Patent Description:
The existing automatic transport devices, such as escalators and moving walkways, are provided with handrails. The handrail is driven by the handrail drive wheel, wherein the handrail drive wheel is coupled with the step tread drive wheel through chains on the motor room side, and the step tread drive wheel is further driven by the drive motor in the motor room through chains, while there is conventionally no the handrail drive wheel arranged on the transmission side opposite to the motor room side. When escalators and moving walkways are progressing to longer distances, such as <NUM> meters or longer, the driving force provided by the handrail drive wheel on the motor room side alone may be insufficient, which will cause the handrail to slip, thus affecting the passenger experience and safety. <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> provide handrail drive devices located at the lower end of an escalator or moving walkway. <CIT> provides an outdoor escalator with a device that automatically adjusts handrail tension.

The object of the present application is to solve or at least alleviate problems existing in the prior art.

According to one aspect, an automatic transport device is provided according to claim <NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the second transmission member comprises a first section and a second section extending between the second handrail drive wheel and the step driven wheel respectively, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel are supported by the first and second sections of the second transmission member respectively.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the first and second wheels are arranged vertically up and down.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the first and second wheels are located on a first side of the floating body, and a counterweight is provided on a second side of the floating body.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the floating body is arranged in a vertically movable manner on a floating device bracket that is fixed to a mounting frame between the second handrail drive wheel and the step driven wheel, wherein the floating device bracket can be mounted at any of a plurality of mounting positions on the mounting frame.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the floating device bracket comprises one or more vertically extended guide columns, and the floating body comprises a linear bearing sleeved on the guide column.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, a first guide wheel set is provided between the floating gear device and the second handrail drive wheel, the first guide wheel set comprising a pair of guide wheels respectively engaged with the first and second sections of the second transmission member, and a second guide wheel set is provided between the floating gear device and the step driven wheel, the second guide wheel set comprising another pair of guide wheels respectively engaged with the first and second sections of the second transmission member.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the respective guide wheels of the first and second guide wheel sets are arranged vertically up and down.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the upper parts of the respective guide wheels of the first and second guide wheel sets are engaged with the first and second sections of the second transmission member, and the positions of the first and second guide wheel sets are arranged such that the first and second section of the second transmission member are M-shaped.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the positions of the first guide wheel set, the second guide wheel set and the floating gear device are arranged such that the ratio of the horizontal displacement of the step driven wheel to the vertical displacement of the floating gear device is within the range of <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the first transmission member is a step chain wrapping around the step drive wheel and the step driven wheel, and the first tensioning device is a spring mechanism connected to a movable bracket supporting the step driven wheel, wherein the movable bracket is movable horizontally, and the spring mechanism tends to move the movable bracket and the step driven wheel thereon in a direction away from the step drive wheel.

Optionally, in an embodiment of the automatic transport device, the automatic transport device is a moving walkway or an escalator, wherein the automatic transport device has a length greater than <NUM> meters.

The automatic transport device according to the embodiments of the present invention provides sufficient belt driving force when the belt length increases.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the disclosure of the present application will become easier to understand. Those skilled in the art would easily understand that these drawings are for the purpose of illustration, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. In addition, in the figures, similar numerals are used to denote similar components, where:.

<FIG> respectively show a first side and a second side of an automatic transport device that are opposite to each other. The first side is also referred to as the motor room side, with a main drive device arranged underneath for driving the automatic transport device. The second side is also referred to as the transmission side, with some transmission wheels arranged underneath. Depending on the type of the automatic transport device, the first and second sides thereof can be on the same horizontal plane or on two different floors. When the automatic transport device is a moving walkway, the first and second sides thereof are on the same horizontal plane. When the automatic transport device is an escalator, its first side is generally on the higher level and the second side thereof is on the lower level. The automatic transport device is provided on its first side, for example, underneath its cover plate, with: a main drive device <NUM>, a step drive wheel <NUM> and a first handrail drive wheel <NUM> in transmission connection with the main drive device <NUM>. More specifically, the main drive device <NUM> may be a motor that drives the step drive wheel <NUM> through a belt <NUM>, and the step drive wheel <NUM> further includes a small gear <NUM>, which drives a small gear <NUM> of the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> through a chain <NUM> to drive the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> to rotate. Therefore, both the step drive wheel <NUM> and the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> are powered by the main drive device <NUM> to rotate. In addition, both the step drive wheel <NUM> and the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> are fixedly arranged. The rotation of the step drive wheel <NUM> will drive a first transmission member that wraps around it, such as a step chain <NUM> or any belt-based transmission member, thereby driving the step treads connected to the first transmission member to move. The rotation of the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> will drive a handrail <NUM> that wraps around it, where the handrail <NUM> further wraps a first guide wheel <NUM>.

