Description of the Related Art In a passenger conveyor such as an escalator and a moving walkway, a plurality of moving steps on which passengers ride are connected in series by a step chain. The moving steps travels along the guide rails with guide rollers attached thereto, which roll on the guide rails, respectively.

Figs. 13 and 14 show an example of a passenger conveyor. First guide rollers 2 and second guide rollers 3 attached to a step 1 roll on a first pair of right and left guide rails 4 and a second pair of right and left guide rails 5, respectively.

The first guide roller 2 is formed so as not to contact with a vertical wall 4a projecting upward from a flat rolling surface of the first guide rail 4. Thus, no guide shoe is attached to a side surface of the first guide roller 2.

A pair of right and left support members 6L and 6R support the first and second guide rails 4 and 5, respectively.

These support members 6L and 6R are secured on main frames 8L and 8R, and connected each other with a connecting member 7 horizontally extending in the right and left direction.

Each of the pair of right and left support members 6L and 6R has only one fixing portion for fixing the first guide rail 4 thereon.

When the pair of right and left support members 6L and 6R are assembled, after completion of right and left main

frames 8L and 8R, the support members 6L and 6R are symmetrically positioned about a centerline in the right and left direction, and then fastened to the main frames 8L and 8R with bolts and nuts.

A pair of step chains 9 connecting a plurality of steps 1 in series are configured as a so-called conveyor chain. These step chains 9 comprise outer link plates 9a, inner link plates 9b, connecting shafts for connecting the plates 9a and 9b, and rollers rotatably supported on the connecting shafts. Among these rollers, the rollers supported by a horizontal support shaft la of the step 1, i. e. the horizontal support shaft la also serves as the connecting shaft, serves as the first guide roller 2.

Guide shoes 11 attached on both lateral side surfaces lb of the respective steps 1 slide on an inner surfaces of a pair of right and left skirt guards 10L and 10R, thereby locate the steps 1 in position in the right and left direction.

In another example of the passenger conveyor shown in Figs. 15 and 16, first and second guide rollers 12 and 13 rotatably supported on the step 1 roll on a pair of right and left guide rails 14, 15 and 16, respectively.

A guide shoes 12a attached on an outer side surface of the first guide rollers 12 slide on a vertical wall 14a of the guide rail 14 and a vertical wall 16a of the guide rail 16, so that the step 1 is located in position in the right and left direction.

A step chain connecting the plurality of steps 1 in series is configured as a so-called roller chain 22. Link plates 22a of the roller chain 22 do not have rollers which roll on the guide rails 14 and 16, similar to the first guide roller 12. The guide roller 12 is separately mounted on the horizontal support shaft la of the step 1.

A pair of right and left support members 17L and 17R support the pair of right and left guide rails 14,15, and 16.

The support members 17L and 17R are fixed on longitudinal members 19 of main frames 18 and a horizontal beam 20.

Each of the guide rails 14,15, and 16 is attached on the right and left support members 17L and 17R only at a single fixing

portion.

In the passenger conveyor shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the guide shoes 11 disposed on the right side and left surfaces 1b of each of the steps 1 slide along the inner surfaces of the pair of right and left skirt guards 10L and 10R, so that the step 1 is located in position in the right and left direction.

Since each of the pair of right and left skirt guards 10L and 10R cannot be manufactured as a continuous single strip of plate, the skirt guards 10L and 10R have seams thereon. Thus, whenever the guide shoes 11 slide on the seams, hitting sound is generated.

In order to prevent the guide roller 2 from contacting the vertical wall 4a of the guide rail 4, the pair of right and left guide rails 4 must be located in position in the right and left direction with great dimensional precision. Accordingly, this is time and labor consuming in manufacturing such a passenger conveyor.

On the other hand, in the passenger conveyor shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the guide shoe 12a disposed on the outer side surface of the guide roller 12 slide along the vertical wall 14a of the guide rails 14 and the vertical wall 16a of the guide rails 16, so that the step 1 is located in position in the right and left direction.

Then, the pair of right and left guide rails 12 must be located in position in the right and left direction with great dimensional precision. Accordingly, this is time and labor consuming in manufacturing such a passenger conveyor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a passenger conveyor that assures accurate guiding of moving steps, and easily location of guide rails in position in a right and left direction, while eliminating the above disadvantages of the conventional art.

