WO2013018054A2

WO2013018054A2 - Device and method for disinfecting and sanitizing handrails of escalators and moving walks

Info

Publication number: WO2013018054A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/053962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea LISSANDRIN; Leonardo VEDOVATO
Original assignee: Teide S.R.L.
Priority date: 2011-08-02
Filing date: 2012-08-02
Publication date: 2013-02-07
Also published as: WO2013018054A3; ITPD20110257A1

Abstract

A device for disinfecting and sanitizing moving handrails (12) comprising a tape (5) soaked with disinfecting and sanitizing liquid, an unwinding reel (4.1) of said tape (5), a winding reel (4.2) of said tape (5) after use, wherein the length of tape (5) included between the unwinding reel (4.1) and the winding reel (4.2) is periodically pressed against the surface of the moving handrail (12). The device comprises drive means (8) operatively connected to at least one of said reels (4.1, 4.2) so as to permit the unwinding of a length of tape (5) from the unwinding reel (4.1) and the winding of the tape (5) onto the winding reel (4.2). The drive means (8) comprise a motion roller (2.1) that is maintained in contact or is suited to be translated and placed in contact with said handrail (12) so as to be placed in rotation following the movement of the handrail (12).

Description

DESCRIPTION

"DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISINFECTING AND SANITIZING HANDRAILS OF ESCALATORS AND MOVING WALKS"

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for disinfecting the handrails of escalators and moving walkways in general, as well as the disinfecting method thereof .

[0002] Currently, escalators and moving walkways are widely used in public places, shopping centres, underground stations and airports to facilitate the transfer of people from one place to another. Escalators and moving walkways are used by huge numbers of people and constitute a powerful carrier of infection transmitted by direct contact between the handrail composed of a sliding plastic track and users' hands.

[0003] It is known that the handrails of escalators and moving walkways are a significant and rapid means of diffusion of germs, bacteria and viruses.

[0004] Considering therefore that the handrails of escalators come continuously into contact with the hands of a . significant number of users, it is useful to envisage a system for sanitising and removing organic material from the surface of the handrails of escalators.

[0005] The disinfecting and sanitising methods known of and used today are mainly UV rays radiated by lamps or lasers, disinfectant sprays, atmospheric type plasma, or ozone generators.

[0006] Such methods in any case present a series of drawbacks and problems.

[0007] For example in the sanitising system using UV rays, such rays are generated by bulbs whether fluorescent, laser or LED. UV fluorescent bulbs are not very expensive but with use over time they lose their property of emitting UV radiation and must be replaced. In any case the atmospheric dust which is much denser in places with lots of people, remains in suspension between the source of UV rays and the surface to be treated, as well, as depositing on the glass and the emission surfaces, reducing the quantity of UV radiation reaching the surface to be treated.

[0008] The rubber, and plastic material in general of the handrail, subjected to UV radiation undergoes a deterioration which increases with the duration and intensity of said UV radiation.

[0009] The system involving sanitising by means of ozone also entails problem related to the deterioration of the rubber and plastic material of the handrail.

[0010] In addition, the ozone may have negative effects on breathing and pulmonary function, and cause inflammation of the lungs as well as releasing an unpleasant odour for users .

[0011] The plasma sanitising system also entails precocious deterioration of the rubber composing the handrail and is of considerable structural complexity as well as requiring recurrent maintenance.

[0012] All the systems described above require, in addition, continuous .connection to an electrical supply which must be predisposed during the installation of the escalator, and which is difficult and inconvenient to install on an escalator already installed in place.

[0013] Further known sanitising devices use chemical products to be used in a liquid form or sprayed.

[0014] These devices are simpler to make but require connection to the electricity supply and above all require special filtering and purifying circuits of the liquids used, thereby adding a certain complexity to the handling of process -residues.

[0015] For all the devices cited above the invasiveness of the application_, must be considered, in that all such devices require an electricity supply or the management of the liquid waste resulting from the disinfecting process.

[0016] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks and limitations cited with reference to the prior art described above. [0017] Such purpose is achieved by a device according to claim 1, and by a method according to claim 16.

[0018] Other embodiments of. the invention are described in the subsequent claims.

