WO2002085771A2

WO2002085771A2 - People conveyor with a belt element driven by a drive element

Info

Publication number: WO2002085771A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/012514
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Spannhake; Thomas Kuckenburg; Reinhardt Henkel
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Company
Priority date: 2001-04-20
Filing date: 2002-04-19
Publication date: 2002-10-31
Also published as: DE10119478A1; WO2002085771A3

Abstract

The invention pertains to a people conveyor with a belt element (4) that is driven by a drive element (2), wherein the drive element (2) and the belt element (4) positively engage with each other, and wherein the people conveyor is characterized by the fact that the positive engagement is achieved by means of knub-like gear projections (6) and corresponding depressions (8) on the drive element (2) and on the belt element (4).

Description

PEOPLE CONVEYOR WITH A BELT ELEMENT DRIVEN BY A DRIVE ELEMENT

[0001] The invention pertains to a people conveyor, for example, an elevator, a moving sidewalk or an escalator, with a belt element that is driven by a drive element, wherein the drive element and the belt element are positively engaged with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Drive arrangements of the "drive belt type" are frequently used in many variations for the transmission of power in people conveyors. For example, the handrail of an escalator or a moving sidewalk which moves together with the stair band or the footboard band represents such a belt element that can be driven by various types of drive elements. Drive arrangements containing drive belts are generally problematic with respect to installation, as well as operation and maintenance. For example, any slippage between the belt element and the drive element, on one the hand, and the exact guidance of the belt element on the drive element, on the other, constitute a continually occurring problem pair that requires a very precise adjustment of the arrangement. [0003] The problem of slippage between the drive element and the belt element can be prevented by using a toothed belt for example. The use of a V-belt makes it possible to ensure the guidance of the belt in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the belt element. Toothed belt drives in which the drive element and the belt element are positively engaged in the transport direction are also used in other people conveyors, for example, in the form of elevator door drives. In this case, the problem of slippage between the belt element and the drive element is satisfactorily solved. However, the guidance of the belt element transverse to its longitudinal direction is still problematic. In other applications of such drive arrangements with drive belts in people conveyors, for example, the handrails or banisters of escalators and moving sidewalks, the positive engagement between the belt element, i.e., the banister, and the drive element is realized in such a way that a lateral guidance of the belt element is ensured. However, the problem of slippage between the belt element and the drive element has not been solved.

[0004] Consequently, the present invention is based on the objective of satisfactorily solving the problem of slippage and the problem of the guidance in the longitudinal direction of the belt element in people conveyors of the aforementioned type such that the installation and maintenance of these people conveyors is simplified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the invention, this objective is attained due to the fact that the positive engagement is achieved by means of knub-like gear projections and corresponding depressions on the drive element and on the belt element. [0006] The knub-like gear projections may, for example, consist of a series of essentially hemispherical projections, e.g., that are arranged either on the drive element or on the belt element. The other respective element is provided with essentially complementary recesses or depressions into which the gear projections can engage. The gear projections and depressions are correspondingly arranged in a regular pattern. They may be arranged on the belt element e.g., in the form of a series of transverse rows of gear projections or depressions which are located within regular distances from one another. In order to increase the forces that can be transmitted between the drive element and the belt element, it is preferred to realize the gear projections and depressions in a relatively dense arrangement. This may be achieved e.g., by "staggering" the projections or depressions of a first row with respect to the projections or depressions of a second row, wherein a third row is "staggered" again, etc. The mutually offset rows prevent the occurrence of the polygon effect that may appear when toothed belts are used. [0007] The gear projections and depressions need not necessarily be essentially hemispherical in shape. For example, depending on the intended use, the transverse dimension relative to the belt element may be greater than the longitudinal dimension. The reason for this particular design can is that the forces to be transmitted in the longitudinal direction are generally much higher than those that must be exerted for lateral guidance. However, there are also instances in which it is advantageous to realize the projections and depressions with a greater longitudinal dimension with respect to the belt element than the transverse dimension, particularly if the guidance is especially important in relation to the forces to be transmitted.

