EP1072552A1

EP1072552A1 - Escalator device

Info

Publication number: EP1072552A1
Application number: EP99913619A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nobuo Nakanishi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: OGAWA, YUTAKA
Priority date: 1998-04-13
Filing date: 1999-04-12
Publication date: 2001-01-31
Also published as: ID28253A; TW438712B; JP2000203780A; CA2328706A1; KR20010042680A; WO1999052808A1; AU3168399A; JP3061179B1

Abstract

An endless chain36 is wrapped around an upper sprocket wheel 34 disposed on an upper floor 32 and a lower sprocket wheel 42 disposed on a lower floor 31, and a plurality of stepboards 37 are connected to the chain 36. Each stepboard 37 has a riser 38 connected to one end thereof on the lower floor 31 side to be angularly displaceable. In a transport region S5, the riser 38 is placed in a projection position extending downward. In a lower circulating region S2, the riser 38 is folded to be substantially parallel to the stepboard. Thus, the escalator system 30 may be made thin. Link means 80 is disposed between each stepboard 37 and riser 38. Guide members 100 are disposed in the vicinity of an upper end of the escalator system 30. The link means 80 is displaceable by guiding action of the guide members, whereby the riser 38 moves in a folded state to the lower circulating region S2.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to an escalator system installable on existing stairs in stations, for example.

[Background Art]

When installing an escalator system on existing stairs in a station or the like, a part of the stairs is removed and then the escalator system is integrated with the stairs. In such a conventional escalator system, steps each having a stepboard and a riser connected to each other are reversed 180° in transition from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, to move face-down along the lower circulating region.
Such a conventional escalator system has the problem of requiring large-scale construction work, resulting in increases in installing operation and installation cost.
Thus, it is conceivable to install an escalator system as resting on existing stairs, without performing large-scale construction work. In this case, a problem arises that ceiling spaces are diminished to an extent corresponding to the thickness of the escalator system between the stairs and the stepboards for carrying users.
An object of the invention is to provide a thin escalator system.

[Disclosure of Invention]

The invention set forth in claim 1 provides an escalator system comprising:
a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;
drive means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward;
risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard; and
folding means for folding the riser from the projecting position to the retracted position.
According to the invention, the stepboard circulates in a state where the riding surface faces upward. The stepboard is not reversed when moving from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, as distinct from the conventional escalator system. The riser is capable of being angularly displaced between the projecting position and the retracted position, and is folded by the folding means from the projecting position to the retracted position. The escalator system may be made thin by folding the riser for the lower circulating region.
The folding means set forth in claim 2 is characterized by including:
link means disposed between the stepboard and the riser to be displaceable, for folding the riser; and
a guide member disposed in a predetermined fixed position in a vicinity of a moving path of the link means,
wherein the link means traveling with the stepboard is guided by the guide member, to thereby displace the link means to fold the riser.
According to the invention, the folding means has the link means and guide member. When the link means traveling with the stepboard reaches the guide member disposed at the fixed position, the link means is displaced by being guided by the guide member to retract the riser to the retracted position, thereby folding the riser. In this way, the folding means is capable of folding the riser without requiring additional drive. By selecting a fixed position for the guide member, the riser may be folded in a desired position.
The link means set forth in claim 3 is characterized by including:
a first link having one end which is connected to the stepboard so that the first link is angularly displaceable; and
a second link having one end which is connected to the riser so that the second link is angularly displaceable, and the other end which is connected to the other end of the first link so that the second link is angularly displaceable,
wherein the first link is guided by the guide member to fold the riser.
According to the invention, the link means has the first link and second link. When the first link is guided by the guide member along with running of the stepboard, the other end of this first link is angularly displaced in a direction to approach the stepboard. By the angular displacement of this first link, the second link, and the free end of the riser, through the second link, are raised in the direction to approach the stepboard, thereby folding the riser. With the link means having such a simple construction, the riser may be folded reliably.
The link means set forth in claim 4 is characterized by being displaced by magnetic action with the guide member.
According to the invention, since the link means is displaced by magnetic action with the guide member, a direct contact between the guide member and link means is avoided as much as possible. Thus, wear and noise generated by a contact between the guide member and link means are reduced.
The folding means set forth in claim 5 is characterized by being interposed between upper and lower circulating regions of the stepboards in circulation, for guiding and folding the riser traveling with the stepboard.
According to the invention, the riser is guided and folded by the folding means interposed between the upper traveling region and lower traveling region. Thus, the risers may be folded reliably without requiring link means or the like to be provided for each stepboard.
The folding means of the invention set forth in claim 6 is characterized by including an endless belt which runs tensioned and inclined so that an upper tensioned part of the endless belt is inclined upward as the endless belt extends downstream in a running direction, wherein the upper tensioned part of the endless belt is disposed so as to contact the free end of the riser traveling with the stepboard.
According to the invention, since the endless belt is disposed so that the upper tensioned part is inclined upward as it extends downstream in a traveling direction, and the endless belt is driven to circulate with the upper tensioned part running upward, when each stepboard reaches the folding means and the free end of the riser contacts the upper tensioned part of the endless belt, the free end of the riser is guided upward and folded by running of the endless belt. With such a simple construction, the risers may be folded reliably.
The driving means set forth in claim 7 is characterized by including:
a pair of sprocket wheels having a horizontal axis of rotation, disposed in the upper position and the lower position;
an endless chain tensioned around the upper and lower sprocket wheels; and
a drive source for driving the endless chain to run in a predetermined running direction,
wherein at the other end of the stepboard on the upper position side is provided a chain-connecting shaft projecting outwardly from the other end, the chain being connected directly to the chain-connecting shaft.
According to the invention, each stepboard is connected to the endless chain tensioned from the upper position to the lower position, and is driven to circulate by the endless chain driven to run by the drive source. The stepboard is provided with a chain-connecting shaft projecting outwardly therefrom. The chain is connected directly to this chain-connecting shaft without using an attachment or the like in between. Thus, the escalator system has a reduced width vertically of the traveling direction, whereby the escalator system is made compact. Since the chain-connecting shaft is connected directly to the chain, the stepboard and the chain are strongly interconnected.
The invention set forth in claim 8 provides an escalator system comprising:
a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;
drive means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward;
risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard, and having a free end provided with a roller;
a folding guide rail for contacting from below the roller of the riser traveling with the stepboard in a state of being placed in the projecting position through an upper circulating region, to guide and fold the riser to the retracted position; and
thrust-up means for thrusting the riser up toward the retracted position when the roller of the riser reaches a predetermined thrust-up position short of the folding guide rail.
According to this invention, each stepboard traveling through the upper circulating region moves to a lower circulating region, with the roller of the riser guided by the folding guide rail and the riser folded. When the roller of the riser is guided along the folding guide rail, the roller of the riser climb to a certain extent along the folding guide rail, and the riser is angularly displaced by a certain degree toward the retracted position. As the stepboard travels in this state, the riser is reliably guided along the folding guide rail and folded to the retracted position. It is difficult to fold the riser reliably when, for example, vibration or the like occurs to levitate the roller of the riser from the folding guide rail and the riser is angularly displaced toward the projecting position as the roller of the riser begins to climb the folding guide rail. To dope with this situation, the invention provides the thrust-up means for thrusting the riser up toward the retracted position from the predetermined thrust-up position short of the folding guide rail. Thus, the riser is folded reliably at all times, with the roller of the riser reliably guided along the folding guide rail. This folding mode allows the escalator system to be made thin.
The thrust-up means set forth in claim 9 is characterized by including:
a thrust-up lever disposed so as to be angularly displaceable in a vertical direction in the thrust-up position; and
driving means for driving the thrust-up lever to be angularly displaced in the vertical direction to push up the free end of the riser from below.
According to the invention, when the riser traveling with the stepboard in a state of being placed in the projecting position reaches the thrust-up position, the free end of the riser is pushed up from below by the thrust-up lever driven to be angularly displaced in a vertical direction. Since the riser is pushed up by the thrust-up lever, the riser is folded reliably along the folding guide rail at all times even when the riser is angularly displaced toward the projecting position due to vibration or the like occurring in the course of folding action.
The thrust-up means set forth in claim 10 is characterized by including:
a thrust-up rotation member rotatably disposed in the thrust-up position; and
drive means for driving the thrust-up rotation member to push up the free end of the riser from below.
According to the invention, when the riser reaches the thrust-up position, the free end of the riser is pushed up from below by the thrust-up rotation member which is driven to rotate, thereby being angularly displaced toward the retracted position. Furthermore, the roller is guided by the folding guide rail, whereby the riser is folded reliably.
The thrust-up means of the invention set forth in claim 11 is characterized by including:
a spring member disposed between the stepboard and the riser, for biasing the riser toward the retracted position; and
a riser guide rail extending along a traveling path of the stepboards to the thrust-up position, for preventing the riser traveling with the stepboard, in a state of being placed in the projecting position, from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position and allowing a displacement to a traveling direction.
According to the invention, a spring member is disposed between the stepboard and the riser, to urge the riser toward the retracted position, which spring member prevents the riser from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position and allows a displacement to a traveling direction, and the riser travels by means of the riser guide rail extending to the thrust-up position, in a state of being placed in the projecting position. When this riser reaches the thrust-up position, the riser is released from the prevention by the riser guide rail of the angular displacement toward the retracted position. As a result, the riser is thrust up toward the retracted position by the biasing force of the spring member. Thereafter, the riser is reliably folded to the retracted position by the folding guide rail.
The invention set forth in claim 12 provides an escalator system comprising:
a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users and being integrated with a riser; and
driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward.
According to the invention, the steps circulate with the riding surfaces constantly facing upward, without turning over when moving from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region. Thus, the escalator system is made thin compared with a conventional escalator system which turns over the steps each having a riser and a stepboard integrated together.
The stepboard of the invention set forth in claim 13 is characterized by being constantly placed in horizontal posture in a downward transitional region from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, and in an upward transitional region from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.
According to the invention, the steps circulate, without turning over, and with the stepboard circulates maintained horizontal, through the upward transitional region and downward transitional region. Thus, the steps circulate smoothly without making noise or the like.
The invention set forth in claim 14 provides an escalator system comprising:
a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;
driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate; and
risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard,
wherein the stepboard is reversed to a face-down posture and the riser is folded to the retracted position by its own weight when moving from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region of the stepboard, the stepboard is reversed and the riser is folded when traveling through the lower circulating region, and the stepboard is reversed and the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position when the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.
According to the invention, when the stepboard moves from the upper circulating region to the lower circulating region, the stepboard is reversed and the riser is folded to the retracted position by its own weight. In the lower circulating region, the riser travels in a folded state. Thus, the spacing between the stepboard traveling through the upper circulating region and the stepboard traveling through the lower circulating region is reduced to make the escalator system thin. When the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region, the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position by its own weight.
The invention set forth in claim 15 provides an escalator system comprising:
a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;
driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward; and
risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard,
wherein the riser is folded to the retracted position by a weight of the stepboard when the stepboard moves from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, the riser travels in a folded state through the lower circulating region, and the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position by its own weight when the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.
According to the invention, the escalator system may be made thin since the stepboard is driven to circulate with the riding surfaces facing upward, and travels through the lower circulating region with the riser circulates folded. When the stepboard moves from the upper circulating region to the lower circulating region, the riser is folded by the weight of the stepboard to be substantially parallel to the stepboard. In this way, the riser is folded by the weight of the stepboard when moving from the upper circulating region to the lower circulating region, without providing additional means for folding the riser circulates in the upper circulating region. Such a simple construction allows the escalator system to be made thin. Similarly, when the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region, the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position by the weight of the riser.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be more explicit from the following detailed description taken with reference to the drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 30 in one embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a view in cross section of the escalator system 30.
Fig. 3 is a view in cross section of the escalator system 30 on an upper floor 32 side.
Fig. 4 is a side view showing a riser 38 placed in a projecting position.
Fig. 5 is a side view showing the riser 38 in a folded position.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a connection between a stepboard 37 and a chain 36.
Fig. 7 is a side view showing an upper end of escalator system 30.
Fig. 8 is a front view showing guide members 110, 112 and 114.
Fig. 9 is a side view showing folding means 120.
Fig. 10 is a side view showing folding means 130.
Fig. 11 is a front view showing folding means 130.
Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 139 in a further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 13 is a view in cross section of the escalator system 139 on the upper floor 32 side.
Fig. 14 is a side view showing an upper end of the escalator system 139 having folding means 140 in the further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 15 is a side view showing an upper end of an escalator system 149 having folding means 150 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 16 is a side view showing the upper end of escalator system 149 having screw shafts 160.
Fig. 17 is a side view showing the vicinity of thrust-up means 181 of an escalator system 179 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 18 is a side view showing a guide roller 55 guided to an intermediate position on a folding guide rail 180.
Fig. 19 is a side view showing the riser 38 in a fully folded position.
Fig. 20 is a side view showing the vicinity of thrust-up means 196 of an escalator system 195 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 21 is a side view showing the vicinity of a folding guide rail 180 of an escalator system 205 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 22 is a side view showing the riser 38 in a fully folded position.
Fig. 23 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 215 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 24 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 225 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 25 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 235 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 26 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 250 in a still further embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 27 is a side view showing a construction in the vicinity of a downward transitional region S3 of escalator system 250.

[Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

Now referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are described below.
Fig. 1 is a schematic view in vertical section of an escalator system 30 in one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in cross section of the escalator system 30. The escalator system 30 is installed on stairs 33 extending from a lower floor 31 which is a lower position to an upper floor 32 which is an upper position.
This escalator system 30 has a frame 41 placed to extend from the lower floor 31 to the upper floor 32. The frame 41, on the upper floor 32 side, includes a pair of rotatable upper sprocket wheels 34 spaced apart in the horizontal direction of width (perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1). Similarly, the frame 41 includes, on the lower floor 32 side, a pair of rotatable lower sprocket wheels 35 spaced apart in the direction of width. A pair of endless chains 36 such as roller chains are wrapped and tensioned around the upper and lower sprocket wheels 34 and 35. A plurality of stepboards 37 are connected between the pair of chains 36.
To one end of each stepboard 37 on the lower floor 31 side, the base end of a riser 38 is connected so that the riser 38 is angularly displaceable about an axis of angular displacement parallel to the direction of width. The stepboard 37 has the other end thereof on the upper floor 32 side, connected to the chain 36 so that the stepboard is angularly displaceable about an axis of angular displacement parallel to the direction of width.
The frame 41 includes a rotational drive source 39 such as a motor disposed on the upper floor 32 side. Rotational drive of rotational drive source 39 is transmitted to an intermediate shaft 47, and to the upper sprocket wheels 34 through gears fixed to opposite ends of the intermediate shaft 47 and meshed with gears fixed to the upper sprocket wheels 34. Thus, the rotational drive source 39 drives the chain 36 to circulate the stepboard 37 from the lower floor 31 toward the upper floor 32 through an upper circulating region S1 corresponding to an upper tensioned part of the chain 36. The traveling direction of the stepboard 37 through the upper circulating region S1 will be referred to hereinafter as upper traveling direction A, and the traveling direction of the stepboard 37 through a lower circulating region S2, corresponding to a lower tensioned part of the chain 36, as lower traveling direction B. The upper and lower sprocket wheels 34 and 35, a chain 36 and a rotational drive source 39 constitute driving means.
Rotational drive is transmitted to the upper sprocket wheels 34, respectively, through the intermediate shaft 47. Thus, no rotary shaft is disposed to extend between the pair of upper sprocket wheels 34. The stepboard 37 and riser 38 pass between the upper sprocket wheels 34. The lower sprocket wheels 35 have a rotary shaft 40 mounted coaxially therewith. The riser 38 moves upward as placed in retracted positions to be clear of the rotary shaft 40 as described hereinafter.
The frame 41 includes a lower plate 44 disposed on the lower floor 31 side and facing upward for users to walk on. The frame 41 includes a similar, upper plate 43 disposed on the upper floor 33 side. The stepboard 37 in circulation travels horizontally under the lower plate 44 on the lower floor 31 side, emerges from the lower plate 44, moves upward along the stairs 33, travels horizontally along the upper floor 32, and moves under the upper plate 43. Thus, a region from the lower plate 44 to the upper plate 43, where the stepboard 37 is exposed, in the upper circulating region S1 of the chain 36, is defined as a transport region S5. Each stepboard 37 is maintained, in this transport region S5, such that the riding surface 48 for carrying a user is in horizontal posture, and each riser 38, in the transport region S5, hangs down to assume a projecting position for closing a vertical gap formed above an immediately succeeding stepboard 37.
A winding region of the chain 36 wrapped around the upper sprocket wheel 34 is defined as a downward transitional region S3. In this downward transitional region S3, each stepboard 37 moves from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, with the riding surface 48 facing upward. Similarly, a chain winding region of the lower sprocket wheel 35 is defined as an upward transitional region S4. In the upward transitional region S4, each stepboard 37 moves from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1, with the riding surface 48 facing upward.
Above the frame 41 are a pair of endless, circulating handrails 45 spaced apart in the direction of width, which receive drive from the rotational drive source 39 to run at an equal speed to that of the chain 36. Thus, the users having walked from the lower floor 31 to the lower plate 44 step onto the riding surface 48 of the stepboard 37 while holding the handrails 45, to be transported to the upper floor 32.
The frame 41 is fixed to the lower floor 31, upper floor 32 and stairs 33 by simplified mounting means 46. The simplified mounting means 46 has concrete bolts or the like for detachable fixation to the stairs 33.
Fig. 3 is a view in cross section of the escalator system 30 on the upper floor 32 side. Fig. 4 is a side view showing a riser 38 in the projecting position. Fig. 5 is a side view showing the riser 38 in the retracted position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view showing a connection between a stepboard 37 and a chain 36. The stepboard 37 and riser 38 are in the form of comb plates. In the transport region S5, each riser 38 and ends of the stepboards 37 adjacent to the riser 38 have comb teeth meshed with one another.
Each stepboard 37 has a chain-connecting shaft 58 disposed at the other end thereof and extending in the direction of width. The chain 36 and the front guide roller 59 are connected to opposite end portions of the chain-connecting shaft 58 projecting outwardly of the stepboard 37. The chain-connecting shaft 58 is attached to the lower surface of the stepboard 37 by mounting members 85 at opposite ends in the direction of width of the other end of the stepboard 37. Outwardly of the mounting members 85 in the direction of width project the chain-connecting shaft 58, a medium-diameter portion 82 and a small-diameter portion 83 in this order so that steps are formed therebetween. A link plate 84 provided with a receiving bore through which the medium-diameter portion is inserted is interposed between the chain-connecting shaft 58 and the medium-diameter portion 82 and held in place by the steps of the chain-connecting shaft 58. Thus, the chain 36 and chain-connecting shaft 58 are directly connected to each other. This realizes a stronger connection than where the chain-connecting shaft 58 and the chain 36 are connected through attachments or the like. At the same time, the escalator system 30 may be reduced in width to achieve compactness of the escalator system 30.
Each of the small-diameter portions 83 at the opposite ends of the chain-connecting shaft 58 has the front guide roller 59 connected thereto. Each front guide roller 59 includes a ball bearing 86, an inner ring 87 fixed to the small-diameter portion 83 of chain-connecting shaft 58, and an outer ring 88 rotatable about the axis of chain-connecting shaft 58 and having a non-slip 89 such as a rubber mounted peripherally thereof. The front guide roller 59 is retained in place by a snap ring 90. The chain 36 and the front guide roller 59 may be arranged conversely to what is shown in Fig. 6, i.e. the front guide roller 59 arranged inwardly and the chain 36 arranged outwardly.
In this way, the chain-connecting shafts 58 are inserted through the chain 36 as arranged at fixed intervals. The sprocket wheels 34 and 35 are cut out in positions corresponding to the chain-connecting shafts 58.
The frame 41 has, attached to side walls 42 thereof, an upper stepboard guide rail 60 extending along the upper circulating region S1, and a lower stepboard guide rail 69 extending along the lower circulating region S2. When the stepboard 37 travels along the upper circulating region S1, the front guide roller 59 is guided along the upper stepboard guide rail 60. Similarly, when the stepboard 37 travels along the lower circulating region S2, the front guide roller 59 is guided along the lower stepboard guide rail 69. Further, an upper chain guide rail may extend along the upper circulating region S1, so that the chain 36 in the upper circulating region S1 is guided along the chain guide rail. Similarly, a lower chain guide rail may extend along the lower circulating region S2, so that the chain 36 in the lower circulating region S2 is guided along the chain guide rail.
As shown in Fig. 4, each stepboard 37 has an angular displacement shaft 64 disposed in a vicinity of one end thereof and extending in the direction of width so as to be angularly displaceable. The riser 38 is fixed at a base end thereof to this angular displacement shaft 64. The riser 38 has a pair of guide rollers 55 disposed at opposite ends in the direction of width of the free end thereof and having an axis of rotation extending in the direction of width.
Link means 80 of a folding means 81 is disposed between the stepboard 37 and riser 38, and has a first link 91 and a second link 92. One end of the first link 91 is connected to the stepboard 37 in a proximity of the other end of the stepboard 37 through a pin 93 extending transversely, so as to be angularly displaceable. The second link 92 has one end which is connected to the free end of riser 38 through a pin 95 coaxial with the guide roller 55, so as to be angularly displaceable. The other end of the first link 91 and the other end of the second link 92 are interconnected by a transversely extending pin 95, with the second link 92 disposed inward, so as to be angularly displaceable relative to each other.
When the riser 38 is in the projecting position, the first link 91 and second link 92 extend linearly as shown in Fig. 4. The first link 91 has an inwardly bent engaging piece 96 disposed in an upper position of the other end thereof. The engaging piece 96 engages an upper surface of the second link 92 to prevent the first link 91 from being angularly further displaced counterclockwise in Fig. 4. Since the link means 80 is engaged when the link means 80 extends linearly, the riser 38 is engaged, so to speak, in a propped-up state by the link means 80. As a result, even when a user riding the succeeding stepboard 37 kicks up the riser 38, for example, the riser 38 is prevented from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position. Such link means 80 is disposed at the opposite ends in the direction of width of each stepboard 37.
As shown in Fig. 3, the side walls 42 of the frame 41 include an upper riser guide rail 56 extending along the transport region S5. When the stepboard travels along the transport region S5, the guide roller 55 of the riser 38 is guided by the upper riser guide rail 56, whereby the stepboard 37 travels through the transport region S5, with the riding surface 48 maintained in horizontal posture.
At this time, as shown in Fig. 4, the axis of the angular displacement shaft 64 interconnecting the base end of the riser 38 and one end of the stepboard 37 is disposed forwardly in the fore and aft direction of, i.e. closer to the upper floor 32 than, or in the same position with respect to the fore and aft direction as, the axis of the guide roller 55 arranged at the free end of the riser 38.
The stepboard 37 has the one end defining an engaging end 63 extending downward. When the riser 38 is in the projecting position, an upper end surface 62 of the riser 38 contacts the engaging end 63 for support.
Thus, when a user steps on the stepboard 37, a force acts on the riser 38 in a direction to cause an angular movement about the angular displacement shaft 64 away from the retracted position (clockwise in Fig. 4). Since the upper end surface 62 of the riser 38 is supported by the engaging end 63, the riser 38 is held steadily in the projecting position.
This construction reliably prevents the riser 38 from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position when a user steps on the stepboard 37.
The frame 41 includes, on the upper floor 32 side, a pair of guide members 100 of the folding means 81 arranged in predetermined fixed positions to project inwardly from the respective side walls 42. Each guide member 100 has a roller 101 disposed to oppose the first link 91 connected to the stepboard 37 moving horizontally along the upper floor 32, and a support shaft 102 fixed at a base end to the side wall 42 of frame 41 for rotatably supporting the roller 101 at a distal end thereof.
Each stepboard 37 moves horizontally along the upper floor 32. Immediately after the stepboard 37 moves completely under the upper plate 43 disposed on the upper floor 32 side, the roller 101 of the guide member 100 contacts the first link 91 of the link means 80. As the stepboard 37 moves further in the upper traveling direction A, the first link 91 is pressed by the roller 101 of the guide member 100, whereby the other end thereof is angularly displaced upwardly. When the first link 91 is angularly displaced in this way, the second link 92 connected to the other end of the first link 91 and the free end of the riser 38 connected to the second link 92 is raised with the angular displacement of the first link 91, whereby the riser 38 is angularly displaced toward the retracted position.
