FEATURE Robotics
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Innovative gripper technology for cobot applications
Innovative gripper technology for cobot applications
T
he adoption of collaborative robots (cobots) across multiple sectors continues apace, as a growing number
of manufacturers realise the benefits these robots offer to a wide range of applications, such as cost effectiveness and increased productivity.
Designed specifically to safely work alongside humans, cobots generally feature a smooth rounded design, with no sharp edges, which can cause an injury to a human operator. In addition, the arm joints are encapsulated, ensuring that there are no pinch or trap points for human fingers or hands. Just as these robots have evolved in
recent years to provide greater reach and payload capabilities, so too have their gripper technologies, to not only cater for a wider range of applications, but also comply with ISO TS 15066. To maximise the cobot’s potential for operational performance and flexibility, the gripper systems must offer characteristics such as ease of integration and use across a diverse range of applications.
Collaborative vacuum gripper technology There has been a significant uptake in the use of cobots for product handling, palletising and de-palletising applications in recent years. This has been the catalyst for Schmalz to develop a comprehensive range of gripper systems specifically for cobots. To maximise their performance and payload capabilities, the weight of the gripper system has been reduced and, in keeping with the ease-of-use concept promoted by cobot suppliers, the pneumatic vacuum-generation technology has been integrated within the gripper unit to simplify integration and operation.
New additions to the Schmalz range include the FXCB/FMCB area grippers, designed to support cobot handling tasks. These gripper systems are a valuable asset for many applications within intralogistics, such as end-of-
34 July/August 2023 | Automation
line packaging and pick-and-place applications.
The innovative design of these gripper systems, which use 3D printing as part of the manufacturing process, complies with ISO TS 15066, and the FXCB variant also includes integrated vacuum generation. Additional features of the range include innovative communication technology via IO-Link and an integrated NFC (Near Field Communications) functionality.
regardless of size and geometry, from for use with cobots, these gripper systems provide solutions to handling applications across multiple sectors such as the automotive, glass or the electronics industry, in addition to end-of-line packaging and intralogistics tasks. The X-variant of this area-gripping system comes complete with a
integrated pneumatic vacuum-generation system, with the alternative M variant designed for operation with an external vacuum generator.
Enhancing cobot operation The design of these gripper systems from Schmalz promotes and supports the safe environment requirements for employees when working alongside cobots. In addition, the low weight and dynamic geometry of these compact optimum operational robot cycles, whilst the process and condition analysis functionality, which is also available, provides useful information for maintenance personnel, and which can be accessed with a smartphone.
CONTACT:
Schmalz
www.schmalz.com
Left and below left: Schmalz FQE gripper unit
Below right: Schmalz FXCB gripper technology
automationmagazine.co.uk
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