Keywords
Citation
(2002), "Finger tight", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929aad.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Finger tight
The rubber finger gripper for robots Safe handling of ceramic, plastic and glass workpieces
Keywords: Grippers, Robots, Ceramics, Plastics, Glass
The answer to firm, yet safe handling of delicate and fragile workpieces, such as materials manufactured from ceramic, glass and plastics, novel type of finger gripper.
Designed for applications with automated assembly machines and robots, it features two air-powered rubber fingers, contoured to hold the part securely, regardless of its shape or form (Plate 1).
Under pneumatic pressure the fingers will bend to surround and hold the component. By adjusting the pressure via a regulating valve, it is possible to vary the clamping force to the optimum required. Simply release the air pressure and the rubber fingers spring back into their original position and free the component.
Plate 1
Rubber Finger Gripper for robots and similar automated machinery
In order to accommodate workpieces of different widths and diameters, the distance between the two fingers can also be varied from 40 mm up to 164 mm on an adjustable base plate. Alternatively, a spiral arrangement can be made incorporating several fingers.
The product is manufactured in Germany by precision workholding specialist, Sommer Automatic and available in the UK from Leader Grippers, London.