People conveyor and method of operating a people conveyor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10053337-B2
Application number	US-201715782082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2017
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Turek Alexander
• Senger Alois

Classifications

• B66B29/04 Primary

  for balustrades or handrails · CPC title

• B66B29/005 Primary

  Applications of security monitors · CPC title

• B66B23/12

  Steps · CPC title

• B66B21/02

  Escalators · CPC title