【正文】
rated. A control and regulating unit 10 contains microprocessor and relay control ponents, as well as signal and data inputs and outputs. First input data line supplies speed values from the speed transmitter 19, which are fed as actual values to an internal regulating section. The second group of input data lines provide measurement values from the torque transmitters 20 and, through appropriate processing, cause the switchingin and switchingout of individual drive modules 7. A third group of input data lines supplies data from transmitters 11, which essentially concern control safety contacts and mode of operation switches. A first group of output data lines leads to the relays 15 and to the frequencysetting device 16. A second group of output data lines contain control signals for the relay control 23, and the third group of output data lines provides the data to control optical signals and illumination 12. The multimotor drive according to the invention functions as following: During startingup of the escalator 1, the relay 15 for the drive is switched on, the frequencysetting device 16 is run up and at least one drive module 7 is switched on by way of the relay control 23 by the control and regulating unit 10 according to the choice of direction and a startup program. On reaching the target speed, the drive regulation in the control and regulating unit 10 holds the speed of travel of the escalator 1 constant within close limits independently of the load. During the now following operation of the escalator 1, the input data lines from the torque transmitters 20 supply information about the mechanical loading of the switchedin drive modules 7 (motors M1, M2 to Mn). In the case of low or no loading by transported persons, the drive power of the first motor M1 may suffice, and the further motors M2 to Mn remain switched off. If a full loading with a tendency to lasting overload is signalled by the torque transmitter L1, the next motor M2 is switched on after a defined time. The signals from the two torque transmitters L1 and L2 are now monitored in the control and regulating unit 10 and a further, not illustrated motor M3 may be switched in according to analog criteria when the load limit values of the motors M1 and M2 are exceeded. The third motor, denoted by Mn in the illustration, is to indicate that, in principle, a greater number of drive modules 7 can be provided. For practical and economic reasons, however, the number of drive modules 7 will probably remain restricted to three or at most four. The procedure is reversed when the mechanical loading drops. The no longer needed motors are then switched off in the sequence beginning with the motor Mn switched on last. If a uniform wear of the drive modules 7 is desired, this can be taken into consideration by way of an additional measurement of the switchedon times of the individual drive modules 7 and the individual drive modules 7 can thus be switched on and off selectably and not according to an always identical sequence. As already mentioned, the number of the drive modules 7 is not limited to the illustrated three items. Drive m