# US 12,180,037 B2 · Handrail-treatment device for passenger-conveying installations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,037 B2 - Document ID: US12180037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/005,578 - Filed: 2021-06-17 - Published: 2023-10-05 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-17 - Assignees: Inventio AG - Applicants: Inventio AG - Inventors: Wolfgang Bauer; Michael Haider; Wolfgang Neszmerak - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180037B2 ## CPC - B66B 31/02: for handrails - B66B 23/24: Handrails (driving gear therefor B66B23/02; tensioning means therefor B66B23/16; preventing jamming thereof by foreign objects B66B29/04; accessories therefor B66B31/02) - B66B 21/04: linear type - B66B 21/10: Moving walkways - B66B 25/003: {Methods or algorithms therefor} - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract The disclosure relates to a handrail treatment device which comprises a housing and a cylindrical base body which is arranged in the housing so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation. A cleaning facing is arranged on a cylinder outer surface of the base body, over which a circulating handrail of a passenger transport system can be guided for the purpose of removing dirt and germs. At least one radiation source is arranged inside the housing, which radiation source can emit germicidal electromagnetic radiation, wherein the radiation source is aligned with the base body in such a way that the cleaning facing moving continuously past the radiation source is exposed to the germicidal electromagnetic radiation of this radiation source when the base body rotates. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handrail treatment device, comprising: at least one housing; and a cylindrical base body rotatably arranged in the housing about an axis of rotation; a cleaning facing is arranged on an outer surface of the cylindrical base body over which a circulating handrail of a passenger transport system designed as an escalator or moving walkway can be guided for cleaning, wherein at least one radiation source is arranged inside the housing and outside of the cylindrical base body and configured to emit germicidal electromagnetic radiation, wherein the radiation source is exteriorly aligned with the cylindrical base body in such a way that the cleaning facing moving continuously past the radiation source is exposed to the germicidal electromagnetic radiation of this radiation source to clean the cleaning facing when the cylindrical base body rotates. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, further comprising at least one wiping element in the housing, a wiping edge of the wiping element interacting with cleaning tips of the cleaning facing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The handrail treatment device of claim 2, wherein the wiping element has a lip made of flexible material and the wiping edge is formed on the lip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The handrail treatment device of claim 2, wherein the wiping element has a wiping brush, bristle tips of which form the wiping edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The handrail treatment device of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical base body is driven by movement of the handrail being guided over it and the wiping element interacts in such a way with the cleaning tips of the cleaning facing that, when the handrail is moved, a braking effect takes place on the cylindrical base body and, as a result, there is a differential speed between the handrail surface of the handrail and the cleaning tips. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical base body is driven by a motor and the rotational speed of the cylindrical base body is adjusted to the speed of the handrail so that there is a speed difference between the handrail surface of the handrail and cleaning tips of the cleaning face when the handrail is moved. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein the cleaning facing is profiled orthogonally to the axis of rotation so that a tread contour of the cleaning facing corresponds to an outer surface contour of the handrail to be guided. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical base body is cup-shaped and a cylinder jacket thereof has openings, wherein the cleaning facing is arranged on the existing cylinder outer surface of the cylinder jacket, and wherein the interior of the cup-shaped base body can be illuminated by the radiation source in such a way that its germicidal electromagnetic radiation is passed through the openings to the cleaning facing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein a dirt protection is arranged in the housing for the at least one radiation source. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein a cleaning device is arranged in the housing for the at least one radiation source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein, with reference to a direction of movement of the handrail, a region having radiation sources downstream of the cylindrical base body having a cleaning facing is present, at least part of the handrail surface of the handrail being able to be irradiated by means of germicidal electromagnetic radiation of the radiation sources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The handrail treatment device of claim 1, wherein the housing is designed in two parts and has a main housing part having an open side and a cover covering the open side of the main housing part. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A passenger transport system which is designed as an escalator or a moving walkway, comprising at least one balustrade which comprises at least one circulating handrail, wherein the passenger transport system has at least one handrail treatment device for each circulating handrail according to claim 1. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The passenger transport system of claim 13, wherein the balustrade comprises a balustrade base in which a return run of the handrail is guided so as to be concealed from the users of the passenger transport system and wherein the handrail treatment device is installed in the balustrade base of the balustrade. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A method for controlling a handrail treatment device in a passenger transport system according to either claim 13, wherein the passenger transport system has a drive motor for driving the handrail and a drive controller for controlling the drive motor, the at least one radiation source of the handrail treatment device being controlled as a function of a speed signal and/or movement direction signal from the drive controller to the drive motor.