Method for producing moving handrail of passenger conveyor and method for producing passenger conveyor

Abstract

Provided is a method for producing a moving handrail of a passenger conveyor, wherein a moving handrail applied to a passenger conveyor is repaired. The method for producing a moving handrail of a passenger conveyor involves: a step (removal step S1) for removing a moving handrail applied to a passenger conveyor from the passenger conveyor; and a step (affixing step S2) for affixing, to a canvas surface having disposed thereon a canvas of the moving handrail that has been removed from the passenger conveyor, a plastic film having a friction coefficient that is higher than that of the canvas.

Description

Production method of moving handrail of passenger conveyor and production method of passenger conveyor

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a production method of a moving handrail of a passenger conveyor and a production method of a passenger conveyor.

[0002] A passenger conveyor such as an escalator or a moving walkway includes a railing erected on the side of a tread member that includes steps for transporting passengers, a moving handrail guided by a guide rail provided on the railing and running in synchronization with the tread member, and a driving roller that slidably contacts the canvas surface of the moving handrail facing the guide rail. The passenger conveyor runs the moving handrail by the frictional force between the driving roller and the canvas surface of the moving handrail. Therefore, when the frictional force between the driving roller and the canvas surface of the moving handrail, that is, the friction coefficient of the canvas surface of the moving handrail decreases, the running speed of the moving handrail lags behind the running speed of the tread member. In relation to such a situation, for example, Japanese Patent No. 5718835 describes a method of raising the texture of the canvas surface at the site where the moving handrail is applied after the moving handrail is shipped and installed to recover the friction coefficient.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 5718835

[0004] In the method of raising the texture of the canvas surface of the moving handrail described in the above publication, since the effect of increasing the friction coefficient of the canvas surface is small, the friction coefficient does not recover to more than the initial state of the canvas surface.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a production method of a moving handrail of a passenger conveyor and a production method of a passenger conveyor that can increase the friction coefficient of the canvas surface of the moving handrail from the initial state.

[0006] The production method of the moving handrail of the passenger conveyor of the present disclosure is a production method of the moving handrail of the passenger conveyor for repairing the moving handrail applied to the passenger conveyor. The production method of the moving handrail of the passenger conveyor includes a step of removing the moving handrail applied to the passenger conveyor from the passenger conveyor, and a step of attaching a plastic film having a higher friction coefficient than the canvas to the canvas surface on which the canvas of the moving handrail removed from the passenger conveyor is disposed.

[0007] According to the method for producing a moving handrail for a passenger conveyor described herein, the coefficient of friction of the canvas surface of the moving handrail can be increased from its initial state.

[0008] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the movable handrail to be repaired according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic side view showing the passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the movable handrail to be repaired according to Embodiment 1 sandwiched between the drive roller and the pressure roller. This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the repaired movable handrail according to Embodiment 1. This is a flowchart showing the production method for the movable handrail of the passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the repaired movable handrail according to Embodiment 1. This is a flowchart showing the production method for the passenger conveyor according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the plastic film is continuously attached to the canvas of the movable handrail according to Embodiment 2.

[0009] The embodiments will be described below with reference to the figures. In the following, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will not be repeated.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a method for producing the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. The method for producing the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 1 is a repair method that can be implemented on the movable handrail 1 after shipment and installation. In Embodiment 1, an escalator 101 will be described as an example of the passenger conveyor 100. The passenger conveyor 100 is not limited to an escalator 101, but may also be a moving walkway or the like.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 1 is a production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 that is applied to the passenger conveyor 100. The production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 includes the steps of removing the movable handrail 1 applied to the passenger conveyor 100 from the passenger conveyor 100 (removal step S1) and the steps of attaching a plastic film 4 with a higher coefficient of friction than the canvas 2 to the canvas surface 1a on which the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 removed from the passenger conveyor 100 is placed (attachment step S2).

[0012] In Embodiment 1, for example, the movable handrail 1 having the cross-sectional structure shown in Figure 1 is the target of repair. The movable handrail 1 has a surface that passengers grip made of rubber or a resin such as urethane. A steel tape 3 is embedded inside the movable handrail 1. Canvas 2 is also arranged on the back side of the surface that passengers grip. The canvas surface 1a of the movable handrail 1 is the surface on which the canvas 2 is arranged. Note that the movable handrail 1 may also have a structure in which another strength member, such as wire or stranded wire, is embedded instead of the steel tape 3. Also, the movable handrail 1 may have a multi-layered structure of canvas 2 instead of a single layer.

