US3707206A - Elevator control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An elevator control apparatus having a tracing device simulating the movement of an elevator cage at a certain reduced speed ratio, a preceding device detecting a target floor to determine the running mode of the elevator cage, a chain moved synchronously with the movement of the elevator cage at a smaller reduced speed ratio than said tracing means, mark plates provided on the chain at intervals proportional to each floor interval, a detector for detecting the mark plates in order to produce signals according to the positions of the elevator cage, and a pattern generator for generating a deceleration pattern by means of relays excited through the output of the detectors when the elevator cage approaches the target floor detected by the preceding device.

Description

United States Patent Watanabe et al.

[54] ELEVATOR CONTROL APPARATUS [72] inventors: Akinori Watanabe; Yoshinori Takahashi; Seinosulke Yahiro; Kikuo Watanabe, all of Katsuta, Japan [73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: April 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 135,652

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data April 20, 1970 Japan ..45/32998 [52] I US. Cl. ..187/29 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B66b 1/52 [58] Field of Search ..l87/29' [56] 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570,630 3/1971 Voigt et al 1 87/29 [151 3,707,206 [4s] Dec. 26, 1972 Primary Examiner-Gene Z. Rubinson Assistant Examiner-W. E. Duncanson, Jr. Attorney-Craig, Antonelli & Hill 57 ABSTRACT An elevator control apparatus having a tracing device simulating the movement of an elevator cage at a certain reduced speed ratio, a preceding device detecting a target floor to determine the running mode of the elevator cage, a chain moved synchronously with the movement of the elevator cage at a smaller reduced speed ratio than said tracing means, mark plates provided on the chain at intervals proportional to each floor interval, a detector for detecting the mark plates in order to produce signals according to the positions of the elevator cage, and a pattern generator for generating a deceleration pattern by means of relays excited through the output of the detectors when the elevator cage approaches the target floor detected by the preceding device.

13 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 2 6 I972 SHEET 1 IF 8 ATTORNEYS PATENTEU DEC 26 9 3. 7 07.206

sum 2 0F 8 cmz amummc 0 36692 ATTORNL'Y5 PATENTED nn: 2 s 1912 SHEET 8 [1F 8 FIG. 9

I NVENTOIE AKmoRI WATANABE,YOSHINORI TAKAHASHI,

. 1 ELEVATOR CONTROL APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an elevator control apparatus, and particularly to improvements in a landing control apparatus for an elevator cage.

It is necessary for deceleration and stopping control of the elevator cage that the target floor be detected at a predetermined distance beforeit is reached, and that the elevator cage be decelerated in response to a speed pattern which is generated to decrease the speed thereof according to the distance from the target floor. In high speed elevators (generally high-grade elevators), besides a tracing means moved synchronously with the elevator cage movements at a certain reduced speed ratio, a preceding-means is further provided on the tracingmeans, which is moved at higher speed than the tracing means by a preceding motor. The preceding means always goes ahead of the tracing means more than the necessary distance for deceleration of the elevator cage and detects a call signal, i.e., from the target floor. Apparatus of the above-mentioned type, however, generally are very complex and very expensive. I

vIn low speed elevators, preceding detectors are employed which operate always at .a fixed distance ahead of the tracing means in contrast to the preceding means of the high speed elevator. The fixed distance is selected to be equal to the deceleration distance of the elevator cage. It is usual that such a preceding detector is immovably attached on the tracing means so as to operate ahead of the tracing means by a distance determined by the deceleration distance for stopping the elevator.

Further, in order to generate the aforesaid speed pattern, namely the deceleration pattern, the position of the elevator cage has to be detected with high accuracy. For this sort of apparatus, the position detectors for the elevator cage are normally arranged directly in the elevator shaft, or the reduced speed ratio for the tracing means is selected to be a comparatively small value.

However, the former system provides a complex installation and difficult adjustment of the position detectors since the detectors are arranged distributively in the elevator shaft. Although, comparing the latter system with the former system, the installation and the adjustment of the position detectors are simplified, the latter system comprises a structure of large size. An example of the control apparatus, such as the latter system, is shown in US. Pat. No. 2,960,187. Further, if an effort is made toward decreasing said reduced ratio of movement of the tracing means in order to raise the accuracy of the deceleration pattern, the total size of the control apparatus becomes large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A main object of the invention is toprovide an eleva-' tor control apparatus which generates a deceleration pattern with high accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to construct such an elevator control apparatus in a simple structure and with a small size.

