Drive belt for people conveyors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10968080-B2
Application number	US-201816157904-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2018
Priority date	Oct 19, 2017
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A drive belt ( 10; 20; 60 ) for a people conveyor comprises: a load bearing portion ( 12; 22; 62 ) extending in a longitudinal direction and having a length extending in the longitudinal direction and a width extending in a width direction; and a plurality of rollers ( 17; 27; 67 ) accommodated within the width of the load bearing portion ( 12; 22; 62 ). At least a part of the load bearing portion ( 12; 22; 62 ) is provided with a drive belt engagement structure ( 13; 23; 63 ). The drive belt engagement structure ( 13; 23; 63 ) in particular includes teeth ( 14, 25; 24 ), grooves ( 16; 26 ), and/or openings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Drive belt for a people conveyor comprising:
a load bearing portion extending in a longitudinal direction and having a length extending in the longitudinal direction and a width extending in a width direction; and
a plurality of rollers accommodated within the width of the load bearing portion;
wherein at least a part of the load bearing portion is provided with a drive belt engagement structure, wherein the drive belt engagement structure in particular includes teeth, grooves, and/or openings;
wherein the load bearing portion comprises:
a first cord extending in the longitudinal direction; and
a second cord extending parallel to the first cord in the longitudinal direction; and
wherein roller axles supporting the rollers are mounted to a rear side of the first and second cords, the rear side of the first and second cords being opposite to a front side of the first and second cords, the drive belt engagement structure formed on the front side.

2. Drive belt according to claim 1 , wherein the roller axles extend at least partially through said teeth.

3. Drive belt according to claim 2 further comprising conveyance element axles which are attached to at least some of the roller axles.

4. Drive belt according to claim 1 further comprising conveyance element axles attached to the drive belt.

5. Drive belt according to claim 4 , wherein the distance between two adjacent conveyance element axles in the longitudinal direction is between 300 mm and 500 mm.

6. Drive system for a conveyor system comprising
at least one drive belt according to claim 1 ; and
at least one drive element which is configured for engaging with the drive belt engagement structure of the at least one drive belt.

7. Drive system according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one drive belt comprises first and second cords each of which comprises the drive belt engagement structure, and wherein the drive element comprises first and second drive wheels which are arranged coaxially to each other, each drive wheel engaging with the drive belt engagement structure of one of the first and second cords, respectively.

8. Drive system according to claim 6 , comprising a roller guide element which is configured for accommodating and guiding the rollers.

9. Drive system according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one drive element comprises a drive wheel having a diameter of less than 1000 mm.

10. Drive system according to claim 6 , comprising two drive belts arranged coaxially with each other.

11. People conveyor comprising
a drive system according to claim 6 ;
conveyance element axles which are attached to at least one of the drive belts; and
conveyance elements, such as steps or pallets, attached to the conveyance element axles.

12. People conveyor according to claim 11 , wherein the conveyance elements travel along a path comprising a conveyance portion and a return portion, and wherein the at least one drive belt is arranged under the conveyance elements when travelling along the conveyance portion.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Turek Alexander
• Glueck Andreas

Classifications

• B65G17/24 Primary

  comprising a series of rollers which are moved {, e.g. over a supporting surface, by the traction element to effect conveyance of loads or load-carriers} · CPC title

• B66B23/024

  Chains therefor · CPC title

• B65G39/20

  attached to moving belts or chains · CPC title

• B66B23/04

  for handrails · CPC title

• B65G15/42

  having ribs, ridges, or other surface projections · CPC title