(19)
(11) EP 0 749 933 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
22.01.1997 Bulletin 1997/04

(43) Date of publication A2:
27.12.1996 Bulletin 1996/52

(21) Application number: 96115208.9

(22) Date of filing: 18.11.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6B66B 31/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 18.11.1992 JP 307432/92

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
93309230.6 / 0599556

(71) Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 210 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ogimura, Yoshio, c/o Toshiba K.K.
    Tokyo (JP)

(74) Representative: Muir, Ian R. 
HASELTINE LAKE & CO. Hazlitt House 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1AT
London WC2A 1AT (GB)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 23 - 09 - 1996 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Dual-purpose escalator for wheelchair


(57) A dual-purpose escalator for a wheelchair (4) including a plurality of steps (9) linked in an endless form and a main-frame (1) having a running path for the steps. The steps include a plurality of specialized steps (10, 11, 12) for loading a wheelchair (4). The escalator further includes an activating apparatus (31) provided on the running path for causing the specialized steps to alter a configuration thereof to a first state for a wheelchair loading operation mode or to restore the configuration to a second state for normal operation mode. Each of the specialized steps includes a toothed rotor (14, 30). The activating apparatus includes an engagement member (13a, 31) for engaging with the toothed rotor. Each of the toothed rotors is rotated by engaging with the engagement member for causing one of the specialized steps to alter the configuration to the first state when the steps are running in the running path in the wheelchair loading operation mode, respectively. The engagement member includes a base (32) and a plurality of pins (33) set in parallel on the base (32) at a specified pitch for engaging with the toothed rotor (30). The pin (33a) engaging firstly with the toothed rotor is set on the base (32) so as to be capable of relative displacement from the toothed rotor (30).







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