Apparatus, system, and method for controlling a handrail of an escalator

A method for controlling a handrail drive motor of an escalator with a handrail drive inverter, comprising:

• receiving at the handrail drive inverter a main speed control signal that corresponds to the speed of a main drive motor of the escalator;
• determining a current state of a handrail speed control signal;
• calculating a torque output of a handrail drive motor based at least one of an output voltage, output current, and output frequency of the handrail drive inverter;
• and
• providing a handrail speed control signal for the handrail drive motor,
• wherein the handrail speed control signal is a function of the torque output and a feedback of the handrail speed control signal constrained by at least one of an upper limit or a lower limit, the upper limit and lower limit being determined from the main speed control signal.

An escalator handrail drive control system, comprising:

• a signal-generating component configured to provide a main speed control signal that corresponds to the speed of a main drive motor of the escalator;
• a handrail drive inverter configured to receive the main speed control signal and provide a handrail speed control signal;
• and
• a handrail drive motor configured to receive the handrail speed control signal and drive a handrail based on the handrail speed control signal,
• wherein the handrail drive inverter is configured to calculate a torque output of the handrail drive motor, and wherein the handrail speed control signal is a function of the torque output and a feedback of the handrail speed control signal constrained by at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit, the upper limit and lower limit being determined from the main speed control signal.