These complete systems ca be configured, dimensioned and assembled ready for use to meet customer-specific requirements.

The latest example of a "ready-for-use" complete system is a large-size vacuum layer gripper for removing complete layers of rigid cardboard boxes from pallets and stacking them on other pallets, designed for a customer in the packing industry.

The customer defined specific requirements with respect to the performance and the application spectrum of the gripper.

The customer requirements and tasks:

• Transferring rigid cardboard boxes from one pallet to another
• Handling of complete layers of cardboard boxes:
  The system must be able to handle differing layers and sizes.
• The cardboard boxes may be of different sizes and varying weights:
• In this specific case, the boxes to be gripped have four different sizes and varying weights.
• The boxes in each layer are all of approximately the same height.
• The cardboard material is relatively airtight.
• Handling of Euro pallets and pallets with the format 1200x1000 mm
• Handling of intermediate sheets of paper
• The suction force must be unaffected by the degree of coverage

The solution:

Large-area vacuum gripper system FM

The Schmalz large-area vacuum gripper system FM consists of a large-area gripper module without integrated vacuum generator (in contrast to the large-area gripper system FX, which always has an integrated vacuum generator) and a suction plate.

In order to meet the specific requirements of this application, the engineers at Schmalz selected FM modules with check valves (flying-ball valves) in order to achieve the necessary high holding forces and short cycle times.

The gripper consists of seven separate FM modules which are assembled to form a large-area gripper.
Two pneumatic valves are used to control the layer gripper (vacuum on/off, vent to atmosphere).

The vacuum is generated by two blowers of the type SBL, each with a rated power of 4 kW.

The gripper is mounted on an industrial robot.

The advantages:

• Maximum flexibility due to the modular design of the gripper system.
• Other layer sizes can be implemented easily.
• The suction mats are easy to replace in the case of damage.

The benefits:

This principle makes it very easy to design grippers to meet a wide range of requirements.
The use of valve technology permits safe handling of even critical workpieces with very poor weight/area proportions.
The system grips the workpieces securely, even if it is not fully in contact with them.

Summary:

Wherever you need to load and unload pallets, commission or sort goods of varying shapes and sizes, or need to handle workpieces made of widely varying materials, the large-area grippers from Schmalz offer undreamed-of possibilities.

Are you faced with a similar handling problem?
If so, contact us!