[0008] The gear projections may be arranged on the drive element or on the belt element. If the projections are arranged on the belt element, the guide wheels, over which the belt element is guided, may, depending on the given application, contain corresponding depressions. In this case, it is preferred to provide corresponding depressions in all reversing wheels due to the relatively intense generation of noise, which is particularly undesirable in the field of people conveyors, that would otherwise occur from the interaction between the series of gear projections on the belt element and the smooth surface of the guide wheel. The people conveyor preferably consists of an escalator or a moving sidewalk with a driven footboard band, for example, a stair band or a pallet band on which the passengers are conveyed, and with a driven handrail or banister that is usually guided on a balustrade.

[0009] The utilization of the present invention inevitably reduces the noise occurring in a drive arrangement of the "drive belt type."

[0010] The banister of the escalator or moving sidewalk preferably forms the belt element, wherein the banister is driven by a drive element that is realized in the form of a drive wheel, and wherein the knub-like gear projections and the corresponding depressions are respectively arranged on the inner side of the banister and on the outer side of the drive wheel or vice versa. There are various options for realizing a handrail or banister on a moving sidewalk or an escalator. For example, the handrail may be guided over the balustrade along a guide in the reversing regions, wherein the handrail can also be guided on the upper side of the balustrade in the exposed section of its moving path. Here, the handrail is typically driven by one or more handrail drives in the return section. Such a handrail drive may be realized in the form of a drive wheel, around which the handrail is guided in a looped fashion, wherein corresponding guide rollers force the handrail on such a moving path that the transmission of forces between the drive element and the handrail is particularly effective. Alternatively, the handrail may be guided around reversing wheels in both reversing regions and only guided on the balustrade along a guide rail in the exposed region. In this alternative embodiment, it frequently suffices to realize only one of the reversing wheels in the form of a drive wheel. A handrail or banister essentially has a "C"-shaped cross section, wherein the open side is directed downward and laterally encompasses the balustrade or the guide element in the exposed section of the handrail. The surface of the handrail which is located opposite this .open side, i.e., the "back" of the "C," typically presents the handrail surface that is directed outwardly, i.e., away from the guide, and with which the passengers make contact. The surface on the inner side of the handrail which is opposite this surface typically presents the surface of the handrail that slides on the handrail guide. This surface should have a relatively low frictional resistance and contain very few projections or corners and edges which could cause increased friction. It is therefore preferable to arrange the knub-like gear projections on the drive wheel and to arrange the depressions on the handrail. In this embodiment, a sufficiently low frictional resistance between the handrail guide and the handrail can be realized.

[0011] Generally speaking, such a positive drive of the handrail is particularly favorable because a reliable synchronization between the movement of the handrail and the movement of the footboard band can be achieved. The synchronization between the handrail and the footboard band is a particularly critical problem in escalators and moving sidewalks because passengers will become annoyed if the handrail moves with only a slightly different speed than the footboard band. Due to the relatively high forces that must be transmitted for driving a handrail, slippage between the drive wheel and the handrail is frequently particularly troublesome. The adjustment of the handrail drive always represents a compromise between the maximum permissible slippage, on the one hand, and the increased wear of the handrail, on the other. This is particularly important in drives in which the handrail is guided in a gap between a drive wheel and an additional pressing wheel. The adjustment of the handrail drive becomes significantly less critical due to the positive engagement between the gear projections and the depressions on the drive wheel and on the inner side of the handrail.

