JP2005289611A - Handrail structure for passenger conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a handrail structure for a passenger conveyor with a handrail guide rail formed of a material having more wear resistant, impact resistant and slidable than conventional one for guiding a handrail for the passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving walkway, capable of carrying out easy detection that the handrail guide rail reaches a wear limit and accomodating and treating wear debris due to wear to ensure smooth travel of the handrail, and to provide a method of manufacturing the handrail guide rail equipped therewith. <P>SOLUTION: The handrail guide rail 4 for guiding the handrail 3 of the escalator 1 is formed of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material. A groove part 7 is provided on a sliding surface 6 sliding with the handrail 3 and a colored layer 8 is provided on the bottom of the groove part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a handrail structure for passenger conveyors such as an escalator and a moving sidewalk, and a method for manufacturing a handrail guide rail equipped in the structure.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, endless handrails provided on passenger conveyors such as escalators and moving walkways slide while being supported by handrail guide rails that guide them, so that the sliding surfaces of the handrail guide rails wear. A technique for detecting the amount of wear of a handrail guide rail is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-316068 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-316068. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-57883 (Patent Document 2) and the like.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the contact surface of the handrail (handrail) side intermediate layer is colored on the handrail with respect to the handrail guide rail (guide material) where the wear limit is reached. When the colored part is provided and the handrail guide rail exceeds the wear limit, the colored part is exposed and contacts the backside of the handrail, and the dye is transferred.By visually checking this, the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit. It is something to detect.

  Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the surface of the handrail guide rail (guide) is provided with a groove portion, a concave portion, a convex portion, and a coloring portion for determining the wear limit of the guide, and the upper surface and the groove portion of the handrail guide rail are provided. The handrail guide rail is worn by checking the wear state by visually observing the positional relationship with the concave and convex portions, or by displaying the wear limit with the wear display line consisting of colored portions different from the color tone of the handrail guide rail. It detects that the limit has been reached.

  On the other hand, as a material for conventional handrail guide rails, synthetic resins such as metal, nylon, and POM (Poly Oxymethylene) are applied, and these synthetic resin materials are mass-produced by profile extrusion and are practical. Can be created at a reasonable cost. In addition, fluororesin having a small friction coefficient cannot be used for extrusion molding and is not practical because it is expensive.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-316068 (see FIG. 1) JP 59-57883 A

  However, in the technique of the above-mentioned patent document 1, since it is necessary to provide a colored part in the intermediate layer of a handrail guide rail (guide material), it becomes a three-layer structure. The handrail guide rail is generally made by extrusion molding, but it is very difficult to form a three-layer structure by extrusion molding.

  On the other hand, when the endless handrail slides on the handrail guide rail and the sliding surface of the handrail guide rail wears, wear powder is generated, which hinders smooth travel of the handrail.

  In addition, since handrail guide rails require wear resistance, impact resistance, slidability, etc., the material is polyamide / nylon, which has high fluidity and can be extruded even in a relatively complicated structure, It is generally manufactured by extrusion molding of polyacetal, etc. However, with the recent development of extrusion molding technology, proposals for materials with superior wear resistance, impact resistance, slidability, etc. are desired. It was rare.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is as a material of a handrail guide rail that guides a handrail of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving sidewalk, which is more resistant to wear and shock than conventional ones. In addition to providing a handrail structure for passenger conveyors equipped with handrail guide rails made of materials with excellent performance, slidability, etc., it is possible to easily detect that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit, It is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger conveyor handrail structure that can accommodate the generated wear powder and ensure smooth travel of the handrail, and a method for manufacturing the handrail guide rail used in the structure.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first structure of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention includes a support frame erected on both sides of an endlessly connected step of the passenger conveyor, and the support frame. A handrail guide rail that is supported, and an endless handrail that is slidably fitted to the handrail guide rail and travels in synchronization with the step, and the material of the handrail guide rail is an ultra high molecular weight It is characterized by comprising polyethylene.

The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene preferably has a molecular weight of 200 × 10 ⁴ or more, and more preferably has a molecular weight of 300 × 10 ⁴ or more. Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having such a high molecular weight has low fluidity and requires a large pressure when extrusion molding, and it is difficult to produce a handrail guide rail having a relatively complicated structure by conventional extrusion molding technology. However, the present applicant has completed a technology capable of extruding a product having a relatively complicated structure even with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene having a low molecular weight with low fluidity. The material can be made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

  Performance comparison between ultra high molecular weight polyethylene applied as the material of the handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyors of the present invention and polyamide, nylon and polyacetal which were the material of the handrail guide rail in the conventional handrail structure for passenger conveyors It is shown in Table 1 below.