According to an aspect of one embodiment of the invention, the control apparatus simulates the elevator movement with a small reduced ratio of movement by means of a long flexible element.

Other objects and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram in perspective showing an embodiment of the elevator control apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram showing a part of said embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a speed pattern circuit;

FIGS. 4a and 4b, when combined, provide a schematic diagram of an operation control circuit;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a deceleration command circuit;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are a schematic diagram of a position detector and a diagram for explanation of the operative function thereof, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of an example of the position detecting systems;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of another example of the position detecting systems;

FIG. 9 shows an output circuit of the position detecting systems; and

FIG. 10 isa diagram for explanation of a deceleration pattern.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TI-IEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For a good understanding of the invention, reference may be had to FIG. 1, wherein various parts of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are schematically shown. I

In this figure, a pulley 2 provided at a frame 1 is driven by a steel tape 3 which has holes thereon in rows and one end of which is attached at an elevator cage (not shown). The rotation of the pulley 2 is transmitted to a sprocket wheel 5 through a reduction .gear arrangement 4. A tracing means 6 is fixed to a chain 7 driven by the sprocket wheel 5, so that the tracing means 6 goes up and down along a guide bar 8 in proportion to up-down movement of the elevator cage. For example, the tracing means 6 moves at speed reduced from the elevator cage speed in a ratio of H100. A fixture 10 is provided on the tracing means 6 in order to support a group of traveling contacts. On the other hand, a group of fixed contacts-is arranged to face the corresponding traveling contacts. Such a structure and its operation will be explained fully in connection with FIGS. 2 and the reason why the position detecting accuracy of the elevator cage is increased. In this embodiment, an endless chain which is stretched around within the frame 1 and circulated, is used as the flexible member. Besides the endless chain, members having arbitrary FIG. 2 is a detailed fixed contacts on the insulating" stands 14 and'the form, such as a tape, a wire, andthe other-similar elements','can be used as the'flexible'membeL-The endless chain 16 has secured thereto a plurality of magnetic shielding plates 18, each corresponding to a respective floor at intervalsproportional to each floor interval. In

the side of the frame 1,there'is provided a position detector "19 which detects'the plate-18. A'numberof position detectors in-the side of the frame 1 and a number of plates on the side. of the endless chain 16 constitute-a position detecting system of the elevator cage. The position-detector 19 produces an output signal to performa detecting operation when the plate 18 passes through a groove 20 ,of. the position detector 19.

Further, there is no limitation in the position detector if the detector is an adequate switch to operate as mentioned above diagram showingparts of the traveling contacts on the fixture 10. In this figure, fixed contacts 1FS to 8FS are floor zone segments which detect when the elevator cage enters into the zone of the corresponding floor when the traveling contact G on the fixture moves to contact one of the segments. Fixed contacts lUl to 1U8 are floor segments for an upward single floor runnIngLAcOntact 1FU, which is provided on the fixture 10 is a traveling contactfor an upward single floor running. The contact lFU is provided at a relative position which precedes the contact G by one floor position. When the contact lFU contacts one of the fixed contacts lUl to 1U 8, asingle floor running relay mentioned below is excited on condition that acall of the floor corresponding to the fixed contactexists during the upward running of the elevator cage. Operation of the single floorv running relay means that the running mode of the elevator cage is a single floor running mode. Accordingly, in this case,

the elevator cage which starts from a certain floor continues the upward running to stop at the next floor.

- Fixedcontacts 2U1 to 2U8 are floor segmentsfor an upward long floor running. A traveling contact 2FU which contacts'the fixed contacts oneafter another by movement of the tracing means 6, are provided at a relative position further ahead of the traveling contact lFU by one floor positiomwhen the contact 2FU contacts one of the fixed contacts 2U1 to 2U8, a long floor running relay mentioned below is excited to indicate a long floor running mode as the elevator running mode.