[0012] The handrail is preferably driven by a linear drive that contains a rotating drive belt, wherein the belt element is preferably formed by the rotating drive belt. In this case, the drive belt acts upon and drives the handrail, wherein the drive belt is driven by a drive element that is realized in the form of a drive wheel, and wherein the knub-like gear projections and the depressions are respectively arranged on the inner side of the drive belt and on the outer side of the drive wheel. In this embodiment of the handrail drive in the form of a linear drive, slippage occurs between the drive wheel and the drive belt of the linear drive, on the one hand, and between the drive belt and the handrail on the other. In the described embodiment in which the depressions and the gear projections are arranged on the drive wheel and on the drive belt or vice versa, the slippage on the drive of the drive belt is prevented. Since the handrail is typically driven a certain distance from the drive belt, the slippage here is typically quite low so that a relatively slippage-free drive of the handrail can be achieved. However, one relatively severe problem with respect to the drive belt is that of ensuring a reliable lateral guidance of the drive belt. This problem is essentially eliminated due to the described lateral guidance of the drive belt by means of the gear projections and the corresponding depressions. [0013] Knub-like gear projections are preferably also arranged on the outer side of the drive belt, and corresponding depressions are preferably also arranged on the inner side of the handrail. Due to these additional characteristics of the handrail drive, the slippage between the handrail and the drive belt its essentially minimized. [0014] The footboard band of the people conveyors is preferably driven by a footboard band chain, the chain links of which are driven by a linear drive that contains a rotating drive belt, wherein the rotating drive belt forms the belt element, wherein the drive belt is driven by a drive wheel, and wherein the knub-like gear projections and respective depressions are arranged on the inner side of the drive belt and on the outer side of the drive wheel or vice versa. The previous description of the relatively similar linear drive used for driving the handrail also essentially applies to this embodiment. In this linear drive for the footboard band chain, knub-like gear projections and corresponding depressions are preferably also provided on the outer side of the drive belt and on the chain links or vice versa.

[0015] The people conveyor preferably consists of an elevator with an elevator car and a drive unit that drives the elevator car. In this case, it is preferred to suspend the elevator car on a belt element that is realized in the form of a flat conveyor belt that is guided around and driven by a drive element in the form of a drive wheel, wherein the knub-like gear projections and the corresponding depressions are respectively arranged on the drive wheel and the conveyor belt or vice versa.

[0016] Elevators in which conventional round steel cables are replaced with flat transport belts or conveyor belts were recently introduced on the market. The problem of slippage and the problem of the lateral guidance are also very important in this type of drive for the belt element, i.e., the conveyor belt. Consequently, the lateral guidance is realized by providing the corresponding wheels or rollers, over which the conveyor belt is guided, with lateral deflectors that guide the conveyor belt back into the desired position. Relatively high mechanical stress that may result in undesirable wear of the conveyor belts usually occurs on these lateral defectors. For example, if the knub-like projections are provided on the conveyor belt, they can fulfill the function of guiding the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt and the lateral deflectors practically no longer contact one another. Naturally, the knub-like projections also wear out over time. However, this wear is not relevant with respect to safety considerations and consequently can be accepted to a certain degree because the knub-like projections need not fulfill the support function of the cable.

[0017] The elevator preferably contains an elevator door that is driven by a belt element in the form of a drive belt that is guided and rotates around two reversing wheels, wherein the knub-like gear projections and the corresponding depressions are preferably arranged on the inner side of the drive belt and on at least the reversing wheel that is realized in the form of the drive element or vice versa. [0018] Slippage between the belt element and the drive element represents a particularly severe problem in elevator door drives because it cannot be ensured that the doors will reliably close if the door drive is not synchronized. This is the reason that a toothed belt was frequently used until now as the drive belt for the door drive. In addition to the lack of lateral guidance, a toothed belt also has other disadvantages that become particularly evident in the door drives of elevators. For example, a toothed belt does not have the same flexural capacity over its entire length. A toothed belt has relatively stiff regions, i.e., the regions in which the teeth are arranged, and relatively flexible regions, i.e., the regions between the teeth. On a worst-case basis, this leads, as a function of the pitch of the toothed belt, to rattling during operation similar to that of "tank treads." It was described above that this type of noise and the associated vibrations are undesirable in elevators. This effect is called the "polygon effect." A knubbed belt drive, in contrast, has no such polygon effect, so that the vibrations and noise can be minimized. Another disadvantage of toothed belts is that the noise caused by the engagement between the relatively angular teeth of the toothed belts and the corresponding recesses in the driving pinions is relatively loud and annoying.

