Abstract: An elevator device for transporting persons and/or objects within an elevator shaft of a three-dimensional formation including at least two levels, in particular a building or the like. The elevator device includes an elevator car, in which the persons and/or objects to be transported can be accommodated, a running framework for mounting and guiding the elevator car, a position determining device for determining the position of the elevator car within the elevator shaft and/or with respect to the running framework. The position determining device includes marking units for marking the position of the elevator car relative to the running framework and the elevator shaft, a detection unit for detecting and/or reading out the marking units and also an evaluation unit for evaluating the measured values of the detection unit. The marking units are formed as carriers of a barcode, in particular a 2-D code, and the detection unit is formed as an image sensor, in particular as a camera.

Abstract: A monitoring device for safeguarding a driven element against undesired collisions with an object lying on the movement path of the driven element including at least one transmitting element and a multiplicity of receiving elements, wherein the at least one transmitting element is arranged in a horizontal boundary region of an opening to be monitored, where the opening can be at least partially closed by the driven element, and the multiplicity of receiving elements are arranged in a horizontal, opposite boundary region in a 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 individually.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. A method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: There is provided an elevator safety device that can prevent a light beam from being looked into. The elevator safety device according to the present invention includes light emitting means for emitting a light beam crossing an entrance; light receiving means for detecting the light beam emitted from the light emitting means; foreign matter detection means for generating a foreign matter detection signal when detection of the light beam by the light receiving means is interrupted; and control means. The control means causes the light emitting means to stop an emission in a fully opened state of car doors, and causes the light emitting means to start the emission at a start of or during a closing operation of the car doors.

Abstract: A sensor for safety apparatuses for elevator apparatuses which can move a cab by means of a drive, the sensor including a contact bridge and a contact receptacle for receiving the contact bridge, said contact bridge being arranged in such a way that the closing state of the elevator door can be determined by connection of the contact receptacle and the contact bridge. In order to be able to improve in particular the susceptibility to maintenance, the sensor is in the form of an optical sensor which comprises a transmitter for transmitting an optical signal and a receiver for receiving the optical signal, the transmitter and the receiver being arranged on the contact receptacle and the contact bridge comprising at least one transmission element for transmitting the optical signal.

Abstract: An elevator cab accessory device having a control panel having a first timer and a first contactor, whereby the first timer operates the first contactor, an elevator door position sensor communicating with the first timer, and an occupant sensor communicating with the first timer, wherein the first timer operation is controlled by the elevator door position sensor and the occupant sensor, and a first elevator cab accessory communicating with the first contactor, whereby the first elevator cab accessory operation is controlled by the first contactor. A method for controlling elevator accessories and a method for installing an elevator cab accessory device.

Abstract: In a safety device for an elevator, on one car door among a pair of car doors, a light-emitting/light-receiving unit is disposed facing downward at an upper end position of a vertical line separated by a predetermined distance from an end face in a closing direction, which is to abut the other car door, toward the side of the other car door, and a first reflecting member is disposed facing upward at a lower end position of the vertical line. A housing space that houses the light-emitting/light-receiving unit in a state where both car doors are closed is formed on the other car door, and a second reflecting member is disposed facing upward at a bottom portion of the housing space and extends from the same position as an end face in a closing direction of the other car door toward the back of the housing space.

Abstract: An elevator system includes at least one elevator, call-giving appliances in elevator lobbies, and a device configured to detect contact patterns in an identification area on a floor surface of at least one elevator lobby. A user to be connected to a call given from the elevator lobby is classified based on the contact pattern, the type data of the call is associated with the call based on the classification, and the call and the type data is transmitted to the control system of the elevator system to control the elevators.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for elevator apparatuses which can move a cab via a drive, wherein the drive can he monitored via a monitoring unit for monitoring the drive, comprising: a first safety circuit, which has a closed conduction state and an open conduction state, with an interruption apparatus for interrupting the drive depending on the conduction state of the first safety circuit, a safety device, which comprises at least two sensors, which can be switched between at least two switching states depending on a state to be detected by the sensors. To provide improved maintenance, a switching unit is provided, which can be switched between at least two switching states by connection to the safety device and is designed to effect the closed and/or open conduction state of the first safety circuit, wherein the switching unit comprises a transmission device for transmitting data and/or monitoring signals to the monitoring unit.

Abstract: A control method is used for an elevator. The elevator includes an enclosure located at each floor, two doors mounted to the enclosure, and a control unit to control the doors to open or close. The control method includes, capturing an image of a scene in front of the doors by a camera. Checking the image to determine whether there are people in front of the doors, and outputting a first control signal to the control unit to stop closing the doors upon the condition that there is a person in front of the doors.

