Handrail wiping device

Abstract

To provide a handrail wiping implement which can be attached to and detached from a moving handrail of an escalator, a moving sidewalk, etc., as smoothly as possible even when the moving handrail is in operation and can effectively wipe the moving handrail, etc.SOLUTION: Both side parts of a base part B have side wiping portions F capable of turning between a wiping position for wiping a handrail and an expanded position opened laterally outward. In a state where a handrail wiping material D1 is positioned over a lower side of the base part B and an inner side of each side wiping portion F, the lower side of the base part B is brought into contact with a corresponding portion of a target handrail via the handrail wiping material D1, and each side wiping portion F is located at the wiping position. A handrail wiping implement R wipes the moving handrail during the operation of an escalator while being externally fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiping material D1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a handrail wiping device primarily for wiping moving handrails on escalators, moving walkways, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-261277 describes an escalator belt cleaner that has a strong pressing force against the belt, can maintain a high cleaning effect, is well-shaped, is difficult to remove, and can be used for a long time. The cleaner comprises outer frame bodies 1, 1' having notched portions 1a, 1a' formed by cutting out a part of the cylindrical wall along its axis, a wiping body bent into a gate-like shape so that the lower surface contacts the upper surface and both side surfaces of the belt, and a plurality of support lines on both outer sides of the notched portions of the outer frame body. The escalator belt cleaner shown has protrusions 2, 2' that serve to strengthen and stop the movement of the outer frame body, the outer frame body is divided at the center to form a pair of outer frame bodies, a spring body for compressing the outer frame body is inserted into a groove of a required width provided at the top of the divided surface of each of the pair of outer frame bodies for inserting the spring body for compressing the outer frame body, and reinforcing ridges 3a, 3a' of a required height and width provided along the divided surface, which are fixed together with the spring body built in, thereby forming an escalator belt cleaner with each outer frame body integrated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-261277 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To provide a handrail wiping implement which can be attached and detached as smoothly as possible to a moving handrail of an escalator, a moving walkway, or the like even while the escalator, a moving walkway, or the like is in operation, and which can effectively wipe the moving handrail, or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The handrail wiping tool of the present invention can be described as follows.

[0006] (1) A handrail wiping tool that can be used to wipe a moving handrail, The wiper has a base and side wiping portions provided on both sides of the base, Each of the side wiping sections can be moved between a wiping position where all or part of the wiping section is located below both sides of the base section to wipe the target handrail, and an expanded position where the wiping section is opened outward from the wiping position, A handrail wiping device characterized in that, with handrail wiping material positioned across the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping section and with each side wiping section in an expanded position, the underside of the base is placed against the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiping material and each side wiping section is positioned in a wiping position, so that the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping section are fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, and in this state the handrail can be wiped using the handrail wiping material.

[0007] (2) A handrail wiping tool as described in (1) above, wherein the side wiping portions are biased relative to the base from the expanded position toward the wiping position.

[0008] (3) A handrail wiping device as described in (1) or (2) above, in which the side wiping portion is supported relative to the base so that it can rotate around a predetermined rotation axis and change its position between the wiping position and the expanded position.

[0009] (4) A handrail wiping tool according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the side wiping portions provided on both sides are shaped so that the inner sides of the lower portions face inward toward each other when in the wiping position.

[0010] (5) A handrail wiping device as described in (4) above, in which, in the side wiping portion, both or one of the inner sides of the lower portion of the front portion and the lower portion of the rear portion is positioned outward from the inner side of the lower portion of the portion between the front and rear portions.

[0011] (6) A handrail wiping tool as described in any one of (1) to (5) above, in which the side wiping portion or base portion has a holding portion that can hold a part of the handrail wiping material between the side wiping portion or base portion or by itself.

[0012] (7) A handrail wiping tool as described in any one of (1) to (6) above, having support parts at the front and rear of the base that can support a part of the handrail wiper.

[0013] (8) A handrail wiping tool as described in any one of (1) to (7) above, having a handle portion on the upper side of the base portion for the user to hold.

