Automatic conveyor and automatic cleaning device for the handrail belt thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12479702-B2
Application number	US-202318365444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2023
Priority date	Nov 10, 2022
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

An automatic conveying device and an automatic cleaning device for the handrail belt thereof. The automatic cleaning device includes a base; a first cleaning unit and a second cleaning unit mounted on the base, the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are arranged in a front and back way in a moving direction of the handrail belt; a cleaning liquid conveying device, for conveying cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit or the second cleaning unit; and a controller configured to control the cleaning liquid conveying device to deliver the cleaning liquid to one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that first comes into contact with the handrail belt based on the running direction of the handrail belt during the cleaning operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An automatic cleaning device for a handrail belt of an automatic conveying device, the automatic cleaning device comprising:
a base; a first cleaning unit and a second cleaning unit mounted on the base, wherein the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are arranged in a front and back way in a moving direction of the handrail belt; a cleaning liquid conveying device, for conveying cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit or the second cleaning unit; and a controller configured to control the cleaning liquid conveying device to deliver the cleaning liquid to only one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that first comes into contact with the handrail belt based on a running direction of the handrail belt during a cleaning operation, such that in a first handrail belt direction the first cleaning unit receives the cleaning liquid and the second cleaning unit does not receive the cleaning liquid and in a second handrail belt direction opposite to the first handrail belt direction the second cleaning unit receives the cleaning liquid and the first cleaning unit does not receive the cleaning liquid.

2 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are movably mounted on the base, and the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are movable between an operating position and an idle position relative to the base driven by a drive mechanism, and wherein, when at the operating position, the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are in contact with the handrail belt, and when at the idle position, the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are separated from the handrail belt.

3 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic cleaning device further comprises a cleaning liquid tank, and the cleaning liquid conveying device is connected to the cleaning liquid tank.

4 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid conveying device comprises a main pipeline connected to the cleaning liquid tank, a drive pump on the main pipeline, a first branch and a second branch respectively connected to the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit, and a switching valve selectively connecting the first branch to the main pipeline or connecting the second branch to the main pipeline.

5 . An automatic cleaning device for a handrail belt of an automatic conveying device, the automatic cleaning device comprising:
a base; a first cleaning unit and a second cleaning unit mounted on the base, wherein the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are arranged in a front and back way in a moving direction of the handrail belt; a cleaning liquid conveying device, for conveying cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit or the second cleaning unit; and a controller configured to control the cleaning liquid conveying device to deliver the cleaning liquid to one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that first comes into contact with the handrail belt based on a running direction of the handrail belt during a cleaning operation; wherein the cleaning liquid conveying device comprises a main pipeline connected to the cleaning liquid tank, a drive pump on the main pipeline, a first branch and a second branch respectively connected to the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit, and a switching valve selectively connecting the first branch to the main pipeline or connecting the second branch to the main pipeline; wherein, when performing a cleaning operation, the controller controls the drive pump to start operating, controls the drive mechanism to drive the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit to move to the operating position, and controls the switching valve so that the cleaning liquid is supplied to one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that first comes into contact with the handrail belt, and when stopping the cleaning operation, the controller controls the drive mechanism to drive the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit to the idle position, and controls the drive pump to stop operating.

6 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic cleaning device further comprises an ultraviolet sterilization module that sterilizes the handrail belt when it passes therethrough.

7 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically perform the cleaning operation at a specific time interval, where each cleaning operation lasts for a predetermined time period.

8 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform the cleaning operation when the automatic conveying device is at idle speed or in normal operation.

9 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises a drive motor and a screw and nut mechanism, the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are mounted on a movable bracket that is movable relative to the base, and the drive motor and the screw and nut mechanism drive the movable bracket to move on the base, so as to synchronously drive the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit to move.

10 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that receives the cleaning liquid performs wet cleaning, and the other of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that does not receive the cleaning liquid performs dry cleaning, so as to remove the cleaning liquid that remains on the handrail belt during the wet cleaning.

11 . The automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 , wherein the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit comprise replaceable cloth-based wiping heads, and the cleaning liquid conveying device delivers the cleaning liquid to the wiping head of the first cleaning unit or the second cleaning unit.

12 . An automatic conveying device, wherein the automatic conveying device is provided with an automatic cleaning device according to claim 1 comprising:
a base;
a first cleaning unit and a second cleaning unit mounted on the base, wherein the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit are arranged in a front and back way in a moving direction of the handrail belt;
a cleaning liquid conveying device, for conveying cleaning liquid to the first cleaning unit or the second cleaning unit; and
a controller configured to control the cleaning liquid conveying device to deliver the cleaning liquid to only one of the first cleaning unit and the second cleaning unit that first comes into contact with the handrail belt based on a running direction of the handrail belt during a cleaning operation, such that in a first handrail belt direction the first cleaning unit receives the cleaning liquid and the second cleaning unit does not receive the cleaning liquid and in a second handrail belt direction opposite to the first handrail belt direction the second cleaning unit receives the cleaning liquid and the first cleaning unit does not receive the cleaning liquid.

13 . The automatic conveying device according to claim 12 , wherein the automatic conveying device is an escalator or a moving walkway, and the automatic cleaning device is arranged inside a housing of the automatic conveying device to clean the handrail belt in a reverse running section of the handrail belt.

Assignees

• Otis Elevator Co

Inventors

• Huang Jiangxing
• Zhou Zhengguang
• Zhou Mingli
• Feng Minglei

Classifications

• B08B13/00

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title

• B08B3/041

  Cleaning travelling work · CPC title

• A61L2202/17

  Combination with washing or cleaning means · CPC title

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2202/11

  Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps · CPC title