Abstract: A switching device including at least one sensor for detection purposes which can be switched between at least two switching states depending on the detection. In order to enable improved detection of the switching states, a switching unit is provided, the switching unit and the at least one sensor each having a communication unit for communicating with one another, and it being possible for the switching unit to be switched depending on the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for elevator apparatuses which can move a cab by means of a drive, including: a first safety circuit, which has a closed conduction state and an open conduction state, with an interrupting apparatus for interrupting the drive depending on the conduction state of the first safety circuit, a safety device, which comprises at least two sensors, which can be switched between at least two switching states depending on the closing state of the elevator door. In order to be able to improve the susceptibility to maintenance, a switching unit is provided which can be switched between at least two switching states by connection to the safety device and is designed to effect the closed and/or open conduction state of the first safety circuit.

Abstract: A sensor for safety apparatuses for elevator apparatuses which can move a cab by means of a drive, the sensor including a contact bridge and a contact receptacle for receiving the contact bridge, said contact bridge being arranged in such a way that the closing state of the elevator door can be determined by connection of the contact receptacle and the contact bridge. In order to be able to improve in particular the susceptibility to maintenance, the sensor is in the form of an optical sensor which comprises a transmitter for transmitting an optical signal and a receiver for receiving the optical signal, the transmitter and the receiver being arranged on the contact receptacle and the contact bridge comprising at least one transmission element for transmitting the optical signal.

Abstract: A security system for an elevator has a car position sensor, which is adapted to determine if a car is at a landing. The security system further has an indicator, which is located at the landing. The indicator is adapted to emit a warning signal if the car is not at the landing.

Abstract: An elevator car for an elevator system includes a car door, a car door mechanism, at least one car door panel, a door drive motor, and a drive control device for the door drive motor. The car door mechanism thereby supports the car door panel. The drive control device includes an operator module having an operator panel, wherein the operator module is disposed on the elevator car so that the operator panel can be operated from the roof of the elevator car and through an opened shaft door from a building floor.

Abstract: An elevator car has an access opening, a car door for closing the access opening, which door has at least one door panel that can be displaced parallel to the access opening, a thrust crank drive for displacing the at least one door panel between an open position and a closed position, an electric motor for driving the thrust crank drive, and a control device for actuating the electric motor. The control device actuates the electric motor so that a displacement velocity of the at least one door panel is substantially constant over the entire displacement path between the open position and the closed position of the door panel.

Abstract: An elevator system in which a controller monitors whether or not a speed of an ascending/descending body reaches a preset overspeed. At a time of maintenance work, a stopper is interposed between a buffer and the ascending/descending body to limit a lowered position of the ascending/descending body. A stopper detector detects installation of the stopper onto at least one of the buffer and the ascending/descending body. When the stopper is detected by the stopper detector, the controller lowers a set value of the overspeed.

Abstract: An elevator door assembly (20) includes a positioner (30) for controlling an orientation of an elevator door panel (22) during movement between open and closed positions. The positioner (30) biases the door in a direction generally perpendicular to the desired direction of door movement. The disclosed example includes a first positioner member (32) that remains in a fixed position. A second positioner member (34) is supported for movement with the elevator door (22). In disclosed examples, at least one of the positioner members (32, 34) provides a magnetic field that results in the biasing force. In a disclosed example, opposing polarities on permanent magnets are arranged to provide a repulsive force between the positioner members (32, 34), which provides the biasing force on the elevator door.

Abstract: An elevator installation can comprise an elevator cage, elevator doors, a drive, an elevator control and a counterweight, which is movable in opposite direction to the elevator cage. The elevator control comprises a door control module or is connectible with a door control module, which determines a standard door keeping-open time or an extended door keeping-open time depending on the respective load situation of the elevator cage.

Abstract: An elevator system has at least two elevator cars, each of which has at least one elevator car door and each of which is provided for independent displacement in a common shaft, and a plurality of shaft doors and a safety device having at least one door opening sensor, at least one evaluation unit and at least one data line between the door opening sensor and the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit evaluates at least one signal of the door opening sensor in at least one evaluation step to prevent unauthorized opening of the shaft door.

Abstract: An elevator control system (24) provides elevator dispatch and door control based on passenger data received from a video monitoring system. The video monitoring system includes a video processor (16) connected to receive video input from at least one video camera (12). The video processor (16) tracks objects located within the field of view of the video camera, and calculates passenger data parameters associated with each tracked object. The elevator controller (24) provides elevator dispatch (26), door control (28), and security functions (30) based in part on passenger data provided by the video processor (16). The security functions may also be based in part on data from access control systems (14).

