Lifting apparatus for a flexible divider

A lifting apparatus for lifting a flexible divider in a space having a ceiling structure, the lifting apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of fixed pulleys supported by the ceiling structure;
• a plurality of lifting cables supported by the ceiling structure, the plurality of lifting cables comprising segments extending between respective ones of the plurality of fixed pulleys and lift points spaced apart along a width of the flexible divider, the plurality of lifting cables being retractable in a vertical direction to lift the flexible divider from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration;
• and
• a plurality of guiding elements, each of the plurality of guiding elements being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lifting cables and its respective fixed pulley, each of said plurality of guiding elements being configured to guide the segment of its corresponding lifting cable along a horizontal direction while the flexible divider moves between the lowered configuration and the raised configuration, said plurality of guiding elements being movably mounted to the ceiling structure to move along corresponding horizontal travel distances when the flexible divider moves between the lowered configuration and the raised configuration;
• wherein, while the flexible divider moves from the lowered configuration to the raised configuration, the plurality of guiding elements are configured to move towards respective horizontal positions that are vertically aligned with their associated fixed pulleys, and while the flexible divider moves from the raised configuration to the lowered configuration, the plurality of guiding elements are configured to move away from the respective horizontal positions that are vertically aligned with their associated fixed pulleys.

A method of lifting a flexible divider in a space having a ceiling structure, the method comprising:

• retracting a plurality of lifting cables in a vertical direction towards the ceiling structure to cause the flexible divider to be moved from a lowered configuration towards a raised configuration, wherein said lifting cables each comprise a segment extending between a corresponding one of a plurality of fixed pulleys secured to the ceiling structure and a corresponding one of a plurality of lift points on the flexible divider;
• while the flexible divider is moving towards the raised configuration, displacing at least some of the plurality of lifting cables towards horizontal positions that are vertically aligned with their corresponding fixed pulleys;
• and
• while the flexible divider is moving towards the lowered configuration, displacing the at least some of the plurality of lifting cables away from the horizontal positions that are vertically aligned with their corresponding fixed pulleys.

A lifting apparatus for lifting a flexible divider in a space having a ceiling structure, the lifting apparatus comprising:

• a lifting cable supported by the ceiling structure, the lifting cable extending along a vertical direction and attaching to a lift point on the flexible divider, said lifting cable being retractable in the vertical direction to lift the flexible divider from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration;
• a guiding element for guiding a position of the lifting cable along a horizontal direction while the flexible divider moves between the lowered configuration and the raised configuration, said guiding element being movably mounted to the ceiling structure to move between a first horizontal position when the flexible divider is in the lowered configuration, and a second horizontal position when the flexible divider is in the raised configuration;
• and
• a control cable having a first end secured to the guiding element and a second end operatively coupled to a biasing device, for controlling a displacement of the guiding element between the first and second horizontal positions.