[0014] (9) A handrail wiping implement as described in (8) above, in which the handle portions are connected to the front and rear portions of the base, and the portion of the handle portion between the front and rear connected portions is spaced apart from the upper side of the base above the base, and the spaced apart portion can be gripped.

[0015] (10) A handrail wiping tool as described in (9) above, wherein the handle portion rises upward at an incline from the front and rear joints toward the middle portion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0016] (11) If the moving handrail is guided by a handrail guide rail, A handrail wiping tool as set forth in any one of (1) to (10) above, in which handrail wiping material is positioned across the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion, and each side wiping portion is positioned in an expanded position, the underside of the base is placed against the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, and each side wiping portion is positioned in a wiping position, so that the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion are fitted externally against the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, and in this state the handrail and the side of the base of the handrail guide rail can be wiped via the handrail wiping material.

[0017] (12) The handrail wiping device according to any one of (1) to (11) above, which comprises a pair of bag-like sections, each with an opening on the inside, formed near both ends in either direction on one side of a flexible sheet material, in which each of the side wiping sections is housed.

[0018] (13) A handrail wiper for a handrail wiping device, comprising a pair of bag-like portions each having an opening on the inside, near both ends in either direction on one side of a flexible sheet-like material, wherein the pair of bag-like portions each accommodates one of the side wiping portions of the handrail wiping device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The handrail wiping device of the present invention can be attached to and detached from moving handrails of escalators, moving walkways, etc. as smoothly as possible even while they are in operation, and can effectively wipe the moving handrails, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handrail wiping tool with the side wiping parts in the wiping position and the holding parts closed. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of a handrail wiping tool with the side wiping parts in the expanded position and the holding parts in the closed position. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handrail wiping tool with the side wiping parts in an expanded position and the holding parts in a closed position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a front view of a handrail wiping tool with the side wiping parts in the wiping position and the holding parts open. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for attaching a single cloth-like handrail wiping material to a handrail wiping tool. [Figure 6] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for attaching a handrail wiper having a pair of bag-shaped portions on both sides to a handrail wiping tool. FIG. [Figure 7] This is a front view of the handrail wiping device with the side wiping parts in the wiping position and the holding parts closed to hold a single cloth-like handrail wiping material and fitted onto the moving handrail. [Figure 8] This is a bottom view of a handrail wiping tool that holds a handrail wiping material having a pair of bag-shaped portions on both sides and is fitted onto a jig. [Figure 9] This is a front view of a handrail wiping tool that holds a handrail wiping material having a pair of bag-shaped portions on both sides and is fitted onto a jig. [Figure 10] This is an oblique view of a handrail wiping device that holds a handrail wiping material having a pair of bag-shaped portions on both sides and is fitted onto a jig, with the rear side tilted upward and away from the surface of the jig. [Figure 11] This is a bottom view of a handrail wiping device in which the inner lower part of the front part of the side wiping part is inclined outward toward the front, and the inner lower part of the rear part is inclined outward toward the rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] [1] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] (1) The handrail wiping tool R shown in the figure is primarily intended for wiping moving handrails L (looped belt-like handrails) of escalators, moving walkways, etc., when they are in operation or when they are not in operation, using handrail wiping material D1 or D2.

[0023] In cross section, the handrail L has a flat outer periphery L1 and inwardly bent portions L2 that are bent inward on both the left and right sides of the flat outer periphery L1 to form a J-shape.

[0024] The moving handrail L is guided by the handrail guide rail M and moves along with the operation of the escalator, moving walkway, etc.

[0025] The handrail guide rail M has a fitting guide section M1 with curved protrusions on both the left and right sides in cross section, and is supported by a rail base section M2. The moving handrail L is guided by the handrail guide rail M while fitted onto the fitting guide section M1.

[0026] (2) The handrail wiping device R has a base B and a pair of side wiping parts F provided on both sides of the base B.

[0027] (3) The base B has a generally rectangular, flat plate shape with the longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction in a plan view.

[0028] A handle H is provided on the upper side of the base B for the user to hold.