[0019] One basic advantage of these knubbed belt drives is that a non-profiled, freely rotating reversing wheel can be used in addition to the driven drive wheel in drive belt drive units with an endless belt that turns about two reversing wheels, e.g., in door drives or the previously described linear drives. When using drive belts with a relatively high elastic extensibility, this also makes it possible to utilize tensioning devices for tightening the drive belts.

[0020] The invention and the embodiments thereof are described in greater detail below with reference to the embodiment examples; shown are:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1, a drive element and a belt element of a knub drive;

[0022] Figure 2, an escalator handrail with several handrail drives;

- 1 ^■ [0023] Figure 3, a handrail drive according to the invention for an escalator or a moving sidewalk;

[0024] Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of a handrail drive;

[0025] Figure 5, a footboard band drive according to the invention for an escalator;

[0026] Figure 6, an elevator system with flat conveyor belts, and

[0027] Figure 7, a door drive for an elevator door.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Figure 1 shows a combination of a drive element 2 and a belt element 4 that are positively engaged with one another. The belt element 4 is only shown in the region underneath the drive element 2. The belt element 4 typically turns around the drive element 2, is reoriented approximately 180E by said drive element and then continues essentially parallel to the belt element 4 shown. A similar knubbed belt drive is offered by the firm ContiTech under the designation Conti 7 Synchrodrive N 10. Such a drive may also be used in instances in which the belt element is reoriented less than 180E by the drive element 2, for example, only 90E. In this drive arrangement, a correspondingly lower force can be transmitted from the drive element 2 to the belt element 4 or vice versa. In the embodiment shown, knub-like gear projections 6 that positively engage into corresponding depressions 8 on the drive element 2 are provided on the belt element 4. However, the gear projections 6 may also be arranged on the drive element 2 and the depressions 8 may be arranged on the belt element 4. In the latter instance, it is possible to realize depressions 8 in the form of through-openings in the belt element 4. This embodiment may be preferred for cost reasons. The knub-like gear projections 6 may have essentially the form of a hemisphere. Alternatively, they may also have a roof-like form with rounded or angular end regions, the rounded forms being preferred in order to reduce friction and wear. Each of the individual knub-like gear projections 6 which engages with a corresponding depression 8 is able essentially to transmit and absorb forces in any given direction such that this drive pair made up of a drive element 2 and a belt element 4 essentially eliminates the problem of slippage between the drive element 2 and the belt element 4 and also ensures a sufficient guidance of the belt element 4, particularly in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the belt element 4. It is therefore possible, specifically, to eliminate complicated devices for ensuring a reliable guidance of the belt element 4. [0029] The drive element 2 may be manufactured, for example, from a plastic material by means of injection molding. In instances in which higher forces are to be transmitted, it may be preferable to manufacture the drive element 2 from a metal by means of casting or machining, e.g.

[0030] The belt element 4 is preferably manufactured from an elastic plastic material, for example, a rubber-like plastic material. For example, a fibrous material such as a textile material may be arranged in the belt element 4 for reinforcement purposes. The latter option is particularly preferred for reducing the elasticity of the belt element in its longitudinal direction and for keeping the aforementioned elasticity to a relatively low value to prevent the belt element and the corresponding gear projections and depressions from elongating and deforming, and to ensure reliable engagement between the belt element 4 and the drive element 2. If the forces to be transmitted are particularly large, steel cables e.g., or similar reinforcing elements, of carbon fiber e.g., or another fibrous material may be embedded, in the belt element 4. It is easily possible to design these reinforcing materials in the interior of the belt element 4 so that they also reinforce the gear projections 6 on the belt element or the depressions 8 or through-openings in the belt element 4. This is particularly advantageous in instances in which particularly large forces are to be transmitted.