[0019] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly comprehensible from the description given below of a preferred and non- limiting embodiment, wherein:

[0020] figure 1 is a schematised view of an escalator wherein a disinfecting device according to the present invention is visible;

[0021] figures 2 and 3 show two schematic views, partially in cross-section, of a disinfecting device according to the present invention;

[0022] figure 4 shows a schematic view in cross-section of a detail of the disinfecting ^■ device according to an embodiment variation of the present invention;

[0023] figure 5 shows a further embodiment variation of a disinfecting device according to the present invention-.

[0024] With reference to the aforementioned figures, reference numeral 10 globally denotes a device for disinfecting and sanitizing handrails 12 of escalators and/or moving walkways 14.

[0025] The device 10 for disinfecting and sanitizing handrails 12 of escalators and/or moving walkways 14 is preferably fixed to each of the walls 16 which the two handrails 12 of an escalator 14 move on, preferably near a floor 18, in the curve 20 where the handrail 12 comes out of the floor 18 to accompany the user getting on to the escalator 14 or in the curve 20 where the handrail goes back into the floor, depending on the direction of rotation of said handrail.

[0026] The device 10 comprises a supporting structure 1 suited to support the various parts of the device 10 and to permit its attachment to the escalators or moving walkways 14.

[0027] In particular, the supporting structure 1 is suited to attach the device 10 astride the handrail 12, enclosing and covering it for a certain distance: this way, as described further below, the device is able to enclose and disinfect/sanitise the handrail at least partially .

[0028] According to one embodiment, such supporting structure 1 comprises suction, cups 11 suited to permit the attachment of the device 10 on two opposite sides 22 of each wall 16 of the escalator 14 which the handrail 12 moves along.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the supporting structure comprises removable attachment means, such as for example adhesive means, Velcro and the like, able to β

permit a stable and secure attachment of the device onto the walls 16. Such attachment has the advantage of being easily performed and removed in a non-invasive manner, that is to say without requiring any permanent modification of the escalator and without leaving any trace on the escalator once removed.

[0030] The device 10 comprises a tape 5_,, preferably in fabric, soaked in a liquid or a mixture of liquids having sanitising and disinfectant properties.

[0031] According to one embodiment, said tape 5 comprises a band or strip of natural fabric, of non woven or other material having tear and fray-resistant, liquid absorption and retention properties.

[0032] Such tape 5 is the same or greater in width to the width of the handrail 12 so as to be able to disinfect and sanitise the entire surface of the handrail' which may be grasped by the users.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the tape 5 is wound on an unwinding reel 4.1 and on a winding reel 4.2. In particular, the tape 5 is unwound by the unwinding reel 4.1 and wound by the winding reel 4.2.

[0034] The two reels 4.1, 4.2 are hinged to the supporting structure 1 with relative rotation axes orthogonal to the direction of advancement of the handrail 12. The length of tape 5 included between said two reels 4.1, 4.2 is substantially parallel and a short distance from the surface of the handrail 12.

[0035] It may be envisaged that said length of tape 5 included between the two reels 4.1, 4.2 is wound onto at least one further control roller 9, in turn comprising at least one encoder 9.1 suited to measure at least the length of advancement of the tape 5 used for disinfecting and thereby _^also the quantity of residual tape.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the winding reel 4.2 is connected to drive means 8 suited to rotate said winding reel 4.2 so as to permit the advancement of the tape 5.

[0037] The actuation of such drive means 8 causes the rolling of a length of tape 5 onto the winding reel 4.2, the unwinding of a length of tape 5 from the unwinding reel 4.1 and its positioning adjacent to the surface of the handrail 12.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the drive mean 8 comprise an electric motor.

[0039] Preferably, the drive means 8 comprise a motion roller 2.1, hinged on a relative pin, wherein said motion roller 2.1 is kept pressed onto the handrail 12, for example by means of relative elastic means. The contact between the motion roller 2.1 and the handrail acts so that when the handrail is moving because the escalator or moving walkway is functioning, the motion roller 2.1 is dragged in rotation by the movement of the handrail itself. The rotation occurs substantially as a result of friction. The motion roller 2.1 interfaces in contact with the handrail 12 so as to be placed in rotation by the movement of said handrail: in such functioning the roller may be considered as a power take-off.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the motion roller 2.1 is positioned with its axis orthogonal to the direction of advancement of the handrail 12.

