Abstract: Safety system of an elevator installation, with a control unit, a bus node, a safety element and a bus, which enables a communication between the control unit and the bus node. The bus node includes a first switching arrangement, which on digital presetting by the control unit acts on the safety element by a first analog signal. The bus node additionally includes a second switching arrangement which derives an analog signal from the safety element and makes digital feedback information available to the control unit by way of the bus.

Abstract: An elevator for transporting a person between two floors of a building includes at least one carriage and a lifting system. The elevator includes a control system and door sensors detecting the opening and closing of doors covering a hoist way. The control system detects a first opening and closing of a door in front of the carriage and activates the lift system to move the carriage to an opposite floor. Upon detecting a second opening and closing of a door in front of the carriage, the control system places the lift system in a standby state. Upon detecting a third opening and closing of a door in front of the carriage, the control system again activates the lift system to move the carriage to an opposite floor.

Abstract: An elevator car includes a cross-head portion and a balustrade mounted to the cross-head portion. The balustrade is moveable from a retracted position for normal operation of the car to a deployed position for inspection operation of the car. The car further includes a second retractable safety device also mounted to the cross-head for preventing or limiting movement of the car. The balustrade includes at least one control for operating the elevator car during the inspection operation, the control being arranged so that the control cannot be operated when the balustrade is in the retracted position.

Abstract: An elevator door unit includes cage doors, a cage door lock unit, hall doors, and a lock release unit. The cage doors are provided in a cage which moves in a shaft. The cage door lock unit limits and locks the opening width of the cage doors to the width not to permit passing of passengers. The hall doors are provided in a landing hall, and opened interlocking with the cage doors, when the cage stops in a range of facing to the cage doors. The lock release unit releases the cage door lock unit within the opening width by opening the cage doors by manual operation, when the cage stops in a range that the cage doors face to the hall doors.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting non-contact linear door displacement comprising a tubular motor formed of a stator (1) formed from a plurality of magnets (21) arranged along a linear axis (15), and at least one thrust block (3) each formed of at least one electrically conductive coil encircling the stator (1) at a distance sufficient to facilitate electro-mechanical interaction between the plurality of coils and the stator (1), at least one door (5) attached to at least one of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) via a hanger (9) and the at least one door (5) capable of a movement in the direction of the linear axis (15), a rolling component (11) to enable movement of the hanger (9) in the direction of the linear axis (15), and a control mechanism (70) for sensing the position of each of the at least one door (5) and issuing an electrical control signal to each of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) so as to affect the movement of the at least one door (5).

Abstract: A camera (26), with suitable illumination (such as IR) provides images to a processing card (33) which converts the images to numerical vectors and applies them to a neural network (35) which is capable of providing a door-open signal (38) in response to something, either moving or still, in the paths of the doors (29), or anything moving in a manner to indicate intent to enter the elevator in the landing adjacent to the elevator (27). The door open signal is provided to the elevator door controller (39) to cause the doors to become or remain open in response to anything moving toward the elevator or anything disposed in the door pathway.

Abstract: A control system for a motorized freight elevator landing door in which all of the doors in a single line of a hoistway are controlled with one set of proximity sensors carried on the elevator car. The sensors signal a controller that operates electric motors for opening and closing the landing door where the car has stopped. The door operating motors are two speed units and the sensors and controller are arranged to operate the motors at high speed during most of the travel in opening or closing movement and at reduced speed at the end of movement. The controller applies power to the motor for a short period after the door is fully closed or open to stall the motors and thereby dampen any rebound motion.

Abstract: A device for monitoring an elevator area utilizes a three-dimensional semiconductor sensor for detecting three-dimensional image information. The sensor includes a light source that is mounted so that the elevator area to be monitored is disposed in the illuminated area of the light source, a sensor group that is mounted in such a manner that it receives reflected light, and a processing chip for converting the electrical signals into image information. In addition, the device includes a processing device that is connected with the semiconductor sensor in order to make available three-dimensional image information. The processing device processes the image information in order to obtain state information representing the state of the elevator area to be monitored.

Abstract: An elevator door restrictor system for preventing an elevator door from being opened unless the elevator car is near a floor landing, utilizing battery backed electronics for sensing the presence of a building landing such that the system will continue to maintain the mechanism in the correct state, either locked or unlocked, even if the elevator car continues to move. Wherein even if the battery backup were to become completely discharged, the mechanism will remain in the last state, either locked or unlocked and prevent the elevator car door from being opened until an authorized person takes the appropriate step to move the car or open the car door.

