EP2100842A1 - Safety device for a moving staircase - Google Patents

Abstract

The moving handrail (2) of an escalator is monitored by a sensor (6) at the end side (7) of the pedestal (4) near the opening (5). The sensor registers the presence of a hand or other object, which could be trapped by the moving handrail. The sensor, without contact, registers variations in an electrical and/or magnetic field and can be fitted with a transmitting electrode (10) and a receiver electrode (11).

Description

The invention relates to a safety device for an escalator or moving walks with a handrail, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a handrail is guided by a handrail insertion, wherein the handrail insertion comprises a forehead base with an insertion point for the handrail and the handrail insertion is provided with a sensor for detecting a body part or an object that represents a Einklemmgefahr.

Electric escalators include a handrail that is driven via a handrail entry in synchronism with the moving steps of the escalator. In the area of the handrail insertion, a forehead base with an opening for the handrail is placed.

When an exit of the escalator stairwell occurs, the handrail turns its direction of travel and is guided by a handrail entry. As the handrail enters through the handrail entry, it moves along an invisible area in the opposite direction to the free area of the handrail.

It must be ensured that no objects or the hands of a person pass through the moving handrail into the handrail inlet, as otherwise a mechanism could be damaged or a person could be injured.

The DE 690 04 395 T2 describes a safety device in a reentry housing of the handrail of an escalator. This is to prevent objects from being pulled into the re-entrant housing by the moving handrail or injuring an escalator user. A bumper base has a passage for the handrail. The end cap is provided with a hub and a recess for a arranged in the re-entry housing base part with a locking projection. The base part is movable relative to the end base in the handrail direction, so that the end cap is easily displaced. The base part is provided downstream with a plurality of elongate pins which are guided by a guide member are. Another hub engages telescopically in a counterpart in the base part. In addition, a housing part with a flange is present, which engages with the end cap. The housing part can slide together with the end cap. The movable pins terminate at switches so that they can actuate the switches when the end cap is pressed. In addition, radial pressure sensors are provided between an outer side of a hub of the end base and an inner surface of the base part. Disadvantage of this solution is that relatively many moving parts are required and that the sensors can react only relatively late to a dangerous situation. In addition, the required construction is complex.

Another from the EP 0 960 847 A1 known safety device comprises an inductive proximity switch. The handrail is provided with a steel cable insert. At a distance to the handrail of the proximity switch is arranged, which can be triggered by the steel cable insert. The switch is attached to a balustrade profile. If the handrail is raised, so the distance of the proximity switch increases, so that an error signal is carried out, which is evaluated by a controller. The controller switches a main contactor that shuts off an escalator motor and a handrail motor. This safety device primarily protects against vandalism, which can also lead to accidents and damage.

The invention has for its object to provide a safety device with which the end base can be equipped as possible without moving components, with a triggering should already be made when reaching the danger area, ie before touching the handrail insertion.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

The device according to the invention has the advantage that the end base can be firmly fixed because it does not have to act on pins which are operatively connected with safety switches. Because the sensor is arranged on an end face of the end cap in the region of the insertion point, objects or a hand, for example, are detected even before they can penetrate into a gap between the handrail and end cap and can be clamped there.

The arrangement of the sensor also allows the end cap can be performed without moving components. The end cap can be practically firmly connected to a reentrant housing of the handrail and screwed for example with this.

With the solution according to the invention, therefore, constructions are possible in which the gaps between base and handrail can be relatively very small.

Because the sensor is located, in principle, outside the end cap, the construction and assembly in the area behind the handrail insertion simplifies.

As soon as a person or an object penetrates into the effective range of the sensor, this can be recognized by a system. This prevents a safety mechanism or another sensor from reacting only when a hand or an object is already in contact with the handrail entry. The risk of entrapment is considerably reduced by the early detection. It can thus be issued very early warning, for example, an audible warning, so that a person can take his hand in time or the movement of the handrail can be stopped in time. As a result, a very secure monitoring of the entry point is achieved.

The sensor can basically be an electromechanical sensor, which is provided, for example, with movable flaps which trigger a signal when actuated. In an advantageous embodiment of the safety device according to the invention, however, it is provided that the sensor is designed as a non-contact sensor. This can be embodied as an electromagnetic sensor, as a radar sensor, as a light barrier, as a video camera or as an infrared sensor. This has the advantage that the safety-relevant area before handrail insertion without moving components for a low wear solution is low maintenance. The contactless detection ensures low wear of the sensor.

Preferably, the sensor detects a change in an electrical and / or magnetic field in the forehead socket area. If a hand or other object gets close to the handrail, the rapid change in the electrical and / or magnetic field can be used to trigger an error signal or an error message. The field can be set permanently in its propagation, wherein the field can be adjusted individually by appropriate parameterization of a transmitter to the respective environmental parameters of the escalator or the moving walk.

It is advantageous if the sensor has an electrode device with a frequency, in particular a sinusoidal frequency, which detects a change in a near-field coupling. Here, a near field can be defined. As soon as a person or other object enters the effective area of the near field, this can be detected by the system.

