US20070235285A1 - Conveyer apparatus - Google Patents

Conveyer apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070235285A1
US20070235285A1 US11/402,256 US40225606A US2007235285A1 US 20070235285 A1 US20070235285 A1 US 20070235285A1 US 40225606 A US40225606 A US 40225606A US 2007235285 A1 US2007235285 A1 US 2007235285A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
footstep
roller
guide rail
velocity
drive sprocket
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/402,256
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yoshinobu Ishikawa
Tadashi Munakata
Yoshio Ogimura
Nobuhiko Teshima
Shigeo Nakagaki
Hitoshi Kawamoto
Kenichi Fujii
Yoshifumi Ikeda
Kazuhisa Hara
Takayuki Kikuchi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corp
Original Assignee
Toshiba Elevator Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Toshiba Elevator Co Ltd filed Critical Toshiba Elevator Co Ltd
Priority to US11/607,119 priority Critical patent/US8083048B2/en
Assigned to TOSHIBA ELEVATOR KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment TOSHIBA ELEVATOR KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KAWAMOTO, HITOSHI, MUNAKATA, TADASHI, HARA, KAZUHISA, ISHIKAWA, YOSHINOBU, NAKAGAKI, SHIGEO, FUJII, KENICHI, IKEDA, YOSHIFUMI, KIKUCHI, TAKAYUKI, OGIMURA, YOSHIO, TESHIMA, NOBUHIKO
Publication of US20070235285A1 publication Critical patent/US20070235285A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/02—Driving gear
    • B66B23/022—Driving gear with polygon effect reduction means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/14—Guiding means for carrying surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G21/00—Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
    • B65G21/20—Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
    • B65G21/22—Rails or the like engaging sliding elements or rollers attached to load-carriers or traction elements
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/08—Carrying surfaces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B23/00—Component parts of escalators or moving walkways
    • B66B23/22—Balustrades
    • B66B23/24—Handrails
    • B66B23/26—Handrails of variable speed type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a conveyer apparatus, such as an escalator and a moving walkway.
  • a conveyer apparatus such as an escalator and a moving walkway, includes a plurality of footsteps provided with footstep rollers. Since these plural footsteps are linked to each other at predetermined pitches through an endless footstep chain, the footsteps are integrated with the footstep chain. Since the footstep chain is driven by a chain drive mechanism, all the foot steps can move synchronously without leaving any space between the footsteps. Additionally, with the engagement of the plural footstep rollers with a footstep guide rail disposed in a structure, these footsteps move between an entrance and an exit circulatively while being supported by the footstep guide rail. Note, it is general that a plurality of footsteps move horizontally in the moving walkway. In this view, there is a case that the footsteps are called as “footplates”. In this specification, however, the notation will be unified to “footsteps”, including the footplates in a moving walkway.
  • chain drive mechanism for driving a footstep chain
  • driving force of a drive motor is transmitted to a footstep chain through a drive sprocket in an arrangement where a turn-over end of the footstep chain is wound around the drive sprocket rotated by driving force of the drive motor.
  • a chain drive mechanism is arranged in a structure called “truss”, which is in the vicinity of entrance or exit of a conveyer apparatus.
  • the interval ho between the tangential line of the drive sprocket and the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail has to be more than 35.3 mm in order to completely eliminate the velocity unevenness of the footstep roller in the above-mentioned prior art, according to the inventors' trial calculation. Further totalizing both of the outward side and the return side of the apparatus, it is necessary for the apparatus to make sure of an extra height of 70.6 mm (2 ⁇ ho) in addition to the size of the drive sprocket.
  • the present invention is invented in consideration of the conventional situation mentioned above and therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyer apparatus which effectively suppresses the velocity unevenness of footstep rollers in order to assure the comfortable ride quality and which allows a thickness of the apparatus to be reduced as a whole.