[0013] The movable handrail 1 is attached to an escalator 101 having the structure shown in Figure 2, for example. The escalator 101 consists of the movable handrail 1, panel 11, main shaft 12, drive unit 13, machine room 14, main frame 15, drive chain 16, and footrests 17. The main frame 15 spans between adjacent upper and lower floors and supports the weight of the escalator 101 and the load of passengers. The rotation of the main shaft 12 causes multiple footrests 17 to move continuously. The drive unit 13 is located in the machine room 14 of the escalator 101. The driving force of the drive unit 13 is transmitted to the main shaft 12 by a belt or chain. The footrests 17 are connected in an endless manner. The rotation of the main shaft 12 is transmitted to the footrests 17 by the drive chain 16. Passengers on the escalator 101 use the movable handrail 1 for assistance when going up or down. The panel 11 is provided to ensure the safety of passengers. The movable handrail 1, as shown in Figure 3, is held between a drive roller 19 and a pressure roller 20 at a handrail drive unit 18 that is normally invisible to passengers. The movable handrail 1 receives the driving force from the drive roller 19 through the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 and moves in synchronous motion with the footrest 17.

[0014] As shown in Figure 4, in the movable handrail 1 produced by the production method of Embodiment 1, a plastic film 4 is attached to the canvas 2. The plastic film 4 constitutes the canvas surface 1a of the movable handrail 1. The plastic film 4, prepared to a predetermined width, is attached to the canvas 2 approximately in the center in the transverse direction. At least a portion of the plastic film 4 is in contact with the drive roller 19 that drives the movable handrail 1. Furthermore, the plastic film 4 is attached to the canvas 2 such that the cross-section shown in Figure 4 is approximately the same for one full circumference in the longitudinal direction of the movable handrail 1. It is acceptable for a portion of the one full circumference in the longitudinal direction of the movable handrail 1 to remain without the plastic film 4 attached. The material used for the plastic film 4 has a higher coefficient of friction than the surface of the canvas 2.

[0015] The material of the plastic film 4 is not limited. The material of the plastic film 4 may be, for example, a thermoplastic resin. The material of the plastic film 4 may also be a thermosetting resin. The material of the plastic film 4 should be selected appropriately, taking into account the coefficient of friction, durability against contact with the drive roller 19, and sliding properties with the parts that slide when the escalator 101 makes one rotation. The material of the plastic film 4 may be, for example, polyester, polyamide, or polyurethane. The plastic film 4 may be bonded to the canvas 2 using an adhesive or double-sided tape. The adhesive or double-sided tape should be appropriately selected depending on the material of the canvas 2 or the plastic film 4, and is not limited. In addition, by properly cleaning the surface of the canvas 2 immediately before bonding the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2, the plastic film 4 can be bonded to the canvas 2 more strongly.

[0016] In the production method of the movable handrail 1 of Embodiment 1, the entire movable handrail 1 may be removed from the guide rail (not shown) of the escalator 101. Alternatively, a portion of the movable handrail 1 may be removed from the guide rail (not shown) of the escalator 101, and the remaining portion of the movable handrail 1 may be attached to the guide rail (not shown) of the escalator 101. After repair of the movable handrail 1, it can be used again on the escalator 101.

[0017] Referring to Figure 6, the plastic film 4 may be divided into multiple strips and attached to the canvas 2.

[0018] Referring to Figure 7, a method for producing a passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described. As shown in Figure 7, the method for producing a passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 1 is a method for producing a passenger conveyor 100 having a repaired movable handrail 1 applied to the passenger conveyor 100. The method for producing the passenger conveyor 100 includes the steps of: removing the movable handrail 1 applied to the passenger conveyor 100 from the passenger conveyor 100 (removal step S1); attaching a plastic film 4 with a higher coefficient of friction than the canvas 2 to the canvas surface 1a where the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 removed from the passenger conveyor 100 is placed (attachment step S2); and attaching the movable handrail 1 with the plastic film 4 attached to the canvas 2 to the passenger conveyor 100 (attachment step S3).

[0019] The effects of Embodiment 1 will now be explained. According to the production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 1, a plastic film 4 with a higher coefficient of friction than the canvas 2 is attached to the canvas surface 1a on which the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 removed from the passenger conveyor 100 is placed. As a result, the coefficient of friction of the canvas surface 1a of the movable handrail 1 can be increased from the initial state. In addition, since the plastic film 4 with a higher coefficient of friction than the canvas 2 comes into contact with the drive roller 19, the driving force of the movable handrail 1 increases compared to before the movable handrail 1 was repaired. Therefore, even if the travel speed of the movable handrail 1 was slower than the travel speed of the footrest 17 before the movable handrail 1 was repaired, the movable handrail 1 can now travel in sync with the footrest 17.

