Personnel transport equipment and methods for operating personnel transport equipment

Abstract

A personnel transport device (100) with a conveyor belt is introduced. The personnel transport device (100) includes at least one handrail (111) and a fastening device (120) for a protective device (130) located in the region of the arcuate section (112) at the end of the handrail. The control unit, based on sensor signals, locks the operation of the personnel transport device (100) in one direction of travel by locking the handrail into the direction of travel of the protective device (102) when at least one protective device (130) is present in the region of the arcuate section (112) at the end of the handrail. A method for controlling a bidirectional personnel transport device (100) is also introduced. The method includes determining the presence of the protective device (130) in the region of the arcuate section (112) at the end of the handrail by a sensor (151) and preventing the personnel transport device (100) from operating in the locked direction of travel (102), wherein the locked direction of travel (102) is defined by the process of the handrail (111) entering the protective device (130).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a personnel transport device with a conveyor belt, particularly capable of assembling a protective device in the area of ​​the arc-shaped section at the end of the handrail. Background Technology

[0002] People transport equipment in the form of escalators and moving walkways (commonly known as escalators, moving walkways, or conveyor belts) is common. To provide passengers with the possibility of being held in place while in motion, this type of equipment is usually equipped with movable handrails.

[0003] Accidents can occur at the curved sections of the handrail ends, particularly where the handrail exits the handrail entry cover, because the handrail travels in an arc in this area, in a direction inconsistent with the direction of the conveyor belt. Such accidents can be at least partially prevented by installing protective devices. These protective devices with fixed curved housings (hereinafter referred to as protective arc sections or protective devices) have been known for many years, but they are simply installed on the handrail regardless of the direction of travel. Since a passenger's hand being caught while the handrail is in motion can cause serious hand injuries, such protective devices can only be used in conjunction with the direction of travel. That is, the moving handrail belt can only leave or exit the end opening and must never enter the end opening of the protective device. This problem has been solved by allowing operation in only one direction of travel through the intervention of a controller.

[0004] However, the current situation may be that the personnel transport equipment will be operating in a different direction of travel after a period of time. In this case, a protective arc section must be installed at the other end, which, by design, means significant overhead. Furthermore, the travel direction restrictions must be changed in the controller, which involves additional time consumption. This relatively simple change results in substantial downtime for the personnel transport equipment and must also be performed by qualified personnel.

[0005] To address this problem, JP2010159156A proposes a protective device with a motor bellows. These protective devices extend or retract depending on the direction of travel. However, this solution is only advantageous when very frequent, planned changes of direction justify the high complexity of the system in question. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of this invention is to provide an improved personnel transport device and a method for operating the personnel transport device, which is suitable for assembling protective devices. Simultaneously, in the process of improving the personnel transport device, the occurrence of dangerous situations should be prevented.

[0007] The present invention, particularly the personnel transport device described in claim 1 and the method described in claim 15, solves this problem. The aforementioned embodiments make it easier to change the direction of travel of the personnel transport device while retaining the advantageous characteristics achieved due to the presence of protective devices, without significantly increasing complexity and thus the cost of the personnel transport device.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a personnel transport device with a conveyor belt including at least one guardrail extending substantially parallel to the conveyor belt and having a first end and a second end. The conveyor belt also includes a handrail that guides movement around the guardrail between the first and second ends, wherein at least one handrail end arcuate segment is present at the first and second ends. Furthermore, the personnel transport device includes a fastening device for mounting a protective device, located in the region of the handrail end arcuate segment. Additionally, the personnel transport device has at least one sensor for identifying the presence of the protective device. The personnel transport device also includes a control unit connected to at least one sensor for controlling the travel direction of the conveyor belt and the handrail. The control unit is configured to operate the personnel transport device in different travel directions, wherein the control unit, based on sensor signals, locks the operation of the personnel transport device in one travel direction by preventing the handrail from entering the travel direction of the protective device when at least one protective device is present in the region of the handrail end arcuate segment.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling a bidirectional personnel transport device. The method includes determining the presence of a protective device using a sensor system configured for this purpose, and, based on the determination of the presence of the protective device, preventing the personnel transport device from operating in a locking travel direction, wherein the locking travel direction is defined by a handrail entering the protective device.

