Arrangement of a monitoring sensor in an escalator or in a moving walkway

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368741-A1
Application number	US-201415106350-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 14, 2014
Priority date	Dec 20, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An escalator or a moving walkway has two access regions, each with a comb plate, and a conveying region arranged between the access regions. The conveying region extends between the two comb plates of the access regions. At least one projection projects into the conveying region at at least one stationary part of the escalator or moving walkway. At least one monitoring sensor is arranged at least partly in the at least one projection.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . An escalator or moving walkway having two access regions, each with a comb plate, and a conveying region arranged between the access regions, which conveying region extends between the two comb plates and is bounded longitudinally balustrades and balustrade bases, comprising:
at least one projection projecting into the conveying region and arranged at at least one stationary part of the escalator or moving walkway; and at least one monitoring sensor arranged at least partly in the at least one projection for detecting objects.

19 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein the at least one monitoring sensor monitors an associated one of the access regions.

20 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein a position of the at least one projection relative to the associated access region to be monitored is so arranged that the associated access region is covered in a width defined by the balustrades and the balustrade bases, and in a length extending from the comb plate to at least ends of the balustrades arranged in a vicinity of the associated access region, by a detection cone of the at least one monitoring sensor.

21 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein the objects are detectable in a detection cone of the at least one monitoring sensor along a wall in or at which the at least one projection with the at least one monitoring sensor is arranged.

22 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein a device projecting into the conveying region is arranged at the at least one projection.

23 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 22 wherein the device extends over at least a quarter of a length of the conveying region.

24 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 23 wherein at least one monitoring sensor in a projection is associated with each of the two access regions and the device extends between the two projections.

25 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 23 wherein the at least one stationary part is a balustrade base, the device is a deflector brush and the at least one projection is a start element of the deflector brush arranged at the balustrade base.

26 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 23 wherein the at least one stationary part is a balustrade, the device is a handrail guide of the balustrade and the at least one projection is formed at the handrail guide.

27 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 23 wherein the at least one stationary part is balustrade lighting means, the device is a cover of the balustrade lighting means and the at least one projection is formed at the cover.

28 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 23 wherein the at least one stationary part is a balustrade base, the device is step belt lighting means or plate belt lighting means and the at least one projection is a start element of the step belt lighting means or the plate belt lighting means.

29 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein a sensor head of the at least one monitoring sensor is arranged in the at least one projection and a sensor housing of the at least one monitoring sensor is arranged in an interior space delimited by a wall of the escalator or the moving walkway.

30 . The escalator or moving walkway according to claim 18 wherein the at least one monitoring sensor is a radar sensor, an infrared sensor, a laser scanner, a charge-coupled-device camera or a time-of-flight camera.

31 . A method of modernizing an existing escalator or an existing moving walkway, comprising the steps of:
arranging at least one projection to project into a conveying region at at least one stationary part of the escalator or the moving walkway; and arranging at least one monitoring sensor at least partly in the at least one projection.

32 . A method of operating an escalator or a moving walkway having two access regions, each with a comb plate, and a conveying region arranged between the access regions, which conveying region extends between the two comb plates and is bounded longitudinally balustrades and balustrade bases, and at least one monitoring sensor arranged in a projection projecting into the conveying region adjacent an associated one of the comb plates, comprising the steps of:
evaluating monitoring signals generated by the at least one monitoring sensor with respect to whether a user rapidly approaches the associated comb plate, whether the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate, or whether the user remains for a longer period of time in the one of the access regions monitored by the at least one monitoring sensor; and operating the escalator or moving walkway in response to the evaluated monitoring signals.

33 . The method of operating an escalator or a moving walkway according to claim 32 wherein at least one of the following steps is carried out:
if the user rapidly approaches the associated comb plate the speed of a step belt or a plate belt is increased from a slow conveying speed to a normal conveying speed before the user has gone past the associated comb plate in a direction of the conveying region;
if the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate the step belt or the plate belt is brought to a slow conveying speed, which speed is maintained until the user has left the conveying region;
if the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate and the speed of the step belt or the plate belt is already at the slow conveying speed the slow conveying speed is maintained until the user has left the conveying region;
if the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate the speed of the step belt or the plate belt is reduced from the normal conveying speed to the slow conveying speed and is increased from the slow conveying speed to the normal conveying speed only when the user has left the conveying region;
if the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate the speed of the step belt or the plate belt is increased from the slow conveying speed to the normal conveying speed only when the user has gone past the associated comb plate;
if the user slowly approaches the associated comb plate the speed of the step belt or the plate belt is reduced from the normal conveying speed to the slow conveying speed and is increased from the slow conveying speed to the normal conveying speed only when the user has gone past the associated comb plate; and
if the user remains for a longer period of time in the access region monitored by the at least one monitoring sensor the step belt or the plate belt is stopped.

34 . The method of operating an escalator or a moving walkway according to claim 32 wherein in a presence of a slow user and a fast user a slow conveying speed is maintained or a normal conveying speed is reduced until the slow user has left the conveying region.

Assignees

• Inventio Ag

Inventors

• Blondiau Dirk
• Stoiber Gerhard
• Steindl Gunter
• Burri Jurg
• Matheisl Michael

Classifications

• B66B19/007

  method for modernisation of elevators · CPC title

• B66B25/00 Primary

  Control of escalators or moving walkways (walkways of variable speed type B66B21/12; handrails of variable speed type B66B23/26; of general application G05) · CPC title

• B66B31/00

  Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning (for safety B66B29/00) · CPC title

• B66B21/12

  of variable speed type · CPC title

• B66B29/08

  Means to facilitate passenger entry or exit (moving handrails B66B23/24) · CPC title