do not consider the amount of meandering X0, the position of the cart guard 4 cannot be accurately known, and there remains a possibility of problems occurring at a later date. In contrast, since this device 100 uses absolute coordinates considering the amount of meandering X0, the position of the cart guard 4 can be accurately known.

[0064] [5] In the above [1], it is preferable that the control unit 104 of this device 100 can perform wireless communication of at least one of operation information, stored content, and calculation results with an external electronic terminal 113 via the wireless communication units 107 and 117. The electronic terminal 113 that is the communication partner of the control unit 104 is used as a remote control console and a result display for this device 100 outside the passenger conveyor 1.

[0065] This device 100 is a dynamic inspection jig for the passenger conveyor 1 and involves dangerous work if done entirely by humans. This device 100, which makes it safe and accurate, is a dynamic inspection jig that can measure the skirt guard distance X from the side of the step 5 to the skirt guard 4 and the distance W from the reference core 101 to the skirt guard 4 during movement.

[0066] At that time, this device 100 mounts a set of measuring instruments on one of the steps 5 that is moving at a normal speed comparable to walking or at a very low speed in the inspection mode for measurement. Therefore, from the perspective of preventing danger, even a skilled operator would not approach it more than necessary. Therefore, the wirelessly connected electronic terminal 113, as the remote control console and result display of this device 100, can be used safely and conveniently outside the passenger conveyor 1.

[0067] [6] In the present apparatus 100 of [1] above, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, it is preferable to further include an attitude angle sensor 108. This attitude angle sensor 108 can preferably detect at least one of the attitude angle of the step 5 forming the inspection jig and the running vibration. According to this present apparatus 100, with respect to the attitude and moving speed of the step 5, the essential conditions for inspection are detected by the detection output of the attitude angle sensor 108, and the control unit 4 recognizes the state and appropriately issues a command to execute or stop the inspection. As a result, an inspection jig with good usability can be provided.

[0068] [7] In [1] above, as shown in FIG. 16, the reference core 101 is formed by a laser beam with the light projection angle and the like accurately initially set, and the laser beam is received by the reference core sensor 102, and the position of the reference core 101 is detected by the detection output of the reference core sensor 102.

[0069] In the above [3], which is a basic example before that, as the reference core 101, a single linear object such as a piano wire or a fishing line was exemplified. In that case, it is not easy to stretch the single linear object without slack and maintain a straight line shape over a long period. In contrast, in the present apparatus 100 of [7], since the reference core 101 formed by the laser beam is not a real object, it is less likely to go out of order due to aging deterioration.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0070] 1…Passenger conveyor, 2…Handrail, 3…Railings, 4…Skirt guard, 5…Steps, 6…Drive side terminal gear, 7…Driven side terminal gear, 8…Drive device, 9…Drive chain, 10…Control panel, 11…Floor at boarding and alighting openings, 12…Frame, 13…Step chain, 14…Center line of step travel, 15…Skirt guard joint, 16…Tread plate, 17…Riser, 18…Front wheel, 19…Rear wheel, 20…Bracket, 21…Step guide, 22…Front wheel rail, 23…Rear wheel rail, 100…Inspection device for passenger conveyor (this device), 101…Reference core, 102…Reference core sensor, 103…Distance sensor, 104…Control unit, 105…Power supply unit, 106…Reference core sensor support column, 107, 117…Wireless communication unit, 108…Attitude angle sensor, 109…Laser irradiator, 110…Laser beam, 111…Reference position target, 112…Optical position sensor, 113…PC / tablet terminal, etc.

Claims

1. An inspection device for a passenger conveyor capable of measuring the assembled mutual position, comprising: a reference core set within a frame and parallel to the advancing direction of the passenger conveyor; a step as an inspection jig capable of simulating an actual operating state for inspection; a reference core sensor disposed on the step for detecting the position of the reference core with respect to the step; a distance sensor disposed on the step for detecting the skirt guard distance from the side surface of the step to the skirt guard; a control unit for calculating the position of the skirt guard with respect to the absolute coordinates of the reference core using the output signals of the reference core sensor and the distance sensor respectively; An inspection device for a passenger conveyor comprising the above.

2. The control unit: Based on the position of the reference point in the measurement data stored while the step mounted on the step chain moves at a predetermined speed as the inspection jig and the elapsed time from the reference time, and the calculated current position; The calculated position of the skirt guard; The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, which associates the above.

3. The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the reference core is formed by a linear object stretched with a tensile force that does not interfere with the circulating operation of the step and has a slack within a predetermined range at a position that does not interfere with the circulating operation of the step.

4. The control unit: Using the time-series data of the reference core sensor, calculates the skirt guard distance from the reference core to the cart guard; Regarding the change width of the skirt guard distance as the meandering amount of the step; The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, comprising a meandering amount determination unit for determining whether or not the meandering amount is within an allowable range by threshold determination.

5. The control unit can perform wireless communication of at least one of operation information, stored content, and calculation results with an external electronic terminal via a wireless communication unit; The electronic terminal is used outside the passenger conveyor; The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

6. Further comprising an attitude angle sensor; The attitude angle sensor detects at least one of the attitude angle of the step forming the inspection jig and the running vibration; The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1.

7. The inspection device for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the reference core is formed by a laser beam, the reference core sensor receives the laser beam, and the position of the reference core is detected.

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