JP2587823B2 - Escalator with changing running speed - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Escalator with variable speeds of travel, the treads (1) of which escalator together with articulatedly connected elements (13) form an endless stair belt, which runs on rollers (7, 8), is turned round at the upper and the lower end of the escalator and which is drawn by a drive unit provided with entraining members, the stair belt with the treads (1) and the articulatedly connected elements (13) display a nearly straight shape in the inclined transport region with the tread planes (3) always extending horizontally and a folded shape in the region of the pedestrian entries and exits and the front part (4) of the tread (1) has a convex rounding, characterised thereby, that the stair belt is constrainedly guided by rollers (7, 8) running in an outer (9) and on an inner (10) mutually independent and in itself closed guide track, wherein the outer guide track (9) displays a U-shaped cross-section embracing the roller (7) and the inner guide track is a guide rail (10) displaying an upper rolling surface (10.1) carrying the roller (8) and a lower rolling surface (10.2) supporting at least one counterpressure roller (11) cooperating with the roller (8) and that a salient rounding of the tread (1) covers the spacing between two treads (1), which arises due to the elements (13) articulatedly connected with the tread.

Description

Description: The present invention relates to an escalator, in particular a plurality of steps, together with elements articulated with the steps, run by running rollers and the running direction of the escalator. It forms an endless step band which is inverted at the upper and lower ends, this band being associated with an escalator driven by a drive unit having a transmission member.

An escalator in which the traveling speed changes, wherein a link member and a step connected to the link member guide a person in a region where the person can ride on the tread so that a tread on which the person can ride is always horizontal. Such an escalator is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 1,481,725. The tread surface is composed of both a step and a link member in a horizontal traveling region, while it is constituted only by a step in an inclined traveling region, and the link member is formed on the step by an upright lifting part (riser). ). In the part of the road that extends horizontally and throughout the return path, an extended travel band consisting of steps and link members appears, which are articulated to one another in the inclined area of the outgoing path. When the member is folded, a step and a lifting portion are configured.

A major drawback of this escalator is that it has to get on and off in a step band running at high speed, while in the inclined running area the running speed of the band decreases after the step construction. Therefore, if the speed at the entrance is about the same, such an escalator must ride longer than a conventional escalator. As the height of the transport increases, so does the rider's time loss. In the return travel area where no one can ride, the speed of the step band is the same as the speed at the time of entry and exit.

In addition, for transport bands that carry people horizontally or only very slightly inclined, various structures are known that can achieve higher transport speeds in the area of the entrance and exit at the center of the runway. However, in the transport band as described above, the rider himself can move further toward the transport path end point on the high-speed traveling band portion, and people gather and finally the band traveling speed is reduced at the exit. There is a disadvantage in that when they are lowered, they push each other.
The above-described traffic congestion on the traveling transport band occurs particularly when the frequency of getting on and off the vehicle is high, and when the traffic congestion occurs, the rider falls over or encounters an accident.

An object of the present invention is to operate at a low speed in a region where a person gets on and off, and to operate at a high speed in an inclined traveling region, so that the time for each rider to ride can be significantly reduced, and each step generated in the inclined region. An object of the present invention is to provide a safe and time-saving escalator that can easily bridge the space between them.

According to the present invention, the foregoing objects are attained by providing a plurality of sets of first and second articulation members alternately arranged one by one, and one end of each of the first articulation members and a first articulation member. A plurality of first shafts articulatingly connecting each end of a second articulation member adjacent to one end of the articulation member with a first articulation member in cooperation with the first shaft; A second articulation adjacent to each other end of the first articulation member and each other end of the first articulation member to alternately articulate the second articulation members to form an endless band. A plurality of second shafts articulatingly connecting each other end of the member to the first shaft;
A plurality of steps, each of which is fixed to the connecting member of the first shaft, a plurality of pairs of first rollers provided at both ends of the first shaft,
A plurality of pairs of second rollers provided at each end of the second shaft and a band disposed on each side of the band, the band defining a flat end region of the escalator and an inclined region of the escalator between the end regions. And a pair of closed first guideways for guiding the first roller, and arranged on both sides of the band, the band has a substantially straightened shape in the inclined region, and the band is folded in the end region. In cooperation with the first guideway in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the first articulation member is always oriented in the same direction in the end region and the inclined region. A pair of closed second guide paths for guiding the rollers, and a drive unit for driving the band, wherein each of the steps is provided at a step surface and at one end of the step adjacent to the step below the step. And a band in the inclined area A raised portion formed in a shape having a convex roundness protruding forward from one end of the tread surface in order to close a space between adjacent step steps generated by being in a substantially linearly elongated form. Is achieved by having an escalator.

