Abstract: A plate conveyor includes a conveyor belt that is formed of interconnected segments which are guided on tracks, and a handrail which is guided on a handrail guide. The conveyor belt has a longitudinal extent, and the handrail runs, at least in sections, in the direction of the longitudinal extent along the conveyor belt. The handrail guide has at least one length compensation element. A length (L) of the compensation element, measured in the direction of the longitudinal extent, is adjustable between a maximumength (Lmax) and a minimum length (Lmin).

Abstract: A handrail belt tension device is provided for an escalator having a truss and an annular handrail belt rotatable relative to the truss. The handrail belt tension device includes: a base plate on which a roller for supporting the handrail belt is provided, and a guiding mechanism which is fixed to the truss. The base plate is connected to the guiding mechanism, and rotatable and translatable relative to the guiding mechanism so as to adjust the handrail belt by the base plate thereby the handrail belt can be in a well tensioned status. The handrail belt tension device ensures that the tension device is installed in a more accurate position, making it easier to adjust the tensioning force of the handrail belt, reducing the time for adjusting the handrail belt, and increasing the service life of the handrail belt.

Abstract: A system for braking an escalator or moving walkway includes a handrail and passenger support in registration with one another so as to move together. A braking tensioner selectively increases tension in the handrail during operation. The increased tension serves to frictionally brake the handrail and hence the passenger support. The braking tensioner may be located in any of various locations depending upon system design, and may be driven in any suitable manner, e.g., hydraulically, electrically, electromagnetically, and so on. Frictional wear on the handrail is reduced by the fact that the described braking system spreads the frictional load over a large area of the handrail, e.g., the many locations where the handrail contacts the underlying support throughout its length.

Abstract: A method of making a passenger conveyor handrail includes forming a drive member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced drive surfaces. The drive member has a longitudinal stiffness for maintaining a desired spacing between the drive surfaces. The drive member is inserted into a molding device. A gripping surface portion of the handrail is formed using the molding device such that the gripping surface portion and the drive member are secured together. Another method includes forming a belt drive member having a plurality of teeth that establish a plurality of longitudinally spaced drive surfaces. The belt has a longitudinal stiffness for maintaining a desired spacing between the drive surfaces. Each of the teeth extends across an entire width of the belt. The belt is secured to a gripping surface portion of the handrail.

Abstract: A method of applying a film to an endless moving handrail comprises the steps of adhering a first film layer, having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail and including a barrier coating on at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the first layer, to a top surface of an endless moving handrail, and adhering a substantially transparent film layer over the first film layer.

Abstract: A handrail drive apparatus is provided comprising a first drive wheel assembly configured to drive a handrail and comprising a planetary gear train arranged to be driven by a first driving member. The handrail drive apparatus further comprises a second drive wheel assembly configured to drive the handrail, the second drive wheel assembly being coupled to the planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly by a second driving member. The planetary gear train of the first handrail drive wheel assembly is configured to divide a torque imparted by the first driving member between the first and second drive wheel assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand rail for a passenger conveying installation, such as e.g. an escaltor or a passenger conveyor, which has a flexible base body with two side lips for engaging around a guide rail, and in which at least one of the side lips has a profiled section, which may be guided in a track or guide groove of the guied rail, which secures the hand rail against slipping off the guide rail, characterised in that the profiled section of the side lips has a bulge-like thickening.

Abstract: Method for compensating the length of a movable handrail (10) in a passenger conveyor (2) having a passenger transportation belt (4) defining at least one passenger transportation surface (8), the handrail (10) is traveling along a closed handrail path which extends through an exposed path (12) along the passenger transportation belt (4), around a turnaround means (14), through a return path (16) and around a further turnaround means (18), and which hand rail path defines a handrail plane which is substantially perpendicular to the passenger transportation surface, the method comprising the following steps: (i) turning the handrail (10) out of the handrail plane; (ii) directing the handrail (10) through a compensation means (38); and (iii) turning the handrail (10) back into the handrail plane.

