Escalator system with convertible steps for wheel chair

摘要

An escalator system has a plurality of steps connected to form an endless loop having a load-bearing run and a return run and circulatingly driven along a circulating path defined on a main frame. A movable member mounted on at least one of the steps is movable to an elevated position on the level of a tread of the step in front of that particular step in the load-bearing run. An operating mechanism is connected to the movable member for elevating the movable member. The operating mechanism comprises first and second racks mounted on the main frame at end portions of the loop. A forward-rotation pinion is mounted on the step with the movable member or on the step next to the step for engagement with the first rack, and a reverse-rotation pinion is mounted on the step with the movable member or on the step next to the step for engagement with the second rack. A drive force transmitting mechanism is connected to the operating mechanism for driving the operating mechanism in different directions by the forward-rotation pinion or the reverse-rotation pinion.