In order to achieve the above objects, a passenger conveyor according to claim 1 comprises: a step chain which is

endlessly extended and connects a plurality of steps which passengers get on and off; horizontal support shafts to which the step chain is connected, the horizontal support shafts being securely disposed on the steps and extended in a right and left direction; step support rollers rotatably supported by the horizontal support shafts; and a pair of right and left guide rails on which the step support rollers roll ; wherein one of the pair of right and left guide rails has a vertical wall for inhibiting a displacement of the step support rollers in the right and left direction, and the step support rollers have on a side surface thereof a guide shoe to be slid along the vertical wall.

One of the pair of right and left guide rails has a pair of right and left vertical walls upwardly projecting from a rolling surface are disposed to sandwich therebetween the step support roller in a direction of a rotational axis thereof, i. e. in a right and left direction, and the step support roller has a pair of guide shoes on side surfaces thereof which slide along the pair of right and left vertical walls, respectively.

The other of the pair of right and left guide rails have no vertical walls for allowing a displacement of the step support roller in the right and left direction.

The step chain is configured as a so-called conveyor chain having rollers which roll on the pair of right and left guide rails and rotatably supported on shafts which connect link plates of the conveyor chain. Among these rollers, the roller supported on the horizontal support shaft serves as the step support roller.

The rollers except the step support roller have no guide shoe.

The step chain may be configured as a so-called roller chain, which connects the horizontal support shafts by link plates thereof, and which have no rollers rolling on the pair of right and left guide rails.

The passenger conveyor further includes support members for supporting the pair of right and left guide rails, and the support members have first fixing portion on which the

guide rails having the vertical walls are fixed when the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain, and second fixing portion on which the guide rails having the vertical walls are fixed when the step chain is configured as the roller chain.

In the passenger conveyors according to the present invention, the guide rollers are located in position by means of the vertical walls disposed on one of the pair of right and left guide rails. Thus, only one of the pair of right and left guide rails must be located in position with a strict positioning precision in the right and left direction, while such a strict positioning precision in the right and left direction is not required for the other of the pair of the right and left guide rails.

As a result, the time required for manufacturing the passenger conveyor can be reduced.

Since a moving of the steps can be surely guided by one of the right and left guide rails, no hitting sound is generated which may be caused by steps and skirt guards.

The guide roller is sandwiched between the pair of right and left vertical walls disposed on the guide rail, whereby a guide precision of the guide roller can be further enhanced, as well as a strength when the guide roller is guided can be improved.

The guide shoes disposed on the side surfaces of the guide roller allow an abrasion of the side surfaces of the guide rollers to be prevented to thereby maintain the enhanced guide precision for the guide roller for a long time.

Since the guide shoes are disposed only on the guide roller supported by the horizontal support shaft of the step, a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In addition, the support members for supporting the pair of right and left guide rails have the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions on which the guide rails having the vertical walls can be fixed. Therefore, the support members can be commonly used, in the respective cases where the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain and the roller chain.

As a result, a manufacturing cost of the passenger conveyor can

be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front sectional view schematically showing a passenger conveyor according to the present invention in which a step chain thereof is configured as a conveyor chain; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view of a right guide roller shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front sectional view of a left guide roller shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of a roller of the conveyor chain; Fig. 5 is a front sectional view of the first guide roller and the conveyor chain on the right side; Fig. 6 is a front sectional view schematically showing a passenger conveyor according to the present invention in which a step chain thereof is configured as a roller chain; Fig. 7 is an enlarged front sectional view of a right guide roller shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an enlarged front sectional view of a left guide roller shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a side view of the first guide roller and the conveyor chair on the right side; Fig. 10 (a) is a front view showing an assembling procedure of a guide rail support member and a guide rail ; Fig. 10 (b) is a side view showing an assembling procedure of the guide rail support member and the guide rail ; Fig. 10 (c) is an enlarged front view of an essential part of an assembling procedure of the guide rail support member and the guide rail ; Fig. 11 (a) is a front view showing an assembling procedure of the guide rail support member and a main frame; Fig. 11 (b) is a side view showing an assembling procedure of the guide rail and the main frame; Fig. 12 is a front view of an accomplished truss; Fig. 13 is a front sectional view schematically showing a

