Transfer device for transferring pedestrians between two sequential moving surfaces

A transfer device for transferring pedestrians between a first pedestrian moving-surface and a conveyer belt having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal ribs and defining a second pedestrian-moving surface, the pedestrian-moving surfaces being substantially disposed in a common plane, said first pedestrian moving-surface having a speed varying element for altering the speed of the pedestrians between a speed of said second pedestrian-moving surface and a different speed, the device comprising:

• a platform disposed substantially in said plane and in series between the speed varying element and an end of said second pedestrian-moving surface, and having a plate mounted on said platform, said plate defining a comb for slidably meshing between the longitudinal ribs of said second pedestrian-moving surface, wherein the comb includes a plurality of teeth engageable between the ribs of the second pedestrian-moving surface;
• first rollers rotatable housed in said platform and protruding therefrom, said first rollers defining a first bearing-surface substantially disposed in the common plane, said first rollers allowing the low-friction displacements of pedestrians between the first and second pedestrian-moving surfaces;
• and
• second rollers rotatably housed in said plate and protruding therefrom defining a second bearing surface substantially disposed in the common plane, said second rollers allowing the low-friction displacement of pedestrians between the first bearing-surface and the second pedestrian-moving surface, wherein at least one of the second rollers is housed in the teeth.

A pedestrian transfer system comprising:

• a transfer device for transferring pedestrians between a first pedestrian moving-surface and a conveyer belt having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal ribs and defining a second pedestrian-moving surface, the pedestrian-moving surfaces being substantially disposed in a common plane, said first pedestrian moving-surface having a speed varying element for altering the speed of the pedestrians between a speed of said second pedestrian-moving surface and a different speed, the device comprising:
• a platform disposed substantially in said plane and in series between the speed varying element and an end of said second pedestrian-moving surface, and having a plate mounted on said platform, said plate defining a comb for slidably meshing between the longitudinal ribs of said second pedestrian-moving surface;
• first rollers rotatably housed in said platform and protruding therefrom, said first rollers defining a first bearing-surface substantially disposed in the common plane, said first rollers allowing the low-friction displacements of pedestrians between the first and second pedestrian-moving surfaces;
• second rollers rotatably housed in said plate and protruding therefrom defining a second bearing surface substantially disposed in the common plane, said second rollers allowing the low-friction displacement of pedestrians between the first bearing-surface and the second pedestrian-moving surface;
• the pedestrian transfer system further comprising
• the conveyor belt defining the second pedestrian-moving surface and having longitudinal grooves, wherein the teeth are slidably engaged in the grooves;
• and
• the speed varying element defining the first pedestrian-moving surface;
• wherein said platform is supported on a support frame pivotally towards and away from said end of said second pedestrian-moving surface when an object becomes jammed between said platform and said second pedestrian-moving surface.