B66C13/06

Gantry System and Method

A multi-axis gantry system comprising a multi-axis gantry apparatus and vacuum system, and method for repositioning is disclosed. The multi-axis gantry system comprises a frame. The frame includes a plurality of curved base members, a first rail, a second rail, a bridge slidably moveable along the first rail and the second rail, a carriage including an end effector, and a first plurality of pucks and a second plurality of pucks. The vacuum system comprises a vacuum controller, a first vacuum source and a second vacuum source. Each of the first and second vacuum sources is in fluid communication with one or more pucks of the first and second pluralities of pucks. The frame is reconfigurable from a first configuration mountable on a first work surface to a second configuration mountable on a second work surface that may be different from the first work surface.

CRANE
20210371255 · 2021-12-02 · ·

This crane is provided with: a operable function unit; an operation unit; an actuator; a generation unit which generates a first control signal for the actuator on the basis of an operation input; a plurality of wire ropes; a plurality of hooks suspended from a leading end section of a boom by the plurality of wire ropes, respectively; a hook detection unit which detects, from among the plurality of hooks, an unused hook suspending no load; a calculation unit which calculates a resonance frequency for a wire rope, among the plurality of wire ropes, that suspends the detected unused hook; a filter unit which generates a filter on the basis of the resonance frequency and generates a second control signal by filtering the first control signal using the filter; and a control unit which controls the actuator on the basis of the second control signal.

SENSING DEVICE FOR A CRANE
20210371250 · 2021-12-02 ·

A sensing device for a crane for detecting unsafe operating conditions including an inertial measurement unit for measuring pitch and yaw of a hook of a crane attached to a load. The inertial measurement unit is adapted to measure deviation of the hook of the crane from a plumb position and activate an alert element if the deviation of the hook exceeds a predetermined limit.

ON-BOARD POWER AND REMOTE POWER FOR SUSPENDED LOAD CONTROL APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

Load control apparatuses, systems and methods to control a location, orientation, or rotation of a suspended load by imparting thrust with thrusters. The load control apparatuses, systems and method comprise an on-board power supply, a remote power supply, and a power control module. The power control module may distribute a pulse power to the thrusters from the on-board power supply and or from a combination of the on-board power supply and the remote power supply, may manage power between the on-board power supply and the remote power supply, and may to recharge the on-board power supply with the remote power supply.

Apparatus for controlling orientation of suspended loads
11370642 · 2022-06-28 · ·

A rotator apparatus (10, 100, 200) for rotationally positioning a suspended load (16). A flywheel (44, 144) can be directly or indirectly driven by a motor (40, 140). Vanes (50, 150) on a fan (45) or on the flywheel can be used to provide additional rotational control through air resistance/braking. A controller (20, 24, 120, 124) can provide wired or wireless control. Thrusters (52) can provide additional rotational impetus or resistance. One or more load cells (54, 232, 234) can provide load sensing. Cameras (28) can be used to visualise the load and can record load moving operations and details of the load for logistics tracking and safety. The attachment part (202) and/or the load support (216) can be connected to the body via a respective pivot (204, 214). The apparatus can include replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210), such as within in a removable container (230), preferably supported by at least one drawer (231), which drawer may be mounted on telescopic drawer slides (212). The replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210) can be provided as a cassette arrangement whereby the batteries plug in and are removable as a unit. At least one hook (157) for suspending a load from the rotator can include a groove or recess (158) to restrict or prevent load rotation.

Apparatus for controlling orientation of suspended loads
11370642 · 2022-06-28 · ·

A rotator apparatus (10, 100, 200) for rotationally positioning a suspended load (16). A flywheel (44, 144) can be directly or indirectly driven by a motor (40, 140). Vanes (50, 150) on a fan (45) or on the flywheel can be used to provide additional rotational control through air resistance/braking. A controller (20, 24, 120, 124) can provide wired or wireless control. Thrusters (52) can provide additional rotational impetus or resistance. One or more load cells (54, 232, 234) can provide load sensing. Cameras (28) can be used to visualise the load and can record load moving operations and details of the load for logistics tracking and safety. The attachment part (202) and/or the load support (216) can be connected to the body via a respective pivot (204, 214). The apparatus can include replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210), such as within in a removable container (230), preferably supported by at least one drawer (231), which drawer may be mounted on telescopic drawer slides (212). The replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210) can be provided as a cassette arrangement whereby the batteries plug in and are removable as a unit. At least one hook (157) for suspending a load from the rotator can include a groove or recess (158) to restrict or prevent load rotation.

CRANE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SUCH A CRANE
20220194749 · 2022-06-23 · ·

The invention relates to a crane, in particular a revolving tower crane or boom crane, having a hoisting cable which extends from a crane boom and carries a load hook, wherein a sling having a load fixed thereto is rigged to the load hook, which load hangs down, spaced apart from the load hook by the sling, and having a determination device for determining the position and/or excursion of the load, and an electronic control apparatus for controlling drive devices for moving crane elements and relocating the load hook according to the detected position and/or excursion of the load, wherein the determination device has first determining means for determining a position and/or excursion of the load hook and furthermore an inertial measurement unit which is attached to the sling and/or the load and which has acceleration and rotation rate sensor means for providing acceleration and rotation rate signals and second determination means for determining and/or estimating an excursion and/or position of the load from the acceleration and rotation rate signals of the inertial measurement unit, which is attached to the sling and/or to the load, and from the signals of the indicated first determination means which characterize the position and/or excursion of the load hook.

TRANSPORT VEHICLE FOR SUPPRESSING VIBRATION OF GOODS, AND GOODS TRANSPORT SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME VEHICLE AND FOR USE IN MANUFACTURING PLANT
20220199441 · 2022-06-23 · ·

Proposed is a transport vehicle including a traveling unit being moved along a first direction, a slide unit being driven for sliding in a second direction vertical to the first direction, a hand unit ascending and descending by a hoist combined with the slide unit and gripping the goods, and a control unit controlling driving of the traveling unit for traveling or driving of the slide unit for sliding, wherein the control unit applies a filter signal to an initial slide control signal for driving for sliding and controls driving of the hand unit for sliding through a drive control signal for sliding to which the filter signal is applied, and the filter signal includes a plurality of impulse signals and an interval between the impulse signals is determined as a value corresponding to a length of the hoist in linear interpolation on pre-stored period values on a per-hoist-length basis.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A LOAD SUSPENDED ON A CORD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling a load suspended on a cord, wherein the movable load has a controllable actuator, and a control unit is provided, which is configured to use control commands for controlling the actuator in order to predict a load countermovement to be expected, so as to compensate for and/or prevent the load countermovement by controlling at least one compensating device controlled by the control unit.

An Apparatus for Launch and Recovery of a Submersible Vessel from and to an Off-Shore Site
20220185434 · 2022-06-16 ·

The invention relates to an apparatus for launch and recovery a submersible vessel from and to an off-shore site. The apparatus comprises an actively operated gimbal coupled between said first end of the launch/recovery cable and the submersible vessel, when the submersible vessel is suspended by the launch/recovery cable. Both the displacement unit and the winch areoperated by electrical motors during displacement of the displacement unit and during winding of the launch/recovery cable. Electrical power for the electrical motors is provided by batteries of the apparatus.