Abstract: An arrangement in drive machinery of a travelator, moving walkway, escalator or similar apparatus, includes at least a drive motor, at least one handrail with a handrail belt, a support element supporting the handrail and a drive belt connecting rotational movement of the drive motor to the support element. The support element comprises a supporting wheel, having a rim and adapted for use by the drive belt which is fitted to the rim of the support element.

Abstract: The present invention is a linearly actuated rotating handrail system for escalators and moving walkways. The system includes a worm band or a handrail, having a first friction device on one side, a dragging device formed by a second friction device and coupled to the first friction device to drag the worm band in the displacement direction. The pressure device includes a first layer of kinematic support, formed by a crank, an articulated shaft, a driving connection rod, shafts and driven cranks. There is a second layer formed by traction rollers. The application of pressure to the worm band or handrail and its balanced distribution over the different pressure rollers is carried out by slides actuated by a distributor, tightened by an elastic system. The elastic system transmits the tension by a beam.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor handrail (30) includes a plurality of teeth (36) that interact with a toothed driving member (42). In a disclosed example, a low friction material (60) is placed near an end of the teeth (36) on the handrail (30). The low friction material (60) facilitates the teeth sliding along a guidance (70) but does not interfere with a desired engagement between the teeth(36) and corresponding teeth (46) on the driving member (42).

Abstract: A handrail for a travelator, moving ramp or escalator, wherein the handrail frame (5) of the handrail comprises a first handrail frame part (9) fixedly mounted on the frame of the travelator and a second handrail frame part (10) with a turn-around guide (7) connected to it, the second handrail frame part (10) being guided to be movable in the direction of the handrail with respect to the first handrail frame part (9) between a mounting position (I) and a tensioning position (II), in which mounting position (I) the handrail belt can be removed from the handrail and/or mounted on the handrail, and in which tensioning position (II) the handrail belt is in a tensioned state; and that a tensioning device (8) has been fitted to move the second handrail frame part (10) and to lock it in position relative to the first handrail frame part (9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a carriage for driving handrails of walkways and moving stairs, comprising a body (6) in the form of a vertical plate in which leading rollers (7) are assembled; two swinging locking pawls (12-13) for locking with a drive chain; a free turning wheel (24) intended to be supported against a cam profile in order to cause the pawls (12-13) to swing between an operative vertical position and an inoperative horizontal position; and an arm (8) intended to engage with the variable pitch screws.

Abstract: A travelator, moving ramp or escalator for transporting people, comprises a people mover; a balustrade extending alongside the people mover throughout its length. The balustrade comprises a handrail belt formed as an endless loop and having an upper handhold portion, which the passenger can grasp with a hand for support, a lower return portion, and a turn-around portion between the handhold portion and the return portion. The balustrade frame comprises a turn-around guide at the end of the balustrade to form a turn-around to support and guide the turn-around portion of the handrail belt. The turn-around guide comprises a number of pressure rollers spaced at a distance from each other and arranged in a sequence in the form of a circular arc. In addition, a drive assembly is arranged to move the handrail belt.

Abstract: A film and a method of applying the film to a handrail of an escalator or moving walkway are provided. The film can be a single or double layered film. Printed matter, e.g. advertising, can be applied to or between the films. An apparatus and related method for applying the film are also included and rely on the motion of the handrail to unroll a supply of the film, with one or more rollers pressing the film onto the handrail. The film is stretched during application to prestretch and reduce tendency for compressive strains in use to cause wrinkling of the film and detachment from the handrail.

Abstract: A support structure for an escalator includes a bottom landing, a top landing, and a rise that interconnects the bottom and top landings. An improved truss design comprised of steel modules that are stamped or bent is used to form the rise, the top landing, and the bottom landing. The modules have closed sides, which increases the strength and stiffness of the truss while also providing the enclosure for internal escalator components. The modules are either formed as a single piece or formed from multiple pieces that are welded or fastened together. The modules are then secured to each other to form the rise, the top landing, and the bottom landing.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor system includes a handrail adjustment mechanism that automatically adjusts the forces imposed on the handrail. A first length compensation device is positioned on a first side of the handrail drive mechanism. A second length compensation device is positioned on a second side of the handrail drive mechanism. Depending on the direction of handrail movement, one of the two length compensation devices imposes an automatically adjustable amount of tension on the handrail to maintain a desired effective length of the handrail. The length compensation device located on the slack side of the handrail compensates the handrail length by imposing a minimized tension on the handrail. The length compensation device located on the load side of the handrail will be lifted because the traction in the handrail caused by the drive mechanism overcomes any stretch imposed by the length compensation device on the load side.

