Flexible and Energy-Efficient Handling of Wooden Parts

13.05.2009

No matter how powerful robots or linear and portal handling systems may be, they are not productive manufacturing aids until they are equipped with the right gripper.

J. Schmalz GmbH, the vacuum specialist, has developed an innovative large-area gripper, especially designed for handling wooden parts, such as timber, moulding, profiles, etc. It is available with either a directly attached pneumatic vacuum generator (FXC-HD large-area gripper) or with an external vacuum generator (FMC-HD large-area gripper). The design of the two grippers differs in regard to the connection piece for the external vacuum generator and the FMC-HD’s lower height. The large-area grippers consist of a basic body made from extruded aluminium sections with integrated valve technology, a vacuum gauge, an end cover with a function module for the “sensor” and the “blow-off” connections, a sliding block strip that allows for flexible mechanical attachment of the gripper as well as a rugged sealing mat. The sealing mat can be replaced quickly; its various grid patterns make it suited for use with differing widths of workpieces. The sealing mat is optionally available with an integrated, self-cleaning filter screen mat that protects the gripper from soiling.

Energy-saving and cost-efficient automation

Both gripper models are fully equipped units that can be connected immediately. They are flexible and easy to adapt to robot systems, linear portal systems or even to large-area portal systems By design, they fit right into an energy-saving and cost-efficient automation scheme: the gripper’s interior chamber is optimised for a small evacuation volumes. Not only does this reduce the amount of compressed air that is used, resulting in lower operating costs: reduced CO2 emissions make it better for the environment. Because the chambers and check valves for the suction and blow-off functions are separate, items can be set down quickly, using less power. This results in short handling cycle times. Handling processes can by executed dynamically, as quickly as possible, using energy efficiently.

Flexible in application

As mentioned above, FXC/FMX-HD large-area grippers can be used to handle wooden as well as plastic parts with an extremely wide range of dimensions. The grippers can quickly and reliably pick up workpieces from both defined and undefined positions and reproducibly deposit them exactly where needed. The workpieces may have either a solid, smooth surface or be uneven and have various contours. Not only can the grippers be used to automatically palletise or depalletise blanks, flat products, components and furniture elements, they can also be used to sort and pick items such as windows, doors and pieces of furniture. Even handle layers of profile strips and individual large workpieces can be handled – just a single universal large-area gripper is all that you need for all of these applications.

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