A method can be used to position a car door and a landing-stop door in a synchronized manner at a landing stop in an elevator shaft of an elevator system. The car door may be configured as a guide door, and the landing-stop door may be configured as a follower door. The method may involve bringing an elevator car close to the landing stop, upon entry of the car door into an unlock zone sensing a presence signal of the follower door by way of a presence sensor of the guide door, actuating the guide-door drive by way of the guide controller and executing an opening movement of the guide door, providing movement information of the guide door, and actuating the follower-door drive of the follower door.

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car situated for movement among a plurality of landings. The elevator car includes a car door and a door mover. A door interlock associated with a landing door at each of the landings is configured to couple the associated landing door with the car door. The door interlocks respectively include a lock switch. A controller is configured to: cause the elevator car to move to at least one of the landings; when the elevator car is at the at least one landing, cause the door mover to instigate movement of the door interlock sufficient to at least temporarily change a position of the lock switch; and locate a malfunctioning one of the lock switches at one of the landings based on the movement of the door interlock.

A method can be used to position a car door and a landing-stop door in a synchronized manner at a landing stop in an elevator shaft of an elevator system. The car door may be configured as a guide door, and the landing-stop door may be configured as a follower door. The method may involve bringing an elevator car close to the landing stop, upon entry of the car door into an unlock zone sensing a presence signal of the follower door by way of a presence sensor of the guide door, actuating the guide-door drive by way of the guide controller and executing an opening movement of the guide door, providing movement information of the guide door, and actuating the follower-door drive of the follower door.

An elevator system (2) comprises at least one elevator car (6) configured for traveling along a hoistway (4) between a plurality of landings (8); a plurality of landing doors (11) with one or more landing door panels (22) located at the landings (8) and providing access to the hoistway (4) from the landings (8); a plurality of landing door switches (10) and at least one landing door sensor (20). Each landing door switch (10) is configured for monitoring the closed/open state of at least one associated landing door panel (22), respectively. Each landing door sensor (20) is attached to the at least one elevator car (6) and configured for monitoring a closed/open state of a landing door panel (22) located opposite to the landing door sensor (20).

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator system includes an elevator car situated for movement among a plurality of landings. The elevator car includes a car door and a door mover. A door interlock associated with a landing door at each of the landings is configured to couple the associated landing door with the car door. The door interlocks respectively include a lock switch. A controller is configured to: cause the elevator car to move to at least one of the landings; when the elevator car is at the at least one landing, cause the door mover to instigate movement of the door interlock sufficient to at least temporarily change a position of the lock switch; and locate a malfunctioning one of the lock switches at one of the landings based on the movement of the door interlock.

A door hinge includes first and second leaves each with a plate portion, a free edge and an opposite geared edge, the geared edges meshing with each other as the leaves operationally pivot. Each leaf has a front surface and an opposite back surface. A cap covers the meshed geared edges on the back surface and defines a pivot axis for each of the leaves, the cap defining a channel A recess is provided in the front surface of each leaf, the recesses being in communication with the channel, each recess defining a break in the geared edges. First and second access panels are removably secured in the recesses, having a geared panel edge complementary with the leaf geared edge and filling the break, and at least one of the access panels being secured to the respective hinge leaf by security fasteners extending only into the leaf.

A door hinge includes first and second leaves each with a plate portion, a free edge and an opposite geared edge, the geared edges meshing with each other as the leaves operationally pivot. Each leaf has a front surface and an opposite back surface. A cap covers the meshed geared edges on the back surface and defines a pivot axis for each of the leaves, the cap defining a channel A recess is provided in the front surface of each leaf, the recesses being in communication with the channel, each recess defining a break in the geared edges. First and second access panels are removably secured in the recesses, having a geared panel edge complementary with the leaf geared edge and filling the break, and at least one of the access panels being secured to the respective hinge leaf by security fasteners extending only into the leaf.

An elevator system includes an elevator car that is movable in an elevator shaft. The elevator car has a car door, a car door drive for closing and/or opening the car door, and a car door control unit directly controlling the car door drive. A shaft door is provided on each door opening of the elevator shaft. Each shaft door has a shaft door drive for closing and/or opening the shaft door and a shaft door control unit directly controlling the shaft door drive. The car door control unit and the shaft door control unit are connected, preferably wirelessly, via a communication connection to open and/or close the shaft door and the car door synchronously.

An elevator system includes: a car traveling in an elevator shaft; a car door arranged on the car; at least one shaft door arranged on a door opening of the elevator shaft; a shaft door locking device, in particular comprising a shaft door drive, for unlocking and/or closing and/or opening the shaft door; a shaft door sensor arranged on the shaft door and a car door signal transmitter arranged on the car door; and a shaft door control unit operatively connected to the shaft door sensor, the shaft door control unit directly actuating the shaft door locking device when a car door signal of the car door signal transmitter is received by the shaft door sensor.

An elevator door interlock device, an elevator door interlock operation method and an elevator system. The elevator door interlock device is arranged on an elevator car and has a first state in which to operate a landing door lock at a current arrival position of the elevator car to open or close a landing door, and a second state in which it makes no contact with the landing door lock, and the elevator door interlock device is configured to be in the first state when the elevator car travels in a vertical direction, and to be in the second state when the elevator car travels in a horizontal direction and to switch to the first state to open or close the landing door after the elevator car reaches a landing door position, and to return to the second state when the elevator car continues to travel in the horizontal direction.