Patent ID: 6431624
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B25J,B65G

Abstract:
A suction gripper, comprising:a cylinder housing having a first end and a second end, the cylinder housing further having an orifice at the first end, a first passage bore and a second passage bore, the passage bores running radially from an exterior of the cylinder housing to an interior of the cylinder housing; a piston rod movably arranged inside the cylinder housing so as to be capable of moving along a longitudinal axis of the cylinder and executing a suction stroke, the piston rod and the cylinder housing defining a cylinder space, the piston rod having a central bore running along a longitudinal axis of the piston rod, and a radial bore running radially inside the piston rod in communication with the central bore and the cylinder space; a piston arranged at a base of the piston rod so as to be capable of covering the orifice; a compression spring arranged in the cylinder space for pre-stressing the piston on the orifice; a vacuum duct in communication with the first passage bore and the cylinder space; and a suction element comprising a sealing edge being operably arranged at a projecting end of the piston rod and capable of being in contact with the central bore of the piston rod, whereby in a first stroke position the piston bears against the orifice, the radial bore is closed by the cylinder housing and there is no connection between the central bore and the vacuum duct, and in a second stroke position a vacuum is supplied to the vacuum duct forming a connection between the vacuum duct, the second passage bore and the radial bore.