With Means To Control The Operation Of The Section Patents (Class 198/322)
  • Patent number: 11440776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conveyor system comprising: a drive machine, a conveyor control unit configured to control operation of a conveyor device, a sensor array comprising at least one sensor mounted to the drive machine and adapted to measure one or more properties of the drive machine, a processing unit associated with the drive machine, wherein the processing unit is connected to the sensor array and configured to obtain and process measurement data from the sensor array to generate in-formation about an operation of the drive machine, and a communication channel between the conveyor control unit and the processing unit. The conveyor system may be an elevator system, an escalator system or a moving walk system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Henri Wenlin, Antti Saarelainen, Janne Rossi, Asmo Tenhunen
  • Patent number: 11407618
    Abstract: A control system and a control method for controlling the start and stop of multiple passenger conveyors are provided. The control system includes a remote camera for capturing images of the corresponding external state of the passenger conveyor in real time; a remote controller for controlling and collecting the operation state of the passenger conveyor; a monitoring server connected with each remote camera and the remote controller through a data network. The monitoring server uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to analyze images captured by the remote camera to determine whether there are passengers on the passenger conveyor; when the monitoring server determines that there are passengers on the passenger conveyor, the passenger conveyor is grouped into a non-automatic start and stop group; when the monitoring server determines that there are no passengers on the passenger conveyor, the passenger conveyor is grouped into an automatic start and stop group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jinquan Fan, Zhong Chen
  • Patent number: 11339030
    Abstract: A passenger moving installation includes a plurality of tread elements forming an endless conveyor belt, wherein the tread elements are at least partially covered by at least one element that limits a transportation height of a user set of the installation. A safety system is configured to detect a risk of collision between the user set and the covering element. A method of determining a risk of collision between a user set and at least one covering element in a passenger moving installation at least partially covered by the covering element, includes determining the height of the user set in a monitoring area via a safety system, comparing the height of the user set to the height of a safety threshold, and triggering an event in the safety system if the user height exceeds the safety threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TK Escalator Norte S.A.
    Inventors: Adrián Álvarez Cuervo, Marcos Pérez Pérez, José Mendiolagoitia Juliana, Isabel Gonzalez Mieres, Francisco Javier Sesma Sanchez
  • Patent number: 11319191
    Abstract: There is disclosed a display device making it possible to call effective attention in a use situation where unbalanced passenger load occurs between left and right lanes of a passenger conveyor. This display device includes a first display unit (7A) positioned on the left and a second display unit (7B) positioned on the right toward the passenger conveyor at a boarding (1), a control device (20) to control the first display unit (7A) and the second display unit (7B), and passenger detection (8A, 8B) to detect passengers stepping on the passenger conveyor. The first display unit (7A) and the second display unit (7B) display images representing information to passengers. The passengers pass between the first display unit (7A) and the second display unit (7B) and step on the passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamanaka, Shohei Kanayama
  • Patent number: 11254545
    Abstract: A method predicts whether an approaching passenger intends to travel on a passenger moving system having at least one movable pallet. The method includes positioning at least one monitoring device in the vicinity of the passenger moving system such that it monitors a detection area wherein the detection area includes at least a first detection area. The monitoring system then detects the presence of a passenger in the at least first detection area and monitors a trajectory of the passenger. A response is triggered at a control unit of the passenger moving system when the monitored trajectory of the passenger provides a predicted trajectory that reaches the entrance to the passenger moving system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation Center S.A.
