JP2000327251A - Escalator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shallow depth of a main frame, to lighten weight of an elevator main frame and to simplify construction by making a footstep in a thinly folded state at the time of folding it back from an aproaching passage to an return passage and from the return passage to the approaching passage. SOLUTION: Footsteps having treads on upper surfaces, front wheels 30 and rear wheels 28 respectively rolling along guide rails 41, 42 in the front and the rear and having structures 22, 23, 24 height dimensions of which are variable of the footsteps are endlessly connected to each other on the footsteps of an escalator on which a plural number of the footsteps are endlessly and continuously connected to each other. The footsteps on the approaching passage side are made to travel in a developed state, and the footsteps on the return passage side are made to travel in a thinly deformed state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an escalator, and more particularly, to an escalator in which a step is thinly deformed when the step is turned from the upper side to the lower side of the circulating running and turned back, so that the escalator can run on the lower side as it is. .

[0002]

FIG. 14 shows an escalator 1. As shown in FIG. 2
Is a main frame of the escalator, and a balustrade 3 is provided on the left and right sides along the upper side of the main frame 2. Sprockets 4a and 4b are provided at both ends of the upper and lower floors of the main frame 2, and a chain 5 is wound around the sprockets 4a and 4b endlessly. The steps 6, 6, ... are attached to the chain 5 so as to form a continuous endless shape.

FIG. 15 shows one unit of the conventional step 6.
The step 6 has a frame portion 7 having a substantially triangular cross-section integral frame, and a cleat 9 forming a tread surface 8 on which a passenger rides is attached to an upper surface thereof, and a riser 10 is formed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the tread surface 8 of the cleat 9. Fixed. On the other hand, the frame part 7
, A rear wheel 16 is provided on the riser 10 side, and a bearing 11 is provided on the opposite side of the riser 10, and the bearing 11 receives the step shaft 12 provided with the front wheel 15. I have. As shown in FIG. 14, each step 6, 6,.
Are continuously connected via the step shaft 12 and are connected to the chain 5 on both left and right sides.

In FIG. 14, reference numeral 13 denotes a driving device. The power of an electric motor 14 is transmitted to a chain 5 via a sprocket 4a on the upper floor, and the step 6 is moved together with the chain 5.
Is to move around. Also, steps 6
As described above, the front wheel 15 is provided on both sides of the step shaft 12, and the rear wheel 16 is provided at the lower end of the riser 10. The movement of the step 6 is performed by the rear wheel guide rail on which the rear wheel 16 rolls. The guide wheels 13a, 13b and the front wheel guide rails 14a, 14b on which the front wheel 15 rolls are guided. In this case, the steps 6, 6,... That move along the guide rails 13a and 14a are upper steps (hereinafter, referred to as forward paths) of the circulation travel, and the steps 6 that move along the guide rails 13b and 14b. , 6,... Are steps on the lower side of the circulating travel (hereinafter referred to as the backward path side). Step 6,
.. Can be reversed from the forward path to the return path and from the return path to the forward path by reversing rails 16a and 16b provided at the folded portions on the upper floor and the lower floor, respectively.

[0005]

When a new escalator is to be installed in a building that had no escalator, the existing escalator must be cut through the existing stairs and the main frame 2 for the escalator.
Need to be constructed. In the construction of the main frame 2, the longitudinal dimension D of the truss constituting the main frame 2 of the escalator is significantly related to the construction period and the construction cost. The smaller the dimension D in the longitudinal direction of the main frame 2, the easier the escalator is installed.

However, as described above, in order to guide the steps 6, 6,..., The main frame 2 includes the front wheel guide outer rail 1 in addition to the rear wheel guide rails 13a, 13b.
4a and 14b must be provided, and the step 6 itself has a height from the rear wheel 16 to the tread surface 8, and if it is necessary to secure a space for the forward path and the return path, the vertical direction of the main frame 2 In order to reduce the dimension D, it is naturally difficult to realize due to structural restrictions.

