AU2021104617A4

AU2021104617A4 - A cleaning device for an escalator handrail belt

Info

Publication number: AU2021104617A4
Application number: AU2021104617A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Matthew Kenneth SHEPHERD
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-07-27
Filing date: 2021-07-27
Publication date: 2021-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-27

Abstract

Disclosed is a cleaning device for cleaning an escalator handrail belt, the device comprising a container for a cleaning agent, a sprayer for spraying the handrail belt with cleaning agent, and an applicator to evenly apply the cleaning agent to the handrail belt. A control unit may be provided for controlling spraying of the handrail belt when a sensor senses a person on the escalator. A transceiver may be provided for receiving and transmitting monitoring information to an external device, including the number of sprays within a time period and the amount of agent in the container. 1/6 1000 40 20 70 60 Fig. 1

Description

1/6

1000

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Fig. 1

A CLEANING DEVICE FOR AN ESCALATOR HANDRAIL BELT

Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to a cleaning device and in particular to a cleaning device for a moving belt such as an escalator handrail belt.

[2] The invention has been developed primarily for use with moving walkways such as escalators or travelators and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

[3] Escalators are high traffic areas in building such as shopping centres. As people use escalators to traverse levels of a building, they commonly hold or otherwise touch the handrails of the escalator.

[4] Given the recent risks presented by the COVID 19 virus and the popularity of escalators in environments where large groups of people congregate in confined spaces, such as shopping centres, escalator handrail belts are high touch areas.

[5] Hence, the use of escalators poses a high risk of disease transmission.

[6] Typically, cleaners will wipe down the escalator handrail belts when the escalator is stationary. As part of the escalator handrail belts are housed within a housing and so, covered, the cleaner will not be able to access and clean parts of the handrail for example with a cleaning cloth and a cleaning agent.

[7] Hence, manually cleaning the belt in this way is laboursome, time consuming and not very effective.

[8] The present invention seeks to provide a cleaning device, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[9] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

[10] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning device for cleaning an escalator handrail belt comprising:

a container for a cleaning agent;

a sprayer including one or more spray outlets for spraying an escalator handrail belt with cleaning agent, the sprayer being in fluid communication with the container, and

an applicator spaced from the sprayer, the applicator adapted to evenly apply the sprayed cleaning agent to the escalator handrail belt.

[11] The cleaning device may further comprise a cleaning brush spaced from and positioned relative to the sprayer for cleaning the belt before the belt is sprayed.

[12] The applicator may be oriented such that an outer surface of the applicator is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt to ensure maximum contact surface area between the cleaning surface of the applicator and the outer surface of the belt, in use.

[13] The sprayer may include a spray nozzle at each one of the one or more spray outlets.

[14] The applicator may be mounted on an adjustable arm.

[15] The cleaning brush may be oriented such that an outer surface of the cleaning brush is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt to ensure maximum contact surface area between the outer surface of the cleaning brush and the outer surface of the belt, in use.

[16] The cleaning device may further comprise a control unit for controlling spraying of the belt by the sprayer.

[17] The cleaning device may further comprise a sensor operably connected to the control unit and adapted to detect people on an escalator.

[18] The sensor may be a proximity sensor. The sensor may be an infrared sensor.

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[19] The sprayer may comprise a pump to move the cleaning agent from the container and through the one or more outlets to dispense the cleaning agent onto the belt.

[20] The device may further comprise an actuator operably connected to the control unit and adapted to cause the sprayer to spray the cleaning agent.

[21] The control unit may be adapted to cause the sprayer to spray the cleaning agent at predetermined intervals.

[22] The control unit may be adapted to cause the sprayer to spray the cleaning agent upon detection of a user by the sensor.

[23] The cleaning device may further comprise a transceiver operably connected to the control unit to receive and transmit monitoring information to an external device.

[24] The monitoring information may further comprise an indication of an amount of cleaning agent within the container. The monitoring information may further comprise an indication of a number of times the sprayer has been sprayed within a time frame. The monitoring information may further comprise an indication of an operational state of the device.

