In a clamping device, the number of components for an article detection means is reduced. In a stacker, a tire is placed on the carry surface. The first gripping member and the second gripping member grip a side of tire placed on the carry surface and include an abutment surface having a bent portion and are capable of abutting with the side of tire. The first sensor and the second sensor include a light axis in a direction along the article. The controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the first position where the tire is not gripped. When the tire is detected with the first sensor and second sensor, the controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the second position where the tire is gripped.

In a clamping device, the number of components for an article detection means is reduced. In a stacker, a tire is placed on the carry surface. The first gripping member and the second gripping member grip a side of tire placed on the carry surface and include an abutment surface having a bent portion and are capable of abutting with the side of tire. The first sensor and the second sensor include a light axis in a direction along the article. The controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the first position where the tire is not gripped. When the tire is detected with the first sensor and second sensor, the controller moves the first gripping member and the second gripping member close to each other to the second position where the tire is gripped.

The resonant frequency ωx(n) of horizontal shaking of a suspended load W suspended from the distal end of a telescopic boom 9 via wire ropes 14.Math.16 is calculated on the basis of the suspension length Lm(n).Math.Ls(n) of the wire ropes 14.Math.16; the characteristic frequency ωy(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9 is calculated; and, in accordance with an operation for raising and lowering the telescopic boom 9, the filtering control signal Cd(n) of an actuator is generated in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the resonant frequency ωx(n) of the suspended load W, and in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the characteristic frequency ωy(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9.

The resonant frequency ωx(n) of horizontal shaking of a suspended load W suspended from the distal end of a telescopic boom 9 via wire ropes 14.Math.16 is calculated on the basis of the suspension length Lm(n).Math.Ls(n) of the wire ropes 14.Math.16; the characteristic frequency ωy(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9 is calculated; and, in accordance with an operation for raising and lowering the telescopic boom 9, the filtering control signal Cd(n) of an actuator is generated in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the resonant frequency ωx(n) of the suspended load W, and in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the characteristic frequency ωy(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position. The cable is extendable away from the hoist home position and retractable toward the hoist end position. Sensors facilitate automated movement of bridge, trolley, and cable so as to minimize functional impairment of the crane system by the hostile environment.

An overhead transport vehicle includes a gripping unit to grip an article, an suspension unit by which the gripping unit is suspended, a drive unit that reels up the suspension unit to thereby raise the gripping unit, a detection unit to detect swing of the gripping unit, and a controller that controls the drive unit to reel up the suspension unit and store the gripping unit into the transport vehicle body. In reel-up control to reel up the suspension unit, when swing of the gripping unit exceeds a predetermined width, the controller stops reeling up the suspension unit, maintains the gripping unit at a standby position lower than a storage position, and then, reels up the suspension unit when the swing of the gripping unit becomes equal to or less than the predetermined width.

An overhead transport vehicle includes a gripping unit to grip an article, an suspension unit by which the gripping unit is suspended, a drive unit that reels up the suspension unit to thereby raise the gripping unit, a detection unit to detect swing of the gripping unit, and a controller that controls the drive unit to reel up the suspension unit and store the gripping unit into the transport vehicle body. In reel-up control to reel up the suspension unit, when swing of the gripping unit exceeds a predetermined width, the controller stops reeling up the suspension unit, maintains the gripping unit at a standby position lower than a storage position, and then, reels up the suspension unit when the swing of the gripping unit becomes equal to or less than the predetermined width.