  As shown in Table 1 above, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene applied as the material of the handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyors of the present invention is a polyamide / railway guide rail material in the conventional handrail structure for passenger conveyors. Compared to nylon and polyacetal, it has been found that the dynamic friction coefficient is small, so that the sliding performance is excellent, the impact strength is high, it is difficult to wear, and the water absorption is low, so that the mechanical strength and rigidity are high.

  A second configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention is characterized in that the material of the handrail guide rail is configured by adding an additive to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

  As the additive, an additive that improves sliding performance and an additive that exhibits an antistatic function can be added to the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.

  A third configuration of the passenger conveyor handrail structure according to the present invention is characterized in that the additive is silicon oil or molybdenum disulfide.

  The performance comparison when silicon oil (1.3 wt%) or molybdenum disulfide (0.24 wt%) is added to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene as the material of the handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyors of the present invention is as follows. It shows in Table 2.

  As shown in Table 2 above, when silicon oil or molybdenum disulfide is added to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene as the material of the handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyors of the present invention, it is further compared to the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene alone. It was found that the sliding performance is excellent because the coefficient of dynamic friction is small.

  A fourth configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention is characterized in that a groove portion is provided on a sliding surface of the handrail guide rail that slides with the handrail.

  The fifth configuration of the passenger conveyor handrail structure according to the present invention is characterized in that a colored layer is provided at the bottom of the groove.

  A sixth structure of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention is characterized in that a colored layer is provided on the back surface side of the sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail.

  According to a seventh configuration of the handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention, at least a part of a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail is formed of a colored layer, and another portion is formed at the bottom of the groove portion. A colored or non-colored layer is provided.

  According to an eighth configuration of the handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention, at least a part of a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail is formed of a colored layer, and the back surface side of the sliding surface. In addition, a colored layer or a non-colored layer of another color is provided.

  The ninth structure of the handrail structure for passenger conveyors according to the present invention is that the colored layer is made of a paint or a colorant kneaded with pigment, wax, high-density polyethylene, synthetic rubber, or polymer. It is characterized by comprising.

  Further, in the method for manufacturing a handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the colored layer of the above-described handrail guide rail is formed by simultaneously forming the colored layer and the base material in two layers, or after forming the base material. The colored layer is produced by two-layer molding.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, according to the first configuration of the passenger conveyor handrail structure according to the present invention, the handrail guide rail has excellent sliding performance, high impact strength, and is not easily worn. The handrail structure for passenger conveyors equipped with can be provided.

  Moreover, according to the 2nd structure of the handrail structure for passenger conveyors which concerns on this invention, a slip performance can be improved further to the performance of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, or an antistatic function etc. can be provided with an additive. Carbon or the like can be applied as an additive that imparts an antistatic function or the like.

  According to the third configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyors according to the present invention, the coefficient of dynamic friction can be further reduced by adding silicon oil or molybdenum disulfide to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, and the sliding performance can be further improved. I can do it.

  Further, according to the fourth configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the wear powder generated by the wear is accommodated in the groove portion provided in the sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail. Smooth running can be ensured.

  Further, according to the fifth configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, when the handrail guide rail reaches the wear limit, the back surface of the handrail comes into contact with the colored layer provided at the bottom of the groove portion, and the dye is transferred. By visually recognizing this, it can be detected that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer.

  Further, according to the sixth configuration of the handrail structure for the passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the handrail guide rail is provided on the back surface side of the sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail when the handrail guide rail reaches the wear limit. It is possible to detect that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually recognizing the dye transferred by the back surface of the handrail coming into contact with the colored layer. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer.

  Further, according to the seventh configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, when the handrail guide rail reaches the wear limit, the handrail is not applied to the colored layer or the non-colored layer of the other color provided at the bottom of the groove portion. It is possible to detect that the rear surface is in contact and another color dye is transferred or a portion where the dye is not transferred appears, and that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually recognizing this. Further, it can be detected that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer or the non-colored layer of other colors.

  Moreover, according to the 8th structure of the handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning this invention, when the handrail guide rail reached | attained the wear limit, it provided in the back surface side of the sliding surface which slides with the handrail of this handrail guide rail. The back side of the handrail comes into contact with the colored or non-colored layer of another color and the dye of the other color is transferred, or a part where the dye is not transferred appears, and the handrail guide rail is worn by visual inspection. It is possible to detect that the limit has been reached. Further, it can be detected that the handrail guide rail has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer or the non-colored layer of other colors.

  Further, according to the ninth configuration of the handrail structure for passenger conveyors according to the present invention, the colored layer or pigment composed of a paint is coated with wax, high-density polyethylene, synthetic rubber, polymer on the base material of the handrail guide rail. A colored layer composed of a colorant kneaded with any of the above can be easily formed, has excellent adhesion to a substrate, and has good dye transferability.

