JP2529766B2 - Escalator device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a structure of an escalator device provided with a wheelchair step that performs a transformation operation from a normal mode during normal driving to a wheelchair mode capable of mounting a wheelchair. It is about improvement.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional escalator device including a wheelchair step has a single or a plurality of wheelchair steps disposed between a plurality of normal steps of an escalator, as disclosed in JP-A-1-313297. Driving force transmission that is arranged inside the wheelchair steps and operates based on the rotation of the pinion shaft during wheelchair operation to transform the wheelchair steps from a normal form to a wheelchair mountable form or a wheelchair form to a normal form. It is composed of a mechanism and a work-in-progress device, which is arranged in a portion corresponding to an entrance / exit of the main frame, and which engages with a pinion of a pinion shaft of a wheelchair stepping wheel that moves a rack lifted during wheelchair operation and rotates the pinion shaft. It had been.

Incidentally, as prior art documents of this type, in addition to the above publication, there is JP-A-64-53941.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

The conventional escalator device is configured as described above, and since there is no means for maintaining the wheelchair steps in the complete normal form and the complete wheelchair form, the transformation operation of the wheelchair steps accompanying the rotation of the pinion shaft is prevented. At this time, it was impossible to prevent the wheelchair steps from ending in an incomplete form.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an escalator device capable of maintaining a complete normal form and a wheelchair form of a wheelchair step.

[Means for solving the problem]

In the present invention, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a plurality of normal steps arranged in the main frame of the escalator and cyclically moved, a wheelchair step interposed between the plurality of normal steps, and a wheelchair step A driving force transmission mechanism that is arranged inside the wheelchair and that changes the wheelchair steps to a wheelchair-like mode in which the wheelchair can be mounted or from a wheelchair-like mode to a normal mode based on the rotation of the sprocket shaft, and a boarding / alighting inside the main frame. Equipped with a device for rotating the sprocket shaft by engaging the power transmission body with the sprocket of the sprocket shaft of the wheelchair step that is arranged in the mouth equivalent part and moved during wheelchair operation, and furthermore, inside the wheelchair step, A swingable latch that engages with a gear fitted to the sprocket shaft and restricts the rotation of the sprocket shaft is provided. It is characterized in that it has attached a cam for releasing the engagement with the gear of the latch by swinging the latch.

[Action]

According to the present invention, a swingable latch that engages with a gear fitted to a sprocket shaft and restricts rotation of the sprocket shaft is provided inside the wheelchair steps, and the wheelchair includes a wheelchair. Since a cam that swings the latch during operation to release the engagement of the latch with the gear is attached, the engagement of the latch that restricts the rotation of the sprocket shaft at the start of the transformation operation of the wheelchair steps is released. However, at the end of the transformation motion, the cam can be engaged with the latch of the sprocket shaft gear, and the wheelchair steps can be maintained in the complete normal form and the wheelchair form.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 11. In the drawings, (1) is a main frame which is a main body of an escalator, and the main frame (1) is shown in FIG. The lower machine room (1A) horizontally installed on the lower floor, the upper machine room (1B) horizontally installed on the upper floor, and between the lower machine room (1A) and the upper machine room (1B) It is composed of an intermediate part (1C) that is installed so as to be inclined. (2) is a balustrade installed upright on both sides of the main frame (1). As shown in FIG. 1, the balustrade (2) is an endless shape which is circularly moved by the drive of the handrail drive device accompanying the drive of the drive machine. The moving handrail (3) is wound so as to be slidable.

(4) a pair of front wheel guide rails arranged in the inner longitudinal direction of the main frame (1), (5) a pair of rear wheel guide rails arranged in the inner longitudinal direction of the main frame (1) The pair of guide rails (4) and (5) together form an endless circulation path in the inner longitudinal direction of the main frame (1) (second
(See FIGS. 3, 3 and 7).

