A transport device for conveying passengers between first and second landing areas in a conveying direction may include a skirt member and a balustrade, which may include lower and upper sides, extending between the landing areas. The skirt member may be secured to the lower side. An endless moving handrail may form a loop. A first section of the handrail moves along the upper side of the balustrade in the conveying direction, and a second section of the handrail moves within the skirt member opposite the conveying direction. Two turnaround sections are disposed between the first and second sections near the first and second landing areas, respectively. At least one of the turnaround sections includes a cover member that renders part of the turnaround section of the handrail inaccessible to passengers. The cover member may comprise a positioning mechanism for adjustably positioning the cover member relative to the balustrade.

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.

A people conveyor comprises two landing areas located at two opposing ends of the people conveyor; a movable conveying element extending between the two landing areas and configured for conveying passengers between the two landing areas; a handrail extending parallel to the conveying element between the two landing areas and configured for moving with the conveying element; a handrail exit/entry portion located at one of the landing areas and configured for receiving a return portion of the handrail; and a safety switch assembly provided at the handrail exit/entry portion and configured for stopping the handrail when activated. The safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

A people conveyor comprises two landing areas located at two opposing ends of the people conveyor; a movable conveying element extending between the two landing areas and configured for conveying passengers between the two landing areas; a handrail extending parallel to the conveying element between the two landing areas and configured for moving with the conveying element; a handrail exit/entry portion located at one of the landing areas and configured for receiving a return portion of the handrail; and a safety switch assembly provided at the handrail exit/entry portion and configured for stopping the handrail when activated. The safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

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.

A people conveyor comprises two landing areas located at two opposing ends of the people conveyor; a movable conveying element extending between the two landing areas and configured for conveying passengers between the two landing areas; a handrail extending parallel to the conveying element between the two landing areas and configured for moving with the conveying element; a handrail exit/entry portion located at one of the landing areas and configured for receiving a return portion of the handrail; and a safety switch assembly provided at the handrail exit/entry portion and configured for stopping the handrail when activated. The safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

A people conveyor comprises two landing areas located at two opposing ends of the people conveyor; a movable conveying element extending between the two landing areas and configured for conveying passengers between the two landing areas; a handrail extending parallel to the conveying element between the two landing areas and configured for moving with the conveying element; a handrail exit/entry portion located at one of the landing areas and configured for receiving a return portion of the handrail; and a safety switch assembly provided at the handrail exit/entry portion and configured for stopping the handrail when activated. The safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

A sensor assembly for a passenger conveying device, a safety system and the passenger conveying device, wherein the sensor assembly comprises an optical fiber disposed along a length of a skirt board of the passenger conveying device; a light source disposed at a first end of the optical fiber, light being incident into the optical fiber; and an optical receiver disposed at the first end of the optical fiber, the optical receiver receiving backwards scattered light from the optical fiber and being capable of sensing a signal indication of the backwards scattered light, wherein the optical fiber is associated with a sensing element such that the sensing element causes deformation of the optical fiber when the sensing element is subjected to pressure, and the optical receiver is capable of sensing a change in the signal indication of the backward scattered light caused by the deformation of the optical fiber.