Abstract: A method of sensory control of a lift car located in an lift shaft which serves to define a number of separate stations between which the car can be driven and at each of which stations the car can be caused to stop to enable a person or an article to enter or leave the car characterised by the steps of: providing for the car a scanning device; providing at each of at least two or more of the stations an independent scanning extension means; providing that on, or following, the arrival of the car at one of the stations equipped with an scanning extension means the scanning device and the scanning extension means at the station are juxtaposed, or otherwise linked, to form an operable combination; scanning by means of the operable combination a predetermined region associated with the shaft at the station so as to provide as an output a signal representing a state of the predetermined region, such as whether it is occupied or not, and using the signal or a function thereof, in the event the signal or a function

Abstract: Provided is an elevator group supervisory control system for an elevator system provided with indicators for a group supervisory control of a plurality of elevators, in which a car reversal, which becomes a cause of irritation for passengers, is curbed. For a hall call registered at an elevator hall which is ahead of a final car call and within a floor range defined bases on building or elevator conditions, an additional assignment is performed on an elevator whose predicted arrival time is the shortest, and which is not in charge of the elevator hall call.

Abstract: Position transmitting equipment for ascertaining the position of a rail-guided elevator car includes a code carrier, which is arranged over the car travel path in fixed location on a guide rail with code marks of different permeability. A permanently precise reading of the coding is ensured by the fact that the code carrier is fixedly connected with a non-magnetic cover externally covering the code marks. The code carrier together with the outwardly facing non-magnetic cover are inserted into a receiving groove of the car guide rail, whereby a simple and reliable mounting is achieved and, in addition, temperature-dependent differences in expansion between the code carrier and the guide rail are avoided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for determining the position of an elevator car (2). In accordance with the invention, a resistance wire (3) is permanently installed in the vertical direction in the elevator shaft (1). An operating voltage+UB and a reference voltage GND are applied to the two ends of the resistance wire (3). A voltage tap (8) is mounted on the elevator car (2), and the contact (9) of the voltage tap (8) slides along the resistance wire (3) as the elevator car (2) moves. A voltage UPos, which corresponds to the present position of the elevator car (2), is supplied to a position-sensing unit (6) by a measuring line (10). The position-sensing unit (6) can determine the movement and speed of the elevator car (2) from the change in the voltage UPos with respect to time.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of the position of an object which can be moved along an acoustic-signal conductor of ferromagnetic material, in which an acoustic signal is incoupled in a clocked manner into the acoustic-signal conductor by means of a signal input coupler connected to a signal transmitter, extracted by means of a signal output coupler and the extracted signal is evaluated by an evaluating circuit for generating a signal representative of the instantaneous position of the object, wherein an opposite magnetic field for the magnetic field generated by the acoustic signal is incoupled in each case after the incouplion of the acoustic signal.

Abstract: A device for producing information related to a position of an elevator car in an elevator shaft includes a toothed belt having a plurality of teeth spaced along a length of the belt and mounted in an elevator shaft, an encoder mounted on the elevator car and having a toothed wheel for engaging the teeth, and guide rollers mounted on the elevator car and engaging the toothed belt to urge the plurality of teeth into engagement with the toothed wheel.

Abstract: A material delivery system is disclosed which is particularly useful for filtered environments, such as clean rooms, minienvironments, or the like. One aspect of this particular material delivery system is that movement of an elevator is automatically controlled (i.e., no operator input), and more preferably is accomplished by monitoring for the presence of containers at multiple vertical positions. Another aspect of this particular material delivery system is that its elevator may be installed on and removed from a main housing of the material delivery system without requiring any tools. Yet another aspect of this particular material delivery system is that containers need not be unloaded from the material delivery system prior to removing its elevator, such as for replacement/maintenance purposes.

