Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B31/00—Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning
  • B66B31/003—Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning for cleaning steps or pallets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
  • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
  • B66B31/00—Accessories for escalators, or moving walkways, e.g. for sterilising or cleaning
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/24—Floor-sweeping machines, motor-driven
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/4011—Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
  • A47L11/4044—Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/4052—Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface
  • A47L11/4058—Movement of the tools or the like perpendicular to the cleaning surface for adjusting the height of the tool
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/4063—Driving means; Transmission means therefor
  • A47L11/4069—Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
  • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
  • A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
  • A47L11/4088—Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for mechanically cleaning the tread elements of an escalator or moving walkway according to the preamble of claim 1, a corresponding automatic cleaning method and a method for cleaning the tread elements of an escalator or moving walkway with controllable drive and a device for carrying out this method
• DE 195 39 186 A1 discloses a cleaning device for cleaning the tread elements of an escalator according to the preamble of claim 1.
• a brush is used in this embodiment, which consists of a rotating, drivable band with brushes attached to it.
• the belt has a horizontal section that acts on the tread surface of the step and a vertical section that acts on the front surface of the treadmill.
• this device is equipped with spray nozzles for applying a washing liquor from a storage tank and a collecting container for the dirty water broth A suction device arranged at the end of the loading path is fed to the collecting container.
• the device is raised step by step with a handle and an operator m then to be placed there each time for a new cleaning cycle.
• the device must therefore be moved upwards as a whole, which can be cumbersome and ultimately dangerous for the operator
• the design of the cleaning element as a circumferential brush band often leads to unsatisfactory results, especially when used on escalators, since the corner areas between the tread surfaces and the end faces can often only be cleaned inadequately. Because of their holder, the brushes do not or only partially get into the corner areas, so that sufficient cleaning action is not achieved, particularly in these problematic areas. In this case, it is often necessary to clean by hand. To move the treading element further, it must be operated by hand so that the constant presence of an operator is required, which makes economic use more difficult Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide an improved device and an improved method for cleaning tread elements of an escalator or moving walk, with which thorough and largely automatic cleaning is ensured.
• the device with the cleaning members can be driven oscillating approximately parallel to the tread surfaces, that is to say are automatically moved horizontally in a back and forth movement over the tread surface, ensures thorough cleaning of all areas of the tread element. This is particularly advantageous for grooved escalators and moving walks, where dirt and debris can easily accumulate in the grooves and are difficult to remove.
• the cleaning process with oscillating movements in particular when cleaning escalators, enables the cleaning members to reach the corner area which is formed between a step and the end face of the next higher step, so that this corner area is also sufficiently well cleaned.
• the device which carries the cleaning members is designed to be driven in an oscillating manner in the vertical direction, in synchronism with the horizontal oscillation movement.
• an oscillating horizontal movement can be superimposed in synchronism with the oscillating vertical movement, so that the cleaning members are first lowered onto the treads per cycle, then pulled back into contact with the treads, then raised again and back again above the treads Lowering point.
• dirt and deposits are moved in one direction out of the groove profile of the tread elements of the moving walks or moving walks, so that the dirt not whirled up, but pushed in one direction. Since the cleaning elements, due to the oscillating movements, run over the surfaces to be cleaned several times, thorough cleaning of all areas of the step element is guaranteed.
• the horizontal oscillation movement of the cleaning members can be carried out so that only a part of the surface to be cleaned is covered.
• the device that carries the cleaning members is then adjustably mounted on the tread so that it is gradually pulled over the tread while executing the oscillating movement.
• the path of the oscillating movement which becomes shorter in this way, results in an even stronger cleaning.
• the cleaning elements can be used to clean the treads as well as the front surfaces of the steps of an escalator.
• second cleaning members for example in the form of an absorbent pad, which act on the end faces of the steps, the device also being vertically adjustable.
• the dirt on the end faces can be wiped off and vacuumed up.
• the pad can then, as will be explained further below, be automatically stripped into a collecting pan and cleaned.
• cleaning brushes which extend transversely to the direction of movement of the escalator are advantageous as cleaning members for the step surfaces.