Therefore, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-60124, a riser is used.
By pivotally providing a retreat position from the vertical projecting position to the tread side with the pivot axis as the center, and rotating the riser plate in the lower circulation area of the step to arrange it at the retreat position,
An escalator has been proposed in which the height of the steps is reduced, so that the main frame can be configured to be thin, and can be easily installed on the existing stairs. In this device, the main frame can be configured to be thin, but in order to rotate the riser to the retreat position, a rack is provided on the inner surface of the riser, and a pinion is provided on the back of the tread, and this pinion is used as a motor or It is configured to provide a riser drive rack and rotate it,
The mechanism for rotating the riser is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to use a simple structure to move a step from an outbound path to a return path.
An escalator that can be folded thin from the return side to the outward side so that the main frame depth can be reduced, which contributes to the weight reduction of the elevator main frame and simplification of construction. Is to provide.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 has a tread on an upper surface and extends along front and rear guide rails for a front wheel and a rear wheel in a running direction, respectively. In an escalator in which a step having front wheels and a rear wheel that rolls and is connected endlessly to circulate and run,
The step, a cleat portion having the tread surface on the upper surface, the front wheel is held at one end and the rear wheel is held at the other end, and the one end is rotatable around a joint point. A wheel frame portion coupled to a cleat portion, provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the tread surface in a direction hanging down from one end of the cleat portion, and pivoting around a coupling point of the one end portion, A riser portion that can be stored below the cleat portion, and the relative spacing between the rolling surfaces of the guide rails for the front wheels and the rear wheels is set at a position just before the steps are turned downward from above in the circular running. The riser portion is configured by providing a portion that changes gradually so as to gradually narrow the riser portion when the step passes through a portion where the relative distance between the rolling surfaces of the guide rails for the front wheels and the rear wheels changes. Lower side of the cleat section Causes accommodated to approximate the wheel frame portion to the cleat portion is characterized in that so as to reduce the height of the footstep to.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guide rail for a rear wheel having a guide rail for a front wheel and a rolling surface whose interval changes relative to a rolling surface of the guide rail for the front wheel. The height dimension of the step is changed according to a change in the distance between the rolling surface of the front wheel guide rail portion and the rolling surface of the rear wheel guide rail portion.

For this reason, the step can be deformed so as to be smoothly thinned by changing the difference in height between the front wheel and the rear wheel so as to be reduced in the traveling direction without providing a special structure. Can be. Moreover, the steps are thinly deformed and inverted when reversing from the outward path to the return path, so that the radius of curvature of the reversal locus of the steps can be reduced by using a sprocket with a smaller diameter, As a whole, the vertical dimension of the main frame can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the riser portion comprises a fixed riser on the cleat portion side and a movable riser rotatably connected to the wheel frame portion. And

This makes it possible to reduce the rotation space of the movable riser and to reduce the thickness of the steps.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame member for connecting the cleat portion and the riser portion so that the end surface of the fixed riser is separated from the end surface of the movable riser. It is characterized by the following.

According to this, the frame member becomes a skeleton of the steps, so that the rigidity can be increased and the passenger load can be supported.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the frame member is fixed to the first frame member fixed to the back of the cleat portion and the fixed riser, and fixed to the back of the movable riser. And a frame connecting member for detachably connecting the first frame member and the second frame member.

According to this, the first frame member and the second frame member are firmly connected to each other on the step in which the riser portion is in the deployed state, and the rigidity is increased so that the passenger load can be supported. Displacement can be prevented.

Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 2.
In the invention described in the above, one end is rotatably connected to the cleat-side end of the riser portion, a slider provided at the other end of the connection link, and the slider is slidably engaged. And a coupling link portion comprising a riser guide rail provided on the lower surface of the cleat portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the first fixed locking means for fixing the movable riser to the expanded state with respect to the wheel frame portion, and the movable means by the first fixed locking means. A first fixing releasing means for releasing the fixed state of the riser is provided. The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the second fixed lock means for fixing the wheel frame portion to the cleat portion in an expanded state, and the wheel frame portion fixed by the second fixed lock means. A second fixing release means for releasing the state is provided.

According to the fifth to seventh aspects of the present invention, the step deformation operation can be performed more smoothly and reliably.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a tilt preventing means for preventing the cleat portion from tilting when the step is deformed is provided.

According to this, the cleat portion is kept horizontal during the step deformation operation. Therefore, a stable and smooth deformation operation can be ensured.