[0020] According to the production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 1, the material of the plastic film 4 is a thermoplastic resin. Therefore, the plastic film 4 can be heat-fused to the canvas 2. Thus, compared to a method of fixing the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2 with adhesive or double-sided tape, the concern of the plastic film 4 peeling off from the canvas 2 can be reduced.

[0021] According to the production method for the moving handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 1, the material of the plastic film 4 is one of polyester, polyamide, or polyurethane. Therefore, a more preferable material can be used as the material of the plastic film 4.

[0022] According to the production method for the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 1, a plastic film 4 with a higher coefficient of friction than the canvas 2 is attached to the canvas surface 1a on which the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1, which has been removed from the passenger conveyor 100, is placed. Therefore, the coefficient of friction of the canvas surface 1a of the movable handrail 1 can be increased from the initial state. Furthermore, the movable handrail 1 with the plastic film 4 attached to the canvas 2 is attached to the passenger conveyor 100. Thus, it is possible to provide a passenger conveyor 100 in which the coefficient of friction of the canvas surface 1a of the movable handrail 1 is increased from the initial state.

[0023] Embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 has the same configuration, production method, and effects as Embodiment 1 unless otherwise specified. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for components identical to those in Embodiment 1, and the descriptions are not repeated.

[0024] Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in the method of attaching the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2. In Embodiment 2, the plastic film 4 is a thermoplastic resin, has a melting point, and flows when heated to a temperature above its melting point. As shown in Figure 8, in the process of attaching the plastic film 4 (attachment process S2), the plastic film 4 is pressed onto the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 while heated above its melting point. Subsequently, the plastic film 4 is attached to the canvas 2 as it cools.

[0025] Let me explain the method in more detail. A plastic film 4 is continuously attached to the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1. Before being attached to the canvas 2, the plastic film 4 is bonded to a release film 5, and the amount necessary for repairing one full turn of the movable handrail 1 is wound onto a film roll 6. From the film roll 6, a heating roller 7, a cooling roller 8, and a release film winding roll 9 are arranged in order in the direction of the handrail's movement D. The film roll 6 and the release film winding roll 9 do not come into contact with the surface of the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1. On the side of the movable handrail 1 opposite the heating roller 7 and the cooling roller 8, two repair pressure rollers 10 are arranged facing the heating roller 7 and the cooling roller 8, respectively.

[0026] In the process of attaching the plastic film 4 (attachment process S2), the plastic film 4 is pressed between the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 and the heating roller 7 and cooling roller 8, in the order of heating roller 7 controlled to a temperature above the melting point of the plastic film 4, and cooling roller 8 controlled to a temperature below the melting point. In other words, the heating roller 7 and cooling roller 8 each contact the release film 5 and press the plastic film 4 against the surface of the canvas 2 in a manner that involves pressing it with the repair pressure roller 10. The heating roller 7 is temperature-controlled and is set to a temperature higher than the melting point of the plastic film 4. The cooling roller 8 is controlled to room temperature or a temperature lower than the melting point of the plastic film 4. After the movable handrail 1, canvas 2, plastic film 4, and release film 5 have passed the pressing area between the cooling roller 8 and the repair pressure roller 10, the plastic film 4 is attached to the canvas 2, and the plastic film 4 and release film 5 are separated. The separated release film 5 is wound onto the release film winding roll 9. In this state, the movable handrail 1 is continuously moved in the handrail travel direction D, and when it has been moved one full rotation, the repair of the movable handrail 1 is completed.

[0027] By performing appropriate cleaning on the surface of the canvas 2 immediately before the plastic film 4 is bonded to the canvas 2, the plastic film 4 can be bonded more strongly to the canvas 2. In Embodiment 2, the plastic film 4, heated above its melting point, permeates the fibers of the canvas 2 and is bonded by cooling and solidifying, so the cleaning may include straightening the fibers of the canvas 2.

[0028] The material of the plastic film 4 used in Embodiment 2 is a thermoplastic resin, but is not limited to that. A hot-melt type thermoplastic resin can also be used as the material for the plastic film 4.

[0029] The melting point of the plastic film 4 should be lower than the melting point of the canvas 2. If the canvas 2 has no melting point, the melting point of the plastic film 4 should be lower than the decomposition temperature of the canvas 2. This is to prevent the surface of the canvas 2 from melting and other heat damage to the canvas 2 caused by the heating roller 7, which is heated to a temperature above the melting point of the plastic film 4 but below the melting point or decomposition temperature of the canvas 2, in order to bond the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the melting point of the plastic film 4 is lower than the lower of either the melting point of the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 or the decomposition temperature of the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1.