[25] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[26] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[27] Fig. 1 is a perspective view cleaning device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[28] Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the cleaning device in accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

[29] Fig. 3 is a right side view of the cleaning device in accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

[30] Fig. 4 is a front view of the applicator of the cleaning device in accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

[31] Fig. 5 is a left side view of the device of Fig. 1, and

[32] Fig. 6 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1.

Description of Embodiments

[33] Figure 1 shows a cleaning device 1000 for cleaning an escalator handrail belt. The cleaning device 1000 comprises a container 10 for a cleaning agent. The device 1000 includes a sprayer 20 including one or more spray outlets 25 for spraying an escalator handrail belt with cleaning agent. The sprayer 20 is in fluid communication with the container 10. The cleaning device 1000 also comprises an applicator 40 spaced from the sprayer 20. The applicator 40 is adapted to evenly apply the sprayed cleaning agent onto the escalator handrail belt.

[34] An escalator comprises a moving staircase. The escalator has sides which extend upwardly from the moving stairs. Each side of the escalator includes a handrail belt. Each handrail belt typically moves in tandem with the moving stairs. Each escalator handrail belt comprises a conveyor belt which turns around rotating supports.

[35] When used the cleaning device 1000 will be located adjacent to where the handrail belt exits from the housing of the escalator handrail belt in order to clean the escalator handrail belt each time the belt completes a revolution around the rotating supports in the side of the escalator.

[36] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment the device 1000 includes a frame 60 comprising a base plate 62 and a side plate 64 extending perpendicular to the base plate 62 when the device 1000 is assembled. The base plate 62 and side plate 64 are configured to support components of the device 1000, in use. The base plate 62 is fastened to the side plate 64 via suitable fasteners. The side plate 64 also includes attachment holes 66 for engaging with fasteners for attaching components of the device to the side plate 64 selectively.

[37] As shown in Figure 2, the container 10 sits above and is attached to the base plate 62. In an embodiment, the container 10 is replaceable. The container 10 includes an opening through which the container can be filled with cleaning agent.

[38] The container 10 is connected to the sprayer 20 via a conduit 50. In this embodiment, the cleaning agent is a sanitizing fluid. For example, the cleaning agent can comprise an antibacterial and/or antiviral substance and/or a detergent.

[39] The sprayer 20 is adapted to dispense the cleaning fluid onto the escalator handrail belt as it moves out of the housing of the escalator handrail belt.

[40] The sprayer 20 includes a propulsion means such as a pump not shown) (not shown) for propelling the cleaning agent through the conduit 50 from the container 10 to the sprayer 20. Upon releasing of the cleaning agent from the container 10, fluid travels through the conduit 50 and out of the one or more outlets 25 to be dispensed onto the handrail belt.

[41] As mentioned, the sprayer 20 comprises one or more spray nozzles 26 adjacent the one or more spray outlets 25. The one or more spray nozzles 26 are mounted on a support 27 and configured to convert the cleaning fluid into a spray as it is released onto the belt.

[42] In this emHbodiment as shown in Figure 6, the device 1000 comprises three spray nozzles 26, the spray nozzles 26 are linearly arranged along the support 27 as shown in Figure 5 in order to evenly apply sanitising fluid across the width of the escalator handrail belt when the fluid is dispensed.

[43] The pump (not shown)(not shown) is located between the container 10 and the outlets 25. The pump (not shown)(not shown) is housed within a housing of the device 1000 shown in Figure 3 for example.

[44] The cleaning device 1000 also comprises a cleaning brush 70 spaced from the sprayer 20. The cleaning brush 70 comprises a dense arrangement of bristles as shown in figure 5. The brush 70 can be made of a suitable polymeric material.

[45] The ends of the bristles of the cleaning brush 70 form an outermost surface for brushing dirt off an outer surface of the escalator handrail belt.

[46] The outer surface of the brush 70 is oriented such that it is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt. This ensures maximum contact surface area between the outer surface of the cleaning brush and the outer surface of the belt, in use. The cleaning brush 70 is mounted on an arm 72. The arm 72 is attached to the side plate 64 via fasteners such as screws/nuts and bolts.

