Handrail for variable speed moving walkway

A moving hand rail of variable speed for use with a moving walkway, the handrail comprising:

• a profile or a flexible belt with a lengthwise direction and a forward moving stretch;
• the profile or belt is continuous and is comprised of a plurality of independent stretches of fixed length, and each fixed length stretch having an engageable drive arrangement;
• a drive mechanism comprising a plurality of driving elements, with the driving elements arranged in succession along a direction of movement of the forward stretch, the drive mechanism driving each of the driving elements to move in the direction of movement at a respective speed, wherein the speed of at least one of the driving elements is different from the speed of other ones of the driving elements in succession, each of the driving elements being guided around a respective pair of wheels spaced apart along in the direction of the forward moving stretch;
• guides for the driving elements disposed between successive driving elements in the direction of movement, at each guide a fixed length stretch departs one of the driving elements and is engaged by the succeeding driving element, whereby the fixed length stretch leaves moving at the speed of the preceding driving element and thereafter moves at the speed of the succeeding driving element and,
• each driving element being positioned by the respective pair of wheels to engage the drive arrangements of the respective fixed length stretches then moving over the driving element, whereby the fixed length stretches move at the speed of the respective driving element then engaging the respective fixed length stretches of the belt or profile.