An overhead transport vehicle includes a conveyor to travel along a track, a holder to hold an object to be conveyed, and a lifting driver to lift and lower the holder. The holder includes a base, a holder including a body and a pair of grippers connected to the body in an openable/closable manner, the holder being attached to the base so as to be movable along an opening/closing direction of the pair of grippers, and a first elastic member to restrict, between the base and the body, movement of the holder along the opening/closing direction.

A closed strap collar for securing cargo by friction, a device for lifting cargo and a lifting method, the collar being formed by a strap and a tensioner which, by tightening the strap around an element, allows cargo to be secured to the element being held or the held element to be raised by pulling the strap collar.

An Enhanced Lift Assist Device is described. The device allows a user to lift and manipulate large, heavy or bulky items by applying force to the item as opposed to traditional control methods such as buttons. This force based system provides ease of movement of the item, making it appear much lighter than it actually is. The Enhanced Lift Assist Device also includes an adjustable base that allows for change of orientation of the device that may include leveling or self-leveling functionality, allowing the device to be operated in non-traditional environments that require leveling or operational adjustments for proper functioning.

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.

Systems and methods for preventing improper lifting of tubular members are described, in which sensing devices are used to detect when a tubular reaches a selected position within a lifting device suitable for engagement, and/or to detect when a lifting operation is initiated that would exceed the capacity of a lifting device. Operators are engaged with the tubular member and provided with a preselected force corresponding to the weight of one or more tubular members, such that when the weight of a lifting operation exceeds the preselected force, an audible device may be actuated responsive to sensor output, to immediately alert individuals, such that the improper lifting operation may be halted. Similarly, an audible device may be actuated responsive to sensor output when a tubular member reaches a selected position within the lifting device, such that additional movement may be ceased.

A universal gripper is disclosed for transferring totes and sub-totes, for example in an order fulfillment center. The universal gripper includes adjustable tines and pins capable of being positioned to engage within slots in the different configurations of totes and sub-totes.

An articulable lifting attachment is provided for a mechanical articulated arm. The articulable lifting attachment comprises an attachment body, a clamping head and a drivable articulator coupling interposed between the attachment body and the clamping head. The clamping head is configured to provide two different clamping forces from different directions to ensure that irregular objects can be lifted safely.

A transmission module for transmitting torques having a base, a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft parallel thereto, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, both rotatable about a common axis, the axes of the drive shafts are arranged parallel to the axis of the output shafts, a gear unit, where the two drive shafts, the gear unit and the first output shaft are rotatably supported in the base, and the second output shaft is rotatably supported in the first output shaft and the gear unit is designed in such a way that a synchronous rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the first drive shaft and a relative rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the second drive shaft.

A universal gripper is disclosed for transferring totes and sub-totes, for example in an order fulfillment center. The universal gripper includes adjustable tines and pins capable of being positioned to engage within slots in the different configurations of totes and sub-totes.

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.