Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting or retrieving items to/from a plurality of destinations areas. The items are loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles follow a path to/from the destination areas that are positioned along the path. Along the path, the vehicles are scanned to determine if any item on the vehicles extends beyond a dimensional constraint. If it is determined that an item on a vehicle extends above the pre-determined threshold, the vehicle is controlled, such as by stopping or re-directing the vehicle. Once at the appropriate destination area, an item is transferred between the delivery vehicle and the destination area.

Abstract: An exemplary elevator system includes an elevator car. At least one guiderail is situated for guiding movement of the elevator car. A machine mount is supported by the guiderail near a top of the guiderail. A car stop is supported on the elevator car. The car stop is selectively moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the car stop allows the elevator car to travel to a maximum vertical position. In the second position the car stop is situated to contact the machine mount to prevent the elevator car from reaching the maximum vertical position.

Abstract: Passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) carried by an elevator car (14) detect the presence of persons on top of or in the hoistway (12) below the elevator car (14). The passive infrared detectors (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) can also be used to detect open landing doors with no elevator present.

Abstract: A toe guard (1) for an elevator car (2), said toe guard comprising a movable panel (3). The panel (3) comprises a first panel part (10) which, being guided and supported by guide tracks (5), is movable substantially between a drawn-out position on a landing floor and a stowed-away position under the car. In addition, the panel comprises a second panel part (11) which, guided by the first panel part (10), is telescopically movable between a retracted extreme position where the first and second panel parts are disposed in a mutually nested and/or superposed relationship, and an extended extreme position where the first and second panel parts are disposed substantially in a mutually adjacent relationship.

Abstract: A monitoring device for safeguarding a driven element against undesired collisions with an object lying on the movement path of the driven element is proposed, said monitoring device comprising at least one transmitting element and a receiving element. According to the invention, the device is designed such that the at least one transmitting element, is arranged in a horizontal boundary region of an opening to be monitored, which opening can be at least partially closed by the driven element. Moreover, a multiplicity of receiving elements are arranged in a horizontal, opposite boundary region in distributed fashion along the opening to be monitored, wherein the at least one transmitting element, together with each of the multiplicity of receiving elements forms a light barrier arrangement, which can be evaluated in each case by evaluation means.

Abstract: An elevator installation can comprise an elevator cage, a counterweight, a first support, a second support, a drive for driving of drive pulleys in common and for movement of the supports, and a monitoring device with two slack support switches. A first slack support switch is arranged in the region of a first fastening point for monitoring the first support. A second slack support switch is arranged diagonally opposite in the region of another fastening point for monitoring the second support. The monitoring device comprises a safety circuit, in which the two slack support switches are so integrated in a safety circuit of the elevator installation that actuation of just one of the two slack support switches interrupts the safety circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an elevator safety arrangement and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator shaft. The safety arrangement of the invention comprises a mechanical safety device which can be set to a working position to ensure a sufficient safety space in the elevator shaft and an electric safety system for identifying the operating state of the mechanical safety device. According to the method of the invention, detectors comprised in the electric safety system are read by an electric safety controller and, when a functional deviation is detected, one or more stopping devices are actuated to bring the elevator system into a safe operating state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device arrangement for an elevator door opening, said safety device arrangement comprising at least a toe guard (3) placed substantially at the lower edge of the elevator car and a safety circuit (21) connected to the elevator system. The safety device arrangement comprises a safety circuit switch (16) placed on the toe guard (3) and a bypass switch (17) connected to the safety circuit (21), said bypass switch being fitted to bypass the safety circuit switch (16) at least when the elevator is at or close to the lowest landing floor.

Abstract: An elevator installation with an elevator case, an elevator shaft, and a drive unit. The elevator cage is installed in the elevator shaft to be movable and is controllable by the drive unit so that the elevator cage can be stopped in different positions in the elevator shaft. The elevator shaft is equipped with a detecting device which detects whether a person is standing in a critical zone in the elevator shaft or is about to go into this. The detecting device is connected with the drive unit so that the elevator installation can be transferred to a special mode of operation in case a person is standing in the critical zone or is about to go into this. The drive unit includes special control equipment which in the special mode of operation stops the elevator cage before it moves into the critical zone. In that case the detecting device and the special control equipment are designed to be operationally safe in order to prevent movement of the elevator cage into the critical zone.

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: The present invention concerns an arrangement for a hoist to secure safety zones in case persons should be outside the hoist cage in a hoist shaft, comprising a means of identifying risk situations and mechanical means of limitation that can enter into the path of the hoist cage arranged at a distance from the upper and lower end limits of the hoist cage during normal operation in order to form an upper and a lower safety end limit, mechanically securing the said safety zones.

Abstract: The elevator safety device creates a false pit beneath the elevator frame using left and right laterally-spaced, fixed stop members fixedly attached to the car frame, and left and right laterally-spaced safety columns affixed to the pit floor and pivotable between an extended position in vertical alignment with the left and right stop members, respectively, and a retracted position clear of the car, the frame, and the left and right stop members. The safety columns are bumper-type devices designed to support full car weight should the need arise, and provides the ASME A17.1 minimum depth of pit for the refuge area. Actuators are operatively connected to the safety columns to pivot them between their extended and retracted positions. A pressure-sensitive detector located on the pit floor below the car detects the presence of a person on the pit floor. The actuators are electronically activated to pivot the safety columns from their retracted to their extended positions.