The same control is. provided for a downward running of the elevator cage. In the side of the insulating stands 14, there are provided'fixed contacts 1D1 to 1D8 for a downward single floor running and fixed contacts 2D] to 2D8 for a downward long floor running. On the other hand, a traveling contact lFD, which contacts the fixed contacts .1D1 to 1D8 one after another by movement of the tracing means 6, is attached to the fixture 10 at a relative position ahead of the contact G in the direction of movement of the tracing means 6 by one floor position. In the same manner, there is a traveling contact 2FD for a downward long floor running. I

The function and operation 'of the invention will become more apparent from the explanation of the following drawings. FIG. 3 shows a speed pattern circuit, wherein each relay is defined as follows. Relays 21 to 26 are speed pattern relays. The operation of each of 4 these relays generates the instruction for movement'of the elevator cage at; the 'followingspeeds. relay 21 45' m/min, relay 22 60 m/min, relay23 75 m/min, relay 24- 9O r'n/min, relay25 105 m/min, and relay 26 120 m/rninlRelays 22T to 26T are "time limit relays which operate contacts thereof at a predetermined time, for example 200 m see, after a release. Relay 15 is the operation relay, which is excited during the operation of the elevator cage, as described ,in'conjunction with FIGS. 4a and 4b., Relay lF-is the single floor running relay. Relay 2F is the long floor running relay, the function and operation of which is already mentioned in connection withthe explanationof FIG. 2.and is shown in FIG. 4a. Relays 218 to 268. are deceleration instructing relays, which are excited one after another according; to the position of the elevator cage during deceleration, and are shown in FIG. 5. a Y i Further, the contacts in FIG. 3 are designated by hyphenated numerals besides the symbols of the relays;

, for example, contacts 21-1 and 21-2. belong to the relay 21, in which the. contact 21-1 isa normally closed contact and the contact 21-2 is a normally open contact. All of the contacts in the following figures are designated in a manner similar to'that of this figure. I

The operation of the'circuit above described is as follows. Thespeed pattern relays 21 to 26 are excited in the sequence of 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26bythe operation of the time limit relays 22T to-26T to generate the acceleration pattern which is a'time' speed pattern. Now, if the running mode of the elevator cage is the single floor running mode, the relay 1F is excited and the relay 2F is not excited. The contacts 1F-3 and 2F-3, therefore, are opened together to prevent rising of the pattern speed to more than m/min, which is determined by the relay 24.:In the case of the long floor running mode, the pattern speed is generated up to I20 m/min, since the relay 26 is excited by closing of the contact 2'F-3.

During deceleration, the relays 218 to 268 in FIG. 5 are excited one after another in the sequence of 268, 258, 245, 238, 228 and 218 according to the position of the elevatorcage so that their contacts 26S-1 to 218-1 are opened in the same sequence. The relays 21 to 26, therefore, are released in the-sequence of 26, 25, 24, 23, 22 and 21 to generate the deceleration pattern as shown in FIG. 10. As mentioned up to here, the circuit shown in FIG. 3 is the circuit which generates the acceleration pattern (the time-speed pattern) by the operation of the time relays during acceleration and the deceleration pattern (the distance-speed pattern) by the operation of the deceleration instructing relays according to the positions of the elevator cage during deceleration.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an operation control circuit, wherein the same references are shown heretofore represent corresponding elements as illustrated in the preceding figures. The circuit in FIG. 4 further includes diodes D0, D11 to D14, D21 to D24, and D61 to D64; an upward running instruction relay 61A whichwithin the elevator cage is operated; normally open contacts HUI-1 to I-lU6-l which are closed when an upward call on a floor is registered; normally closed contacts HUI-2 to I-IU6-2 which are opened when an upward call on a floor is registered; normally open contacts HDl-l to I-ID6-1 which .are closed when a downward-call on a floor is registered; normally closed contacts HDl-Z to I-ID6-2 which are opened when a downward call on a floor is registered; contacts FRI-l to FR6-1 and FRI-2 to FR6-2 which are opened when the elevator cage is in each floor zone; upward-running relay U, which is excited'during the upward running of the elevator cage (shown by contacts only); downward running relay D, which is excited during the downward running of the elevator cage (shown by contacts only); and door relay 40, which is excited after securing safety by closing the cage door (shown by contacts only).

The circuit shown in FIG. 4 has the following three functions. Namely,',the first function is to determine the running direction of the elevator cageby detecting the relative position between the position of the elevator cage and the floor associated with the call (the target floor); the second function is to determine whether the running mode of the elevator is the single floor running mode of the long floor running mode; and the third function is to detect the target floor.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a deceleration instructing circuit, wherein references 21TH to 26TH designate thyristors' to which are applied the gate signals which render them conductive one after another during deceleration, and references 21C to 26C are gate electrodes connected to the output terminals of the position detectors. The explanation of the relays 218 to 268 has already been provided in connection with FIG. 3. References of contacts in this figure are employed in the same manner as before.