Preferably, the sensor is integrated in the end cap. It is very advantageous that first and second electrodes are integrated in the sensor. The electrodes are part of the end socket and can be designed so that a field from the end base in the direction of the handrail propagates.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first electrode is designed as a transmitting antenna and the second electrode as a receiving antenna. Here, the transmitting antenna is part of a radio transmitter which emits electromagnetic waves received by the radio receiver equipped with the receiving antenna. If a hand or other object reaches the effective range between the transmitting and receiving antenna, the amplitude of the receiver changes. As soon as this change exceeds a threshold value or passes outside a signal window, this can be considered a triggering criterion.

It has been found to be optimal that the sinusoidal radio frequency is 50 kHz to 200 kHz. On the one hand, this frequency is less susceptible to interference and on the other hand there are significant signal changes in the present application. The voltage required for transmitting and receiving operation as well as the voltage of the other electronics can also be in the low-voltage range, for example 5 to 12 volts.

A further preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the sensor is connected to an information bus. A bus-oriented transmission of the information for the shutdown and a diagnosis has the advantage that a relatively large number of sensors can be connected to a central evaluation electronics or control unit. Therefore, it is advantageous if a plurality of sensors can be connected to the transmitter or control unit.

It is also advantageous if the sensor is connected to an alarm device with an optical and / or an acoustic warning means. Since the sensor reports a possible dangerous situation at a very early stage, a warning signal can prevent a hand from coming into contact with the handrail entry. A person can be warned in advance and can take his hand off in time before a stop is initiated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the safety device according to the invention, it is provided that the sensor is connected to a device for switching off the escalator or moving walks, which initiates a stop process upon detection of a body part or object. For example, a monitoring electronics connected to the sensor can work according to stop category 0 according to EN60204 and may be self-monitoring. The transmitter and / or the control unit may be connected to a switching device, in particular a main contactor, which shuts off an escalator motor and / or a handrail motor in case of danger.

It is particularly advantageous that gaps between the end base and the handrail are present, which are 1.5 to 3 mm, in particular 1.8 to 2.3 mm, preferably about 2 mm. This gap dimensions, which are possible by the invention, make the handrail insertion finger-safe, with sufficient freedom of movement for the handrail is given and assembly tolerances can be considered.

In order to protect smaller objects effectively against entry into the handrail insertion is further provided that at the gap between the end cap and the handrail repellent elements such. B. brushes or rubber lips are present.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Handlaufeinführung mit einem Handlauf einer Fahrtreppe,
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Sensorfeldes,
• Fig. 3 ein Blockschaltbild des Sensors, und
• Fig. 4 eine Darstellung der Handlaufeinführung mit einem Handlauf von vorne.

An embodiment will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, wherein further advantageous developments of the invention and advantages thereof are described.
Show it:

• Fig. 1 a perspective view of a handrail insertion with a handrail of an escalator,
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of a sensor field,
• Fig. 3 a block diagram of the sensor, and
• Fig. 4 a representation of the handrail insertion with a handrail from the front.

In the figures, like parts are given the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a safety device according to the invention 1. This is provided for an escalator, not shown, or moving walks. The escalator is provided with a handrail 2, which is guided by a handrail insertion 3. The handrail 2 is driven synchronously with the moving steps of the escalator. The handrail inlet 3 is located on a front socket 4. This is mounted on a reentry housing of the handrail 2 of the escalator. Preferably, the end cap consists of an elastic material. For entry of the handrail 2 of the end cap is provided with an insertion point 5.

When the staircase of the escalator leaves the handrail turns its direction of movement, which is illustrated by the arrow A. He then enters the handrail 3 introduction. When the handrail 2 enters through the handrail insertion 3, it moves along an invisible area in the opposite direction to the upper free area of the handrail 2 in the manner of an endless belt.

To ensure that no objects or the hands of a person pass through the moving handrail in the handrail 3, a sensor 6 is provided. This prevents a mechanism of the handrail 2 from being damaged or even injuring a person.

The sensor 6 detects early, for example, the fingers of a hand or an object that could be pinched.

According to the invention, the sensor 6 is arranged on an end face 7 of the end base in the region of the insertion point.

The sensor 6 is designed as a contactless sensor, so that a sensor or near field 8 is detected by the sensor 6. When an object reaches or the fingers of a person reach the vicinity of the handrail insertion 3, the sensor 6 becomes active and outputs a signal. The dashed lines mark the area detectable by the sensor 6.

In principle, the sensor 6 can use an electric field for detection. In this case, electrodes similar to capacitor electrodes may be present. If a voltage is applied to the electrodes, an electric field is created between the electrodes. This is influenced by a conductive object. The sensor behaves like a capacitance in this case. From this capacity, a resonant circuit can be constructed, wherein the capacitance is changed by an object in the sensor field.

Other non-contact sensors can alternatively be used. It is also possible to use sensors based on radar technology or infrared technology.

Thus, it is possible to use a sensor 6 which detects a change in an electric field or in the infrared radiation in the end socket area.

Preferably, the sensor works on the transmitter-receiver principle. The transmitter builds up a magnetic field that changes at a high frequency. As in radio technology, the frequency can be received by the receiver. Only one carrier frequency is used here.

