EP3763655A1 - Low profile moving walkway - Google Patents

Abstract

A moving walk (1) is described which has a pallet belt (3) with a plurality of pallets (9), each with a step surface (10), a drive (5) and a positioning mechanism (7). The pallets (9) are arranged one behind the other along a circumferential displacement path (11) extending between a first deflection area and a second deflection area (13). The drive (5) is configured to move the pallet belt (3) along the displacement path (11). The erecting mechanism (7) is configured to reorient the pallets (9) during displacement along the displacement path (11) at the second deflection area (13) from a lying configuration to a standing configuration, the pallets (9) being in the lying configuration extend with their step surface (10) parallel to a conveyor plane, so that people are to be transported standing on the step surface (10), and the pallets (9) in the standing configuration with their step surface (10) extend transversely to the conveyor plane.

Description

The present invention relates to a moving walkway.

Moving walks are used as passenger transport systems to move people in buildings or structures. The moving walks are usually permanently installed. A pallet belt that can be driven by a drive runs between an entry point at a first end of the moving walkway and an exit point at an opposite end of the moving walkway, so that the people can be transported with the pallet belt along a lead of a displacement path of the pallet belt. The pallet belt regularly comprises a large number of plate-like, elongated pallets, mostly made of metal, which are coupled to one another in a tensile load-bearing capacity, for example by means of a conveyor chain. The entry point and the exit point can be on the same or only slightly different levels, so that the displacement path runs horizontally or slightly inclined.

Moving walks are often installed along floors in a structure. The installation effort can be kept low if the moving walk is not installed sunk in the ground, but is placed on the ground. In this case, however, the displacement path does not run at ground level, but rather, due to the unavoidable structural height of the moving walk, at a distance above the ground that essentially corresponds to this structural height. Accordingly, ramps are usually provided at the entry and exit points in order to avoid the formation of steps there. As a result of the measures described, the room height above the moving walkway is reduced and a length of an area to be reserved for the moving walkway including the ramps is increased.

A conventional moving walk is for example in the EP 3 290 381 A1 shown. A possible special configuration of a moving walk is in WO 2017/092118 A1 shown, in which both the leading and the returning strand of the pallet belt can be entered.

There may be a need for a moving walkway which, among other things, has a particularly low overall height in order, for example, to be able to keep the required room height above the moving walkway low and / or to be able to keep the length or inclination of ramps at entry and exit points low .

Such a need can be met by a moving walk according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the description below.

According to one aspect of the invention, a moving walk is proposed which has a pallet belt with a plurality of pallets, each with a step surface, a drive and a positioning mechanism. The pallets are arranged one behind the other along a circumferential displacement path extending between a first deflection area and a second deflection area. The drive is configured to move the pallet belt along the displacement path. The erecting mechanism is configured to reorient the pallets during displacement along the displacement path in at least one of the two deflection areas from a lying configuration to a standing configuration, with the pallets in the lying configuration extending with their tread surface parallel to a conveyor level, so that people on the tread surface are conveyable, and the pallets extend in the standing configuration with their tread surface transversely to the conveying plane.

Possible features and advantages of embodiments of the invention can be viewed, inter alia and without restricting the invention, as being based on the ideas and findings described below.

In conventional moving walks, people are usually transported by means of a pallet belt, which is driven by a drive so that it rotates along a displacement path. The pallet belt comprises a large number of pallets arranged one behind the other. The pallets are typically each coupled to a conveyor chain on their sides that are opposite transversely to the displacement path, so that they are connected to one another in a tensile manner on both sides. In an as The part of the displacement path, referred to as the advance, is used to move the pallets from a first deflection area to a second deflection area with the aid of the conveyor chains moved by the drive. In a part of the displacement path referred to as a return path, the pallets are then moved back from the second deflection area to the first deflection area.