The gate signals of the thyristers 21TH to 26TH are obtained from the position detecting system. In this case, each position detector in the position detecting system is constructed as shown in FIG. 6a, in which references M1 and M2 designate coils magnetically coupled to each other, and a reference C is an output terminal. Whenthe plate 18 is driven by theendless chain 16 until it passes between the coils MI and M2, an output as shown in FIG. 6b is obtained at the terminal C since the plate 18 acts as a shield to eliminate the magnetic coupling between the coils M1 and M2. A number of such position detectors are connected to provide an electric circuit of the position detecting system, as shown in FIG. 9. During deceleration in the upward running direction, a contact U-4 is closed so that the position detectors 26 MU to 21MU operate to produce the outputs one after another, and during deceleration in the downward running direction, a contact D-4 is closed so that the position detectors 26MD to 21MB operate in the same manner. As a mechanical arrangement of these position detectors, two arrangements are considered. One is shown in FIG. 7, wherein a plurality of plates 18M51 to 18M56 are provided at a place on the endless chain 16 according to each floor and the position detectors 21MD to 26MB for the downward running direction and 21MU to 26MU for the upward running direction are provided corresponding to the plates 18M5I to 18M56. The other is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the plates 18Ml to l8M5 corresponding to each floor are provided in the interval equal to the interval between floors, and the position detectors 21MD to'26MD for the downward running direction and 21MU to 26MU for the upward running direction are provided in a row.

These arrangements may be selected at will since both I produced on the fifth floor.

When a passenger on the fifth floor registers a call for movement of the elevator in an upward direction, the contact l-IUS-l is closed and the contact HUS-2 is opened in FIG. 4b. Then, a circuit of battery 61A, 62A-1, FR6-2, FR6-1, FR5-2, D51, HUS-1, and battery is formed so that the upward running instruction relay 61A is excited. By exciting of the relay 61A, an upward instruction is produced by the other circuit (not shown). The contacts 15-1 (in FIG. 3), 15-2, and U-I to U-3 are closed thereby. The relay 21 in FIG. 3 is excited by'the closing of the contact 15-1 so that the elevator cage begins an upward running movement. At the same time, the relay 21 is excited, the contact 21-1 is opened, and therefore, the relay 22T is cut out from the electric source. After the passing of a predetermined time, the contact 22T-1 is closed to excite the relay 22. Hereinafter, the relays 23, 24, 25, and 26 are excited one after another in the same manner as before, so that the acceleration pattern is generated up to the pattern speed instructed by the relay 26, namely m/min. and the elevator cage is accelerated up to 120 m/min.

0n the other hand, as the elevator cage goes up, the traveling contact 2FU goes up, too. When the elevator cage reaches a place at apredetermined distance before the fifth floor level FFL, the contact 2FU comes in contact with the fixed contact 2U5. In FIG. 4a, the relay 2F is excited through the circuit of battery 2F, 24-3, 1F-2, U-l, 2FU, 2U5, HUS-l, and battery The relay 2F is self-held through the circuit of battery 2F, 2F-l, 15-2 and battery By means of the closure of the contact 2F-1, the relay 1F is excited through the circuit of battery 1F, D0, ZF-I, 15-2 and battery so that the relay 1F is also self-held through the circuit of battery 1F, lF-l, 15-2 and battery The excitation of both relays 1F and 2F is continued until the elevator cage stops to open the contact 15-2. When the relays 1F and 2F are excited, the contacts 1F-4 and 2F-4 in FIG. 5 are closed to complete the preparation for operating a deceleration instructing circuit.

When the elevator cage approaches the fifth floor after continuing the upward running for an adequate time, the plate 18M5 corresponding to the fifth floor faces the position detector 26MU, as shown in FIG. 8. At this time, an output appears on the terminal 26C of the position detector 26MU. The output is applied to the gate of the thyrister 26TH in FIG. 5. The thyrister 26TH conducts to excite the relay 268. As the elevator cage further approaches the fifth floor, the plate 18M5 faces the position detectors ZSMU, 24MU, 23MU, 22MU and 21MU in sequence. As a result, outputs appear on the terminals 25C, 24C, 23C, 22C and 21C in sequence in FIG. 9, and the relays 218 to 258 in FIG. 5

are excited with the of 258, 248, 23S, 228 I sequential release of the relays 26'to 21. In this way, the