  • the conveyer apparatus of the present invention comprises: a footstep guide rail; a plurality of footsteps having footstep rollers moving along the footstep guide rail; a footstep chain for connecting the footstep rollers of the plurality of footsteps with each other at predetermined pitches; a rotating device for generating a driving force to move the footsteps in a designated direction; and a drive sprocket rotating on receipt of the driving force of the rotating device and transmitting the driving force of the rotating device to the footstep chain, wherein the footstep guide rail is arranged so that a horizontal surface thereof is set at a level on a position obtained by adding a designated offset to a tangential line of the drive sprocket along the horizontal surface, and the footstep guide rail is provided, at its one end on an introductory side of the drive sprocket, with a curved part, and providing that “Vt” represents a pitch-circle velocity of the drive sprocket, “Vo” a target average velocity of one of the footstep rollers connected and moved by the foot
  • the drive sprocket rotates on receipt of a driving force of the rotating device, so that the driving force of the rotating device is transmitted to the footstep chain due to the rotation of the drive sprocket.
  • the drive of the footstep chain allows respective footsteps rollers of the plural footsteps connected with each other through the footstep chain to move along the footstep guide rail in circulation. Then, the footstep rollers move on the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail, which is set at a level on a position obtained by addition the designated offset to the tangential line of the drive sprocket and subsequently move from the reference position closest to the drive sprocket along the curved part, into the meshing condition with the drive sprocket.
  • the curved part is also applicable to a footstep guide rail having a straight part and an arc part, in detail, a changing portion from the straight part to the arc part. That is, provided that the straight part of the footstep guide rail is established at a level position obtained by adding a designated offset and that the footstep guide rail is provided, at a changing portion from the straight part to the arc part, with a curved part as mentioned above so that the footstep rollers moving along the straight part of the footstep guide rail can reach the arc part through the curved part and subsequently move along the arc part, it is possible to absorb the velocity unevenness of the footstep guide rail effectively, restraining vibration of the footsteps and also possible to ensure comfortable of ride quality about the apparatus.
  • another conveyer apparatus of the present invention comprises: a footstep guide rail having a straight part and an arc part; a plurality of footsteps having footstep rollers moving along the footstep guide rail; a footstep chain for connecting the footstep rollers of the plurality of footsteps with each other at predetermined pitches; and a rotating device for generating a driving force to move the footsteps in a designated direction, wherein the footstep guide rail is arranged, at a changing portion thereof from the straight part to the arc part, so that a horizontal surface by regarding the straight part as horizontal is set at a level on a position obtained by adding a designated offset to a tangential line of the arc part along the horizontal surface, and the footstep guide rail is provided, at the changing portion for the arc part, with a curved part.
  • a still further conveyer apparatus of the present invention comprises: a footstep guide rail having a straight part and an arc part; a plurality of footsteps having footstep rollers moving along the footstep guide rail; a footstep chain for connecting the footstep rollers of the plurality of footsteps with each other at predetermined pitches; and a rotating device for generating a driving force to move the footsteps in a designated direction, wherein at a changing portion of the footstep guide rail from the straight part to the arc part, a curvature radius of the arc part is determined by subtracting a designated offset from a horizontal surface obtained by regarding the straight part as horizontal, and the footstep guide rail is provided, at the changing portion for the arc part, with a curved part.
  • FIG. 1 is a whole structural view showing one example of a conveyer apparatus on application of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a characterizing portion of the conveyer apparatus, also showing a profile of a footstep guide rail on the introductory side of a drive sprocket typically;
  • FIG. 3 is a group of views explaining a relationship between moving velocities of footstep rollers and their positions in case of zero in the offset value of the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail, in which (a) is a view showing changes in the moving velocity of the footstep rollers corresponding to their positions; (b) is a view showing positions where the moving velocity of the footstep roller becomes a pitch-circle velocity Vt of a drive sprocket; and (c) is a view showing positions where the moving velocity of the footstep roller becomes a target average velocity Vo;
  • FIG. 4 is a group of views explaining a relationship between moving velocities of footstep rollers and their positions in case of an optimal value in the offset value of the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail, in which (a) is a view showing changes in the moving velocity of the footstep rollers corresponding to their positions; (b) is a view showing positions where the moving velocity of the footstep roller becomes a pitch-circle velocity Vt of a drive sprocket; (c) is a view showing positions where the moving velocity of the footstep roller becomes a target average velocity Vo; and
  • (d) is a view showing a turning point at which the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail is changed to a curved part
  • FIG. 5 is a typical view explaining an optimal profile of the curved part
  • FIG. 6 is a view typically showing a profile of the footstep guide rail on the introductory side of the drove sprocket when the offset value in the level of the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail is set to an optimal value;
  • FIG. 7 is a whole structural view showing another example of the conveyer apparatus on application of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing a characterizing portion in a still further example of the conveyer apparatus on application of the present invention, also showing a profile of the footstep guide rail at a change part at which a straight part is changed to an arc part;
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing a characterizing portion in a still further example of the conveyer apparatus on application of the present invention, also showing a profile of the footstep guide rail at a change part at which a straight part is changed to an arc part.