Conventionally, the pallet belt including the conveyor chains is deflected by 180 ° in the two deflection areas with the aid of chain wheels, the chain wheels being rotated about an axis extending parallel to the pallets. In such a configuration the feed of the pallet belt runs vertically above the return. The pallets of the pallet belt are moved forward and backward in planes that run parallel to one another. A guide mechanism for deflecting the pallet belt can be implemented relatively easily with the aid of the chain wheels.

However, the overall height of such a conventional moving walk, that is, a vertical distance between an upper side of the pallets moved in advance and a building floor on which the moving walk is built, is inevitably relatively large, since both the advance and the return of the pallet belt running below it a certain height is required.

Therefore, an alternative embodiment of a moving walk is described herein, in which one of the aims is to be able to modify the path of displacement of the pallet belt in its forward and return movement in such a way that this results in a reduced overall height for the moving walk, ie the forward movement the moving walkway can run at a lower height above the building floor.

To achieve this goal, the moving walk has a special erection mechanism. When the pallets move from the first deflection area in the direction of the second deflection area in advance, the pallets that reach the second deflection area are continuously reoriented from a lying configuration to a standing configuration with the aid of the erecting mechanism.

During the advance, i.e. when the pallets are being conveyed from the first deflection area to the second deflection area of the moving walkway, the pallets can therefore be in their lying configuration, so that people can be conveyed standing on the step surface of the pallets. Arrived at the second deflection area, the pallets can then be reoriented into the standing configuration with the aid of the erection mechanism, so that they extend transversely to the conveying plane, preferably vertically. In this standing configuration, the pallets can then be moved back from the second deflection area to the first deflection area. A further mechanism, for example in the form of a lowering mechanism, can be provided at the first deflection area, with the aid of which the pallets can be reoriented from the standing configuration to the lying configuration, in order to be able to transport people standing on the pallets again in the advance of the moving walk. Since moving walks are operated in both possible conveying directions in most cases, both deflection areas can have a structurally identical device which, depending on the direction of rotation of the pallets, serves either as an erecting mechanism or a lowering mechanism.

According to one embodiment, the pallet belt can be deflected in the deflection areas around a deflection axis running transversely to the horizontal.

In other words, in the moving walk presented here, in contrast to conventional moving walks, the pallet belt in the deflection areas should not be deflected around a horizontal deflection axis, but rather be deflected around a deflection axis running transversely to the horizontal, preferably around a vertically oriented deflection axis.

In particular by this measure, according to one embodiment, the advance of the displacement path in which the pallets are moved from the first deflection area to the second deflection area, and the return of the displacement path in which the pallets are moved from the second deflection area to the first deflection area, run side by side.

This fundamentally differentiates the proposed moving walk from conventional moving walks. While the advance of the The displacement path and the return of the displacement path usually run vertically one above the other, ie vertically adjacent to one another; in the moving walkway proposed here, these two areas of the displacement path should run side by side, ie horizontally adjacent to one another. As a result, no installation space needs to be reserved below the advance of the displacement path within which the pallets can be displaced in the return. Instead, the pallets can be brought into the standing configuration with the help of the erection mechanism in the second deflection area and then transported back to the first deflection area next to the forward movement in a space-saving manner.

According to one embodiment, adjacent pallets can only be permanently coupled to one another in a tensile load-bearing manner on a first side of the pallet belt and not permanently coupled to one another in an elastic manner on a second side opposite the first side.

In other words, the pallet belt can be composed of a large number of pallets, which are only permanently connected to one another in a tensile load-bearing manner on their first side, whereas no, or at least no permanent, tensile coupling is established between adjacent pallets on the second side.

It is also conceivable that adjacent pallets are coupled to one another on their first side so that they can be loaded with one another in such a way that no significant relative movement occurs between the end regions of the two pallets on their first side when there is a tensile load. On their second side, the adjacent pallets are not coupled to one another or at least not coupled to one another in the manner described, so that a significant relative movement can occur in the event of a tensile load between the end regions of the two pallets on the second side, i.e. the two pallets on theirs end regions adjoining the second side can move away from one another significantly.

