Abstract: There is provided a lifting apparatus (16) comprising a lifting frame (16a) configured to be mechanically coupled to a packaging machine (12), and configured to couple with a feed device (14), wherein the lifting frame (16a) is configured to translate, raise and lower the feed device (14) relative to the packaging machine (12), and a packaging system comprising a packaging machine (12) with said lifting apparatus (16) wherein said packaging machine (12) is configured to detachably couple to a feed device (14), wherein the mass of the packaging machine (12) acts to counterbalance at least a portion of the mass of the feed device (14) whilst the feed device (14) is being translated, raised or lowered relative to the packaging machine (12). There is further provided methods of operating said packaging system for installing to and removing from the packaging machine (12) the feed device (14).

Abstract: The present invention relates to location recognition and recovery of an elevator system, and belongs to the technical field of elevators. The elevator system of the present invention has a location recovery/recognition system comprising: a landing floor information component or a calling component, a sensing component arranged corresponding to each landing floor information component or calling component and coupled to the landing floor information component or calling component, and a trigger component mounted on the elevator car.

Abstract: A multi-car ropeless elevator system includes at least one lane. An elevator car is arranged in the at least one lane. A linear motor system includes a plurality of stationary motor primary sections extending along the at least one lane and at least one moveable motor secondary section mounted to the elevator car. A plurality of sensors is operatively connected to the linear motor system. Each of the plurality of sensors is operatively associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of stationary motor primary sections. A sensor failure detection and fusion system is operatively connected to each of the plurality of sensors. The sensor failure detection and fusion system operates to identify failures in one or more of the plurality of sensors and fuse data received from remaining ones of the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: A hoist positioning system includes an accelerometer attached to a hoist, a control unit for processing signals from the accelerometer and comparing the processed signals with reference data to determine a position of the hoist, a drive system for moving the hoist up and down, and a relay that is switched ON and OFF by a control signal from the control unit. When the relay is switched ON, power is supplied to the drive system from a high-voltage power source and the hoist is driven up or down. When the relay is switched OFF, power from the high-voltage power source to the drive system is cut off and the hoist stops moving up or down.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring a position of a moveable platform comprising a plurality of RFID tags encoded with location information situated at known locations and a plurality of visual markers situated at precise, known locations. An RF reader attached to a moveable platform reads the RFID tags to determine the approximate location of the platform. A camera apparatus attached to the moveable platform scans the visual marker. The scanned image is processed to provide the precise position information of the platform.

Abstract: There is provided a group controlled elevator control system capable of easily forming a reliable group control system by connecting platform call input/output units and operation control units for each floor to each other by means of a transmission line of one system every one-car system.

Abstract: A landing control system comprising an elongated nonmagnetic strip extending vertically along the length of the shaft, having along its length, at predetermined sites, magnetic adhesive tape containing coded information. A sensor for reading the coded information is mounted on the exterior of the elevator car grasping the nonmagnetic strip by a pair of tape guides, the guides being spaced as to permit the centrally located magnetic adhesive tape to pass freely into the sensing area without, while avoiding contact with the tape.

Abstract: An elevator car position detecting apparatus includes plates arranged at selected operation points defined along the elevator path, in such arrangement that one operation point is distinguishable from another operation point. Position detectors are provided on a car so that as car moves past the operation points the position detectors communicate with corresponding plates without contacting the plates. The position detectors associated with the corresponding plates generate signals indicating that the elevator car has reached the corresponding position.

Abstract: Method and device for stopping of an elevator cage due to a deviation of the elevator position, acceleration, or speed from a travel curve in excess of a certain predetermined safety margin. Travel parameters, computed by the elevator control, may be passed on to a drive control of a cage drive for moving and positioning of the elevator cage, and may also be passed on to a drive control of a reference drive for moving and positioning a trigger part. Accordingly, each of the elevator cage and the trigger part may be driven by individual discrete drivers, but, due to each driver receiving the same travel parameters, the elevator cage and the trigger part move in synchronization. The trigger part may be coupled to the elevator cage to be movable when the elevator cage deviates from the computed travel curve. When the deviation from the travel curve exceeds a predetermined safety margin, the trigger part may actuate a safety switch to stop the cage or reference drivers or to arrest movement of the elevator cage.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the positioning an elevator cage within an elevator shaft. A light curtain with several light beams extends over a length of a cage threshold and along a height of a cage door. The light curtain may be produced by a first transmitter strip and a receiver strip and may be utilized as a security device to block operation of the elevator cage when persons or objects are in a region of the cage doors or story doors. Each light transmitter may lie opposite a respective light receiver so that each light beam from each light transmitter may be incident upon a respective light receiver. A pivotable masking plate may be mounted on a receiver strip side of a story threshold to project into the light curtain such that at least one light beam may be incident upon the masking plate instead of its respective light receiver. The interrupted light beam may be indicative of the actual position of the elevator cage.

Abstract: A procedure for determining the position of an elevator car in which the code data contained in code units mounted in the building is read by means of a code data detector unit (4) in such manner that a code unit containing floor data and door zone data is mounted essentially close to the threshold of the landing door on each floor and that the detector unit reading the floor data and door data is mounted essentially close to the threshold of the car.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an evacuation journey of an elevator car includes at least one brake control apparatus mounted on the car and an evacuation drive. In the case of an interruption in the normal travel of the car, an evacuation journey is initiated by an evacuation control in the evacuation drive. The elevator brake is released and the evacuation control moves the car to the next floor at a reduced speed. On reaching the next floor, a brake pawl of the brake control apparatus pivots into a switching opening or runs up onto a switching cam and thus initiates the final braking of the car by actuation of a brake control contact. Upon arrival in the door zone, the car and floor doors are pushed partially open by a spring so that confined passengers can further open the doors and release themselves.

Abstract: An elevator position determination system for determining the position of an elevator car disposed in the elevator hoistway includes a transceiver disposed on the elevator car for generating a query signal and a transponder disposed in the elevator hoistway for providing an identification signal in response to the query signal, wherein, the elevator position determination system determines the elevator car position in response to the identification signal.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a leveling time of an elevator car is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: moving the elevator car in a hoistway; transmitting a first signal by a first sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway; beginning a time measurement in response to detecting the first signal; transmitting a second signal by a second sensor in response to moving the elevator car in the hoistway, the second sensor being disposed a predetermined distance from the first sensor; ending the time measurement in response to detecting the second signal; determining a time measurement value in response to ending the time measurement; determining a leveling speed of the elevator car by dividing the predetermined distance between the first sensor and the second sensor by the time measurement value; and adjusting the leveling time in response to determining the leveling speed.

Abstract: An elevator position apparatus for determining if an elevator car is positioned within a door zone includes an encoded medium disposed vertically in an elevator hoistway, at least two door zone sensors for providing first and second door zone sensor signals in response to the encoded medium, at least two leveling sensors for providing up and down sensor signals in response to the encoded medium and means for determining if the elevator car is positioned within the door zone.