Robotic Tool Change System with integrated valves

By using micro valves, handling processes can be created more efficiently. At the quick-change systems used for robots, cycle times can be reduced, and air con-sumption of the attached actuators is lowered. Now SCHUNK offers a vast pro-gram of highly efficient valve adapter plates for quick-change systems, which opens up potential for enhanced efficiency.

The adapter plates with integrated heavy-duty valves type SWS-I are mounted between the robot flange and the changing head. They include up to fourteen mi-cro valves, which replace a complete valve cluster. The air feed-throughs as well as the locking of the tool change system are switched from these valves. While conventional solutions are losing the complete air of the supply line every cycle, the valve adapter plate assures that just the piston area of the connected actuators and the feeding lines of the changing systems are filled with air. Air consumption is considerably reduced, and cycle times are shortened. Thus, one compressed air line and one signal cable are all that is needed, reducing the installation work and time. The adapter plates SWS-I are available in size 020-071 for weights up to 80 kg.

Visit SCHUNK from February 8 to 10, 2011 at the LogiMAT in Stuttgart: Hall 3/ Booth 565N.