• the cleaning device is laterally displaced after cleaning a partial area of a step element or is automatically shifted within the cleaning device.
• the cleaning members extend approximately over the width of the escalator.
• drip pan can be provided, with the help of which the cleaning members can be cleaned between individual operations.
• a mechanism can be provided which wipes the cleaning members on the wiper or cleans them with the aid of the spray nozzles.
• the object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a method having the features of the characterizing part of claim 25 and a generic device having the features of claim 34.
• the cleaning device can itself the escalator e.g. Intermittently bring in gradually so that the cleaning process can be carried out automatically by electronic communication between the cleaning device and the escalator control without any operator.
• the device according to the invention there is a connection to the control of the cleaning device for connection to the control of the escalator or moving walk.
• Such a method and such a device make it possible for the cleaning device to actuate the escalator after cleaning a predetermined number of tread elements in order to move the escalator further on.
• the cleaning device is in the same position for cleaning the respective number of tread elements while the escalator or moving walk continues to move. This movement is triggered by the signals from the control of the cleaning device. In particular, this eliminates the need to move the device up the steps.
• a fully automatic cleaning process is possible thanks to the direct, automatic communication between the escalator or moving walk and the cleaning device.
• the cleaning device is moved into one end of the escalator or moving walk and the drive control of the escalator or moving walk is connected to the control of the cleaning device.
• a first number of treads for example one, is then cleaned with the cleaning device.
• the control of the device sends a signal to the drive control of the escalator or moving walk, so that the escalator moves on by a number of tread elements corresponding to the first number and the process can begin again.
• the cleaning device has to be operated by an operator only once, e.g. positioned at the bottom of the escalator, everything else happens automatically until the entire escalator is cleaned.
• connection of the control of the cleaning device with the drive of the escalator or the moving walk can be made with an appropriately adapted interface cable.
• the cleaning process is particularly advantageously carried out in accordance with the method according to claims 18 to 20 or with a cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 19.
• a cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 19.
• the control of the cleaning device controls the staircase in such a way that at least one end face is exposed and after or before the step surface cleaning, end face cleaning is then also possible.
• a cleaning method according to one of claims 23 and 24 is preferably used to clean the respective end faces.
• Figure 1 shows a cleaning device according to the invention for cleaning the
• FIG. 2 shows the cleaning device according to FIG. 1 when cleaning the end face of a step surface
• FIG. 3 shows the cleaning device according to FIG. 1 in an intermediate position
• FIG. 4 shows the support arm with plunger provided in the cleaning device according to FIG. 1 in an enlarged view
• FIG. 6 shows the cleaning members provided in the cleaning device according to FIG. 1 with an associated spray nozzle and collecting pan, in an enlarged section.
• the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and designated 11 in each case serves to clean the steps 2 of an escalator 1 and essentially consists of a vertically and horizontally adjustable support arm 13 arranged in a movable housing 12, on which a cleaning element 61, 62 is attached equipped and oscillatingly driven plunger 14 is attached.
• the cleaning members 61, 62 can thus act repeatedly on the treads 3 or the end faces 4 of the individual treads 2 and free them of dirt.
• the cleaning members 61 for the treads 3 are rows of brushes arranged perpendicular to the plane of the figure, which can also effectively engage in the groove profile of the treads.
• the cleaning members 62 for the end faces 4 are designed as sponges.
• the cleaning device 11 can automatically assume the operating position, there are two rollers 21 and one or two height-adjustable drive wheels 22 in one end of the housing 12 equipped with a handle 20 opposite end region height-adjustable wheels 26 and one or two transfer wheels 29 are provided.
• an electric motor (not shown) is provided for driving the drive wheels 22.
• racks 23 and 27 are used, which are adjustable by a motor 24 via a gear 25 assigned to them or directly by a motor 28.
• the support arm 13 can also be adjusted horizontally in the direction of arrow C with the aid of a spindle 16 and an associated drive motor 17 and vertically in the direction B with a further spindle 18 with an associated drive motor 19.