[0041] According to a further embodiment, the motion roller

2.1 translates in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the handrail 12, for example on guides, skates or slotted holes 2.3 made on said supporting structure 1.

[0042] For example, the motion roller 2.1 may be operatively connected to at least one of said reels 4.1,

4.2 so as to drag said reels in rotation, acting as a drive means for these.

[0043] The connection between the motion roller 2.1 and the reels may be of the direct type or envisage the interposition of pulleys and transmission means suited for modifying as desired the transmission ratio between the motion roller 2.1 and the reels. Moreover, a drive transmission of the intermittent, stepped type may be realised, so as to ensure the discrete rotation of the reels and thereby the translation of the tape 5 only upon achievement of a specific rotation of the motion roller 2.1. Such intermittent type transmission may, for example, be achieved by means of stepped or ratchet mechanisms and the like.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the motion roller 2.1 is connected to least one electric current generator 2.2. Said electric current generators 2.2 may be two or even more in number.

[0045] Preferably, the electric current generator 2.2 is operatively connected to at least one accumulator 3 destined to supply the electricity to the various other parts of the device 10.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the drive means 8 comprise an electric motor supplied by said accumulator and /or by said electric current generators 2.2.

[0047] The motion roller 2.1 may be translated in the direction away from the handrail 12, detaching itself from said handrail when the motion does not need to be transmitted, while it may be replaced in contrast with the handrail 12 when the motion needs to be transmitted.

[0048] The accumulator permits the operation of auxiliary devices of the disinfecting device 10 even when the handrail is at a standstill and the motion roller 2.1 does not therefore act as a power take-off.

[0049] The device 10 further comprises " presser means 30 of the tape in contact with the handrail 12 so as to perform the disinfecting of the handrail by the relative rubbing of the parts.

[0050] According to one embodiment, said presser means 30 comprise a translating pad 6 substantially counter-shaped to the surface of the handrail 12 used for support.

[0051] For example, the translating pad 6 is composed of a slightly arched, generally flat element with the side rims arched further having in any case a greater complementary surface to the surface of the handrail 12.

[0052] The translating pad 6 may be positioned on a length of tape 5 included between said two reels 4.1, 42 on the side of the tape 5 opposite the handrail 12 and a short distance from or in contact with said tape.

[0053] For example, the translating pad is mounted on mechanisms and/or leverages, controlled by an electric motor, suited to translate said pad in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the handrail. In particular, said translating pad is translated from a position in which it is relatively distant from^* the handrail, to a position in which it brings the length of tape included between the two reels, into contact with surface of the handrail and presses it.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the translating pad 6 is mounted on two pairs of cams, controlled by an electric motor 7.1 by means of a transmission belt 7.2, suited to translate said pad 6 in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the handrail 12.

[0055] The rotation of the cams 7 translates said pad 6 from a rest position in which it is relatively distant from the handrail 12, to a disinfecting position in which the pad 6 presses the length of tape 5 onto the surface of the handrail 12.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the presser means 30 comprise a presser roller 34 which selectively presses a length of tape 5 against the handrail 12. In particular, said length of tape 5 is overhanging in relation to a pair of pins 36. This way when the presser roller 34 exerts a pressure on the tape the length of tape included between said pins 36 assumes a substantially triangular configuration wherein said pins and the length of tape pressed by the presser roller 34 in abutment against the handrail 12 constitute the vertexes of said triangle.

[0057] Preferably, the presser roller 34 is a closed cell sponge roller so as to press the tape against the handrail without absorbing the sanitising liquid which said tape is soaked in.

[0058] As shown^' in figure 4, an embodiment is further envisaged wherein the presser means, in addition to the pad 6 or to the presser roller 34, also comprise two auxiliary side pads 6.1, 6.2.

[0059] When the pad 6 or the presser roller 34 presses the tape 5 against the upper surface of the handrail 12, suitable leverages command the translation/rotation of the auxiliary pads 6.1, 6.2 so as to press the sides of the tape 5 onto the side surfaces of the handrail 12.

[0060] The device 10 may further comprise a fan or similar devices to dry the handrail once it has been cleaned by the tape and before it comes into contact with users' hands .