[0029] The handle H has a curved cylindrical shape and is connected to the base B at front and rear joints H1 located in the left-right center of the front and rear ends of the base B, and rises upward at an incline from the front and rear joints H1 toward the middle in the front-to-rear direction. The user can grip the part of the handle H between the front and rear joints H1, i.e., the part spaced above the base B.

[0030] For example, the user can grasp either of the inclined portions of the handle H with one hand, or can grasp both inclined portions with each hand. A force that moves the handrail wiping tool R in accordance with the movement of the moving handrail L acts on the handrail wiping tool R due to the frictional force between the handrail wiping tool R and the moving handrail L, but by grasping either or both inclined portions of the handle H, it is easy to apply a force that effectively prevents the handrail wiping tool R from coming off the user.

[0031] An upward-facing hook-shaped portion K (support portion) is provided on the front side of the front joint H1 and on the rear side of the rear joint H1 of the base B. Each hook-shaped portion K is for supporting a hanging string S (including loop-shaped or other shaped strings) provided in the center of the front and rear edges of the handrail wipe D2 in the left-right direction.

[0032] (4) The left and right side wiping sections F are shaped as curved plates that convex outward as a whole, and are supported at the inside of their upper parts so as to be rotatable relative to the left and right side sections of the base B. The side wiping sections F can rotate relative to the base B between a wiping position (Figs. 1 and 4) for wiping the target moving handrail L and an expanded position (Figs. 2 and 3) in which they are opened outward and to the side from the wiping position. In the wiping position, the majority of the side wiping sections F are oriented approximately downward below the sides of the base B.

[0033] Each side wiping portion F is biased by a kick spring (not shown) from the expanded position toward the wiping position relative to the base B, so that the target moving handrail L can be clamped between the both side wiping portions F via the handrail wiping material D1 or D2.

[0034] (5) With handrail wiping device R, handrail wiping material D1 or D2 is positioned across the underside of base B and the inside of each side wiping portion F, and with each side wiping portion F in the expanded position, the underside of base B is placed against the upper side of the target moving handrail L via handrail wiping material D1 or D2, and each side wiping portion F is positioned in the wiping position, thereby wiping the moving handrail L with the underside of base B and the inside of each side wiping portion F fitted over the moving handrail L via handrail wiping material D1 or D2. Base B can wipe mainly the upper side of the moving handrail L via handrail wiping material D1 or D2, and side wiping portion F can wipe mainly the sides and lower side portions of the moving handrail L via handrail wiping material D1 or D2.

[0035] When the movable handrail is guided by a handrail guide rail M, as shown in Figure 7 and Figures 8 and 9, which use a jig J corresponding to the handrail guide rail M (the jig fitting guide part J1 corresponds to the fitting guide part M1, and the jig base J2 corresponds to the rail base M2), the side wiping part F can be made to be able to wipe both sides of the rail base M2 that supports the fitting guide part M1 (the part that guides the movable handrail L) (when the movable handrail L is not in operation or in operation) via handrail wiping material D1 or D2.

[0036] The lower lateral portions of the moving handrail L and both side surfaces of the rail base M2 can be effectively wiped by the inside of the lower portions of the both side wiping portions F facing inward, via the handrail wiping material D1 or D2.

[0037] An upper protrusion operating portion C is provided at the upper end of each side wiping portion F for operating to change the position from the wiping position to the open position against the biasing force.

[0038] When the target movable handrail L is clamped between the two side wiping parts F via the handrail wiping material D1 or D2, that is, when the handrail wiping tool R is fitted externally onto the movable handrail L, the side wiping parts F can be positioned in the expanded position (for example, by operating the upper protrusion operating part C) and the handrail wiping tool R can be removed from the movable handrail L.

[0039] To quickly remove the handrail wiping tool R from the moving handrail L, for example, as shown in Figure 10, one can use a method of tilting the front or rear side of the base B upward and away from the moving handrail L (by operating the handle H, for example) to cause the side wiping parts F to spread out (or to be positioned in the spread position). In this case, in the side wiping parts F shown in Figure 11, where the front lower inner part Ff slopes outward toward the front and the rear lower inner part Fb slopes outward toward the rear, both the front lower inner part and the rear lower inner part are positioned outward from the lower inner part between the front and rear parts, so by tilting them upward and away as described above, quick removal can be more reliably performed.