  • FIG. 1 shows the whole constitution of a conveyer apparatus on application of the present invention schematically.
  • the shown conveyer apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 is constructed as a moving walkway that is arranged substantially horizontally to a road surface to convey passengers.
  • the conveyer apparatus 1 includes a structure 2 called “truss” for supporting its own weight and loads of the passengers. This structure 2 is accommodated in a pit caved below the road surface.
  • a footstep guide rail 3 is arranged so as to go around from an entrance 1 a to an exit 1 b of the conveyer apparatus 1 .
  • This footstep guide rail 3 is provided to guide the movement of a plurality of footsteps 4 conveying passengers thereon. That is, the footsteps 4 are provided with footstep rollers 5 , respectively. With the movement of the footstep rollers 5 along the footstep guide rail 3 , the respective footsteps 4 move from the entrance 1 a of the conveyer apparatus 1 to the exit 1 b in circulation.
  • the footstep guide rail 3 includes, on its outward side, a rail body 3 a having a horizontal surface and a pusher rail 3 b on the return side. Since the footstep rollers 5 are supported on the horizontal surface of the rail body 3 a , the footsteps 4 moving on the outward side of the guide rail 3 translate from the entrance 1 a toward the exit 1 b in a direction of arrow A of FIG. 2 while exposing their respective step surfaces to the outside of the structure 2 , at the same level as the road surface substantially. Note, in the vicinity of the entrance 1 a and the exit 1 b on the outward side, comb plates 6 are provided, at respective tips, with combs. The footsteps 4 travel under the comb plate 6 .
  • a movable rail 3 c capable of moving away from the rail body 3 a is arranged on one side of the rail body 3 a close to the entrance 1 a.
  • the footstep rollers 5 allocated to the respective footsteps 4 are connected with each other in sequence at predetermined pitches, so that the plural footsteps 4 are integrated with the footstep chain 7 .
  • a chain driving mechanism drives the footstep chain 7 , the respective footsteps 4 move between the entrance 1 a and the exit 1 b without producing any gap, being guided by the footstep guide rail 3 .
  • the footstep chain 7 is wound, at its turn-over part, around a drive sprocket 9 rotated by driving force of a drive motor 8 .
  • the driving force of the drive motor 8 is transmitted to the footstep chain 7 through the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the drive motor 8 as a driving-force source is disposed in the structure 2 and associated with the drive sprocket 9 through a drive chain 10 .
  • the drive sprocket 9 is rotatably arranged in the structure 2 . Rotating owing to the driving force of the drive motor 8 , the drive sprocket 9 operates to transmit the driving force of the drive motor 8 to the footstep chain 7 . That is, since the drive sprocket 9 rotates at a designated circular speed (i.e.
  • the conveyer apparatus 1 on application of the present invention adopts a small-diameter sprocket having a small number of teeth (e.g. approx. sixteen teeth) as the drive sprocket 9 .
  • a small-sized sprocket As the drive sprocket 9 , it is possible to miniaturize the structure 2 and also possible to thin the whole conveyer apparatus, saving the installation space.
  • the conveyer apparatus 1 is provided, on the side of the entrance 1 a , with a driven sprocket 11 that is rotated by the drive sprocket 9 to feed the footstep chain 7 in cooperation with the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the driven sprocket 11 is rotatably arranged in the structure 2 .
  • the footstep chain 7 is wound around both of the driven sprocket 11 and the drive sprocket 9 , also extending from the former to the latter.
  • This driven sprocket 11 is urged by a spring member 12 of a chain tensional mechanism in a direction away from the drive sprocket 9 , applying an appropriate tension to the footstep chain 7 . Then, if an elongation is produced in the footstep chain 7 , an urging force of the spring member 12 of the chain tensional mechanism allows the driven sprocket 11 to move in a direction away from the drive sprocket 9 within a predetermined range, preventing the footstep chain 7 from loosening.