Due to the fact that the pallets are permanently coupled to each other with tensile strength on their first side, but not on their second side, the pallets can be moved synchronously with each other by applying force to the first side, so that the pallet belt can be moved in advance with its pallets forming a cohesive, accessible area. On the other hand, the pallets can temporarily move away from one another at least on their second side, which can be used to be able to move the pallets from their lying configuration to their standing configuration with the aid of the erecting mechanism in the second deflection area.

According to one embodiment, the pallets can interact on the first side, for example, with a conveyor chain and be coupled to one another by means of the conveyor chain.

In other words, the pallets can be coupled to a conveyor chain on their first side in such a way that a tensile force can be transmitted between adjacent pallets via the conveyor chain. The conveyor chain can thus be used to drive the pallet belt formed by the pallets. A distance between adjacent pallets is thus essentially constant in terms of time and space on the first side of the pallets connected to the conveyor chain and corresponds, for example, to the pitch or a multiple of the pitch of the conveyor chain. On the opposite, second side, the pallets are preferably not connected to a conveyor chain, so that the distance between adjacent pallets on this second side can change, depending on where the pallets are located along the displacement path. In particular, when adjacent pallets reach one of the deflection areas, the pallets can move significantly relative to one another on their second side and temporarily change a distance between one another.

According to one embodiment, the deployment mechanism can have an internal revolver mechanism. The turret mechanism can be arranged in the first deflection area, in the second deflection area, or in both deflection areas. Furthermore, the turret mechanism can cooperate with the pallets adjacent to their first side. In addition, the turret mechanism can be configured to move the pallets from the lying configuration to the standing configuration during the displacement along the displacement path in the deflection area.

In other words, the deployment mechanism can be designed as a mechanism which can rotate about an axis of rotation relative to other components of the moving walk that are fixedly installed in the building and which is therefore referred to as a turret mechanism. The axis of rotation can coincide with the deflection axis around which the pallet belt is deflected in the second deflection area or be arranged parallel to it. In particular, the axis of rotation can be arranged vertically. The erecting mechanism is arranged internally in relation to the circumferential displacement path.

At least while a pallet is in the deflection area and is thus arranged close to the turret mechanism, the turret mechanism can interact with this pallet on its first side. The turret mechanism can be designed to exert pulling and / or pushing forces in a direction transverse to the direction of displacement, that is, for example in the vertical direction, in particular in an upward direction, on pallets on or at least closely adjacent to their first side, to use these forces to move the pallet from its lying configuration to its standing configuration.

According to one embodiment, the turret mechanism can have at least one actuator which is configured to be at least temporarily coupled to one of the pallets and to actively shift this pallet from the lying to the standing configuration.

In this context, an actuator can be understood to mean a component which has parts that are movable relative to one another and which can actively exert a force on a pallet coupled to the actuator. The actuator can be driven electrically, hydraulically or in a similar way. Here, the actuator can have its own energy supply so that it can, for example, generate the forces to be exerted on the pallets independently of a drive for the moving walk. Alternatively, the actuator can interact with other components of the moving walk, such as the drive of the moving walk or the driven pallet belt, in order to be moved by them and then to be able to set up the pallets through this movement.

As an alternative or in addition to the turret mechanism, the erecting mechanism according to one embodiment can have an external guide rail. The guide rail can be arranged in at least one of the deflection areas and interact with the pallets adjacent to their second side. In this case, the guide rail can be configured to move the pallets from the lying configuration to the standing configuration during the displacement along the displacement path in the deflection area.

In other words, an external guide rail can be configured as an erecting mechanism or as part of the erecting mechanism to successively erect the pallets in their standing configuration while they follow the displacement path along the deflection area. The guide rail can be arranged on the outside of the second deflection area and interact with the second sides of the pallets, i.e. where the pallets are preferably not permanently coupled to one another.

According to one embodiment, the guide rail can in particular be configured to guide a pallet during displacement along the displacement path in the deflection area on its second side and to move it passively from the lying configuration to the standing configuration.