    Inventors: José Mendiolagoitia Juliana, Marcos Pérez Pérez, Isabel Gonzalez Mieres, Francisco Javier Sesma Sanchez, Adrián Álvarez Cuervo
  • Patent number: 11230460
    Abstract: A drive belt monitoring system for a passenger conveyor (10) is provided having a drive belt (30) having at least one cord (36) extending longitudinally within the drive belt (30). The monitoring system (50) includes: a first sensor (52) configured to measure the pretension of the drive belt (30); a second sensor (54) configured to determine a passenger load on the drive belt (30); a third sensor (56) configured to determine the resonance frequency of the drive belt (30); and a controller (60) configured to evaluate a condition of the drive belt (30) based on: the measured pretension of the drive belt (30), the determined passenger load of the drive belt (30), and the determined resonance frequency of the drive belt (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander Turek, Thomas Illedits
  • Patent number: 11225399
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an escalator monitoring system, which includes a data collection device disposed near the parts of the escalator that require monitoring in order to collect data the parts relevant to the operation of the escalator, a data transmittal device used to send the collected data, a cloud processor used to receive the data, to compare the data against threshold data of the parts obtained under normal operating conditions stored in the database of the cloud processor, and to respond based on the comparison result. The present invention can collect the data and analyze it in any environment independent of subjective human judgment, predict possible failure without the need to stop the operation of the escalator, save maintenance time, reduce associated cost, and thus improve its safety and ride comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tao Ye, Wenke Deng, Chao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11192757
    Abstract: A method and system is discussed for detecting distances between passengers walking onto escalators and moving sidewalks or travellators and for providing alerts to the passengers when minimum social distancing between the passengers is not being maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Techdayafter, Inc.
    Inventors: Regis Frossard, Benjamin Le Coent
  • Patent number: 11161717
    Abstract: The application relates to a method for detecting and monitoring the mechanical condition of an escalator or a moving walkway with at least one revolving band and at least one detecting device. The method includes (i) preparing at least one spatial image of at least one section of the revolving band, (ii) selecting at least one region of the spatial image, (iii) comparing the selected region with at least one comparison region, wherein the comparison region is defined by three-dimensional coordinates and represents a virtual space which can be clearly assigned to the selected region, and (iv) generating an alarm signal if the selected region differs from the comparison region by surpassing predetermined limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Thomas Novacek, Jürg Burri
  • Patent number: 11117788
    Abstract: Provided is a guide rail cleaning device, including: a first cleaning portion including a first cleaning member configured to clean a driving-roller guide rail for a step; a second cleaning portion including a second cleaning member configured to clean a trailing-roller guide rail; and a mounting plate. The mounting plate is removably mounted to a step shaft having a driving roller fixed thereto. The first cleaning portion and the second cleaning portion are mounted to the mounting plate. The first cleaning member is brought into abutment against the driving-roller guide rail. The second cleaning member is brought into abutment against the trailing-roller guide rail. With this, the driving-roller guide rail and the trailing-roller guide rail are simultaneously cleaned through use of the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohito Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11104551
    Abstract: An escalator includes movable step segments. Each step segment includes a rectangular step plate with a constant height, a tread, and four corners. The tread of each step segment is in a horizontal position during a front transport movement and in an oblique position during a rear return movement. Four wheels which include two front wheels and two rear wheels are assigned to each step segment, with one wheel being mounted at each of the four corners. Two endless transport chains transport the two front wheels at a front transport section. Two first tracks have the two rear wheels run thereon without being attached to any of the two endless transport chains. Two rear second transport tracks are arranged in a rear return transport section. The two rear second transport tracks transport each step segment back with the tread in an oblique position via the two endless transport chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Kollmey, Birgit Struve, Antje Proske, Christine Mahn, Katrin Weste
  • Patent number: 11034551
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an escalator including: a local gateway device; an analytic engine in communication with the local gateway device through a cloud computing network; a sensing apparatus in wireless communication with the local gateway device through a short-range wireless protocol, the sensing apparatus including: an inertial measurement unit sensor configured to detect acceleration data of the escalator, wherein at least one of the sensing apparatus and the local gateway device is configured to determine a condition based monitoring (CBM) health score of the escalator in response to at least the acceleration data, and wherein the local gateway is configured wirelessly transmit the CBM health score of the escalator to the cloud computing network in a data package via a long-range wireless communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Derk Oscar Pahlke
