People conveyor and method of operating a people conveyor

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A people conveyor comprising: 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; wherein the safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces; wherein the safety switch assembly comprises a switching element which is configured for activating a safety switch when moved, the switching element extending at least partially around the handrail.

2. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces is provided on an outer surface of the switching element.

3. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is provided as a capacitive sensor which is configured for detecting a change of capacity caused by an approaching portion of a human body.

4. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is provided as an electrical sensor which is configured for detecting an electrical current flowing through a human body.

5. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor is provided as an optical sensor which is configured for optically detecting a portion of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

6. The people conveyor according to claim 1, which is configured for issuing an optical alarm signal and/or an acoustic alarm signal in case the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

7. The people conveyor according to claim 1, which is configured for reducing the speed of the handrail in case the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

8. The people conveyor according to claim 7, which is configured for reducing the speed of the conveying element in case the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

9. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the people conveyor is an escalator including a conveying element comprising a plurality of steps.

10. The people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the people conveyor is a moving walkway including a conveying element comprising a plurality of pallets.

11. A method of operating a people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: issuing an optical and/or acoustical alarm signal in case the touch sensor detects any part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

12. The method of operating a people conveyor according to claim 11, further comprising stopping any movement of the handrail in case the safety switch is activated.

13. The method of operating a people conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: reducing the speed of the handrail element in case the touch sensor detects any part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces.

14. A people conveyor comprising: 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; wherein the safety switch assembly comprises at least one sensor surface providing a touch sensor for detecting any part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces; wherein the speed of the handrail is reduced when the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching at least one of the at least one sensor surfaces; wherein the speed of the handrail and/or of the conveying element is increased to normal operational speed when the touch sensor does not detect a part of a human body approaching and/or touching the at least one sensor surface for at least a predetermined period of time.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with respect to the enclosed figures:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a schematic side view of a people conveyor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a lower landing area of a people conveyor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an upper landing area of a people conveyor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts an explosive perspective view of a handrail exit/entry box according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the handrail exit/entry box shown in FIG. 4 in an assembled state.

(7) FIG. 6 depicts a sectional view of the handrail exit/entry box shown in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a people conveyor 2, which in this case is provided in the form of an escalator. The skilled person, however, will easily understand that the invention may be applied similarly to a horizontal or inclined moving walkway. FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a lower landing area 4 of the people conveyor 2, and FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of an upper landing area 6 of the people conveyor 2.

(9) The people conveyor 2 comprises a truss 3 extending between the lower landing area 4 and the upper landing area 6. The truss 3 supports a movable conveying element 8, which in the case of an escalator is a step chain, and two balustrades 12 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1) extending parallel to the conveying element 8 on both lateral sides of the conveying element 8. Each balustrade 12 comprises a lower base portion 14 and an upper portion 16, which is supported by the base portion 14. The upper portions 16 may be made of a transparent material, such as glass or acrylic glass, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the Figures, the upper portions 16 may be made of an intransparent material, such as metal, in particular steel, stainless steel or aluminum. The upper portions 16 of the balustrade 12 may extend vertically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This is typical for transparent balustrades. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the Figures, the upper portions 16 may be arranged at an angle with respect to the vertical direction, which is typical for balustrades made of an intransparent material such as metal.

(10) A moving handrail 10, which is provided in the form of a belt forming a closed loop, extends and circulates around each of the balustrades 12.

(11) Handrail exit/entry boxes 18 providing handrail exit/entry portions 19 are arranged at the ends of the lower base portions 14. Each of the handrail exit/entry boxes 18 comprises an opening (not visible in FIGS. 1 to 3) for receiving a lower return portion of the handrail 10. In operation, the handrail 10 will exit from or enter into the respective opening, depending on the conveying direction.

(12) FIG. 4 depicts an explosive perspective view of a handrail exit/entry box 18 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. FIG. 5 shows the same handrail exit/entry box 18 in an assembled state and FIG. 6 shows a sectional view thereof.

(13) The handrail exit/entry box 18 comprises an opening 20 for receiving a lower return portion of the handrail 10, which is not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. The opening 20 is partially surrounded by a movably mounted switching element 22, which in particular may be a rockable element. The switching element 22 supports a cap 24. In the assembled state, which is shown in FIG. 5, the opening 20, an opening 23 formed within the switching element 22 (see FIG. 4) and an opening 25 formed within the cap 24 (see FIG. 4) are coaxially aligned. The handrail 10, which is not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, extends trough said openings 20, 23, 25.

(14) A safety switch 30 (see FIG. 6), which in particular may be a mechanical safety switch and which is not visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, is provided within the handrail exit/entry box 18. The safety switch 30, the switching element 22 and the cap 24 constitute a safety switch assembly 31. The safety switch 30 is configured to be activated by the switching element 22 when it is pushed towards the handrail exit/entry box 18, e.g. by a finger residing on the return portion of the handrail 10 (not shown) entering into the coaxially aligned openings 20, 23, 25.

(15) As a result, in case a part of a human body, e.g. a finger, is pressed against the cap 24 and/or the switching element 22 and moves the switching element 22 towards the handrail exit/entry box 18, the safety switch 30 is activated. When the safety switch 30 is activated, any movement of the handrail 12 is stopped in order to avoid that the part of the human body touching the cap 24 and/or the switching element 22 is pulled into the opening 25 and squeezed between the rim of the opening 25 and the handrail 12, which may result in severe injuries.

(16) Furthermore, at least one of the outer surfaces 26, 28 of the cap 24 and/or of the switching element 22 is configured as a sensor surface 27, 29 for providing, in combination with a corresponding detection circuit 32, a touch sensor, which allows to detect a part of a human body touching or approaching the at least one of the outer surfaces 26, 28 of the cap 24 and/or of the switching element 22.

