Patent ID: 9266686
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B25J,B65G,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A vacuum gripper for gripping a work-piece, comprising: a flat or curved gripper plate, at least one suction port provided in the gripper plate, wherein a work-piece suction throttling zone is formed around the suction port, said work-piece suction throttling zone constituting a sub-area of the gripper plate, wherein a gap is defined between the work-piece suction throttling zone and a surface of the work-piece in a final position of the work-piece relative to the vacuum gripper in which the work-piece is held by the vacuum-gripper, and wherein the work-piece is predominantly held via the air gap in the final position; at least one recess provided in the gripper plate at a side facing the work-piece and arranged beyond the work-piece suction throttling zone formed around the suction port, and at least one vent hole formed within each of the recesses and said at least one vent hole directly connecting an entirety of the recess to the outer atmosphere so as to constantly permit a flow of air of the outer atmosphere into the recess.