Abstract: An elevator entrance apparatus includes a reading device for reading transmission information from a transmission device, and a control device for controlling operation of an elevator based on information as to whether transmission information has been read by the reading device or not. The reading device reads transmission information only when the transmission device is within a predetermined detection range on an inner side of an elevator entrance.

Abstract: A door device for an elevator includes an elevator door, first and second door drive devices having first and second rotating shafts, respectively, a power transmission mechanism that moves the elevator door according to rotation of the first and second rotating shafts, and a door control device that controls movement of the elevator door. The door control device includes a first processing device that performs first arithmetic processing for controlling the first door drive device, a second processing device that performs second arithmetic processing for controlling the second door drive device, and an information transmitting unit for information transmission between the first and second processing devices.

Abstract: A door device for an elevator is provided with an elevator door for opening/closing a doorway through which an interior of a car communicates with a landing, a distance sensor for continuously detecting a distance from the doorway to a passenger at the landing, a processing device for obtaining a door control command corresponding to information from the distance sensor, and a door control device for controlling a movement of the elevator door based on the door control command from the processing device. Thus, the elevator door can be moved in accordance with the movement of the passenger. Accordingly, the passenger is allowed to board the car more reliably, and a running efficiency of the elevator can be enhanced.

Abstract: A method of operating an elevator installation and the elevator installation include elevator doors actuated by an elevator drive according to a travel curve. At least one sensor unit detects pressure relationships and/or air flows. An evaluating unit determines a travel curve, which is optimal with respect to the detected pressure relationships and/or air flows, from a plurality of travel curves.

Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring a safety circuit are presented. The system includes a control appliance and the safety circuit comprises at least one serial circuit of two or more switches. The arrangement system also includes a way of measuring the status of at least one switch, as well as a way of conveying the status information of the switch to the control appliance. The method includes measuring the status information of at least one switch and sending the measured status information to the control appliance.

Abstract: An elevator safety arrangement and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator has 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 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: A car door is displaced with respect to a landing door between an engagement position at which the car door is engaged with the landing door and an open-away position located on a door-closing side with respect to the engagement position. While remaining engaged with the car door, the landing door is moved to open/close a landing doorway. When the landing doorway is fully closed by the landing door, a locking device performs an operation corresponding to the position of the car door with respect to the landing door to lock/unlock the landing door. A door control device has an engagement completion time calculating portion, a speed pattern generating portion, and a speed control portion. The engagement completion time calculating portion predicts an engagement completion time to a moment when the car door reaches the engagement position during a door-opening operation, based on information from an unlock detecting device for detecting whether or not the landing door has been unlocked.

Abstract: A device for reducing the energy consumption is used in an elevator installation which can be alternatively brought into an operating mode and a standby mode wherein in the standby mode the elevator installation is separated from a main energy source and connected with an auxiliary energy source, by means of which basic functions of the elevator installation are maintained so as to enable later entry into the operating mode. The device includes a detecting unit in order to detect a use criterion describing the current use status of the elevator installation. Moreover, a power-saving unit with a microprocessor is provided in order to bring the elevator installation from the operating mode to the standby mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the use criterion and fulfillment of standby criteria and to bring it from the standby mode to the operating mode in the case of non-fulfillment of the standby criteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement of an elevator and a method for implementing safety spaces in an elevator shaft. The elevator has an elevator control system, an elevator motor, a power supply circuit of the elevator motor, and at least one mechanical stopping appliance for preventing movement of the elevator car in the elevator shaft. In the method according to the invention information is read with the control unit from the sensors that measure the position of the landing door of the elevator and possibly information is read from the sensors that measure the position of the door of the elevator car. If it is detected that more landing doors than the door of the elevator car are open, the control unit is switched to the person in the elevator shaft mode and information about the person in the elevator shaft mode is sent with the control unit to the elevator control system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring device for a elevator system, including an optical sensor unit, which receives light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system and which transforms the light into contrast information and an evaluation unit, which evaluates the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system. The present invention relates further to a method for monitoring a elevator system, including the steps of receiving light emitted by a external light source existing in the vicinity of the elevator system, transforming the light into contrast information, evaluation of the contrast information in order to monitor the elevator system, recognizing a situation of the elevator system and triggering of a reaction adapted to the situation.