Further, the invention according to claim 9 is based on claim 4.
In the invention described in the above, an arm portion attached to a lower end portion of the movable riser, and an arm having a step, in order to connect or release the frame connecting members to each other and make the steps capable of deforming operation. A guide member comprising a guide surface on which the portion slides is provided. According to this, by sliding the arm portion on the guide rail having the step, a force and a movement that trigger the deformation operation can be given, so that a smooth and reliable deformation operation of the steps can be realized.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an escalator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows one unit of a step of an escalator according to an embodiment of the present invention. This step 20 has a cleat portion 22 having a tread surface 21 having unevenness for preventing slippage as an upper surface.
And a riser portion 23 connected to the cleat portion 22 at a substantially right angle and a wheel frame portion 24. The cleat portion 22, the riser portion 23, and the wheel frame portion 24 are combined and connected. Therefore, the multi-link structure is provided so that the riser portion 23 and the wheel frame portion 24 can be folded.

The riser portion 23 is composed of a fixed riser 23a hanging down from the end of the cleat portion 22 and integrally fixed to the cleat portion 22, and a movable riser 23b separated from the fixed riser 23a. A connecting member 25 is fixed to the lower end of the movable riser 23b.
Is connected to the wheel frame 2 via a pin 26.
4 and is rotatably connected.

The wheel frame 24 has an axle 2 at one end.
The rear wheel 28 is mounted via the rear wheel 7. The step shaft 29 for continuously connecting the steps 20 is provided on the cleat portion 2.
The cleat base 31 fixed to the lower surface of the base 2 is supported as a bearing. The vehicle body frame portion 24 has a front wheel 30 attached thereto via a step shaft 29 and is rotatably coupled to the cleat portion 22 by the step shaft 29.

In the step 20 of the present embodiment, a first frame member 32 is provided on the back of the cleat portion 22 and the fixed riser 23a as a member for forming a skeleton for increasing rigidity.
Is fixed, and a second frame member 33 is fixed to the back surface of the movable riser 23b. As shown in FIG.
The end of the frame member 32 on the riser portion 23 side is bent in a U-shape, and the connecting portion 32a at the tip thereof and the bent connecting portion 33 on the cleat portion 23 side of the second frame 33 member.
“a” comes into contact with the riser portion 23 in such a manner that the riser portion 23 comes into contact with the cleat portion 22 in a deployed state in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cleat portion 22. In this expanded state, the fixed riser 2
The end face of the movable riser 3b and the end face of the movable riser 23b are separated from each other by a predetermined gap s without being in contact with each other. Therefore, the passenger load on the cleat portion 22 is in contact with the first contact portion via the connecting portions 33a and 33b. It can be received by the frame member 32 and the second frame member 33.

The movable riser 23b can rotate about the pin 26 in the direction of arrow B. To allow this rotation, the second riser 23b is connected to the second frame member 33 as shown in FIG. The bending directions of the connecting portions 32a and 33a follow the turning direction so that the portion 33a can be easily detached from the connecting portion 32a of the first frame member 32. Further, one end of a “U” -shaped coupling link 35 is rotatably pin-connected to the connecting portion 33 a of the second frame member 33 via a mounting member 34. A roller-shaped slider 36 is attached to the other end of the coupling link 35, and the slider 36 is slidably engaged with a riser guide rail 37 fixed to the first frame member 32. It has become. The riser guide rail 37 is provided in parallel with the step traveling direction, and the end of the movable riser 23 b on the cleat portion 22 side is connected to the cleat portion 22 by a connecting link 35.
The slider is guided by a riser guide rail 37 via a slider 32b so as to be slidable in the step traveling direction.

Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the steps on the upper floor of the escalator. Reference numeral 40 denotes a sprocket around which a step chain (not shown) is wound.
41 is a front wheel guide rail for guiding the front wheel 30, 42 is a rear wheel guide rail for guiding the rear wheel 28, and these are guide rails on the outward path side.

The guide rails 41 for the front wheels are laid horizontally at a constant height, whereas the rolling surfaces of the guide rails 42 for the rear wheels are relative to the rolling surfaces of the front rail guide rails 41. Is gradually narrowed.
In other words, on the outbound road side, the rear wheel guide rail 42 extends parallel to the front wheel guide rail 41 while maintaining a lower position than the front wheel guide rail 41, but approaches the turning point from the outward road to the return road. At a position on the near side, an inclined portion 42a having an upward slope in the step traveling direction is provided. A high step portion 42b in which a rolling surface higher than the front wheel guide rail 41 extends in parallel with the inclined portion 42a is continuous.
The rolling surface is continuous with the reversing portion 42c that curves along the periphery of the sprocket 40. The front wheel guide rail 41 is
Although it is interrupted near the rotation axis of the sprocket 40, a reversing portion 41c is provided on the lateral outside of the sprocket 40, and the front wheel 30 moves from the rolling surface of the guide rail 41 to the rolling surface of the reversing portion 41c. It has become. When returning, the front wheel guide rails 43 and the rear wheel guide rails 44 have the same rolling surface and extend to the lower floor at the same height.