Abstract: The invention provides an escalator having a handrail arranged on a drive wheel and comprising a handrail drive means and a handrail/drive-wheel traction self-adjusting means. The handrail drive means responds to a handrail drive force, for providing a handrail drive tension force, and further responds to a handrail/drive-wheel traction self-adjusting force, further for providing a handrail/drive-wheel traction force between the drive wheel and the handrail. The handrail/drive-wheel traction self-adjusting means, responds to the handrail drive tension force, for providing the handrail/drive-wheel traction self-adjusting force to adjust the handrail/drive-wheel traction between the drive wheel and the handrail.

Abstract: The tension on the moving handrail drive and/or step chain of a passenger conveyor such as an escalator or moving walkway is automatically released when the conveyor is shut down; and is automatically reapplied when the conveyor is started up again. Undesirable compression and localized flattening of the elastomeric components of the conveyor are thus avoided.

Abstract: A spring loaded tensioning assembly is mounted on the truss of a moving walkway or escalator to apply pressure and tension to a moving handrail drive belt. The assembly includes a roller which is biased against the inside surface of the drive belt to urge the drive belt against the inside surface of the handrail. The tensioning assembly is an adjunct to the original equipment drive belt tensioner and can be retrofitted onto existing equipment in the field to extend the service life of the drive belt.

Abstract: The moving handrail on an escalator or moving walkway is first tightened on its guide rail to the extent necessary to eliminate substantially all handrail slack in the handrail loop. Thereafter, the handrail is loosened so as to impart optimum slack thereto whereby handrail friction and heat is minimized during operation of the escalator or moving walkway.

Abstract: The handrail of an escalator is continuously monitored for movement by a sensor assembly. In the event that the handrail stops moving, the escalator steps are stopped so as to provide a safe environment for passengers on the escalator. The system can also be used with moving walkways equipped with moving handrails.

Abstract: A passenger conveyor including body frame is formed of a main frame including upper and lower horizontal sections and an inclined section therebetween, and upper and lower auxiliary frames mounted on the upper and lower horizontal sections of the main frame, respectively. A front side of the upper auxiliary frame and the upper horizontal section forms a recessed portion, and a driving device for driving handrail is provided in the recessed portion so that the handrail driving device is positioned over the surface of the upper horizontal section and the width of the passenger conveyor is reduced without changing the height of the handrail driving device. The lower auxiliary frame and the inclined section of the main frame also form a recessed portion and a tension device is disposed in the recessed portion so as to be disposed over the main frame, whereby the passenger conveyor is reduced in width by 100-150 mm.

Abstract: A safety device for a passenger conveyor is disclosed which comprises a thrust means having a support rod shiftably held by a stationary part and having a roller rotatably mounted at the forward end of the support rod so as to abut against the handrail of the conveyor, a tension application means to apply tension to the handrail through the roller of the support rod, an actuating means provided at the base end portion of the support rod, and a detecting means to detect the shift of the support rod through the actuating means.

Abstract: Continuously self-adjusting handrail apparatus for transportation apparatus, such as escalators and walks, in which the handrail guide automatically responds to forces therein to reduce the magnitude of load induced forces which tend to dislodge the handrail from its guide. The curved guide section adjacent each newel of an associated balustrade is arranged to change its curvature and increase or decrease its length, as required, in response to such forces, with the forces being such that when one section increases its length, the other section reduces it length.

Abstract: Self-adjusting handrail apparatus, including a handrail member which is both pushed and pulled about the substantially continuous guide loop. The guide loop includes a gap linked by a biasing arrangement which maintains a slight tension in the handrail member, notwithstanding changes in the loop length of the handrail member.