As the stepboard 37 moves further in the upper traveling direction A, the riser 38 is angularly displaced to the retracted position and travels in the folded state. The guide roller 101 of the guide member 100 passes through a gap between the riser 38 placed in the retracted position and the stepboard 37.
The guide member 100 presses and guides the lower surface of the first link 91 to fold the riser 38, so that the guide member 100 has a long guiding distance. This effectively avoids a strong force being applied suddenly to the link means 80 when the riser 38 is folded, to suppress generation of noise and vibration. The lower surface of the first link 91 guided by the guide member is not limited to a linear shape, but may, for example, be curved to avoid an interference between the guide member and the guide roller 55 disposed at the free end of the riser 38.
In this way, the riser 38 is folded by the folding means 81 at the forward end of the upper circulating region S1 on the upper floor 32 side. The folded riser 38 moves from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2 through the downward transitional region S3, as maintained in the folded state by a rotation guide means 75 to be described hereinafter.
In the invention, the riser 38 is folded by the folding means 81 immediately before the stepboard 37 moves to the lower circulating region S2. Thus, the construction is made thinner than where the riser 38 is folded to the retracted position while the stepboard 37 is moving from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2.
When the stepboard 37 travels through the lower circulating region S2, the guide roller 55 is guided by a lower riser guide rail 57 whereby the riser 38 travels in a state of being placed in the retracted position. Thus, the riser 38 is maintained in the projecting position at least in the transport region S5 of an upper circulating region S1. In the lower circulating region S2, the riser 38 travels in a state of being placed in the retracted position. It is therefore possible to reduce the spacing between the upper circulating region S1 and lower circulating region S2, which allows the escalator system 30 to be made thin. The escalator system 30 has a thickness W not exceeding 40cm.
Fig. 7 is a side view showing the escalator system 30 in a vicinity of the upper floor 32 and showing the riser rotation guide means 75. The upper riser guide rail 56, adjacent to the upper floor 32, extends horizontally along the upper floor 32 to guide the front guide roller 55 disposed at the free end of each riser 38. The upper riser guide rail 56 acts as a folding guide rail, with a lower end portion thereof in the upper traveling direction A, as shown in the drawing, inclined upward along the path where the guide roller 55 moves as the riser 38 is folded, in the region where the riser 38 is folded, i.e. in the vicinity of the lower end of the guide member 100 of riser folding means 81, and with a forward end portion 56a downstream in the upper traveling direction A of the upper riser guide rail 56 extending horizontally for allowing the folded riser 38 to move further downstream in the upper traveling direction A. The riser rotation guide means 75 is disposed downstream in the upper traveling direction A of the forward end portion 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56.
The riser rotation guide means 75 has an axis of rotation L1 parallel to the axis of rotation of the upper sprocket wheel 34, and is rotatable clockwise in Fig. 7 by a torque transmitted from the upper sprocket wheels 34 through a chain 52. The riser rotation guide means 75 has a pair of receiving portions 77 and 78 symmetrical about the axis of rotation L1. The receiving portions 77 and 78 receive the guide roller 55 from the forward end portion 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56, and rotate synchronously with the sprocket wheel 34 when the stepboard 37 moves from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2 through the downward transitional region S3. As a result, the riser 38 is guided in the folded state from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2. Thus, when one receiving portion 77 turns around from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, the other receiving portion 78 confronts the forward end portion 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 to receive a guide roller of a succeeding riser 38. In this way, the riser 38 is successively and steadily guided in the folded state by the riser rotation guide means 75 from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2.
As shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the escalator system 30 includes an upward riser guide means 160 whereby the riser 38 moves in the folded state from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1 through the upward transition region S4. The upward riser guide means 160 includes inclined a rail 161 which is continuous from the lower end of the lower riser guide rail 57 for guiding the guide roller 55 along the lower circulating region S2 with the riser folded, and inclined upward as it extends downstream in the lower traveling direction B, a support roller 162 for contacting and supporting the riser 38 in the folded state from below, a mountable member 163 disposed between the support roller 162 and the rotary shaft 40 of the lower sprocket wheel 35 to be mounted by the guide roller 55 with the riser 38 in the folded state, a horizontal member 164 disposed above the rotary shaft 40 for horizontally guiding the guide roller 55, a switchable guide 165 disposed between the mountable member 163 and the mountable member 164 to be capable of opening and closing action, and a horizontal guide rail 166 continuous with the folding horizontal member 164 and extending horizontally below the lower plate 44. The inclined rails 161 form a pair spaced apart in the direction of width for guiding the guide rollers 55 disposed at the opposite ends in the direction of width of each riser 38, respectively, and upwardly guiding the guide roller 55 downstream in the lower traveling direction B as the stepboard 37 moves downstream in the lower traveling direction B. At this time, the support roller 162 is rotatably disposed between the inclined rails 161, and the support roller 162 contacts and supports the riser 38 from below when each stepboard 37 travels downstream in the lower traveling direction B along the upward transitional region S4. Since the riser 38 is supported from below by the support roller 162 when the guide roller 55 passes between the mountable member 163 and inclined rail 161 and the stepboard 37 moves to the downstream end in the lower traveling direction B, the guide roller 55 levitates from the inclined rail 161, and the riser 38 is supported in a folded state and in a state where the stepboard 37 and riser 38 are inclined upward as they extend downstream in the upper traveling direction A. In this state, the traveling direction of the stepboard 37 switches from the lower traveling direction B to the upper traveling direction A. As the stepboard 37 begins to travel toward the upper traveling direction A, the guide roller 55 levitated from the inclined rail 161 is mounted on the mountable member 163.
The mountable members 163 have guide surfaces inclined upward as they extend downstream in the upper traveling direction A. The switchable guide 165 is disposed between an upper end of the guide surface and the horizontal member 164. The switchable guide 165 is supported so as to be angularly displaceable, with an end region thereof on the mountable member 163 side smoothly continuous with the guide surface, and straddle over the moving path of the chain-connecting shaft 58 of the stepboard 37, with the other end region engaged with the horizontal member 164. Thus, when each stepboard 37 moves upward along the upward transitional region S4, the chain-connecting shaft 58 moves while pushing up and opening the switchable guides 165. Subsequently, the switchable guide 165 closes, and the guide roller 55 attached to the riser 37 is guided along the guide surface of the mountable member 163, switchable guide 165 and folding member 164. In this way, the stepboard 37 travels, with the riser 38 folded, from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1.
The horizontal guide rail 166 continuous with the folding horizontal member 164 has a downwardly inclined forward end region downstream in the upper traveling direction A. Consequently, the riser 38 travels in the folded state at the upstream end in the upper traveling direction A of the upper circulating region S1, and the riser hangs down by its own weight and is angularly displaced to the projecting position upon arrival at the forward end of the horizontal guide rail 166. At this time, the link means 80 stretches as noted above to prevent the riser 38 from being folded to the retracted position.
Fig. 8 is a front view showing other forms of the guide members of folding means 81. The guide members are not limited to the construction in which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, rollers 101 are mounted on the distal ends of support shafts 102. As in a guide member 110 shown in Fig. 8 (a), each support shaft 102 may have a wedge-shaped guide piece 111 disposed at the distal end thereof and projecting rearward, i.e. upstream in the upper traveling direction A. When the first link 91 of link means 80 reaches the guide member 110, the first link 91 is first guided along an inclined guide surface 111a inclining rearward and downward, and further guided along an upper surface 111b extending substantially horizontally, thereby to fold the riser 38.
A guide member 112 as shown in Fig. 8 (b) has a pair of rollers 113a and 113b mounted on the distal end of each support shaft 102 and juxtaposed in the horizontal traveling direction. When the link means 80 reaches the guide member 112, the first link 91 is first pressed by the roller 113a disposed upstream in the upper traveling direction A to be angularly displaced. When the riser reaches the retracted position, both rollers 113a and 113b support the first link 91.
A guide member 114 as shown in Fig. 8 (c) has a plurality of, three in this embodiment, guide rollers 116a-116c arranged along an upper edge of an approximately wedge-shaped guide piece 115 as shown in Fig. 8 (a). With the plurality of rollers 116a-116c arranged as noted above, the first link 91 of the link means 80 is guided smoothly to fold the riser 38.
Fig. 9 is a side view showing a stepboard 37 with folding means 120 of an escalator system in another embodiment of the invention. Parts identical to those of the embodiment as shown in Figs. 1-8 are affixed with the saute references and are not described again. A first link 119 of each link means 80 of the folding means 120 has a magnet 121 extending longitudinally of a region to be opposed to a guide member 123. The magnet 121 has an outer surface 121a, which is a lower surface to be opposed to the guide member 123, acting as the north pole, for example.
The guide member 121 has a pair of rollers 122a and 122b. Each roller 122a or 122b has a magnet disposed on an outer peripheral surface thereof acting as the same pole as the surface 121a of the magnet 121 disposed on the first link, which in this embodiment is the north pole. In this way, the first link 119 and guide member 121 have the magnets arranged with like poles opposed to each other. When the stepboard 37 reaches the guide member 123, the riser 38 is folded by angular displacement of the first link 119 in a state where a slight space α is formed with the guide member 123 by magnetic repulsion between the guide member 123 and the magnet 121 disposed on the first link 119. In this way, the guide member 121 and the first link 119 are prevented from contacting each other as much as possible, thereby preventing noise and impact from occurring when the riser 38 is folded, and further preventing wear due to contact to improve durability.
The guide member 123 is not limited to the roller, but may be a magnet fixed to the support shaft 102.
The magnet 121 disposed on the first link 119 and the magnets disposed on the guide member 123 as noted above are not limited to permanent magnets, but may be electromagnets, respectively,
With the magnet 121 disposed on the first link 119, an angular position of the first link 119 may easily be detected by a detecting means such as a magnetic sensor. It is then possible to detect whether the link means 80 is stretched to extend linearly or not. Based on a detection output from the detecting means, it is possible to determine whether the riser 38 is in the projecting position with the link means 80 stretched. Controls may be effected to stop driving the escalator system 30, for example, when the link means 80 is not placed linearly in the transport region S5 so that the riser 38 could be displaced to the retracted position. Thus, the escalator system is given an improved safety feature by providing such means for detecting whether or not the link means 80 is placed linearly to prevent the riser 38 from becoming folded.