[0040] (6) On the outside of the side wiping portion F, there is provided a plate-shaped holding portion P that is curved convexly outward to clamp and hold one end of the handrail wiping material D1 / D2 between the outside of the side wiping portion F and the holding portion P, and is supported at its upper part so that it can rotate relative to the upper part of the side wiping portion F.

[0041] The curved outer periphery of the side wiping portion F is provided with a number of protrusions F1 to more securely hold the handrail wiping materials D1 and D2 between it and the holding portion P.

[0042] (7) The area between the two wiping sections F is open to the front, rear, and downwards in both the wiping position and the open position.

[0043] When wiping the moving handrail L of the target escalator while it is in operation, the underside of the base B of the handrail wiping tool R is covered with a sponge sheet G to prevent the handrail wiping materials D1 and D2 from slipping as much as possible between them and the handrail wiping tool R. Similarly, the inside of each side wiping part F can also be covered with a sponge sheet G.

[0044] (8) When the handrail wiping material D1 is a single piece of cloth-like material (thick sheet-like material) as shown in FIG. 5(a), it can be attached to the handrail wiping tool R as follows.

[0045] 5(b) With both side wiping parts F of the handrail wiping tool R in the wiping position, the holding part P of one of the side wiping parts F is opened. One end of the handrail wiping material D1 is inserted all the way between the side wiping part F and the holding part P, and the holding part P is closed to sandwich the one end between the side wiping part F and the holding part P.

[0046] Figure 5(c) The handrail wiping material D1 extends from the portion sandwiched between the one side wiping portion F and the holding portion P to the other end, covering the tip of the one side wiping portion F (the lower end of the side wiping portion F when the base B is in the upper position), the inside of the one side wiping portion F, the inside of the base B (the lower side of the base B when the base B is in the upper position), the tip of the other side wiping portion F, and the inside of the other side wiping portion F.

[0047] Figure 5(d) Open the holding portion P of the other side wiping portion F, insert the other end of the handrail wiping material D1 all the way between the other side wiping portion F and the holding portion P, and close the holding portion P to sandwich the other end between the side wiping portion F and the holding portion P.

[0048] FIG. 5(e) shows the handrail wiping material D1 attached to the handrail wiping tool R.

[0049] Other examples of methods using a jig J equivalent to a handrail include: Figure 5(H) The top and sides of the jig J (a vertically elongated member with a rectangular cross section) placed on a horizontal surface are covered with handrail wiping material D1. Figure 5(I) Fit the handrail wiping tool R onto the handrail wiper D1 covering the jig J (by operating the upper protrusion operating part C as necessary) and position the base B on top and the side wiping parts F on both sides, then open both holding parts P and insert both ends of the handrail wiper D1 deep between the side wiping parts F and the holding part P, Figure 5(J) One method is to attach the handrail wiping material D1 to the handrail wiping tool R by closing each holding part P and sandwiching both ends of the handrail wiping material D1 between each side wiping part F and the holding part P.

[0050] (9) When the handrail wiper is a bag-like portion-attached handrail wiper D2, which is formed by forming a pair of bag-like portions Da, each having an opening on the inside, near both lateral ends of one side of a square cloth-like material (thick sheet-like material) as shown in Figure 6(a), and each containing a side wiping portion F on both sides, it can be attached to the handrail wiping tool R as follows.

[0051] Fig. 6(b) One of the side wiping parts F is inserted into one of the bag-shaped parts Da of the bag-equipped handrail wiper D2 together with the holding part P in a closed state, so that the one of the bag-shaped parts Da covers the one of the holding parts P and the side wiping part F. Note that the holding parts P may not be present.

