Teaching Grippers to see

SCHUNK, the competence leader in clamping technology and gripping systems has enlarged its vast modular system of grippers again. As the first ever standar-dized gripper, the PGN-plus universal gripper, and the MPG-plus gripper for small components from SCHUNK are now equipped with an integrated distance and presence sensor. With the new OAS, both modules quickly transform into seeing grippers without needing an expensive vision system. The optical system from this innovative family-owned company can be directly integrated into the gripping cen-ter. Here it continuously supplies the control unit with information, such as how far away the component is located, or if a part has always been gripped with the grip-per fingers. Moreover, the sensor measures the distance of the gripper to the component. This is done during the process without any loss of time. With the OAS, the grippers PGN-plus and MPG-plus can differentiate components, recognize its position, pick it from the running belt, unstack them, detect wrongly gripped components, and increase the reliability of the gripper during operation.

The optical sensor works with infrared light at a wavelength of 850 nm. It functions at environmental temperatures between - 10° C and + 55° C, and fulfills the stan-dards for protection class IP65. The sensor module is an all-rounder, and can also be combined with other grippers and automated modules. For example, it can be used for analog position monitoring of long-stroke grippers, by integrating it in one of the two base jaws. Combined with grippers and rotary modules, the sensor can be aligned inwards instead of outwards and thus assures piston monitoring.

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