Next, referring to FIG. 1 to FIG.
Will be described. In FIG. 1, the step 20 is a riser 23
Indicates a state in which it is expanded. When the rear wheel 28 is guided by the rear wheel guide rail 42 and rides along the inclined portion 42a, the front wheel 3 gradually increases in the process of passing through the inclined portion 42a.
Since the relative distance is changed so that the difference in height of the rear wheel 28 with respect to 0 is reduced in the traveling direction, the vehicle body frame portion 24 moves the cleat portion 2 around the step shaft 29.
1 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and the movable riser 23 b
6 around the vehicle body toward the body frame 24 in the direction of arrow B.

That is, in FIG.
When b starts to rotate in the direction of arrow B, the engagement between the connecting portions 32a and 33a of the first frame member 32 and the second frame member 33, which have been connected by contacting with each other, is released. Since the slider 36 at the distal end of the connecting link 35 for connecting the movable riser 23b to the cleat portion 22 can smoothly slide along the riser guide rail 37, the vehicle body is moved when the vehicle passes the inclined portion 42a. The frame portion 24 and the movable riser 23b can be reliably rotated to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the steps 20 are deformed into a thinly folded shape so that the overall height is reduced. can do.

Thereafter, since there is no change in the distance between the rolling surfaces of the rear wheel 28 and the front wheel 30, the step 20 is guided thinly so that the guide rails 41, 42 are folded back from the forward path to the return path.
The vehicle is guided by the reversing portions 41a and 42c of the vehicle and is reversed. Further, the vehicle travels in a state where the return route is folded as it is. In this way, the steps 20 are deformed when inverted and travel on the return path while being thin, so that the space that must be secured in the main frame 100 in order to travel the steps 20 on the return path side. Since it is possible to reduce the radius of curvature of the reversal locus of the step 20 employing the sprocket 40 having a reduced diameter, it is possible to reduce the vertical dimension of the main frame 100 as a whole. Can be.

The basic structure and operation of the steps 20 according to the present embodiment have been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Next, in order to make the deformation of the steps 20 smoother and more reliable, or in the unfolded state. The various means provided to increase the rigidity of the steps 20 in the above will be described.

First, FIG. 4 shows connecting members 45a and 45b for connecting the first frame member 32 on the lower surface of the cleat portion 22 and the second frame member 33 on the back surface of the movable riser 23b. In FIG. 4, the connecting portion 3 shown in FIG.
The illustration of the 2a, 32b, the coupling link member 35, and the riser guide rail 37 is omitted. Each of the coupling members 45a,
45b is formed with meshing portions 46a and 46b, and is fixed to the ends of the first frame member 32 and the second frame member 33. These meshing portions 46a and 46b mesh with each other when the movable riser 23b rotates in the direction of arrow A, and disengage only when the movable riser 23b rotates in the direction of arrow B.

When the riser portion 23 of the step 20 is in the deployed state, the coupling members 45a and 45b engage with each other to form the first frame member 32 and the second frame member 33. It is possible to increase the rigidity so as to firmly join and support the load applied to the cleat portion 22, and to prevent the cleat portion 22 from being displaced upward. On the other hand, when the steps 20 are thinly deformed, the engagement of the coupling members 45a and 45b is disengaged, so that the movable riser 23b can be allowed to rotate in the arrow B direction.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the developed movable riser 23b.
Fixed locking means for fixing the movable riser 23b to the wheel frame portion 24, and a first fixed locking means for releasing the fixed state of the movable riser 23b.
2 shows the fixing releasing means. FIG. 6 shows VI-V in FIG.
FIG.