[0031] Although it is preferred that the depressions 8 have an essentially complementary shape relative to the knub-like gear projections 6, it is also possible to choose a slightly different forms for the gear projections 6 and for the depressions 8. For example, simple cylindrical through-openings or pocket holes that cooperate with hemispherical gear projections 6 could be provided. It is particularly preferred optimally to adapt the shape or form of the gear projections 6 and the corresponding depressions 8 to one another in such a way that the generation of noise is reduced. [0032] Figure 2 shows the handrail or banister arrangement 10 of an escalator.

The design of this arrangement 10 essentially corresponds to the arrangement for a moving sidewalk. This figure shows the handrail 12 that is realized in the form of an endless rotating belt element. The handrail 12 rotates around two reversing wheels 14 and 16, wherein one or both reversing wheels may be driven. The handrail 12 has a forward moving section 18 in which the surface of the handrail 12 is exposed so that it can be used by the passengers, and a return section 20. The handrail is guided on a handrail guide (not shown) arranged on the balustrade between the reversing wheels 14 and 16, in particular, in the forward moving section 18. However, this only represents one possible embodiment for handrail arrangements 10. In modern moving sidewalks and elevators [sic] that are provided with a glass balustrade, the handrail 12 in particular, is not guided over reversing wheels 14 and 16 in the reversing regions, but the guide that otherwise extends between the reversing wheels 14 and 16 is extended into the reversing regions and the handrail rotates along this guide. In handrail arrangements 10 of this type, the handrail 12 typically is driven only in the return section 20 of the handrail. [0033] Figure 2 also shows a handrail drive 22 and handrail guides 24 and 26. On the handrail guides 24 and 26, the handrail rotates along corresponding curvature radii on rollers provided for protecting the exposed surface of the handrail 12. The handrail drive 22 consists of a so-called linear drive. In this case, the handrail 12 is guided through a gap between two parts of the linear drive 22. The arrangement of the handrail drive 22 on the exposed side of the handrail 12 serves only for pressing the handrail against the linear drive with the inner side of the handrail 12. The section 28 on the inner side of the handrail 12 forms the drive section of the linear drive 22, which is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 3. Shown specifically is a rotating drive belt 30 that rotates around two reversing wheels 32 and 34. The reversing wheel 32 is simultaneously realized in the form of a drive wheel 32. However, it is also conceivable to realize both reversing wheels 32, 34 in the form of drive wheels. According to the invention, a positive engagement between the rotating drive belt 30 and the drive wheel 32 is achieved by means of knub-like gear projections 6 and corresponding depressions 8. The inner side 36 of the drive belt 30 cooperates with the reversing wheels 32 and 34, and the outer side 38 of the drive belt cooperates with the inner side of the handrail 12. A series of pressing rollers 40 ensures an essentially constant contact pressure with the handrail 12. It is advantageous to provide the knub-like gear projections 6 on the drive wheel 32. In this case, the second reversing wheel 34 and the pressing rollers 40 may have a non-profiled surface.

[0034] It is advantageous also to provide the outer side 38 of the rotating drive belt 30 with a series of knub-like gear projections that positively engage in corresponding depressions in the handrail 12. The knub-like depressions on the inner side of the handrail 12, in practice, do not or only insignificantly impair the sliding properties of the handrail 12 on the handrail guide. However, they ensure an essentially slippage-free drive of the handrail.

