Vacuum Pump for Mobile Robots

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have long since moved beyond mere transportation: They grasp, move, and handle objects on their own. Vacuum technology is key here: it combines gentle gripping with speed, flexibility, and reliability in dynamic processes.

Two technologies have become established in vacuum handling: electric vacuum generators, such as rotary vane or claw pumps, and pneumatic vacuum generators, known as ejectors. These are compact, lightweight, and suitable for dynamic processes. They require compressed air, which must be generated either centrally or locally. This requires two energy conversions: from electrical energy to compressed air and from compressed air to a vacuum. This makes the process energy-intensive.

Electric vacuum generators create a vacuum directly and do not require compressed air. However, many traditional solutions are large and heavy. Their mechanical parts also make them less dynamic, which means they should run as continuously as possible, even when a vacuum is not needed at times. Compact and energy-efficient solutions such as the ECBPMi and ECBPi vacuum generators, as well as the GCPi compact pump from Schmalz, partially bridge this gap. However, their maximum power of 50 liters per minute limits the range of applications, particularly in intra-logistic environments. Until now, there has been no solution for mobile and decentralized applications that provides a connection between a compact design, fast response, and high power.

Schmalz addresses this need with the fully electric, ready to connect 24-V vacuum pump GSP. This pump enables automation solutions to be integrated flexibly into existing facility designs, independent of the compressed air network. This facilitates retrofitting and use in the automotive, glass, and packaging industries.

With a suction rate of 50 to 150 liters per minute, the intelligent vacuum pump GSP covers a wide range of applications. The vacuum pre-charge with the LQE compact valve and the integrated silencer reduce operating noise. In many cases, additional soundproofing measures are not necessary.

At the heart of the vacuum pump is its intelligent control system. The speed automatically adapts to the actual vacuum level required. For airtight workpieces, the pump reduces its speed to zero and thus consumes virtually no energy. At the same time, it offers power reserves for fast cycles and for handling workpieces with leakage. Compared to conventional electric vacuum generators, the vacuum pump GSP saves up to 90 percent in energy. For mobile, battery-powered applications, this means significantly longer runtime or the ability to use smaller batteries.

Designed for immediate use, the vacuum pump GSP is ready to operate right out of the box. No manual software setup is required. In combination with the LQE compact valve, Schmalz offers a plug-and-play solution in which the pump and valve communicate with each other autonomously. During the wait time between two gripping cycles, the system begins building up vacuum. At the next pick, the stored vacuum generates a targeted inflow pulse that accelerates the gripping process: This causes the workpiece to be drawn in more quickly. Atmospheric ventilation via the compact valve reduces energy consumption during workpiece release by up to 99 percent compared to conventional compressed-air blow-off methods. This interaction increases the possible cycle frequency and supports dynamic handling processes in order fulfillment and intra-logistic operations.

The NFC interface simplifies start of operations and diagnostics through smartphone access. Process and device data can be viewed at any time on the integrated color display and are transmitted to the higher-level PLC during IO-Link operation. The pump automatically detects whether it is connected to an IO-Link master and switches to the appropriate mode on its own. Using the transmitted vacuum values and diagnostic information, the system identifies potential malfunctions early on. Alternatively, the pump can also be controlled via standard I/O. The pump automatically determines the material porosity of the workpiece being handled—whether cardboard box, plastics, or metal—and adapts the flow rate accordingly.

The vacuum pump GSP automatically detects leakage as it occurs and adjusts the pump capacity without requiring any user intervention. Optionally, it can be designed for an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). This ensures that air-tight workpieces are held in place for up to 20 hours, even in the event of a power or grid failure.