A pneumatic gripper, also known as a pneumatic finger or pneumatic gripper, is an executive device that uses compressed air as power to grip or grab workpieces. Originally originated in Japan, it was widely used by domestic automation enterprises. According to the style, it can usually be divided into a Y-type gripper and a flat-type gripper. The cylinder diameter is divided into 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, and 40mm. Its main function is to replace the grasping work of people, which can effectively improve production efficiency and work efficiency. safety. The SMC Pneumatic Finger Series is one of the most commonly used pneumatic gripper devices in the industry.
A pneumatic gripper, also known as a finger cylinder, is a professional gripper in the pneumatic industry. It can be divided into four categories according to its functional characteristics.
1. Parallel jaws
The fingers of the parallel jaws are actuated by two pistons. Each piston is connected with pneumatic fingers by a roller and a double crank to form a special drive unit. In this way, the pneumatic fingers always move axially and concentrically, and each finger cannot move independently. If the finger moves in the opposite direction, the previously pressurized piston is vented and the other piston is pressurized.
The parallel jaws are driven by a single piston, the shaft center drives the crank, and each of the two jaws has a corresponding crank groove. In order to reduce frictional resistance, the claw piece is connected with the body as a steel ball slide rail structure.
2. Swing gripper (Y-shaped gripper)
The piston rod of the swing jaw has a ring groove, and since the finger trunnions are connected to the ring groove, the fingers can move simultaneously and automatically center, and the gripping torque is always constant.
3. Rotary gripper
The action of the rotating jaws works according to the meshing principle of the rack. The piston is fixed with a shaft that can move up and down. The end of the shaft has three-ring grooves that engage the two drive wheels. Thus, the pneumatic fingers move at the same time and are self-centered, and the rack and pinion principle ensures that the gripping force is always constant.
4. Three-point gripper
There is an annular groove on the piston of the three-point gripper, and each crank is connected with a pneumatic finger. The movement of the piston can drive the movements of the three cranks so that the three fingers can be opened and closed at the same time.