  • the above-mentioned movable rail 3 c of the footstep guide rail 3 also moves in a direction away from the drive sprocket 9 in association with the sprocket 11 owing to urging force of the spring member 12 of the chain tensional mechanism.
  • a level H of the horizontal surface of the rail body 3 a of the footstep guide rail 3 is established to a position obtained by adding a predetermined offset ⁇ to a tangential line L of the drive sprocket 9 along the above horizontal surface and further, a mountainously curved part 13 is formed at an end of rail body 3 a on the introductory side of the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the tangential line L of the drive sprocket 9 is a tangential line in contact with a circle (chain pitch circle) passing through respective bottoms each between adjoining teeth of the sprocket 9 , parallel to the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail 3 .
  • This conveyer apparatus 1 further includes additional mountainously curved parts 13 at the other end (return side) of the footstep guide rail 3 on the side of the drive sprocket 9 and at both ends (outward and return sides) of the movable rail 3 c on the side of the driven sprocket 11 .
  • the footstep rollers 5 moves while describing the tracks corresponding to the profiles of the curved parts 13 .
  • the above curved part 13 is formed on at least one end of the rail body 3 a on the introductory side of the drive sprocket 9 , it is possible to absorb the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 effectively thereby making their movement smooth and also possible to restrain vibrations of the footsteps 4 effectively. Nevertheless, owing to the additional provision of the curved part 13 at the other end (return side) of the footstep guide rail 3 on the side of the drive sprocket 9 , even if operating the conveyer apparatus 1 in reverse, it is possible to make the movement of the footstep rollers 5 smooth, restraining vibrations of the footsteps 4 effectively.
  • the rotating speed of the driven sprocket 11 has a tendency to be unstable under the influence of the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 .
  • the curved parts 13 at both ends (outward and return sides) on the side of the driven sprocket 11 , however, it is possible to restrain even the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 on the side of the driven sprocket 11 effectively, stabilizing the rotating speed of the sprocket 11 and also possible to restrain the vibration of the footsteps 4 more effectively. Additionally, it is possible to make the conveyer apparatus 1 address the reverse operation.
  • a target average velocity of each footstep roller 5 is represented by Vo
  • the moving velocity of each footstep roller 5 comes to Vt.
  • the footstep rollers 5 reach respective positions of FIG. 3 ( c ) as a result of advancing against the drive sprocket 9 by a predetermined distance while reducing the moving velocities from the above positions, the moving velocity of each footstep roller 5 comes to the target average velocity Vo.
  • the above optimal value will be an upper limit ( ⁇ max) of settable values for the offset ⁇ .
  • the drive sprocket 9 is of 348.4 mm in the pitch-circle diameter and eight teeth and the link length of the footstep chain 7 is 133.33 mm
  • the optimal value (upper limit) ⁇ max is 5.1 mm according to the inventors' estimation.
  • reference position a position where the moving velocity of the footstep roller 5 changes from Vt to Vo in deceleration is defined as “reference position”
  • reference position there exist a plurality of reference positions along the footstep guide rail 3 , as shown in FIG. 4 ( d ).
  • the closest reference position to the drive sprocket 9 is regarded as “turning point” as a boundary between the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail 3 and the above-mentioned curved part 13 .
  • the curved part 13 has a function to eliminate the velocity unevenness of the other footstep roller 5 following one footstep roller 5 passing through the curved part 13 .
  • the closest reference position to the drive sprocket 9 is regarded as “turning point” as a boundary between the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail 3 and the above-mentioned curved part 13 , it is possible to maintain the moving velocities of the footstep rollers 5 at the average velocity Vo all over area extending from the entrance 1 a to the exit 1 b.
  • the moving velocity of a footstep roller 5 in the course of approaching the drive sprocket 9 over the curved part 13 becomes equal to a pitch circle velocity Vt when the same roller 5 meshes with the drive sprocket 9 .
  • a footstep roller 5 having the moving velocity of Vt as a result of meshing with the drive sprocket 9 will be called “sprocket roller 5 a ” for the sake of simplicity.
