Threshold comb for passenger conveyor

Claim 2

A conveyor system having an endless conveyor load supporting surface with longitudinal grooves and ribs therein for transporting passengers and objects between landing surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a threshold comb between said load supporting surface and an adjacent landing surface comprising a plurality of comb teeth adapted to extend longitudinally into the longitudinal grooves in the load supporting surface for bridging the gap between the load supporting surface and adjacent landing surface to assist passengers and objects in making a smooth transition between such surfaces, mounting means for mounting said comb teeth on said landing surface for lateral sliding movement relative to each other and to said landing surface to permit self-alignment of said comb teeth in the respective grooves in said load supporting surface and constraining means in sliding engagement with said comb teeth to permit lateral movement of said comb teeth relative to said constraining means while restricting the angularity of said comb teeth.

Claim 3

The conveyor system of claim 1 wherein said constraining means comprises a constraining rod means extending through aligned openings in said comb teeth for sliding movement of said comb teeth on said rod means.

Claim 4

The conveyor system of claim 2, wherein said mounting means for said comb teeth comprises a slider bar secured to such adjacent landing surface, said comb teeth having a sliding connection with said slider bar which allows freedom of movement of said comb teeth laterally of said slider bar while supporting said comb teeth when a downward load is applied thereto.

Claim 5

A conveyor system of claim 1, wherein said comb teeth are fastened together in groups forming plural comb segments for lateral movement relative to said constraining means to permit self-alignment of said comb teeth in the respective grooves in said load supporting surface.

Claim 6

A conveyor system of claim 4, wherein said constraining means comprises a constraining rod means extending through aligned openings in said plural comb segments for sliding movement of said comb segments on said rod means.

Claim 7

A conveyor system having an endless conveyor load supporting surface with longitudinal grooves and ribs therein for transporting passengers and objects between landing surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a threshold comb between said load supporting surface and an adjacent landing surface comprising a plurality of comb teeth adapted to extend longitudinally into the longitudinal grooves in the load supporting surface for bridging the gap between the load supporting surface and adjacent landing surface to assist passengers and objects in making a smooth transition between such surfaces, mounting means for said comb teeth including a slider bar secured to such adjacent landing surface, said comb teeth having a sliding connection with said slider bar which allows freedom of movement of said comb teeth laterally of said slider bar while supporting said comb teeth when a downward load is applied thereto, constraining means including constraining rod meanS extending through aligned openings in said comb teeth and each of said comb teeth including a main body portion of a width somewhat less than the width of a rib plus the width of a groove, and a relatively narrow longitudinally extending central rib portion projecting downwardly from said main body portion of a width somewhat less than the width of said grooves for receipt therein, said comb teeth being supported out of engagement with the bottoms of said grooves and tops of the ribs between said grooves by said slider bar to eliminate friction and wear between parts.

Claim 8

A conveyor system having an endless conveyor load supporting surface with longitudinal grooves and ribs therein for transporting passengers and objects between landing surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a threshold comb between said load supporting surface and an adjacent landing surface comprising a plurality of comb teeth adapted to extend longitudinally into the longitudinal grooves in the load supporting surface for bridging the gap between the load supporting surface and adjacent landing surface to assist passengers and objects in making a smooth transition between such surfaces, mounting means for said comb teeth including a slider bar secured to such adjacent landing surface, said comb teeth having a sliding connection with said slider bar which allows freedom of movement of said comb teeth laterally of said slider bar while supporting said comb teeth when a downward load is applied thereto, constraining means including constraining rod meanS extending through aligned openings in said comb teeth and each of said comb teeth including a main body portion of a width somewhat less than the width of a rib plus the width of a groove, and a relatively narrow longitudinally extending central rib portion projecting downwardly from said main body portion of a width somewhat less than the width of said grooves for receipt therein, said comb teeth being supported out of engagement with the bottoms of said grooves and tops of the ribs between said grooves by said slider bar to eliminate friction and wear between parts.

Claim 9

The conveyor system of claim 6, wherein said central rib portion extends forwardly of said main body portion and has an inclined leading edge which extends upwardly at an angle to the top surface of said main body portion for lifting objects out of the grooves in said load supporting surface, and said main body portion has inclined leading edges on opposite sides of the leading edge of said central rib portion which are inclined at a greater angle to provide separate lifting surfaces for objects on top of the ribs of said load supporting surface.

Claim 10

The conveyor system of claim 7, wherein the angle of inclination of the leading edge of said central rib portion is from about 10* to about 30* and the angle of inclination of the leading edges of said main body portion is from about 10* to about 30* greater than the angle of inclination of the leading edge of said central rib portion.

Claim 11

The conveyor system of claim 7, wherein the forwardmost corners of said inclined leading edges and bottom edge of said central rib portion are rounded to assist in directing objects upwardly onto such inclined leading edges.

Claim 12

The conveyor system of claim 7, wherein the vertical clearance between said comb teeth and conveyor load supporting surface is approximately one thirty-second inch and the maximum downward deflection of said comb teeth and support is approximately one sixty-fourth inch under load.

Claim 13

A conveyor system having an endless conveyor load supporting surface with longitudinal grooves and ribs therein for transporting passengers and objects between landing surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a threshold comb between said load supporting surface and an adjacent landing surface comprising a plurality of comb teeth adapted to extend longitudinally into the longitudinal grooves in the load supporting surface for bridging the gap between the load supporting surface and adjacent landing surface to assist passengers and objects in making a smooth transition between such surfaces, mounting means for mounting said comb teeth for lateral movement to permit self-alignment of said comb teeth in the respective grooves in said load supporting surface and constraining means in engagement with said comb teeth to restrict the angularity of said comb teeth, means for pivotally mounting said landing surface for limited vertical outward movement of said comb teeth in said grooves and trim plates having a vertical clearance space with the sides of said landing surface which limit the vertical outward movement of said comb teeth to prevent large objects from being pulled into the space between said comb teeth and load supporting surface.

Claim 14

A conveyor system having an endless conveyor load supporting surface with longitudinal grooves and ribs therein for transporting passengers and objects between landing surfaces adjacent opposite ends thereof, wherein the improvement comprises a threshold comb between said load supporting surface and an adjacent landing surface comprising a plurality of comb teeth adapted to extend longitudinally into the longitudinal grooves in the load supporting surface for bridging the gap between the load supporting surface and adjacent landing surface to assist passengers and objects in making a smooth transition between such surfaces, mounting means for mounting said comb teeth for lateral movement to permit self-alignment of said comb teeth in the respective grooves in said load supporting surface and constraining means in engagement with said comb teeth to restrict the angularity of said comb teeth, means for pivotally mounting said landing surface for limited vertical outward movement of said comb teeth in said grooves and trim plates having a vertical clearance space with the sides of said landing surface which limit the vertical outward movement of said comb teeth to prevent large objects from being pulled into the space between said comb teeth and load supporting surface.

Claim 15

The conveyor system of claim 11, wherein said clearance space between said trim plates and landing surface is filled with a resilient material which permits limited vertical movement of said landing surface until said resilient material is sufficiently compressed to provide a stop against further movement.