Abstract: An escalator system has a plurality of steps connected to form an endless loop having a load-bearing run and a return run and circulatingly driven along a circulating path defined on a main frame. A movable member mounted on at least one of the steps is movable to an elevated position on the level of a tread of the step in front of that particular step in the load-bearing run. An operating mechanism is connected to the movable member for elevating the movable member. The operating mechanism comprises first and second racks mounted on the main frame at end portions of the loop. A forward-rotation pinion is mounted on the step with the movable member or on the step next to the step for engagement with the first rack, and a reverse-rotation pinion is mounted on the step with the movable member or on the step next to the step for engagement with the second rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a passenger conveyor including a plurality of steps connected to each other by a step chain for moving the steps comprises a motor, a reduction gear driven by the motor, a chain gearing device, driven by the reduction gear, for driving the step chain, and a stepless change gear for connecting the rotary output shaft of the motor to an input shaft of the reduction gear. The stepless change gear steplessly changes the relative rotational speeds of the motor and the reduction gear.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor guide arrangement comprises a guide rail which supports and guides step rollers mounted on the conveyor steps and a fastener which includes a nut and a bolt having a threaded shank and a substantially rectangular head for fastening the guide rail to the conveyor main frame. The guide rail includes a bottom guide portion for guiding a step roller tread and side guide portions vertically rising from the side edges of the bottom portion for guiding the roller sides. The bottom and the side guide portions together form a substantially U-shaped cross section. A side plate extends from the side guide portion at each side edge of the bottom guide portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bottom guide portion, and inturned portions extend from the lower end of the side plates in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom guide portion and each other to form a slit between the inner edges so as to engage the rectangular head of the bolt of the fastener.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor apparatus comprises a plurality of steps endlessly connected to each other and guided along a circulating conveyor path, each of the steps having a tread on which a passenger stands and a riser adjacent the forward edge of the tread, at least a portion of the riser of the steps being constituted by a light transmissive material, and a light source for throwing light on the light transmissive material of the riser, the light source being disposed inside the circulating conveyor path.

Abstract: An optical beam (22) is projected across the path of escalator steps (4) and is repeatedly broken by the moving steps to generate a pulse train. When the beam passage is cleared by the steps but remains blocked by a passenger's foot being too close to the riser (6) of the adjacent step, thereby presenting a potential hazard as the steps undergo transition from inclined to horizontal runs, the interruption of the pulse train periodicity triggers a timed warning device, such as a buzzer (24), to alert the passenger. If the foot is not moved to clear the beam path after a short time, the warning intensity may be increased.