  Further, according to the method for manufacturing a handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, the base material and the colored layer of the handrail guide rail can be easily formed and integrated into two layers by an extrusion molding process.

  An embodiment of a handrail structure of an escalator will be specifically described as an example of a handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration of an escalator provided with a passenger conveyor handrail structure according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an AA cross-sectional explanatory view of FIG. 1 showing an arrangement configuration of a handrail, a handrail guide rail, and a support frame. FIG. 3 is a perspective explanatory view showing the structure of a handrail guide rail equipped in the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are handrail guide rails equipped in the handrail structure for passenger conveyor according to the present invention. It is a section explanatory view showing each embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, 1 is an escalator as an example of a passenger conveyor, and 2 is a step that travels connected endlessly. A pair of support frames 5 are erected on both sides of the step 2 in the traveling direction, and a pair of handrail guides are provided on the support pieces 5a protruding substantially horizontally on both sides of the support frame 5 as shown in FIG. The rail 4 is fitted and supported. An endless handrail 3 that runs in synchronization with step 2 is slidably fitted to the pair of handrail guide rails 4.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the handrail 3 is provided with an inner canvas (canvas) 3b on the back surface side of the rubber handrail 3a, and is fixed to the support frames 5 erected on both sides along the traveling direction of step 2. The handrail guide rail 4 is slidably fitted and guided.

  The handrail guide rail 4 can be made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. As described above, the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene is excellent in sliding performance, has high impact strength, and can be used as a handrail guide rail 4 that is difficult to wear, but by adding silicon oil or molybdenum disulfide as an additive, The sliding performance can be further improved.

  The addition amount of silicon oil is preferably about 0.5 wt% or more and about 5 wt% or less, and the optimum addition amount is about 1.3 wt%. The addition amount of molybdenum disulfide is preferably about 0.03% by weight or more and about 2% by weight or less, and the optimum addition amount is about 0.24% by weight.

  The sliding surface 6 that slides with the handrail 3 of the handrail guide rail 4 made of such a material is provided with a groove 7 over the entire length of the handrail guide rail 4 as shown in FIGS. ing. The groove portion 7 shown in FIGS. 3, 4 (a), 5 (a) and 6 (b) has a V-shaped cross section, and the groove portion 7 shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 5 (b) has a cross section. 4 (c) and FIG. 6 (a) is formed in a rectangular shape, and a groove having a square cross section is formed continuously with the V-shaped groove, and the groove portion 7 shown in FIG. 4 (d). Is a dovetail shape (cross-sectional trapezoidal shape), and the groove portion 7 shown in FIG. 5C is an example having a cross-sectional inverted trapezoidal shape.

  Then, the handrail 3 slides on the handrail guide rail 4 and wears the sliding surface 6 of the handrail guide rail 4 so that the generated wear powder is guided and stored in each groove portion 7. 3 smooth running can be ensured.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which a colored layer 8 is provided at the bottom of the groove 7 having various cross-sectional shapes. The colored layer 8 can be easily applied to the bottom of the groove 7 by coating or injection-molding a coloring material such as a paint or pigment kneaded with wax, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), synthetic rubber, or various polymers. Can be formed.

  The colored layer 8 is formed by simultaneously forming two layers of the colored layer 8 and a base material made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene of the handrail guide rail 4 by a two-layer extrusion molding process, or from the ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene of the handrail guide rail 4. By forming the colored layer 8 in two layers after forming the base material to be formed, it can be easily and firmly integrated.

  In particular, in the configuration in which the colored layer 8 is provided at the bottom of the groove portion 7 having a dovetail shape (trapezoidal cross section shape) shown in FIG. There is no.

  The colored layer 8 is set at the wear limit position of the handrail guide rail 4, and when the handrail 3 slides on the handrail guide rail 4 and the sliding surface 6 of the handrail guide rail 4 reaches the wear limit. The back surface of the handrail 3 comes into contact with the colored layer 8 provided at the bottom of the groove 7 to transfer the dye, and by visually recognizing this, it can be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer 8.

  FIG. 5 shows an example in which a colored layer 8 is provided on the back side of the sliding surface 6 that slides with the handrail 3 of the handrail guide rail 4. The colored layer 8 can be formed of two layers of colored resin on the base material made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene of the handrail guide rail 4 by extrusion molding.

  The colored layer 8 is set at the wear limit position of the handrail guide rail 4, and when the handrail 3 slides on the handrail guide rail 4 and the sliding surface 6 of the handrail guide rail 4 reaches the wear limit. The back surface of the handrail 3 comes into contact with the colored layer 8 provided on the back surface side of the sliding surface 6 that slides with the handrail 3 of the handrail guide rail 4, and the dye is transferred, and the handrail guide rail is visually recognized. It is possible to detect that 4 has reached the wear limit. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer 8.