  • Patent number: 11001479
    Abstract: A conveyor arrangement, a conveyor system and a method for determining a load estimate in a people conveyor arrangement, such as an escalator arrangement or horizontal or inclined autowalk arrangement include using a power model of the people conveyor arrangement, which power model includes e.g. motor model components and/or people conveyor model components, having at least a friction monitoring mode, and determining in the friction monitoring mode a friction estimate of the conveyor arrangement based at least in part on the measured or determined motor power, the power model of the people conveyor arrangement, and a speed of the step or pallet chain and/or a speed of the handrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tapio Tyni, Pekka Perälä
  • Patent number: 10519007
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor has a guardrail belt configured to run on a pair of right and left handrails in synchronization with footsteps; a camera provided at a platform of the handrail; and a control device configured to analyze an image obtained by photographing the platform with the camera, detect a passenger getting in from the platform, stop the footsteps or lower a running speed than a normal speed when detecting no passenger for a predetermined time, and move the running speed of the footsteps at the normal speed when detecting the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA ELEVATOR KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takayuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10427915
    Abstract: A method to control a transport device like a moving walkway or escalator with a control unit includes, generating visual images of a person traveling on the transport device, analyzing movement of the person based on the visual images, and transferring the control unit into a safety modus based on the analysis. The transport device includes a transport area for accommodating a person to be transported, a plurality of transport elements such as movable pallets or movable steps configured to convey the person located in the transport area in a standing manner, a drive adapted for driving the transport elements, and an image recording device for creating visual images of a sector of the transport area. Based on the recorded images a movement of the person within the transport area is analyzed. Based upon a result of the analysis the control unit is transferred into a safety modus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP ELEVATOR INNOVATION CENTER S.A., THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Isabel González Mieres, Marcos Pérez Pérez
  • Patent number: 10364130
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of passenger conveyor technologies, and provides a speed detection system of a passenger conveyor and a speed detection method thereof. In the speed detection system and the speed detection method of the present invention, an imaging sensor and/or a depth sensing sensor are/is used to sense at least one part of the passenger conveyor to acquire sequence frames, and the sequence frames are analyzed by a processing apparatus to obtain at least speed information about steps of the passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Yanying Chen, ZhaoXia Hu, Hui Fang, Zhen Jia, Jianwei Zhao, Qiang Li, Anna Su, Alan Matthew Finn
  • Patent number: 10259685
    Abstract: A conveyor device (2) comprises: a conveyance element (8) extending in a longitudinal direction between two spaced apart landing portions (4, 6) and configured to move for conveying people and/or goods between the two landing portions (4, 6); at least one balustrade (10, 12) located laterally at one side of the conveyance element (8) and extending along the longitudinal direction of the conveyance element (8); and at least one sensor (22, 23), which is configured for detecting the presence of a person in a detection zone (28) which is defined by a main detection direction (D), at least one detection angle (?, ?) and at least one detection range (R). The at least one sensor (22, 23) is located at or next to the at least one balustrade (10, 12), and the main detection direction (D) extends from the at least one sensor (22, 23) in a direction away from the balustrade (10, 12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Wilfrid Fuchs
  • Patent number: 10196238
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods regarding transit and movement of people. The Articulated Funiculator is a continuous and connected system of trains that moves people in mass. The trains lie horizontal at specific floor levels (designated as stations) in tall buildings or underground levels (designated as stations) in mining operations and underground subway stations. The Articulated Funiculator transitions from horizontal alignments at the stations to vertical, slanted or curved alignments between the stations, albeit the passengers remain horizontal in a standing position. The Articulated Funiculator captures the energy from the braking, dynamic braking’ of the trains and stores it. The stored energy is then used to accelerate the Articulated Funiculator. This re-use of energy makes the Articulated Funiculator sustainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Fritz King AB
    Inventor: Fritz King
  • Patent number: 10179719
    Abstract: The program directs a computer processor to implement a program that prioritizes a direction of movement of a directional pedestrian mover (DPM) based on predicted pedestrian traffic flow. The program obtains a first predicted pedestrian traffic flow relative to the direction of movement of the DPM, and a second predicted pedestrian traffic flow in a different direction relative to the first predicted pedestrian traffic flow. The program determines that the second predicted pedestrian traffic flow exceeds the first predicted pedestrian traffic flow, and changes the direction of movement of the DPM to accommodate the second predicted pedestrian traffic flow. The program calculates a time for a majority of the first predicted pedestrian traffic flow, and a majority of the second predicted pedestrian traffic flow, to reach at least one access point of the DPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kelly Abuelsaad, Tamer E. Abuelsaad, Gregory J. Boss
