Patent ID: 7296834

Claim:
An air-powered vacuum tool for handling a plurality of workpieces, comprising: a baseplate; a vacuum manifold body mounted to an underside of said baseplate, with said manifold body having a plurality of vacuum parts formed therein; a plurality of air-powered vacuum generators mounted to an upper surface of said baseplate, with said vacuum generators being operatively connected with said vacuum manifold body, such that each of said vacuum ports is provided with vacuum generated by at least one dedicated vacuum generator; a plurality of pickup orifices adapted for engaging workpieces, with said pickup orifices being formed in a removable workpiece interface plate attached to an underside of said vacuum manifold body, with each of said pickup orifices being operatively connected with at least one of said vacuum ports; and a blowoff system adapted to conduct high pressure air to each of said vacuum ports, so as to separate workpieces from said pickup orifices.