The guide rail can have a geometry such that a pulling or pushing force is exerted on the pallets interacting with it on the second side in order to gradually shift the pallets from the lying to the standing configuration. For example, the guide rail can guide the pallets deflected in the deflection area at their outer end near the second side, in particular support them from below in order to set them up. For this purpose, the guide rail can be designed, for example, as part of a spiral. In contrast to an actuator, the guide rail does not need to have any moving parts, but can be designed as a static structure.

According to one embodiment, the pallets can each have a hinge on the first side in order to switch between the lying configuration and the standing configuration Configuration can be reoriented.

In other words, a hinge, for example in the form of a folding hinge, can be provided on each of the pallets, via which the pallet is then connected to a component that connects adjacent pallets, such as the conveyor chain. The pallet can thus be pivoted via the hinge relative to the connecting component from the lying configuration to the standing configuration and vice versa. An axis of rotation of the hinge can run parallel to the displacement path of the moving walk.

According to one embodiment, the moving walkway can furthermore comprise a balustrade. The moving walkway can be configured in such a way that the pallets are moved in their standing configuration when moving in the return path along the displacement path within the balustrade.

In other words, the moving walkway can have one or two balustrades, which are generally arranged laterally next to the pallet belt and run parallel to the displacement path. The balustrades can serve as side railings for the people to be transported on the pallet belt. For example, a handrail that moves synchronously with the pallet belt can be guided on the balustrades. Within a balustrade, other components of the moving walk, such as the drive, the erecting mechanism and / or the like, can be accommodated or arranged thereon. Parts of the balustrade can serve as a type of cladding or housing for these components.

In embodiments of the moving walk proposed herein, the pallets, after they have been set up in their standing configuration in the second deflection area, can be moved back along the balustrade to the first deflection area. The pallets can be moved upright parallel to the balustrade to save space. The pallets can be moved within the balustrade or laterally next to, adjacent to the balustrade.

According to one embodiment, the pallet belt can be designed in two parts with a first and a second partial pallet belt. Pallets of the first partial pallet belt can be used synchronized with the pallets of the second partial pallet belt.

In other words, the pallet belt can have not just a single sequence of pallets arranged one behind the other in the direction of displacement, but two such sequences, which each form a partial pallet belt. The two partial pallet belts can run parallel to the direction of displacement. The two partial pallet belts are preferably arranged next to one another, particularly preferably directly next to and adjacent to one another, so that the tread surfaces of their pallets essentially form a common pallet belt tread surface on which people can be transported while standing.

The two partial pallet belts can be shifted with their pallets in a synchronized manner with one another during operation of the moving walk, i.e. move at an essentially identical speed along the shifting path.

Because a common pallet tread is formed with the aid of two separate partial pallet belts, the pallets of each of the partial pallet belts can have a shorter length transversely to the displacement path. When these pallets are folded up into their standing configuration in the return of the moving walkway, these shorter pallets thus have a lower height. In particular, the length of the pallets or, in the erected state, their height, can be less than or equal to the height of the balustrade. Such short pallets of the partial pallet straps can therefore be moved easily in the balustrade or along the balustrade from the second to the first deflection area without protruding beyond the balustrade or having to increase the height of the balustrade.

The two partial pallet belts can possibly be temporarily coupled to one another, at least where they move in parallel and adjacent to one another in advance of the moving walk. This enables the movement of the two partial pallet belts to be synchronized mechanically. However, such a mechanical coupling of the two partial pallet belts is not absolutely necessary.

According to one embodiment, the moving walkway can be designed in two parts with two drives and two erecting mechanisms, each of the drives and erecting mechanisms interacting with only one of the partial pallet belts assigned to it. If the applicable legislation allows, the two partial pallet belts could also have different speeds in order to be able to offer different travel speeds to the people to be transported.

According to a further specific embodiment, pallets of the first partial pallet belt can be displaced independently of pallets of the second partial pallet belt.