Abstract: An elevator tape guide for a hoistway tape includes a mounting plate having recesses for receiving insertable plug members, the plug members each have two tape engaging slots with the slots being severally registrable with the tape for slot wear-replacement.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating hoistway information from images of the surface patterns of a hoistway component such as a guide rail sensed by a CCD line camera. The image data are input into a first correlator which uses an incremental position of a new image and an absolute position of a preceding image to generate an estimated position. The estimated position is input into a second correlator and is used to locate the relevant database sector in which the image which was stored in the database during calibration is situated. The second correlator compares the new image with the stored image and determines from the position index of the stored image the absolute position of the elevator car which is transmitted to the elevator control.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the position of an object moveable along a predetermined travel path. The apparatus includes an acoustic signal waveguide, a signal input coupler, at least one signal output coupler, and means for generating. The acoustic signal waveguide extends along the travel path and having a predetermined, uniform speed of propagation of sound. The signal input coupler is located on the moveable object, to couple a clocked acoustic signal into the acoustic signal waveguide. The at least one signal output coupler is arranged at one end of the acoustic signal waveguide and is connected to an evaluation unit for determining the propagation-time of the sound signal from a position at which it is coupled in to the at least one signal output coupler and for generating a signal representative of the instantaneous position of the moveable object on the travel path.

Abstract: In an elevator system, a first transceiver located at a fixed portion in an elevator shaft and a second transceiver provided at an elevator cage communicate by millimeter waves. The elevator system includes a first portion positioned in an elevator shaft, a second portion positioned in the elevator shaft, vertically moving relative to the first portion, a first transceiver located at the first portion, and a second transceiver located at the second portion.

Abstract: In an operating panel for an elevator, designation floor registering buttons and floor information display portions are disposed in a touch panel adjacent to one another, and an indicator bar for indicating a position of car is disposed between the destination floor registering buttons and the floor information display portions. When the destination floor registering buttons are operated in the car, their display configurations are changed. Further, when hall button devices are operated, the display configurations, i.e., colors and/or display areas, of the corresponding floor information display portions are changed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved elevator selector system. One embodiment incorporates all of the operational and A17 code required car position sensing functions into a single car mounted enclosure, without any external mechanical roller switches, by incorporating directional limits, normal terminal slow down and emergency terminal speed limiting functions into a tape selector. All operational and sensing functions may be implemented using a standard 3-inch wide tape by disposing of magnetic signalers on the opposite side of the tape from the side used for leveling and floor identification. An alignment tool facilitates placement of magnets. Tape guides permit the selector to run smoothly along the tape. Optical rather than magnetic sensors may be used for quadrature hole counting to detect relative speed and location without interfering with other magnetic functions. All selector components may be tethered to the selector enclosure to prevent accidental loss down the hoistway.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an elevator system for the vertical transport of payloads in an aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an elevator system, in which data communication between a first transceiver provided at a fixed portion in an elevator shaft and a second transceiver provided at an elevator cage is made by means of a millimeter wave in a reliable manner.

Abstract: A knurled wheel is coupled to a sensor mounted to one mast member and the wheel is forced into another mast member so that the wheel/sensor rotate upon mast movement. The sensor generates signals, corresponding to mast movement, which are processed conventionally to determine mast height, etc. The knurled wheel forms a track on the contacted mast member and the knurl engages the track. The wheel can be forced into the mast member with a force of six to nine pounds. To enhance the versatility of the mast height sensing device, the thickness of the wheel can be made less than ⅛ inch, for example {fraction (1/16)} inch. The sensor can be an encoder or a sensor bearing and a heater can be provided for operation in cold environments to ensure rotation of the sensor under such conditions.

Abstract: A device for producing information related to a position of an elevator car in an elevator shaft includes a toothed belt having a plurality of teeth spaced along a length of the belt and mounted in an elevator shaft, an encoder mounted on the elevator car and having a toothed wheel for engaging the teeth, and guide rollers mounted on the elevator car and engaging the toothed belt to urge the plurality of teeth into engagement with the toothed wheel.

Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of the position of an object which can be moved along an acoustic-signal conductor of ferromagnetic material, in which an acoustic signal is incoupled in a clocked manner into the acoustic-signal conductor by means of a signal input coupler connected to a signal transmitter, extracted by means of a signal output coupler and the extracted signal is evaluated by an evaluating circuit for generating a signal representative of the instantaneous position of the object, wherein an opposite magnetic field for the magnetic field generated by the acoustic signal is incoupled in each case after the incouplion of the acoustic signal

Abstract: In an elevator, a transmission sheave is attached to a mount structure fastened to a guide rail. A speed governor rope suspended from a speed governor is coupled with an elevator car that ascends and descends in a shaft, and is wound on the transmission sheave. An idler pulley is provided for increasing a winding angle with respect to the transmission sheave by changing movement of the speed governor rope 4. A position detection apparatus is provided for detecting the position of the car in the shaft based upon the rotation of the transmission sheave. The position detection apparatus can be installed in an empty space in the shaft without the need of a repair of an existing speed governor to save the repair costs of the elevator.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating hoistway information from images of the surface patterns of a hoistway component such as a guide rail sensed by a CCD line camera. The image data are input into a first correlator which uses an incremental position of a new image and an absolute position of a preceding image to generate an estimated position. The estimated position is input into a second correlator and is used to locate the relevant database sector in which the image which was stored in the database during calibration is situated. The second correlator compares the new image with the stored image and determines from the position index of the stored image the absolute position of the elevator car which is transmitted to the elevator control.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of an elevator car within a hoistway that includes a code rail containing optically readable indicia that is being mounted within the hoistway adjacent to the path of travel of the car. At least one camera is mounted upon the car for movement therewith for scanning the code rail indicia and providing data indicative of the car's position to the car controllers.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the position of an elevator car within a hoistway that includes a code rail containing optically readable indicia that is being mounted within the hoistway adjacent to the path of travel of the car. At least one camera is mounted upon the car for movement therewith for scanning the code rail indicia and providing data indicative of the car's position to the car controllers.

Abstract: A guide system for an elevator, including a movable unit configured to move, such as,ascend and descend, along a guide rail, a beam projector configured to form an optical path of a light parallel to a moving direction of the movable unit, a position detector disposed on the optical path and configured to detect a position relationship between the optical path and the movable unit, and an actuator coupled to the movable unit and configured to change a position of the movable unit by a reaction force caused by a force operating on the guide rail on the basis of the output of the position detector.

Abstract: Equipment for generation of shaft information, including transmitter elements of a elevator shaft arranged at the back part of a frame of a story door. Opposite the transmitter elements switchable transmitters are arranged at the back part of a frame of a cage door. Mounting time and costs are substantially reduced by the arrangement of the transmitter elements and transmitters at existing components.

Abstract: A transmission sheave 15 is attached to a mount structure 9 fastened to a guide rail 8. A speed governor rope 4 suspended from a speed governor 3 is coupled with a car 1 that ascends and descends along a shaft 2, and wound on the transmission sheave 15. An idler pulley 16 is provided for increasing a winding angle with respect to the transmission sheave 15 by changing a movement passage of the speed governor rope 4. A position detection apparatus 18 is provided for detecting the position of the car 1 in the shaft 2 based upon the rotation of the transmission sheave 15. The position detection apparatus 18 can be installed in an empty space in the shaft 2 without the need of a repair of an existing speed governor to save the repair cost of the elevator.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the position of an object moveable along a predetermined travel path, comprising: an acoustic signal waveguide extending along the travel path and having a predetermined, uniform speed of propagation of sound; a signal input coupler located on the moveable object, to couple a clocked acoustic signal into the acoustic signal waveguide, signal output couplers at both ends of the acoustic signal waveguide and each being connected to an evaluation unit for determining the propagation-time difference of the sound signal from a position at which it is coupled in to the signal output couplers and for generating a signal representative of the instantaneous position of the moveable object on the travel path, wherein a calibration signal input coupler connected to a calibration acoustic signal generator for a calibration acoustic signal is provided on one of the signal output couplers, the evaluation unit calculating a correction variable for subsequent determinat