  • a footstep roller 5 secondary positioned from the sprocket roller 5 a over the curved part 13 on the front side i.e.
  • a roller's center trace L represents the trace of an intersecting point P 1 during moving of the respective footstep rollers 5 a , 5 b and 5 c by one pitch each, it is desirable that the curved part 13 is formed so as to follow the roller's center trace L.
  • the intersecting point P 1 are formed by an intersection of one circle C 1 that can be described by both a center of the sprocket roller 5 a and a link length r of the footstep chain 7 as the radius of the circle C 1 with another circle C 2 that can be described by both a center of the constant-velocity roller 5 c and the link length r of the footstep chain 7 as the radius of the circle C 2 .
  • the drive sprocket 9 rotates on receipt of a driving force of the drive motor 8 , so that the rotation of the drive sprocket 9 allows the driving force of the drive motor 8 to be transmitted to the footstep chain 7 .
  • the respective footsteps rollers 4 of the plural footsteps 4 linked to each other by the footstep chain 7 move along the footstep guide rail 3 circulatively.
  • a footstep roller 5 approaching the drive sprocket 9 is subjected to unevenness in the moving velocity in the process of meshing with the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the footstep roller 5 in process of approaching the drive sprocket 9 is adapted so as to travel from the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail 3 to the meshing position of the drive sprocket 9 via the curved part 13 , and the level of the horizontal surface is set to a height position as a result of adding the offset ⁇ to the tangential line of the drive sprocket 9 , the velocity unevenness of the above footstep roller 5 is not transmitted to the following footstep rollers 5 , so that the velocity unevenness of the rollers 5 can be restrained.
  • the horizontal surface of the footstep guide rail 3 is set a level on a height position obtained by adding the designated offset ⁇ to the tangential line of the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the footstep guide rail 3 is provided, at its end on the introductory side of the drive sprocket 9 , with a curved part 13 .
  • the conveyer apparatus 1 is constructed so as to absorb the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 on establishment of changing the contour of the footstep guide rail 3 from the horizontal surface to the curved part at the closest reference position to the drive sprocket 9 .
  • the curved parts 13 are formed not only at the “outward-side” end of the footstep guide rail 3 on the introductory side of the drive sprocket 9 but also at the “return side” end of the footstep guide rail 3 on the side of the drive sprocket 9 , it is possible to suppress the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 effectively even if the conveyer apparatus 1 is driven in reverse. Further, in the arrangement where the curved parts 13 are also formed on both outward and return sides of the movable rail 3 c on the side of the entrance 1 a of the conveyer apparatus 1 (i.e. the side of the driven sprocket 11 ), it is possible to suppress even the velocity unevenness on the side of the driven sprocket 11 effectively.
  • the above-mentioned conveyer apparatus 1 is nothing but one specific applicable example of the present invention and therefore, a variety of modifications may be made without any departure from the purpose of the present invention.
  • the footstep chain 9 is spanned between the drive sprocket 9 and the driven sprocket 11 .
  • the footstep chain 7 may be spanned between the drive sprocket 9 and the movable rail 21 .
  • a conveyer apparatus 20 is constructed similarly to the above-mentioned conveyer apparatus 1 except for the above features, elements similar to those of the above-mentioned conveyer apparatus 1 are respectively indicated with the same reference numerals and their descriptions are eliminated.
  • the movable rail 21 is provided, at its part for engagement with the footstep chain 7 , with a round part having a substantially-same diameter as that of the drive sprocket 9 . Putting the footstep rollers 7 connected by the footstep chain 7 in contact with the circumference of the round part, the movable rail 21 operates to guide the movement of the footstep rollers 5 . As similar to the driven sprocket 11 of the above-mentioned conveyer apparatus 1 , this movable rail 21 is urged in a direction away from the drive sprocket 9 by the spring member 12 of the chain tensional mechanism, applying an appropriate tension on the footstep chain 7 .
  • the movable rail 21 like this if the velocity unevenness is produced in the footstep rollers 5 , there arises a possibility that the movable rail 21 shakes in directions to approach and leave the drive sprocket 9 . Therefore, in case of adopting the movable rail 21 like this, it is desirable to form the above-mentioned curved parts 13 in the vicinity of the round part (outward and return sides) of the movable rail 21 . Then, owing to the formation of the curved parts 13 near the round part of the movable rail 21 , the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 is suppressed on the side of the movable rail 21 effectively.