In other words, the moving walkway can be composed of two part moving walks. Each of the partial moving walks can have its own drive and its own erection mechanism, which interact with the respective partial pallet belt. The two partial moving walks can thus be operated autonomously and independently of one another with their partial pallet belts. Each of the partial moving walks can be significantly smaller, in particular significantly narrower, than the entire moving walk ultimately formed and can thus be manufactured, transported and / or installed more easily.

It should be noted that some of the possible features and advantages of the invention are described herein with reference to different embodiments of a moving walk according to the invention. A person skilled in the art recognizes that the features can be combined, adapted or exchanged in a suitable manner in order to arrive at further embodiments of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht auf einen der beiden Umlenkbereiche eines Fahrsteiges gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht auf einen Umlenkbereich eines zweiteiligen Fahrsteiges gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Detailansicht auf einen Revolvermechanismus eines Fahrsteiges gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, neither the drawings nor the description being to be interpreted as restricting the invention.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of one of the two deflection areas of a moving walkway according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a deflection area of a two-part moving walkway according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective detail view of a turret mechanism of a moving walk according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The figures are only schematic and not true to scale. In the various figures, the same reference symbols denote the same or identically acting features.

Fig. 1 shows a moving walk 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The moving walkway 1 has a pallet belt 3, a drive 5 and a positioning mechanism 7. The moving walkway also has a balustrade 25 (for reasons of clarity only shown schematically with a broken line) and a handrail 27 running along the balustrade 25, which is driven by a handrail drive 29 is driven.

The pallet belt 3 is formed from a plurality of pallets 9. Each of the pallets 9 has a step surface 10. The pallets 9 are arranged one behind the other along a displacement path 11 and each adjacent to one another. The displacement path 11 extends circumferentially between a first deflection area (not shown in the figure) and a second deflection area 13. In the second deflection area 13, the pallet belt 3 moved during a forward travel 15 represented by an arrow is deflected by 180 ° and then during a return line 17 shown by a further arrow back to the first deflection area.

The drive 5 can move the pallet belt 3 circumferentially along the displacement path 11. For this purpose, the drive 5 can for example have an electric motor. The drive 5 can possibly also be designed as a linear drive.

In the example shown, the erecting mechanism 7 has an internal turret mechanism 19 and an external guide rail 21. With the aid of this erecting mechanism 7, the pallets 9 can be diverted at the second deflection area 13 along the displacement path 11 from the feed 15 to the return 17 of the moving walk 1 , from one taken in advance 15 lying configuration can be reoriented into a standing configuration to be taken in return 17. In the forerun 15 the tread surfaces 10 of the pallets 9 are thus directed vertically upwards, whereas in the return 17 the tread surfaces 10 of the folded up pallets 9 are directed horizontally to the side.

The pallet belt 3 is deflected circumferentially in the second deflection area 13 as well as in the first deflection area around a deflection axis 23 running transversely to the horizontal from the feed 15 into the return 17 or vice versa from the return 17 into the feed 15. The deflection axis 23 preferably runs in the vertical direction.

With this configuration of the moving walk 1 it can be achieved that the flow 15 of the displacement path 13 and the return 17 of the displacement path 13 do not run vertically one above the other as in conventional moving walks, but run side by side. Thus, no installation space needs to be provided for the return 17 below the flow 15, whereby the overall height of the moving walk 1 can be kept low.

In addition, the fact that the pallets 9 are only moved in their horizontal configuration in the forward run 15, but are erected in their standing configuration in the return 17 and then conveyed back to the first deflection area, can save further installation space. In particular, the pallets 9 set up during the return 17 can be shifted on or within the balustrade 25. A housing of the balustrade 25 can also include other components of the moving walk 1 such as the drive 5, the turret mechanism 19, the handrail drive 29 and / or the like.

In the example shown, the pallets 9 of the pallet belt 3 are connected on an inner first side 31 to a revolving conveyor chain 35 via hinged hinges 33. The conveyor chain 35 can be driven by the drive 5 and thereby moved essentially parallel to the displacement path 11. The conveyor chain 35 can also be referred to more generally as a pallet belt chain and, instead of being a chain, can alternatively also be designed with the help of a revolving rope or belt with tension members.