elevatorcage is decelerated to stopat the fifth floor according to the speed pattern produced as mentioned F urther,'when the distance required for the deceleration ,amountsto more than two floor intervals, more than two position detectors operate simultaneously. However, if the'long floor running'relay 2F is excited, the relays, except the relays 26S and 25S, are not excited first in FIG. since they are interlocked by the contacts 268-3 and 258-3. In practice, adjacent position detectors, ,suchfas' 26MU and 25MU, do not -operate simultaneously. For 1 example, before the plate 18M5 in FIG. 8 faces the position detector 26MU, the plates 1 8M4and 18MB face the position detectors 24MU and 21MU, respectively. However, since the Further, the above-mentioned description provides an explanation for the operation of the elevator cage in response to the call produced on each floor. When a passenger operates a destination button'switch in the elevator cage, 'a pair of contacts of the contact pairs CI-l, C 1-2 to C6'-1, C6-2 are closed.IIowever,-these contacts, such as C3-1 and C3-2, are connected with the contacts HD3-l and I-IU3-1 in parallel, respectively. The operation after-a closure of the contacts C3-l and C3-2 is equal to the above-mentioned operation in response to the call produced on the floor. 1

In this embodiment, the endless chain is employed as V the flexible member. Varioustypes are provided incontacts S-3, 268-3, and 238-3, 248-3 in FIG. 5 are opened, the corresponding relays 24S and 218 are not excited. Y I 1 Next, anexplanationflwill be 'given for the case whereinjtheelevator cage on the thirdv floor is operated in response to a call produced on the fourth floor, namely the single floor running mode.

When a passenger on-the fourth floor registers a call directing movement of the' car in a downward direction, the contact I-ID4-l is closed and the contact HD4-2 is "opened in FIG. 4. Then, the relay 61A is excited through the circuit of battery 62A-1,

FR6-2, FR6-l, FR5-2, FR51, D42, HD4-l and battery An upward instruction is produced by excitation of the relay 61A and atthe same time, contacts 15-1 (in'FIG. 3), 15-2 and U-l to U-3 are closed. The relays 21 to 26 areexcited in sequence. In the case of the single floor running 'mode, however, before the relay 24 is excited, the contact 1FU comes in contact with the fixed contact 1U4 owing to the shortrunning distance. The relay 1F is excited through the circuit of battery 1F, 24-2, 40-1, U-2, lFU, 1U4, HU4-1 and battery The contact lF-l is closed so as to be self-held, and the-self-holding continues until the time stead of the endless chain. For example, an adequate wire or tape which is wound up by a reel, may be used. By such types,.the space factor becomes-much higher than the endless chain type. Such wire or tape can also be used in the-endless type. In spite of types, i.e., the endless typeor the reel type, if a'magnetic wire or tape is. employed, the position detecting system is further reduced in size, because the signal corresponding to each floor is magnetically recorded thereon, instead of the magnetic shielding plate and magnetic heads are employed as the position detectors.

While we have shown and descri mentsin accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person'skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. An elevator control apparatus having first means operatively connected to the elevator cage for tracing the movement of an elevatorcage with a certain reduced speed ratio therewith and second means-detecting a target floor to determine the runningmode of the elevator cage, the improvement comprising an elongated flexible member'moved synchronously with the movement of the elevator cage with a smaller when the elevator cage stops to open the contact 15-2.

Accordingly, the relays 25 and 26 in FIG. 3 are not excited so that the elevator cage is not accelerated more than 90 m/min in the single floor running mode. When the elevator cage approaches a predetermined distance before the fourth floor, the plate 18M4 faces the position detector 24MU in FIG. 8. After this, the plate 18M4 faces the position detectors 23MU, 22 MU, and 21MU one after another. The relays 24, 23, 22 and 21 in FIG. 3 are released in sequence to generate the deceleration pattern, as shown in FIG. 10. The elevator.

cage is decelerated according to the deceleration pattern, and stops at the fourth floor.

The above-mentioned are the explanations for the single floorrunning mode and the two floor running mode. In the case of running modes exceeding three" floors, except increasing of the term or the distance in which the elevator cage runs at the maximum speed of 120 m/min, the acceleration and deceleration pattern are similar to the pattern for the two floor running mode.

reduced speed ratio than said first means, mark means provided on said flexible member at intervals proportional to each floor interval, means for detecting said mark means in order toproduce signals according to the positions of the elevator cage, and means for generating a deceleration pattern in response to outputs of said detecting means when the elevator cage approaches the target floor detected by said second means.

2. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means includes means responsive to said second means for generating deceleration patterns having different maximum speeds in accordance'with the running mode of the elevator cage detected by said second means.

- 3. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member is formed as an endless loop. 1 I

4. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is wound up by a reel in proportion to the movement of the elevator cage.