  • the above descriptions are related to an example of applying the present invention on a moving walkway that is arranged near-horizontally to the road surface to convey passengers. Further, the present invention is also applicable to an escalator straddling upper and lower floors in a building to convey passengers, effectively.
  • the moving walkway and the escalator include changing portions each between the straight part and the arc part of the footstep guide rail besides the above introductory parts for the drive sprocket and the driven sprocket and both ends of the movable rail.
  • the technological idea of the invention is effectively applicable to such all the changing portions of such a footstep guide rail.
  • a level H of a horizontal surface in case of regarding the straight part 31 as horizontal is set at a level on a position obtained by adding a designated offset ⁇ to a tangential line L of the arc part 32 along the horizontal surface, at a changing portion from the part 31 to the part 32 .
  • the footstep guide rail 3 is provided, at the changing portion for the arc part 32 , with a curved part 13 .
  • each of the footstep rollers 5 which travels on the straight part 31 at a level as a result of the addition of the designated offset ⁇ to the tangential line L of the arc part 32 , is adapted so as to arrive at the arc part 32 through the curved part 13 . Consequently, as similar to the above-mentioned example, the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 can be absorbed to restrain vibration of the footsteps 4 due to the velocity unevenness, whereby it becomes possible to ensure the comfortable ride quality of the apparatus furthermore.
  • the fundamental principle that the provision of the curved part 13 allows the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 to be absorbed at the changing portion from the straight part 31 to the arc part 32 , is similar to that of the above-mentioned cases where the curved parts 13 are arranged on the rail's introductory ends for the drive sprocket 9 and the driven sprocket 11 and also in the movable rail 21 .
  • Vo′ represents a target average velocity of each footstep roller 5
  • the moving velocity of each footstep roller 5 once becomes Vt′ and thereafter, it is gradually decelerated to be the target average velocity Vo′ with an advance toward the arc part 32 by a predetermined distance.
  • the arc part 32 of the footstep guide rail 3 is formed with 500 mm in the curvature radius and the footstep chain 7 is 133.33 mm in link length, the optimal value (upper limit) ⁇ max is 1.8 mm according to the inventors' estimation.
  • the moving velocity of each footstep roller 5 becomes Vt on the footstep guide rail 3 . From this position, when the footstep roller 5 advances toward the arc part 32 by a predetermined distance while gradually reducing the moving velocities, the moving velocity of each footstep roller 5 becomes the target average velocity Vo′.
  • “reference position” designates a positions where the moving velocity of the footstep roller 5 is reduced from Vt′ to Vo′ in deceleration.
  • the closest reference position to the arc part 32 is established as “turning point” as a boundary between the straight part 31 of the footstep guide rail 3 and the above-mentioned curved part 13 .
  • the footstep rollers 5 connected with each other through the footstep chain 7 when one footstep roller 5 close to the drive sprocket 9 travels along the curved configuration of the curved part 13 while changing its level, the velocity unevenness of this footstep roller 5 is absorbed. That is, as the velocity unevenness is not transmitted to the following footstep rollers 5 , the moving velocities of the following footstep rollers 5 are maintained at the average velocity Vo′.
  • the optimal profile of the curved part 13 at the changing portion between the straight part 31 and the arc part 32 of the footstep guide rail 3 is similar to the optimal profile of the curved parts 13 each formed on the introductory ends for the drive sprocket 9 and the driven sprocket 11 and also formed in the movable rail 21 .
  • a footstep roller 5 moves on the arc part 32 at a pitch-circle velocity Vt′.
  • the footstep roller 5 traveling on the arc part 32 of the footstep guide rail 3 at the moving velocity Vt will be called “arc-part roller” for the sake of simplicity.
  • one footstep roller 5 which is secondary positioned from this arc-part roller over the curved part 13 on the front side (i.e. on the side of the straight part 31 ), travels at a constant velocity (average velocity Vo′) since another footstep roller adjoining the arc-part roller moves along the curved part 13 .
  • Such a footstep roller which is the second one in a direction from the arc-part roller to the front side via the curved part 13 and which is expected to have a constant velocity, will be called “constant-velocity roller”, for the sake of simplicity.