The automatic transport device is provided on its second side, for example, underneath the cover plate, with: a step driven wheel <NUM> and a second handrail drive wheel <NUM> in transmission connection with the step driven wheel <NUM>. On the second side, the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> is wrapped around by the handrail <NUM>, while the step driven wheel <NUM> is wrapped around by the step chain <NUM>, where the handrail <NUM> further wraps a second guide wheel <NUM>. The second handrail drive wheel <NUM> is fixedly arranged. However, in order to maintain the tension of the first transmission member, such as the step chain <NUM>, the step driven wheel <NUM> is arranged to be movable, and a first tensioning device is provided. The first tensioning device can adjust the movement of the step driven wheel <NUM> relative to the step drive wheel <NUM>, thereby maintaining the first transmission member (i.e., the step chain <NUM>) between the step drive wheel <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM> in tension. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, for example, the first tensioning device is the spring mechanism <NUM>, where the step driven wheel <NUM> is tend to move horizontally to the left under the action of the spring mechanism <NUM>. During the long-term use of the automatic transport device, the step chain <NUM> will extend, but the movement trend of the step driven wheel <NUM> will ensure that the tension on the first transmission member <NUM> will still be maintained even when the step chain <NUM> is extended. In addition, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> is in transmission connection with the step driven wheel <NUM> through a second transmission member, and a second tensioning device is provided. The second tensioning device can maintain the second transmission member in tension when the step driven wheel <NUM> moves, thereby ensuring that the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> can receive driving force from the step driven wheel <NUM>, so that the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> and the first handrail drive wheel <NUM> jointly provide driving force to the handrail <NUM> on the two sides of the automatic transport device. With this arrangement, sufficient and balanced driving force can still be provided to the handrail <NUM> even when the automatic transport device has a relatively long distance, e.g., greater than <NUM> meters or greater than <NUM> meters, making the handrail thus arranged less likely to slip, especially when a great many passengers are in contact with the handrail on the automatic transport device. In some embodiments, the second transmission member is a transmission chain <NUM>, or any other suitable belt transmission member. The second tensioning device may be a floating gear device <NUM> detailed below, or any other suitable tensioner for belt transmission member.

With continued reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the specific structure of the floating gear device <NUM>, which can be used as a second tensioning device, is shown. The floating gear device <NUM> comprises: a floating body <NUM> and a first wheel <NUM> on the floating body, wherein the bottom of the first wheel <NUM> is wrapped around and supported by a second transmission member, such as a transmission chain <NUM>, and the floating body <NUM> is mounted in the track to float up and down. With this arrangement, since the second transmission member, such as the transmission chain <NUM>, supports the floating gear device <NUM>, the transmission chain <NUM> can be continuously maintained in tension during movement of the step driven wheel <NUM>, thereby ensuring the transmission of force from the step driven wheel <NUM> to the second handrail drive wheel <NUM>. In some embodiments, the floating body <NUM> is also provided with a second wheel <NUM>, the bottom of which is also wrapped around and supported by the transmission chain <NUM>. In some embodiments, the transmission chain <NUM> includes first and second sections <NUM> and <NUM> extending between the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM> respectively, where the first and second sections <NUM> and <NUM> have opposite movement directions. When only the first wheel <NUM> is included, the first wheel <NUM> can be supported by any one of the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM>. When the first wheel <NUM> and the second wheel <NUM> are included, the first wheel <NUM> and the second wheel <NUM> can be wrapped around and supported by the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> of the second transmission member respectively. In some embodiments, the first wheel <NUM> and the second wheel <NUM> are arranged vertically up and down. Alternatively, the first wheel <NUM> and the second wheel <NUM> can also be staggered vertically. In some embodiments, the first wheel <NUM> and the second wheel <NUM> are located on the first side of the floating body <NUM>, while a counterweight <NUM> can be arranged on the second side of the floating body <NUM>. The number and weight of the counterweight <NUM> can be adjusted, so as to adjust the preset tensioning force on the transmission chain <NUM> accordingly. In an alternative embodiment, the floating body <NUM> may have a relatively large weight, so as to reduce or even eliminate the need for counterweight <NUM>. In some embodiments, the floating body <NUM> can be arranged in a vertically movable manner on a floating device bracket <NUM>, while the floating device bracket <NUM> is fixed to a mounting frame between the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM>, e.g., on a cross beam <NUM> between these two. The cross beam <NUM> may have a plurality of mounting positions, such as a plurality of mounting holes or a waist-shaped hole, so that the floating device bracket <NUM> can be mounted at any of the mounting positions between the second handrail drive wheel <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM>, thereby enabling predetermined mounting position of the floating device bracket <NUM>. In some embodiments, the floating device bracket <NUM> includes two vertically extended guide columns <NUM>, and the two sides of the floating body include linear bearings <NUM> sleeved on the guide columns <NUM>. For example, as shown in the figures, each side may include two linear bearings <NUM> arranged at the upper and lower positions. In an alternative embodiment, the number and positions of the guide columns can be changed. Or, alternatively, any other suitable track can be selected.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, in some embodiments, a first guide wheel set <NUM> is provided between the floating gear device <NUM> and the second handrail drive wheel <NUM>, where the first guide wheel set <NUM> includes a pair of guide wheels <NUM>, <NUM> that respectively engage with the first and second sections <NUM> and <NUM> of the second transmission member. In some embodiments, a second guide wheel set <NUM> is provided between the floating gear device <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM>, wherein the second guide wheel set <NUM> includes another pair of guide wheels <NUM>, <NUM> that respectively engage with the first and second sections <NUM> and <NUM> of the second transmission member. In some embodiments, the respective guide wheels of the first guide wheel set <NUM> and those of the second guide wheel set <NUM> are arranged vertically up and down. In some embodiments, the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> of the transmission chain <NUM> wrap around the respective guide wheels of the first guide wheel set <NUM> and the second guide wheel set <NUM> from above, and the positions of the first guide wheel set <NUM>, the second guide wheel set <NUM> and the floating gear device <NUM> are arranged such that the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> of the second transmission member are M-shaped. Although not shown, it can be conceived that the first section <NUM> and the second section <NUM> of the second transmission member may be V-shaped when the first and second guide wheel sets <NUM> and <NUM> are not provided.