[0052] Figure 6(c) The other side wiping part F is inserted into the other bag-shaped part Da together with the holding part P in a closed state, so that the other holding part P and the side wiping part F are covered by the other bag-shaped part Da, and the inside of the base B is covered by the part between the two bag-shaped parts Da of the bag-shaped part-equipped handrail wiper D2.

[0053] Figure 6(d) The hanging strings S provided at the center of the front and rear edges of the bag-shaped handrail wiper D2 are tied to the hook-shaped portions K on the front side of the front connecting portion H1 of the grip portion H and on the rear side of the rear connecting portion H1, respectively.

[0054] FIG. 6(e) shows the state in which the bag-shaped handrail wiper D2 is attached to the handrail wiping tool R.

[0055] [2] The embodiments of the present invention will be further described, including embodiments other than those described above.

[0056] (1) The handrail wiping device of the present invention is used to wipe moving handrails (loop-shaped belt-like handrails also called handrails) while an escalator is in operation, using a handrail wiping material.

[0057] For example, in cross section, the handrail can have a flat outer periphery and inwardly bent portions that are bent inward toward the inner periphery on both the left and right sides of the flat outer periphery.

[0058] The moving handrail can be one that moves along with the operation of an escalator, moving walkway, etc. while being guided by a handrail guide rail.

[0059] The handrail guide rail can be, for example, a rail base that supports an engaging guide section that has protrusions such as curved protrusions on both the left and right sides of the cross section, and the moving handrail can be, for example, guided by the handrail guide rail while being fitted onto the engaging guide section.

[0060] This handrail wiping tool is intended to be used primarily on moving handrails while an escalator is in operation, but it can also be used to wipe other handrails.

[0061] In addition, handrail wipers, even if they are fixed to a handrail wiping device, are not included in the handrail wiping device.

[0062] (2) The handrail wiping tool of the present invention has a base and side wiping parts provided on both sides of the base.

[0063] Each side wiping section can be moved between a wiping position where it is positioned entirely or partially below both sides of the base to wipe the target handrail, and an expanded position where it opens outward and to the side from the wiping position. However, "below both sides of the base" refers to a state where the base is positioned above the target handrail, and does not limit the vertical positional relationship during use. The wiping position can be a fixed position that cannot be moved inward, or it can have a certain degree of width inward and outward. Furthermore, the expanded position does not necessarily have to be a fixed position, as long as it opens outward and to the side from the wiping position to a required extent.

[0064] Each side wiping portion may be, for example, supported by a pivot shaft or the like so that it can rotate about a predetermined pivot axis relative to the base to change its position between the wiping position and the expanded position, or may be slidably supported by a slider or the like so that it can change its position between the wiping position and the expanded position by lateral movement, but is not limited to these.

[0065] (3) Each of the side wiping parts may be biased from the spread position toward the wiping position relative to the base by, for example, various springs or other elastic bodies. It is preferable that each of the side wiping parts is biased toward the other wiping position even when in the wiping position.

[0066] The side wiping parts, which can be rotated around a rotation axis to change their position between a wiping position and an expanded position, can be biased from the expanded position toward the wiping position relative to the base by, for example, a so-called kick spring, so that the target handrail can be clamped between the side wiping parts on both sides via the handrail wiping material.

[0067] In addition, the side wiping parts, which can be moved laterally to change position between the wiping position and the expanded position, can be biased from the expanded position toward the wiping position relative to the base by, for example, a compression spring, so that the target handrail can be clamped between the side wiping parts on both sides via the handrail wiping material.

[0068] (4) Each side wiping part may be fixed to the base in the wiping position and the extended position, for example. Fixation to the base in the wiping position and the extended position may be achieved by engagement at each rotation angle position or sliding position, or by other means.

[0069] (5) With the handrail wiping device of the present invention, handrail wipers are positioned across the underside of the base and the insides of the side wiping portions, and with each side wiping portion in its expanded position, the underside of the base is placed against a corresponding portion of the target handrail, such as the upper part, via the handrail wiper, and each side wiping portion is positioned in its wiping position, thereby wiping the handrail with the underside of the base and the insides of the side wiping portions fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiper. The base can be configured to wipe mainly the upper side of the target handrail via the handrail wiper, and the side wiping portions can be configured to wipe mainly the side or lower side of the target handrail via the handrail wiper.