[0010] In one embodiment, one aspect of the invention includes a people transport device with a conveyor belt. The people transport device can be designed as an escalator with escalator steps as the conveyor belt, or as a moving walkway with treads as the conveyor belt, wherein the term "people transport device" should be understood as a people transport device designed for transporting people, but in principle it can also transport goods and items, such as suitcases, shopping carts, etc. The people transport device is primarily used to facilitate the passage of passengers across a section, which, in the case of a moving walkway, is typically primarily horizontal or inclined up to about 12.5°, and in the case of an escalator, is typically inclined about 20 to 60°, and is configured, for example, to span between two floors. For this purpose, the conveyor belt typically moves in a manner that allows passengers to travel at a specific, constant speed in a direction that remains unchanged during travel. The people transport device is typically designed primarily as a straight line, but can also be inclined and curved. The people transport device may include a first end and a second end, wherein during operation, one end typically serves as an ascending end and the second end serves as a descending end.

[0011] In one embodiment, the personnel transport equipment includes at least one guardrail, typically two guardrails. The guardrail extends parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt and has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are to be understood as those ends of the guardrail extending in the direction of travel between the first end and the second end, and the first end or the second end is to be understood as corresponding to the ascending or descending end of the personnel transport equipment. The guardrail is typically used to isolate the personnel transport equipment from the outside, thereby preventing passengers from unintentionally leaving the conveyor belt laterally. Furthermore, the guardrail may be used to house indicator and control elements, as well as guide handrails. The guardrail can be made of a variety of suitable materials and composite materials.

[0012] In one embodiment, the passenger transport device includes one or more handrails, each guided along a guardrail. The handrails may be made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber-woven fabric strips) and are supported on the guardrail in such a way that they move along the guardrail based on the action of a driving force. The handrails are capable of moving at substantially the same speed and in the same direction as the conveyor belt, thereby allowing passengers to be supported on or held securely on the handrails during transport.

[0013] In one embodiment, the handrail is designed to be circumferential or wraparound, for example, in the form of a (closed) loop or band. In the aforementioned embodiment, the handrail is guided at each end of the railing by an arcuate end segment, allowing the handrail to return to its original position in an area designed for this purpose, such as running along the underside of the railing in an area inaccessible to passengers. This inaccessible area is often referred to as the railing base. For this purpose, the arcuate end segment can be designed, for example, in an arc shape, semi-circular or preferably in a shape equivalent to a conical cross section. The arcuate end segment can be designed in the end region of the railing, with a diameter approximately equal to the height of the railing, thereby causing the arcuate end segment to deflect to achieve the purpose of returning the handrail. A handrail inlet cover can be provided in the region of the arcuate end segment, into which the handrail is inserted for return. The handrail inlet cover can also be configured to eject the handrail, for example, when the direction of the handrail is reversed. Typically, a handrail includes two handrail inlet covers, meaning there is one handrail inlet cover at each end of the handrail, where the handrail enters through the first handrail inlet cover and exits through the second handrail inlet cover.

[0014] In another embodiment, one aspect of the personnel transport equipment includes means for securing a protective device to a region of the arcuate section at the end of the handrail. The securing means may be designed to secure the protective device throughout the entire region of the arcuate section at the end of the handrail. The securing means may be configured to primarily achieve securing in sub-regions of the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, for example, in a circular cross-section of, for example, a semi-circular arcuate section at the end of the handrail, spanning an angle of 0 to a maximum of 90° (particularly a maximum of 120° or particularly a maximum of 180°) from the handrail inlet cover. In addition to securing in the region of the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, the securing means may also be configured to secure the protective device to a region beyond the region of the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, for example, to a handrail region immediately following the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, the length of which may be, for example, 0 to 10 cm, 0 to 20 cm, or 0 to 30 cm.

[0015] In one advantageous embodiment, the fastening device includes sub-elements of the guardrail, such as drilled holes or openings in the guardrail, which are configured for mounting the protective device. Other additional mounting elements may be part of the fastening device, such as sleeves or bolts installed within drilled holes in the guardrail to mount the protective device. Components of the fastening device may form part of the protective device itself, such as rods or plates forming a linkage connecting the protective arc segment to a sleeve in the guardrail.

[0016] Fastening devices can be designed to provide additional mounting components to meet safety or aesthetic requirements if the protective device is not secured. For example, when there are drill holes in a guardrail, blind sleeves or similar devices can be used to seal the holes in the absence of a protective device.

[0017] Other components of personnel transport equipment may also be or include part of the fastening device.

