The invention relates to a handrail system of a people mover, the handrail system comprising a circulating handrail and a safety system of a handrail inlet in a handrail housing. The safety system comprises a hatch provided around the handrail inlet in the handrail housing; and trigger means operationally connected between the hatch and the handrail housing to launch the hatch from a first position inwards into the handrail housing to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch. The handrail system further comprises a coupling for operatively connecting the circulating handrail and the safety system, the coupling being arranged to stop the handrail in response to the launch of the hatch inwards into the handrail housing or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch. The invention further relates to method for preventing injuries in a handrail system of a people mover. The method comprises the steps of providing a hatch around a handrail inlet in a handrail housing of a circulating handrail; operationally connecting the hatch, the handrail housing and the handrail; launching the hatch from a first position inwards into the handrail housing to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch; and stopping the handrail in response to the launch of the hatch inwards into the handrail housing or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch.

The invention relates to a handrail system of a people mover, the handrail system comprising a circulating handrail and a safety system of a handrail inlet in a handrail housing. The safety system comprises a hatch provided around the handrail inlet in the handrail housing; and trigger means operationally connected between the hatch and the handrail housing to launch the hatch from a first position inwards into the handrail housing to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch. The handrail system further comprises a coupling for operatively connecting the circulating handrail and the safety system, the coupling being arranged to stop the handrail in response to the launch of the hatch inwards into the handrail housing or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch. The invention further relates to method for preventing injuries in a handrail system of a people mover. The method comprises the steps of providing a hatch around a handrail inlet in a handrail housing of a circulating handrail; operationally connecting the hatch, the handrail housing and the handrail; launching the hatch from a first position inwards into the handrail housing to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch; and stopping the handrail in response to the launch of the hatch inwards into the handrail housing or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch.

The application relates to a method for modernizing an existing escalator or an existing moving walkway. The method can include removing all the electrical and mechanical parts from the existing framework of the existing escalator or of the existing moving walkway, the existing framework having two framework side parts and a base structure connecting said framework side parts, and the framework side parts being connected to each other by means of cross members disposed at a distance from the base structure; and replacing the existing cross members of the existing framework with new cross members, the two framework side parts of the existing framework being connected to each other in a mutually stabilising manner at least one point at a distance from the base structure of the framework, during replacement of the cross members.

The application relates to a method for modernizing an existing escalator or an existing moving walkway. The method can include removing all the electrical and mechanical parts from the existing framework of the existing escalator or of the existing moving walkway, the existing framework having two framework side parts and a base structure connecting said framework side parts, and the framework side parts being connected to each other by means of cross members disposed at a distance from the base structure; and replacing the existing cross members of the existing framework with new cross members, the two framework side parts of the existing framework being connected to each other in a mutually stabilising manner at least one point at a distance from the base structure of the framework, during replacement of the cross members.

A method to control a transport device like a moving walkway or escalator with a control unit includes, generating visual images of a person traveling on the transport device, analyzing movement of the person based on the visual images, and transferring the control unit into a safety modus based on the analysis. The transport device includes a transport area for accommodating a person to be transported, a plurality of transport elements such as movable pallets or movable steps configured to convey the person located in the transport area in a standing manner, a drive adapted for driving the transport elements, and an image recording device for creating visual images of a sector of the transport area. Based on the recorded images a movement of the person within the transport area is analyzed. Based upon a result of the analysis the control unit is transferred into a safety modus.

A method to control a transport device like a moving walkway or escalator with a control unit includes, generating visual images of a person traveling on the transport device, analyzing movement of the person based on the visual images, and transferring the control unit into a safety modus based on the analysis. The transport device includes a transport area for accommodating a person to be transported, a plurality of transport elements such as movable pallets or movable steps configured to convey the person located in the transport area in a standing manner, a drive adapted for driving the transport elements, and an image recording device for creating visual images of a sector of the transport area. Based on the recorded images a movement of the person within the transport area is analyzed. Based upon a result of the analysis the control unit is transferred into a safety modus.

A passenger conveyor has a guardrail belt configured to run on a pair of right and left handrails in synchronization with footsteps; a camera provided at a platform of the handrail; and a control device configured to analyze an image obtained by photographing the platform with the camera, detect a passenger getting in from the platform, stop the footsteps or lower a running speed than a normal speed when detecting no passenger for a predetermined time, and move the running speed of the footsteps at the normal speed when detecting the passenger.

A passenger transportation system and a startup and shutdown control method thereof, wherein the passenger transportation system comprises: a plurality of series-connected passenger transportation devices; an electrical control system comprising a plurality of startup and shutdown circuits which are respectively used for controlling startup and shutdown of each of the passenger transportation devices; and an electrical interlocking assembly coupled between each of the startup and shutdown circuits, wherein the electrical interlocking assembly controls a startup and shutdown sequence of a low-position passenger transportation device and a high-position passenger transportation device by controlling closing and opening of each of the startup and shutdown circuits.

A passenger transportation system and a startup and shutdown control method thereof, wherein the passenger transportation system comprises: a plurality of series-connected passenger transportation devices; an electrical control system comprising a plurality of startup and shutdown circuits which are respectively used for controlling startup and shutdown of each of the passenger transportation devices; and an electrical interlocking assembly coupled between each of the startup and shutdown circuits, wherein the electrical interlocking assembly controls a startup and shutdown sequence of a low-position passenger transportation device and a high-position passenger transportation device by controlling closing and opening of each of the startup and shutdown circuits.

A people conveyor (10) comprises: a chain of conveyance elements (12), which are configured for conveying people; a drive unit (14), which is configured for driving the chain of conveyance elements (12); and a self-locking gear (20; 40), which is configured to lock when no torque is transmitted from the drive unit (14) to the chain of conveyance elements (12).