Automation grippers are the part of the robotic that assures that the part is positioned correctly and at the right angle for it to become an addition to the production process. The robot is useless without the holding ability that the gripper gives the device. Sometimes these automatic holders are called end of arm tooling, EOT, or end-effectors. The task of this gripper for manufacturing automation is to act as an interface to the production process in which the robot perform some exacting tasks.
There are several types of flexible gripper end-tools that are employed in industrial production. Hydraulic automation grippers have the most powerful gripping force with near to 2000 psi being applied by hydraulic pumps. For such a great force to be created the pump must evacuate the fluid from between the pump and the gripper. These devices are slower to get to the maximum gripping power because it takes time for the evacuation to occur. Sometime these grippers are susceptible to seal leaks that can reduce the maximum power that can be created for gripping.
Another kind of gripper for manufacturing automation is the pneumatic gripper. These are the most widely applied devices, but can have wide variations in effectiveness. Compressed air powers the closing of these devices. They also vary in size and configuration. Some have two actuators and others have three. Two actuator types grab an object on two sides, while the ones that have three actuators can grab an object from three sides. There is a variation in the sizes and speeds of these devices. They are faster than hydraulics, but have a lower gripping power at about 120 psi, maximum. Both the hydraulic and pneumatic automation grippers are designed to grab an object at its center without variation.
Electric automation grippers have very good capabilities, but do not have the application force that pneumatics have. Electrics can stop on a dime and vary the amount of force sent to the gripper because they are controlled by electric servo-motors. This allows them to be able to grip more than one part type, maybe on a different production line very readily. There is a lot of capability in these device for varying the speed of the jaw closing and opening that can also help with effectively gripping different parts correctly.
Vacuum automation grippers also can use pumps to generate their force from compressed air. The pump can either be in a remote location or from a venturii generator that is near the point it is needed. Vacuum grippers are commonly used when there is no means to get compressed air into the production location. They can also be utilized when the needed gripping power of the EOT does not need to be very high like the force delivered by a hydraulic gripper, but the required force needs to be more than the electric gripper can supply.
There are techniques that can afford a manufacturer reduced energy costs when applying some of these gripper solutions to the production process. If a company is using a vacuum driven gripper for manufacturing automation on the production line, an evaluation of the types of material to be grasped by the gripper can be helpful in design. Some designs of the vacuum type grippers uses a nozzle set that has components of a stair-stepped ejector wrapped around it. This can produce an increased amount of vacuum flow as compared to other configurations. Individual cartridges work more efficiently at lower levels and reduces the amount of compressed air needed, while also cutting the amount of energy consumption.
Cutting down on the size of the pump that is create the compressed air pressure will cut the amount of energy needed to run the gripper for manufacturing automation. Putting the pump closer to the actual point of need for the compressed air will increase efficiency and reduce energy costs. This will also reduce the amount of time that is required for evacuation in order to get the job done. Technology is driving the efficiency of grippers to new levels. As time passes more intelligence and dexterity will be added to grippers through the use of programming. These increase of capability will allow for the wider application of grippers in many more areas of production.
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