The pallets 9 are thus permanently coupled to one another so that they can be subjected to tension via the conveyor chain 35 on their first side 31. As an alternative or in addition, adjacent pallets 9 could also be mechanically coupled directly to one another on their first side 31.

On a second side 37 running opposite to the first side 31, the pallets 9 cannot be coupled to one another or at least not be permanently coupled to one another so that they can be subjected to tension. In other words, the pallets 9 can possibly be supported on their second side 37 in the vertical direction from below in order to be able to absorb forces on the pallet 9, for example. The pallets 9 should, however, preferably not be permanently coupled to one another in the horizontal direction, and thus can be subjected to tensile loads parallel to the displacement path 11. In particular, in the embodiment shown, the pallets 9 are not coupled to a conveyor chain 35 on their second side 37.

In particular, due to the only one-sided, tensile load-bearing coupling of adjacent pallets 9 of the pallet belt 3 on the inner first side 31, the pallets 9 can, if they are deflected in the second deflection area 13 or in the first deflection area, on their outer second sides 37 in horizontal and / or temporarily move away from each other in the vertical direction.

Due to this possibility of being able to separate the pallets 9 from one another at least temporarily on the outer second sides 37 and spacing them apart, the pallets 9 can not only be guided 180 ° around the vertical deflection axis 23 when circulating around the second deflection area 13, but with the help of the erecting mechanism 7 can also be set up at the same time by, for example, 90 ° around a horizontal folding axis from the lying configuration to the standing configuration.

For this purpose, the erecting mechanism 7 of the moving walk 1 in the example shown has both the inner turret mechanism 19 and the outer guide rail 21.

The turret mechanism 19 cooperates with the inner first side 31 of the pallets 9 in order to set them up at the second deflection area 13 from the lying to the standing configuration. For this purpose, the revolver mechanism 19, as further explained in more detail below, via actuators 39, which can be coupled at least temporarily to one of the pallets 9 in each case, in order to be able to actively move this pallet 9 into the standing configuration.

The guide rail 21 interacts with the outer second side 37 of the pallets 9. In the example shown, the guide rail 21 is semicircular in a vertical plan view and, viewed spatially, is designed as a part of a spiral. The guide rail 21 supports guide rollers 41 which are arranged at the end regions of the pallets 9 on their second side 37.

In Fig. 2 an alternative embodiment of a moving walk 1 is shown. The moving walkway 1 is designed in two parts.

The moving walk 1 can be interpreted as being composed of two partial moving walks 43 ', 43 "designed and arranged in mirror symmetry to one another. Each individual partial moving walk 43', 43" is configured similarly to that in FIG Fig. 1 1 and has, inter alia, a partial pallet belt 45 ', 45 ", a drive 5', 5" and an erecting mechanism 7 ', 7 "with a revolver mechanism 19', 19" and a guide rail 21 ', 21 " Each partial moving walk 43 ', 43 "also has a handrail 27', 27" and an associated handrail drive 29 '(not shown for the second partial moving walk 43 ").

The entire pallet belt 3 of the moving walk 1 is thus composed of two side-by-side partial pallet belts 45 ', 45 ". The pallets 9', 9" of each of the two partial pallet belts 45 ', 45 "each have a length which corresponds to only half the width of the entire pallet belt 3.

The resulting relatively short pallets 9 of the partial pallet belts 45 ', 45 "can easily be used in the return 17 in their erected configuration next to the handrail 27 or in or on a balustrade 25 located there (for reasons of clarity in Fig. 2 not shown) are moved in the return 17 ', 17 "from the second deflection area 13 back to the first deflection area.