Abstract: A communication system includes a CPU for controlling internal operations; a management table storage portion for storing a management table referred to for communication control; an intrinsic identification number setting portion for setting a number for identifying respective communication devices; a network interface connected to a network connecting the communication devices and controlled by the CPU; and at least one interface having a hall transmission line interface connected to the hall transmission line, a respective cabin controller interface connected to a corresponding cabin controller, a group management controller interface connected to the group management controller, and a transmission line expansion interface connected to an expansion transmission line, other than the hall transmission line, wherein the interface is controlled by the CPU.

Abstract: Equipment for generation of shaft information, including transmitter elements of a elevator shaft arranged at the back part of a frame of a storey door. Opposite the transmitter elements switchable transmitters are arranged at the back part of a frame of a cage door. Mounting time and costs are substantially reduced by the arrangement of the transmitter elements and transmitters at existing components.

Abstract: For each control period, a position of each elevator of a plurality of elevating devices is calculated, the farthest elevator from a designated movement destination position is determined as a reference elevator based on the position of each elevator thus calculated, position deviations of other elevators are calculated with respect to a position of the reference elevator, actuators of the elevators other than the reference elevator which have the position deviations outside a predetermined range are off controlled, and actuators of the elevator having the position deviation within the predetermined range and the reference elevator are on controlled.

Abstract: In the conventional elevator, there arise problems that there is no apparatus capable of reducing only radio-frequency components according to the characteristics of the rubber isolator and dealing with vertical vibration of the entire car, although it is possible to reduce the vibration descending along the rope while passing through the rubber isolator at the lower portion of the car.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the position of a moveable object along a path such as a rail or a wire. The apparatus includes an acoustic signal conductor, a signal input coupler, and a signal extractor. The acoustic signal conductor extends along the travel path and has a predetermined, uniform speed at which sound is propagated. The signal input coupler is located on the moveable object to couple a clocked acoustic signal into the acoustic signal waveguide. The signal extractor is arranged at one end of the acoustic signal waveguide and is connected to an evaluation unit for determining the propagation-time of the sound signal from a position at which the sound signal is coupled to the signal extractor to accordingly generate a signal representative of the instantaneous position of the moveable object on the travel path. A sensor on the acoustic signal conductor is actuated by being passed over by the moveable object.

Abstract: The auxiliary device is needed when the elevator stands in the elevator shaft outside a station. The auxiliary device includes an auxiliary drive device for the payload receptacle. For sight-free observation of the auxiliary device there is arranged an image transmission device, which includes a sensor, a display device and a transfer path. The sensor serves for detection of images which illustrate a drive pulley coupled with the auxiliary drive device. The display device serves for visualization of the images detected by the sensor, and the transfer path serves for transmission of the images detected by the sensor to the display device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor detects whether a piston is at the lowest position. The sensor is not affected by the environment or damaged by contact with other objects. The sensor is located in the bottom of a mast cylinder, transmits ultrasonic waves to the bottom of a piston and receives ultrasonic waves reflected by the piston. The sensor then outputs electric signals based on the received ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor is electrically connected to a transmitter-receiver, which, in turn, is electrically connected to a controller. The transmitter-receiver includes an ultrasonic wave generator and sends ultrasonic wave transmitting signal having a predetermined frequency to the ultrasonic sensor based on control signals from the controller. The controller measures time from when it outputs the ultrasonic wave transmitting signal to when the sensor receives a reflected wave. The controller then compares the measured time with a threshold value thereby judging whether the piston is at the lowest position.