conventional passenger conveyor in which a step chain thereof is configured as a conveyor chain; Fig. 14 is an enlarged front sectional view of a right guide roller shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a front sectional view schematically showing a conventional passenger conveyor in which a step chain thereof is configured as a roller chain; and Fig. 16 is an enlarged front sectional view of a right guide roller shown in Fig. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of a passenger conveyor according to the present invention are described hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 1 to 12. In the description below, the parts having the same structure and the same function have the same reference numbers, and redundant description will be omitted.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, a passenger conveyor according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described, in which a step chain thereof is configured as a so-called conveyor chain.

A passenger conveyor shown in Fig. 1 is an escalator 100.

In Fig. 1, the upper part is the forward running side, while the lower part is the backward running side.

The step 1 includes a pair of right and left first guide rollers (step support rollers) 30L and 30R which are rotatably supported by a horizontal support shaft la extending in the right and left direction, and a pair of right and left second guide rollers 3,3 which are rotatably supported by a horizontal support shaft 3a extending in the right and left direction.

The first guide roller 30R on the right side in Fig. 1 rolls on a first guide rail 41 on the right side. The first guide roller 30L on the left side in Fig. 1 rolls on a first guide rail 42 on the left side.

Similarly, the pair of right and left second guide rollers 3 roll on a pair of right and left second guide rails 43, respectively.

The first guide rails 41 and 42, and the second guide rails 43 are supported by a pair of right and left guide rail support members 50L and 50R.

As shown in Fig. 2 in enlargement, the right first guide rail 41 has a pair of right and left vertical walls 41b which are continuously disposed on a roll surface 41a on which the first guide roller 30R rolls. Near the roll surface 41a, the first guide rail 41 has substantially a U-shaped cross-section.

The first guide rail 41 is fastened to a bolt hole 51a by a spacer 44 and a bolt nut 45. The bolt hole 51a is formed on a first fixing portion positioned on a left part of a support portion 51 of the guide rail support member 50R.

The first guide rail 41 on the backward running side is fastened to a support portion 55 of the guide rail support member 50R. An fixing portion and a fastening structure of the first guide rail 41 on the backward running side are the same as those of the first guide rail 41 on the forward running side.

As shown in Fig. 3 in enlargement, the left first guide rail 42 is formed by an angle material having substantially an L-shaped cross section. The left first guide rail 42 is secured on a first fixing portion disposed on a right part of a support portion 52 of the guide rail support member 50L such that a vertical wall portion 42a of the left first guide rail 42 is engaged in a longitudinal groove 52a of the support portion 52.

Thus, the left first guide roller 30L rolls on a surface of a lateral wall portion 42b of the left first guide rail 42.

The left first guide rail 42 on the backward running side is fastened to a support portion 56 of the guide rail support member 50. An fixing portion and a fastening structure of the first guide rail 42 on the backward running side are the same as those of the first guide rail 42 on the forward running side.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the step chain 9 connecting the plurality of steps 1 is configured as a so-called conveyor chain. The step chain 9 has rollers 35 rotatably supported on each shaft connecting the outer link plates 9a and the inner link plates 9b, respectively. These rollers 35 also roll on the rolling

surface 41a of the first guide rail 41.

Of these rollers 35, the roller 35 supported by the horizontal support shaft la of the step 1 serves as the first guide roller 30L or 30R.

As shown in Fig. 2, guide shoes 31 are disposed on side surfaces of the right first guide roller 30R. The guide shoes 31 are slid along the inner wall surfaces of the vertical walls 41b of the right first guide rail 41, so that the step 1 is located in position in the right and left direction.

On the other hand, since the left first guide roller 30L has no vertical wall, the guide roller 30L is not located in position in the right and left direction. Thus, no guide shoe is disposed on side surfaces of the left first guide roller 30L.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, since the pair of right and left second guide rails 3 and 3 are spaced apart from the vertical walls 43a of the second guide rails 43 in the right and left direction, the second guide rails 3 and 3 are not located in position in the right and left direction.

The pair of right and left guide rail support members 50L and 50R are formed by pressing a thick steel plate. The right guide rail support member 50R includes the support portions 51 and 55 for supporting the right first guide rail 41, and support portions 53 and 54 for supporting the right second guide rail 43.