Fig. 10 is a side view showing a stepboard 37 with folding means 130 of an escalator system in a further embodiment of this invention. Fig. 11 is a front view thereof. Parts identical to those of escalator system 30 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. A first link 133 of the folding means 130 is formed of a ferromagnetic material such as iron. Guide pieces 132 of guide members 131 are formed of magnet, each disposed outwardly of a passing stepboard 37 and opposed to the first link 133, forming a slight space β with the first link 133. Thus, when the stepboard 37 reaches the guide member 131, the first link 133 is drawn to the guide piece 132 of the guide member 131 by magnetic attraction. As the stepboard 37 travels in the upper traveling direction A, the first link 133 is drawn and guided by the guide member 131 to be angularly displaced upwardly, thereby folding the riser 38. At this time, the guide piece 132 of each member 131 and the first link 133 are opposed to each other with the slight space β in between. Thus, the guide member 131 and the first link 119 are prevented from contacting each other, thereby preventing noise, impact and wear due to contact. As shown in Fig. 10, each guide member 131 extends horizontally along the upper traveling direction A, thereby to apply magnetic attraction effectively to the first link 119.
The guide piece 132 of the guide member 131 may be formed of a permanent magnet or electromagnet. The first link 133 formed of a ferromagnetic material is not limited to iron but may be a compound material of iron and aluminum. Material of the first link 133 is not limited to a ferromagnetic material, but may be a permanent magnet or electromagnet for magnetic attraction to the guide piece 132.
The forward end of the upper riser guide rail 56 is inclined along the path of the guide roller 55 where the riser 38 is folded. The inclined upper riser guide rail 56 assists in the folding of the riser 38. Thus, even when the guide member 131 and first links 133 should move away from each other in the course of folding the riser 38, the riser 38 would be folded reliably with the guide rollers 55 guided along the upper riser guide rails 56. Further, fixed rollers may be arranged to be opposed to the lower surface of the first link 133 when the riser 38 is folded, so that the fixed roller reliably folds the riser 38 when the first link 119 moves away from the guide member 131.
Fig. 12 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 139 provided with folding means 140 in a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 13 is a view in cross section thereof. Parts identical to those of escalator system 30 as shown in Figs. 1-11 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. As distinct from the escalator system 30, the escalator system 139 has no link means 80 between the stepboard 37 and the riser 38, but has a pair of small rollers 170 disposed at the free end of the riser 38 so as to be adjacent to the guide rollers 55 disposed at the free end of the riser, to be rotatable independently of the guide rollers 55. The small roller 170 is disposed above the guide roller 55 when the riser 38 is placed in the projecting position in the transport region S5. Above the upper riser guide rail 56 for contacting the guide roller 55 from below and guiding the guide roller 55 in the transport region S5, a small roller guide rail 171 acting as a riser guide rail is disposed opposite to the upper guide rail 56 and extending along the upper guide rail 56. In this transport region S5, the riser 38 traveling, in a state of being placed in the projecting position, with the stepboard in the upper traveling direction A is guided along the small roller guide rail 171, with the small roller 170 contacting the small roller guide rail 171 from below. That is, the riser 38 travels, in a state of being placed in the projecting position, along the transport region S5 with the guide roller 55 and small roller 170 interposed between the upper riser guide rail 56 and the small roller guide rail 171. Thus, in the transport region S5, the small roller 170 contacting the small roller guide rail 171 reliably prevent the riser 38 from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position to be folded.
The small roller guide 171 has a lower end region thereof extending substantially parallel to the downwardly inclined forward end of the horizontal guide rail 166 of the upward riser guide means 160. Thus, the riser 38 traveling in a state of being placed in the projecting position, with the stepboard 37 from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1 and along the horizontal guide rail 166 is angularly displaced by its own weight to hang down at the forward end of the horizontal guide rail 166. The small roller 170 is guided to the lower end of the small roller guide rail 171, whereby the riser 38 is reliably guided to the projecting position. The escalator system 139 has the folding means 140 disposed at an upper end thereof.
Fig. 14 is a side view showing the upper end of escalator system 139 having the folding means 140. A couple of the folding means 140 is arranged spaced apart in the direction of width at the upper end of the escalator system 139 between the upper circulating region S1 which is the upper traveling region and the lower circulating region S2 which is the lower traveling region. Each folding means 140 includes a driven belt wheel 142, a driving belt wheel 143, and a timing belt 141 wound thereon, The driven belt wheel 142 is disposed adjacent to the lower circulating region S2. The driving belt wheel 143 is disposed adjacent to the upper circulating region S1, and downstream of the driven belt wheel 142 in the upper traveling direction A. Thus, the timing belt 141 has an upper tensioned part 141a inclined upward as it extends downstream in the upper traveling direction A. The timing belt 141 has teeth not only on the inner surface for meshing with the belt wheels 142 and 143 but on the outer surface to define a rugged outer surface. The driving belt wheel 143 is driven by torque transmitted from the riser rotation guide means 75 to rotate clockwise in Fig. 14. As a result, the timing belt 141 runs upward in the upper tensioned part 141a from the driven belt wheel 142 to the driving belt wheel 143.
The upper riser guide rail 56 guides the guide roller 55 attached to each riser 38 to a lower end of the folding means 140. Thus, when the stepboard 37 travels in the upper traveling direction A and reaches the folding means 140, the free end of the riser 38 is caught by the teeth formed on the outer surface of the timing belt 141. The riser 38 is folded with the free end guided upward by the running of the timing belt 141. To fold the riser 38 while the stepboard 37 is traveling, the timing belt 141 is driven to run faster than the stepboard 37.
In this way, the folding means 140 folds the riser 38 by guiding the free end of the riser 38. There is no need for the link means or the like additionally attached to each riser 38, to realize low manufacturing cost.
Fig. 15 is a side view showing an upper end of an escalator system 149 having folding means 150. Parts identical to those of escalator system 30 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The folding means 150 includes a pair of screw shafts 151 spaced apart in the direction of width at the upper end of the escalator system 149 between the upper circulating region S1 and the lower circulating region S2. Each screw shaft 151 has a guide strip 156 wound in a helix peripherally of a shaft 155 to define a helical guide groove 155, and is rotatable in a predetermined one direction about the axis to guide the guide rollers 55 falling into the peripheral guide groove 155 from one end to the other end in the axial direction.
The stepboard guide rail 60, as does the stepboard guide rail as shown in Fig. 11, guides to the upper end of transport region S5. Each screw shaft 151 is inclined upward as it extends downstream in the upper traveling direction A, so that one end thereof is disposed at the end of the upper riser guide rail 60, and the other end is disposed to be on the upper running region S2 side. Such screw shafts 151 are disposed at the opposite sides in the direction of width of the escalator system 149, and guide the guide rollers 55 disposed at the opposite sides in the direction of width of the riser 38, respectively. Each screw shaft 151 has a worm wheel 152 disposed at the other end thereof. This worm wheel 152 is meshed with a worm 153. This worm 153 receives a torque transmitted from the riser rotation guide means 75 through a chain 154, whereby the screw shaft 151 is driven to rotate in the one direction.
Thus, when the stepboard 37 reaches the folding means 150, the guide roller 55 disposed at the free end of the riser 38 is transferred from the end of the upper riser guide rail 56 to the one end of the screw shaft 151. The guide roller 55 is guided upward along the screw shaft 151, whereby the riser 38 is folded. Since the folding means 150 folds the riser 38 by guiding the guide roller 55 at the free end of the riser 38, the riser 38 may be folded without requiring link means or the like to be provided for each stepboard 37.
Each screw shaft 151 of the folding means 150 is not limited to the construction as shown in Fig. 15, where the guide strip 156 is wound helically around the cylindrical shaft 155. As in a screw shaft 160 as shown in Fig. 16, a truncated cone defining a spiral guide groove 161 may be used. Such screw shaft 160 in the form of truncated cones is formed by injection molding a plastic, for example. Thus, the screw shaft 161 may be formed light and at low cost.
Fig. 17 is a side view showing an upper end of an escalator system 179 in a further embodiment of the invention. Parts identical to those of escalator system 30, 139 and 149 as shown in Figs. 1-16 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The escalator system 179 includes folding guide rails 180 each of which is disposed between the upper end of the upper riser guide rail 56 and the riser rotation guide means 75, and is smoothly continuous from the upper riser guide rail 56 and inclined upward as it extends downstream in the upper traveling direction A. The folding guide rail 180 upwardly guides the guide roller 55 guided along the upper riser guide rail 56 and, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, guides the riser 38 with running of the stepboard 37 and folds it immediately before arrival at the riser rotation guide means 75.
It is assumed that, at this time, as shown in Fig. 18, an angle between the stepboard 37 and riser 38, that is an angle between a straight line extending through the axis of angular displacement shaft 64 and the axis of guide rollers 55 and the stepboard 37 is 1, and an angle of inclination of the folding guide rail 180 with respect to the horizontal plane is 2. It is assumed that an intermediate position of each folding guide rail 180 contacted by the guide roller 55 is P2 when the angle 1 between the stepboard 37 and riser 38 is a predetermined angle 1 satisfying 0°<1≦ 90°-2. Once the riser 38 has been folded toward the retracted position with the guide rollers 55 having climbed above the intermediate position P2, even when vibration or the like occurs subsequently, the riser 38 is reliably folded with the guide roller 55 guided along the folding guide rail 180 with running of the stepboard 37 in the upper traveling direction A. However, when vibration or the like occurs before the intermediate position P2 is reached, levitating the guide roller 55 from the folding guide rail 180 and allowing the riser 38 to be angularly displaced toward the retracted position by its own weight, it is difficult to guide the guide roller 55 along the folding guide rail 180 and fold the riser 38 reliably. To cope with this situation, the present invention provides thrust-up means 181 for thrusting the free end of the riser 38 up toward the retracted position from a predetermined thrust-up position P1 upstream of the folding guide rail 180.
The thrust-up means 181 includes a thrust-up lever 182 capable of vertical angular displacement in the thrust-up position P1, and a drive plate 183 for driving the thrust-up lever 182 to be angularly displaced in a vertical direction. The thrust-up lever 182 is supported so as to be angularly displaceable at a base end downstream in the upper traveling direction A of the thrust-up position P1. Each thrust-up lever 182 defines a slot 186 extending longitudinally thereof. Each drive plate 183 defines a pin 187 fitted in the slot 186. This drive plate 183 is rotatable through a drive sprocket 184 and a chain 185, whereby a free end of the thrust-up lever 182 is angularly displaced in a vertical direction in the thrust-up position P1. The drive sprocket 184 receives torque from the rotation guide means 75, for example.
The guide roller 55 attached to the riser 38 has an auxiliary roller 188 of smaller diameter than the guide roller 55, protruding outwardly of the guide roller 55 and arranged coaxially with the guide roller 55. The thrust-up lever 182 pushes up the auxiliary roller 188 from below, whereby the riser 38 is thrust up from the thrust-up position P1 to the intermediate position P2. Thereafter, with running of the stepboard 37 in the upper traveling direction A, the guide roller 55 is guided along the folding guide rail 180, whereby the riser 38 is folded reliably.
