Abstract: In an elevator, a driving unit is installed at the top of an elevator shaft above a counterweight. Traction sheaves engage with ropes and are rotated by the driving device. These traction sheaves are positioned close to wall surfaces of the elevator shaft, that are adjacent to its wall surface facing the counterweight. The traction sheaves are also positioned outside the horizontally projected plane of a car.

Abstract: An elevator system driven by a linear motor and elevated up and down in a hoistway including a cage, a counter weight and a hoisting rope having both ends by and from which the cage and the counter weight are suspended so as to be alternatively elevated up and down in the hoistway. A reaction plate is supported by the side wall of the hoistway throughout an entire vertical length of the side wall. A stator is secured to the counter weight at a portion facing the reaction plate with a small gap therebetween and a guide is secured to the counter weight for guiding the elevation thereof. The guide is a guide roller structure comprising a support plate secured to the counter weight by a bolt, an adjusting rod engaged with the support plate on a side opposing to the reaction plate for adjusting a securing position of the support plate and a guide roller abutting against the reaction plate so as to be rollable therealong.