[0018] In another embodiment, the personnel transport equipment includes one or more sensors for identifying the presence of a protective device, particularly for identifying the proper fastening of the protective device in the arcuate section area of ​​the handrail end. In an advantageous example, the sensors may be arranged in the area of ​​the handrail entrance cover, but other suitable locations are also considered, including those not near the protective device. In an advantageous embodiment, the sensors may be mounted on each arcuate section of the handrail end, resulting in a total of at least four sensors in a typical personnel transport equipment with two guardrails, two handrails, and four arcuate sections of the handrail end. In this case, the sensor should be understood as any device capable of reliably detecting the presence of the protective device and providing a signal based thereon; therefore, a sensor may also consist of multiple sensor elements, and thus the sensor need not be a single component or a separate assembly. Therefore, sensors according to the present invention can range from simple plug contacts, mechanical switches, etc., to surveillance cameras with image evaluation units.

[0019] To improve the purpose of identification, protective devices can be designed to be specifically identified by sensors. For example, a protective device may include an interacting element, the presence of which is detected by a sensor suitable for this purpose. For instance, the interacting element may be a magnet and the sensor may be a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall sensor or a Reed-Schalter switch. Many other combinations of interacting elements and sensors are conceivable, such as combinations of barrier elements and gratings, combinations of RFID tags and associated reading devices, and combinations of electrical contacts and interfaces of switching circuits.

[0020] Non-contact interaction elements and sensors, such as the magnet sensor described, are particularly advantageous because the handrail entry cover has no interface when the protective device is removed, and the interface could become a target for vandalism.

[0021] In another embodiment, the personnel transport equipment includes a control unit for controlling the travel direction of the conveyor belt and handrails, which generally also indicate the travel direction of the personnel transport equipment. The conveyor belt typically moves in the same direction as the handrails. The control unit is connected to at least one sensor for detecting protective devices, but preferably, the control unit is connected to multiple sensors, specifically each of the sensors, so that in a typical example, four sensor signals can be used, the output values ​​of which are associated with the presence of a protective device on each of the four arcuate segments at the ends of the handrails.

[0022] The control unit is configured to operate the personnel transport equipment in different directions of travel, that is, in addition to stopping the personnel transport equipment, it is also able to travel in the first and second directions, such as in the forward and backward directions.

[0023] The control unit can then lock the movement of the personnel transport equipment. Specifically, if a dangerous situation arises due to the safety device causing the handrail to enter the arc-shaped section at the end of the handrail from the direction of travel, the control unit can lock the movement of the handrail and conveyor belt, or prevent the execution or forwarding of the corresponding start signal. The direction of travel causing this dangerous situation is the direction of travel that is locked. Another dangerous situation might be the absence of a safety device, or the installation of only one safety device when two handrails are present.

[0024] Therefore, the control unit is configured to evaluate the input sensor signals and prevent movement in any direction that would cause the handrail to enter the protective arc segment. For example, this evaluation function can be performed by implementing a simple truth table, where all sensor signals from the first end and all sensor signals from the second end are logically interconnected with a target travel direction value representing a set target travel direction. This allows, in the presence of both the protective device and the target travel direction value, an enabling control signal or a stop signal to be output based on whether the target travel direction requires the handrail to enter the protective device (=prohibited) or exit from the protective device (=permitted). This implementation can, for example, use logic gates, software-based if / then functions, etc. The control unit does not necessarily have to be a separate physical unit; it can also be provided, for example, as improved control software for personnel transport equipment on a general-purpose switching module.

[0025] Furthermore, the control unit can be configured to prevent bidirectional travel if, in a device with a total of four handrail end arc sections (two end arc sections at the first end of the personnel transport device and two end arc sections at the second end of the personnel transport device), no protective device is installed, a single protective device is installed, three protective devices are installed, or four protective devices are installed. Depending on the personnel transport device in question, it is advantageous to allow bidirectional travel even without protective devices, especially where there are no concerns regarding safety requirements.

[0026] Similarly, it is advantageous to allow non-dangerous, permissible travel directions for the personnel transport equipment, which has only one safety device on one of the two handrails, for example, if a safety device on the curved section at the end of the second handrail is not required for structural reasons. The aforementioned optional operating modes can preferably be adjusted as needed during the installation or maintenance of the personnel transport equipment. Preferably, the optional operating modes cannot be set by personnel without sufficient expertise or authorization. Preferably, the optional operating modes should not be selected unintentionally.