The left guide rail support member 50L includes the support portions 52 and 56 for supporting the left first guide rail 42, and the support portions 53 and 54 for supporting the left second guide rail 43.

The support portions 51 and 55 for supporting the right first guide rail 41 are formed relatively wider in the right and left direction, and have first fixing portion for attaching the right first guide rail 41 on the left side thereof when the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain 9 as described above, and have second fixing portion for attaching the right first guide rail 41 on the right side thereof when the step chain is configured as a roller chain as described below.

Similarly, the support portions 52 and 56 for supporting

the left first guide rail 42 are formed relatively wider in the right and left direction, and have first fixing portion for attaching the left first guide rail 42 on the right side thereof when the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain 9 as described above, and have second fixing portion for attaching the left first guide rail 42 on the left side thereof when the step chain is configured as a roller chain as described below.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, a passenger conveyor according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described, in which the step chain thereof is configured as a so-called roller chain.

A passenger conveyor shown in Fig. 6 is an escalator 110.

In Fig. 6, the upper step 1 is positioned on an forward running side, while the lower step 1 is positioned on a backward running side.

The step 1 includes a pair of right and left first guide rollers (step support rollers) 60L and 60R which are rotatably supported by the horizontal support shaft la extending in the right and left direction, and the pair of right and left second guide rollers 3 and 3 which are rotatably supported by the horizontal support shaft 3a extending in the right and left direction.

The first guide roller 60R on the right side in Fig. 6 rolls on the first guide rail 41 on the right side. The first guide roller 60L on the left side in Fig. 6 rolls on the first guide rail 42 on the left side.

Similarly, the pair of right and left guide rollers 3 roll on the pair of right and left second guide rails 43.

Since the step chain is configured as the roller chain 22, the pair of right and left first guide rollers 60L and 60R are positioned outer than the pair of right and left first guide rollers 30L and 30R of the escalator 100 shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance therewith, as shown in Fig. 7 in enlargement, the right first guide rail 41 is fastened to a boit hole 51b by the spacer 44 and the bolt nut 45. The bolt hole 51b is formed on a second fixing portion positioned on a right

part (outside) of the support portion 51 of the guide rail support member 50R.

The first guide rail 42 on the backward running side is fastened to the bolt hole 51b in exactly the same way.

As shown in Fig. 8, the left first guide rail 42 is secured on a second fixing portion positioned on a left part (outside) of the support portion 52 of the support member 50L.

The left first guide rail 42 is secured on the support portion 52 such that the vertical wall portion 42a of the first guide rail 42 is upwardly extended.

The left first guide rail 42 on the backward running side is secured on the support portion 52 in exactly the same way.

As shown in Fig. 9, the step chain connecting the plurality of steps 1 is configured as the roller chain 22. The roller chain 22 includes link plates 22a engaged with the horizontal support shaft la of the step 1 supporting the first guide rollers 60L and 60R, outer link plates 22b, and inner link plates 22c. The outer link plates 22b and the inner link plates 22c have a cocoon shape and extend between the link plates 22a. Rollers fitted on a shaft connecting these link plates are upwardly spaced apart from the roll surfaces of the first guide rails 41 and 42.

In other words, the pair of right and left first guide rollers 60L and 60R are not constituent elements of the roller chain 22, but are step support rollers separated therefrom.

As shown in Fig. 7 in enlargement, guide shoes 61 and 61 are disposed on side surfaces of the right first guide roller 60R. The guide shoes 61 are slid along the inner wall surfaces of the vertical walls 41b of the right first guide rail 41, so that the step 1 is located in position in the right and left direction.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 8 in enlargement, since the left first guide roller 60L is spaced apart from the vertical wall 42a of the left first guide rail 42 in the right and left direction, the first guide roller 60L is not located in position in the right and left direction. Thus, no guide shoe is disposed on side surfaces of the left first guide roller 60L.

As described above, in the passenger conveyors 100 and

110 according to the present invention, the pair or right and left first guide rollers 41 and 42, and the pair of right and left guide roller support members 50L and 50R can be commonly used, in the respective cases where the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain 9 and the roller chain 22.