  • Patent number: 10155642
    Abstract: The present invention constantly observes the balancing condition of users; at the first few signs of an occurrence of an accident such as falling, slipping, sitting on the escalator the system immediately initiates an emergency stop command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Inventor: Amir Hussein Ghadamossoltani
  • Patent number: 10112804
    Abstract: In order to improve safety, an escalator system is configured to drive an escalator in response to a signal received from a user interface located in a first end of the escalator, and to stop movement of the escalator in response to detection of opening of an access cover plate in a second end of the escalator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ari Jussila, Toni Hirvonen
  • Patent number: 10093518
    Abstract: The remote inspection device for a passenger conveyor includes at least one camera mounted directly above the passenger conveyor for monitoring external conditions of the passenger conveyor, a remote controller for performing a remote visual inspection using the camera, a passenger conveyor controller for operating the passenger conveyor at a normal speed during a normal operation and for operating the passenger conveyor at a slower speed or bringing it to a complete stop during a remote visual inspection, and a sensor connected to the passenger conveyor controller and arranged in the vicinity of the entrance of the passenger conveyor for detecting the presence of a passenger approaching the entrance of the passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hisanori Seki, Atsushi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10059569
    Abstract: A monitoring system and a monitoring method for a passenger conveying device, and the passenger conveying device. The monitoring system comprises an imaging sensor and/or a depth sensing sensor for sensing a monitoring area of the passenger conveying device to acquire data frames; and a processing device for performing data processing on the data frames to monitor whether the monitoring area is abnormal, and configured to comprise: a background acquisition module for acquiring a background model based on data frames sensed when the monitoring area is in a normal state; a foreground detection module for comparing data frames sensed in real time with the background model to obtain a foreground object; a foreground feature extraction module for extracting a corresponding foreground object markup feature from the foreground object; and a state judgment module for judging whether the foreground object belongs to an abnormal population.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui Fang, Zhen Jia, Yanzhi Chen, Alan Matthew Finn, Arthur Hsu, Jianwei Zhao, ZhaoXia Hu, Qiang Li, Anna Su, Longwen Wang, XuLei Guo, Alois Senger
  • Patent number: 10053336
    Abstract: An emergency button for an escalator or a moving sidewalk, wherein the emergency button comprises a button main body and a stripe plate; the button main body is mounted in a stripe plate hole of the stripe plate; the stripe plate is embedded between two adjacent supporting side plates of the escalator or the moving sidewalk; the stripe plate and the button main body have a color different from that of the supporting side plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi Min Shi, Aapo Saari, Visa Rauta
  • Patent number: 10011459
    Abstract: The safety circuit includes a safety switch or a series circuit of safety switches, which includes an input for an electrical safety circuit signal as well as an output, in which the electrical safety circuit signal being supplied to the input is present when all the safety switches are closed. The safety circuit also includes a cable including an optical fiber as well as a transmitter circuit for the optical signal, the output of which circuit is connected to the cable including an optical fiber. The input of the transmitter circuit is connected to the output of the aforementioned safety switch or of the series circuit of safety switches, and the transmitter circuit is configured to transmit in the optical fiber of the cable the safety circuit signal that is present in the output of the safety switch or of the series circuit of safety switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mikko Puranen
  • Patent number: 9902592
    Abstract: A test method is applied to an elevator system having a control unit and at least one bus node. The bus node has a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor and the control unit and the bus node communicate by a bus. Furthermore, the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor are connected without interruption by a signal line. The test method includes the steps: a specification signal is transmitted by the control unit to the first microprocessor, the first microprocessor transmits the signal to the second microprocessor, and the second microprocessor provides the signal for the control unit. Finally, the control unit verifies whether the provided signal corresponds to a signal expected by the control unit. The elevator system includes a monitoring device for carrying out the test method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Astrid Sonnenmoser, David Michel, Martin Hess
  • Patent number: 9835815
    Abstract: An optical fiber cord management system and method is provided to monitor and manage optical fiber cords weights in telecommunication equipment. The system comprise a weight sensing member arranged with a trough member for converting a force applied to the trough member by an optical fiber cord. The system may include a processor, in communication with the weight sensing member. The processor may receive force signal data from the weight sensing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Telect, Inc.
