Patent ID: 9650226
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: B66B

Claim:
1. An elevator system for controlling two or more elevator cabs operating in an elevator shaft of a structure, the elevator system comprising: at least one elevator shaft having a plurality of zones, each zone representing at least one floor of the structure; one or more zones of the plurality of zones having at least one sensor; at least two elevator cabs moveable within said at least one elevator shaft and each cab moveable independently of other cabs, wherein a first cab preceding any other cab is designated a leading cab, and each cab following the leading cab is designated a trailing cab; wherein each of the cabs is moveable in a same direction of travel to service zones until each cab has reached its designated end zone; at least one video camera or other viewing device positioned on a top and on a bottom of each cab for viewing other adjacent cabs; and a controller that determines movement of each elevator cab into a zone wherein the controller only instructs a trailing cab to move into a zone with a sensor, hereinafter referred to as the subject zone, after the sensor in said subject zone detects that a cab that was located in such subject zone has exited that subject zone, and indicates said detection to the controller.