A fixed plate 4 is provided at the lower end of the movable riser 23b.
8 is fixed, and the locking member 5 is
A hole 49 into which the leading end of the zero is inserted is formed. In this embodiment, the lock member 50 is a rod-shaped member bent into an L shape, and is attached to the wheel frame 24 via a spring receiver 51. Wheel frame 2
4, the lock member 50 includes a spring receiver 51.
And a compression spring 53 is wound between the spring retainer 52 and
The compression spring 53 always exerts its resilient force on the lock member 50 via the spring retainer 52, and urges the lock member 50 in a direction to insert the lock member 50 into the hole 49 of the fixing plate 48. Therefore, when the riser portion 23 of the step 20 is in the deployed state, the engagement state of the locking member 50 inserted into the hole 49 of the fixed plate 48 is maintained by the compression spring 53, so that the movable riser 23 b Wheel frame 2
4 is locked in a fixed state.

The portion of the lock member 50 that bends from the spring receiver 51 at a substantially right angle and extends extends to function as a fixing release arm 54. Also, this fixing release arm 5
In order to displace 4, at the predetermined step deformation start position,
A fixing release rail 55 fixed to the main frame side is provided. The fixing release rail 55 is a rail deformed as shown in FIG.
b, the inclined surface 54c has a continuous convexly curved shape. In this case, the fixed release arm 54 is urged by the elastic force of the compression spring 52 so as to be pressed against the fixed release rail 55.

In FIG. 5, when the step 20 moves to the deformation start position, the fixing releasing arm 54 is moved to the fixing releasing rail 5.
5, the locking member 50 is disengaged from the hole 49 of the fixing plate 48 to release the fixing while the fixing releasing arm 54 rides on the flat surface 54b from the inclined surface 54a. In FIG. 6, the position of the fixing release arm 54 shown by the two-dot chain line is the lock release position. When the lock member 50 comes out of the hole 49 of the fixing plate 48, the movable riser 23b becomes rotatable due to the deformation operation of the steps 20 as described above.

As described above, the fixing releasing arm 54 moves the locking member 51 integral therewith when passing along the fixing releasing rail 55, thereby engaging with the hole 49 of the fixing plate 48,
With a simple structure, it can be removed and fixed / unfixed reliably and smoothly.

FIG. 8 shows the developed wheel frame 2.
4 shows a second fixing lock means for fixing the movable riser 4 to the cleat portion 22, and a second fixing releasing means for releasing the fixed state of the movable riser 23b. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line CC in FIG.

The cleat base 31 fixed to the cleat portion 22 is formed with a groove portion 58 into which the end of the wheel frame portion 24 fits. A hole 59 into which the tip of the lock member 60 is inserted is formed at the end of the wheel frame 24. In this embodiment, as the lock member 60, a rod-shaped member having two bent right angles is used, and a compression spring 63 is wound between a spring receiver 61 and a spring retainer 62. Always exerts its resilient force on the lock member 60 via the spring retainer 62, and urges the lock member 60 in a direction of being inserted into the hole 59 at the end of the wheel frame portion 24. Therefore,
When the step 20 is in the deployed state, the locking member 50
9 is maintained by the compression spring 63, so that the wheel frame portion 24 is locked to the cleat portion 22 in a fixed state.

The lock member 60 has a structure that bends at a substantially right angle from the spring receiver 61 and extends laterally, further bends and extends downward, and the portion that extends downward functions as a fixing release arm 64. It is like that. In order to displace the fixing release arm 64, a fixing release rail 65 fixed to the main frame side is provided at a predetermined step deformation start position. This fixing release rail 65
This is basically the same as the fixing release rail 55 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 8, when the step 20 moves to the deformation start position, the fixing releasing arm 64 is moved to the fixing releasing rail 6.
5, the locking member 60 is disengaged from the hole 59 of the wheel frame portion 24 to release the fixing while the fixing releasing arm 64 rides on the flat surface 65b from the inclined surface 65a. In FIG. 9, the position of the fixing release arm 64 shown by the two-dot chain line is the lock release position. The locking member 60 has a hole 59
As a result, the wheel frame portion 24 becomes rotatable due to the deformation operation of the steps 20 as described above.