In particular, therefore, the sensor has an electrode device with a frequency that detects a change in a Nahfeldkopplung, wherein in the sensor 6, a first electrode 10 and a second electrode 11 is present, such as Fig. 2 shows. The first electrode 10 is designed as a transmitting antenna and the second electrode as a receiving antenna 11. In particular, they run parallel to one another and are arranged laterally of the handrail 2, wherein they completely grasp the handrail insertion 3. The antennas 10, 11 are fixedly connected to the end base 4, so that the antennas 10, 11 are integrated in the base. They may be positively and / or non-positively connected to the base 4, for example with retaining means 12, 13, such as retaining clips, locking elements or the like. They can also be glued or cast in the base material. However, the sensor 6 is in particular part of the end cap 4.

The electrode spacing is in particular 10 mm to 20 mm and must be greater than the width of the handrail 2.

A suitable sensor or radio frequency is in the range of 50 kHz to 200 kHz. The waveform is preferably sinusoidal. This short-wave range is well suited for the electrode spacing of 10 mm to 20 mm.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of the sensor 6 as a transceiver unit. The transmission antenna 10 is connected to a transmitter 14 or a transmission circuit. The receiving antenna 11 is connected to a receiver 15 and a receiver circuit, respectively. The transmitter sends, for example, a 100 kHz signal. This is received by the antenna and amplified by an amplifier. The transmitter 14 and the receiver 15 may be located on a common circuit board. Both are electrically connected to a transmitter 16 and an evaluation circuit 16. This circuit 16 may also be arranged on the same board. If, for example, the received signal falls below a previously defined threshold value, this can be determined by a comparator or another comparison unit, so that an alarm signal can be triggered. Also detection algorithms can be used in the transmitter 16, which can detect a change in the near field coupling between the transmitting and receiving electrodes and thus detect the approach of a person or a conductive object.

The electrodes 10, 11 are preferably designed rod-shaped or rod antennas.

As before Fig. 3 shows, the sensor 6 is connected to an information bus 17 via a corresponding interface. The bus 17 may be implemented as a two-wire bus with conventional bus protocols. On the bus, a central control unit 18 is connected. For example, it works according to stop category 0 according to EN60204. The sensor 6 is thus connected to the control unit 18 or to a device for switching off the escalator or moving walks, which initiates a stop process upon detection of a body part or object.

The sensor 6 is connected to the evaluation electronics 16 or includes an evaluation, wherein a plurality of sensors via the bus 17 to the control unit 18 are connected. Preferably, up to four sensors can be connected to the evaluation electronics 16 or to the control unit 18.

The sensor 6 is connected to an alarm device 20 with an optical and / or an acoustic warning means 20. Preferably, this connection is via bus 17. This signal alerts the user to dangerous situations. For example, a potential-free switching contact can be activated.

Fig. 4 schematically shows the insertion point 5 of the handrail and the gap S of the gap 21 between the end cap 4 and the handrail 2. The gap dimensions S are 1.5 to 3 mm, in particular 1.8 to 2.3 mm, preferably about 2 mm.

At the gap 21 between the end cap 4 and the handrail 2 brushes 23 are present, which are only partially shown.

The invention is not limited to this example, so the sensor does not necessarily have to be arranged in the region of the handrail insertion. For example, it may also be mounted on the underside of the end base or may be attached only indirectly to the base 4. A sensor operating as a light barrier can also be used. Also described or shown individual features can be combined with each other.

Claims (13)

Safety device for an escalator or moving walks with at least one handrail, which is guided by at least one handrail insertion, wherein the handrail insertion comprises a forehead pedestal with an insertion point for the handrail and the handrail insertion is provided with at least one sensor for detecting a body part or an object, the one Danger of pinching, characterized in that the sensor (6) on an end face (7) of the end cap (4) in the region of the insertion point (5) is arranged. Safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (6) is designed as a non-contact sensor. Safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (6) is designed such that it detects a change in an electric and / or magnetic field in the end socket area. Safety device according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor (6) has an electrode device with a frequency which detects a change in a near-field coupling. Safety device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that in the sensor (6) first and second electrodes (10, 11) are integrated. Safety device according to claim 5, characterized in that the first electrode (10) as a transmitting antenna and the second electrode (11) are designed as a receiving antenna. Safety device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the frequency is 50 to 200 kHz. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (6) is connected to an information bus (17). Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (6) is connected to an alarm device with an optical and / or an acoustic warning means. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (6) with a device for switching off the escalator or moving walks is connected, which initiates a stop process upon detection of a body part or object. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (6) with an evaluation (16) is connected, wherein a plurality of sensors to a control unit (18) can be connected. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a gap (21) in the region of the handrail insertion (3) is present, wherein the gap dimensions (S) between the end base (4) and the handrail (2) are present, which are 1.5 to 3 mm, in particular 1.8 to 2.3 mm, preferably about 2 mm. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the gap (21) between the end base (4) and the handrail (2) repellent elements such. B. brushes or rubber lips (23) are present.

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