[0061] Preferably, the device 10 is provided with at least one electric/electronic control and management circuit or unit which supervises the functioning of the new device.

[0062] The functioning .of the device according to the invention will now be described.

[0063] In particular, the movement of the handrail 12 permits the actuation of the drive means 8 so as to be able to activate the presser means 30 which press the tape 5 into contact with the handrail 12.

[0064] The movement of the tape 5 by means of the reels 4.1, 4.2 may take place by means of direct or indirect mechanical connection of the drive means and reels, or by selective actuation , by means of the electric/electronic control circuit, of the winding of the tape onto the winding reel. [0065] The electric/electronic circuit may be connected to one or more sensors, for example on the unwinding reel, so as to detect the residual quantity of tape, and/or may be connected to one or more proximity sensors so as to detect the passage and frequency of passage of people on the escalator, may be connected to a radio communication device to permit remote monitoring operations and optimise replacement and maintenance operations.

[0066] It may be envisaged that said length of tape between said unwinding and winding reels is wound or in any case connected to at least one further control roller, in turn comprising at least one encoder connected to said electric/electronic circuit and having the function Of measuring the length of advancement of the tape used and thereby also the quantity of residual tape.

[0067] At regular intervals of time, or after the handrail has performed a given number of revolutions, or after a given number of people have stepped onto the escalator, the electric/electronic control and management circuit orders the disinfecting of the handrail.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the reel and therefore the tape is continuously controlled in. translation during the movement of the handrail .

[0069] This way a limited portion of the tape is brought into contact with the handrail, substantially dependent on the diameter of the presser roller 34, and the portion of tape 5 in contact with the surface of the handrail is continuously modified. In other words the continuous contact of the same extensive length of tape with the handrail, to then replace it at predefined intervals, is avoided: such solution in fact entails a complete disinfecting of the handrail in an initial phase and a subsequent scarce and incomplete disinfecting in a subsequent step given that the length of tape has in the meantime been soiled and- has lost most of its detergent liquid. It has been found^' rather that cleansing efficiency is increased by bringing a reduced length of tape 5 into direct contact with the handrail 12 and modifying frequently or continuously, such reduced length of tape 5.

[0070] It is to be noted that the use of a presser roller 34 in place of a flat sliding block is to be preferred in that the specific contact pressure between the tape 5 and the handrail 12 is increased and the cleansing function thereby improved in terms of the mechanical removal capacity of the dirt.

[0071] In fact the tape pressed onto the moving handrail performs a first mechanical function in which the organic impurities left on the surface of the handrail by users are removed, accumulating them on the tape; and a second disinfecting and sanitizing function releasing some of the disinfecting and sanitizing liquid of the tape onto the surface of the handrail.

[0072] As may be seen from the description, the device according to the present invention makes it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0073] In particular, the device permits the disinfecting and sanitising of the handrail without the need for connection to the electrical socket. This way the device may be applied to a pre-existing escalator or moving walkway in a non-invasive manner, that is, without requiring any structural modification. In addition, the device does not require any maintenance as regards electrical aspects given that it is self-powered by the movement of the handrail itself and, thereby does not require the use of auxiliary batteries which would require regular recharging and/or replacement.

[0074] In addition the device offers highly efficient disinfecting and sanitising regardless of the atmospheric dust present.

[0075] In addition the device does not produce^' solid or liquid waste difficult to dispose of.

[0076] Moreover the device may be installed in any type of escalator, whether during the installation phase or already installed, with glass or metal walls. [0077] Even the removal of the device is particularly easy and leaves no traces on the structure itself: this way the removal of the device is particularly convenient for example when replacing the panels of the escalator or moving walkway which, in the case of impact, is required.