As described above, when the step 20 comes to the deformation start position by the fixed locking / unlocking means shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the movable riser 23b and the wheel frame 24 can be respectively turned. In order to further smoothly and surely perform the deforming operation of the clasp 20, a means for preventing the cleat portion 22 from tilting shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is provided.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, reference numeral 68 denotes an anti-tilt arm.
It is attached so that it may extend in the horizontal posture on the side surface of. Reference numeral 70 denotes an L-shaped tilt-prevention arm guide rail fixed along the step traveling direction in a horizontal position toward the main frame at a predetermined step transformation start position. If the step 20 is in the deployed state and the tread surface 21 is horizontal, the tilt-preventing arm guide rail 70
The tilt prevention arm 68 is in contact with the lower surface of the.

In FIG. 10, when the wheel frame portion 24 becomes rotatable about the step shaft 29, the cleat portion 22 can be tilted about the step shaft 29 in a direction in which the riser side is lowered. However, even if the cleat portion 22 attempts to tilt as shown by the two-dot chain line, the cleat portion 22 is kept horizontal during the deforming operation because the tilt preventing arm 68 hits the tilt preventing arm guide rail 70 and is prevented from tilting. You. Therefore, a stable and smooth deformation operation can be ensured. Also, as shown in FIG.
Since the slider 2 is kept horizontal, the slider 36 of the coupling link 35 can slide on the riser guide rail 37 that maintains the horizontal position, and therefore slides smoothly without applying excessive force to the slider 36. And is effective in suppressing the wear.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the arm portions 72a and 72b for smoothly and reliably connecting and releasing the connecting members 45a and 45b shown in FIG. 4 and the guide rail 74 therefor. . The arms 72a and 72b are respectively provided vertically from the lower end of the movable riser 23b at symmetrical positions, and the ends are bent horizontally. On the other hand, the guide rail 74 has a substantially horizontal first guide surface 74.
a, a step 74b, and a guide rail in which a second guide surface 74c having an upward gradient in the step traveling direction is continuous.
A slight step is provided between the first guide surface 74a and the second guide surface 74c via b.

FIG. 13 shows the guide rails 7 provided on the main frame at the starting position of deformation from the unfolded state to the folded state on the outward path side.
When the step 20 passes on the guide rail 74, the arms 72a and 72b first enter the first guide surface 74a as shown by the arrow F and slide. When the rider rides on the stepped portion 74b from the first guide surface 74a, the movable riser 23b is subjected to a pressing force that triggers the deployment operation.
b is configured to come off the coupling member 45a. The subsequent operation of the step 20 to be thinly deformed is the same as that described above.

On the other hand, although not shown, a similar guide rail 74 is also provided at a deformation start position immediately after being turned back from the return path to the forward path. In this case, in FIG. 13, the movable riser 23b is opened while the arm portions 72a and 72b slide on the second guide surface 74c of the guide rail 74 in the direction of arrow G, and the second guide surface 7
When sliding down to 4a, just the connecting members 45a, 4a
5b are engaged with each other.

In this manner, by sliding the arms 72a and 72b on the guide rail 74 having the step, a force and a movement which trigger the deformation operation can be given.
0 can realize a smooth and reliable deformation operation.

[0053]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the steps can be moved to the forward side with a simple structure in which the relative distance between the rolling surfaces of the guide rails for the front wheels and the rear wheels is changed. When turning back from the upper side (circular traveling) to the returning side (lower side of the work traveling), the steps are deformed so as to be thinner and run on the returning side, so that the step space on the returning side can be made shallower. Since the sprockets and the reversing rails can be made smaller in the step reversing section, the vertical dimension of the elevator main frame is reduced as a whole, which contributes to weight reduction and simplification of construction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of an escalator step according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a main part of the steps in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the escalator step on the upper floor of the main frame according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a connecting member that connects the frames in the steps of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a step having means for fixing a movable riser to a wheel frame portion and releasing the fixing in the step according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a fixing release rail for releasing the fixation of the movable riser.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the step having a means for fixing the wheel frame portion to the cleat portion and releasing the fixation in the step of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of a step having means for preventing the cleat portion from tilting in the step of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a main part of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of another embodiment of the steps of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line EE in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing steps of a conventional escalator.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing one unit of a step of a conventional escalator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 step 21 tread surface 22 cleat portion 23 riser portion 23a fixed riser 23a movable riser 24 wheel frame portion 28 rear wheel 29 step shaft 30 front wheel 32 first frame member 33 second frame member 35 connecting link 37 riser guide rail

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] July 30, 1999 (July 7, 1999)
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0049

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the arm portions 72a and 72b for smoothly and reliably connecting and releasing the connecting members 45a and 45b shown in FIG. 4 and the guide rail 74 therefor. . The arms 72a and 72b are respectively provided vertically from the lower end of the movable riser 23b at symmetrical positions, and the ends are bent horizontally. On the other hand, the guide rail 74 has a substantially horizontal first guide surface 74.
a, a bent portion 74b, and a guide rail in which a groove having a second guide surface 74c that is sloping upward in the step traveling direction is formed.

