Remote inspection of passenger conveyors
AssigneeOtis Elevator Company
InventorsHisanori Seki, Atsushi Yamada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The remote inspection device for a passenger conveyor includes at least one camera mounted directly above the passenger conveyor for monitoring external conditions of the passenger conveyor, a remote controller for performing a remote visual inspection using the camera, a passenger conveyor controller for operating the passenger conveyor at a normal speed during a normal operation and for operating the passenger conveyor at a slower speed or bringing it to a complete stop during a remote visual inspection, and a sensor connected to the passenger conveyor controller and arranged in the vicinity of the entrance of the passenger conveyor for detecting the presence of a passenger approaching the entrance of the passenger conveyor.
Claims21
A remote inspection device for a passenger conveyor, comprising:
- at least one camera mounted directly above the passenger conveyor for monitoring external conditions of the passenger conveyor;
- a remote controller for performing a remote visual inspection using the camera;
- a passenger conveyor controller for operating the passenger conveyor at a normal speed during a normal operation and for operating the passenger conveyor at a slower speed or bringing it to a complete stop during a remote visual inspection;
- and
- a sensor connected to the passenger conveyor controller and arranged in the vicinity of the entrance of the passenger conveyor for detecting the presence of a passenger approaching the entrance of the passenger conveyor,
- wherein the remote controller is connected to the passenger conveyor controller and the camera via remote access server, and
- wherein the passenger conveyor controller is configured to transmit a signal to the remote controller for interrupting the initiation of a remote visual inspection in response to the detection of a passenger approaching the entrance when initiating the remote visual inspection, and/or transmit a signal to the remote controller for interrupting the remote visual inspection and resume normal operation of the passenger conveyor in response to the detection of a passenger approaching the entrance during the remote visual inspection.
A method of performing a remote inspection for a passenger conveyor, the method comprising:
- monitoring the presence of a passenger approaching an entrance of the passenger conveyor using a sensor arranged in the vicinity of the entrance of the passenger conveyor;
- performing a remote visual inspection of external conditions of the passenger conveyor using at least one camera mounted directly above the passenger conveyor, if no passenger is detected by the sensor;
- operating the passenger conveyor at a slower speed or bringing it to a complete stop during the remote visual inspection;
- and
- interrupting the remote visual inspection and resuming operation of the passenger conveyor at a normal speed, if the sensor detects the presence of a passenger approaching the entrance during the remote visual inspection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.