[0070] When the movable handrail is guided by a handrail guide rail, the side wiping section can be configured to wipe the side surfaces (both sides or one side surface) of the base side portion that supports the portion of the handrail guide rail that guides the movable handrail (when the movable handrail is not in operation or in operation) via the handrail wiping material.

[0071] When each of the side wiping portions of the handrail wiping device is biased as described above, the handrail wiping material is positioned across the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion, and with the side wiping portions expanded to the expanded position against the bias, the underside of the base is brought into contact with the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiping material and the force resisting the bias on the side wiping portions is released, thereby smoothly positioning each side wiping portion in the wiping position and bringing the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion into a state of fitting externally against the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, and the handrail can be wiped via the handrail wiping material.

[0072] Furthermore, when each side wiping portion of the handrail wiping tool is biased as described above, and the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion are fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiper to wipe the handrail, the handrail wiping tool and handrail wiper can be removed from the target handrail by, for example, expanding the side wiping portions to an expanded position against the bias and removing them, or by applying force to the base directly or via a handle portion for the user to hold in a direction that causes the side wiping portions to expand against the bias (or position them in an expanded position) and remove them.

[0073] When the target handrail is clamped between the two side wiping parts via the handrail wiper, that is, when the handrail wiping tool is fitted onto the handrail, the side wiping parts can be positioned in the expanded position to remove the handrail wiping tool from the handrail.

[0074] To quickly remove the handrail wiping device from a handrail (especially a moving handrail), one can use a method such as tilting the front or rear side of the base upward and away from the handrail (by operating the handle, etc.) to cause the side wiping part to open (or position it in an open position).

[0075] (6) The portion between the two side wiping portions may be open to the front, rear, and downward in both the wiping position and the open position.

[0076] The underside of the base may be, for example, generally flat, but is not limited to this.

[0077] The side wiping portions can, for example, be capable of effectively wiping the lower lateral sides of the target handrail and can be attached and detached as smoothly as possible to the target handrail, so that at the wiping position the insides of the lower parts face inward (for example, the overall shape is curved outwardly, or the insides of the lower parts protrude inward, etc., so that the lower lateral sides of the target handrail and the sides of the base part of the handrail guide rail can be effectively wiped via the handrail wiping material), but are not limited to these.

[0078] When the side wiping portions on both sides are shaped so that the insides of the lower parts face inward towards each other, and the handrail wiper can be used to wipe the lower lateral parts of the target handrail or the side of the base part of the handrail guide rail, etc., in order to quickly remove (particularly to remove with high reliability) the handrail wiping device from the handrail (particularly a movable handrail) (by operating the handle etc.), it is preferable that the front and / or rear part of the inside of the lower part of both or one of the side wiping portions on both sides be positioned outward from the inside of the lower part between the front and rear, for example, that the inside of the front lower part be inclined outward towards the front (including a curved inclination) and that the inside of the rear lower part be inclined outward towards the rear (including a curved inclination). By positioning both the inside of the lower part of the front section and the inside of the lower part of the rear section, or the inside of the lower part of the front and rear sections that are tilted upward as described above when removed, further outward than the inside of the lower part of the section between the front and rear sections, etc., the side wiping sections can be caused to expand (or positioned in an expanded position), making it possible to more reliably perform sudden removal.

[0079] It is preferable that the upper end of the side wiping portion is provided with a portion (for example, an upward protruding operating portion) for operating to change the position from the wiping position to the spread position.

[0080] The base and both side wiping portions may be, for example, plate-shaped (including those that are flat, those that are curved in whole or in part, and those that have ridges, protrusions, holes, recesses, convexities, etc.), and may be made of hard synthetic resin, FRP, metal, other materials, or a combination of two or more of these.