(6) is a plurality of normal steps arranged inside the main frame (1).
As shown in the figures, a shaft (7) extends horizontally, and on both sides of the shaft (7), an endless endlessly circulating movement is performed in synchronization with the moving handrail (3) based on the driving of the driving machine. Chain (8)
(See FIG. 1), and front wheels (9) that are engaged and guided by a pair of front wheel guide rails (4) are rotatably pivotally attached to both ends of the shaft (7). There is. A rear wheel (10), which is engaged and guided by a pair of rear wheel guide rails (5), is rotatably connected to lower portions on both sides behind the normal step (6). However, the normal steps (6) are guided by the pair of front wheel guide rails (4) and the pair of rear wheel guide rails (5) by the circulating movement of the chain (8) based on the driving of the driving device, and the moving handrail ( It circulates in synchronization with 3) and transports the loaded people and luggage upstairs or downstairs.

(11) is a wheelchair step group interposed between a plurality of normal steps (6), and the wheelchair step group (11) includes a first wheelchair step (12) as shown in FIG. A second wheelchair step (13) positioned adjacent to the rear of the first wheelchair step (12), and a third step positioned adjacent to the rear of the second wheelchair step (13). It has a wheelchair step (14) and circulates and moves in the same normal form as the normal step (6) during normal operation of the escalator, and is assisted by an assistant (15) during wheelchair operation as shown in FIG. It has a function of performing a transformation operation into a wheelchair form in which a wheelchair (16a) of a wheelchair user (16) can be mounted. In the present embodiment, the first
Although the wheelchair steps including the second and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), and (14) are used, the present invention is not limited thereto.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the first wheelchair step (12) is supported by a pair of main bodies (120) facing each other and between the main bodies (120), (120) during wheelchair operation. An inclined step (121) that swings and tilts to avoid interference with the scaffolding of the wheelchair (16a), a erection member (122) horizontally erected between the main bodies (120) and (120), and this erection member A plurality of supporting parts (123) arranged on both sides of the lower part of (122), a nut (124) arranged inside the plurality of supporting parts (123) and movable in the left-right direction, and this nut (124). Of the nut (124) horizontally attached to the lower part of both inner side walls of the support part (123) and the pin (125) horizontally inserted into the upper part of the support part (123) and penetrating the upper parts of both side walls of the support part (123). The stopper (126) that restricts the movement in the left-right direction, and the inclined step (121) are provided on both sides of the inclined step (121) and penetrated by the pin (125) during normal operation. 12
It is composed of a hole (127) for restraining the swing of (1).
In addition, the second wheelchair step (13) is as shown in FIG.
A fork (130) with a rack that can be retracted and protrudes to the outside rearward through the through hole of the cleat riser, which is the curved back surface of the wheelchair while driving, is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the third wheelchair step (14) is held by the main body (140) so as to be vertically movable, and is engaged with the rack-mounted fork (130) during wheelchair driving. And a bogie with a rack (142) which is disposed inclining inside the movable step (141) and penetrates the tread surface of the movable step (141) to restrain the wheels of the wheelchair (16a) during wheelchair driving. I have.
The first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13),
The other parts of (14) are constructed in substantially the same manner as the normal step (6).

(17) is the first, second and third wheelchair steps (12).
(13) and (14) are driving force transmitting mechanisms respectively disposed inside the driving force transmitting mechanism (17), which operate at the time of wheelchair driving to operate the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12). )·(13)
-It has a function to transform (14) from the normal form to the wheelchair form or from the wheelchair form to the normal form.

Hereinafter, the structure of the driving force transmission mechanism (17) will be described in detail taking the first wheelchair step (12) as an example.
It is a rotatable sprocket shaft horizontally mounted between 24) and (124). The nut (12) of this sprocket shaft (170)
4) · Screws for power transmission are threaded on both ends screwed into (124) as shown in FIG. (171) is an adjustable torque limiter fitted to one side of the sprocket shaft (170).
A sprocket (172) is fitted in 1), and the sprocket (172) is idling after the transformation motion of the first wheelchair step (12) due to the torque transmission limiting action of the torque limiter (171). It is designed to spin around).
(173) is a gear that is fitted in the substantial center of the sprocket shaft (170), and (174) is horizontally mounted between the nuts (124) and (124) and is adjacent to the front of the sprocket shaft (170). The sprocket shaft is rotatable and the power transmission screw is threaded on both ends of the sprocket shaft (174) screwed into the nuts (124) and (124). A torque limiter (171A) having the same function as the torque limiter (171) is fitted to the other side of the sprocket shaft (174), as shown in FIGS. A sprocket (172A) having the same function as the sprocket (172) is fitted to the (171A). And, in the approximate center of the sprocket shaft (174), there is a fourth
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5, a gear (173A) meshing with the gear (173) is fitted. Incidentally, the driving force transmission mechanism (17) arranged inside the second and third wheelchair steps (13) and (14) is also basically configured in substantially the same manner.