[0035] Figure 4 shows an alternative handrail drive that is also arranged in the return section 20 of the handrail 12. In this case, the handrail 12 is guided loop-like around a drive wheel 42. The reversing of the handrail before and after the drive wheel 42 is respectively realized with the aid of a roller arrangement 44, 46. The drive wheel 42 acts upon the inner side of the handrail 12. In the embodiment according to Figure 4, the drive wheel 42 essentially corresponds to the drive element 2 according to Figure 1, and the handrail 12 essentially corresponds to the belt element 4 according to Figure 1. Thus, the knub-like gear projections and corresponding depressions are respectively provided on the drive wheel 42 and on the handrail 12. Here, it is also preferred to arrange the depressions on the inner side of the handrail 12 and to arrange the gear projections 6 on the outer side of the drive wheel 42 so as to not impair the sliding properties of the handrail 12 on the handrail guide.

[0036] The reversing wheels 14, 16 in the reversing regions of the handrail arrangement 10 may be similarly realized in the form of drive wheels. [0037] Figure 5 shows a footboard band drive 48 in the form of a linear drive that is realized similarly to the linear drive 28 shown in Figure 3. A stair chain 54 with several chain links 56, 58, 60 and 62 are also shown. The stair elements or pallet elements are mounted on the chain links 56, 58, 60 and 62 and are not shown in Figure 5. The stair chain 54 moves the stair elements or pallet elements along a closed rotating path, wherein the stair elements or pallet elements are exposed in the forward moving section such that they can be used by the passengers and typically transported back in the return section underneath the forward moving section. Toothing that is directed inwardly in the direction of the footboard band drive 48 is provided on the upper chain links 56 and 58 and on the lower chain links 60 and 62. The footboard band drive 48 cooperates with and drives the individual links 56, 58, 60 and 62 of the stair chain 54. The outer side 38 of the drive belt 30 is specifically designed similarly to a toothed belt that cooperates with the teeth on the chain links 56, 58, 60 and 62. The drive wheel 32 and the inner side 36 of the drive belt 30 engage positively with one another by means of knub-like gear projections 6 and corresponding depressions 8. This ensures a reliable lateral guidance of the drive belt 30 around the reversing wheels 32, 34, as well as a reliable transmission of forces between the drive wheel 32 and the drive belt 30. Due to the stable guidance of the stairs and the stair chain in corresponding guide elements on the frame of the moving sidewalk, a mutual guidance between the chain links 56, 58, 60 and 62, on the one hand, and the footboard band drive 48, on the other, is not required. Alternatively, a positive engagement achieved by means of respective knub-like gear projections 6 and corresponding depressions on the drive belt 30 and on the chain links 56, 58, 60 and 62 or vice versa may also be provided.

[0038] Figure 6 shows the essential elements of an elevator. Specifically shown is an elevator car 64 suspended from two guide rollers 66, 68 with the aid of several flat conveyor belts 68 and driven by a drive mechanism 70 arranged in the upper region of the elevator shaft. This figure also shows a counterweight 72 that is suspended from the conveyor belts 68 which extend around a guide roller 74. A cable pulley 76 for driving the conveyor belts 68 is provided on the drive mechanism 70. The conveyor belts 68 are guided in depressions in the cable pulley 76 and in the defection rollers 66 and 74in such a way that the side walls of the depressions form guides for laterally guiding the conveyor belts 68. According to the invention, a positive engagement achieved by means of knub-like gear projections 6 and corresponding depressions 8 that are respectively arranged on the cable pulley 76 that serves as the drive element and on the conveyor belt 68 that serves as the belt element 4 is produced at least between the cable pulley 76 and the flat conveyor belts 68. It is advantageous to arrange the knub-like projections 6 on the conveyor belt 68 because these projections are able to engage in corresponding depressions 8 on the guide rollers 66 and 74 in such a way that a lateral guidance of the belts 68 relative to the rollers 66, 74 is ensured.