Abstract: An elevator door control device includes an obstruction sensor adapted to detect an obstruction in the vicinity of any one of the vertical frames of the doorway frame and to output an obstruction detection signal, and a door control unit for controlling door opening operation and door closing operation of a car door and a landing door in response to the obstruction detection signal. The obstruction sensor has light emitters provided on the vertical frames of the doorway frame and light receivers provided on the upper frame of the doorway frame. The light emitters are provided in the vicinity of the lower ends of the vertical frames and emit detection lights substantially along the vertical frames. The light receivers are provided on the lower surface of the upper frame and receive the detection lights.

Abstract: A lift system for and method of controlling a lift car. The car providing service to a number of separate stations to enable a person or an article waiting in a predetermined region outside the lift car to enter or leave the lift car. The method including the steps of providing the lift car a scanning device directed outwardly from the lift car. Each of the stations having an independent scanning extension. When the lift car arrives at one of the stations equipped with a scanning device, the scanning device and the scanning extension are juxtaposed to form an operable combination. Scanning the predetermined region with the operable combination to produce an output signal representing a state of the predetermined region, such as whether the region is occupied or not. Using the signal or a function of the signal to regulate subsequent operation of the lift car.

Abstract: The described safety mechanism is embodied for elevator systems with an elevator car, which can be displaced in an elevator shaft. The entrances to the elevator shaft and to the elevator car each have at least one sliding door, which is automatically operable by a drive mechanism, preferably arranged on the elevator car. At least one detector device is provided at each sliding door, which is placed in the area of a pinching edge between a sliding door and a door jamb, and/or between two adjoining sliding door panels. Depending on the detected state of the monitored areas, the detector device generates a door release signal, or provides the interruption of the drive mechanism for opening the sliding door. The signals from the detector devices at the sliding doors of the elevator shaft can be received as a function of the position of the elevator car.

Abstract: A linear displacement potentiometer is mechanically tied to an elevator door/gate and provides a voltage corresponding to the door/gate position to a programmable controller. The programmable controller uses a software program to determine when the door/gate is fully open or fully closed. The program controls a variable speed motor drive to accelerate/decelerate the door/gate. When the linear displacement potentiometer determines the door/gate is at a predetermined location, the motor speed is reduced to a fixed value. When the door/gate position is nearly open/closed, the motor speed is decelerated to zero speed.

Abstract: A door suspension assembly includes a ferromagnetic flat plate horizontally extending from a support rail adapted to be attached to a door frame above a doorway or entrance portal. Two supporting blocks each have an opening in which a cylindrical bearing with an axial hole is located. The supporting blocks are attached to a door panel. Connectors extend downwardly from the flat plate and support a tube that extends through the holes in the bearings. A magnet array is supported by an upper plate attached to upper ends of the supporting blocks with a small magnetic gap between the magnet array and the flat plate such that the magnet array generates a magnetic force lifting the supporting blocks and the door panel. A primary of a linear motor is attached to the upper plate between the supporting blocks and cooperates with a secondary located in the interior of the tube to move the door panel relative to the flat plate.

Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring doors such as a shaft or cabin door, of a lift installation includes a sensor element associated with the doors for monitoring the state or position of the door. An evaluation system is connected to the sensor element and evaluates the sensor signals. The evaluation system can perform continued evaluation in short time intervals in order to provide a continuous record of the state of the monitored doors and temporal changes in the signal characteristics of the sensor signals.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for monitoring an elevator door include a sensor for detecting three-dimensional image information. Processing equipment evaluates the image information of detected images to recognize a deviation between two images and trigger a situation-adapted reaction. The sensor includes a light source mounted in the region of the elevator door so that the elevator door is disposed at least partly in the illuminated region of the light source. In addition, the sensor includes a sensor group mounted so that it receives light reflected from the door.