(18) and (18A) are devices installed in the lower machine room (1A) and upper machine room (1B) of the main frame (1), and these devices (18) and (18A) are used for wheelchair operation. It operates to rotate the driving force transmission mechanism (17).
7) The first, second and third wheelchair steps (12), (13)
・ It has a function to perform the transformation operation of (14).

Below, the structure of this work-in-process device (18) is shown in FIGS.
Explaining with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, (180)
Is a bearing fixed to one side inside the lower machine room (1A). A rack shaft (181) is movably supported by the bearing (180), and the rack shaft (181) has a top portion at the top. A rectangular housing (182) is horizontally attached, and the sprocket (172) is attached to the upper surface of the housing (182).
A chain (power transmission body) (183) which is meshed with and rotates the sprocket shaft (170) is laid. In addition, (183
a) is a plurality of rollers that compose this chain (183) (see Fig. 11). (184) is a motor, and this motor (1
A pinion (185) that meshes with the rack of the rack shaft (181) is fitted on the rotary shaft of 84). Above chain (1
Both ends of 83) are laid so as to be able to be recessed inside the housing (182), so that they can be recessed when meshing with the sprocket (172) to prevent the teeth of the sprocket (172) from being damaged. In addition, the chain (183) is the first, second,
Even after the transformation operation of the third wheelchair steps (12), (13), and (14) is completed, the length is set to idle (idle) by meshing with the sprocket (172). The work-in-process device (18A) installed in the upper machine room (1B) is
The structure is almost the same as that of 8) except that it is fixed to the other side inside the upper machine room (1B) and that the chain (183) meshes with the sprocket (172A).

(19) is the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12).
The latch mechanism according to the present invention is provided inside (13) and (14), and the latch mechanism (19) includes first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (14). ) Has a function of reliably maintaining the operation completed state.

The latch mechanism (19) will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. (190) is the first, second and third wheelchair steps (12) via the pin (191).・ (13) ・ (14)
It is a vertically swingable latch that is rotatably supported inside and engages the hook at the upper end with the teeth of the gear (173) directly above. A roller (192) is provided on the side of the lower end of this latch (190). ) Is rotatably supported. (193) is a vertically movable rod that is vertically arranged inside the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (14) and is connected to the lower end of the latch (190). Then, a plurality of spring seats (194) are fitted to the upper part of the rod (193) through fasteners, and the spring seats (194) are attached.
A coil-shaped spring (195) fitted in the rod (193) is located between (194), and this spring (195) elastically biases the rod (193) upward to latch ( 190) always engages the teeth of the gear (173).

(20) is the housing (18) / (18A) housing (18)
The cam according to the present invention screwed to the side surface of (2).
0) indicates the moving first and second parts as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.
The rollers (192) of the latches (190) of the second and third wheelchair steps (12), (13), (14) are brought into contact with the latches (19).
0) is swung downward to allow the rotational movement of the restrained driving force transmission mechanism (17) to be released at an inclined release start portion (20).
0), a release continuation part (201) horizontally connected to the end of the release start part (200) and horizontally guiding the roller (192) of the latch (190) in the swinging state, and the release continuation part (201). A release end portion (202) which is inclinedly connected to the end portion of 201) and guides the roller (192) above to engage the latch (190) with the gear (173) based on the restoring action of the spring (195). It consists of and. However, the cam (20) has a function of operating the latch mechanism (19) during wheelchair driving to allow or restrict the operation of the driving force transmission mechanism (17). The release start portion (200) of the cam (20) is set so that the swing of the latch (190) is synchronized with the meshing of the sprockets (172) and (172A) with the chain (183). Moreover, the release end part (202)
Latches (19) when the driving force transmission mechanism (17) completes its work.
0) is set to engage the gear (173).

