PURPOSE: To miniaturize a balancing weight without hampering the function of an electromagnetic brake by housing electromagnetic brakes on both sides of the upper part of a linear motor.

CONSTITUTION: The length of a balancing weight frame 9 is determined by the length of a linear motor 6 for which a specified length is necessary in order to obtain a specified driving force. Iron cores 10A, exciting coils 12, compressing coil springs 14 and brake shoes 16 constituting brake parts are housed inside the upper part of the balancing weight frame 9. Thus, the height of a balancing weight including the brake parts can be reduced. Also, since the thickness of the balancing weight can be reduced by making the action direction of the brake parts parallel to the wall surface of an elevation shaft, the depth of the elevation shaft can be reduced. Furthermore, since the number of matually opposed surfaces of the iron core 10A and the brake shoe 16 is three, a sucking force can be increased and the exciting coils 12 can be miniaturized to that extent.