The thrust-up lever 182 is in a substantially horizontal posture when the guide roller 55 arrives at the thrust-up position P1. The thrust-up lever 181 has an inclined guide surface 189 formed at the free end thereof. The inclined guide surface 189 and lower end surface 190 form an angle 3 therebetween which is selected to be less than 45°. Thus, when the thrust-up lever 182 is in the substantially horizontal posture, the guide roller 55 having reached the thrust-up position P1 is smoothly mounted on the thrust-up lever 182 from the inclined guide surface 189 of the lever 182. With the guide roller 55 mounted on the thrust-up lever 182 and the drive plate 183 rotated, the thrust-up lever 181 is angularly displaced to a large extent upward to push up the guide roller 55. When the thrust-up lever 182 is angularly displaced to a maximum extent upward, the guide roller 55 is placed in the intermediate position P2 as shown in Fig. 18. Subsequently, with running of the stepboard 37 in the upper traveling direction A, the guide roller 55 is guided along the folding guide rail 180, and the riser 38 is folded reliably as shown in Fig. 19. At the same time, the drive plate 183 is rotated whereby the thrust-up lever 181 is angularly displaced downward again. When the thrust-up lever 182 is angularly displaced upward and put into the horizontal posture, the succeeding guide roller 55 is mounted on the thrust-up lever 182 again as shown in Fig. 1. By successively thrusting up the guide roller 55, the riser 38 may be folded reliably even in the event of vibration or the like.
There is a fear that when driving of the escalator system stops before the guide roller 55 reaches the intermediate position P2 of the folding guide rail 180, and is started again, the riser 38 could move slightly backward and could not be folded smoothly. However, with the thrust-up means 181 provided, the guide roller 55 is mounted on the thrust-up lever 181 before reaching the intermediate position P2, and therefore the riser 38 is folded reliably even when stopped in this state and then restarted.
Fig. 20 is a side view showing an upper end of an escalator system 195 in a further embodiment of the invention. Parts identical to those of escalator system 179 as shown in Figs. 17-19 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The escalator system 195 includes thrust-up means 196 having a thrust-up rotation member 197 rotatably disposed in the vicinity of the thrust-up position P1, and drive means 201 for driving the thrust-up rotation member 197 to rotate clockwise in Fig. 20. The thrust-up rotation member 197 has an axis of rotation 202 downstream of the thrust-up position P1 in the upper traveling direction A, and a first receiving portion 200 and a second receiving portion 201 are formed symmetrically about the axis of rotation 202. With the thrust-up rotation member 197 rotated, the respective receiving portions 200 and 201 receive the guide roller 55 and push up the auxiliary roller 188 from the thrust-up position P1 to the intermediate position P2.
Each drive means 201 includes a sprocket wheel 198 disposed coaxially with the axis of rotation of the thrust-up rotation member 197 and fixed to the thrust-up rotation member 197, and a drive chain 199 wrapped around this sprocket wheel 198 and the drive sprocket 184. When the guide roller 55 of the riser reaches the thrust-up position P1, the first receiving portion 200 of the thrust-up rotation member 197 contacts the auxiliary roller 188 from below. With rotation of the thrust-up rotation member 197, the auxiliary roller 188 is pushed up until the guide roller 55 is placed in the intermediate position P2. Once the guide roller 55 is placed in the intermediate position P2, the guide roller 55, with running of the riser 37, is guided smoothly along the folding guide rail 180, thereby folding the riser 38. At the same time, the thrust-up rotation member 197 is rotated and, when a succeeding guide roller 55 reaches the thrust-up position P1, the second receiving portion 201 contacts, from below, the auxiliary roller 188 provided for the guide roller 55, successively to push up the guide roller 55 to the intermediate position P2. By rotating the thrust-up rotation member 197 synchronously with the stepboard 37 in this way, the guide roller 55 is successively pushed up to the intermediate position P, whereby the riser 38 is folded reliably.
Fig. 21 is a side view showing an upper end of an escalator system 205 in a further embodiment of the invention. Parts identical to those of escalator system 179 and 195 as shown in Figs. 17-20 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The escalator system 205 includes a spring member 207 disposed between the stepboard 37 and the riser 38 for biasing the riser 38 to the retracted position. The spring member 207 comprises a torsion spring mounted around the angular displacement shaft 64, with opposite ends thereof engaged with pins 208 and 209 formed on the stepboard 37 and riser 38, to bias the riser 38 in the direction to be angularly displaced to the retracted position. With this spring member 207, the riser 38, in a natural state, is angularly displaced from the projecting position toward the retracted position. The spring member 207 has a resilient force selected so that, when the riser 37 travels in the upper traveling direction A, the guide roller 55 contacts a position at least above the intermediate position P2 on the folding guide rail 180. The small roller guide rail 171 extends to a position short of the thrust-up position P1, with the forward end 171a inclined slightly upward. Thus, the stepboard 37 travels in the upper traveling direction A with the small roller 170 contacting the lower surface of the small roller guide rail 171 under the resilient force of the spring member 207 and, when the guide roller 55 reaches the thrust-up position P1, the small roller 170 is released from the small roller guide rail 171 obstructing the angular displacement toward the retracted position of the riser 38. Then, the resilient force of the spring member 207 causes the angular displacement toward the retracted position, whereby the guide roller 55 contacts a position above the intermediate position P2 on the folding guide rail 180, and the riser 38 is folded reliably as shown in Fig. 22. Since the forward end 171a of the small roller guide rail 171 is inclined upward, the small roller 170 is guided smoothly upward at the forward end 171a of the small roller guide rail 171 when the riser 38 is folded. The guide roller 55 does not contact the forward end 171a.
Fig. 23 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 215 in a further embodiment of the invention. Parts identical to those of the escalator system 30 as shown in Figs. 1-11 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The escalator system 215 has a plurality of steps 216 each having a stepboard 37 and riser 38 integrated into a monolithic construction, instead of the stepboard 37 and riser 38 being foldable. The steps 216 are endlessly connected by a chain 36 to circulate in a state where the riding surface 48 of the step 37 constantly faces upward. That is, the step travels in a state where the riding surface 48 of the stepboard 37 is supported in horizontal posture, along the upper traveling direction A in the transport region S5 for carrying users, moves in a state where the riding surface 48 of the stepboard 37 faces upward, in the downward transitional region S3 from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, travels in a state where the riding surface 48 of the stepboard 37 faces upward, along the lower traveling direction B in the lower circulating region S2, such that the step 216 is contained between the upper circulating region S1 and the lower circulating region S2, and moves in a state where the riding surface 48 of the stepboard 37 faces upward, in the upward transitional region S4 from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1.
A forward end 217 (downstream in the upper traveling direction A) of the upper riser guide rail 56 is curved and inclined downward as it extends downstream in the upper traveling direction A. A forward end 218 of the lower riser guide rail 57 is curved upward in an opposed relationship with the forward end 217 of the upper riser guide rail 56, with a space therebetween to allow passage of the guide roller 55. Thus, when the step 56 moves downward in the downward transitional region S3, the guide roller 55 attached to the risers 38 is guided, in a state where the stepboard 37 faces upward, along the forward end 218 of the upper riser guide rail 56. The guide rail 55 is transferred from the forward end 218 of the upper riser guide rail 56 to the forward end 218 of the lower riser guide rail 57. Once the traveling direction of the step 216 is reversed from the upper traveling direction A to the lower traveling direction B, the guide roller 55 is guided along the lower riser guide rail 57.
A rearward end 219 (upstream in the upper traveling direction A) of the upper riser guide rail 56 is inclined downward as it extends upstream in the upper traveling direction A. A switchable guide member 220 is disposed between the rearward end 219 and the rearward end of the lower riser guide rail 57. The switchable guide member 220 is supported so as to be angularly displaceable, with the upper end thereof smoothly continuous with the rearward end 219 of the upper riser guide rail 56, and the lower end engaged with the lower riser guide rail 57, to be switchable to allow passage of the guide roller 55. Thus, when the step 216 traveling in the lower traveling direction B along the lower circulating region S2 reaches the switchable guide member 220, the guide roller 55 pushes up the switchable guide member 220. After the step 216 moves downstream of the switchable guide member 220 in the lower traveling direction B, the traveling direction of the step 216 is reversed from the lower traveling direction B to the upper traveling direction A. Then, the guide roller 55 is mounted on the switchable guide member 220, and is transferred to the rearward end 219 of the upper riser guide rail 56 through the switchable guide member 220. In this way, the stepboard 216 moves from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1.
The rearward end 219 of the upper riser guide rail 56 may extend above the rotary shaft 40, so that the riser 38 of the step 216 will not buffer with the rotary shaft 40 of the lower sprocket wheel 35 when moving from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1. The pair of the lower sprocket wheels 35 may be supported on separate shafts, instead of providing the rotary shaft 40 extending between the pair of the lower sprocket wheels 35, so that the step 216 may pass between the lower sprocket wheels 35. The same as in the case of the upper sprocket wheels 36, an intermediate shaft may be disposed upstream in the upper traveling direction A to dispense with the rotary shaft 40 between the sprocket wheels 35.
Also with the step 216 having a stepboard 37 and a riser 38 integrated into a monolithic construction as described above, the escalator system 215 may be made thin by driving and circulating the steps in a state where the riding surfaces 48 of the stepboards 37 constantly face upward.
Fig. 24 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 225 in a further embodiment of the invention. The escalator system 225 is similar to the escalator system 139 as shown in Fig. 12 in that the riser 38 has the guide roller 55 and the small roller 170. Parts identical to those of the escalator system 139 are affixed with the same references and are not described again.
The escalator system 225 runs through the lower circulating region S2 in a state where the stepboard 37 is turned over and the riser 38 is folded. The escalator system 225 is thereby made thin. Thus, the stepboard 37 is driven in circulation such that the stepboard 37 is reversed to a face-down posture in the downward transitional region S3 where the stepboard 37 moves from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, and that the stepboard 37 is reversed in the upward transitional region S4 from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1. The guide roller 55 and small roller 170 attached to the riser 38 are guided by an endless riser guide rail 226, so that the riser 38 is placed in the projecting position at least in the transport region S5 of the upper circulating region S1. In the downward transitional region S3, the stepboard 37 moves downward and the riser 38 is folded. In the lower circulating region S2, the riser 38 is maintained in the folded state. After being reversed and moving upward in the upward transitional region and at least immediately before reaching the transport region S5, the riser 38 is placed in the projecting position. That is, the upper riser guide rail 56 for guiding the guide roller 55 in the upper circulating region S1, and the lower riser guide rail 57 for guiding it in the lower circulating region S2, are connected to each other to form an endless inner guide rail 227. The small roller guide rail 171 for guiding the small roller 170 is disposed not only along the upper circulating region S1, but endlessly along traveling regions of the small roller 170, through the downward transitional region S3, lower circulating upper region S2 and upward transitional region S4, i.e. to act as an endless outer guide rail 228 lying outwardly of the inner guide rail 227. These inner and outer guide rails 227 and 228 constitute the riser guide rail 226. The riser guide rail 226 guides the guide roller 55 and small roller 170 such that, in the downward transitional region S3, the riser 38 is folded, while the stepboard 37 being reversed along the chain 36, and guides them to the upper circulating region S1 such that, in the upward transitional region S4 also, the stepboard 37 is reversed in a state where the riser 38 is folded, and thereafter the riser guide rail 226 guides the guide roller 55 and small roller 170 such that subsequently the riser 38 is placed in the projecting position before arrival at the transport region S5. It is possible to move clear of the rotary shaft 40 of the lower sprocket wheel 35 by reversal in the state where the riser 38 is folded in the upward transitional region S4 as described above. Thus, the escalator system 225 may be made thin and compact.
