Abstract: Provided are a device for producing a sheet structure including a flexible sheet and a structure formed on the sheet whereby the sheet structure can be easily produced and a method for producing the sheet structure. The production device 1 includes: a table 10 having in a surface thereof a holding region 12; a formation mechanism 31 for forming a structure 2b; a holding mechanism 25 for holding a sheet 2a on the holding region 12; and a control unit 40. The holding mechanism 25 includes: porous materials 14b and 15b provided so that they are at least partly located within the holding region 12 and having interconnected cells; a negative-pressure generating mechanism 17; and a positive-pressure generating mechanism 20. The control unit 40 allows the negative-pressure generating mechanism 17 to generate a negative pressure to hold the sheet 2a, then allows the formation mechanism 31 to form the structure 2b, and then allows the positive-pressure generating mechanism 20 to generate a positive pressure.

Abstract: A group control method apparatus for elevators including a plurality of cars for serving floors divided into a plurality of sectors. The apparatus has a determination coincidental ride prevention section for assigning a hall call to one of the plurality of cars in such a manner that passengers from different ones of the sectors will not ride on the same car.

Abstract: A period of time required since the output signal of an acceleration detector for detecting an earthquake exceeds a first set level, until it reaches a second set level greater in value than the first set level, is measured, and a calculation is executed on the basis of the measured value thereby to predict the scale of the earthquake, and a resetting period of time since an elevator is brought to a stoppage operation due to the earthquake, until the stoppage operation is released, is calculated on the basis of the predicted scale of the earthquake. Thus, the period of time till the reset is automatically set is variable according to the scale of the earthquake.

Abstract: A control system for one or more hydraulically driven crane winch drums each having a hydraulically actuated clutch and a brake. Included is a negative braking mechanism having a brake cylinder of the single-acting, spring-return type for normally holding the brake applied by the force of the spring and releasing the brake on fluid pressure actuation. A mode selector valve selectively delivers hydraulic fluid under pressure from two separate sources to the clutch and the brake cylinder in order to condition the winch for a selected one of winching, brake-locking, and free-fall modes. The mode selector valve causes the negative braking mechanism to release the brake in the free-fall mode, so that a positive braking mechanism is also provided to permit the operator to arrest the free fall of the load, or the free running-out of the cable, in an exact position desired.

Abstract: Provided are polyamides having properties which make them useful as adhesives, sizing agents, paper strength enhancers and as resins. These polyamides are prepared by heating an alpha-(N,N-disubstituted amino)-E-caprolactam, alone or in combination with one or more comonomers, in the presence of an anionic polymerization catalyst, and are characterized by a repeating unit reprsented by the formula ##STR1## wherein R and R' are each a lower alkyl group or a cyclic amine residue, and also having a relative viscosity of at leasrt 1.5.