[0027] Typically, in an advantageous embodiment, the control unit is designed to allow travel only in specific states, wherein two protective devices are mounted on the arcuate segments of opposite handrail ends at the same end of the two guardrails, and the personnel transport equipment travels in the direction of travel from the handrails extending from the protective devices, thus the protective devices are located at the boarding end of the personnel transport equipment. In this case, the logic implemented in the control unit can therefore also be advantageously designed to, instead of initially allowing each state and locking only in the defined states, prohibit each state and allow travel only in the specifically mentioned permitted states.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the personnel transport equipment includes one or more protective devices fastened to the area of ​​an arcuate section at the end of the handrail. The protective devices may be designed to surround the protective arcuate section of the handrail. The protective arcuate section may have a large arcuate shape, for example, primarily the shape of a circular cross-section of a semi-circular arcuate section at the end of the handrail, spanning an angle range from 0° to a maximum of 90° (particularly a maximum of 120° or particularly a maximum of 180°) from the handrail inlet cover. In addition to the protective arcuate section, the protective devices may also cover a handrail area extending beyond the area of ​​the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, for example, the handrail area immediately following the arcuate section at the end of the handrail, which may have a length of, for example, 0 to 10 cm, or possibly 0 to 20 cm or 0 to 30 cm.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment, particularly in the area protecting the curved section, the protective device is divided into two parts along the direction of travel of the handrail, such that the two parts are connected to each other during installation and together form a shell that at least partially surrounds the handrail. In addition to these two parts, the protective device may also include other components.

[0030] The connection of the various parts of the safety device is best performed during the tightening process in the curved section at the end of the handrail. The safety device can be tightened using fastening elements suitable for this purpose. The safety device can be fixed to the guardrail.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, in the end region of the protective device, i.e. where the handrail extends out of the protective device, the gap between the protective device and the handrail is designed to be as narrow as possible, for example, a maximum gap of less than 4 mm, or less than 10 mm or less than 20 mm.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, the protective device includes a cover, particularly a two-piece cover, which, after installation, is located in the region at the lower end of the arcuate section of the handrail end, particularly in the region of the handrail entry cover. The cover may completely or partially cover the handrail entry cover. The cover may be movable relative to other elements of the protective device, thereby allowing the position of the cover to be adjusted during installation to create the smallest possible gap between the protective device and the handrail entry cover, for example, less than 4 mm, or even less than 10 mm or less than 20 mm. The position of the movable cover can be fixed after adjustment, for example by fastening elements suitable for this purpose.

[0033] The protective device may include interacting elements for identification by sensors configured for this purpose in the region of the arcuate segment at the end of the handrail. The interacting elements may be positioned within the area of ​​the cover, for example, the interacting elements may be fastened to an element protruding from the body of the cover, or the interacting elements may be integrated into the cover. The interacting elements, which may be magnets, are preferably designed such that their position and orientation can be adjusted individually or together with other elements of the protective device. The interacting elements are positioned such that they interact with the sensors as strongly as possible, thereby optimizing the detection performed by the sensors, for example, by adjusting to a position closer to the sensors. There may be multiple interacting elements interacting with multiple sensors.

[0034] In another embodiment, one aspect of the invention includes a method for controlling a passenger transport device. The passenger transport device can operate in both directions, meaning it is adapted to transport passengers in two feasible directions in addition to being stationary. The passenger transport device can be a permanently installed device and may include a conveyor belt. The passenger transport device may include other features described above. The passenger transport device includes at least one handrail, which may be covered by a protective device in an area of ​​an arcuate section at its end. The handrail moves during operation, and if a protective device is present, the handrail may enter or exit the protective device on its upper side facing the passenger. The direction of travel in which the handrail enters the protective device is the locked direction of travel.

[0035] As a first step, the method includes determining the presence of a protective device using a sensor system configured for this purpose. Then, based on the determination of the presence of the protective device, operation in the locking travel direction is prohibited.

[0036] The advantage of this invention is that even personnel without specialized training can quickly and easily install and modify the protective devices without requiring extensive intervention in the controller of the personnel transport equipment. In particular, the controller of the personnel transport equipment according to the invention can be configured to automatically switch based on the presence of the protective device. Furthermore, this logic simultaneously checks for correct installation and ensures safe, compliant operation.