Assembling procedures of the pair of right and left guide roller support members 50L and 50R, and the respective guide rails 41,42, and 43, are described below with reference to Figs.

10 to 12.

An assembling procedure of a side truss unit 70L when the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain 9 is described with reference to Fig. 10. In the pair of front and rear guide rail support members 50L and 50L on the left side, the guide rail 42 is bridged between the support portions 52 and 56, and the guide rail 43 is bridged between the support portions 53 and 54.

Then, the guide rails 42 and 43 are welded to be secured on the guide rail support members 50L and 50L.

As shown in Fig. 10 (c), the left first guide rail 42 is secured on the first fixing portion such that the vertical wall portion 42a is engaged in the groove 52a of the support portion 52.

As shown in Fig. 8 in enlargement, when the step chain is configured as the roller chain 22, the left first guide rail 42 is secured along a corner of the left guide rail support member 50L such that the vertical wall portion 42a of the left first guide rail 42 is upwardly extended.

As shown in Fig. 11, after left main beams 71 and 71 constructing a truss are installed, the left side truss unit 70L is located in position relative to the main beams 71 and 71, and is secured thereon.

Further, after right main beams 72 and 72 constructing a right truss are installed, the right side truss unit 70R is located in position relative to the main beams 72 and 72, and is secured thereon.

Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 12, the left side truss unit 70L is connected to a right side truss unit 70R through a

horizontal beam 73 to thereby accomplish the truss.

Finally, the support portions 51 and 55 of the right guide rail support member 50R are secured on the first fixing portions, with the right first guide rail 41 being located in position in the right and left direction.

That is, in the passenger conveyors as the escalators 100 and 110 according to the present invention, the right first guide rollers 30R and 60R are located in position by means of the pair of vertical walls 41b and 41b disposed on the right first guide rail 41, while the left first guide rollers 30L and 60L are not located in position in the right and left direction.

Thus, only the right first guide rail 41 must be located in position with a strict positioning precision in the right and left direction, while such a strict positioning precision in the right and left direction is not required for the left first guide rail 42.

As a result, the time required for manufacturing the elevators 100 and 110 can be reduced.

The right first guide rollers 30R and 60R are sandwiched between the pair of right and left vertical walls 41b in a direction of rotational axes of the first guide rollers 30R and 60R.

Accordingly, not only a guide precision of the step 1 can be enhanced, but also a guide strength of the step 1 in the right and left direction can be improved.

The guide shoes 31 and 61 disposed on the side surfaces of the respective right guide rollers 30R and 60R are slid along the pair of vertical walls 41b and 41b of the first guide rail 41.

Therefore, no hitting sound is generated in the elevators 100 and 110, while such hitting sounds are generated in the conventional elevator shown in Fig. 13 because of the guide shoes 11 disposed on the step 1 hitting the pair of skirt guards 10L and 10R. Further, the enhanced guide precision of the step 1 can be maintained for a long time, with preventing an abrasion of the side surfaces of the right first guide rollers 30R and 60R.

In addition, the guide shoes 31 and 61 are disposed only on the guide rollers 30R and 60R supported by the horizontal

support shafts la of the step 1, whereby a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The support portions 51 and 55 of the right guide rail support member 50R for supporting the right first guide rails 41 respectively have the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions. The support portions 52 and 56 of the left guide rail support member 50L for supporting the left first guide rail 42 respectively have the first fixing portions and the second fixing portions. Accordingly, the pair of guide rail support members 50L and 50R can be commonly used, in the respective cases where the step chain is configured as the conveyor chain 9 and the roller chain 22. As a result, a manufacturing cost can be reduced.

The pair of right and left guide rail support members 50L and 50R, and the guide rails 41,42, and 43 are integrally assembled to form the pair of right and left side truss units 70L and 70R, and then the side truss units 70L and 70R are combined with each other. Thus, the time required for manufacturing the escalators 100 and 110 can be remarkably reduced, with improving the positioning precision of the respective guide rails 41, 42, and 43.

Although the embodiments of the passenger conveyor according to the present invention have been described above in detail, the present invention is not limited thereto and various changes and modifications are naturally possible.

For example, although the escalators 100 and 110 are exemplified in the above embodiments, the present invention can be of course applied to a moving walkway.