    Inventor: David Knaggs
  • Patent number: 9779420
    Abstract: According to the embodiments of the invention, methods and apparatuses are used for observing the movements of passengers on transport conveyors and presenting advertisements thereon. Steps on an escalator or other conveyer employ touch screens and/or detectors which determine the brand & style of a shoe placed on the step. An image-forming module projects advertisements and other media content onto a transparent glass surface that is viewable by the passengers. The media content is selectively displayed based on the brand and/or style of passengers' shoes. Passengers may interact with the media content via the touch screen by carrying out gestures with their feet. Passenger interest in certain ads is detectable and may be used for consumer research purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Inventor: Hon Sang Lam
  • Patent number: 9738492
    Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods regarding transit and movement of people. The Articulated Funiculator is a continuous and connected system of trains that moves people in mass. The trains lie horizontal at specific floor levels (designated as stations) in tall buildings or underground levels (designated as stations) in mining operations and underground subway stations. The Articulated Funiculator transitions from horizontal alignments at the stations to vertical, slanted or curved alignments between the stations, albeit the passengers remain horizontal in a standing position. The Articulated Funiculator captures the energy from the braking, dynamic braking? of the trains and stores it. The stored energy is then used to accelerate the Articulated Funiculator. This re-use of energy makes the Articulated Funiculator sustainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Fritz King
  • Patent number: 9399563
    Abstract: A people mover including steps or pallets supported via wheels on support rails, which steps or pallets are connected to at least one drive element which is driven by a drive machine, whereby the steps or pallets are running in an upper conveyor track of the people mover in a conveying direction and in a lower return track in the opposite return direction. In the people mover, a support structure is provided in a short distance below the steps or pallets running in the conveyor track, whereby in connection with the support structure at least one sensor is provided which is configured to output a load signal dependent on a load applied to the support structure. This people mover offers an improved safety to passengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rene Vlad
  • Patent number: 9272882
    Abstract: A system for detecting a person relative to a passenger conveyor includes a driving circuit for supplying an oscillating drive signal to a first electrode of a capacitive sensor configured to produce an electric field toward a second electrode in response to the oscillating drive signal. A detection circuit is connected to the capacitive sensor, and produces an output as a function of the capacitance of the capacitive sensor, such that the detection circuit senses a change in capacitance of the capacitive sensor, such as when a person enters the electric field between the first and second electrodes. A controller is responsive to the change in capacitance sensed by the detection circuit to selectively adjust an operation mode of the passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Soldner, Arthur C. Hsu, William A. Veronesi, Bryan R. Siewert, Gero Gschwendtner, Abdullah Ercan, Alois Senger
  • Patent number: 9181066
    Abstract: A passenger conveyor comprising an endless conveyor track, a power source configured to supply power to said endless conveyor track, an entrance allowing a passage to the conveyor track, an exit allowing a passage away from the conveyor track, and a balustrade beside the conveyor track. Guide elements are positioned at the entrance/exit on a floor at proximity of an end of the balustrade. The guide elements are laterally elongated, and are configured to guide rolling or moving objects to/from the conveyor without contacting or being obstructed by the balustrade. The guide elements include a source of electromagnetic waves which radiate the electromagnetic waves to an entrance/exit zone of the passenger conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jinquan Fan, Antti Plathin, Yu Wei, Visa Rauta, Yimin Shi
  • Patent number: 9120647
    Abstract: An inverter for an escalator control device and an escalator control device are provided. The inverter includes: a control unit for receiving a detection signal from the passenger detector; a frequency inverting unit for inverting current frequency, input terminals of which are connected to the public electrical net, and which is connected with the output terminal of the control unit; a frequency inverting unit contactor, input terminals of which are connected to the frequency inverting unit, and output terminals of which are connected to a motor of the escalator; and a public electrical net contactor, input terminals of which are connected to a public electrical net, and output terminals of which are connected to the motor of the escalator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cai Xiao Liang, Xu Bo Xia, Zhou Tai Lai
