Integrated Guide Rail Cleaning Device for Passenger Conveyors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guide rail cleaning devices for passenger conveyors require significant time and man-hours to clean both driving-roller and trailing-roller guide rails, especially when driving rollers are incorporated within drive chains, and existing solutions are either inefficient or impractical for such configurations.
Innovation Solution
A guide rail cleaning device with integrated first and second cleaning portions, including sponges and springs, mounted to a removably attached plate on the step shaft, allowing simultaneous cleaning of driving-roller and trailing-roller guide rails through a single travel of the steps without interfering with the step chains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cleaning device is designed to simultaneously clean both driving-roller guide rails and trailing-roller guide rails, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but the device becomes large and complex requiring significant installation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cleaning functions for both driving-roller guide rails and trailing-roller guide rails into a single integrated cleaning device. The mounting plate structure allows both first cleaning members (for driving-roller guide rails) and second cleaning members (for trailing-roller guide rails) to be mounted together, enabling simultaneous cleaning of both rail types during one conveyor operation cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning device is designed with universal applicability to different conveyor configurations. The mounting plate can be removably mounted to step shafts, and the cleaning members are positioned to accommodate various rail arrangements, allowing the same device to clean both driving-roller and trailing-roller guide rails effectively.
2Loss of time
If a cleaning device with large frame body is used to clean both types of guide rails simultaneously, then cleaning time is reduced, but installation time and man-hours increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is segmented into modular components including a mounting plate, first cleaning members, and second cleaning members. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing, assembly, and installation compared to a monolithic large frame body design, while still maintaining the capability to clean both guide rail types simultaneously.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cleaning mechanisms are fixed to step driving chains, then the cleaning function is integrated, but the cleaning tools require long working time to clean both guide rails
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning members are positioned and configured in advance on the mounting plate structure, which is then mounted to the step shaft. This preliminary arrangement ensures that both cleaning functions are ready to operate simultaneously when the conveyor runs, eliminating the sequential cleaning approach that would require longer working time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device significantly reduces cleaning time by enabling simultaneous cleaning of both types of guide rails in a single step travel, improving efficiency and reducing installation complexity, while being adaptable to various conveyor structures.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (112, 122) configured to apply an urging force to the cleaning member (111, 121)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a guide rail cleaning device, including: a first cleaning portion including a first cleaning member configured to clean a driving-roller guide rail for a step; a second cleaning portion including a second cleaning member configured to clean a trailing-roller guide rail; and a mounting plate. The mounting plate is removably mounted to a step shaft having a driving roller fixed thereto. The first cleaning portion and the second cleaning portion are mounted to the mounting plate. The first cleaning member is brought into abutment against the driving-roller guide rail. The second cleaning member is brought into abutment against the trailing-roller guide rail. With this, the driving-roller guide rail and the trailing-roller guide rail are simultaneously cleaned through use of the first cleaning member and the second cleaning member.