(21) is a switch disposed at the upper end and the lower end of the inner part of the balustrade (2). This switch (21) is manually operated to switch the escalator from normal operation to wheelchair operation, and It has a function of operating an actuator (not shown) of a normal step (6A) (see FIG. 2) adjacent to the front of the wheelchair step (12). When the wheelchair is operated, the actuator is arranged near the lower end of the pair of rear wheel guide rails (5) on the return route side, the lower end of the forward route side, the upper end of the forward route side, and the upper end of the return route side. The first, second, third, and fourth switches (not shown) are brought into contact with each other to be operated, and the first to fourth switches are decelerated by the escalator, the operation of the work-in-progress device (18),
Escalator speed-up operation, work-in-process device (18) return operation,
It has a function of sequentially performing deceleration operation of the escalator, operation of the work-in-process device (18A), speed-up operation of the escalator, and return operation of the work-in-process device (18A).

Next, the operation will be described, but for convenience of description, the case of the ascending operation will be described.

First, in the case of normal driving, the wheelchair steps (11) circulate and move in the same normal manner as the normal steps (6) and (6A) to allow general users to move from the lower floor entrance to the upper floor. Transport to the exit.

 Next, the case of wheelchair driving will be described.

First, when a caregiver (15) or a wheelchair user (16) who has come to the doorway on the lower floor operates the wheelchair operation changeover switch of the switch (21), the moving normal step (6A) actuator is the first. It operates so as to be able to contact the second, third and fourth switches. Then, the moving normal step (6A) actuator abuts and operates the first switch located near the lower end of the pair of rear wheel guide rails (5) on the return side, thereby decelerating the escalator at a specific position. At the same time, the motor (184) of the work-in-process device (18) is driven.
That is, the motor (184) is driven to rotate normally to rotate the pinion (185), and the rack shaft (181) moves upward to move the chain (1
83) and the cam (20) are raised to a predetermined position as shown in FIG.

Then, when the wheelchair step group (11) moves horizontally at a low speed below the entrance / exit floor of the entrance, the release start portion (200) of the cam (20) becomes the roller (192) of the latch (190). After the sequential engagement, the latch (190) is swung downward against the spring (195), and the engagement of the latch (190) with the gear (173) is released. Further, in synchronization with this release, the sprocket (172) of the driving force transmission mechanism (17) is sequentially meshed with the chain (183) while moving to drive the driving force transmission mechanism (17),
The tilt step (121) of the first wheelchair step (12) can be tilted, and the rack fork (130) of the second wheelchair step (13) penetrates the through hole of the creep riser from the inside. The movable step (14) of the third wheelchair step (14)
The wheel stop (142) with the rack of the third wheelchair step (14) engages with the first step (1), penetrates the tread surface of the movable step (141), and protrudes upward to the outside to form a part of the wheelchair form. The above transformation operation will be described in detail with reference to the first wheelchair step (12) as an example.
The horizontally moving sprocket (172) rotates by meshing with the chain (183), the sprocket shaft (170) rotates and the sprocket shaft (174) rotates, and the nuts (124), (12)
4) moves, the pin (125) is pulled out of the hole (127), and the inclined step (121) can be inclined. And the nut (12
4) When the (124) contacts the inner stoppers (126) and (126) and completes the operation, the meshed sprocket (172) of the chain (183) is affected by the torque transmission limiting action of the torque limiter (171). Spin idle. The latch (190) of the swinging latch mechanism (19) is released from (202) after the end of the release of the cam (20) when the nut (124) is stopped, and is restored by the restoring action of the spring (195). Engage the teeth of (173),
Restricts rotation of sprocket shafts (170) and (174). FIG. 11 shows the rotation in the work area and the rotation in the idling area of the sprocket (172) meshed with the chain (183). In the figure, (a) shows the released position of the latch (190), and (b) shows the engaged position of the latch (190). However, as shown in FIG. 1, the caregiver (15) and the wheelchair user (16) who were waiting at the doorway, as shown in FIG.
Before the protrusion of 2), the wheelchair (16a) is moved from the entrance / exit floor to the treads of the second and third wheelchair steps (13) and (14), and the protruding wheel stop (142) with the rack is then moved. The movement of the wheels of the wheelchair (16a) is restricted.