  • Patent number: 9022198
    Abstract: A device 202 for servicing and/or inspection of a material handling system 204 is disclosed, which device provides safer, less time consuming and less difficult service and/or inspection of the material handling system 204 than other devices. The device 202 is adapted to be moved along a track 214 of the material handling system and adapted for servicing and/or inspection of the material handling system or components thereof positioned on or adjacent to the track 214. The device includes at least one section, such as a hatch and/or a sliding bearing surface 216, 602, 706, 708, 710, 902, 1002, displaceable between a first and a second position, where the section positioned in the second position is enabling a person of accessing parts of the material handling system which are moving relatively to the device during movement of the device or during operation of the material handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Crisplant A/S
    Inventors: Uffe Lykkegaard, Lasse Lund Jensen, Søren Friis Autzen, Carl Christian Vad Knudsen
  • Patent number: 8997968
    Abstract: A device and method for automatically adjusting safety control parameters of a conveyor are disclosed. The safety device may include various sensors and a safety control module. The safety control module may be preprogrammed with a learn-run method configured to learn operational and mechanical characteristics of a conveyor, validate the operational characteristics of the conveyor based on predefined nominal specifications, and determine a safety function with calibrated safety control parameters by which to monitor conveyor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Burkhard Braasch, Peter Herkel, Ruediger Loeb, Ingo Engelhard, Michael Wilke
  • Patent number: 8973731
    Abstract: An exemplary device for controlling power associated with a passenger conveyor motor includes a regenerative drive that is configured to facilitate providing electricity generated by the motor to a power source when the passenger conveyor is moving. The controller determines when an operating condition of the regenerative drive is outside of a desired range and responsively prevents the regenerative drive from facilitating providing the electricity to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: GuangHua Ma
  • Patent number: 8967364
    Abstract: The invention relates to a passenger conveyor comprising steps/pallets which are mounted to an endless drive member running between an upper conveying path and a lower return path, characterized in that at least one heating element is provided in the step/pallet, which heating element is connected to a power source. This solution prevents the building of ice surfaces on the steps/pallets of outdoor passenger conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Hans Kleine-Brüggeney, Heinrich Zeiger
  • Publication number: 20140353113
    Abstract: Passenger conveyors with auxiliary brake systems are disclosed. The passenger conveyors include a truss that rotatably supports a loop sprocket at one end and a turnaround at an opposite end with an endless loop extending around the loop sprocket and the turnaround. The loop includes a plurality of rollers linked together. The truss is also coupled to a brake bar that has a braking surface, a downstream end and an upstream end. The brake bar is suspended above and biased towards the loop sprocket with the downstream end of the brake bar disposed a greater distance from the loop than the upstream end of the brake bar. A friction bar, which includes a first side that mateably engages the loop when placed onto the loop, is also provided that includes a top. The friction bar is suspended above the loop by an actuator, which is linked to a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Gero Gschwendtner
  • Patent number: 8800743
    Abstract: A safety brake of an escalator or moving walkway includes at least one locking member, which is arranged so as to adopt a release setting or locking setting by means of a pivot movement. The locking member in the locking setting engages in at least one moved part of the escalator or the moving walkway and blocks this. In addition, the safety brake comprises a linear guide by which the locking member is linearly guided between a first position and a second position. The linear guide is mounted on a stationary part of the escalator or the moving walkway by a pivot axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Michael Berger, Robert Schulz, Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Werner Eidler
  • Patent number: 8794421