In the escalator of the present invention, the second guideway is
In the inclined region, the band is in a substantially linearly elongated configuration, in the end region, the band is in a folded configuration, and each longitudinal axis of the first articulation member is in the end region and the inclined region. The second roller is guided in cooperation with the first guide path so as to always face in the same direction, and each of the steps is provided at one end on the step side adjacent to the lower side of the step, It has a raised portion formed in a shape having a convex roundness protruding forward from one end of the tread surface.
Therefore, in the form in which the band is substantially straightened, the speed is increased, and the step fixed to the first articulation member forming the band forms a step-like step of the escalator. At this time, the space between the adjacent steps generated by the increase in the speed can be bridged by the raised portion formed into a shape having a convex roundness protruding forward from one end of the tread surface. Furthermore, in the folded configuration of the band, the speed is reduced and the steps of the steps form substantially flat surfaces with each other.

That is, by operating at a low speed in an area where a person gets on and off, and operating at a high speed in an inclined traveling area, the time for each rider to ride can be significantly reduced, and the space between the steps generated in the inclined area can be reduced. A safe and timeless escalator that can be easily bridged can be provided.

In the escalator having the above structure, the first roller is forcibly moved by the first guide so that the band defines the flat end region of the escalator and the inclined region between the end regions as the band is driven. The second roller is forcibly moved to the second guide path so that the band is guided in a substantially straightened form in the inclined region and the band is folded in the end region. Guided by In the substantially straightened configuration of the band, the speed is increased and the steps fixed to the first articulation member forming the band form the stepped steps of the escalator. At this time, the gap generated between the tread surfaces of the adjacent steps is bridged by a raised portion formed in a shape having a protruding convex roundness. In the collapsed configuration of the band, the speed is reduced and the treads of the steps are connected so as to form a substantially flat surface with each other, forming the entry and exit of the escalator.

According to the escalator having the above structure, the time for each rider to ride can be significantly reduced, the total number of steps can be reduced, and the step chains on both sides of the step, the lower reversing shaft, which were conventionally required. In addition to eliminating the need for an upper drive shaft, it can be installed at low cost, and even if the rider falls on the escalator, the degree of injury to the rider can be reduced or prevented. it can.

In the above configuration, each of the first guide paths has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is configured to receive the first roller therein, and each of the second shafts has a first end at each end. A counter roller configured to cooperate with a second roller, each of the second guideways having a first roller supporting a second roller.
It is preferable that the guide rail has a supporting surface of the first direction and a second supporting surface on the opposite side for supporting the counter roller. With this configuration, it is possible to provide an escalator with good riding comfort without any displacement of the band in the lateral direction and without vibration. In this case, it goes without saying that the second support surface has a predetermined guiding profile, and that each of the counter rollers has a predetermined counter profile that engages the guiding profile.

Hereinafter, preferred specific examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, steps that are articulated and form an endless band are indicated by dashed lines, and are denoted by reference numeral 1. Similarly, the endlessly closed outer guideway 9 and the endlessly closed inner guideway 10 for forcibly guiding the endless step band over its entire travel path are also shown by dashed lines. Each step 1 includes a support body 2, a tread surface 3,
Two roller shafts 5, 6 are immovably arranged on a coupling support 2.1 as a first articulation member of the support body 2 having a lifting section 4. At both ends of a longer roller shaft 5 as a first shaft, a first roller rotating on a ball bearing is provided.
A second guide roller 8 which is also rotated on a ball bearing is attached to both ends of a shorter roller shaft 6 as a second shaft. The guide roller 7 runs in a first guide path 9, while the guide roller 8 moves on a second guide path 10. The individual steps are connected to one another by a connecting rod 13 as a second articulation member, with ball bearings (1) being arranged on roller shafts 5,6.
6) constitutes a pivot bearing of the connecting rod 13.

