Grippers

Grippers

Grippers are devices that pick up or place an object on an assembly line, conveyor system, or other automated systems. Jaws are attached to the grippers to grip or hold the object.

Grippers are available in a variety of styles and powered designs. The three types of grippers are hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric. The most common are parallel designs with two fingers that close on a workpiece to grip or open it out by creating pressure on the inside. At the same time, Three-finger designs hold the workpiece in the center and have three fingers offset by 120°. 

HVH Industrial works with the specialized engineering teams of manufacturers to meet our customer's requirements and the highest quality standards. 

If you have any questions, write us via live chat (one of our team members will answer your questions), give us a call, or send us a quote request. The HVH team is always ready to help you.

 

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What is an Industrial Gripper

An industrial gripper is a mechanical device designed to grasp or hold an object securely. Grippers are crucial in many industrial operations and are utilized in everything from automated assembly lines to robotic arms. An industrial gripper's design typically consists of two or more fingers attached to a base. The gripper fingers are intended to move in unison to pick up, hold, and release a workpiece or tool. Some industrial grippers have flexible fingers that allow them to conform to the shape of an object.

The three most common designs of a gripper are parallel, three-finger, and angled designs. Parallel grippers are two-finger devices used to grasp objects that are placed between them. To secure an object, they use two fingers that move in a parallel motion, pushing against it. 

Three-finger grippers are intended to provide a more secure hold on an object by holding the workpiece in the center and having the three fingers offset by 120°. Angled grippers are designed to grip objects at an angle, allowing them to secure objects of different shapes and sizes. These grippers have two or three fingers that move in a curved motion and can be adjusted to fit the object

Grippers are classified into three types: hydraulic, electric, and pneumatic. Each type of gripper offers its distinct advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different applications.

A pneumatic gripper is a mechanical device used to grip and hold objects using air pressure. It consists of a cylinder and two pistons, one of which is connected to an air supply and the other to the object being gripped. The gripper operates by allowing air to pass through the pistons, which expand and contract to apply a gripping force on the object. Since pneumatic gripper mechanisms lack motors and gears, it is simple to convert the power of a piston/cylinder system into a gripping force. Because most manufacturing facilities already have access to compressed air, deploying pneumatic grippers is simple and cost-effective. One of the primary advantages of pneumatic grippers is that they provide a high level of gripping force in a small, light, and inexpensive package.

 

Hydraulic grippers are made up of two main parts: a cylinder and a piston. The piston is linked to a drive system, such as a motor, which produces the pressurized fluid required to move the piston. The cylinder contains a series of channels and valves that control the flow of the pressurized fluid. When the drive system is activated, the pressurized fluid is forced into the cylinder, pushing the piston outward. The gripper's fingers close and grip the object as the piston moves outward. Because hydraulic grippers have pistons and oiled parts, they require much more maintenance than their servo-electric and pneumatic counterparts. Hydraulic gripper maintenance is also complicated, and skilled technicians may be required to maintain the oil, pump, and reservoir.


 

An electric gripper is a device that uses electric power to actuate a gripping mechanism. An electric gripper consists of a motor, an electrical control system, and a gripping mechanism. The electrical control system of an electric gripper comprises an encoder, a controller, and a power supply. The encoder measures the gripper's position and provides feedback to the controller, which interprets the data and sends the necessary signals to the motor, which moves the gripper. Pick-and-place operations, assembly, automated material handling, and machine loading and unloading are all examples of where electric grippers are used. Electric grippers outperform hydraulic and pneumatic grippers due to their greater range of motion and gripping force. They are more easily integrated into automated systems, more precise, and faster than the other two types, making them ideal for applications requiring high accuracy and repeatability. 

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or are interested in buying a gripper.