Abstract: A sliding door system has a pair of horizontally opposed vertical surfaces defining therebetween an opening, an upper horizontal surface connecting uppermost ends of the vertical surfaces, a lower horizontal surface connecting lowermost ends of the vertical surfaces, and a door moving horizontally to open and close the opening. The sliding door system also includes a first optical device having a light emitter for emitting light, a second optical device having a light detector for detecting the light, and a light reflector for reflecting the light emitted from the light emitter to the light receiver. The light reflector is positioned in at least one of the horizontally opposed vertical surfaces. The first and second optical devices are positioned in the upper horizontal surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting non-contact linear door displacement comprising a tubular motor formed of a stator (1) formed from a plurality of magnets (21) arranged along a linear axis (15), and at least one thrust block (3) each formed of at least one electrically conductive coil encircling the stator (1) at a distance sufficient to facilitate electro-mechanical interaction between the plurality of coils and the stator (1), at least one door (5) attached to at least one of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) via a hanger (9) and the at least one door (5) capable of a movement in the direction of the linear axis (15), a rolling component (11) to enable movement of the hanger (9) in the direction of the linear axis (15), and a control mechanism (70) for sensing the position of each of the at least one door (5) and issuing an electrical control signal to each of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) so as to affect the movement of the at least one door (5).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the condition of the door of an elevator and determining its need for maintenance, the door comprising a door mechanism, door panels and a door operator. The signals (10) of the control system of a door in good condition are measured and a set of characteristics descriptive of the operation of the door is generated from them. The signals (10) of the door control system are measured the operation during the opening and closing movements of the door is divided into stages according to which parts of the door are functioning at each stage. From the measured signals (10), a set of characteristics descriptive of the operation of the door is generated. The set of characteristics thus generated is compared to the set of characteristics for a normal operating condition stored in memory, at least in one stage of operation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a compact drive device, especially for the translation of elevator booth doors, the speed reducer and motor unit used and the support lintel for the doors of the equipped elevator booth. The compact drive device of elevator booth doors, of the type with translation of the doors (1) with the aid of a belt (3) driven in the doors upper support lintel (5) joined to said doors (1), is characterised in that it includes a flat d.c. electric motor (19) associated with a speed reducer placed adjacent to the motor (19), and a drive pulley (7) of relatively large diameter and adapted to cover at least one portion of the width of the reducer so as to reduce the width of the unit constituted by the back-geared motor (19) and the pulley (7), this back-geared motor (19) and pulley (7) unit being fixed to said upper lintel (5) inside the latter.

Abstract: To render the elevator landing doors fitted with an elevator control unit (5) safe, this system comprises: elevator landing door surveillance units (10), installed on each elevator landing door, to receive the state of the electrical contacts (11, 12) fitted to each of the elevator landing doors (21); synthesis unit (4) connected to the surveillance units (10) to receive the state of the elevator landing door electrical contacts (11, 12), and to the elevator control unit (5) to receive other information on the working order of the elevator; and alarm signal devices (13, 14); synthesis unit (4) further comprising means of determining (41) the state elevator landing doors are in according to the received information, and to actuate the signal devices (13, 14) if the state of the elevator landing doors is considered to be critical to the elevator users.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for preventing unauthorized access of personnel into the hoistway of an elevator system. The arrangement includes a security device for mounting in the vicinity of an auxiliary release mechanism of a landing door to prevent actuation of the auxiliary release mechanism during normal operating conditions. The security device includes an energization circuit which, in use, is responsive to changes in operating conditions of the elevator system and may also include an obstruction member movable in response to the energization circuit between a first position preventing key access through a keyhole during normal operating conditions and a second position permitting access through the keyhole during abnormal operating conditions. Accordingly, a key can only be inserted through the keyhole to actuate an unlocking bit of the auxiliary release mechanism to release the landing doors during abnormal operating conditions.

Abstract: A control system for a motorized freight elevator landing door in which all of the doors in a single line of a hoistway are controlled with one set of proximity sensors carried on the elevator car. The sensors signal a controller that operates electric motors for opening and closing the landing door where the car has stopped. The door operating motors are two speed units and the sensors and controller are arranged to operate the motors at high speed during most of the travel in opening or closing movement and at reduced speed at the end of movement. The controller applies power to the motor for a short period after the door is fully closed or open to stall the motors and thereby dampen any rebound motion.

Abstract: The described safety mechanism is embodied for elevator systems with an elevator car, which can be displaced in an elevator shaft. The entrances to the elevator shaft and to the elevator car each have at least one sliding door, which is automatically operable by means of a drive mechanism, preferably arranged on the elevator car. At least one detector device is provided at each sliding door, which is placed in the area of a crushing edge between a sliding door and a door jamb, and/or between two adjoining sliding door panels. Depending on the detected state of the monitored areas, the detector device generates a door release signal, or provides the interruption of the drive mechanism for opening the sliding door. The signals from the detector devices at the sliding doors of the elevator shaft can be received as a function of the position of the elevator car.