Then, when the wheelchair step group (11) moving at a low speed starts to move upward from the horizontal movement, as shown in FIG. 2, the inclined step (121) of the first wheelchair step (12) gradually inclines, As the second wheelchair step (13) rises, the movable step (141) of the third wheelchair step (14) gradually rises from the main body (140) and the road surface of the second wheelchair step (13). It is located on the same water surface as and has a wheelchair-shaped remnant. Thereafter, the actuator of the normal step (6A) contacts the second switch to operate, and the second switch increases the speed of the escalator and returns the in-process device (18).

Then, the ascending steps for wheelchairs (11) are moved to the middle part (1
When approaching the upper part of C), the actuator of the normal step (6A) abuts and operates the third switch, the third switch decelerates the escalator, and the work-in-process device (18A) is moved to the normal position as described above. Drive it to rotate. When the moving wheelchair steps (11) start to move horizontally from the ascending movement, the inclined steps (121) of the first wheelchair steps (12).
Swings back to the normal state and the third wheelchair step (14)
The movable step (141) of the main body (140) moves relatively down.
It is located on the same horizontal plane as the tread of, and part of the wheelchair form is released.

Then, when the wheelchair step group (11) moves horizontally at a low speed below the entrance / exit floor of the exit, the release start portion (200) of the cam (20) is brought into contact with the roller (192) of the latch (190). The latch (190) is rocked downward while sequentially engaging with the spring (195) to disengage the latch (190) from the gear (173). Further, in synchronization with this release, the sprocket (172A) of the drive force transmission mechanism (17) moves in sequence while moving with the chain (183) of the work-in-process device (18A) to operate the drive force transmission mechanism (17), The inclined step (121) of the first wheelchair step (12) is fixed in a normal state, and the second step
The fork (130) with the protruding rack of the wheelchair step (13) of FIG.
The projecting car stop (142) with a rack of (4) retracts and moves into the inner cormorant to transform the wheelchair step group (11) from the wheelchair form to the normal form. And during this transformation action, latch (19
0) indicates that the roller (192) is the release start part (20
By being guided horizontally while being regulated by 0) and the release continuation unit (201), the swinging state is maintained and the operation (work) of the driving force transmission mechanism (17) is permitted. The above transformation operation is first
Taking the wheelchair steps (12) as an example, the horizontally moving sprocket (172A) meshes with the chain (183) and rotates, and the sprocket shaft (174) rotates to rotate the sprocket shaft (170). , The nuts (124) and (124) move to insert the pin (125) into the hole (127), and the inclined step (12
1) is held by the main body (120). And nuts (124)
・ When (124) contacts the outer stoppers (126) ・ (126) and completes the operation, the sprocket (172A) meshed with the chain (183) runs idle due to the torque transmission limiting action of the torque limiter (171A). . The latch mechanism (19)
The swinging latch (190) is released from the release end portion (202) of the cam (120) when the nut (124) is stopped, and is engaged with the teeth of the gear (173) by the restoring action of the spring (195). Together,
Restrict rotation of sprocket shafts (174) and (170).

However, the caregiver (15) and the wheelchair user (16) move the wheelchair (16a) to the second and third wheelchair steps (13).
Move from (14) to the entrance / exit floor. During this movement, the wheelchair step group (11) and the subsequent normal step (6) do not stop temporarily, but since the tread moves while maintaining the horizontal state, there is no additional safety problem. Then, after that, the normal steps (6
When the actuator of (A) abuts and operates the fourth switch, the motor (184) of the work-in-process device (18A) is reversely driven to return the work-in-process device (18A) to a normal state and accelerate the escalator. To operate. However, the wheelchair step group (11) circulates and moves in the same normal form as the normal steps (6) and (6A), and the above operation is repeatedly performed during wheelchair driving.