  • a roller's center trace represents the trace of an intersecting point during moving of the respective footstep rollers by one pitch each
  • the curved part 13 is formed so as to follow the roller's center trace.
  • the intersecting point is formed by an intersection of one circle that can be described by both a center of the arc-part roller and a link length of the footstep chain 7 as the radius of the circle with another circle that can be described by both a center of the constant-velocity roller and the link length of the footstep chain 7 as the radius of the other circle.
  • the establishment of the straight part 31 of the footstep guide rail 3 at a height position resulting from adding the designated offset ⁇ may be replaced by subtracting a designated offset ⁇ from the curvature radius of the arc part 31 of the footstep guide rail 3 .
  • the changing portion from the straight part 31 to the arc part 32 of the footstep guide rail 3 having the straight part 31 and the arc part 32 it is executed upon regarding the horizontal part 31 as being horizontal to make the curvature radius of the arc part 32 equal to a curvature radius R 2 obtained by subtracting a designated offset ⁇ from a curvature radius R 1 of an arc in contact with the resulting horizontal surface.
  • a curved part 13 is provided at the changing portion from the straight part 31 of the footstep guide rail 3 to the arc part 32 having the curvature radius R 2 .
  • the apparatus is constructed so that the footstep rollers 5 each traveling on the straight part 31 of the footstep guide rail 3 reach the arc part 32 of the curvature radius R 2 through the curved part 13 . Consequently, as similar to the above-mentioned examples, the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 is absorbed to restrain the vibration of the footsteps 4 due to the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers 5 , whereby more comfortable ride quality can be ensured.
  • the conveyer apparatus is constructed so as to absorb the velocity unevenness of each footstep roller due to its passage through the curved part in the course of changing from straight movement to circular movement, it is possible to restrain vibration of the footsteps due to the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers, ensuring the comfortable ride quality. Additionally, as a vertical interval that may be required to absorb the velocity unevenness of the footstep rollers is remarkably minute, it is advantageous in realizing the thin formation of the apparatus as a whole.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Escalators And Moving Walkways (AREA)
US11/402,256 2002-11-25 2006-04-12 Conveyer apparatus Abandoned US20070235285A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

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US11/607,119 US8083048B2 (en) 2002-11-25 2006-12-01 Conveyer apparatus

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JP2002341393 2002-11-25
JP2002-341393 2002-11-25
JP2003139075A JP4458770B2 (ja) 2002-11-25 2003-05-16 コンベア装置
JP2003-139075 2003-05-16
PCT/JP2003/014907 WO2004048248A1 (ja) 2002-11-25 2003-11-21 コンベア装置

Related Parent Applications (2)

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US10536252 Continuation 2003-11-21
PCT/JP2003/014907 Continuation WO2004048248A1 (ja) 2002-11-25 2003-11-21 コンベア装置

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US11/607,119 Continuation US8083048B2 (en) 2002-11-25 2006-12-01 Conveyer apparatus

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US11/607,119 Active 2025-12-06 US8083048B2 (en) 2002-11-25 2006-12-01 Conveyer apparatus

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US (2) US20070235285A1 (ko)
EP (1) EP1571115B1 (ko)
JP (1) JP4458770B2 (ko)
KR (1) KR100639718B1 (ko)
CN (1) CN100494036C (ko)
DE (1) DE60335493D1 (ko)
TW (1) TWI235133B (ko)
WO (1) WO2004048248A1 (ko)

Families Citing this family (10)

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JP2006232445A (ja) * 2005-02-23 2006-09-07 Toshiba Elevator Co Ltd コンベア装置
WO2008014938A1 (de) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-07 Ketten Wulf Betriebs-Gmbh Fahrtreppe
JP5126880B2 (ja) 2006-08-31 2013-01-23 東芝エレベータ株式会社 コンベア装置
ES2342532B1 (es) * 2009-12-29 2011-05-20 Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center S.A. Sistema de accionamiento para escaleras y pasillos moviles.
