The system has two different types of gripper: A group of two to six fingers picks up workpieces and lifts them out of the transport container. As soon as a layer has been completely emptied, three extendable vacuum suction cups that fit closely to the gripper arm remove the intermediate layer. The system can then access the next component layer. The multifunctional gripper can be used without separate programming, as a distance measuring system permanently monitors the gripped diameter and the PLC compares this value with the gripper diameter, which is also provided with a tolerance band in a recipe stored centrally in the PLC.

Thanks to its space-saving, completely scaffold-free design, the multifunctional gripper enables automated component handling and uninterrupted production even in confined spaces, as no additional space is required for gripper changing systems in the cell. Thanks to its flexibility, it is suitable for a wide range of different handling, automation and machining applications. The standard version of the compact multifunctional gripper is designed for rotationally symmetrical workpieces with internal diameters of 40 to 256 millimetres and weights between 100 grams and 20 kilograms. The parameters can be individually adapted for other requirements. Grippers with larger arms for combined external and internal gripping are also available on request.

With the help of cameras, image processing and an integrated distance measuring system, the multifunctional gripper detects both the inner diameter and the position of components. It also monitors the remaining quantity of parts and determines when a component layer is empty. The system uses a plausibility check to decide whether workpieces are suitable for further processing. Obviously incorrect or incorrectly gripped components are thus reliably detected and not even handled further.

The gripper arm has a standard height of 730 millimetres. As it has a very slim design with a diameter of 160 millimetres, it can grip even small components with a high packing density in a pallet precisely, even if they are in the corners of pallets. If a workpiece has slipped so that the gripper cannot reach it, the fingers pull it into a position where access is possible. The gripper fingers have a generously dimensioned stroke at their disposal. They are provided with a wear-resistant rubber coating on the surfaces in contact with the product, which ensures a high coefficient of friction and a reliable grip. Depending on requirements, the gripper pressure can be individually adjusted between 460 and 3,000 newtons. This allows both heavy and light and delicate components to be gripped securely and without damage. The gripper fingers can also be optionally equipped with a form-fit undergrip.