• the plunger 14 is drivingly connected to the drive motor 32 via a crank mechanism 31.
• a crank 34 provided with a crank pin 35 and a flywheel 34 'is attached to the drive shaft 33 of the drive motor 32.
• the crank pin 35 here engages in a recess formed in a tab 36 in the form of an elongated hole 37.
• the tab 36 is part of the plunger 14 so that it can be driven horizontally via the crank mechanism 31.
• a control cam 38 acts thereon, which can be driven by means of a belt drive 43, and the plunger 14 can be pivoted about two bolts 39 by means of a link 41 which is provided with guide rollers 42 stored.
• the bolts 39 are rotatably supported in two plates 40, which enclose the crank mechanism 31 and are held together by screws 57.
• a compression spring 49 is provided on a bolt 48 and carries at one end a roller 50 which bears against the tappet 14.
• the compression spring 49 is supported not only on the free end of the bolt 48 but also on an extension 47 the plunger 14 is attached. If the plunger 14 is pivoted downward about the bolts 39 by rotation of the cam plate 38, the compression spring 49 is tensioned so that the plunger 14 is also returned in accordance with the configuration of the cam plate 38.
• a control device which is not explicitly shown in the figures and which comprises, for example, a microprocessor.
• This microprocessor controls the drive of the oscillating plunger, the vertical and horizontal movement of the support arm 13 by means of the motors 19 and 17 and the height adjustment and the drive of the wheels 26 and 22.
• the microprocessor includes the possibility to control the drive of the escalator to continue this by a defined number of levels.
• an interface cable is provided that can be linked to a control input of the escalator 1.
• the device 11 In order to use the device 11 to clean the treads 3 and the end faces 4 of the individual steps 2 of the escalator 1, the device 11 only has to be positioned in the outlet area of the escalator 1 and the controls of the device 11 and the escalator 1 have to be linked. This is done with the interface cable.
• the control of the motor controls the drive wheels 22 of the device 11 in such a way that it is moved independently until a sensor 55, which is attached to the axis 29 of the wheels 26 and is also connected to the control, due to the starting a step 2, emits a signal.
• the controller sets the escalator 1 in motion so that it moves upwards. As a result, the cleaning device 11 is pulled into the position in FIG. 1, this movement being able to be supported by driving the impellers 22.
• the wheels 26 are extended vertically and the device 11 is adjusted by means of the drive wheels 22 by a predetermined distance in the direction of the escalator 1. Then the wheels 26 are retracted in such a way that the transfer wheel 29 is supported on the subsequent step. The next step of the escalator 1 is passed over in the same way, so that the device 11 also assumes the position shown in FIG.
• the tread surface 3 can be cleaned by horizontal adjustment of the support arm 13 or the end face 4 by vertical adjustment of the support arm by means of the cleaning members 61 or 62.
• the plunger 14 performs 3 oscillating movements, in particular in the horizontal adjustment for cleaning the tread surfaces, so that the cleaning members 61 each act several times on the same points on the tread surfaces. This is achieved by driving the crank mechanism 31 by the motor 32.
• the oscillating horizontal movement is superimposed on an oscillating vertical movement of the same mode, so that during one cycle the cleaning members 61 are first lowered onto the treads 3, then pulled back in contact with the treads 3 by a predetermined distance, then raised again and above the treads 3 be brought back to the lowering point.
• the horizontal part of this oscillating movement comprises only a part of the step surface 3 in the direction of movement of the escalator 1.
• a in FIG. 1 schematically denotes the course of movement of this oscillating movement of the cleaning brushes 61. For the sake of clarity, however, curve A is drawn in one step too deep.
• the plunger 14 is pulled backwards in addition to the oscillating movement in the direction of the direction of movement of the escalator, so that dirt and deposits are successively released from the groove profile of the step surface.
• the oscillating movement ensures effective cleaning of the groove profile of the step surface 3.
• the support arm 13 is moved along the spindle 16 against the end face 4 of a step 2 with the aid of the drive motor 17 on a signal from the control.