[0081] When wiping the moving handrail of the target escalator while it is in operation, in order to make it as difficult as possible for the handrail wiping material to slip between it and the handrail wiping tool, a material (for example, a sponge-like material) that can prevent slippage without damaging the target handrail can be provided on either or all of the underside of the base of the handrail wiping tool and the inside of each side wiping part.

[0082] (7) Handrail wipers may be made of flexible material such as a single piece of cloth or sponge material, or may be formed into the required structure.

[0083] Examples of cloth-like materials include woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, and nonwoven fabrics made from chemical fibers such as synthetic fibers or natural fibers, and examples of sponge-like materials include those made from foamed resins, but are not limited to these.

[0084] The required structure can be, for example, a handrail wiper in which a pair of bag-like portions, each with an opening on the inside, are formed near both ends in either direction (for example, vertically or horizontally) on one side of a rectangular or other shaped cloth-like material (or other flexible sheet-like material), and in which the side wiping portions are respectively housed. With each side wiping portion inserted into a pair of bag-shaped portions of this handrail wiper, the portion between the two bag-shaped portions is positioned under the base, the underside of the base is placed against the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiper, and each side wiping portion is moved from the expanded position to the wiping position; this allows the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion to be fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiper, wiping the handrail, and can effectively prevent the handrail wiper from detaching to the rear of the handrail wiping device due to the moving handrail while the escalator is in operation, or from becoming entangled between the handrail wiping device and the moving handrail.

[0085] Furthermore, by providing support parts (for example, hook-shaped parts, etc.) at the front and back of the base of the handrail wiping tool that can support a part of the handrail wiping material (a hanging part such as a string part or a looped string part, etc.) by hanging, etc., and hanging a part of the handrail wiping material (for example, the part that passes through the front or rear part between the wiping parts on both sides, such as the hanging part, etc.) on this support part, when wiping the target handrail using the handrail wiping material, it is possible to prevent the handrail wiping material from detaching to the rear of the handrail wiping tool due to the moving handrail when the escalator is in operation, or from becoming entangled between the handrail wiping tool and the moving handrail.

[0086] (8) The handrail wiping device can hold a part of the handrail wiper (for example, one end) on the side wiping part (such as the outside of the side wiping part when in the wiping position) or the base (such as the upper or side of the base) by providing a holding part (such as an opening / closing clamping part that opens and closes between the side wiping part (preferably one having multiple protrusions to more securely hold the handrail wiper between it and the holding part) or the base (such as the upper or side of the base), or by itself, which can hold the handrail wiper by clamping it. The part of the handrail wiper held in this way can be the part that passes through the lower end of the side wiping part (the lower end of the side wiping part when in the wiping position).

[0087] Such a holding portion can be rotated around a rotation axis in the front-to-back direction relative to the side wiping portion to open and close, and can be capable of elastically clamping the outer portion of the handrail wiping material by, for example, using an elastic material such as a kick spring to urge the outer portion of the handrail wiping material in a direction that allows it to be clamped between the side wiping portion or by itself, or it can be capable of fixedly clamping the outer portion by, for example, sufficiently increasing the rotational friction force of the rotating shaft-shaped portion, but is not limited to these.

[0088] Other examples of means for holding handrail wipers by handrail wiping tools include, but are not limited to, attaching and detaching the handrail wiper to the handrail wiping tool using hook-and-loop fasteners or other fasteners, fixing the handrail wiper to the handrail wiping tool with adhesive, and attaching and detaching by engaging a predetermined part of the handrail wiper with a predetermined part of the handrail wiping tool.

[0089] (9) The upper side of the base of the handrail wiping device may have a handle for the user to hold.

