SCHUNK Germany has developed a cleanroom gripping system, said to define a new paradigm of performance amongst pneumatic grippers.
According to SCHUNK, the SCG Sterigrip fulfills all the requirements for Cleanroom Class 1 applications. It utilizes a patented drive concept, and is constructed from special austenitic chromium nickel steel as well as FDA-admitted plastics.
Both materials are resistant to the aggressive detergents used in cleanroom applications, including hydrogen peroxide.
The actuator has a design which avoids specific undercuts and utilizes larger radii to ensure safe removal of contamination. The gripper can be changed by hand without using tools for quick application modifications.
Instead of using compressed air in the piston area for actuation, the gripper uses a generated vacuum. The outgoing air from the piston area is led back individually to the outgoing air interface within the system to prevent turbulences and contamination of the facility.
Weighing 160g, the angular pneumatic gripper provides a gripping force of 250mNm, with a closing time of 0.25 seconds.