3 and 4, the steps are indicated by reference numeral 1.
In the specific example shown, the step 1 is configured by combining a plurality of elements. On the support body 2 of the step 1,
A tread surface 3 having a groove extending in the running direction and a raised portion 4 having a convex roundness protruding forward and also having a groove extending in the running direction are immovably installed.
Two roller shafts penetrating the body 2, namely a longer roller shaft 5 and a shorter roller shaft 6, are fixedly connected to the supporting body 2, the roller shafts 5, 6 being connected on both sides of the step. Is received in a cutout provided in the coupling support 2.1 of the support body 2. At both ends of the roller shafts 5, 6, traveling rollers 7, 8 supported on ball bearings are provided. A further rotatably supported carrier 12 is arranged at each end of the roller shaft 6, which carries two counter rollers 11 which cooperate with the running rollers 8. A connecting rod 13 is also mounted on the roller shafts 5, 6 while being supported on ball bearings 16, by means of which each step 1 is connected with an adjacent step 1. An endless step band is formed by the union. The running roller 7 mounted on the longer roller shaft 5 is closed endlessly and has an outer guideway 9 having a U-shaped cross section.
The running roller 8, which is mounted on the shorter roller shaft 6, has an inner guideway 10 which is also endlessly closed.
Drive on. The U-shaped outer guideway 9 is a traveling roller 7
To prevent the roller 7 from coming off. The inner guideway 10 has an upper running surface 10.1, a lower running surface 10.2, and a mounting flange 10.3. The traveling roller 8 is a guideway
10 is always held on the upper running surface 10.1 by the counter roller 11 running on the lower running surface 10.2. Since the lower running surface 10.2 of the guideway 10 can have a certain guiding profile and the running surface 11.1 of the counter roller 11 can have a corresponding profile that matches said profile, the counter roller
By means of 11, it is also possible to guide the step 1 so that it does not shift laterally. The U-shaped outer guideway 9 is attached by a mounting flange 9.1 to the support structure 15 of the escalator support mechanism. Similarly, the guideway 10 is mounted by its mounting flange 10.3 to the same support structure 15 as described above. Although the distance between the guide paths 9 and 10 changes during one round of the traveling path, the two guide paths 9 and 10 do not intersect. Due to this change in spacing, on the one hand, the tread surface 3 of the step 1 always assumes a horizontal position in the course of an outgoing ride on which a person can ride, and on the other hand the running speed of the step band increases or decreases. In the traveling area where people can ride,
The movable step band has a base plate 14 on both sides, which extends vertically from the handrail on the side of the escalator.
Covered by

The escalator as described above operates as follows. The endless step band is driven by a drive unit (not shown) located in the ring of the endless step band in the upper part of the inclined running area. The drive unit may for example comprise a chain-like drive element which engages simultaneously with one of the roller shafts of the individual steps, since this drive element simultaneously drives the forward and return portions of the step band. It is advantageous. Each step 1 of the step band endlessly closed by a connecting rod 13 has four running rollers each.
The guideways 9,10 which are also endlessly closed are guided by 7,8. A running roller 7 arranged on the longer roller shaft 5 of the step 1 runs in two outer guideways 9 having a U-shaped cross section, while the shorter roller shaft 6
The traveling roller 8 disposed on the upper guideway 10.1 travels on the upper guideway 10.1 of the inner guideway 10 and runs on the lower guideway 10.2 of the guideway 10.
Held on. The outer guideway 9 and the inner guideway 10 are separated from each other such that the tread surfaces 3 of the steps 1 take a horizontal position during the traveling of the road where the person can ride on the entire circumference of the traveling path. In the area of the entrance and the exit, the distance between the guideway 9 and the guideway 10 is considerably large, so that the step 1 and the connecting rod 13 are folded with respect to each other. Steps 1 exceeding the number 1 constitute one tread surface that is connected horizontally. The distance between the guideway 9 and the guideway 10 gradually decreases toward the inclined traveling area and becomes minimum in the inclined traveling area. Steps gathered in a horizontal running area are separated from each other again, and a connecting rod is used in an inclined running area.
Take the almost fully extended position with 13. The traveling speed of the step band is such that the step and the connecting rods gather,
It becomes smaller when folded and larger when pulled apart. Therefore, the drive unit installed above the inclined traveling area of the step band is arranged in an area where the traveling speed is high. Since the inclining and returning inclines are realized at the same speed,
The drive unit can engage simultaneously with both inclined running parts of the step band.

The lower running surface 10.2 of the guideway 10 has, for example, a triangular profile, at the obtuse point of which the counter rollers mounted on both sides of the step are guided and are offset from the longitudinal axis of the escalator. By being held at a distance, it is possible to guide the step so as not to be shifted to the side at all.