Abstract: A monitoring device for an elevator includes a plurality of switching devices connected in a series safety chain. Each switching device has an active unit generating a pattern and a passive unit that responds to the pattern within a defined spacing between the units.

Abstract: A method for upgrading an elevator control circuit having a phase 1, alternate and phase 2 input circuits, includes placing a first impedance of a switching device across a door motor armature of the elevator control circuit for enabling a selected door closure speed, and placing a second impedance of the switching device in series with a door motor field of the elevator control circuit for enabling a selected door operating torque. The method further provides a logic circuit enabling the impedances when an input signal is present at, at least one of, the phase 1 and the alternate input circuits; and disabling the impedances when an input signal is present at the phase 2 input circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting non-contact linear door displacement comprising a tubular motor comprising a stator (1) formed from a plurality of magnets (21) arranged along a linear axis (15), and at least one thrust block (3) each comprising at least one electrically conductive coil encircling the stator (1) at a distance sufficient to facilitate electromechanical interaction between the plurality of coils and the stator (1), at least one door (5) attached to at least one of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) via a hanger (9) and the at least one door (5) capable of a movement in the direction of the linear axis (15), a rolling component (11) to enable movement of the hanger (9) in the direction of the linear axis (15), and a control mechanism (70) for sensing the position of each of the at least one door (5) and issuing an electrical control signal to each of the plurality of thrust blocks (3) so as to affect the movement of the at least one door (5).

Abstract: A door system includes a door support by which a door is movably supported, a linear motor for generating a thrust to open and close the door, a link mechanism made of a non-magnetic material for transmitting the thrust generated by the linear motor to the door. The linear motor an armature, and a part having magnetism. The armature includes a first magnetic pole having a first polarity and a second magnetic pole having a second polarity. The first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole collectively include a first opposed part which defines a first gap, and a second opposed part which defines a second gap. The part having magnetism is disposed in the first gap and the second gap. The door system may be used in the car of an elevator system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the condition of the door of an elevator and determining its need for maintenance, the door comprising a door mechanism, door panels and a door operator. The signals (10) of the control system of a door in good condition are measured and a set of characteristics descriptive of the operation of the door is generated from them. The signals (10) of the door control system are measured the operation during the opening and closing movements of the door is divided into stages according to which parts of the door are functioning at each stage. From the measured signals (10), a set of characteristics descriptive of the operation of the door is generated. The set of characteristics thus generated is compared to the set of characteristics for a normal operating condition stored in memory, at least in one stage of operation.

Abstract: An elevator system has a pair of horizontally opposed vertical surfaces defining therebetween a doorway or opening to an elevator cage and a door moving horizontally to open and close the opening. In particular, the system has a first optical device having a light emitter for emitting light and a second optical device having a light receiver for receiving the light emitted from the light emitter. The first and second optical devices are positioned in a vertical plane crossing the opening and adjacent to the opening. One of the first and second optical devices is positioned below the other of the first and second optical devices and mounted in the vertical surface.

Abstract: An environmental detection system is particularly suited for elevator hoistways and other locations where access is difficult or restricted. The inventive system comprises a fire rated access cage which is disposed within the hoistway in a desired location, and is securely attached to an associated access panel, which is fire protection rated and positioned to extend through a wall defining the hoistway. An environmental sensing device, such as a smoke detector or heat sensor, is secured within the cage so that it is disposed within the hoistway, and can freely detect any smoke or excessive heat present in the hoistway because of a large number of apertures in the walls of the cage. The resultant system, thus, is constructed so that authorized personnel can access the environmental sensing unit conveniently through the access panel door from an adjacent hallway or room to test or maintain it, without shutting down the associated elevator or compromising the effectiveness of the unit.

Abstract: Variable thresholds (662, 663) are generated in response to an average defect rate (669, 690) generated under certain conditions (683-687, 696-698), excesses of which can set an internal flag (670). If an information request (720) or service personnel visit to the elevator site (721) occur, the internal flag, or the upward adjustment of the average defect rate (691) can generate a maintenance flag (773) which ultimately results in a maintenance recommendation message related to the particular parameter having a notable defect.

Abstract: An improved hoistway access detection system including three safety chains, one for monitoring door position on the even numbered floors, one for monitoring door position on the odd numbered floors, and one for monitoring the position of the pit door, wherein an elevator car is slowly moved to the alternate floor upon detection and subsequent closure of an open pit door and any landing door.