Fig. 25 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 235 in a further embodiment of the invention. The escalator system 235 is similar to the escalator system 139 as shown in Fig. 12. Like parts are affixed with like references and are not described again. As distinct from the escalator system 139, the escalator system 235 does not include the riser rotation guide means 75 for guiding the riser 38 in the folded state through the downward transitional region S3 from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, but is constructed for the riser 38 to be folded by the weight of the stepboard 37 when the riser 38 moves through the downward transitional region S3. With this feature, the escalator system 235 is simplified in construction while maintaining the thin configuration.
The small roller guide rail 171 for guiding the small roller 170 of the riser 38 so that the riser 38 is folded while the stepboard 37 moves downward through the downward transitional region S3, terminates below a free end of the upper plate 43 to release the riser 38, in the upper plate 43, from the prevention of the angular displacement toward the retracted position. The upper portion of the upper riser guide rail 56 extends horizontally along the upper plate 43, and the forward end 236 is inclined smoothly downward. As the stepboard 37 moves downward in the downward transitional region S3, the guide roller 55 of the riser 38 is guided to fold the riser 38 in a state where the stepboard 37 is moved downward. The forward end 237 of the lower riser guide rail 57 is curved smoothly upward, and opposed to the forward end 236 of the upper riser guide rail 56 with a spacing therebetween for allowing passage of the guide roller 55 and small roller 37. Thus, when the stepboard 37 moves downward, the guide roller 55 is guided to transfer from the tip end 236 of the upper riser guide rail 56 to the forward end 237 of the lower riser guide rail 57. In this way, since the stepboard 37 and riser are supported by the forward end of the stepboard 37 connected to the chain 36 and the guide roller 55 disposed at the free end of the riser 38, the one end of the stepboard 37 (leftward in Fig. 25) lower under the weight of the stepboard 37, thereby folding the riser 38. For the riser 38 to be folded reliably by the weight of the stepboard 37 in this way, the upper riser guide rail 56 is maintained horizontal when the stepboard 37 enters the downward transitional region S3, and is thereafter inclined downward at the forward end 236. As a result, even after the upper riser guide rail 171 releases the stepboard 37 from the prevention of the angular displacement toward the retracted position, and even when the riser 38 travels in the upper traveling direction A without being folded, the riser 38 is angularly displaced toward the retracted position with downward tilting of the stepboard 37 since the upper riser guide rail 56 is maintained horizontal when the stepboard 37 enters the downward transitional region S3 and the other end of the stepboard 37 (rightward in Fig. 25) begins to lower along the sprocket wheels 34. When the riser 38 is angularly displaced toward the retracted position in this way, the riser 38 is folded reliably by the weight of the one end of the stepboard 37. In this way, the riser 38 may be folded when the stepboard 37 moves downward, only by the upper riser guide rail 56 guiding the guide roller 55 of the riser 38, without providing folding means for folding the riser 38 in the upper circulating region S1.
In the upward transitional region S4 where the stepboard 37 moves upward from the lower circulating region S2 to the upper circulating region S1, the guide roller 55 is guided by the upward riser guide means 160 such that the riser moves upward in the folded state, and is placed in the projecting position by its own weight in the upper circulating region S1 and immediately before reaching the transport region S5.
Fig. 26 is a view in vertical section showing an outline construction of an escalator system 250 in a further embodiment of the invention. Fig. 27 is a side view showing a construction in the vicinity of a downward transitional region S3 of escalator system 250. Parts identical to those of the escalator system 30 as shown in Figs. 1-11 are affixed with the same references and are not described again. The escalator system 250 has a plurality of steps 251 endlessly connected by a chain 36, each step 251 having a stepboard 37 and a riser 38 which are integrated into a monolithic construction instead of being foldable.
As in the construction as shown in Fig. 3, the stepboard 37 of each step 251 has a chain-connecting shaft 58 disposed in a front portion thereof, with the chains 36 being connected to opposite end portions of this chain-connecting shaft 58, and the chain-connecting shaft 58 has front guide rollers 59 rotatably supported at the ends thereof. Each riser 38 has guide rollers 55 rotatably supported at opposite sides in the direction of width of the free end thereof. As shown in Fig. 3, the guide roller 55 and the front guide roller 59 are arranged in different positions in the direction of width. The front guide roller 59 is guided, in the upper circulating region S1 of steps 251, along the upper stepboard guide rail 60 extending along the stairs 33. The guide roller 55 attached to the riser 38 is guided, in the upper circulating region S1 of steps 251, along the upper riser guide rail 56 extending along the stairs 33. As a result, the stepboard 37 of the step 251 travels through the upper circulating region S1, with the riding surfaces 48 maintained in horizontal posture.
Similarly, in the lower circulating region S2, the front guide roller 59 is guided along the lower stepboard guide rail 69 extending along the stairs 33, and the guide roller 55 attached to the riser 38 is guided along the lower riser guide rail 57 extending along the stairs 33. As a result, the step 251 traveling through the lower circulating region S2 travels along the stairs 33 and close to the step 251 traveling through the upper circulating region S1.
On the upper floor 32, as shown in Fig. 27, the upper stepboard guide rail 60 and upper riser guide rail 56 extend horizontally, whereby the step 251 travels horizontally in the upper end portion of the upper circulating region S1. Similarly, the lower stepboard guide rail 69 and lower riser guide rail 57 extend horizontally on the upper floor 32 so that the step 251 travels horizontally in the upper end portion of the lower circulating region S2.
In the downward transitional region S3 where the step 251 moves from the upper circulating region S1 to the lower circulating region S2, as shown in Fig. 27, an end 69a of the lower stepboard guide rail 69 extends upward, describing a circular arc, and an end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57 also extends upward, describing a circular arc. Conversely, an end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60 extends downward, describing a circular arc, and an end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 also extend downward, describing a circular arc. As a result, in the downward transitional region S3 with the front guide roller 59 and guide roller 55 guided by the end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60 and the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56, respectively, the step 251, which travels horizontally in the upper circulating region S1 and rightward in Fig. 27, moves downward in a state where the stepboard 37 is maintained in horizontal posture.
When each step 251 driven by the a chain 36 descends to a vertically middle position between the lower circulating region S2 and upper circulating region S1, the front guide roller 59 is transferred from the end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60 to the end 69a of the lower stepboard guide rail 69. At the same time, the guide roller 55 is transferred from the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 to the end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57. As the step 251 is driven further by the a chain 36, the front guide roller 59 and guide roller 55 are guided by the end 69a of the lower stepboard guide rail 69 and the end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57, respectively. The step 251 descends with the stepboard 37 maintained in horizontal posture, and then travels horizontally through the lower circulating region S1.
In this embodiment, as described above, the front guide rollers 59 and guide rollers 55 constantly contact the guide rail 56, 57, 60 or 69 to be guided with the stepboard 37 constantly maintained in horizontal posture in the downward transitional region S3. Thus, the step 251 may move smoothly downward through the downward transitional region S3 without turning over.
Since the front guide roller 59 is arranged outwardly of the guide roller 55 in the direction of width as shown in Fig. 3, the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 is disposed on a moving track of the chain-connecting shaft 58 supporting the front guide rollers 59. Thus, the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 is disposed at a hinge 252 so as to be angularly displaceable, and engaged by a torsion spring 253 and an engaging piece 254. In time of passage of each chain-connecting shaft 58, the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 is angularly displaced to pass the chain-connecting shaft.
As shown in Fig. 27, the end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60 and the end 69a of the lower stepboard guide rail 69 are opposed to each other in the vertically middle position. Similarly, the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 and the end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57 are opposed to each other in the vertically middle position. As a result, when the rollers 59 and 55 are transferred from the upper riser guide rail 56 and upper stepboard guide rail 60 to the lower riser guide rail 57 and lower stepboard guide rail 69, the front guide roller 59 contacts both the end 69a of the lower stepboard guide rail 69 and the end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60, while the guide roller 55 contacts both the end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57 and the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56. As a result, the guide rollers 55 and 59 can smoothly be transferred. Further, as noted above, the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 is resiliently displaceable by the torsion spring 253. The tip end of the end 60a of the upper stepboard guide rail 60 is formed to have resilience. Thus, the rollers 55 and 59 in time of transfer are resiliently pinched between the ends 56a, 57a; 60a, 69a of the guide rail, whereby the rollers 55 and 59 perform a transfer with increased smoothness.
To maintain the stepboard in horizontal posture with increased assurance in time of downward movement, roller guide means may be provided between the end 56a of the upper riser guide rail 56 and the end 57a of the lower riser guide rail 57 to be vertically movable synchronously with running of the step 251 for supporting from below and guiding the guide roller 55 in transfer from the upper riser guide rail 56 to the lower riser guide rail 57. This will reliably prevent the guide roller 55 from slipping and falling from the upper riser guide rail 56 to the lower riser guide rail 57 when the front guide roller 59 is on the upper stepboard guide rail 60. Such roller guide means is in the form of a double-acting cylinder or cam, for example, which is vertically movable synchronously with the step 251 circulating successively.
The constructions of the guide rail described above are similar on the lower floor 31 for ends 60b of the upper stepboard guide rail 60, ends 56b of the upper riser guide rail 56, ends 69b of the lower stepboard guide rail 69 and ends 57b of the lower riser guide rail 57. As a result, a smooth transfer may be made in the upward transitional region S4 also, with the stepboard 37 maintained in horizontal posture, from the lower guide rail 57 and 69 to the upper guide rail 56 and 60.
Each escalator system 30, 139, 149, 179, 195, 205, 215, 225 or 235 of the present invention is not limited to use as an ascending escalator, but may be used also as a descending escalator for carrying users from the upper floor 32 to the lower floor 31. Installation on existing stairs in a station or the like is not limitative, but the escalator system may be used conveniently for steps of a pedestrian overpass.