[0090] The handle parts are connected to the front and rear parts of the base, and preferably span both the front and rear parts, in order to hold the handrail wiper steadily against the moving handrail while the escalator is in operation (for example, with one hand, or while holding the handrail wiper in one hand and spraying water or cleaning solution onto the moving handrail with the other), and also to be able to detach the handrail wiper and handrail wiper as quickly as possible from the moving handrail while the escalator is in operation if necessary.Furthermore, for this purpose, it is preferable that the part of the handle part between the front and rear connected parts be located above the base or separated from above the base, so that this separated part can be gripped. Furthermore, the handle portion rises at an upward incline from the front and rear joints toward the middle portion in the front-to-rear direction (not limited to the center position in the front-to-rear direction), and the front and rear portions of the middle portion can be grasped with the left and right hands, respectively, as necessary, which is preferable for stably holding the handrail wiping tool against the moving handrail while the escalator is in operation, and for detaching the handrail wiping tool and handrail wiper as quickly as possible from the moving handrail while the escalator is in operation, as necessary. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] B base C Upper protrusion operation part D1 Handrail wipes D2 Handrail wipe with bag Da pouch F Side wiping section Ff Front lower part inside Fb Rear lower part inside F1 protrusion G Sponge Sheet H grip part H1 joint J jig J1 Jig fitting guide J2 jig base K Hook-shaped part L Moving handrail L1 Flat outer peripheral surface L2 Inward bend M Handrail guide rail M1 Mating guide M2 rail base P holding part R Handrail wiping tool S Hanging string

Claims

1. A handrail wiping tool that can be used to wipe a moving handrail, The wiper has a base and side wiping portions provided on both sides of the base, Each of the side wiping sections can be moved between a wiping position where all or part of the wiping section is located below both sides of the base section to wipe the target handrail, and an expanded position where the wiping section is opened outward from the wiping position, A handrail wiping device characterized in that, with handrail wiping material positioned across the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping section and with each side wiping section positioned in an expanded position, the underside of the base is placed against the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiping material and each side wiping section is positioned in a wiping position, so that the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping section are fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, thereby wiping the handrail.

2. 2. The handrail wiping tool according to claim 1, wherein the side wiping portions are biased relative to the base from the spread position toward the wiping position.

3. 2. A handrail wiping tool according to claim 1, wherein the side wiping parts are supported on the base so as to be able to rotate about a predetermined rotation axis and change their position between the wiping position and the spread position.

4. The handrail wiping tool according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side wiping parts are shaped so that the inner sides of the lower parts face inward toward each other when in the wiping position.

5. 5. A handrail wiping tool according to claim 4, wherein in the side wiping portions, both or one of the inner sides of the lower portions of the front and rear portions is positioned outward from the inner side of the lower portion of the portion between the front and rear portions.

6. A handrail wiping tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the side wiping portion or the base portion has a holding portion capable of holding a part of the handrail wiping material between the side wiping portion or the base portion or by itself.

7. 4. The handrail wiping tool according to claim 1, further comprising support parts at the front and rear of the base, each capable of supporting a part of the handrail wiping material.

8. 4. The handrail wiping tool according to claim 1, further comprising a handle provided on the upper side of the base for a user to hold.

9. A handrail wiping tool as described in claim 8, wherein the handle portions are connected to the front and rear portions of the base, and the portion of the handle portion between the front and rear connected portions is spaced above the upper side of the base from the upper side of the base, and the spaced portion can be grasped.

10. 10. The handrail wiping tool according to claim 9, wherein the handle portion rises upward at an incline from the front and rear joint portions toward the middle portion in the front-rear direction.

11. When the moving handrail is guided by a handrail guide rail, 4. A handrail wiping tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein handrail wiping material is positioned across the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion, and each side wiping portion is positioned in an expanded position, and by placing the underside of the base against the corresponding part of the target handrail via the handrail wiping material and positioning each side wiping portion in a wiping position, the underside of the base and the inside of each side wiping portion can be placed in a state where they are fitted over the target handrail via the handrail wiping material, and in this state the handrail and the side of the base of the handrail guide rail can be wiped via the handrail wiping material.

12. The handrail wiping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a pair of bag-like sections, each with an opening on the inside, formed near both ends in either direction on one side of a flexible sheet material, in which each of the side wiping sections can be accommodated.

13. A handrail wiper for a handrail wiping device, comprising a pair of bag-like portions, each with an opening on the inside, near both ends in either direction on one side of a flexible sheet-like material, wherein the pair of bag-like portions each accommodates one of the side wiping portions of the handrail wiping device.

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