A clean box is composed of a box body having an opening in one surface thereof and a lid member for closing the opening. The state of charge of the battery, in a battery-operated communication device, for exchange of data with the plant, is recorded. The image capturing apparatus is thereby capable of performing image capture with a dynamic range that takes into consideration the subject and the scene. The programming device makes the returning program, based on layout data, the received information and data including teaching positions and attribute data of the positions, by which the robot may be returned from the stop position to the waiting position without interfering with peripheral devices.