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling a passenger conveyor is disclosed. The system and method may include capturing an image of a passenger conveyor and a status changing object with a camera, sending an initiate command from a remote control center to the status changing object, calculating a time delay based on a time the initiate command is sent from the remote control center to a time the image of the status changing object verifies that the status changing object is responding to the initiate command, confirming that no passengers are present on the passenger conveyor and initiating a limited time frame for remote control of the passenger conveyor based on the time delay calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Alois Senger, Abdullah Ercan
  • Publication number: 20140202827
    Abstract: A comb plate-comb plate carrier assembly for an escalator is disposed on an upper and lower head and mounted to the truss of the escalator. A comb plate and a pair of comb plate carriers for carrying the comb plate are included. The assembly is provided with at least one of: a guide rail bracket fastened to the comb plate carrier and used to fix a guide rail for the handrail belt; a supporting bracket fastened to the comb plate carrier and used to support an end of a handrail return-sheave curve fastened to the truss; a comb plate height adjuster; a monitoring device for monitoring the horizontal displacement and upward displacement of the comb plate. A combination structure includes a lifting tool and the assembly in an assembled condition, the lifting tool includes a traverse rod and a longitudinal suspending member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: KONE Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin FAN JIN QUAN
  • Patent number: 8783437
    Abstract: A control arrangement is provided for controlling a people mover. The people mover includes a movable conveyor track for transporting people and a control unit. The conveyor track is arranged to move at a first speed when transporting passengers. The control unit is arranged to detect passengers of the people mover with a passenger detection device and to measure the time passed since the last detection of a passenger. After the measured time has reached a set value of a delay time, the control unit operates to decrease the speed of the conveyor track of the people mover either to a lower second speed or to completely stop the movement. The set value of the delay time can be changed by an action of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jyrki Simola, Jyrki Vainio, Teuvo Väntänen
  • Patent number: 8770374
    Abstract: A braking system for escalators and moving walkways, includes a braking device (3) with a main brake (30) of the type which is released when there is no voltage in its electric activator, and an auxiliary brake (31) of the type which is closed when there is no voltage in its electric activator. A controller (1) controls the braking device (3), prepared for obtaining the load of the escalator or moving walkway, and calculates the braking torque required for each braking device (3) depending on the load and activating the braking device (3) for obtaining the corresponding torque while braking when a braking command is received. The auxiliary brake is activated (32) for taking the escalators or moving walkway to a safe position when there is a system failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzalez Alemany, Alberto Florez Castro, Jose Ojeda Arenas, Eva Rodriguez Rodriguez, Eduardo Moran Garcia, Jose Mendiolagoitia Juliana
  • Publication number: 20140166434
    Abstract: An inverter for an escalator control device and an escalator control device are provided. The inverter includes: a control unit for receiving a detection signal from the passenger detector; a frequency inverting unit for inverting current frequency, input terminals of which are connected to the public electrical net, and which is connected with the output terminal of the control unit; a frequency inverting unit contactor, input terminals of which are connected to the frequency inverting unit, and output terminals of which are connected to a motor of the escalator; and a public electrical net contactor, input terminals of which are connected to a public electrical net, and output terminals of which are connected to the motor of the escalator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Cai Xiao LIANG, Xu Bo XIA, Zhou Tai LAI
  • Patent number: 8727095
    Abstract: A handrail with handrail elements is moved past a sensor support with at least one sensor. Each handrail element has, for example, a collar, which extends into the adjacent handrail element. The handrail elements, which are pivotably fastened to a second transport chain, can move relative to the adjacent handrail elements without a gap then arising between two adjacent handrail elements. Merely a segment groove with such a small depth that fingers are not caught arises between two adjacent handrail elements. The sensor can recognize each segment groove as well as defective handrail elements. Operating magnitudes such as speed, acceleration and deceleration of the handrail are ascertainable and/or risk-laden operating states are recognizable by means of the sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Andreas Trojer, Dirk Blondiau, Michael Matheisl, Paul Sailer