5. An elevatorcontrol apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is an elebed several embodiment selected from'thegroup consisting of chains, wires and tapes.

6. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexiblemember is an element selected from the group consisting of wires and tapes. g I

7. An elevatorcontrol apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said elongatedflexible member is made of magnetic material, and signals are magnetically recorded thereon at intervals proportional to each floor interval to form said mark means, said'detecting means being provided as magnetic heads for detecting the recorded portions of said flexible member.

8. In an elevator control apparatus including tracing means translated in coordination with the elevator cage at a certain reduced speed ratio therewith and second means driven by said tracing means for detecting a target floor to determine the running mode of the elevator cage, the improvement comprising position detecting means for detecting the position of said elevator cage with respect to the various floors including an elongated flexible member moved in coordination with the elevator cage with a smaller reduced speed ratio than said tracing means.

9. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second means includes a firstset of stationary contacts spaced in proportion to the intervals between floors and a first movable contact carried by said tracing means at a position ahead of said tracing means by one floor interval, and speed control means responsive to contact of said first movable contact with one of said first set of stationary contacts receiving a control signal for limiting the maximum speed of said elevator cage.

' 10. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second means further includes a second set of stationary contacts spaced in proportion to the intervals between floors and a second movable contact carried by said tracing means at a position ahead of said tracing means by two floor intervals, said speed control means being responsive to contact of said second movable contact with one of said second set of stationary contacts receiving a control signal for initiating deceleration of said elevator cage.

11. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said elongated flexible member is formed as an endless loop. 1

12. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said elongated flexible member is wound up by a reel in proportion to the movement of the elevator cage.

13. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said elongated flexible member is made of magnetic material, and signals are magnetically recorded thereon at'intervals proportional to each floor interval to form said mark means, said detecting means being provided as magnetic heads for detecting the recorded portions of said flexible member.

Claims (13)

1. An elevator control apparatus having first means operatively connected to the elevator cage for tracing the movement of an elevator cage with a certain reduced speed ratio therewith and second means detecting a target floor to determine the running mode of the elevator cage, the improvement comprising an elongated flexible member moved synchronously with the movement of the elevator cage with a smaller reduced speed ratio than said first means, mark means provided on said flexible member at intervals proportional to each floor interval, means for detecting said mark means in order to produce signals according to the positions of the elevator cage, and means for generating a deceleration pattern in response to outputs of said detecting means when the elevator cage approaches the target floor detected by said second means.

2. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means includes means responsive to said second means for generating deceleration patterns having different maximum speeds in accordance with the running mode of the elevator cage detected by said second means.

3. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible member is formed as an endless loop.

4. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is wound up by a reel in proportion to the movement of the elevator cage.

5. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is an element selected from the group consisting of chains, wires and tapes.

6. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said elongated flexible member is an element selected from the group consisting of wires and tapes.

7. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said elongated flexible member is made of magnetic material, and signals are magnetically recorded thereon at intervals proportional to each floor interval to form said mark means, said detecting means being provided as magnetic heads for detecting the recorded portions of said flexible member.

8. In an elevator control apparatus including tracing means translated in coordination with the elevator cage at a certain reduced speed ratio therewith and second means driven by said tracing means for detecting a target floor to determine the running mode of the elevator cage, the improvement comprising position detecting means for detecting the position of said elevator cage with respect to the various floors including an elongated flexible member moved in coordination with the elevator cage with a smaller reduced speed ratio than said tracing means.

9. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second means includes a first set of stationary contacts spaced in proportion to the intervals between floors and a first movable contact carried by said tracing means at a position ahead of said tracing means by one floor interval, and speed control means responsive to contact of said first movable contact with one of said first set of stationary contacts receiving a control signal for limiting the maximum speed of said elevator cage.

10. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second means further includes a second set of stationary contacts spaced in proportion to the intervals between floors and a second movable contact carried by said tracing means at a position ahead of said tracing means by two floor intervals, said speed control means being responsive to contact of said second movable contact with one of said second set of stationary contacts receiving a control signal for initiating deceleration of said elevator cage.

11. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said elongated flexible member is formed as an endless loop.

12. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said elongated flexible member is wound up by a reel in proportion to the movement of the elevator cage.

13. An elevator control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said elongated flexible member is made of magnetic material, and signals are magnetically recorded thereon at intervals proportional to each floor interval to form said mark means, said detecting means being provided as magnetic heads for detecting the recorded portions of said flexible member.

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