[Industrial Utility]

According to the invention set forth in claim 1, the riser is folded from the projection position to the retracted position. Consequently, the escalator system may be made thin.
According to the invention set forth in claim 2, the folding means has the link means and guide means. In addition to the advantage of claim 1, no additional drive is required.
According to the invention set forth in claim 3, the riser is folded reliably by the link means of simple construction, in addition to the advantage of claim 2.
According to the invention set forth in claim 4, the link means is displaceable by magnetic action. In addition to the advantage of claim 2 or 3, noise, impact, wear and so on due to a collision between the guide member and link means may be avoided.
According to the invention set forth in claim 5, the folding means guides and folds the riser. In addition to the advantage of claim 1, the construction is simplified in that link means or the like needs not be provided for each riser.
According to the invention set forth in claim 6, the folding means with a simple construction having the endless belt can reliably fold the riser, in addition to the advantage of claim 5.
According to the invention set forth in claim 7, the chain and the chain-connecting shaft are directly connected to each other. In addition to the advantages of claims 1-6, the construction is made compact compared with a construction having connections through attachments or the like. Besides, the chain and stepboard may be connected strongly.
According to the invention set forth in claim 8, each riser is thrust up toward the retracted position by the thrust-up means, and thereafter the riser is folded along the folding guide rail. Thus, the escalator system is made thin, and the riser may be folded reliably along the fold guide rail regardless of vibration and the like.
According to the invention set forth in claim 9, the riser is reliably thrust up by the thrust-up lever driven to be angularly displaced in a vertical direction. In addition to the advantages of claim 8, the riser is folded reliably along the folding guide rail.
According to the invention set forth in claim 10, the riser is thrust up in the thrust-up position by the thrust-up rotation members driven to make a rotation to push the riser up toward the retracted position. In addition to the advantages of claim 8, the riser is folded reliably along the folding guide rail.
According to the invention set forth in claim 11, each riser in the thrust-up position is biased and thrust up toward the retracted position by the spring member and riser guide rail. In addition to the advantages of claim 8, the riser is folded reliably by the folding guide rail.
According to the invention set forth in claim 12, the step is driven to circulate with the riding surface facing upward. The construction is made thin compared with a conventional escalator system which turns over the steps.
According to the invention set forth in claim 13, the stepboard of the step moves in horizontal posture through the upward transitional region and downward transitional region. Thus, the steps circulate smoothly without making noise or the like.
According to the invention set forth in claim 14, the stepboard travels in a state of being reversed, with the riser folded, through the lower circulating region, which allows the escalator system to be made thin.
According to the invention set forth in claim 15, when the stepboard moves, with the riding surface facing upward, from the upper circulating region to the lower circulating region, the riser is folded by the weight of the stepboard. The riser is folded without providing means for folding the riser beforehand in the upper circulating region, which allows the escalator system to be made thin.