The pallets 9 'of the first partial pallet belt 45' and the pallets 9 "of the second partial pallet belt 45" can, but need not necessarily, be mechanically coupled to one another, but can be displaced independently of one another. In other words, the first part moving walk 43 'can in principle be operated independently of the second part moving walk 43 ". The pallets 9' of the first part pallet belt 45 'and the pallets 9" of the second part pallet belt 45 "can be synchronized with one another are shifted, for example by the two drives 5 ', 5 "are operated synchronized with one another.

Fig. 3 FIG. 11 illustrates an enlarged view of the moving walk 1 from FIG Fig. 1 in the area of the turret mechanism 19.

The revolver mechanism 19 has a plurality of actuators 39 which are arranged parallel to one another along a horizontally extending circumference of the revolver mechanism 19. Each actuator 39 is mechanically constructed with the aid of springs 47, plungers 49 and levers 51 in such a way that one of the levers 51 during the rotation of the pallet belt 3 in the second deflection area 13 with an assigned pallet 9 on its first side 31 or with part of a pallet there arranged hinge 33 cooperates. With the aid of the lever 51, the turret mechanism 19 exerts a force on the pallet 9 in such a way that the pallet is successively set up from its originally lying configuration in the advance 15 into its standing configuration in the return 17.

The setting up of the pallets 9 is additionally supported in that the opposite end of the pallet 9 is moved spirally with the aid of the guide rail 21 by the guide roller 41 engaging it as it revolves around the second deflection area 13 and is lifted into the standing configuration.

In summary, it can be stated that a basic concept of the moving walk 1 presented here can be seen in the fact that in the deflection areas 13 the pallets 9 are not only deflected from the forward 15 into the return 17, or vice versa, but at the same time by 90 ° in the vertical direction be erected so that a return in the return 17 with "erected" pallets, for example in one of the balustrades 25, can take place. To fold up the pallets 9 can be a Positioning mechanism 7 with a rotating turret mechanism 19 and / or a suitably designed guide rail 21 which guides the pallets at their free end can be used.

Finally, some of the advantages that can be achieved with the moving walkway 1 presented here in its various embodiments are described.

The moving walk proposed herein can be designed to be very low, i.e. have a low overall height of, for example, approximately 150 mm or less. The overall height can be calculated up to an upwardly directed surface of a comb plate of the moving walk. A distance from an upwardly directed surface of a pallet to the floor can be even shorter, for example only about 134 mm. With smaller wheels, even lower heights may be possible.

The moving walkway can have a modular structure, a compact design for increasing passenger capacities (varying lengths of the pallets, new layout) and have a foldable middle section for effective transport capabilities.

The moving walk described offers a unique solution for moving the pallets, in which unloaded pallets can be returned within the balustrade. A low height and short ramps are made possible. Soiling of pallets by oil or other impurities can be minimized due to the geometry of the movement, since a functional surface of the pallets is on the side facing upwards.

A linear drive system can be used. This makes it possible to use relatively long moving walks, since the chain can be driven along the entire length. As a result, small forces can act on a pallet. Pallets on the chain can be connected by folding connections such as hinges. Because of this configuration, the middle part, ie the longest part of the moving walk, can be folded like a suitcase or a notebook, so that it is more compact for transport.

This system can be highly modular for effective use of given moving walkway space. To drive the handrail, it is possible to use previous linear handrail drives. It is made possible to use relatively lightweight pallets, for example aluminum alloy components made from one cast, since these are only half the length of current pallets and can be supported on their bottom side.

The system allows easy maintenance and operation, and electrical boxes can also be placed in the balustrade. There may be good opportunities for lubrication. The overall system can practically be located in a low-level bath.

Overall, the moving walkway presented enables a very low height, very small ramps, avoids a polygon effect and can enable modularity, a linear drive system and effective transport.

Finally, it should be pointed out that terms such as “having”, “comprising”, etc. do not exclude any other elements or steps and that terms such as “a” or “an” do not exclude a plurality. It should also be pointed out that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be regarded as a restriction.