Abstract: Transport system (2), comprising a controller, a drive motor and a safety switch (18) that is connected to a safety-related part (8, 10) of the transport system (2) and is able to distinguish between a safe state of the transport system (2) and an unsafe state of the transport system (2), where the safety switch is connected to the controller in order to interrupt the power to the drive motor in an unsafe state, characterized by the fact that the safety switch (18) is realized so that it is able to also detect a warning state in addition to the safe state and the unsafe state.

Abstract: Information including normal and abnormal operating conditions and events, resulting from operation of elevator car and landing doors, is monitored and recorded (FIGS. 1-28), compared and combined with other information and with thresholds to detect notable events and conditions and generate corresponding messages including a reason for the message, severity of the related event or condition, and optionally, a general maintenance recommendation. The maintenance messages include adjusting or cleaning: car door vane (A-D), landing door lock at a given floor (E-L), car door closed switch (M-R), car door track or sill (S-Y), landing door track or sill (Z-EE), door drive belt (FF, GG), elevator car door motor or door controller mechanism (HH-MM), and car guide rails (FFF); and include adjusting or replacing: door position encoder (NN, OO), between-door safety device (PP-SS), door open/close buttons (TT-XX), landing and car call buttons (YY-AAA) and lights (BBB, CCC), and car rail guides (DDD, EEE).

Abstract: An elevator system includes an elevator cab having doors that are movable between open and closed positions. A rail is mounted to the cab. At least one roller defines an axis of rotation and is mounted for movement along the rail. The roller is operably connected to the doors to move the doors between open and closed positions. A motor assembly is mounted for movement with the roller along the rail and has an output for providing a rotational driving force to the roller. In one embodiment, the motor drives a planetary drive assembly which drives the roller along the rail and in another embodiment the motor drives a worm gear assembly which drives the roller. Alternatively, a tree-axis torque motor generates a magnetic field that is non-perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller, which causes the roller to be driven along the rail.

Abstract: A door system includes a door support by which a door is movably supported, a linear motor for generating a thrust to open and close the door, a link mechanism made of a non-magnetic material for transmitting the thrust generated by the linear motor to the door. The linear motor an armature, and a part having magnetism. The armature includes a first magnetic pole having a first polarity and a second magnetic pole having a second polarity. The first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole collectively include a first opposed part which defines a first gap, and a second opposed part which defines a second gap. The part having magnetism is disposed in the first gap and the second gap. The door system may be used in the car of an elevator system.

Abstract: Information including normal and abnormal operating conditions and events, occurring during the operation of an elevator car door and landing doors, is monitored and recorded (FIGS. 1-25), compared and combined with other information and with thresholds to detect notable events and conditions and generate corresponding maintenance recommendation messages, in response to which maintenance operations are performed. The maintenance messages include adjusting or cleaning: the car door vane (C), the landing door lock at a given floor (D, E), the car door closed switch (F), the car door track or the car door sill (M), a landing door track or landing door sill (N), the car door drive belt (O), the elevator car door motor or the related door controller mechanism (R), and car guide rails (YY); adjusting or replacing the door position encoder (DD), the between-door safety device (GG), door open and close buttons, landing call and car call buttons (LL) and lights (SS), and the car rail guides (WW).

Abstract: An elevator car door opening and closing apparatus is taught having a clutch assembly carried by each car door for coupling with a landing door locking and unlocking assembly whereby the car and landing doors open and close simultaneously. The clutch assembly includes a four bar mechanical expanding and collapsing parallelogram linkage which engages, unlocks, and opens the landing door. Mechanical linkage is also attached to the parallelogram linkage whereby the elevator car doors may only be forced opened a limited amount if the car is stalled between landing sites.

Abstract: A single inverter (8) provides variable frequency, variable voltage current output (11) to either a hoist motor (3) or a door motor (6), depending on the operating mode of the elevator car (1). A controller (9) provides an input signal (12) to an actuator (10) for switching the output current (11) between the motors (3, 6) by a relay switch (12). The controller (9) includes separate control profiles depending upon which motor (3, 6) is connected to the inverter (8).

Abstract: Transport system (2), comprising a controller, a drive motor and a safety switch (18) that is connected to a safety-related part (8, 10) of the transport system (2) and is able to distinguish between a safe state of the transport system (2) and an unsafe state of the transport system (2), where the safety switch is connected to the controller in order to interrupt the power to the drive motor in an unsafe state, characterized by the fact that the safety switch (18) is realized so that it is able to also detect a warning state in addition to the safe state and the unsafe state.

