Industrial Automation Magazine India

Electric Gripper with IO-link

Published on : Tuesday 30-11--0001

As the manufacturers underline, only one connection plug is needed to control the gripper, to parameterize it and to make use of the integrated diagnostics function. The device can be directly connected to the IO-link class B master without a Y distributor. Moreover, the control and power electronics is integrated into the compact module and no space is taken up in the control cabinet. The gripping force can reportedly be individually adjusted to the workpiece via the IO-link, so that handling scenarios can be flexibly achieved with various different parts. In order to achieve the shortest closing and cycle times, the gripper fingers can be pre-positioned as desired.

The sensors are integrated as standard and can be used to measure the stroke and speed of the gripper fingers and the power consumption. This is said to eliminate additional costs for external sensors, reduce the wiring and increase the process reliability since fewer moving, and therefore wear-resistant, cables have to be used. An integrated diagnostics function permanently monitors the status of the gripper and automatically transmits errors to the higher-level control system. Moreover, system operators can store any maintenance intervals of the system, as the German exhibitors also point out.

Contact:

Sonja Aufrecht, SCHUNK GmbH & Co. KG

Tel: +49 7133 103-2970.

Email: [email protected]