[47] The location of the outermost surface of the brush relative to the outer surface of the handrail belt can be adjusted by varying the location of the fastener(s) by selecting one or more attachment holes in the side plate. The outermost surface is sufficiently close and/or in contact with the outer surface to ensure adequate engagement of the bristles with the escalator handrail belt to sufficiently clean the surface of the escalator handrail belt.

[48] The cleaning brush 70 is positioned such that the escalator handrail belt moves across the outer surface of the brush before the sprayer 20 sprays the cleaning agent so that the sprayed cleaning agent is in contact with substantially all of the belt surface to ensure that the belt surface is sufficiently sanitized.

[49] As mentioned above, the cleaning device 1000 includes an applicator 40 for applying the sprayed cleaning agent across an outer surface of the belt. The applicator 40 can comprise a sponge. In this embodiment, the applicator 40 comprises two sponges, each sponge comprising a contact surface 42 that is complementary to an outer surface of the escalator handrail belt. An advantage of having two sponges is that the first sponge helps spread the cleaning agent across the outer surface and the second sponge spreads the cleaning agent further across the outer surface to help sanitize substantially all of the cleaning belt, in use. In other embodiments, the applicator 40 can comprise a microfibre fabric or other fabric surface configured for cleaning a surface.

[50] The applicator 40 is adapted to fit snugly around the belt such that the contact surface of the applicator 40 is in contact with the outer surface of the handrail belt across the entire width of the handrail belt.

[51] The applicator 40 has an opening for receiving the escalator handrail belt that is defined by the contact surface. As the sponge is flexible and lightweight, it is able to fit around the escalator belt easily.

[52] In this embodiment, the applicator 40 comprises two sponges. In other embodiments, the applicator 40 can comprise a single sponge or more than two sponges. In this embodiment, the sponges are mounted on a support 44 which is attached to an arm 46. The arm 46 is fastened to the side plate.

[53] The applicator 40 is oriented such that an outer surface of the applicator 40 is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt to ensure maximum contact surface area between the contact surface of the applicator 40 and the outer surface of the belt, in use.

[54] The side plate 64 comprises an arrangement of holes defining attachment positions for attaching the arms 72, 46 connecting the cleaning brush 70 and applicator

40 to support them in position. In this embodiment, the arrangement comprises four rows of holes. The arms 72, 46 can be fastened to the side plate 64 via the holes and so that relative positions of the arms can be changed to adjust the distance of the brush 70 and/or applicator 40 from the escalator handrail belt and the orientation of the contact surface of the applicator 40 relative to the outer surface of the escalator handrail belt.

[55] As shown, for example in Figure 3, the brush 70, spray nozzles 26 and applicator 40 are relatively positioned such that the brush 70 contacts an outer surface of the escalator handrail belt to remove any grit or grime on the surface before the sprayer 20 deposits cleaning fluid on that surface. The applicator 40 which is positioned after the spray nozzles will then distribute the sanitizing fluid across the belt and clean the outer surface of the escalator handrail belt.

[56] The cleaning device 1000 is configured to be positioned adjacent the location that the escalator handrail belt exits from a housing of the handrail belt. Typically, the handrail belt moves horizontally outwards and upwards out of the housing and then while continuing to move upwardly reverses horizontal direction to then move upwardly alongside the moving stairs. Due to its location, the cleaning device 1000 cleans and sanitizes the belt before the handrail belt moves into a position where contact between a user and the outward surface of the belt is likely to occur.

[57] The cleaning device 1000 further comprises a control unit 90 for controlling spraying of the belt via the sprayer. The control unit 90 is operably connected to the pump (not shown) and controls when the pump (not shown) is turned on or off to supply fluid to be dispensed through the outlets 25.

[58] The device 1000 further comprises an actuator (not shown) operably connected to the control unit 90 and the pump (not shown). The actuator (not shown) is adapted to cause the sprayer 20 to spray the cleaning agent. The actuator (not shown) may be a button or other suitable mechanical or electrical means that causes the pump (not shown) to pump fluid through the conduit 50 causing the sprayer 20 to dispense a spray of fluid onto the outer surface of the belt.