In some embodiments, the second guide wheel set <NUM> is mounted on a movable bracket <NUM> together with the step driven wheel <NUM>, where the movable bracket <NUM> can be moved, for example, horizontally. The first tensioning device is a spring mechanism <NUM> connected to the movable bracket <NUM>, and the spring mechanism <NUM> tends to move the movable bracket <NUM> and the step driven wheel <NUM> thereon in a direction away from the step drive wheel <NUM>, e.g., to the left in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, during the service life of an automatic transport device, the ratio of the horizontal displacement of the step driven wheel <NUM> to the vertical displacement of the floating gear device <NUM> can be between <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the step driven wheel <NUM> and the small gear <NUM> thereon can move up to <NUM> to the left with the stretching of the first transmission member, while the floating gear device <NUM> can rise by <NUM>, where the ratio of which is about <NUM>:<NUM>. This guarantees the tensioning force of the second transmission member <NUM> and the transmission of normal driving force.

The automatic transport device according to the embodiments of the present invention provides sufficient belt driving force when the belt length increases and the number of passengers in touch with the handrail increases, thereby making the handrail less susceptible to slipping.

Claim 1:
An automatic transport device, comprising a first side and a second side opposite to each other, the first side being provided with a main drive device (<NUM>), a step drive wheel (<NUM>) and a first handrail drive wheel (<NUM>) in transmission connection with the main drive device;
wherein, the second side is provided with:
a step driven wheel (<NUM>);
a second handrail drive wheel (<NUM>) in transmission connection with the step driven wheel, wherein a handrail (<NUM>) of the automatic transport device wraps around the first handrail drive wheel and the second handrail drive wheel;
a first tensioning device (<NUM>) and a first transmission member (<NUM>), wherein the first tensioning device is capable of adjusting the movement of the step driven wheel relative to the step drive wheel, thereby maintaining the first transmission member between the step drive wheel and the step driven wheel in tension;
a second tensioning device (<NUM>) and a second transmission member (<NUM>), wherein the second handrail drive wheel is in transmission connection with the step driven wheel through the second transmission member, and the second tensioning device is capable of maintaining the second transmission member in tension during movement of the step driven wheel;
wherein the second tensioning device is a floating gear device acting on the second transmission member, and wherein the floating gear device comprises: a floating body (<NUM>) and a first wheel (<NUM>) on the floating body, the bottom of the first wheel being wrapped around and supported by the second transmission member, and the floating body being mounted in a track so as to float up and down; and characterized in that;
the floating body further comprises a second wheel (<NUM>), the bottom of which is wrapped around and supported by the second transmission member.