Next, in the case of wheelchair driving in descending driving, the actuator of the normal step (6A) sequentially contacts the fourth, third, second, and first switches to operate them, and these fourth, third, and third switches are operated.
-The same operation as in the case of the ascending operation described above is performed based on the operation of the second and first switches. In the case of descending operation, the transport direction is reversed, so that the in-process device (18A) transforms the wheelchair step group (11) from the normal mode to the wheelchair mode, and the in-process device (18) operates in the wheelchair step group. (11) is transformed from a wheelchair form to a normal form.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the latch (190) of the latch mechanism (19) engages with the gear (173) at the end of the transformation operation, the first, second, and third wheelchair steps (12). )·(13)
-The operation completion state of (14) can be reliably maintained. Further, according to the present invention, the sprocket (172) · (1
The rotation area of 72A) is made longer than the work area of the sprocket (172) ・ (172A), and the sprocket (172) ・ (172A) to the sprocket shaft (170) ・ (174) at the end of the operation of the nut (124) Torque transmission to the torque limiter (171) / (171A) is limited, so it is possible to reliably prevent fluctuations in work amount due to instability of meshing of the sprocket (172) / (172A) with the chain (183). Is possible.

In the above embodiment, the swing release of the latch (190) is synchronized with the engagement of the sprockets (172) and (172A) with the chain (183). However, the swing release of the latch (190) is performed by the sprocket. The sprocket (172) / (172A) may be made to idle after a slight delay from the start of rotation of (172) / (172A). Sprocket in this case (17
2) ・ The rotation in the work area of (172A) and the rotation in the idling area are as shown in Fig. 12.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, inside the wheelchair steps,
A swingable latch that engages with a gear fitted to the sprocket shaft and regulates the rotation of the sprocket shaft is provided. Since the cam for releasing the engagement is attached, it is possible to provide the escalator device capable of reliably maintaining the operation completed state of the wheelchair steps.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of an escalator device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a group of steps for a wheelchair that moves in a wheelchair form, and FIG. 3 is a sprocket of a driving force transmission mechanism and an in-process device. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a meshing start state between the sprocket of the driving force transmission mechanism and the chain of the in-process device at the exit, and FIG. 5 is a sprocket of the driving force transmission mechanism. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a start state of meshing with a chain of an in-process device at the entrance, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a first wheelchair step, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a relationship between a latch and a cam during normal operation. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the latch and the cam during wheelchair driving, FIG. 9 is a partial detailed view of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a side view of FIG.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing a rotation state in the work area and a rotation state in the idling area of the sprocket, and FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 11 showing another embodiment of the escalator device according to the present invention. In the figure, (1) is the main frame, (6) and (6A) are the normal steps, (1)
1) is the wheelchair steps, (12) is the first wheelchair steps,
(13) is a second wheelchair step, (14) is a third wheelchair step, (16a) is a wheelchair, (17) is a driving force transmission mechanism, (1)
8) ・ (18A) is an in-process device, (19) is a latch mechanism, (20)
Is a cam, (170) and (174) is a sprocket shaft, and (172)
・ (172A) is a sprocket, (173) ・ (173A) is a gear, (183) is a chain (power transmission body), and (190) is a latch. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of normal steps arranged in a main frame of an escalator and cyclically moving, a wheelchair step interposed between the plurality of normal steps, and a wheelchair driver disposed inside the wheelchair steps. Occasionally, a driving force transmission mechanism that transforms the wheelchair steps from a normal form to a wheelchair form capable of mounting a wheelchair, or from a wheelchair form to a normal form based on the rotation of the sprocket shaft, and is arranged in the portion corresponding to the entrance / exit of the main frame In an escalator device equipped with a work-in-progress device for rotating a sprocket shaft by engaging a power transmission body with a sprocket of a sprocket shaft of a wheelchair step that has been moved while driving a wheelchair, a sprocket shaft is provided inside the wheelchair step. A swingable latch that engages with the fitted gear and restricts the rotation of the sprocket shaft is provided, and the latch is attached to the work-in-process device during wheelchair operation. Escalator apparatus characterized by the attaching the cam to release the engagement with the gear of the latch by movement.