By connecting rods that connect the individual steps to each other, and by forming the raised portions of the individual steps in a convex shape protruding toward the front, the required total number of steps determined according to the transport height is 40%. It is possible to reduce to the following.

The step band of the escalator according to this embodiment is different from that of the conventional escalator in several points.

The individual steps are not hingedly attached to two endless step chains acting as traction mechanisms arranged on either side of the step band, but are directly connected to each other by connecting rods; I have.

-The formation of the individual steps, instead of the relative movement of the traction mechanism and each of the individual steps, the step and the step by the running roller being guided continuously in two endlessly closed guideways; A telescopic movement is forcibly induced between the connecting rods.

The step body is such that the gap between two adjacent steps, which is enlarged by the connecting rod connecting the steps, is bridged by a convex roundness projecting in front of the step-up section; Is formed.

-Travel of a step band, as described above, instead of a reversing shaft or main shaft with a reversing wheel or drive wheel, arranged below and above for two step chains functioning as traction mechanisms; A continuous, closed runway system for the rollers is used.

-Instead of the drive unit arranged in the upper inverted position, at least one drive unit is used which is installed in the ring of the endless step band in the inclined step band area.

Instead of a specific example of a step having a plurality of components, which is proposed as an example in the present specification, a compact step manufactured by, for example, a pressure casting method may be used.

Also, in this specific example, there is no danger of congestion that can occur when a rider rushes toward the end point of the transport path on a moving sidewalk, especially because the height of each step is not a risk of the accident. In terms of degradation, the rider on the escalator will rather maintain its position on each step if certain international standards may be selected to be somewhat higher than the specified height.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a lower portion of a step band of an embodiment of the escalator according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an upper portion of the step band of an embodiment of the escalator according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a step in a specific example of the escalator according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the step in FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Step, 2 ... Support body, 2.1 ... Connection support, 3 ... Tread surface, 4 ... Lifting part, 5, 6 ... Roller shaft, 7, 8 ... Running roller, 9, 10 …… Guideway, 9.1,10.
3 ... Mounting flange, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1 ... Running surface, 1
1 ... counter roller, 12 ... carrier, 13 ... connecting rod, 14 ... base plate, 15 ... support structure, 16 ... ball bearing.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of sets of a first articulation member and a second articulation member alternately arranged one by one, one end of the first articulation member and the first articulation member. A plurality of first shafts articulatingly connecting each end of the second articulation member adjacent to one end of the first articulation member; and the first articulation member and the plurality of first shafts cooperating with the first shaft. The other end of the first articulation member and the second end adjacent to the other end of the first articulation member to alternately articulate the second articulation member to form an endless band. A plurality of second shafts that articulately connect the other ends of the connecting members, a plurality of steps respectively fixed to the first connecting members, A plurality of pairs of first rollers provided; a plurality of pairs of second rollers provided at both ends of the second shaft; and A pair of closed first guideways for guiding the first roller such that the ends define a flat end area of the escalator and an inclined area of the escalator between the end areas, and are disposed on both sides of the band. In the inclined region, the band has a substantially linearly elongated shape, and in the end region, the band has a folded shape, and each of the first connecting members has a longitudinal direction. A pair of closed second guideways that cooperate with the first guideway to guide the second roller so that the axes always point in the same direction in the end region and the inclined region; A drive unit for driving a band, wherein each of the steps is provided on a tread surface and one end of a step adjacent to the step below the step, and the band is substantially linear in the inclined region. Stretch of Escalator together with a said tread only raised portion formed in a shape having a rounded convex shape protruding forward from one end of the to close the space between adjacent steps generated by the form. 2. The second guideway is positioned with respect to the first guideway so as to maintain the horizontal state of the tread surface in cooperation with the first guideway in the inclined area. The escalator according to claim 1. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said first guideways has a generally U-shaped cross-section and is adapted to receive said first roller therein. The escalator according to item 2. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said second shafts has a counter roller at each end adapted to cooperate with said second roller. Escalator described. 5. Each of the second guide paths is a guide rail having a first support surface for supporting the second roller and an opposite second support surface for supporting the counter roller. The escalator according to claim 4. 6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said second support surface has a predetermined guiding profile, and each of said counter rollers has a predetermined counter profile engaging said guiding profile. Escalator according to the section.