  Thus, since the handrail guide rail 4 provided with the colored layer 8 on the back surface side of the sliding surface 6 of the handrail guide rail 4 has a two-layer structure, it can be easily integrally formed by extrusion molding.

  FIG. 6A shows that at least a part of the sliding surface 6 that slides with the handrail 3 of the handrail guide rail 4 is composed of a colored layer 8 formed by adding a pigment to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. A colored layer or a non-colored layer 9 of another color is provided at the bottom of the groove 7 provided in FIG. The colored layer or the non-colored layer 9 of another color is set at the wear limit position of the handrail guide rail 4. Various cross-sectional shapes as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 can be applied to the groove 7.

  By configuring in this way, when the handrail guide rail 4 reaches the wear limit, the back surface of the handrail 3 comes into contact with the other colored layer or the non-colored layer 9 provided at the bottom of the groove portion 7. A portion where the color pigment is transferred or a portion where the pigment is not transferred appears, and by visually recognizing this, it can be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer or the non-colored layer 9 of another color.

  FIG. 6B shows that at least a part of the sliding surface 6 that slides with the handrail 3 of the handrail guide rail 4 is composed of a colored layer 8 formed by adding a pigment to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. 6 is provided with a colored layer or a non-colored layer 9 of another color on the back surface side. The colored layer or the non-colored layer 9 of another color is set at the wear limit position of the handrail guide rail 4. Various cross-sectional shapes as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 can be applied to the groove 7.

  By comprising in this way, when the handrail guide rail 4 reaches | attains a wear limit, the coloring layer of the other color provided in the back surface side of the sliding surface 6 which slides with the handrail 3 of this handrail guide rail 4 or The back surface of the handrail 3 comes into contact with the non-colored layer 9 and another color dye is transferred, or a portion where the dye is not transferred appears, and the handrail guide rail 4 reaches the wear limit by viewing this. Can be detected. It can also be detected that the handrail guide rail 4 has reached the wear limit by visually checking the wear state of the colored layer or the non-colored layer 9 of another color.

  In addition, although the said embodiment demonstrated the example at the time of applying to the handrail structure of the escalator 1 as an example of a passenger conveyor, it can also apply to the handrail structure of passenger conveyors, such as a moving walkway.

  As an application example of the present invention, it can be applied to a handrail structure of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving sidewalk.

It is a section explanatory view showing composition of an escalator provided with a handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning the present invention. It is AA cross-section explanatory drawing of FIG. 1 which shows the arrangement configuration of a handrail, a handrail guide rail, and a support frame. It is an isometric view explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the handrail guide rail with which the handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning this invention is equipped. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows each embodiment of the handrail guide rail with which the handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning this invention is equipped. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows each embodiment of the handrail guide rail with which the handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning this invention is equipped. It is sectional explanatory drawing which shows each embodiment of the handrail guide rail with which the handrail structure for passenger conveyors concerning this invention is equipped.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Escalator 2 ... Step 3 ... Handrail 3a ... Rubber handrail 3b ... Inner surface canvas (canvas)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 ... Handrail guide rail 5 ... Support frame 5a ... Supporting piece 6 ... Sliding surface 7 ... Groove part 8 ... Colored layer 9 ... Colored layer of other colors or uncolored layer

Claims (10)

A support frame erected on both sides of the step that travels connected endlessly of the passenger conveyor;
A handrail guide rail supported by the support frame;
An endless handrail that is slidably fitted to the handrail guide rail and that runs in synchronization with the step;
Have
A handrail structure for a passenger conveyor, wherein the handrail guide rail is made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein a material of the handrail guide rail is configured by adding an additive to ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the additive is silicon oil or molybdenum disulfide. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a groove portion is provided on a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to claim 4, wherein a colored layer is provided at the bottom of the groove. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a colored layer is provided on a back surface side of a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail. At least a part of a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail is formed of a colored layer, and a colored layer or a non-colored layer of another color is provided at the bottom of the groove. Item 5. A handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to Item 4. At least a part of a sliding surface that slides with the handrail of the handrail guide rail is composed of a colored layer, and a colored layer or a non-colored layer of another color is provided on the back side of the sliding surface. The handrail structure for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The said colored layer is comprised with the coating material, or was comprised with the coloring agent which knead | mixed the pigment in wax, high-density polyethylene, synthetic rubber, or a polymer, The any one of Claim 5-8 characterized by the above-mentioned. The handrail structure for passenger conveyors described in 1. It is a manufacturing method of the handrail guide rail in the handrail structure for passenger conveyors according to any one of claims 5 to 9,
The method for manufacturing a handrail guide rail, wherein the colored layer is formed by simultaneously forming two layers of the colored layer and the base material, or forming the two colored layers after forming the base material.

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