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0050

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 13 shows the guide rails 7 provided on the main frame at the starting position of deformation from the unfolded state to the folded state on the outward path side.
4, when the step 20 passes through the groove of the guide rail 74, first, the arms 72a and 72b
And slides on the first guide surface 74a. And
The movable riser 23b starts rotating, colliding with the bent portion 74b, and the connecting member 45b comes off the connecting member 45a.
The subsequent operation of the step 20 to be thinly deformed is the same as that described above.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0051

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

On the other hand, although not shown, a similar guide rail 74 is also provided at a deformation start position immediately after being turned back from the return path to the forward path. In this case, in FIG. 13, the movable riser 23b is opened while the arms 72a and 72b enter the groove from the direction of the arrow G and slide on the second guide surface 74c of the guide rail 74, and the bent portion 74b is squeezed. When moving to the first guide surface 74a, the connecting members 45a and 45b are engaged and connected.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] FIG.

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 13

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Ichiro Imai 1 Toshiba-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo F-term in the Fuchu Plant of Toshiba Corporation 3F321 AA05 CB15 CB20 CC05

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A step having a tread on an upper surface and having a front wheel and a rear wheel rolling along front and rear guide rails for a front wheel and a rear wheel, respectively, before and after in a running direction, is connected endlessly to circulate and run. In the escalator, the step is a cleat portion having the tread surface on an upper surface, and the front wheel is held at one end and the rear wheel is held at the other end, and the one end is rotatable around a connection point. As described above, the wheel frame portion connected to the cleat portion is provided at a predetermined angle with respect to the tread surface in a direction hanging down from one end of the cleat portion, and pivots around a connection point of the one end portion. And a riser portion that can be stored below the cleat portion, and the rolling surfaces of the guide rails for the front wheels and the rear wheels are positioned at a position just before the steps are turned downward from above in the circulating travel. When the step passes through a portion where the relative distance between the rolling surfaces of the guide rails for the front wheels and the rear wheels changes, the riser is provided. An escalator in which a portion is housed under the cleat portion and the wheel frame portion is brought closer to the cleat portion to reduce the height of the step. 2. The escalator according to claim 1, wherein said riser portion comprises a fixed riser on a cleat portion side and a movable riser rotatably connected to said wheel frame portion. 3. A frame member for connecting the cleat portion and the riser portion so that an end surface of the fixed riser and an end surface of the movable riser are separated from each other.
The escalator according to. 4. The frame member comprises a first frame member fixed to a back surface of a cleat portion and a fixed riser, and a second frame member fixed to a back surface of the movable riser. The escalator according to claim 3, further comprising a frame connecting member that detachably connects the second frame member and the second frame member. 5. A coupling link rotatably connected to one end of the riser portion on the cleat portion side, a slider provided at the other end of the coupling link, and the slider slidably engaged. The escalator according to claim 2, further comprising: a coupling link portion including a riser guide rail provided on a lower surface of the cleat portion. 6. A first fixed lock means for fixing the movable riser to an expanded state with respect to a wheel frame portion; a first fixed release means for releasing the fixed state of the movable riser by the first fixed lock means; The escalator according to claim 2, further comprising: 7. A second fixed lock means for fixing the wheel frame portion to the deployed state with respect to the cleat portion, and a second fixed release means for releasing the fixed state of the wheel frame by the second fixed lock means. The escalator according to claim 6, further comprising: 8. The escalator according to claim 1, further comprising a tilt preventing means for preventing the cleat portion from tilting when the height of the step is reduced. 9. The frame connecting members are connected to each other,
Or an arm attached to the lower end of the movable riser to release the coupling and make the steps capable of deforming operation,
The escalator according to claim 4, further comprising a guide member having a step and a guide surface on which the arm slides.