Positive pressure gripper

Many applications requiring materials handling techniques employ the use of a vacuum pump, vacuum ejectors and vacuum pads. Often it is not possible to employ vacuum pick-up due to the material or the sensitive or physical nature of the product.

SMC Pneumatics has developed a cyclone gripper that permits the ‘non-contact’ handling of many ‘previously difficult to handle’ products. The XT661 cyclone gripper does not require a vacuum source, and operates only using positive pressure applied by compressed air.

Using positive compressed air at as low as 1 bar pressure, the cyclone develops a low pressure zone across its surface providing a gripping force. As the air is continually escaping from between the gripper surface and the product there is a ‘gap’ created providing the non-contact gripping.

The cyclone can also be used in conjunction with a mechanical guide to prevent the product slipping or it is possible to employ some small vacuum pads to merely prevent the sliding of the product.

It is now possible to handle many porous, delicate, non flat, hot, cold, wet or coated products; where this may have previously been difficult or impossible.