PURPOSE: To increase traction ratio by coaxially fixing worm wheels to respective two horizontally arranged main sheaves, and driving the two worm wheels by one worm shaft so as to specify a main rope contact angle.

CONSTITUTION: A main rope 3 is wrapped on two horizontally arranged main sheaves 4, 11, and an elevator car 1 and a balancing weight 2 are suspended from both the ends. Worm wheels 6, 12 are respectively coaxially fixed to the main sheaves 4, 11, they mesh with one worm shaft 17 having two meshing parts 7a, 7b, and both sheaves 4, 11 are simultaneously rotationally driven by a motor 8. Consequently, the contact angle of the main rope 3 with the main sheaves 4, 11 are respectively 90°, totally 180°. Therefore, allowable traction ratio of tension on the elevator car 1 side and on the balancing weight 2 side can be enlarged.