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Robotics & Automation vocabulary · Robot Types and Components

Vacuum gripper

Meaning in robotics & automation, with examples

/ˈvækjuːm ˈɡrɪpər/nounCommon term

In robotics & automation, vacuum gripper means: A gripper that holds parts by suction, using suction cups or a foam pad and a vacuum made by an ejector or a pump. It works well on flat, smooth surfaces such as boxes, sheets and glass.

In Turkish: vakum tutucu, vakumlu tutucu, vantuzlu tutucu

How it is used

Very common in packaging, palletizing and sheet handling. Engineers talk about suction cups, the vacuum level, vacuum switches that confirm the grip and blow-off to release the part quickly. Leaks and worn cups are frequent causes of dropped parts.

Example sentences

  1. The vacuum gripper can't hold the cardboard boxes because the surface is too porous.

  2. Add a vacuum switch to the vacuum gripper so the robot knows the part has really been picked.

Common collocations

  • suction cup
  • vacuum generator
  • vacuum switch
  • blow-off
  • vacuum level
  • gripperA type of end effector that picks up, holds and releases parts, usually with two or three fingers or jaws that open and close. It is driven by compressed air or an electric motor.
  • end effectorThe tool fixed to the end of a robot arm that does the actual work, for example a gripper, a welding torch, a spray gun or a screwdriver.
  • pick and placeA task in which a robot picks up an item in one place and puts it down in another, for example from a conveyor into a box. It is one of the most common robot applications.
  • solenoid valveA valve that is opened or switched by an electric coil to control the flow of air or liquid. In pneumatics it sends air to one side of a cylinder or the other.

More terms: Robot Types and Components

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