[59] The cleaning device 1000 further comprises a sensor 110 operably connected to the control unit 90 and adapted to detect people using the escalator for example, when a person is stepping on to the escalator.

[60] The sensor 110 is configured to detect a user approaching or getting onto the escalator. The sensor 110 can be positioned to sense the location of a user or the proximity of the user to the escalator. For example, the sensor 110 can be an infrared sensor.

[61] Figure 5 shows the location the sensor 110 in this embodiment. The sensor 110 is located in the housing that includes the pump (not shown) and control unit 90. The side plate 64 has an aperture 65 extending through the side plate which is located adjacent the sensor. The aperture 65 allows for the infrared beam to extend across the front of the escalator.

[62] The control unit 90 can be configured to cause the sprayer 20 to spray the cleaning agent at predetermined times. Alternatively, the sprayer 20 can spray the cleaning fluid onto the belt intermittently such as at regular intervals before every revolution of the escalator handrail belt. The control unit 90 can be configured to spray the cleaning fluid intermittently for a predetermined duration such as during when the escalator is in operation.

[63] In an embodiment, upon detection of a user stepping onto the escalator by the sensor 110, the control unit 90 can cause the sprayer 20 to spray the cleaning fluid onto the outer surface of the belt.

[64] The control unit 90 can be configured to transmit information via WIFI or Bluetooth to an external device. For example, the cleaning device 1000 can comprise a transceiver (not shown) operably connected to the control unit 90 to receive and transmit monitoring information to an external device such as a mobile phone or tablet.

[65] The monitoring information can comprise an indication of an amount of cleaning agent within the container 10 such as a fill level of the container 10. This will indicate when the container 10 needs to be refilled or replaced. The fill level can be monitored by a suitable sensor for example, within the control unit 90.

[66] The monitoring information can also include an indication of a number of times the sprayer 20 has been sprayed within a certain time frame. This can be determined by a counter in the control board of the control unit 90, for example.

[67] The monitoring information may further comprise an indication of an operational state of the device 1000. This can be determined by suitably configured electronics in the control board of the control unit 90.

[68] As people use the escalators, they tend to hold or otherwise touch the handrail belts of the escalators. This cleaning device 1000 will aid in reducing or eliminating the risk of disease transmission and subsequent infection by killing bacteria and viruses on escalator handrail belts.

Interpretation

Embodiments:

[69] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[70] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[71] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Comprising and Including

[72] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

[73] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[74] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[75] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

[76] It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable to the commercial building and construction industries.

Claims

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A cleaning device for cleaning an escalator handrail belt comprising:

a container for a cleaning agent;

2. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a cleaning brush spaced from and positioned relative to the sprayer for cleaning the belt before the belt is sprayed.

3. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the applicator is oriented such that an outer surface of the applicator is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt to ensure maximum contact surface area between the cleaning surface of the applicator and the outer surface of the belt, in use.

4. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the sprayer includes a spray nozzle at each one of the one or more spray outlets.

5. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the applicator is mounted on an adjustable arm.

6. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning brush is oriented such that an outer surface of the cleaning brush is complementary to an adjacent outer surface of the belt to ensure maximum contact surface area between the outer surface of the cleaning brush and the outer surface of the belt, in use.

7. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a control unit for controlling spraying of the belt by the sprayer.

8. The cleaning device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor operably connected to the control unit and adapted to detect people on an escalator.

9. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the proximity sensor is an infrared sensor.

10. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein the sprayer comprises a pump to move the cleaning agent from the container and through the one or more outlets to dispense the cleaning agent onto the belt.

11. The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the sprayer to spray the cleaning agent at predetermined intervals.

12. The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the sprayer to spray the cleaning agent upon detection of a user on or near the escalator.

13. The cleaning device of claim 7 further comprising a transceiver operably connected to the control unit to receive and transmit monitoring information to an external device.

14. The cleaning device of claim 13 wherein the monitoring information comprises an indication of an amount of cleaning agent within the container.

15. The cleaning device of claim 13 wherein the monitoring information comprises a number of times the sprayer has been sprayed within a time frame.

16. The cleaning device of claim 13 wherein the monitoring information comprises an operational state of the device.