A HANDRAIL SYSTEM OF A PEOPLE MOVER AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING INJURIES IN A HANDRAIL SYSTEM OF A PEOPLE MOVER

The invention relates to a handrail system of a people mover, the handrail system comprising a circulating handrail (1) and a safety system of a handrail inlet (2) in a handrail housing (3). The safety system comprises a hatch (4) provided around the handrail inlet (2) in the handrail housing (3); and trigger means (5) operationally connected between the hatch (4) and the handrail housing (3) to launch the hatch (4) from a first position inwards into the handrail housing (3) to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch (4) or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch (4). The handrail system further comprises a coupling (6) for operatively connecting the circulating handrail (1) and the safety system, the coupling being arranged to stop the handrail (1) in response to the launch of the hatch (4) inwards into the handrail housing (3) or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch. The invention further relates to method for preventing injuries in a handrail system of a people mover. The method comprises the steps of providing a hatch (4) around a handrail inlet (2) in a handrail housing (3) of a circulating handrail (1); operationally connecting the hatch (4), the handrail housing (3) and the handrail (1); launching the hatch (4) from a first position inwards into the handrail housing (3) to a second position in response to a detection of an object touching the hatch (4) or arriving to a safety area in front of the hatch (4); and stopping the handrail (1) in response to the launch of the hatch (4) inwards into the handrail housing (3) or in response to a detection of an object by a sensor which the object is arriving to the safety area in front of the hatch.