  • Patent number: 8708130
    Abstract: A moving device including a driven conveyor, a control device for controlling the speed of the conveyor and a start-up sensor, which monitors a monitoring region in front of the moving device and outputs a start-up signal to the control device upon detecting an object, wherein, upon a provided start-up signal, the control device sets into motion or accelerates the moving device. The start-up sensor is a TOF sensor having (i) a light source for emitting modulated light, (ii) at least one receiving sensor for receiving light from the light source that is reflected at the object, and (iii) an evaluation electronic system configured for detecting, from the comparison of emitted and received light, the distance of the object from the TOF sensor and the position of the object in the space in front of the moving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cedes AG
    Inventors: Beat De Coi, Tobias Leutenegger
  • Publication number: 20140076686
    Abstract: A moving device including a driven conveyor, a control device for controlling the speed of the conveyor and a start-up sensor, which monitors a monitoring region in front of the moving device and outputs a start-up signal to the control device upon detecting an object, wherein, upon a provided start-up signal, the control device sets into motion or accelerates the moving device. The start-up sensor is a TOF sensor having (i) a light source for emitting modulated light, (ii) at least one receiving sensor for receiving light from the light source that is reflected at the object, and (iii) an evaluation electronic system configured for detecting, from the comparison of emitted and received light, the distance of the object from the TOF sensor and the position of the object in the space in front of the moving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: CEDES AG
    Inventors: Beat DE COI, Tobias LEUTENEGGER
  • Publication number: 20140014464
    Abstract: A safety brake of an escalator or moving walkway includes at least one locking member, which is arranged so as to adopt a release setting or locking setting by means of a pivot movement. The locking member in the locking setting engages in at least one moved part of the escalator or the moving walkway and blocks this. In addition, the safety brake comprises a linear guide by which the locking member is linearly guided between a first position and a second position. The linear guide is mounted on a stationary part of the escalator or the moving walkway by a pivot axle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Berger, Robert Schulz, Michael Matheisl, Thomas Illedits, Werner Eidler
  • Patent number: 8622193
    Abstract: A bidirectional moving walkway with a tightening system for tightening the band of pallets of the walkway includes two tightening units (6, 6?) arranged at each end of the moving walkway and each including a locking system for locking the movable frame (7) of each end tightening unit (6, 6?). Two drive units (3, 3?) are each arranged at either end of the moving walkway. The locking system of each tightening unit (6, 6?) of either end of the walkway is configured for locking the operation of the tightening unit (6, 6?) when the drive unit (3, 3?) of its same end is operated, such that the moving walkway always works with the tightening unit operated by the passenger entrance end and locked by the passenger exit end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A.
    Inventors: Miguel Angel Gonzalez Alemany, Alberto Pello Garcia, Juan Domingo Gonzalez Patinga, Alberto Cancio Fervienza, Alberto Florez Castro
  • Patent number: 8607958
    Abstract: An escalator with a step belt or a moving walkway with a plate belt, which step belt or plate belt comprises at least one transport chain that is arranged to circulate between a first and second deflecting region of the escalator or moving walkway. Steps or plates are arranged at the transport chain and connected with the transport chain. In addition, at least one blocking device is arranged in stationary position and has at least one blocking arm. The blocking arm can be brought into a release position or into an engagement position, wherein this blocking arm in the engagement position engages in at least one link intermediate space of the transport chain and the blocking arm is fixable in the respective release position or engagement position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventors: Christoph Makovec, Thomas Illedits, Uwe Hauer, Michael Matheisl