[0039] Figure 7 schematically shows a door drive 78 for an elevator shaft door or the door of an elevator car. The door drive 78 contains a drive motor 80, a gear 84 driven by a first drive belt 82 and a rotating drive belt 88 driven by a reversing wheel 86 connected to the gear, wherein the doors (not shown) to be driven are connected to said drive belt. The drive belt 88 rotates around two reversing wheels 86, 90. A positive engagement achieved by means of knub-like gear projections 6 and corresponding depressions 8 exists between the drive belt 88 and at least the driven reversing wheel 86. Also shown is a tensioning device 92 provided for tightening the drive belt 88. [0040] It would also be conceivable to realize the belt drive in such a way that the first drive belt 82 positively engages by means of knub-like gear projections between the driving motor 80 and the gear 84.

[0041] Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which should be determined by reference to the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. People conveyor, containing a belt element that is driven by a drive element (2), wherein the drive element (2) and the belt element (4) positively engage with each other, characterized by the fact that the positive engagement is achieved by means of knub-like gear projections (6) and corresponding depressions (8) on the drive element (2) and on the belt element (4).

2. People conveyor according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the people conveyor contains a driven footboard band, on which the passengers are conveyed, and a driven handrail (12).

3. People conveyor according to Claim 2, characterized by the fact that the handrail (12) forms the belt element (4) and is driven by a drive element (2) that is realized in the form of a drive wheel (14, 16, 42), wherein the knub-like gear projections (6) and the corresponding depressions (8) are arranged on the inner side of the handrail (12) and on the drive wheel (14, 16, 42).

4. People conveyor according to Claim 3, characterized by the fact that the knub- like gear projections (6) are arranged on the drive wheel (14, 16, 42), and by the fact that the depressions (8) are arranged on the handrail (12).

5. People conveyor according to one of Claims 2-4, characterized by the fact that the handrail (12) is driven by a linear drive (28) that contains a rotating drive belt (30), and by the fact that the rotating drive belt (30) forms the belt element (4), wherein the drive belt (30) acts upon and drives the handrail (12), wherein the drive belt (30) is driven by a drive element (2) that is realized in the form of a drive wheel (32), and wherein the knub-like gear projections (6) and the depressions (8) are arranged on the inner side (36) of the drive belt (30) and on the drive wheel (32).

6. People conveyor according to Claim 5, characterized by the fact that knub-like gear projections (6) are also arranged on the outer side (38) of the drive belt (30), and by the fact that corresponding depressions (8) are arranged on the inner side of the handrail (12).

7. People conveyor according to one of Claims 2-6, characterized by the fact that the footboard band is driven by a footboard band chain (54), the chain links (56, 58, 60, 62) of which are driven by a footboard band drive (48) that contains a rotating drive belt (30), and by the fact that the rotating drive belt (30) forms the belt element (4), wherein the drive belt (30) is driven by a drive wheel (32), and wherein the knub-like gear projections (6) and the depressions (8) are arranged on the inner side (36) of the drive belt (30) and on the drive wheel (32).

8. People conveyor according to Claim 7, characterized by the fact that knub-like gear projections (6) and corresponding depressions (8) are also arranged on the outer side (38) of the drive belt (30) and on the chain links (56, 58, 60, 62).

9. People conveyor according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the people conveyor consists of an elevator with an elevator car (64) and a drive unit (70).

10. People conveyor according to Claim 9, characterized by the fact that the elevator car (64) is suspended from a belt element (4) that is realized in the form of a flat conveyor belt (68) which is guided around and driven by a drive element (2) realized in the form of a drive wheel (76), wherein the knub-like gear projections (6) and the corresponding depressions (8) are arranged on the drive wheel (76) and on the conveyor belt (68).

11. People conveyor according to Claim 9 or 10, characterized by the fact that an elevator door is provided which is driven by a belt element (4) in the form of a drive belt (88) that turns around two reversing wheels (86, 90), and by the fact that the knub-like gear projections (6) and the corresponding depressions (8) are arranged on the inner side of the drive belt (88) and on at least the reversing wheel (86) that is realized in the form of the drive element (2).