Abstract: An inexpensive system for measuring and controlling the height of the platform of a lift, especially of a non-fixed lift such as fork-lift or scissors-lift. By the use of a time-monitoring microprocessor, this system carries out such measuring and controlling over a continuous range of height even though the direct-measuring operations just involve a small, discrete number of surrogate-height-markers and one or two off/on sensors. This is accomplished by incorporating into the control system (a) a geometric model relating the height of the platform to the value of a surrogate parameter and (b) dynamic model describing how the surrogate parameter changes with time during ascent and descent of the platform. With this data, the microprocessor can control the platform precisely, causing it to move to any vertical position within its normal range. The resolution is limited only by the precision of the geometric and dynamic models.

Abstract: A fastening system for lift shaft information transmitters includes multiple carriers to support shaft information transmitters in different height positions for each story upon cables stretched over the entire height of the shaft. A respective bracket arranged at a guide rail may be provided at each of the lower and upper shaft ends. Tension springs, which are connected at one end each with a respective shackle, are connected at cable thimbles of the lower cable ends. The cable can be prestressed by the shackle arranged at the lower bracket. In an illustrative embodiment, three cables are provided, wherein the middle cable is slightly displaced relative to the outer cables towards the rear in the depth of the shaft and the outer cables are slightly displaced inwardly in the width of the carrier. For larger lift installations, a retaining rail, which is arranged at the guide rail and by means of which the cables are held fast, may be provided for each three to four storys.

Abstract: An industrial lift truck with a load lifting device (15), a device (3, 9, 11) for moving the load lifting device (15) on the lift truck (1) having at least one element (7) that can move, together with the load lifting device (15), along an essentially straight guide (5), and with a position measuring device for monitoring the relative position to the guide (5) of the element (7) movable with the load lifting device (15).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the speed of an elevator car. A radar speed sensor (30) is provided determining the velocity of an elevator car (2). The speed sensor produces a signal which is processed by a processor (52) and compared to a threshold speed value by speed detection module (70). The speed detection module produces an overspeed signal (72) triggering the operation of actuator (34) and safety brake (26).

Abstract: In an elevator apparatus, a control panel is disposed below a lowermost movement position of a proximity switch projecting from a car. The control panel is mounted on a hoistway wall through a mounting bracket at a position which is overlapped by a cross-section of the proximity switch projected in the ascending and descending directions of the car. Namely, the control panel is mounted by utilizing the space below the movement range of the proximity switch. Also, a gap is present between the surface of the hoistway wall and the control panel by the mounting bracket.

Abstract: An elevator landing apparatus including a detector mounted on one of a doorsill part of a cage of an elevator provided in an elevator shaft and a doorsill part of an elevator hall, and a detected member mounted on the other of the doorsill part of the elevator hall and the doorsill part of the cage. The detector and detected member are configured to position the cage at a position where the doorsill part of the elevator hall and the doorsill part of the cage are flush with each other when the detector and the detected member are opposite each other. The one of the detector or the detected member provided on the doorsill part of the cage is mounted along a side of the cage and facing toward a side of the elevator shaft.

Abstract: A system is provided for displaying an audio/video signal in an elevator car. The system includes a signal storage assembly for storing the audio/video signal to be displayed, a display supported on the elevator car for displaying the audio/video signal, and a sensor fixed to the elevator car for sensing a condition indicative of the presence of a user in the elevator car. A controller is also provided which is connected to the signal storage assembly and to the first sensor for initiating display of the audio/video signal in response to the sensed condition of the first sensor.

Abstract: An elevator system includes an electronic driver which transmits a multi-phased electric current through a relay to a motor driving an elevator car. Under normal operating conditions, the motor uses the current from the driver to move the elevator car in a hoistway. When electric power fails, the elevator car is moved by gravity for any necessary rescue or maintenance operations, and consequently moves the motor. The movement of the motor generates a multi-phased electric current therein. The generated current is utilized to power a display panel of a movement indicator, which is automatically connected to the motor by the relay when power fails in the elevator system. The powered display panel informs the operator of the direction and speed of travel of the elevator car.