List of reference symbols

1

Moving walkway

3

Pallet belt

5

drive

7th

Erection mechanism

9

palette

10

Step surface

11

Displacement path

13

second deflection area

15th

Arrow indicating the advance

17th

arrow indicating the return

19th

Revolver mechanism

21st

Guide rail

23

Deflection axis

25th

balustrade

27

Handrail

29

Handrail drive

31

first page

33

hinge

35

Conveyor chain

37

second page

39

Actuators

41

Leadership roles

43

Part of the moving walkway

45

Partial pallet belt

47

feather

49

Plunger

51

lever

Claims (14)

Moving walkway (1), having: a pallet belt (3) with a plurality of pallets (9) each having a step surface (10); a drive (5); and a deployment mechanism (7); wherein the pallets (9) are arranged one behind the other along a circumferential displacement path (11) extending between a first deflection area and a second deflection area (13), wherein the drive (5) is configured to displace the pallet belt (3) along the displacement path (11), and wherein the erecting mechanism (7) is configured to reorient the pallets (9) during the displacement along the displacement path (11) in at least one of the two deflection areas (13) from a lying configuration to a standing configuration, the pallets (9) turning extend in the lying configuration with their step surface (10) parallel to a conveying plane so that people can be conveyed on the step surface (10), and the pallets (9) extend in the standing configuration with their step surface (10) transversely to the conveying plane. Moving walk according to claim 1, wherein the pallet belt (3) is deflected in the deflection areas (13) about a deflection axis (23) running transversely to the horizontal. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a forward run (15) of the displacement path (11), in which the pallets (9) are displaced from the first deflection area to the second deflection area (13), and a return (17) of the displacement path (11), in which the pallets (9) are shifted from the second deflection area (13) to the first deflection area, run side by side. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent pallets (9) are only permanently coupled to one another under tension on a first side (31) of the pallet belt (3) and on one side (31) opposite to the first side (31) the second side (37) are not permanently coupled to one another in a load-bearing manner. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pallets (9) interact on the first side (31) with a conveyor chain (35) and are coupled to one another by means of the conveyor chain (35). Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the erecting mechanism (7) has an internal turret mechanism (19) which is arranged in at least one of the two deflection areas (13) and which cooperates with the pallets (9) adjacent to their first side (31) and which is configured to move the pallets (9) during the displacement along the displacement path (11) in the deflection area (13) from the lying configuration to the standing configuration. Moving walk according to claim 6, wherein the turret mechanism (19) has at least one actuator (39) which is configured to be at least temporarily coupled to one of the pallets (9) and this pallet (9) actively from the lying to the standing configuration to relocate. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the erecting mechanism (7) has an external guide rail (21) which is arranged in at least one of the deflection areas (13), which interacts with the pallets (9) adjacent to their second side (37) and which is configured to move the pallets (9) from the lying configuration to the standing configuration during the displacement along the displacement path (11) in the deflection area (13). Moving walk according to claim 8, wherein the guide rail (21) is configured to guide a pallet (9) during displacement along the displacement path (11) in the deflection area (13) on its second side (37) and passively out of the lying configuration to move to the standing configuration. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pallets (9) on the first side (31) each have a hinge (33) to allow between the lying Configuration and the standing configuration can be reoriented. The moving walkway according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a balustrade (25), the moving walkway (1) being configured such that the pallets (9) in their standing configuration displaced during displacement along the displacement path (11) within the balustrade (25) will. Moving walk according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pallet belt (3) is designed in two parts with a first and a second partial pallet belt (45 ', 45 "), pallets (9') of the first partial pallet belt (43 ') being synchronized with Pallets (9 ") of the second part-pallet belt (43") are displaceable. Moving walk according to claim 12, wherein the moving walk (1) is designed in two parts with two drives (5 ', 5 ") and two erecting mechanisms (7', 7"), each of the drives (5 ', 5 ") and erecting mechanisms (7 ', 7 ") interacts with only one of the partial pallet belts (43', 43") assigned to it. Moving walk according to one of Claims 12 or 13, pallets (9 ') of the first partial pallet belt (43 ") being displaceable independently of pallets (9") of the second partial pallet belt (43 ").

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