Abstract: A method and a system for the positioning of the elevator car and the door of the elevator in the condition monitoring system are provided. In the method the accelerations of the elevator car and the door of the elevator are measured with a sensor. By integrating the acceleration information two times in relation to time the position information is determined. When the condition monitoring system detects a fault, forecasts a malfunction occurring in the future or detects a significant change in the operation of the elevator or in the measuring signals related to the elevator, it is possible to attach to this information the location of the fault or event i.e. the position of the elevator or the position of a door of a certain floor level on the slide path. The position information can be synchronized to a separate reference point by means of a positioned switch by making an adjustment to the position information at the reference point.

Abstract: A car door is displaced with respect to a landing door between an engagement position at which the car door is engaged with the landing door and an open-away position located on a door-closing side with respect to the engagement position. While remaining engaged with the car door, the landing door is moved to open/close a landing doorway. When the landing doorway is fully closed by the landing door, a locking device performs an operation corresponding to the position of the car door with respect to the landing door to lock/unlock the landing door. A door control device has an engagement completion time calculating portion, a speed pattern generating portion, and a speed control portion. The engagement completion time calculating portion predicts an engagement completion time to a moment when the car door reaches the engagement position during a door-opening operation, based on information from an unlock detecting device for detecting whether or not the landing door has been unlocked.

Abstract: An elevator door lock assembly (30) includes a sensor device (40) for providing an indication of a properly locked door. A plurality of proximity sensor elements (42, 44) interact with activating elements (52, 54) when the door lock assembly (30) is properly locked. In disclosed examples, a specific geometric pattern of the sensor elements (42, 44) and the activating elements (52, 54) provides redundancy and tampering protection. In a disclosed example, an output from the sensor device (40) provides an indication of a condition of the door lock and a building level location of a plurality of sensor devices.

Abstract: In an elevator door apparatus, an elevator door is capable of reciprocating between a door closure position for closing an elevator entrance and a door open position for opening the elevator entrance. The elevator door is driven by a door drive device. The door drive device is controlled by a door control device. The door control device adjusts the door open position based on control information for controlling an operation of an elevator, obtains a door opening/closing pattern for the elevator door to be opened and closed between the adjusted door open position and the door closure position, and controls the door drive device so that the elevator door is reciprocated in accordance with the obtained door opening/closing pattern.

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: The method of the invention can be used to improve the performance of an elevator system. In the method, the acceleration and/or velocity of at least one door in the elevator system is measured and a dynamic model of the door is created. Using the model, an estimation of acceleration and velocity can be calculated as a function of unknown parameters. From the estimated acceleration or velocity and the measured acceleration or velocity an error function is obtained, and a search is performed in an optimizer to find its minimum value. The unknown parameters corresponding to the minimum value indicate the value of the kinetic parameters of the door at the instant being considered. By utilizing the calculated values of the kinetic parameters, the functions of the doors in the elevator system are optimized separately for each door. Using a genetic algorithm, it is possible to determine, in addition to the unknown kinetic parameters, the operational state of the door closing device as well.

Abstract: A door device for an elevator includes an elevator door, first and second door drive devices having first and second rotating shafts, respectively, a power transmission mechanism that moves the elevator door according to rotation of the first and second rotating shafts, and a door control device that controls movement of the elevator door. The door control device includes a first processing device that performs first arithmetic processing for controlling the first door drive device, a second processing device that performs second arithmetic processing for controlling the second door drive device, and an information transmitting unit for information transmission between the first and second processing devices.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus controls advance opening of doors in a double-deck elevator, in which elevator a car frame supporting the elevator cars is moved by means of a set of hoisting ropes by a hoisting machine provided with a traction sheave. When the elevator is approaching the target floor levels, the velocity of the elevator cars in the car frame in relation to the car frame is measured and, based on the measurement result, the velocity of the elevator cars relative to the floor levels is calculated.

Abstract: A detector of foreign objects, and particularly fingers, between the doors and the contiguous walls of landing and car openings in an elevator with glass car and landing doors includes a light beam emitter and a receiver. The emitter, which is located near an opening frame edge of the car, emits a light beam that extends transversally across the car and landing glass doors from the vertical car opening frame edge to the opposite vertical landing frame edge. The receiver, which receives the emitted light beam, is adapted to detect any obstacle to the light beam and to order the simultaneous halt and reversal, as required, of the car and landing doors.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a method and a system for integrating electric elements of an elevator in a single module, e.g. in the door operator of the elevator, to reduce the number of components to be installed and to enable the electric elements of the elevator to be added to the door operator on the elevator car already at the manufacturing stage. The method may include intergrating electric components to be placed in the elevator, such as location elements, acceleration sensors and door zone sensors, with the door operator or some other module already at the manufacturing stage of the elevator, e.g. by placing the active parts of the sensors in conjunction with the door operator and the passive parts on the floor level side.

