Patent ID: 7958986

Claim:
A device for driving a handrail of a passenger conveyor, comprising: a handrail drive member configured to engage a handrail; a motor associated with the drive member such that a driving output of the motor is exclusively for moving the handrail drive member; a handrail controller coupled with the motor for controlling operation of the motor to ensure that an associated handrail moves at a desired speed; a handrail speed sensor that provides an indication of a speed of the associated handrail to the handrail controller; and a step chain speed sensor that provides an indication of a speed of an associated step chain to the handrail controller; and wherein the handrail controller controls operation of the motor responsive to at least one of the sensor indications and the handrail controller is connected with a main controller of an associated passenger conveyor, a connection between the main controller and the handrail controller comprising a power supply to the device, the main controller being configured to determine when to supply power to at least the motor through the power supply.