KR101565465B1 (ko) * 2011-05-23 2015-11-04 오티스 엘리베이터 컴파니 체인 및 스프로켓 구동 시스템들을 위한 다각형 보상 커플링
JP5602119B2 (ja) * 2011-10-17 2014-10-08 東芝エレベータ株式会社 コンベア装置
EP2914537A4 (en) * 2012-11-01 2016-11-16 Otis Elevator Co WENDEMECHANISM FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORT
CN104526074B (zh) * 2014-12-24 2017-01-18 宁波沃特美逊机器人科技有限公司 单边可调间歇链轮输送线
DE102019205244A1 (de) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-15 Thyssenkrupp Ag Einlaufschiene für Fahrtreppen oder Fahrsteige sowie Personenfördervorrichtung mit einer solchen Einlaufschiene
CN113501401B (zh) * 2021-08-16 2022-12-23 联想新视界(江苏)设备服务有限公司 一种电梯铺轨主轨安装装置

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US6974018B2 (en) * 2003-04-04 2005-12-13 Inventio Ag Handrail-drive for an escalator or a moving walk
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US1455542A (en) * 1921-09-23 1923-05-15 Otis Elevator Co Endless conveyer
US1868780A (en) * 1930-06-25 1932-07-26 Harold W Shonnard Escalator
US2103327A (en) * 1937-08-18 1937-12-28 Otis Elevator Co Moving stairway
US2260591A (en) * 1939-10-02 1941-10-28 Haughton Elevator Company Moving stairway
US3365051A (en) * 1964-06-25 1968-01-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp Moving walk
US3834513A (en) * 1971-12-20 1974-09-10 Hitachi Ltd Guide rail means
US4519490A (en) * 1981-05-28 1985-05-28 White Carl J Method and apparatus for entrapment prevention and lateral guidance in passenger conveyor systems
US4444302A (en) * 1981-08-17 1984-04-24 The Boeing Company Cable drive systems for moving walkways
US4576276A (en) * 1984-06-08 1986-03-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp. Escalator
US5134571A (en) * 1989-01-09 1992-07-28 Von Roll Transportsysteme Ag Controlled cable transport installation
US4930622A (en) * 1989-03-27 1990-06-05 Otis Elevator Company Curved escalator with fixed center constant radius path of travel
US4884673A (en) * 1989-03-27 1989-12-05 Otis Elevator Company Curved escalator with fixed center constant radius path of travel
US5020654A (en) * 1990-08-31 1991-06-04 Otis Elevator Company Curved escalator step chain turnaround zone
US5697486A (en) * 1994-11-14 1997-12-16 Investio Ag Device for the guidance of an endless belt for escalators or moving walkways
US5829570A (en) * 1996-05-25 1998-11-03 Lg Industrial Systems Co., Ltd. Terminal rail system for escalator
US6016902A (en) * 1996-10-22 2000-01-25 Lg Industrial Systems Co., Ltd. Upper rail for passenger conveyor
US6092639A (en) * 1996-10-22 2000-07-25 Lg Industrial Systems Co., Ltd. Driven wheel passenger conveyor
US6098779A (en) * 1997-11-13 2000-08-08 Kubota; Masao Sloping transportation apparatus for carrying large sized objects
US6382388B1 (en) * 1999-10-25 2002-05-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Passenger conveyer apparatus
US7159705B2 (en) * 2000-11-09 2007-01-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Passenger conveyor device
US6655521B2 (en) * 2001-04-11 2003-12-02 Inventio Ag Escalator or moving walkway
US6685003B2 (en) * 2001-12-28 2004-02-03 Otis Elevator Company Pulse-free escalator
US6974018B2 (en) * 2003-04-04 2005-12-13 Inventio Ag Handrail-drive for an escalator or a moving walk

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1571115A4 (en) 2007-07-11
EP1571115A1 (en) 2005-09-07
TWI235133B (en) 2005-07-01
KR20050083973A (ko) 2005-08-26
DE60335493D1 (de) 2011-02-03
CN100494036C (zh) 2009-06-03
CN1714040A (zh) 2005-12-28
TW200415108A (en) 2004-08-16
US20070235284A1 (en) 2007-10-11
JP2004224567A (ja) 2004-08-12
KR100639718B1 (ko) 2006-11-01
WO2004048248A1 (ja) 2004-06-10
US8083048B2 (en) 2011-12-27
JP4458770B2 (ja) 2010-04-28
EP1571115B1 (en) 2010-12-22

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