Abstract: An elevator door mover device (40) includes a threaded ferromagnetic shaft (42). Magnetic movers (48) associated with doors (26) generate magnetic fields that cause the doors to move responsive to rotation of the shaft (42). In one example, a controller (46) controls a speed of a motor (44) that drives the shaft (42). The controller (46) in some examples also selectively controls the strength of the magnetic fields of the movers, which provides more customizable door performance.

Abstract: A door controller and a method for inputting or adjusting one or more reference positions into the door controller have the controller connected to a door drive for moving a door and utilize a pulse encoder for monitoring a position of the door and a non-volatile memory for storing the reference position. In a learning mode a control force signal to the drive is reduced. Then the door is moved to the reference position and finally the reference position as recorded by the pulse encoder is registered in the memory of the controller.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method and a system for the positioning of the elevator car and the door of the elevator in the condition monitoring system. In the method the accelerations of the elevator car and the door of the elevator are measured with sensors. By integrating the acceleration information two times in relation to time the position information is determined. When the condition monitoring system detects a fault, forecasts a malfunction occurring in the future or detects a significant change in the operation of the elevator or in the measuring signals related to the elevator, it is possible to attach to this information the location of the fault or event i.e. the position of the elevator or the position of a door of a certain floor level on the slide path. The position information can be synchronized to a separate reference point by means of a positioned switch by making an adjustment to the position information at the reference point.

Abstract: An elevator system (20) includes elevator car doors (30) that are moved by a door mover (34) between fully open and fully closed positions. An encoder (38, 38?) provides an absolute indication of a current door position. The encoder (38, 38?) also provides a fully closed door position indication that can be used by a machine controller (40) for controlling when an elevator car (22) is allowed to move within a hoistway. Using an encoder that provides an absolute door position indication allows for eliminating a separate gate switch that otherwise has been used for providing a fully closed door position indication.

Abstract: An elevator installation has a sealing element that is movable by an electromagnetic actuator from a first position to a second position. The sealing element includes a seal carrier that is movably arranged at a door leaf of a door of the elevator installation. An electromagnetic actuator is fastened in the region of the door and upon actuation acts on the seal carrier to move it from the first position to the second position. An electrical circuit triggers the actuation before the door leaf executes an opening movement.

Abstract: An equipment (21) for controlling an elevator door (22) comprises a motor (24), an encoder (25) connected to the motor and a motor control unit (26), which are integrated into a coherent motor unit (23), an elevator control system (28), power supply means (29) for supplying operating power from the control system to the motor unit, and a data transfer bus (30) for data transfer between the control system and the motor unit. According to the invention, the data transfer bus (30) is bi-directional, and the motor unit (23) comprises a motor data storage unit (31).

Abstract: In an elevator door apparatus, an elevator door is capable of reciprocating between a door closure position for closing an elevator entrance and a door open position for opening the elevator entrance. The elevator door is driven by a door drive device. The door drive device is controlled by a door control device. The door control device adjusts the door open position based on control information for controlling an operation of an elevator, obtains a door opening/closing pattern for the elevator door to be opened and closed between the adjusted door open position and the door closure position, and controls the door drive device so that the elevator door is reciprocated in accordance with the obtained door opening/closing pattern.

Abstract: An elevator door assembly (20) includes a positioner (30) for controlling an orientation of an elevator door panel (22) during movement between open and closed positions. The positioner (30) biases the door in a direction generally perpendicular to the desired direction of door movement. The disclosed example includes a first positioner member (32) that remains in a fixed position. A second positioner member (34) is supported for movement with the elevator door (22). In disclosed examples, at least one of the positioner members (32, 34) provides a magnetic field that results in the biasing force. In a disclosed example, opposing polarities on permanent magnets are arranged to provide a repulsive force between the positioner members (32, 34), which provides the biasing force on the elevator door.

Abstract: The method of the invention can be used to improve the performance of an elevator system. In the method, the acceleration and/or velocity of at least one door in the elevator system is measured and a dynamic model of the door is created. Using the model, an estimation of acceleration and velocity can be calculated as a function of unknown parameters. From the estimated acceleration or velocity and the measured acceleration or velocity an error function is obtained, and a search is performed in an optimizer to find its minimum value. The unknown parameters corresponding to the minimum value indicate the value of the kinetic parameters of the door at the instant being considered. By utilizing the calculated values of the kinetic parameters, the functions of the doors in the elevator system are optimized separately for each door. Using a genetic algorithm, it is possible to determine, in addition to the unknown kinetic parameters, the operational state of the door closing device as well.