[0037] Furthermore, the protective device, as shown in the embodiment below, can be manufactured with a small number of parts and has no moving parts, thus achieving a robust structure. In particular, it can simultaneously maintain low purchase and maintenance costs. This invention improves the safety of personnel transport equipment to the point where the protective device is simpler and more flexible to use, making it more attractive to operators of personnel transport equipment, thereby enabling its widespread use. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which should not be construed as limiting the invention. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent elements. Wherein:

[0039] Figure 1 A feasible implementation scheme for a personnel transport device in the form of an automated walkway with protective devices is shown.

[0040] Figure 2a A schematic diagram illustrating the feasible operating state of personnel transport equipment with protective devices is shown.

[0041] Figure 2b A feasible implementation scheme for control logic to prevent personnel transport equipment from running in the blocking travel direction is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Figure 1 A possible implementation of the personnel transport device 100 is shown in a side view. The example shown is a horizontal moving walkway, but the features described below can be applied to escalators in the same or similar manner.

[0043] The personnel transport equipment 100 shown includes a conveyor belt (not shown) and handrails 111 extending in the same direction on both sides of the conveyor belt, which guide along the guardrail 110. Figure 1 In the illustration shown, only one railing 110 with a handrail 111 is visible due to the side view. The second railing 110 is designed similarly to the first railing.

[0044] The guardrail 110 includes a fastening element 120 at each end, which is designed to be drilled in the guardrail 110 of the personnel transport equipment 100. If no protective device is fitted, it is preferable to use a suitable plug to reversibly close the drilled hole.

[0045] The illustrated personnel transport device 100 includes a magnetic sensor 151 in the region of each arcuate segment 112 at the end of the handrail, thus a total of four magnetic sensors 151 are present. In the illustrated example, the sensor 151 is mounted near the handrail entry cover 141, which closes the guardrail base 143, from which the handrail 111 exits in the ascending area or enters in the descending area. Therefore, the handrail 111 returns to the interior of the guardrail base 143.

[0046] The personnel transport equipment 100 also includes two handrail end arcuate segments 112 arranged parallel to each other in the depth direction of the drawing plane for each handrail 111 at both ends. Figure 1 In the area of ​​the arc-shaped segment 112 at the end of the handrail shown on the left, a protective device 130 is also installed on each handrail 111. The protective device 130 is secured to the personnel transport equipment 100 by screwing it onto the guardrail 110 using a fastening device 120. The presence of the protective device 130 enables the permissible travel direction 101 and locks the travel direction 102. If the position of the protective device 130 is from... Figure 1 If the left side is changed to the arc-shaped segment 112 at the end of the handrail shown on the right side, the permissible driving direction and the locking driving direction will be reversed.

[0047] In addition to the protective arc section 131 covering the handrail 111, the protective device 130 also includes a cover 140 located near the handrail inlet cover 141, so that the outlet opening of the handrail 111 of the handrail inlet cover 141 is completely surrounded and covered by the cover 140, and foreign objects are prevented from accidentally entering.

[0048] An interaction element 150 is present inside the cover 140, and the interaction element is... Figure 1 The interaction element is designed to be a magnet. The position of the interaction element is chosen such that, after the protective device 130 is installed, the interaction element is very close to the sensor 151. The sensor 151 is configured to reliably distinguish between the presence and absence of the magnet 150. If the protective device 130 is present on one of the curved sections at the end of the handrail, each associated sensor 151 generates a signal that can be received and evaluated by other components of the personnel transport equipment 100.

[0049] The personnel transport equipment 100 includes a control unit 152, which is connected to a sensor 151 via an electrical conductor and is configured to receive corresponding sensor signals. Furthermore, the control unit 152 is configured to cause the personnel transport equipment 100 to operate in both the travel direction 101 and the locking direction 102 by simultaneously driving the conveyor belt and handrail 111 in the same direction.

[0050] The control unit 152 is also configured to identify, based on signals from sensor 151, whether a locking travel direction 102 is present. For this purpose, all available sensor signals are evaluated and it is determined whether one or more protective devices 130 are installed on one of the handrail end arc segments 112 of the personnel transport equipment 100. The direction in which the handrail 111 is directed into the installed protective device 130 is the locking travel direction 102.

[0051] Control unit 152 is configured to disallow or prevent personnel transport equipment 100 from operating in the locking travel direction 102, thereby preventing it from operating in the direction of travel that was just beginning to move. Figure 1 As illustrated in the example, the personnel transport equipment 100 can only operate in the direction of travel 101.