(17) The touch sensor may be a capacitive sensor which is configured for detecting a change of capacity caused by the part of the human body approaching or touching the at least one of the outer surfaces 26, 28. Alternatively, the touch sensor may be an electrical sensor, which is configured for detecting a (small) electrical current flowing through a human body touching the at least one of the outer surfaces 26, 28. In order to provide the desired sensor surface 27, 29, the outer surfaces 26, 28 of the cap 24 and/or the switching element 22 may be covered with an appropriate metallic or non-metallic, but electrically conductive, coating.

(18) In an alternative embodiment the touch sensor may be an optical sensor comprising at least one optical sensor element which reacts on shading at least one of the outer surfaces 26, 28 by means of a part of a human body.

(19) A touch sensor, as it has been described before, allows to detect a severe risk that a part of a human body gets trapped and injured at a very early stage, in particular even before the switching element 22 is moved. Thus, the touch sensor allows to issue an alarm signal even before the switching element 22 is moved and the safety switch 30 is activated. In consequence, an alarm signal may be issued in order to cause the human to remove his/her part of the body from the handrail exit/entry portion 19. Alternatively or additionally the speed of the handrail 12, and optionally the speed of the conveying element 8, may be reduced for reducing the risk of pulling the detected part of the human body into the openings 20, 23, 25.

(20) In consequence, there is some chance that the part of the human body touching or approaching the cap 24 is removed in time and thus there may be no need for stopping the movement of the handrail 12 (and optionally the conveying element 8) completely. As a result, the shut-off times of the people conveyor 2 may be reduced.

(21) In case no part of a human body is detected in the vicinity of the cap 24 for at least a predetermined amount of time, the speed of the handrail 12 (and optionally the speed of the conveying element 8) may be increased back to normal speed without human intervention in order to return to normal operation.

(22) A number of optional features are set out in the following. These features may be realized in particular embodiments, alone or in combination with any of the other features.

(23) In an embodiment the safety switch assembly may comprise a switching element which is configured for activating a safety switch when moved and which extends at least partially around the handrail exit/entry portion. Such a switching element results in a reliable activation of the switch. A switching element extending at least partially around the handrail exit/entry portion is reliably activated by parts of a human body touching the handrail in the vicinity of the handrail exit/entry portion.

(24) In an embodiment the safety switch may be a mechanical switch. A mechanical switch provides a reliable and inexpensive safety switch. Alternatively, the safety switch may be an optical switch, e.g. a switch comprising a light barrier which is blocked when the switch is activated.

(25) In an embodiment the sensor surface may be provided on an outer surface of the switching element in order to cause the touch sensor to be activated when the outer surface of the switching element is touched.

(26) In an embodiment the touch sensor may be provided as a capacitive sensor which is configured for detecting a change of capacity caused by an approaching portion of a human body. Capacitive sensors provide reliable and inexpensive touch sensors, which are able to detect parts of the human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface.

(27) In an embodiment the touch sensor may be provided as an electrical sensor which is configured for detecting an electrical current flowing through a human body. Such electrical sensors provide reliable and inexpensive touch sensors, which are able to detect parts of the human body touching the sensor surface.

(28) In an embodiment the touch sensor may be provided as an optical sensor which is configured for optically detecting a portion of a human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface. Optical sensors provide reliable and inexpensive touch sensors, which are able to detect parts of the human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface.

(29) In an embodiment the people conveyor may be configured for issuing an optical alarm signal and/or an acoustic alarm signal in case the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface. Thus, a method of operating a people conveyor may include issuing an optical and/or acoustical alarm signal in case the touch sensor detects any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching the sensor surface.

(30) An optical alarm signal and/or an acoustic alarm signal may cause a human being to remove the detected part of his/her body from the entry portion before it is trapped or jammed within the opening. In case the part of the human body is removed in time, it may not be necessary to stop the movement of the handrail of the people conveyor. Thus, an inconvenient shutoff of the people conveyor may be avoided.

(31) In an embodiment the people conveyor may be configured for reducing the speed of the handrail in case the touch sensor detects a part of a human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface. Thus, method of operating a people conveyor may include reducing the speed of the handrail element in case the touch sensor detects any part of a human body, in particular a finger, approaching and/or touching the sensor surface.

(32) Reducing the speed of the handrail may allow a human being to remove the detected part of his/her body from the entry portion before it is trapped or jammed within the opening. In case the part of the human body is removed in time, it may not be necessary to stop the movement of the handrail of the people conveyor. Thus, an inconvenient shutoff of the people conveyor may be avoided.

(33) In an embodiment the people conveyor may be configured for reducing the speed of the conveying element together with the handrail in order to avoid a speed difference between the conveying element and the handrail.

(34) In an embodiment the people conveyor may be configured for increasing the speed of the handrail, and of the conveying element if applicable, back to normal operational speed in case the touch sensor does no detect a part of a human body approaching and/or touching the sensor surface for at least a predetermined period of time. This allows the people conveyor to return to normal operation without human intervention.

(35) In an embodiment the people conveyor may be an escalator including a conveying element comprising a plurality of steps. Alternatively, the people conveyor may be a moving walkway including a conveying element comprising a plurality of pallets.

(36) While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the dependent claims.

REFERENCES

(37) 2 people conveyor 3 truss 4 lower landing area 6 upper landing area 8 conveying element 10 handrail 12 balustrade 14 lower base portion of the balustrade 16 upper portion of the balustrade 18 handrail exit/entry box 19 handrail exit/entry portion 20 opening in the handrail exit/entry box 22 switching element 23 opening in the switching element 24 cap 25 opening in the cap 26 surface of the cap 27 sensor surface 28 surface of the switching element 29 sensor surface 30 safety switch 31 safety switch assembly 32 detection circuit