Vacuum suction cups come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials. The suction cups act as the connecting element between the machine and workpiece, and are used to lift and transport objects of all kinds.
Suction cups form the interface to the workpiece and thus play a major role in vacuum systems. To grip the workpiece securely, the suction cups must be suited to the workpiece properties and the particular application. For example, resistance to high temperatures, oils, dirt or UV light may be required. If the suction cups are to be used in the food industry, other properties must be taken into account.
Schmalz develops suction cups specially tailored to the requirements of the various industries, including the automotive, packaging and glass industries.
A vacuum suction cup consists of two components: the suction cup (elastomer section) and the corresponding connection element. A suction cup can be screwed to the gripper of the vacuum system.
Suction cups are available in round and oval designs. Round suction cups are particularly suitable for handling flat workpieces. In contrast, oval suction cups are primarily used for handling narrow, elongated workpieces.
A distinction is also made between flat suction grippers and bellows suction cups.
Flat suction grippers have a low overall height and low internal volume. The low volume ensures short blow-off times. In addition, suction cups in this design have good intrinsic stability and ensure high positioning accuracy. Frequent applications of flat suction grippers are mainly highly dynamic processes.
Suction cups with one or more folds are extremely versatile. The fact that bellows suction cups feature one or more folds allows them to compensate for height differences, making them more flexible to use than flat suction cups. The folds also create a damping effect when the gripper is placed on the workpiece. This enables sensitive workpieces to be gripped gently. Bellows suction cups are often used for handling processes involving film-packed workpieces, car body parts or electronic components.