[0052] It is feasible to not lock the direction of travel, for example when there is no protection device 130 and the control unit 152 is additionally set to allow this state, or both directions of travel are locked, for example when protection devices are present at both ends of the personnel transport equipment. Furthermore, the control unit 152 may optionally be configured to allow travel in the permitted direction of travel 101 only when the sole protection device 130 is present, or, in the above cases, lock travel in both directions of travel 101 and 102.

[0053] exist Figure 2a The diagram schematically illustrates four possible operating states 201, 202, 203, and 204 for the aforementioned type of personnel transport equipment, with respect to a single handrail and a single safety device.

[0054] The guardrail of the personnel transport equipment includes two curved sections at the ends of the handrails. A S B The protective device 130 is symbolically represented by lines at the curved section S at the end of the handrail. A Or the curved section S at the end of the handrail B Above. This line represents the curved S-shaped section at the end of the handrail. A S B The area contains a safety device 130. Personnel transport equipment and its handrails can be used in two directions (D). A D B Run on.

[0055] In state 201, the protective device is installed on the curved section S at the end of the handrail.A Up, and in the direction of travel D A This causes the handrail to eject from the safety device. This condition is permissible; travel direction D. A The permitted driving direction is 101.

[0056] In state 202, the protective device is installed on the curved section S at the end of the handrail. A Up, and in the direction of travel D B This caused the handrail to engage the safety device. This is not permitted; direction of travel D. B It is the locking mechanism that blocks the travel direction 102.

[0057] In state 203, the protective device is installed on the curved section S at the end of the handrail. B Up, and in the direction of travel D A This caused the handrail to engage the safety device. This is not permitted; direction of travel D. A It is the locking mechanism that blocks the travel direction 102.

[0058] In state 204, the protective device is installed on the curved section S at the end of the handrail. B The direction of travel, DB, causes the handrail to eject from the safety device. This state is permissible; the direction of travel, D... B The permitted driving direction is 101.

[0059] Figure 2b An example of an implementation of control logic 250 for preventing the personnel transport equipment 100 from operating in the blocking travel direction 102 is shown, and serves as an example of an implementation of a method for controlling a bidirectional personnel transport equipment 100 according to the present invention. The nominal values ​​of the input values ​​correspond to... Figure 2a A diagram illustrating the transportation of personnel and equipment. Besides... Figure 2a Beyond the example shown, control logic 250 is designed to control a personnel transport device with n guardrails and therefore 2n handrail end arc segments, thus the input value S A1 ... S An-1 S An and S B1 ... S Bn-1 S Bn Available. These values ​​are positive when the curved section at the end of the handrail has a handrail protection device. Driving direction value D A D B This can be used as a further input value. When a control signal is present to cause the personnel transport equipment to travel in the stated direction of travel, the travel direction value D... A D B It is positive.

[0060] Signal S A1 ... S An-1 SAn The signal S is evaluated using an OR gate 210. B1 ... S Bn-1 S Bn The evaluation is performed using OR gate 211. This OR gate is an OR gate with n inputs; as those skilled in the art know, such a gate can be implemented using a serial sequence of n-1 OR gates, each with two input segments. The output value of OR gate 210 is related to the driving direction signal D. A The input value is used as the input value of XOR gate 220, and similarly, the output value of OR gate 211 and the driving direction signal D. B The input signals of XOR gate 221 are used as input signals for OR gate 230. The output signal of OR gate 230 is equivalent to latching signal 240; if the output value of 230 is positive, latching signal 240 exists, and if the value is negative, latching signal 240 does not exist. Latching signal 240 latches the movement of personnel transport equipment.

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, if the arc-shaped segment S at the end of the handrail... A At least one protective device 130 is present on the upper part and at the same time on the curved section S at the end of the handrail. B If there is no protective device 130, the equipment can only travel in the direction of travel D. A On the same time, if the curved segment S at the end of the handrail is... B At least one protective device 130 is present on the upper part and at the same time on the curved section S at the end of the handrail. A If there is no protective device 130, then the device can only be used in the direction of travel D. B Running on. D, unrelated to protection device 130. A =D B =0 and D A =D B The case where the value is 1 will not be discussed in detail.

[0062] Therefore, the locking signal 240 is determined by the existence of the locking driving direction 102 in the form of a driving direction signal (related to the state, either D). A Either D B ) In conjunction with the presence of protection device 130 (regardless of state, group S) A At least one signal or group S B A signal is used to limit movement. The movement of personnel transport equipment is prevented by the latching signal 240.