• the cleaning members designed as a sponge 62 for cleaning the end faces 4 are attached to an intermediate member 51 which is pivotally held on the plunger 14 by means of a hinge 52. By means of a gas spring 54, the intermediate limb 51 pressed against the stop plate 53. If the plunger 14 now, after the sponge 62 has come into contact with the end face 4, is moved upwards by means of the drive motor 19 on the spindle 18, this intermediate member 51 can follow the profile of the end faces 4, so that an optimal contact of the Sponge 62 is guaranteed with the end face 4. Depending on the degree of soiling, the end face 4 can be cleaned with the sponge 62 one or more times in this way.
• the cleaning device is moved backwards by the control with the aid of the drive wheels 22.
• the wheels 26 With the help of the transfer rollers 29, the wheels 26 are set to the next lower step 2 and the wheels 26 can be moved down a certain length with the help of the motor 28 and the rack 27. In this way, a state is created as shown in FIG. 3.
• the control sends a signal to the drive of the escalator so that it moves up one step. Similar to the initial process, the cleaning device 11 is again pulled into the position of FIG. 1.
• the control sends a stop signal to the drive of the escalator 1 and the cleaning process for the next step surface or the next end surface can then begin.
• the movement of the cleaning device 11 is monitored by a number of sensors. Sensors 55 and 56 are shown as examples in the drawings.
• the Senosr 55 is used e.g. to emit a signal when the cleaning device runs against an end face 4, the sensor 56 is used to determine the distance from a step face 3.
• Further sensors, e.g. for the lateral alignment of the device 11, can be provided, which are used to independently change the position of the device 11.
• the support arm 13 with the plunger 14 and the cleaning members 15 can be moved into a position in which cleaning can be carried out with the spray nozzle 63 (see FIG. 6). This can be done periodically, for example, after cleaning a number of steps 2 specified by a user.
• the cleaning liquid escaping is Collection tray 64 collected and, if necessary, pumped or drained.
• the scraper 65 can also be used to scrape the cleaning brushes 61, which are used to clean the surface 3, for this purpose, the control 11 provides a corresponding movement sequence for the support arm 13 withdrawn to a height that the cleaning brushes are wiped off on wipers 65.
• the method has been described in the event that the escalator is moved up by a step 2 by the control system With appropriate control of the components of the cleaning device 11, in particular the impellers 22 and 26, the method can also be carried out if the escalator after cleaning a The tread and one end face are each moved down one step.
• the device can also be used when cleaning a moving walk, which of course eliminates the need to clean the end faces
• the cleaning device With the cleaning device according to the invention, a particularly thorough, fully automatic and therefore economical cleaning of moving walks or escalators is possible.
• the device only has to be positioned in the outlet area of the escalator or moving walk and takes over the rest of the cleaning automatically, in particular when cleaning escalators by an oscillating movement of the cleaning members, in the example shown the cleaning brushes 61, the corner area between the respective end face 4 and the step surface 3 underneath is also guaranteed

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=7829539

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications After (1)

Country Status (14)

Families Citing this family (14)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1997
  • 1997-05-15 DE DE19720377A patent/DE19720377C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-03-31 EP EP98919194A patent/EP0981490A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1998-03-31 IL IL13292498A patent/IL132924A0/xx unknown
  • 1998-03-31 KR KR1019997010679A patent/KR20010012718A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-03-31 AU AU72130/98A patent/AU729023B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-03-31 CA CA002290611A patent/CA2290611A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-03-31 TR TR1999/02801T patent/TR199902801T2/xx unknown
  • 1998-03-31 BR BR9809839-0A patent/BR9809839A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-03-31 YU YU64299A patent/YU64299A/sh unknown
  • 1998-03-31 JP JP10548721A patent/JP2000512253A/ja active Pending
  • 1998-03-31 WO PCT/EP1998/001860 patent/WO1998051607A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-03-31 EP EP01108648A patent/EP1118577A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-03-31 CN CN98807208A patent/CN1264350A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-03-31 HU HU0001658A patent/HUP0001658A3/hu unknown
  • 1998-03-31 EA EA199900931A patent/EA199900931A1/ru unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events