Claims

An escalator system comprising:

a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;

drive means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward;

risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard; and

folding means for folding the riser from the projecting position to the retracted position.
The escalator system of claim 1, wherein the folding means includes:

link means disposed between the stepboard and the riser to be displaceable, for folding the riser; and

a guide member disposed in a predetermined fixed position in a vicinity of a moving path of the link means, and

the link means traveling with the stepboard is guided by the guide member, to thereby displace the link means to fold the riser.
The escalator system of claim 2, wherein the link means includes:

a first link having one end which is connected to the stepboard so that the first link is angularly displaceable; and

a second link having one end which is connected to the riser so that the second link is angularly displaceable, and the other end which is connected to the other end of the first link so that the second link is angularly displaceable, and

the first link is guided by the guide member to fold the riser.
The escalator system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the link means is displaced by magnetic action with the guide member.
The escalator system of claim 1, wherein the folding means is interposed between upper and lower circulating regions of the stepboards in circulation, for guiding and folding the riser traveling with the stepboard.
The escalator system of claim 5, wherein the folding means include an endless belt which runs tensioned and inclined so that an upper tensioned part of the endless belt is inclined upward as the endless belt extends downstream in a running direction, and the upper tensioned part of the endless belt is disposed so as to contact the free end of the riser traveling with the stepboard.
The escalator system of any one of claims 1 through 6, wherein the driving means includes:

a pair of sprocket wheels having a horizontal axis of rotation, disposed in the upper position and the lower position;

an endless chain tensioned around the upper and lower sprocket wheels; and

a drive source for driving the endless chain to run in a predetermined running direction, and

at the other end of the stepboard on the upper position side is provided a chain-connecting shaft projecting outwardly from the other end, the chain being connected directly to the chain-connecting shaft.
An escalator system comprising:

a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;

drive means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward;

risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side, so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard, and having a free end provided with a roller;

a folding guide rail for contacting from below the roller of the riser traveling with the stepboard in a state of being placed in the projecting position through an upper circulating region, to guide and fold the riser to the retracted position; and

thrust-up means for thrusting the riser up toward the retracted position when the roller of the riser reaches a predetermined thrust-up position short of the folding guide rail.
The escalator system of claim 8, wherein the thrust-up means includes:

a thrust-up lever disposed so as to be angularly displaceable in a vertical direction in the thrust-up position; and

driving means for driving the thrust-up lever to be angularly displaced in the vertical direction to push up the free end of the riser from below.
The escalator system of claim 8, wherein the thrust-up means includes:

a thrust-up rotation member rotatably disposed in the thrust-up position; and

drive means for driving the thrust-up rotation member to push up the free end of the riser from below.
The escalator system of claim 8, wherein the thrust-up means includes:

a spring member disposed between the stepboard and the riser, for biasing the riser toward the retracted position; and

a riser guide rail extending along a traveling path of the stepboard to the thrust-up position, for preventing the riser traveling with the stepboard, in a state of being placed in the projecting position, from being angularly displaced toward the retracted position and allowing a displacement to a traveling direction.
An escalator system comprising:

a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users and being integrated with a riser; and

driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward.
The escalator system of claim 12, wherein the stepboard is constantly placed in horizontal posture in a downward transitional region from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, and in an upward transitional region from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.
An escalator system comprising:

a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;

driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate; and

risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the riser is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard,

wherein the stepboard is reversed to a face-down posture and the riser is folded to the retracted position by its own weight when moving from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region of the stepboard, the stepboard is reversed and the riser is folded when traveling through the lower circulating region, and the stepboard is reversed and the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position when the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.
An escalator system comprising:

a plurality of stepboards connected in an endless loop between a lower position and an upper position, each of the plurality of stepboards having a riding surface for carrying users;

driving means for driving the stepboards to circulate in a state where the riding surfaces face upward; and

risers each having a base end which is connected to one end of the stepboard on the lower position side so that the risers is angularly displaceable between a projecting position where the riser extends downward by its own weight and a retracted position where the riser is substantially parallel to the stepboard,

wherein the riser is folded to the retracted position by a weight of the stepboard when the stepboard moves from an upper circulating region to a lower circulating region, the riser travels in a folded state through the lower circulating region, and the riser is angularly displaced to the projecting position by its own weight when the stepboard moves from the lower circulating region to the upper circulating region.