[0030] The effects of Embodiment 2 will now be explained. According to the production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 according to Embodiment 2, in the process of attaching the plastic film 4 (attachment process S2), the plastic film 4 is pressed onto the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 while heated above its melting point. Therefore, the plastic film 4 can be reliably heat-fused to the canvas 2. Thus, compared to the method of fixing the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2 with adhesive or fixing tape, the concern of the plastic film 4 peeling off from the canvas 2 can be reduced. In other words, in Embodiment 1, the canvas 2 and the plastic film 4 were bonded together via adhesive or double-sided tape, whereas in Embodiment 2, the plastic film 4 itself is melted and bonded to the canvas 2, so there is no intermediary such as adhesive or double-sided tape between the canvas 2 and the plastic film 4. That is, in Embodiment 1, there is a concern that the plastic film 4 may peel off from the canvas 2 during the operation of the repaired movable handrail 1, exposing the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 before repair. However, in Embodiment 2, unless a load exceeding the strength of the plastic film 4 is applied, there is little concern that the plastic film 4 will peel off from the canvas 2 during operation of the repaired movable handrail 1, exposing the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 before repair.

[0031] On the other hand, if the canvas 2 becomes so clogged with wear particles and other debris that there is no room for the melted plastic film 4 to soak in, and the canvas 2 has become almost flat, the production method according to Embodiment 1 may be preferable. Therefore, it is preferable to select the production method of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 as appropriate depending on the situation.

[0032] According to the production method for the moving handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 2, in the process of attaching the plastic film 4 (attachment process S2), the plastic film 4 is pressed between the canvas 2 of the moving handrail 1 and the heating roller 7 and cooling roller 8 in the order of a heating roller 7 controlled to a temperature above the melting point of the plastic film 4, and a cooling roller 8 controlled to a temperature below the melting point. As a result, the plastic film 4 can be continuously and reliably heat-fused to the canvas 2.

[0033] According to the production method for the movable handrail 1 of the passenger conveyor 100 of Embodiment 2, the melting point of the plastic film 4 is lower than the melting point of the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1 or the decomposition temperature of the canvas 2 of the movable handrail 1, whichever is lower. Therefore, it is possible to suppress thermal damage to the canvas 2 caused by heat-sealing the plastic film 4 to the canvas 2.

[0034] The embodiments described above can be combined as appropriate. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all modifications are intended to be within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims.

[0035] 1. Movable handrail, 1a. Canvas surface, 2. Canvas, 3. Steel tape, 4. Plastic film, 5. Release film, 6. Film roll, 7. Heating roller, 8. Cooling roller, 9. Release film winding roll, 10. Repair pressure roller, 11. Panel, 12. Main shaft, 13. Drive unit, 14. Machine room, 15. Main frame, 16. Drive chain, 17. Step member, 18. Handrail drive unit, 19. Drive roller, 20. Pressure roller, 100. Passenger conveyor, 101. Escalator, D. Handrail travel direction, S1. Removal process, S2. Attachment process, S4. Installation process.

Claims

1. A method for producing a movable handrail for a passenger conveyor, comprising the steps of: removing the movable handrail applied to the passenger conveyor from the passenger conveyor; and attaching a plastic film with a coefficient of friction higher than that of the canvas to the canvas surface on which the canvas of the movable handrail removed from the passenger conveyor is positioned.

2. The method for producing a movable handrail for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the material of the plastic film is a thermoplastic resin.

3. A method for producing a movable handrail for a passenger conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the step of attaching the plastic film, the plastic film is pressed onto the canvas of the movable handrail while heated above its melting point.

4. A method for producing a movable handrail for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the step of attaching the plastic film, the plastic film is pressed between the canvas of the movable handrail, the heating roller, and the cooling roller in the order of a heating roller controlled to a temperature above the melting point of the plastic film, and a cooling roller controlled to a temperature below the melting point.

5. The method for producing a movable handrail for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the melting point of the plastic film is lower than the melting point of the canvas of the movable handrail or the decomposition temperature of the canvas of the movable handrail, whichever is lower.

6. The method for producing a moving handrail for a passenger conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the material of the plastic film is polyester, polyamide, or polyurethane.

7. A method for producing a passenger conveyor having a movable handrail that has been repaired, comprising the steps of: removing the movable handrail that has been applied to the passenger conveyor from the passenger conveyor; attaching a plastic film with a coefficient of friction higher than that of the canvas to the canvas surface on which the canvas of the movable handrail that has been removed from the passenger conveyor is arranged; and attaching the movable handrail with the plastic film attached to the canvas to the passenger conveyor.

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