Abstract: A door system, which uses a linear motor, has a door hanger from which a door is movably suspended, an electric motor for generating a thrust to open and close the door, and a link mechanism made of a non-magnetic material for transmitting the thrust generated by the motor to the door. The linear motor has an armature to serve as a mover runner and a stator having magnetism. The armature has at least a magnetic pole of a first polarity having a first opposed part and another magnetic pole of a second polarity having a second opposed part. The stator is held by the second opposed part.

Abstract: Method of detecting obstructions encountered by a motorized door. The method includes providing a signal processor with one or more signals indicative of a predetermined door trajectory profile for at least a segment of a stroke of the door, the door trajectory profile providing an ideal speed and/or position versus an elapsed time since a beginning of the segment of the stroke. A door position signal from a position encoder for the door is received into the signal processor. The method includes generating one or more signals indicative of the velocity and/or position of the door from the door position signal and generating a trajectory discrepancy signal based on the velocity and/or position in relation to the ideal speed and/or position. A motor control signal is generated based on the trajectory discrepancy signal and the motor control signal is connected to motor control circuits connected to drive the motor for the door.

Abstract: A safety device for an elevator door characterized by the following facts: a lever (2) with one end (3) pivoted at an elevator door safety shoe (1) has its other end (4) fixed and supported on each floor in a rotatable manner; a polarized reflection plate (11) is supported at one end of a link lever (8) which has its other end pivoted to the aforementioned lever (5) to swing around a pivot point (9); a detector (12) facing the polarized reflection plate (11) is connected to a controller (15); and the controller is connected to the door operator (16).

Abstract: Signal processing and diagnostic routines (19) of elevator controllers (9-12) count the total number of runs to landings (O-F) of elevators (4-7) along with the number of runs to landings at which a value of a parameter of an elevator door condition or event is notable, (e.g., too high or too low). If any particular parameter is notable at more than one landing, and the ratio of (a) number of runs to landing at which said particular parameter is notable to (b) the total number of runs to landings exceeds a predetermined threshold, the problem is registered as a car door problem; otherwise, the problem is registered as a landing door problem at each landing where the value of the particular parameter is notable.

Abstract: A maintenance station monitors and maintains a plurality of automatic door systems at remote locations. Each door system includes a control unit for controlling the operation of an automatic door, and a self-diagnosing arrangement which operates in conjunction with the control operation of the control unit, to inspect the automatic door system for malfunctioning or broken part of the door system. When a failure is found in the automatic door system, the self-diagnosing arrangement of that door system sends information identifying that door system and information identifying the malfunctioning or broken part to the maintenance station via modems and telephones.

Abstract: An elevator car door opening and closing apparatus is taught having a clutch assembly carried by each car door for coupling with a landing door locking and unlocking assembly whereby the car and landing doors open and close simultaneously. The clutch assembly includes a mechanical expanding and collapsing parallelogram mechanism which engages, unlocks, and opens the landing door. Mechanical means is also disclosed whereby the elevator car doors may only be forced opened a limited amount if the car is stalled between landing sites.

Abstract: An elevator system includes a scanner installed in a call registerer of an elevator hall and/or on a jamb of an elevator hall for scanning the elevator hall or an area proximate the elevator hall; an image recognizing section for recognizing an image captured by the scanner unit; and operation mode selecting unit for switching an operation mode of the elevator based on recognition information supplied by the image recognizing section.

Abstract: A system for monitoring an elevator door in a hoistway. The elevator door is movable between a closed position and an open position. The system includes a transmitter for emitting an optical signal and an interlock device for latching the elevator door. The interlock device includes an optical nosepiece so positioned for receiving, guiding, and outputting the optical signal from the transmitter when the elevator door is closed and the interlock device is in the latched state. A receiver receives the optical signal via the nosepiece only when the elevator door is closed and the interlock is latched to thereby indicate the elevator door is in its latched state.

Abstract: A door system, which uses a linear motor, has a door hanger from which a door is movably suspended, an electric motor for generating a thrust to open and close the door, and a link mechanism made of a non-magnetic material for transmitting the thrust generated by the motor to the door. The linear motor has an armature to serve as a mover runner and a stator having magnetism. The armature has at least a magnetic pole of a first polarity having a first opposed part and another magnetic pole of a second polarity having a second opposed part. The stator is held by the second opposed part.