[0063] Many other advantageous implementations or extensions of the line can be conceived, for example, to ensure the presence of the correct number of protective devices that would otherwise lock the line, or to allow the line to run without the installation of protective devices.

[0064] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the illustrated embodiments are to be understood as examples, and that many aspects of the invention can be implemented in other ways than those shown, and that certain features of the invention can be combined in different ways to achieve the desired technical effects. Therefore, this specification is intended to disclose the invention in a sufficiently clear manner and should not be considered as limiting.

[0065] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as "comprising" or "including" do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as "a" or "an" do not exclude multiple elements or steps. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as restrictive.

Claims

1. A personnel transport device (100) with a conveyor belt, the personnel transport device comprising: At least one guardrail (110) extending substantially parallel to the conveyor belt, the guardrail having a first end and a second end. A handrail (111) that guides the movement around the first and second ends of the guardrail (110), wherein at least one handrail end arcuate segment (112) exists at the first and second ends. The fastening device (120) for assembling the protective device (130) is located in the area of ​​the arc-shaped section (112) at the end of the handrail. At least one sensor (151) is used to identify the presence of the protection device (130). A control unit (152) connected to at least one sensor (151) is used to control the travel direction (101, 102) of the conveyor belt and handrail (111). The control unit is configured to operate the personnel transport equipment (100) in different travel directions, wherein the control unit locks the operation of the personnel transport equipment (100) in one travel direction according to the sensor signal in such a way that when at least one protective device (130) is present in the area of ​​the arc-shaped section (112) at the end of the handrail, the travel direction (102) of the handrail entering the protective device is locked.

2. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1, wherein, A protective device (130) is fixed in the area of ​​the arc-shaped section (112) at the end of the handrail.

3. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The personnel transport equipment (100) is an escalator with a step belt as a conveyor belt or an moving walkway with a tread belt as a conveyor belt.

4. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The protective device (130) is divided into two parts at least along the direction of travel of the handrail, and the two parts, after being connected, form a shell around the handrail (111) in the region of the arcuate section (112) at the end of the handrail.

5. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The fastening device (120) includes mounting elements for securing the protective device (130) to the guardrail.

6. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 5, wherein, The fastening device (120) includes a drilled hole in the guardrail.

7. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The protection device (130) includes at least one interacting element (150), and the sensor (151) is configured to identify the presence of the interacting element (150) after the protection device (130) is assembled.

8. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The interaction element (150) is a magnet, and the sensor (151) is configured to identify the presence of the magnet after the protective device (130) is assembled.

9. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 8, wherein, After the protective device (130) is installed, the position of the magnet can be changed for fine adjustment purposes.

10. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sensor (151) is a magnet sensor.

11. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The sensor (151) is located in the area of ​​the handrail entrance cover (141) of the personnel transport equipment (100).

12. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Each handrail end arc segment (112) has a sensor (151) for detecting the installed protective device (130).

13. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The guardrail (110) is a first guardrail, and the personnel transport equipment (100) includes a second guardrail (110) extending parallel to the first guardrail, the second guardrail having fastening elements (120), the first guardrail and the second guardrail (110) being arranged on both sides of the conveyor belt and extending parallel to the conveyor belt, and the second guardrail (110) having a first end with a first handrail end arc segment (112) and a second end with a second handrail end arc segment (112), and the first ends of the first guardrail and the second guardrail being opposite each other, and the second ends of the first guardrail and the second guardrail being opposite each other.

14. The personnel transport equipment (100) according to claim 13, wherein, The control unit (152) is additionally configured to: When there is no protective device (130) or only one protective device (130), the personnel transport equipment is locked in both directions of travel (101, 102). When at least one protective device (130) on the first end and at least one protective device (130) on the second end of either of the two guardrails (110) are present simultaneously, the personnel transport equipment (100) is locked in both directions of travel (101, 102).

15. A method for controlling a bidirectional personnel transport device (100), wherein, The personnel transport equipment is the personnel transport equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, and the method includes: The presence of the protective device (130) in the area of ​​the arc-shaped section (112) at the end of the handrail is determined by the sensor (151). Based on the determination of the presence of the protective device (130) in the area of ​​the arc-shaped segment (112) at the end of the handrail, the personnel transport equipment (100) is prevented from running in the blocking travel direction (102), which is defined by the process of the blocking travel direction (102) entering the protective device (130) through the handrail (111).

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