Abstract: A normal terminal stopping device (NTSD) using terminal zone position checkpoint detection with a binary coding method to identify a checkpoint within a terminal zone, and a digital shaft encoder mounted on the shaft of the hoist motor to determine a car position relative to a target stopping point. A microprocessor-based controller is used to compare a velocity command signal to a velocity limit reference. If the velocity command exceeds the velocity limit, the NTSD functions will take over to cause the elevator car to decelerate at the NTSD rate. In particular, the velocity limit reference is computed according to lead compensation and curve shaping techniques to attain better drive tracking characteristics of the motion controller. Binary coded checkpoints are used to eliminate error introduced in a car position derived from a motor shaft digital encoder.

Abstract: A cage stop height readjusting apparatus for an elevator system and a method thereof which are capable of accurately stopping a cage at a predetermined floor at a zero level of a cage stop height. The apparatus includes a position detection rotary encoder for outputting second pulse signal which corresponds to an actual running distance of a cage as a pulley is rotated by a wirET.

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 improved position control method for an elevator by which the system does not receive any overload even when the speed pattern of the cage is changed while the cage is operated in accordance with the position error occurred. The method includes the steps of a first step for computing a running distance to a service floor when a passenger registers a call, generating a speed pattern in accordance with the distance computed, and operating a cage in accordance with the speed pattern, a second step for re-computing the running distance of the cage based on a position difference error when the position difference error occurs during the operation of the cage, and a third step for re-computing the speed pattern in accordance with the running distance computed in the second step.

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: A method which provides for level monitoring of an elevator car within a hoistway at a plurality of floors by providing a plurality of sensed signals which is indicative of an elevator position of the elevator car relative to a plurality of targets having a plurality of light absorptive surfaces and a plurality of light interactive regions, the plurality of targets mounted within the hoistway at the plurality of floors. The plurality of sensed signals is processed to provide a leveling variable, a floor number variable and a direction of travel variable which indicate a direction of travel of the elevator car within the hoistway. The leveling variable, floor number variable and direction of travel variable are stored at a remote elevator monitoring central processor.

Abstract: A sonic position sensing system for measuring the position of an object, such as an elevator, includes transmitting a sonic signal along a conductor by a transmitter; receiving said sonic signal at a first receiver, located a first distance along said conductor from said transmitter; receiving said sonic signal at a second receiver located a second distance from said transmitter and on an opposite side of said transmitter from said first receiver; calculating a first distance between said transmitter and said first receiver; calculating a second distance between said transmitter and said second receiver; and calculating a total measured distance between said first receiver and said second receiver as the sum of said first distance and said second distance as the sum of said first distances and said second distance. The first or second distances may be scaled by the total measured distance to compensate for temperature effects. The position may also be corrected for velocity and/or acceleration of the object.

Abstract: An improved synchronous position correction apparatus for an elevator which is capable of safely escaping passengers from a car when a synchronous position error occurs in the elevator by moving the car to a neighboring floor and correcting the synchronous position error by using a floor height value of a neighboring floor, for thus normally operating the elevator system.

Abstract: In an elevator active guidance system, in order to avoid the action of one actuator (23) from interfering with the action of another, a controller (21) is provided that uses a force law based on a model of the elevator (40), and uses information from all of the sensors (22) in combination to determine, according to the force law, the force each actuator (23) should provide. The model of the elevator (40) is used to determine how the elevator (40) will respond to the forces exerted by the actuators (23). In the preferred embodiment, the elevator (40) is assumed to respond to the actuator forces as a rigid body. The full model is built up from this basic assumption, finally including all of the geometric and inertial attributes of the elevator necessary to describe its rigid body motion in response to forces from actuators (23).