[0078] A person skilled in the art may make numerous modifications and variations to the -solutions described above so as to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, while remaining within the sphere of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Device for disinfecting and sanitizing handrails of escalators or moving walkways comprising

a supporting structure (1) suited to support the various parts of the device (10) and to permit its attachment to the escalators or moving walkways (14),

- a tape (5) soaked with disinfecting and sanitizing liquid, for disinfecting and sanitizing the handrail,

- an unwinding reel (4.1) on which said tape (5) is previously wound and from which it is unwound, a winding reel (4.2) on which said tape (5) is rewound after use,

- presser means (30) suited to periodically press, on the surface of the moving handrail (12), a length of tape (5) included, substantially overhanging, between the unwinding reel (4.1) and the winding reel (4.2) so as to perform the disinfecting of the handrail (12) by the relative rubbing of the parts,

- drive means (8) operatively- connected to at least one of said reels (4.1, 4.2) so as to permit the unwinding of a length of tape (5) from the unwinding reel (4.1) and the winding of the tape (5) onto the winding reel (4.2), characterised in that

- said drive means (8) comprise a motion roller (2.1) that is maintained in contact or is suited to be translated and placed in contact with said handrail (12) so as to be placed in rotation following the movement of the handrail (12), wherein the motion roller (2.1) is operatively connected to at least one of said reels (4.1, 4.2) so that the rotation of the motion roller (2.1), caused by the moving of the handrail (12) makes the tape (5) in contact with the handrail (12) advance.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the motion roller (2.1) and the reels (4.1, 4.2) envisages the interposition of pulleys and /or transmission mechanisms suited for modifying as desired the transmission ratio between the motion roller (2.1) and said reels.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission of movement between the motion roller (2.1) and the reels (4.1, 4.2) is of the intermittent, stepped type, so as to ensure the discrete rotation of the reels (4.1, 4.2) and thereby the translation of the tape (5) only upon the achievement of a specific rotation by the motion roller (2.1).

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein such intermittent type transmission is achieved by means of stepped or ratchet mechanism and the like.

5. Device according . to any of the previous claims, wherein the motion roller (2.1) is positioned with its axis orthogonal to the direction of advancement of the handrail (12) .

6. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the motion roller (2.1) translates in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the handrail (12) on guides, skates or slotted holes (2.3) made on said supporting structure ( 1 ) .

7. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the drive means (8) comprise at least one electric current generator (2.2) and wherein the motion roller (2.1) is operatively connected to said at least one electric current generator (2.2) which charges an electric accumulator (3) so as to directly or indirectly supply electric energy to the electric, electromechanical and electronic mechanisms of the device.

8. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the supporting structure (1) is suited to be fixed to opposite sides (22) of each wall (16) of the escalator or walkway (14) which the handrail (12) moves on, so as to position itself astride the handrail (12) itself, and wherein said supporting structure (1) maintains said reels (4.1, 4.2) in position with their axes parallel to each other and orthogonal to the direction of advancement of the handrail (12).

9. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the supporting structure (1) comprises removable attachment means, such as for example adhesive means, Velcro and the like, able to permit a stable and secure attachment of the device onto the walls (16) on which the handrail moves and able to be rapidly removed in a noninvasive manner, that is to say without requiring any permanent modification of the escalator or walkway (14) and without leaving any trace on the escalator once removed.

10. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein said supporting structure (1) is attached to opposite sides (22) of each wall (16) on which the handrail (12) moves by means of magnets and/or suction cups.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein said suction cups are connected to one or more vacuum pumps or other vacuum mechanisms.

12. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tape, (5) is the same or greater in width to the width of the handrail (12) so as . to be able to disinfect and sanitise the entire surface of the handrail which may be grasped by the users, said widths being measured perpendicular to a direction of advancement/translation of the handrail (12).

13. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the presser means (30) comprise a presser roller (34) which selectively presses a length of tape (5) against the handrail (12), said length of tape (5) overhanging in relation to a pair of pins (36), so that when the presser roller (34) presses on the tape (5), the length of tape (5) included between said pins (36) assumes a substantially triangular configuration wherein said pins and the length of tape (5) pressed by the presser roller (34) in abutment against the handrail (12) constitute the vertexes of said triangle.

14. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein said presser roller (34) is a closed cell sponge roller so as to press the tape (5) against the handrail (12) without absorbing the sanitising liquid which said tape is soaked in.

15. Device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the presser means (30) comprise two auxiliary side pads (6.1, 6.2) located at the sides of said presser roller (34), and wherein said auxiliary pads (6.1, 6.2) are rotated and/or translated at the same time as the presser roller (34) so as to press the sides of the tape (5) onto the side surfaces of the handrail (12) .

16. Method of sanitising the handrail of escalators and walkways by means of the application to said handrail of a disinfecting device according to any of the previous claims .