FUSSGAENGERFOERDERANLAGE

A passenger conveyor having a movable passenger supporting surface for continuously carrying passengers from a low speed boarding area to a high speed zone and then to a low speed unloading area in which the passenger retaining sides of the conveyor in the high speed zone are propelled at the same high speed as the passenger supporting surface to protect the passengers from being injured by impact with stationary or slow moving objects. Spacing members extend transversely of the conveyor and are propelled at the same speed as the supporting surface to prevent crowding of the passengers at the deceleration end of the conveyor and also provide handles for the passengers during acceleration, deceleration and high speed movement along the conveyor. The spacing members may be carried by the moving sides of the balustrades or by platforms having open sides for entering and leaving the conveyor in the low speed areas. The platforms are supported by belts, rollers or on rails and are driven by the rollers or by belts engaging the platforms. Acceleration and deceleration is provided by rollers driven at progressively different speeds or by a series of belts moving at progressively different speeds.